Detection kinetics for positive blood culture bottles by using the VITAL automated system.

The VITAL system principle is based on homogeneous fluorescence technology. During an 11-month period, a total of 19,706 blood cultures from adult patients hospitalized in various establishments of the Montpellier Teaching Hospital were collected in VITAL bottles, of which 1,939 were declared positive. Only 204 bottles (1.04%) were false positives. The 1,735 true-positive bottles were collected from 130 patients. The final visual control permitted the detection of 10 falsely negative bottles (0.05%), of which 5 contained clinically significant microorganisms from four patients. The kinetics of detection for all microorganisms showed that 66.6% were detected within 24 h, 83.1% within 48 h, 95.5% within 120 h, and 100% within 150 h. No clinical episode would have been missed had a 5-day protocol been used instead of a 7-day protocol. Among the positive bottles, 65.7% were detected by the SLOPE algorithm, 20.1% by the DELTA algorithm, and 14.2% by the THRESHOLD algorithm. This retrospective study of our results shows that a 5-day protocol is sufficient for the detection of septic episodes using the VITAL system.     

The inhibitory power of 2-isopropoxyphenyl-N-methylcarbamate against serum cholinesterase of various individuals

Summary The inhibition of serum cholinesterase by 2-isopropoxyphenyl-N-methylcarbamate in the sera of 10 subjects was measuredin vitro at a pH of 7.4 and at 25 C. Using two different methods, spectrophotometric and titrimetric, the same rate constantk _i=0.95·10³ M^–1 min^–1 for the inhibition of cholinesterase was obtained. No individual variations in the rate constantk _i were observed.     

Fetal gallstones

Routine obstetric ultrasound (US) examinations in a 33-year-old woman revealed a normal fetal gallbladder at 24 menstrual weeks but multiple structures in the gallbladder with findings typical of gallstones at 37 menstrual weeks. No other abnormalities were present. Three days after a term delivery, an abdominal US examination again demonstrated multiple gallstones. When the infant was 6 weeks old, a follow-up abdominal US study showed no evidence of gallstones. This case, as well as one previously reported, demonstrates that findings typical of gallstones may be seen in the fetus, and that these structures may spontaneously resolve.     

Deposits of immunoglobulins and complement in oral lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT – Deposits of immunoglobnlins were demonstrated at the basement membrane zone in oral lesions in 10 out of 11 patients with lupus erythematosus (LE), and in normal oral mucosa in one out of six patients with LE by means of an imniunofluorescence staining technique. The reported findings are in accordance with the findings in skin biopsies from cutaneous LE lesions. In cases of LE, difficult to diagnose clinically and histopathologically, the imniunofluorescence staining technique may be of value as a supplementary diagnostic tool.     

Effect of Zendium toothpaste on recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Abstract – A Double-blind clinical trial with cross-over was conducted for a period of 12 months in 25 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The effect of the amyloglucosidase and glucoseoxidase containing Zendium toothpaste on the discomfort, number of exacerbations, duration of exacerbation, number of ulcers and number of days with pain caused by RAS was studied. The use of Zendium significantly reduced the sensation of discomfort from RAS as compared to the use of placebo toothpaste (0.025>p>0.01). However, the patients were unable to discriminate significantly between Zendium and placebo when asked to choose one of the toothpastes (0.10>p>0.05) and no significant differences were demonstrated as far as the above mentioned parameters of disease serverity were concerned. Therefore, it is concluded that the reducing effect of Zendium containing amyloglucosidase and glucoseoxidase on RAS is weak as compared to a similar toothpaste without these enzymes.