Genetic relatedness among isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shigella sonnei</Emphasis> carrying class 2 integrons in Tehran,Iran, 2002–2003

Background  

Shigella spp. are major cause of diarrhoeal disease in both developing and developed countries. Shigella sonnei is the serogroup of Shigella most frequently responsible for sporadic and epidemic enteritis in developed countries. In recent years the emergence and spread of S. sonnei biotype g carrying class 2 integron have been frequently reported in many countries. Recently, S. sonnei has been reported as the prevalent serogroup of Shigella in Iran.     

Shigella sonnei biotype g carrying class 2 integrons in southern Italy: a retrospective typing study by pulsed field gel electrophoresis

Background  

Emergence and global dissemination of multiresistant strains of enteric pathogens is a very concerning problem from both epidemiological and Public Health points of view. Shigella sonnei is the serogroup of Shigella most frequently responsible for sporadic and epidemic enteritis in developed countries. The dissemination is associated most often to human to human transmission, but foodborne episodes have also been described. In recent years the circulation of multiresistant strains of S. sonnei biotype g carrying a class 2 integron has been reported in many countries worldwide. In southern Italy a strain with similar properties has been responsible for a large community outbreak occurred in 2003 in Palermo, Sicily.     

Sensibilidad a azitromicina y otros antibióticos en aislados recientes de Salmonella,Shigella y Yersinia

Introduction

Azithromycin represents an alternative option to treat bacterial diarrhea when the antibiotic therapy is indicated. Little is known regarding the susceptibility to azithromycin in enteropathogens in Spain.

Methods

The MICs of azithromycin were determined by E-test against Salmonella non-typhi (SNT), Shigella and Yersinia isolates collected over the last three years (2010-2012). In addition, the susceptibility to other antibiotics usually used to treat gastrointestinal diseases was determined in these isolates by using a microdilution method.

Results

A total of 139 strains of SNT, Shigella and Yersinia were studied. All of them, except one strain, had a MIC ≤ 16 mg/L of azithromycin. In the adult population, 14.7% and 40.6% of SNT and Shigella isolates, respectively, were resistant to at least 2 of following antibiotics: amoxicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. In the pediatric population, 10% of SNT clinical isolates and 28.6% (2/7) of Shigella isolates were resistant to amoxicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Conclusions

In our experience, azithromycin would be a useful antibiotic alternative to treat bacterial diarrhea.     

Serum neopterin is elevated in patients infected with Shigella

Background

Neopterin is produced by human macrophages/monocytes when stimulated with interferon-gamma. Production of neopterin is found in serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine of patients with infections by viruses, intracellular bacteria and parasites, autoimmune diseases, malignant tumors and patients in allograft rejection episodes.

Methods

In this study, the level of neopterin was determined in serum samples obtained from patients infected with Shigella (all four species) and healthy individuals. The study population comprised of 14 patients infected with Shigella and 14 normal controls. Serum neopterin was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

The mean of serum neopterin concentration was 36.32 ± 9.71 nmol/L among patients infected with Shigella and 2.88 ± 0.77 nmol/L in the control group. The mean serum neopterin levels were significantly higher in the test group as compared to the normal group (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

This study revealed that neopterin was elevated in patients infected with Shigella.     

The prevalence and risk factors for acute respiratory infections in children aged 0‐59 months in rural Malawi: A cross‐sectional study

Background

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) are a leading cause of childhood mortality and morbidity. Malawi has high childhood mortality but limited data on the prevalence of disease in the community.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study of children aged 0‐59 months. Health passports were examined for ARI diagnoses in the preceding 12 months. Children were physically examined for malnutrition or current ARI.

Results

828 children participated. The annual prevalence of ARI was 32.6% (95% CI 29.3‐36.0%). Having a sibling with ARI (OR 1.44, P = .01), increasing household density (OR 2.17, P = .02) and acute malnutrition (OR 1.69, P = .01) were predictors of infection in the last year. The point prevalence of ARI was 8.3% (95% CI 6.8‐10.4%). Risk factors for current ARI were acute‐on‐chronic malnutrition (OR 3.06, P = .02), increasing household density (OR1.19, P = .05) and having a sibling with ARI (OR 2.30, P = .02).

Conclusion

This study provides novel data on the high prevalence of ARI in Malawi. This baseline data can be used in the monitoring and planning of future interventions in this population.     

Purulent pericarditis due to co-infection with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus pneumoniae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>in a patient with features of advanced HIV infection

Background  

Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are common pathogens in patients with HIV infection.     

Infection with Specific <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">cag</Emphasis> Pathogenicity Island Strains Is Associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Interleukin-1B</Emphasis> Gene Polymorphisms in Venezuelan Chronic Gastritis Patients

Background  

The cag pathogenicity island (cag-PAI) is one of the major virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori, showing considerable geographic variation.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> Infection on Symptoms of Gastroenteritis Due to Enteropathogenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> in Adults

Background  

Helicobacter pylori can cause hypochlorhydria in some hosts and predispose to diarrheal infections.     

