Urinary tract infections: what's new?

PURPOSE: This review provides practicing urologists with important basic information about urinary tract infections (UTIs) that can be applied to everyday clinical problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review is presented of provocative and controversial concepts in the current literature. RESULTS: Bacterial virulence mechanisms are critical for overcoming the normal host defenses. Increasing antimicrobial resistance of uropathogens has led to reconsideration of traditional treatment recommendations in many areas. For effective patient management the first issue is to define complicating urological factors. Managing complicated urinary tract infections, particularly in urology, is determined by clinical experience to define the pertinent anatomy and to determine the optimal interventions. New clinical data are summarized on UTIs in long-term care patients, behavioral risks for UTI in healthy women and anatomical differences associated with an increased risk for UTI. The rationale is presented for UTI prophylaxis using cranberry juice, immunization and bacterial interference. Current treatment trends for UTI include empiric therapy (without urine culture and sensitivity testing), short-course therapy, patient-administered (self-start) therapy and outpatient therapy for uncomplicated pyelonephritis. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for treating patients with UTIs have changed based on basic science and clinical experience.     

HIV感染和AIDS患者T淋巴细胞免疫病理改变的研究

目的　探讨我国HIV感染和AIDS患者T淋巴细胞的免疫病理改变情况及其临床意义。方法　收集 13例HIV感染患者 (HIV组 )、2 7例AIDS患者 (AIDS组 )和 5 1名健康献血员 (正常对照组 )的抗凝血 ,用人T淋巴细胞亚群的特异性荧光抗体标记 ,通过流式细胞仪检测外周血CD4 + T淋巴细胞 (T4细胞 )、CD8+ T淋巴细胞 (T8细胞 )及其亚群 ,并检测患者血浆HIV载量。结果　正常对照组、HIV组和AIDS组外周血T4细胞计数 (× 10 6个 /L)分别为 84 9± 2 88,4 37± 184 ,5 0± 5 1,组间比较P <0 0 1;T8细胞计数 (× 10 6个 /L)分别为 5 79± 175 ,10 31± 345 ,5 35± 338,HIV组明显高于正常对照组(P <0 0 5 ) ;T4纯真细胞 (CD4 + CD4 5RA+ CD6 2L+ )亚群比例分别为 4 3 0 %± 11 4 % ,4 4 2 %± 12 8% ,2 4 8%± 15 5 % ,AIDS组明显为低 (P <0 0 5 ) ;T4纯真细胞计数 (× 10 6个 /L)分别为 36 8± 16 2 ,185±134,18± 2 0 ,组间比较P <0 0 1;T4功能细胞 (CD4 + CD2 8+ )亚群比例分别为 93 1%± 8 1% ,6 2 6 %±2 8 2 % ,5 6 9%± 2 6 4 % ,组间比较P <0 0 1;T4和T8激活细胞 (CD4 + HLA DR+ ,CD8+ HLA DR+ ,CD8+CD38+ )亚群比例均表现为AIDS组 >HIV组 >正常对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;T4和T8凋亡细胞 (CD4 +CD95 + ,C     

Demonstration of scolex in calcified cysticercus lesion using gradient echo with or without corrected phase imaging and its clinical implications

AIM: This study was performed to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence that was best suited to demonstrate the scolex in a calcified lesion and to seek the explanation for the appearance of a negative phase in a calcified scolex on corrected gradient refocused echo (GRE) phase imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients with single/multiple computed tomography (CT) documented homogeneous calcified lesions and/or calcified scolices in cysts were studied with conventional spin echo and corrected GRE phase imaging. Calcium and different paramagnetic substances from cysticerci scolices of a sample of infected swine muscle were quantified. RESULTS: The scolex could be demonstrated in 29/39 patients with single calcified lesion. GRE imaging with an echo time of 35ms was the only sequence that demonstrated scolex in all these 29 cases. 15/29 patients with a single calcified lesion, in all 10 patients with multiple calcified lesions and infected swine muscle with multiple cysts and calcified scolex, corrected GRE phase imaging showed negative phase in all these scolices. Estimation of minerals from the calcified scolices from the swine muscle showed by spectroscopic techniques 41.2% of the total mineral contents as paramagnetic substances. CONCLUSION: We conclude that GRE imaging is the imaging method of choice for demonstration of the scolex in a CT calcified lesion. The negative phase on corrected GRE phase imaging is due to the presence of large amount of paramagnetic substances.     

The predictive value of microbiologic diagnostic tests if asymptomatic carriers are present

If a proper gold standard is not available, then the predictive value of a test cannot be estimated. In this paper the concept of etiologic predictive value (EPV) is introduced. It is a quantity that will yield the predictive value of a test to predict presence of a specified disease in situations for which no proper gold standard is available. This is achieved by using information obtained from a healthy control population. This quantity requires that the marker in our test is present in all individuals having the specified disease, as in the case where the marker is the aetiologic factor for the specified disease. Furthermore this quantity requires that asymptomatic carriers are present. This means that not all individuals with the marker has the specified disease. EPV is developed with special reference to the evaluation of bacterial cultures, or rapid tests to detect a bacterium, but the quantity might be used in other circumstances as well. EPV is applied to an example in which conventional throat culture is evaluated. Further information concerning EPV can be found at http://www.infovice.se/fou/epv.     

