Effect of administration of diethylcarbamazine on experimental bacterial and fungal infections in mice

Other researchers have found that diethylcarbamazine (DEC) is effective treatment for filariasis despite a lack of demonstrated in vitro antifilarial activity. The results of our previous investigations using feline and murine leukemia virus models encouraged us to investigate the use of DEC with other infections. In the current experiments, DEC treatmentS was associated with (a) increased survival and decreased brain Streptococcus pneumoniae levels following S. pneumoniae challenge in previously immunized mice; (b) increased serum antibody levels to S. pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Haemophilus influenzae following inoculation of live bacteria; and (c) lower brain fungal levels following intravenous injection of Aspergillus fumigatus or increasing numbers of Cryptococcus neoformans organisms, and lower brain and kidney levels of Candida albicans following intravenous injection of increasing numbers of C. albicans.     

A comparison of ceftazidime and aminoglycoside based regimens as empirical treatment in 1316 cases of suspected sepsis in the newborn

We report a prospective, non-blind, randomised, multicentre, parallel group, multinational investigation to compare ceftazidime to aminoglycoside based regimens as empirical treatment in 1316 cases of suspected sepsis in the newborn. In each of the 15 study centres either ceftazidime alone (CAZ) or ceftazidime + ampicillin (CAZ+AMP) was compared to an aminoglyocoside/ampicillin combination (AG+AMP). In all cases treatment was based on an intention to treat. Bacteria considered to be pathogenic were isolated from 176/1316 (13.4%) patients. The incidence of proven infection varied from 39% in a Yugoslav centre to 6% in a British centre; a further 489/1316 (37.1%) patients fulfilled the criteria for clinically suspected sepsis. A total of 210 bacterial isolates from 197 infection sites in 176 patients were considered to be clinically significant. The cure rate for evaluable patients with proven infection who were treated with CAZ+AMP (97%, 30/31) was significantly higher than that for the corresponding patients treated with AG+AMP (66%, 26/39), (P<0.002). The difference in cure rate between CAZ monotherapy (79%, 34/43) and AG+AMP (86%, 32/37) was not significant. Treatment failed in 28/150 (18.7%) evaluable patients. There were significantly fewer failures (P<0.001) with CAZ+AMP than with AG+AMP therapy. There were 55 staphylococcal infections. Treatment was successful in 16/19 evaluable patients treated with CAZ or CAZ+AMP and in 16/29 evaluable patients treated with AG+AMP. None of the study centres encountered problems with ceftazidime resistant bacteria. The cure rate for patients with only clinical and radiological evidence of sepsis was greater than 94% in all treatment groups. Of the study population 65 (4.9%) died, 15 deaths were attributed to infection, pathogenic bacteria were only isolated from 10. The mortality rate for infected babies was 5.7% compared to 4.8% for those without confirmed infection. All the deaths associated with infection were due to Gram-positive bacteria. This study suggests that the practice of continuing antibiotic therapy once pretreatment cultures are known to be negative should be seriously reconsidered. It is concluded that CAZ+AMP is superior to either AG+AMP or ceftazidime monotherapy for the treatment of infection in the newborn. Further studies are required to confirm these observations in neonates with proven infection.The ESPID Neonatal Sepsis Study Group: Recruitment >=50 patients included Prof. R. Dagan, Soroka Medical Centre, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Dr. I. Tessin, Hospital of Molndal, Molndal, Sweden; Dr. D. Harvey and Dr. J. de Louvois, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK; Dr. B. Trollfors and Dr. K. Thiringer, Ostra Sjukuset, Goteborg, Sweden; Dr. A. Valido, Maternidade, Dr. Alfredo Costa, Lisbon, Portugal; Dr. H. Baumer, Freedom Fields Hospital, Plymouth, UK: Prof. J. Brines and Dr. Diez, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Dr. L. Benic, Dr. J. Kajfes Hospital, Zagreb, Yugoslavia; and Prof. J. Badoual, Hopital St. Vincent de Paul, Paris, France.Recruitment <50 patients included Prof. L. Corbeel, UZ Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium; Prof. R. Roos, Univ.-Kinderklinik, Munich, FRG; Dr. D. Kafetzisa, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Dr. S. Pedersen, Kolding Sykehus, Kolding, Denmark; and Prof. A. Columbo, Ospedali Riunuti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy.     

