Bacterial vaginosis is not associated with circumcision status of the current male partner

OBJECTIVE: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is common in sexually active women, and in a large proportion the underlying aetiology is unknown. We evaluated partner circumcision status as a potential risk and hypothesised that women with uncircumcised partners were at increased risk for BV. METHODS: Retrospective audit of a partner study (272 heterosexual couples) conducted in Baltimore between 1990 and 1992. BV defined by clinical criteria and circumcision status of males was determined by physical examination. RESULTS: BV was diagnosed in 83 (30%) female partners; 75 (27%) males were uncircumcised. In males and females respectively, gonorrhoea was diagnosed in 20% and 16%, and chlamydia in 7% and 11%. In women with circumcised partners, 58/197 (29%) had BV compared with 25/75 (33%) with uncircumcised partners (p = 0.53). CONCLUSION: Women with uncircumcised current partners are not at increased risk for BV.     

Evaluation of ofloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea

In an open study, a single oral dose of 400 mg of ofloxacin was administered to 40 men and 20 women who required treatment for uncomplicated gonococcal infection. Thirty-six men and 13 women were evaluable. Ofloxacin eradicated 49 of 49 urethral or endocervical gonococcal infections and 1 of 1 pharyngeal infection. There were 55 pretreatment isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae available for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Twenty-four (43.6%) produced penicillinase. Eighteen (32.7%) isolates that did not produce penicillinase had penicillin MICs greater than or equal to 1.0 micrograms/mL. Twelve (21.8%) isolates had tetracycline MICs greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/mL. The geometric mean minimal inhibitory concentrations (range) for 55 pretreatment N. gonorrhoeae isolates were: ofloxacin, 0.014 (.0078-.03) micrograms/mL; penicillin, 6.30 (.125-128) micrograms/mL; and tetracycline 1.61 (.03-128) micrograms/mL. There were few side effects. Ofloxacin appears to be an effective and safe oral therapy for the treatment of infections caused by N. gonorrhoeae including infections due to penicillin- and tetracycline-resistant strains.     

Lack of apoptosis of Sézary cells in the circulation following oral bexarotene therapy

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis of malignant cells has been suggested as an important mechanism of the action of bexarotene in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to examine the in vivo and in vitro responses of patients with Sézary syndrome treated with oral bexarotene and assess them for apoptosis of the Sézary cells. METHODS: Six patients with CTCL with circulating Sézary cells, participating in a clinical trial of oral bexarotene (300 mg m(-2) daily) were included in the study. Peripheral blood from the patients was analysed for in vivo and in vitro apoptosis. RESULTS: None of the six patients demonstrated in vivo apoptosis. In vitro apoptosis of Sézary cells was demonstrated in one patient following exogenous bexarotene. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis is not detectable in the circulation of patients with Sézary syndrome treated with bexarotene.     

Liver transplantation using fatty livers: always feasible?

Steatotic liver grafts represent the most common type of "extended criteria" organs that have been introduced during the last two decades due to the disparity between liver transplant candidates and the number available organs. A precise definition and reliable and reproducible method for steatosis quantification is currently lacking and the potential influence of the chemical composition of hepatic lipids has not been addressed. In our view, these shortcomings appear to contribute significantly to the inconsistent results of studies reporting on graft steatosis and the outcome of liver transplantation. In this review, various definitions, prevalence and methods of quantification of liver steatosis will be covered. Ischemia/reperfusion injury of the steatotic liver and its consequences on post-transplant outcome will be discussed. Selection criteria for organ allocation and a number of emerging protective strategies are suggested.