Amphotericin B and its lipid formulations

More than 40 years after its approval, Amphotericin B is still the gold standard in the treatment of invasive fungal infections due to Candida and Aspergillus spp. Three different lipid formulations of Amphotericin B have been available for over 10 years, with only one of them, i.e. liposomal Amphotericin B (Ambisome), approved in Germany. Liposomal Amphotericin B is superior to conventional Amphotericin B due to its reduced nephrotoxicity, the option of a higher initial loading-dose, and fewer infusion-related side-effects, all this with identical or even higher efficacy.     

Rising incidence of genital herpes over two decades in a sexually transmitted disease clinic in north India

Genital herpes, which was considered to be a minor sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the past in developing countries, is rapidly increasing; in contrast, bacterial STDs are declining. This changing trend of various STDs prompted us to analyze our data retrospectively to see whether a similar change is occurring in this part of India as well. The records of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) clinic attendees from January 1977 to December 2000 were analyzed. The demographic profile of patients with genital herpes was also considered for analysis. STDs were diagnosed clinically and by appropriate laboratory tests wherever applicable. VDRL test was done in all patients, and HIV antibody detection was performed from 1987 onwards. The incidences of chancroid, donovanosis, and gonorrhea were 12.2%, 6.3%, and 16.9%, respectively, from January 1977 to December 1985. The figures for the same decreased to 2.5%, 0.9%, and 2.3%, respectively, from January 1993 to December 2000. The decreasing incidence of the above bacterial STDs is statistically significant (p<0.001). However, there was an approximately two-fold increase in the incidence of genital herpes in recent years (20.5%) in comparison to the figures from the late 70s (11.4%). Molluscum contagiosum also showed an upward trend (1% in 1977-85 vs. 9.8% in 1993-2000). Condylomata accuminata remained almost unchanged (21.4% in 1977-85 vs. 20% in 1993-2000). To conclude, a significant increase in the number of viral STDs and a decline in the bacterial diseases were observed in recent years in comparison to the figures from the late 70s. This may be due to awareness of HIV, success of control programs, syndromic management of STDs, and adoption of safer sexual practices, which prevent bacterial STDs more efficiently than viral ones.     

Cognitive and affective disorders associated to HIV infection in the HAART era: findings from the NeuroICONA study. Cognitive impairment and depression in HIV/AIDS. The NeuroICONA study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the natural story of HIV-associated affective and cognitive disorders and the relationship with clinical, pharmacological, immunological and behavioural factors. METHOD: A total of 395 HIV-positive patients, naive to Highly Active Antirectroviral therapy (HAART), with no severe psychiatric disorders have been enrolled in the Neuro-ICONA Study. All participants were administered a comprehensive data collection instrument including an addiction behaviour survey, a medical problem list, a psychiatric assessment, a validated neuropsychological test battery. RESULTS: The global prevalence of cognitive impairment and of prominent depressive symptomatology were 17.9 and 15.5%, respectively. A significant difference in the prevalence of prominent depressive symptomatology was observed between patients in HAART and those not taking HAART(14.1 vs. 23.8%; P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Depressive and cognitive disorders affect a substantial proportion of HIV-seropositive subjects. The prevalence of prominent depressive symptomatology appears to significantly vary in relationship to the therapeutic protocol.     

Correlation of cleft type with incidence of perioperative respiratory complications in infants with cleft lip and palate

BACKGROUND: A retrospective survey of 339 infants who had undergone primary plastic surgery for cleft lip and palate was performed to evaluate the concomitant preoperative assessment based on severity grading of the common cold and the correlation of cleft type with the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications. METHODS: We assessed the severity of common cold symptoms in the preoperative period using the Common Cold Score, which comprises 10 symptoms and findings. We then determined the association of the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications with the increasing severity of common cold symptoms and also compared the complication incidence in the three cleft types in healthy infants without a common cold. RESULTS: The incidence of perioperative respiratory complications was greater in the group with a suspected presence of a common cold. Infants with severer cleft, who had bilateral cleft lip and palate, even without common cold symptoms, had a significantly higher incidence of perioperative respiratory complications (8.9%) than infants with simple cleft lip (1.7%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider postponing primary plastic surgery for cleft lip and palate in infants with a suspected presence of a common cold. Our results also suggest that the presence of a wide cleft is a risk factor for causing perioperative respiratory complications in infants with cleft lip and palate. We believe that a careful preoperative assessment of common cold symptoms in these infants can decrease the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications.     

降钙素原在新生儿细菌感染中的诊断价值

目的探讨降钙素原（PCT）在新生儿重症感染时的诊断价值。方法将167例住院新生儿分严重感染组、一般感染组、非感染组、恢复期组4组，检测血清PCT、血清CRP、白细胞计数及分类，进行结果分析。结果以PCT≥0．5ng／ml为阳性，各组阳性：重感染组为88．00％，一般感染组为55．00％，非感染组为14．29％，恢复期组为9．52％，严感染组阳性率明显高于其他3组与3组间两两比较，差异有统计学意义（He：73．24，P〈0．00）。结论PCT可作为新生儿感染的早期检测指标，动态检测PCT可判断疗效及预后。