Tick-borne encephalitis in children and adolescents in the Czech Republic between 1960 and 2007

Background

The Czech Republic ranks among the countries with the highest prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis worldwide. The region of West Bohemia has the second highest morbidity within the Czech Republic.

Methods

Between 1960 and 2007, laboratories confirmed 410 cases of tick-borne encephalitis in children and adolescents of West Bohemia. Available epidemiological data were analyzed.

Results

The highest incidence (per 100 000 population) was found in the group of 15?C19 years for both genders (males: 6.2; females: 4.3). Data on the consumption of non-pasteurized milk were found in 5.4% of patients. The preschool age group showed its highest incidence in June and September, and the risk of infection for older children was in July and August.

Conclusions

The current low coverage of vaccination leads to an insignificant improvement to the overall frequency of this disease.     

Diagnostic oligonucleotide microarray fingerprinting of Bacillus isolates

A genome-independent microarray and new statistical techniques were used to genotype Bacillus strains and quantitatively compare DNA fingerprints with the known taxonomy of the genus. A synthetic DNA standard was used to understand process level variability and lead to recommended standard operating procedures for microbial forensics and clinical diagnostics.     

Topical Azithromycin and Clarithromycin Inhibit Acute and Chronic Skin Inflammation in Sensitized Mice, with Apparent Selectivity for Th2-Mediated Processes in Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity

Macrolide antibiotics inhibit the secretion of Th1 cytokines while their effects on the release of Th2 cytokines are variable. We investigated molecular and cellular markers of Th1- and Th2-mediated inflammatory mechanisms and the anti-inflammatory activity of azithromycin and clarithromycin in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and oxazolone (OXA)-induced skin inflammation. Dexamethasone (50 μg/ear), azithromycin, and clarithromycin (500 μg/ear) reduced TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-1β concentration in ear tissue by inhibiting inflammatory cell accumulation in PMA-induced inflammation. In OXA-induced early delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), the macrolides (2 mg/ear) and dexamethasone (25 μg/ear) reduced ear tissue inflammatory cell infiltration and secretion of IL-4 while clarithromycin also decreased IFN-γ concentration. Macrolides showed better activity when administered after the challenge. In OXA-induced chronic DTH, azithromycin (1 mg/ear) reduced the number of ear tissue mast cells and decreased the concentration of IL-4 in ear tissue and of immunoglobulin (Ig)E in serum. Clarithromycin (1 mg/ear) reduced serum IgE concentration, possibly by a mechanism independent of IL-4, while both macrolides attenuated mast cell degranulation. In conclusion, azithromycin and clarithromycin attenuate pro-inflammatory cytokine production and leukocyte infiltration during innate immune reactions, while selectively affecting Th2 rather than Th1 immunity in DTH reactions.     

Reduced thrombus stability in mice lacking the alpha2A-adrenergic receptor

Platelet activation plays a central role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Many platelet agonists function through G-protein-coupled receptors. Epinephrine activates the alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(2A)) that couples to G(z) in platelets. Although alpha(2A) was originally cloned from platelets, its role in thrombosis and hemostasis is still unclear. Through analysis of alpha(2A)-deficient mice, variable tail bleeding times were observed. In vitro, epinephrine potentiated activation/aggregation responses of wild-type but not alpha(2A)-deficient platelets as determined by flow cytometry and aggregometry, whereas perfusion studies showed no differences in platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on collagen. To test the in vivo relevance of alpha(2A) deficiency, mice were subjected to 3 different thrombosis models. As expected, alpha(2A)-deficient mice were largely protected from lethal pulmonary thromboembolism induced by the infusion of collagen/epinephrine. In a model of FeCl(3)-induced injury in mesenteric arterioles, alpha(2A)(-/-) mice displayed a 2-fold increase in embolus formation, suggesting thrombus instability. In a third model, the aorta was mechanically injured, and blood flow was measured with an ultrasonic flow probe. In wild-type mice, all vessels occluded irreversibly, whereas in 24% of alpha(2A)-deficient mice, the initially formed thrombi embolized and blood flow was reestablished. These results demonstrate that alpha(2A) plays a significant role in thrombus stabilization.