Cerebral venous thrombosis after immune thrombocytopenic purpura and anti-D immune globulin therapy

Cerebral venous thrombosis has multiple etiologies and a wide variety of clinical manifestations. This article reports on a young girl who developed cerebral venous thrombosis after intravenous anti-D immune globulin therapy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura. In this case, venous infarction was manifested by an unusual pattern of restricted diffusion limited to the corpus callosum. The cause of cerebral venous thrombosis in this patient may be related to both immune thrombocytopenia and immunoglobulin therapy.     

Sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in heart failure: Potential decongestive mechanisms and current clinical studies

Congestion is a key pathophysiological feature of heart failure (HF) syndrome that drives most of the clinical manifestations of acute HF and is related with poor quality of life and outcomes. Therefore, safe and effective decongestion is an important therapeutic target in the management of acute HF and despite the use of guideline-recommended loop diuretics, adequate decongestion is not always achieved in patients with acute HF. Recently, sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have been shown to provide clinical benefits across a broad spectrum of patients with HF, including consistent reduction in the risk of acute HF episodes. While the exact mechanisms underlying these benefits remain a matter of debate, a growing body of evidence suggests that effective decongestion may be partly responsible, especially in the setting of acute HF. In this review, we discuss the potential decongestive mechanisms of SGLT-2 inhibitors, such as osmotic diuresis, natriuresis, preservation of glomerular filtration and facilitation of interstitial drainage, which can collectively translate into effective and safe decongestion. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive review of up-to-date clinical data of SGLT-2 inhibitor use in the acute HF population.     

Mother-to-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus by breast milk: presumed innocent or presumed guilty?

This article reviews the virological and epidemiological data available on transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by breast milk. Colostrum and breast milk are considered major modes of transmission for many animal retroviruses as well as human T-cell leukemia virus, mainly as the consequence of ingestion of infected cells. Several cases that strongly suggest transmission of HIV-1 through breast-feeding have now been reported. In addition, recent evidence suggests that postpartum HIV-1 seroconversion of a mother may be associated with a high risk of postnatal transmission to offspring via breast milk. Preventive measures such as pasteurization of breast milk have not been fully examined. While the World Health Organization continues to promote breast-feeding in areas where no safe alternative exists, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that American women who are infected by HIV-1 not practice breast-feeding if a safe alternative is available. Large-scale, carefully controlled, prospective studies of the risk of HIV-1 infection associated with breast-feeding are of the utmost priority. Feasible and ethically acceptable feeding alternatives should be developed for countries where formula feeding has a strong negative effect on child morbidity and mortality.     

Effect of modified glucose-insulin-potassium on free fatty acids, matrix metalloproteinase, and myoglobin in ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Insulin has a free fatty acid (FFA)-suppressive effect, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-lowering effect, and a potential myocardial-protective effect. Whether low-dose insulin exerts these effects in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) was investigated. Thirty-two patients administered thrombolytics and heparin were randomly assigned to a modified glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) regimen (insulin 2.5 U/hour, dextrose and potassium titrated to prevent hyperglycemia) or normal saline solution and potassium (controls) for 48 hours. Plasma FFA, serum VEGF, pro-MMP-1, and myoglobin were measured at baseline and sequentially for 48 hours. FFA concentrations were increased at baseline; increased further in the first 4 hours in controls (p相似文献   

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in Africa in the year 2000

OBJECTIVES: Various approaches to preventing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV have recently been, or are being, evaluated in developing countries, especially in Africa. New findings from these trials are now becoming available, the implications of which, for population-based intervention programmes, need urgent consideration. METHOD: A critical review of 18 randomized trials and other relevant studies from developing and industrialized countries. RESULTS: Most African results relate to trials of antiretroviral agents (ARV). They demonstrate efficacy in reducing transmission in the first 6 months of life with short regimens of zidovudine (ZDV), with or without lamivudine (3TC), and nevirapine (NVP) alone. Preliminary results suggest the long-term efficacy of zidovudine. Antiseptic and nutritional interventions have been shown to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity but not MTCT of HIV. HIV confidential voluntary counselling and testing for pregnant women, a short regimen of peripartum ARV with alternatives to breastfeeding such as early weaning or breast milk substitutes from birth currently represent the best option to reduce MTCTof HIV in Africa. However, the prevention of postnatal transmission requires further research, particularly in view of the consequences of different feeding options and the possibility of post-perinatal exposure prophylaxis of newborns with ARV. Issues relating to the implementation of currently validated strategies are discussed.     

Contraceptive use,protected sexual intercourse and incidence of pregnancies among African HIV-infected women. DITRAME ANRS 049 Project,Abidjan 1995-2000

The aim of this paper is to describe the adherence of African HIV+ women to the counselling provided after announcement of the result of the HIV test during pregnancy, focusing on early weaning to reduce post-natal transmission, protected sexual intercourse to avoid sexual transmission, and contraceptive use to avoid unexpected pregnancies. In 1999-2000, a questionnaire on sexual and reproductive behaviours was administered to 149 HIV+ women followed in post-partum, informed and counselled in the ANRS 049 DITRAME project in Abidjan. C?te d'Ivoire. Duration of breastfeeding, post-partum amenorrhea and abstinence, contraceptive use and condom use were measured. Incidence of pregnancies during the first 24 months post partum was estimated and modelled by a Cox regression model. Average duration of breastfeeding was 7.9 months, average duration of post partum abstinence was 12.0 months, and 39% of women used contraceptives at the time of the survey. Frequency of condom use was 13%. Incidence of pregnancies was 16.5 per 100 women-years at risk. Half of these pregnancies were not desired and a third were terminated by induced abortion. The significant determinants of the pregnancy occurrence were the death of the previous child, the cessation of breastfeeding, the cessation of the post partum abstinence, and higher education. In conclusion, if counselling on early weaning can be followed by the HIV+ women, it is not easily the case for condom and contraceptive use. Hence, pregnancy incidence in the post-partum follow-up was high. The main strategy of these HIV+ women to avoid unexpected pregnancies as well as sexual transmission of HIV seems to be an increase of the duration of post-partum abstinence. The most educated women who cannot easily adopt this strategy are particularly exposed to unwanted pregnancies.     

Respiratory virus infections in transplant recipients after reduced-intensity conditioning with Campath-1H: high incidence but low mortality

Respiratory virus infections can cause serious morbidity and mortality after conventional allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, the incidence and outcome of these infections after reduced intensity conditioning has not been reported. Between 1997 and 2001, 35 episodes of respiratory virus infections were noted in 25 of 83 transplant recipients conditioned with fludarabine, melphalan and Campath-1H, and 80% of them received early antiviral therapy. Parainfluenza virus (PIV) 3 was the commonest isolate (45.7%) followed by respiratory syncytial virus (37%). Patients with myeloma were more susceptible to these infections [odds ratio (OR) 4.1, P = 0.01] which were often recurrent in patients with severe acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (OR 10.6, P = 0.03). Infection within the first 100 d (OR 5.0, P = 0.05) and PIV 3 (OR 9.2, P = 0.01) isolation were risk factors for developing lower respiratory infection. Although more than half of the episodes progressed to lower respiratory infection, the mortality was only 8%. This could have been due to early initiation of antiviral therapy, but the attenuation of pulmonary damage due to the reduced-intensity conditioning, low incidence of GVHD and, paradoxically, the low CD4+ T-cell subset in this setting might also have been contributory factors.