Mutation detection analysis of a region of 16S-like ribosomal RNA gene of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba histolytica</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba dispar</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba moshkovskii</Emphasis>

Background  

The level of intra-species genetic variation in Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii populations in a localized geographic area, like Puducherry, India, remains unknown.     

Micro‐ribonucleic acid‐binding site variants of type 2 diabetes candidate loci predispose to gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese Han women

Aims/Introduction

Emerging evidence has suggested that the genetic background of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was analogous to type 2 diabetes mellitus. In contrast to type 2 diabetes mellitus, the genetic studies for GDM were limited. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to extensively explore the influence of micro‐ribonucleic acid‐binding single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus candidate loci on GDM susceptibility in Chinese.

Materials and Methods

A total of 839 GDM patients and 900 controls were enrolled. Six micro‐ribonucleic acid‐binding SNPs were selected from 30 type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility loci and genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays.

Results

The minor allele of three SNPs, PAX4 rs712699 (OR 1.366, 95% confidence interval 1.021–1.828, P = 0.036), KCNB1 rs1051295 (OR 1.579, 95% confidence interval 1.172–2.128, P = 0.003) and MFN2 rs1042842 (OR 1.398, 95% confidence interval 1.050–1.862, P = 0.022) were identified to significantly confer higher a risk of GDM in the additive model. The association between rs1051295 and increased fasting plasma glucose (b = 0.006, P = 0.008), 3‐h oral glucose tolerance test plasma glucose (b = 0.058, P = 0.025) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (b = 0.065, P = 0.017) was also shown. Rs1042842 was correlated with higher 3‐h oral glucose tolerance test plasma glucose (b = 0.056, P = 0.028). However, no significant correlation between the other included SNPs (LPIN1 rs1050800, VPS26A rs1802295 and NLRP3 rs10802502) and GDM susceptibility were observed.

Conclusions

The present findings showed that micro‐ribonucleic acid‐binding SNPs in type 2 diabetes mellitus candidate loci were also associated with GDM susceptibility, which further highlighted the similar genetic basis underlying GDM and type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare</Emphasis>cellulitis occurring with septic arthritis after joint injection: a case report

Background  

Cellulitis caused by Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare has rarely been described. Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare is a rare cause of septic arthritis after intra-articular injection, though the causative role of injection is difficult to ascertain in such cases.     

Clinical features of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacteroides</Emphasis> bacteremia and their association with colorectal carcinoma

Purpose  

We investigated the clinical features of Bacteroides bacteremia for 5 years to determine the risk factors for mortality and to ascertain whether bacteremia due to Bacteroides spp. is associated with colorectal carcinoma.     

Analysis of pancreatic volume in acute‐onset,slowly‐progressive and fulminant type 1 diabetes in a Japanese population

Aims/Introduction

A decrease in the size of the pancreas is observed in islet autoantibody‐positive non‐diabetic donors and acute‐onset type 1 diabetes irrespective of the diabetes duration. Little is known, however, about the relationship between the size of the pancreas and type 1 diabetes subtypes, including fulminant type 1 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

We examined the pancreatic volume (PV) in 44 adult patients with type 1 diabetes (16 acute‐onset type 1 diabetes, 18 slowly progressive type 1 diabetes and 10 fulminant type 1 diabetes) and 39 age‐ and body mass index‐matched non‐diabetic controls. PV was measured by computed tomography. The ability to secrete insulin was assessed by stimulated C‐peptide after intravenous glucagon administration.

Results

PV was significantly correlated with bodyweight in both control participants and type 1 diabetes patients. The PV index (PVI; PV/bodyweight) was decreased by 39% in type 1 diabetes compared with that in controls. PVI was significantly decreased in acute‐onset type 1 diabetes patients and slowly progressive type 1 diabetes patients (both P < 0.0001), but not in fulminant type 1 diabetes patients (P = 0.10), compared with control participants. In cases patients with recent‐onset type 1 diabetes (0–7 days post‐diagnosis), PVI was significantly decreased in acute‐onset type 1 diabetes patients (n = 8, P = 0.0005), but not in fulminant type 1 diabetes patients (n = 7, P = 0.44), compared with controls. PVI showed no correlations with the diabetes duration, C‐peptide levels, glycated hemoglobin, glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody levels, serum amylase or daily total insulin dose in type 1 diabetes subtypes.

Conclusions

The present results show that patients with acute‐onset type 1 diabetes and slowly progressive type 1 diabetes have small pancreases irrespective of the diabetes duration or C‐peptide levels. In contrast to earlier findings on acute‐onset type 1 diabetes, we found no reduction of PVI at the onset of fulminant type 1 diabetes.     

