Clinical manifestations ofYersinia pseudotuberculosis infection in children

The clinical manifestations of infection were analysed during an outbreak of 34 cases ofYersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype Ia infection. The diagnosis was based on the results of enzyme immunoassay and verified by stool culture in five cases. The first four patients were pupils from the same school, and information on any signs and symptoms of infection was obtained by questionnaire from pupils of the school. A blood sample was obtained from 101 children. Strong IgM and IgG antibody responses toYersinia pseudotuberculosis Ia were found in 13 (25%) of the 52 pupils who reported signs and symptoms of infection and in 9 (18%) of the 49 with no manifestations of infection. The vigorous immune response also resulted in effective opsonization of the causative microorganism. The most common symptoms were fever and abdominal pain. Three children operated on because of suspected appendicitis were found to have mesenteric lymphadenitis. Only one patient developed reactive arthritis. Analysis showed that a remarkable proportion ofYersinia pseudotuberculosis infections may be subclinical, and that individualYersinia pseudotuberculosis strains may have different capacities to cause postinfection complications.     

Pulse lavage washing in decontamination of allografts improves safety

We analyzed the bacterial contamination rate of 140 femoral head allografts after rinsing the allografts in different decontamination solutions. Bacterial screening methods and cleansing effect of antibiotics (cefuroxime and rifampicin) and pulse lavage were compared. Swabbing and taking small pieces of bone for culture were the screening methods used. Both methods proved to be quite unreliable. Approximately one-fourth of the results were false negative. Culturing small pieces of bone gave the most accurate and reliable results and, therefore, can be recommended as a bacterial screening method. The use of antibiotics in allograft decontamination is controversial. In prophylactic use antibiotics include risks of allergic reactions and resistant development and our results in the present study show that antibiotics do not improve the decontamination any better than low-pressure pulse lavage with sterile saline solution. Therefore, pulse lavage with sterile saline solution can be recommended for allograft decontamination. Our results demonstrate that it decreases bacterial bioburden as effectively as the antibiotics without persisting the disadvantages.     

Invasive group B streptococcal infections in Finland: a population-based study

We analyzed surveillance data on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in Finland from 1995 to 2000 and reviewed neonatal cases of early-onset GBS infection in selected hospitals in 1999 to 2000. From 1995 to 2000, 853 cases were reported (annual incidence 2.2-3.0/100,000 population). We found 32-38 neonatal cases of early-onset GBS disease per year (annual incidence 0.6-0.7/1,000 live births). In five hospitals, 35% of 26 neonatal cases of early-onset GBS infection had at least one risk factor: prolonged rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, or intrapartum fever. Five of eight mothers screened for GBS were colonized. In one case, disease developed despite intrapartum chemoprophylaxis. Although the incidence of early-onset GBS disease in Finland is relatively low, some geographic variation exists, and current prevention practices are suboptimal. Establishing national guidelines to prevent perinatal GBS is likely to reduce the incidence of the disease.     

Dynamic holographic imaging of the beating human heart

Background--Currently, the reporting and archiving of echocardiographic data suffer from the difficulty of representing heart motion on printable 2-dimensional (2D) media. Methods and Results--We studied the capability of holography to integrate motion into 2D echocardiographic prints. Images of normal human hearts and of a variety of mitral valve function abnormalities (mitral valve prolapse, systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflets, and obstruction of the mitral valve by a myxoma) were acquired digitally on standard echocardiographic machines. Images were processed into a data format suitable for holographic printing. Angularly multiplexed holograms were then printed on a prototype holographic "laser" printer, with integration of time in vertical parallax, so that heart motion became visible when the hologram was tilted up and down. The resulting holograms displayed the anatomy with the same resolution as the original acquisition and allowed detailed study of valve motion with side-by-side comparison of normal and abnormal findings. Comparison of standard echocardiographic measurements in original echo frames and corresponding hologram views showed an excellent correlation of both methods (P<0.0001, r2=0.979, mean bias=2.76 mm). In this feasibility study, both 2D and 3D holographic images were produced. The equipment needed to view these holograms consists of only a simple point-light source. Conclusions--Holographic representation of myocardial and valve motion from echocardiographic data is feasible and allows the printing on a 2D medium of the complete heart cycle. Combined with the recent development of online holographic printing, this novel technique has the potential to improve reporting, visualization, and archiving of echocardiographic imaging.     

7-(4,7-二取代香豆素-3-乙酰氨基)头孢菌素的合成

本文根据构效关系,设计并合成了17个7-(4,7-二取代香豆素-3-乙酰氨基)头孢菌素衍生物。其缩合方法采用酰氯法、Vilsmeier试剂法及混合酐法。初步体外抑菌试验表明,化合物对革兰氏阳性菌和少数革兰氏阴性菌有较强的抗菌作用。进一步药理试验尚在进行。