The pharmacokinetic behaviour of enrofloxacin was compared in four one-day-old and four one-week-old calves in order to find out if there were any age-related differences. Mean volume of distribution (Vd(ss)) and clearance (Cl) were significantly smaller in newborn calves: Vd(ss) was 1.8 and 2.3 L/kg, while clearance was 0.19 and 0.39 L/kg.h in newborn and one-week-old calves, respectively. Mean elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) did not differ significantly in newborn and in one-week-old calves: mean t1/2 beta was 6.6 h and 4.9 h, respectively. Enrofloxacin was metabolized to ciprofloxacin both by newborn and one-week-old calves, but the maximum concentration (Cmax) of ciprofloxacin was lower and the time when maximum concentration was reached (tmax) later in newborn calves. We conclude that the dosage of enrofloxacin should be adjusted according to age when administered to very young calves.

T2-weighted and turbo FLAIR sequences proved equally effective in detecting and delineating the thalamic, brainstem, and basal ganglia pathologies. According to our results, mechanisms other than cytotoxic edema contribute to the signal pathology. Radiologists should be familiar with the MR findings of TBE even in non-endemic areas.

No abstract

The proportions of secretory IgA (SIgA)-, IgG- and C3b-coated bacteria obtained from a well-defined area on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx (NPH) close to the Eustachian tube were determined. Samples taken from 25 otitis-prone (OP) and 25 non-otitis-prone (NOP) children with normal serum levels of IgA and IgG were evaluated using an immunofluorescence assay. Both groups harboured significantly more nasopharyngeal bacteria coated with IgG than with SIgA (p < 0.001). The OP children had significantly fewer SIgA-coated bacteria (p < 0.05) but more C3b-coated bacteria (p < 0.01) in the NPH than the NOP children had. No significant difference was noted between the two groups regarding IgG coating. The occurrence of Branhamella catarrhalis in the NHP was more pronounced in the OP group (p < 0.05). No significant differences in the occurrence of other middle ear pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus) or quantitative dominance of pathogens were noted between the two groups. Deficiency in SIgA coating of the nasopharyngeal bacteria may contribute to the otitis-prone condition.

Quantification of middle ear pathogens (S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and B. catarrhalis) and potential pathogens (S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci) adhering to the posterior wall of the nasopharynx was performed in 20 patients of whom 5 were suffering from secretory otitis media (SOM), 5 from recurrent attacks of acute otitis media (rAOM), 5 from attacks of upper respiratory infection (URI) and 5 from blocked nose (BN). While the patients were under general anesthesia a glass cylinder (diameter 1.3 cm) was pressed against the posterior wall of the nasopharynx and swabs were taken from the mucosa delineated by the glass tube. Quantification of the bacteria was performed using blood and chocolate agar plates. Total bacterial counts ranged between 2.6 x 10(4)CFU/cm2 and 4.0 x 10(8)CFU/cm2. In the rAOM group, 4 out of 5 children had bacterial counts in the nasopharynx which constituted of 95% pathogens. Coagulase-negative staphylococci never exceeded 1.9 x 10(5)CFU/cm2.