Selective T‐cell depletion targeting CD45RA reduces viremia and enhances early T‐cell recovery compared with CD3‐targeted T‐cell depletion

1 Background

T‐cell depletion (TCD) effectively reduces severe graft‐versus‐host disease in recipients of HLA‐mismatched allografts. However, TCD is associated with delayed immune recovery and increased infections. We hypothesized that specific depletion of CD45RA+ naive T cells, rather than broad depletion of CD3+ T cells, can preserve memory‐immunity in the allografts and confer protection against important viral infections in the early post‐transplant period.

2 Methods

Sixty‐seven patients who received TCD haploidentical donor transplantation for hematologic malignancy on 3 consecutive trials were analyzed.

3 Results

Patients receiving CD45RA‐depleted donor grafts had 2000‐fold more donor T cells infused, significantly higher T‐cell counts at Day +30 post transplant (550/μL vs 10/μL; P < .001), and higher T‐cell diversity by Vbeta spectratyping at Day +100 (P < .001). Importantly, these recipients experienced a significant reduction in both the incidence (P = .002) and duration (P = .02) of any viremia (cytomegalovirus, Epstein‐Barr virus, or adenovirus) in the first 6 months post transplant. Specifically, recipients of CD3‐depleted grafts were more likely to experience adenovirus viremia (27% vs 4%, P = .02).

4 Conclusion

CD45RA‐depletion provided a large number of donor memory T cells to the recipients and was associated with enhanced early T‐cell recovery and protection against viremia.     

Sexualized drug use (‘chemsex’) and high‐risk sexual behaviours in HIV‐positive men who have sex with men

Objectives

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV infection remains high in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK, and sexualized drug use (“chemsex”) and injecting drug use (“slamsex”) may play a part in this. We aimed to characterize HIV‐positive MSM engaging in chemsex/slamsex and to assess the associations with self‐reported STI diagnoses and sexual behaviours.

Methods

Data from a 2014 survey of people attending HIV clinics in England and Wales were linked to clinical data from national HIV surveillance records and weighted to be nationally representative. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the associations of chemsex and slamsex with self‐reported unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), serodiscordant UAI (sdUAI) (i.e. UAI with an HIV‐negative or unknown HIV status partner), sdUAI with a detectable viral load (>50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL), hepatitis C, and bacterial STIs.

Results

In the previous year, 29.5% of 392 sexually active participants engaged in chemsex, and 10.1% in slamsex. Chemsex was significantly associated with increased odds of UAI [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.73; P < 0.001], sdUAI (AOR 2.34; P < 0.05), sdUAI with a detectable viral load (AOR 3.86; P < 0.01), hepatitis C (AOR 6.58; P < 0.01), and bacterial STI diagnosis (AOR 2.65; P < 0.01). Slamsex was associated with increased odds of UAI (AOR 6.11; P < 0.05), hepatitis C (AOR 9.39; P < 0.001), and bacterial STI diagnosis (AOR 6.11; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Three in ten sexually active HIV‐positive MSM engaged in chemsex in the past year, which was positively associated with self‐reported depression/anxiety, smoking, nonsexual drug use, risky sexual behaviours, STIs, and hepatitis C. Chemsex may therefore play a role in the ongoing HIV and STI epidemics in the UK.     

Epidemiological,clinical, and diagnostic data on intestinal infections with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba histolytica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba dispar</Emphasis> among returning travelers

Background  

Among travelers returning from the tropics, Entamoeba spp. are among the most frequently detected intestinal parasites, mainly the presumable apathogenic E. dispar and the pathogenic E. histolytica.     

Alterations of tumor suppressor gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">p16</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">INK4a</Emphasis></Superscript>in pancreatic ductal carcinoma

Background  

Cell cycle inhibitor and tumor suppressor gene p16 / MTS-1 has been reported to be altered in a variety of human tumors. The purpose of the study was to evaluate primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas for potentially inactivating p16 alterations.     

Diagnostic relevance of simultaneous testing for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydia trachomatis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neisseria gonorrhoeae</Emphasis>

Background  

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection in a Swiss cohort among individuals consulting for screening or symptomatic reasons is not very well known.     

Association of mutation patterns in <Emphasis Type="Italic">gyrA/B</Emphasis> genes and ofloxacin resistance levels in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>isolates from East China in 2009

Background  

This study aimed to analyze the association of mutation patterns in gyrA and gyrB genes and the ofloxacin resistance levels in clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates sampled in 2009 from East China.     

Oral infection of mice with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enterica</Emphasis>serovar Typhimurium causes meningitis and infection of the brain

Background  

Salmonella meningitis is a rare and serious infection of the central nervous system following acute Salmonella enterica sepsis. For this pathogen, no appropriate model has been reported in which to examine infection kinetics and natural dissemination to the brain.