Antigenic characterization and ELISA detection of adult diarrhea rotaviruses

Recently, severe epidemics of diarrhea among both adults and children in China have been associated with an agent called adult diarrhea rotavirus (ADRV). We have studied ADRV from two areas of China (Jinzhou and Guangxi) and compared them with prototype group A, B, and C rotaviruses. The viral genomes were compared by electrophoresis of the RNA genome segments in polyacrylamide gels, and the antigenic relatedness of these viruses was examined by immune electron microscopic studies using virus preparations of either double- or single-capsid particles. Hyperimmune antisera (guinea pig and rabbit) to one strain of ADRV reacted with high titers with other strains of ADRV and with single-shelled capsids of a porcine group B rotavirus. The antisera to ADRV did not react with either group A or group C rotaviruses. Antisera to either bovine or porcine group B rotaviruses reacted with ADRV but not with the group A or group C viruses. Antisera to group A or group C virus reacted only with their respective homologous virus. These results and those of immunofluorescence studies place the human ADRV rotaviruses from China among the group B rotaviruses. We also report the development of an ELISA to detect ADRV; this ELISA should be useful for defining the epidemiology of these recently described rotaviruses.     

Universal influenza vaccination in the United States: are we ready? Report of a meeting

Universal influenza vaccination has been proposed as one strategy to improve vaccination coverage and disease prevention. In October 2005, influenza and vaccination experts, public health practitioners, representatives from medical professional societies, influenza vaccine manufacturers, and managed care organizations met to assess whether current data were sufficient to support an expansion of universal influenza vaccination and to define information gaps and potential barriers to implementation. Presenters at the meeting documented the substantial burden of influenza disease among all age groups, the major role of children in transmission, and the effectiveness of vaccine, especially in healthy children and adults. Observational studies and a mathematical model suggested that indirect protection, or "herd immunity," resulting from vaccination of school-age children would substantially reduce the incidence of disease in other age groups. Economic analyses generally showed that vaccination of healthy children and adults is cost-effective and is sensitive to vaccine cost, population group, and season. Influenza vaccination received annually over several years is safe and effective, but data on long-term use are limited. Challenges to expanded recommendations include maintenance of the vaccine supply, implementation of a feasible and effective strategy for vaccine delivery, the burden on the public health infrastructure, public acceptability, and financing. Overall, meeting attendees favored incremental expansion of recommendations, potentially toward universal influenza vaccination. They preferred to expand recommendations among children first, because children have a higher risk of illness, compared with healthy adults; because there is greater feasibility of implementation of the recommendations among children; and because of the potential for herd immunity decreasing morbidity and mortality among adults.     

Probiotic agents and infectious diseases: a modern perspective on a traditional therapy.

There is an increasing scientific and commercial interest in the use of beneficial microorganisms, or "probiotics," for the prevention and treatment of disease. The microorganisms most frequently used as probiotic agents are lactic-acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), which has been extensively studied in recent literature. Multiple mechanisms of action have been postulated, including lactose digestion, production of antimicrobial agents, competition for space or nutrients, and immunomodulation. We have reviewed recent studies of probiotics for the treatment and control of infectious diseases. Studies of pediatric diarrhea show substantial evidence of clinical benefits from probiotic therapy in patients with viral gastroenteritis, and data on LGG treatment for Clostridium difficile diarrhea appear promising. However, data to support use of probiotics for prevention of traveler's diarrhea are more limited. New research suggests potential applications in vaccine development and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Further studies are needed to take full advantage of this traditional medical approach and to apply it to the infectious diseases of the new millennium.     

