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Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 697-701 PubMed PMID: 18987579 Citation  Keywords:  Antioxidants:chemistry, Ascorbic Acid:chemistry, Carbohydrate Sequence, Copper:chemistry, Free Radicals:chemistry, Hyaluronic Acid:chemistry, Hydrogen Peroxide:chemistry, Hydroxyl Radical:chemistry, Kinetics, Molecular Weight, Oxidants:chemistry, Penicill.   

OBJECTIVES: The study presents results of pro- and anti-oxidative effects of D-penicillamine on hyaluronan degradation by ascorbate plus cupric ions.

METHODS: The well established degradative system comprising high-molar-mass hyaluronan and ascorbate plus Cu(II) ions was used. Primarily, the effects of replacement of ascorbic acid in this system by D-penicillamine were investigated. Then, D-penicillamine was added into the above degradative system before reaction onset or 1h after the reaction had started. To monitor hyaluronan degradation kinetics, rotational viscometry was applied.

RESULTS: No hyaluronan degradation occurred when ascorbate was replaced by D-penicillamine. The drug addition into the complete degradative system at the reaction onset caused a marked inhibition of hyaluronan degradation. However, the inhibitory effect turned to a pro-oxidative one within appr. 1 h.

CONCLUSION: The dual behavior of D-penicillamine on hyaluronan degradation can relate to: (i) the drug completely traps *OH radicals generated from ascorbate plus Cu(II) ions under aerobic conditions; (ii) thiyl radicals generated from D-penicillamine react with D-penicillamine anions resulting in novel radical reactive species, which e.g. by reducing dioxygen molecules can generate further *OH radicals....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(Suppl 3): 23-24 PubMed PMID: 18030271 Citation  Keywords:  Anti-Bacterial Agents:therapeutic use, Cephalosporins:therapeutic use, Community-Acquired Infections:drug therapy, Humans, Meningitis, Meningococcal:drug therapy, Meningococcal Infections:drug therapy, Outcome Assessment (Health Care), Penicillins:therape.   

: Within last 17 years we went through all charts of bacterial meningitis within our nationwide survey and among 372 cases we found 62 cases of MM, in 12 cases with meningococcal disease (with shock, petechial effusions or disseminated intravascular coagulation or digital gangrenes). MM was usually observed in young adults without any of investigated risk factors like neoplasia, ENT (ear, nose, throat) focuses, elderly age, sepsis, diabetes, alcoholism, trauma, neonatal VLBW etc. Trauma, diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse and chronic sinusitis/otitis were significantly less frequently found as a risk factor for MM. Mortality was very low, only 4.8% and was lower than overall mortality in CBM (12.4%, NS). Also the proportion of neurologic sequellae (9.7%) and initial treatment failure (8.1%) were comparable or even lower. This positive outcome results are probably because all N. meningitis strains were susceptible to penicillin, chloramphenicol, cefotaxim, cotrimoxazol or ciprofloxacin. Other reason for low mortality was that most cases received oral antibiotic immediately, even before admission (50 of 62). 95.2% of cases survived, 90.3% without any transient neurological residual symptoms....

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