In recent years we have succeeded in isolating 18 strains of Chlamydia pneumoniaestrains, which we designated KKpn-1-KKpn-18, from the nasopharynx of patients with acute respiratory tract infections. In the present study, we examined the morphology of these clinical isolates and compared their morphology with that of C. pneumoniae TW-183, AR-39, AR-388 (TWAR), IOL-207, Kajaani-6, YK-41, Chlamydia psittaci Frt-Hu/Cal 10, Chlamydia trachomatis L2/434/Bu and Chlamydia pecorum Bo/E58. The results indicated that the “pear-shape” of the elementary body (EB) is not a valid morphological criterion for recognizing a member of C. pneumoniae, although the basic morphological properties, such as location of the nucleus, presence of projections on the surface of the organisms, and the dimension of hexagonally arrayed regular structures on the inner surface of the EB outer membrane, were similar in all members of the genus Chlamydia.It was, therefore, concluded that the morphology of the KKpn-1-KKpn-18 strains was identical to that of C. trachomatis, C. psittaci and C. pecorum organisms, and that the EB profiles are different from those of C. pneumoniae TWAR strains.

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Among the five antimicrobials tested, norfloxacin (NFLX) showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against clinical isolated strains of Escherichia coli 0157:H7. The other four antibiotics, fosfomycin (FOM), ampicillin (ABPC), chloramphenicol (CP) and kanamycin (KM) also showed antibiotic activity against this organism, and this potencies were similar. Antibacteial activity of FOM was much greater under anaerobic conditions than under aerobic conditions.This potency was similar to that of NFLX. Whereas the activity of KM was greatly decreased under anaerobic conditions.In terms of verotoxin release, E. coli treated with FOM released verotoxin 1 (VT 1) in a few hours after tatment and the amount of toxin did not increase time dependently. Treatment with ABPC induced the toxin release in the same manner as FOM. In contrast NFLX-treated E. coli released VT 1 time dependently during the observation period.The amounts of VT 1 release after treatment with CP or KM were not very high. The release of verotoxin 2 (VT 2), after treatment with more than the MIC of FOM was very little and the time-dependent increase in the release could not be observed, in contrast with the control release. The treatment by other antibiotics gave similar results. On the other hand, the treatment by antibiotics at a concentration around the MIC did not inhibit the increase in the control release of VT 2, and NFLX treatment tended to increase the release.

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The clinical efficacy, safety and usefulness of prulifloxacin (PUFX, NM 441), a new quinolone, were evaluated in bacterial pneumonia under a double-blind comparative study with ofloxacin (OFLX). PUFX was administered orally at a dose of 300mg twice daily and OFLX at a dose of 200mg three times daily. The following results were obtained.
1. Of the total 201 patients evaluated, 156 were evaluated for clinical efficacy. There was no significant bias among patients'back ground factors between the two groups.
2. The clinical efficacy rates were 96.5%(82/85) in the PUFX group and 93.0%(66/71) in the OFLX group.Both groups showed high efficacy.The clinical equivalency of PUFX to OFLX was confirmed atΔ=10%.
3. The bacteriological elimination rates were 90.3%(28/31) in the PUFX group and 95.2%(20/21) in the OFLX group.
4.Side effects were noted in 2 of 97 patients (2.1%) in the PUFX group and in 3 of 90 patients (3.3%) in the OFLX group.
5. Abnormalities on laboratory findings were observed in 16.0%(15/94) of patients in the PUFX group and in 16.1%(14/87) of patients in the OFLX group.
6. The safety rates (“safe” in the overall safety) were 82.5%(80/97) in the PUFX group and 82.2%(74/90) in the OFLX group.
7. The usefulness rates (markedly useful+useful) were 94.2%(81/86) in the PUFX group and 89.0%(65/73) in the OFLX group.
No significant difference was observed between the two groups in any of the above ratings. These results indicate that PUFX is one of the most highly effective drugs for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia.

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The clinical efficacy, safety and usefulness of prulifloxacin (PUFX, NM 441), a new quinolone, were evaluated in lower chronic respiratory tract infections under a doubleblind comparative study with ofloxacin (OFLX). PUFX was administered orally at a dose of 300mg twice daily and OFLX at a dose of 200mg three times daily. The following results were obtained.
1. Of the total 211 patients evaluated, 176 were evaluated for clinical efficacy. There was no significant bias among patients'back ground factors between the two groups except “property of sputum” and “chest pain” However, no influence on the drug evaluation from these biases was verified from the viewpoint of the statistical analysis test.
2. The clinical efficacy rates were 94.3%(83/88) in the PUFX group and 96.6%(85/88) in the OFLX group. Both groups showed high efficacy. The clinical equivalency of PUFX to OFLX was confirmed at Δ=10%.
3. The bacteriological elimination rates were 77.5%(31/40) in the PUFX group and 82.5%(33/40) in the OFLX group.
4. Side effects were noted in 1 of 94 patients (1.1%) in the PUFX group and in 5 of 97 patients (5.2%) in the OFLX group.
5. Abnormalities on laboratory findings were observed in 7.9%(7/89) of patients in the PUFX group and in 7.5%(7/93) of patients in the OFLX group.
6. The safety rates (“safe” in the overall safety) were 91.5%(86/94) in the PUFX group and 88.7%(86/97) in the OFLX group.
7. The usefulness rates (markedly useful+useful) were 94.3%(83/88) in the PUFX group and 94.4%(84/89) in the OFLX group.
No significant difference was observed between the two groups in any of the above ratings. There results indicate that PUFX is one of the most highly effective drugs for the treatment of lower chronic respiratory tract infections.

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