Travelers' diarrhea: antimicrobial therapy and chemoprevention

The use of preventive measures and self-treatment for travelers' diarrhea is routine in regions where the occurrence of diarrhea is predictably high. People traveling to these areas who do not exercise care in their selection of consumed foods and beverages will suffer high rates of illness. Such diarrhea normally affects the traveler for a day, although it can result in chronic postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome. Although systemic antibacterial drugs are effective in preventing diarrhea, their use is not routinely recommended because of side effects and their importance as a therapy for extra-intestinal infections. This review focuses on current and future uses of antibacterial drugs in the prevention and therapy of travelers' diarrhea. Minimally absorbed (< 0.4%) rifaximin can effectively reduce the occurrence of travelers' diarrhea without side effects. Bismuth subsalicylate is a useful alternative, although it is less effective than rifaximin for the prevention of travelers' diarrhea and the required doses are less convenient. All people who travel to high-risk areas should take curative antimicrobial agents with them for self-treatment of illness: rifaximin 200 mg three times a day for 3 days, or an absorbable agent such as a fluoroquinolone or azithromycin taken in a single dose initially, with the need for a second or third dose determined by clinical response. Loperamide (up to 8 mg per day for < or = 2 days) can be given with the antibiotic to offer rapid symptomatic improvement. In the future, the ability to evaluate the genetic risk of illness acquisition might allow person-specific recommendations to be made.     

Palliative care in inflammatory bowel disease: an evidence-based approach

The management of the patient with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is challenging for both the physician and the patient. IBD imposes both a physical and emotional burden on patients' lives. Palliative care is important for IBD patients because it focuses on improving quality of life. While palliative care does not change the natural history of the disease, it provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. This article focuses on various aspects of care for IBD patients including pain control, management of oral and skin ulcerations, stomal problems in IBD patients, control of nausea and vomiting, management of chronic diarrhea and pruritus ani, evaluation of anemia, treatment of steroid-related bone disease, and treatment of psychological problems associated with IBD. Each of these areas is reviewed using an evidence-based approach. Evidence in category A refers to evidence from clinical trials that are randomized and well controlled. Category B Evidence refers to evidence from cohort or case-controlled studies. Category C is evidence from case reports or flawed clinical trials. Evidence from category D is limited to the clinical experience of the authors. Evidence labelled as category E refers to situations where there is insufficient evidence available to form an opinion. Algorithms for management of pain and nausea in IBD patients are presented.     

Systematic review and meta-analysis of Saccharomyces boulardii in adult patients

This article reviews the evidence for efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii(S.boulardii) for various disease indications in adults based on the peerreviewed,randomized clinical trials and pre-clinical studies from the published medical literature(Medline,Clinical Trial websites and meeting abstracts) between 1976 and 2009.For meta-analysis,only randomized,blinded controlled trials unrestricted by language were included.Pre-clinical studies,volunteer studies and uncontrolled studies were excluded fr...     

Self-reported Diarrhea: What Does It Mean?

Objective: We aimed to determine perceptions of diarrhea in the general population. Methods: We obtained an age- and gender-stratified random sample of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents aged 20 to 64 yr. Subjects were mailed a valid self-report questionnaire; 77% responded (n = 1644). Results: A total of 57 subjects reported their usual bowel pattern as diarrhea alone (3.5%), whereas an additional 148 reported alternating diarrhea and constipation (9.0%). Among subjects with self-reported diarrhea, loose or watery stools and urgency were the commonest diarrheal symptoms, whereas in those with an alternating bowel habit a feeling of incomplete evacuation was the most common diarrheal symptom. Diarrheal symptoms inadequately discriminated self-reported diarrhea from a self-reported normal bowel habit in a logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, and irritable bowel syndrome. Furthermore, only 39% of the subjects in the sample who had at least one of the four major symptoms compatible with diarrhea also reported their usual bowel habit as diarrhea. Conclusions: Because of the observed lack of agreement, we conclude that the term "diarrhea" should be interpreted very cautiously in epidemiological studies or clinical trials, as it is unlikely to accurately reflect symptoms of diarrhea.     

Epidemiology of intestinal functional disorders in an apparently healthy population

The characteristics and the prevalence of functional bowel disorders in the general French population are unknown. Based on an epidemiological inquiry in a random population of 1,200 persons who were not seeking care, residents in our country we established: the prevalence of symptoms suggestive of functional bowel disorders; the epidemiological differences between symptomatic subgroups which included abdominal pain with or without bowel dysfunction, diarrhea and constipation. The amount of cases and the prevalence in each subgroup were: abdominal pain, 165, 13.8 p. 100, painless constipation, 75, 6.3 p. 100, diarrhea, 10, 0.8 p. 100. As a whole, functional bowel disorders occurred in 20 p. 100 of our population. The "irritable bowel syndrome" group defined as abdominal pain and/or diarrhea differ from normal subjects by the following higher frequency of age under 50, subjects in active duty, antecedents of diverticulosis, influence of stress on symptoms, nausea, vomiting, migraines, pyrosis and number of visits to a doctor. However neither the sex-ratio nor professional occupation were relevant. The constipation group differed from normal because of the higher frequency of female sex, antecedents of hiatus hernia, use of laxatives but not because of age nor by the number of associated symptoms. In conclusion, functional bowel disorders occurred in 20 p. 100 of our population; two subgroups were clearly different from an epidemiological point of view, the irritable bowel syndrome (13 p. 100) and constipation (7 p. 100); therefore these two groups deserve a specific physiopathological, psychological and therapeutic approach.     

An epidemiological description of the development of drug dependence: environmental factors and prevention.

The "agent," "host," and "environment" of drug dependence are examined relative to their potential as effective foci of efforts in the areas of primary secondary and tertiary prevention. Factors associated with the agent and the host are shown to be of extremely limited value when it comes to the primary prevention of drug dependence. Results of prior rewards are reviewed and they serve as the basis for the conclusion that the manipulation of environmental factors holds the greatest promise relative to the primary prevention of drug dependence.     

Recommendations for the management of cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Scientific evidence and expert opinion

Objectives

Last recommendations regarding cardiovascular risk (CVR) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were developed by the EULAR group in 2010. The aim is to update evidence-based recommendations about this worrying health problem.

Methods

We assembled a multidisciplinary workgroup (rheumatologists, endocrinologist, cardiologist, and epidemiologist) and a panel of 28 expert rheumatologists. The study was carried out in two big phases: identifying key areas in the prevention and management of CVR and developing a set of recommendations based on a review of the available scientific evidence and use of the Delphi consensus technique. All this has been developed according to an updating process of evidence-based recommendations.

Results

Overall, 25 recommendations were made addressing three complementary areas: CVR assessment tools, patient eligibility for assessment, and treatment strategies for control of CVR. The grade of the recommendations was not substantially modified compared to the original EULAR recommendations, except in two of them, which were upgraded from C to B. These two recommendations are the ones related to the use of corticosteroids and smoking cessation. The new developed recommendations address these two areas: CVR assessment and treatment strategies for control of CVR.

Conclusions

There are substantial gaps in the current knowledge that do not allow classifying properly RA patients based on their actual CVR and to accurately identify those patients who would benefit from CVR assessment. Consequently, studies designed to determine the causal effects of RA disease characteristics on cardiovascular morbidity/mortality and to identify patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease are still needed.     

Prevention of Clostridium difficile infection with Saccharomyces boulardii: A systematic review

BACKGROUND:

Clostridium difficile is a major cause of antibioticassociated diarrhea within the hospital setting. The yeast Saccharomyces boulardii has been found to have some effect in reducing the risk of C difficile infection (CDI); however, its role in preventive therapy has yet to be firmly established.

OBJECTIVE:

To review the effectiveness of S boulardii in the prevention of primary and recurrent CDI. Benefit was defined as a reduction of diarrhea associated with C difficile. Risk was defined as any adverse effects of S boulardii.

METHODS:

A literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library was performed. Included studies were English language, randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trials evaluating S boulardii in CDI prevention.

RESULTS:

Four studies were reviewed. Two studies investigated the prevention of recurrence in populations that were experiencing CDI at baseline. One trial showed a reduction of relapses in patients experiencing recurrent CDI (RR=0.53; P<0.05). The other demonstrated a trend toward reduction of CDI relapse in the recurrent treatment group of patients receiving high-dose vancomycin (RR=0.33; P=0.05). Two other studies examined primary prevention of CDI in populations that had been recently prescribed antibiotics. These studies lacked the power to detect statistically significant differences. Patients on treatment experienced increased risk for thirst and constipation.

CONCLUSION:

S boulardii seems to be well tolerated and may be effective for secondary prevention in some specific patient populations with particular concurrent antibiotic treatment. Its role in primary prevention is poorly defined and more research is required before changes in practice are recommended.     

不同药物治疗肠易激综合征的临床疗效

背景:肠易激综合征(IBS)是消化内科常见疾病之一,但目前所用药物尚不能对所有IBS症状有疗效。目的:分析不同药物对不同类型IBS的临床疗效。方法:136例便秘型IBS患者随机分为西沙必利或莫沙必利治疗组(A组)和西沙必利或莫沙必利+乳果糖治疗组(B组);72例腹泻型IBS患者随机分为匹维溴铵治疗组(C组)和马来酸曲美布汀治疗组(D组),分别观察治疗1周、1个月和3个月时的疗效。结果:A组1周、1个月和3个月时的总有效率分别为29.8％、25.3％和19.0％,而B组分别为69.2％、51.9％和41.2％,均显著高于A组(P<0.005、P<0.005和P<0.01)。C组1周、1个月和3个月时的总有效率分别为90.9％、67.7％和61.3％,而D组分别为79.5％、51.4％和31.4％,C组3个月时的总有效率显著高于D组(P<0.05)。各组的疗效在3个月时均有所降低,但B组和C组的总有效率仍较高。结论:单用西沙必利或莫沙必利治疗便秘型IBS疗效有限,加用乳果糖可提高疗效。匹维溴铵和马来酸曲美布汀对腹泻型IBS的近期疗效较好。     

Use of rifaximin in gastrointestinal and liver diseases

Rifaximin is a broad spectrum oral antibiotic with antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gramnegative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. It is poorly absorbed and thus has a highly favorable safety profile. Rifaximin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of traveler's diarrhea, functional bloating and irritable bowel syndrome, small bowel bacterial overgrowth and in the prevention of recurrent overt hepatic encephalopathy. In addition, there is emerging evidence for a possible beneficial effect of rifaximin in the treatment of uncomplicated diverticular disease and in the prevention of recurrent diverticulitis. The use of rifaximin is associated with a low incidence of development, or persistence of spontaneous bacterial mutants. Moreover, the development of important drug resistance among extra-intestinal flora during rifaximin therapy is unlikely because of minimal systemic absorption and limited cross-resistance of rifaximin with other antimicrobials. This review addresses the current and emerging role of rifaximin in the treatment of gastrointestinal and liver disorders.     

Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The "Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999" presents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s recommendations for the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs), formerly called surgical wound infections. This two-part guideline updates and replaces previous guidelines.1,2 Part I, "Surgical Site Infection: An Overview," describes the epidemiology, definitions, microbiology, pathogenesis, and surveillance of SSIs. Included is a detailed discussion of the pre-, intra-, and postoperative issues relevant to SSI genesis. Part II, "Recommendations for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection," represents the consensus of the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) regarding strategies for the prevention of SSIs.3 Whenever possible, the recommendations in Part II are based on data from well-designed scientific studies. However, there are a limited number of studies that clearly validate risk factors and prevention measures for SSI. By necessity, available studies have often been conducted in narrowly defined patient populations or for specific kinds of operations, making generalization of their findings to all specialties and types of operations potentially problematic. This is especially true regarding the implementation of SSI prevention measures. Finally, some of the infection control practices routinely used by surgical teams cannot be rigorously studied for ethical or logistical reasons (e.g., wearing vs not wearing gloves). Thus, some of the recommendations in Part II are based on a strong theoretical rationale and suggestive evidence in the absence of confirmatory scientific knowledge.It has been estimated that approximately 75% of all operations in the United States will be performed in "ambulatory," "same-day," or "outpatient" operating rooms by the turn of the century.4 In recommending various SSI prevention methods, this document makes no distinction between surgical care delivered in such settings and that provided in conventional inpatient operating rooms. This document is primarily intended for use by surgeons, operating room nurses, postoperative inpatient and clinic nurses, infection control professionals, anesthesiologists, healthcare epidemiologists, and other personnel directly responsible for the prevention of nosocomial infections. This document does not: Specifically address issues unique to burns, trauma, transplant procedures, or transmission of bloodborne pathogens from healthcare worker to patient, nor does it specifically address details of SSI prevention in pediatric surgical practice. It has been recently shown in a multicenter study of pediatric surgical patients that characteristics related to the operations are more important than those related to the physiologic status of the patients.5 In general, all SSI prevention measures effective in adult surgical care are indicated in pediatric surgical care. Specifically address procedures performed outside of the operating room (e.g., endoscopic procedures), nor does it provide guidance for infection prevention for invasive procedures such as cardiac catheterization or interventional radiology. Nonetheless, it is likely that many SSI prevention strategies also could be applied or adapted to reduce infectious complications associated with these procedures. Specifically recommend SSI prevention methods unique to minimally invasive operations (i.e., laparoscopic surgery). Available SSI surveillance data indicate that laparoscopic operations generally have a lower or comparable SSI risk when contrasted to open operations.6-11 SSI prevention measures applicable in open operations (e.g., open cholecystectomy) are indicated for their laparoscopic counterparts (e.g., laparoscopic cholecystectomy). Recommend specific antiseptic agents for patient preoperative skin preparations or for healthcare worker hand/forearm antisepsis. Hospitals should choose from products recommended for these activitie     

Probiotics in the management of colonic disorders

Probiotics have been used in humans for almost a century and widely recommended for the treatment of a variety of ills assumed to be of colonic origin, including diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and flatulence. More recently, probiotics have been evaluated in the management of specific colonic disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and Clostridium difficile colitis. It is evident that no two probiotics are exactly alike; why then should we expect reproducible results from studies that employ different species or strains, variable formulations, and diverse dosing schedules? When probiotics have been studied with the rigor appropriate to a new therapeutic modality, some coherent results have emerged: specific strains are effective in certain diarrheal states, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and pouchitis, as well as in the prevention of C. difficile-related colitis. Even here, not to mention other colonic disorders, further adequately powered and appropriately designed trials are needed.     

The effect of incentive spirometry on postoperative pulmonary complications: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the evidence examining the use of incentive spirometry (IS) for the prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, HealthSTAR, and Current Contents databases from their inception until June 2000. Key terms included "incentive spirometry," "breathing exercises," "chest physical therapy," and "pulmonary complications." Articles were limited to human studies in English. A secondary search of the reference lists of all identified articles also was conducted. A critical appraisal form was developed to extract and assess information. Each study was reviewed independently by one of three pairs of group members. The pair then met to reach consensus before presenting the report to the entire review group for final agreement. RESULTS: The search yielded 85 articles. Studies dealing with the use of IS for preventing PPCs (n = 46) were accepted for systematic review. In 35 of these studies, we were unable to accept the stated conclusions due to flaws in methodology. Critical appraisal of the 11 remaining studies indicated 10 studies in which there was no positive short-term effect or treatment effect of IS following cardiac or abdominal surgery. The only supportive study reported that IS, deep breathing, and intermittent positive-pressure breathing were equally more effective than no treatment in preventing PPCs following abdominal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Presently, the evidence does not support the use of IS for decreasing the incidence of PPCs following cardiac or upper abdominal surgery.     

提高胶囊内镜检查质量的补救方法研究

目的胶囊内镜检查时,部分患者胶囊进入小肠后发现肠道清洁度较差,本研究拟通过采取补救清肠法,以期提高胶囊内镜检查的成功率及肠道清洁度。方法 90例患者随机分为A组(100 mL甘露醇+200 mL温水)、B组(50 mL甘露醇+100 mL温水)和C组(100 mL温水)3组,比较患者采取补救措施后全小肠检查完成率及肠道清洁度。结果 A组和B组的患者肠道清洁度明显优于C组,A、B两组患者肠道清洁度与C组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。全小肠检查率A组为100%(30/30),B组为90%(27/30),C组70%(21/30)。结论采用50 mL甘露醇+100 mL温水进行补救清肠的方法,肠道清洁度好,全小肠检查完成率高,是较为理想的补救清肠方法。     

Hepatitis C and alcohol: fundamental and translational research directions

Infection with hepatitis C and the alcohol abuse that frequently accompanies it, impose major worldwide healthcare burdens. The scientific knowledge base that would inform and direct the development of more effective treatment and intervention strategies for these linked pandemics is inadequate. Therefore, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) organized a workshop in which a multidisciplinary group of experts was asked to review the state-of-the-science specific to alcohol in the context of hepatitis C infection. The panel was charged with identifying newly emerging areas likely to lead to advances in fundamental research and to identify those with the greatest potential for accelerating the development of more effective treatment options. The workshop panel made recommendations for research in four major categories: clinical studies of alcohol and HCV; virology and immunology; liver fibrosis and mechanisms of liver injury; and the development of model systems. This article summarizes the panel's deliberations and their recommendations for future research on alcohol and hepatitis C.