柯萨奇病毒B_3与亚急型克山病的关系

目的　探讨柯萨奇病毒B3(CVB3)在亚急型克山病发生发展中的作用。方法　采用原位核酸杂交和反转录 聚合酶链反应 (RT PCR)技术对吉林省病区亚急型克山病尸检心肌组织石蜡包埋块进行检测 ,并对所得DNA片段进行核苷酸序列分析。结果　 9例吉林省病区亚急型克山病尸检病例中有 7例出现原位核酸杂交结果阳性 ,阳性率为 78% ,对RT PCR所得DNA片段进行核苷酸序列分析发现它与CVB3有心肌毒性毒株 (CVB30 /Se-)的相应片段序列相同。结论　亚急型克山病病人心肌组织中有柯萨奇病毒B3感染 ,柯萨奇病毒B3参与克山病的发病过程。     

Comparison of preputial sac and urine cultures in healthy children

The aim of the present study was to examine subpreputial bacteriology and to compare it with the urine cultures of healthy male children. Seventy-two male children were divided into two groups as A and B according to age. In both groups preputial sac and urine cultures were taken simultaneously. Gram (+) enteric cocci were the most common isolated pathogens from the preputial sac in group B. Enterobacter, E. coli and staphylococci species were isolated from the urine cultures of three patients in group B. We could not find any difference between the preputial sac swabs of group A and B patients, but the isolation rate of urine cultures of group A patients was significantly higher than group B (p < 0.05). The findings of the present study support a potential role of the prepuce acting as a reservoir of faecal bacteria in the pathogenesis of UTI in male infants, especially in the first year of life. Improved penile hygiene after the first year of life does not alter the subpreputial bacteriology, but significantly decreases the contamination of urine. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Escherichia coli-induced alterations of human spermatozoa. An electron microscopy analysis

This study evaluated if the negative influence of Escherichia coli on the motility of human spermatozoa is a consequence of E. coli-induced ultrastructural alterations. Suspensions of spermatozoa were artificially infected with E. coli from a serotyped, pathogenic strain and incubated at 37 degrees C for 6 h. After incubation, spermatozoa were fixed in glutaraldehyde, stained with osmium tetroxide and ruthenium red and embedded in Spurr(R)-resin followed by ultramicrotomy. The sections were analysed subsequently by use of transmission electron microscopy. Uninfected suspensions of spermatozoa in medium and bacterial suspensions served as controls. Negative contrast technique was performed to facilitate visualization of ultrastructural details of the bacterial capsule after experimental exposure to spermatozoa. Electron microscopic evaluation revealed multiple and profound alterations in the ultrastructure of spermatozoa such as membrane defects and cytoplasmic vacuoles exclusively in spermatozoa of infected samples (> 90%). Morphological alterations involved all superficial structures of spermatozoa, in particular the plasma membrane of the mid-piece and neck as well as the inner and outer acrosomal membrane of the acrosome, indicating that morphological defects account for the immobilization of spermatozoa by E. coli. The results suggest that E. coli infection of ejaculates results in immobilization and impaired acrosomal function in human spermatozoa, findings that support the indication for antimicrobial chemotherapy in symptomatic and silent infections that affect the ejaculate.     

妊娠晚期人类小DNA病毒B19感染情况,母婴传播及与早产或小于胎龄儿关系的研究

为了解妊娠晚期人类小ＤＮＡ病毒Ｂ１９（ＨＰＶＢ１９）感染情况、母婴传播及与早产或小于胎龄儿的关系，将１０４例母亲及其新生儿分成两组，试验组包括１９例早产儿、３２例小于胎龄儿及其母亲；对照组包括５３例正常新生儿及其母亲。采用聚合酶链反应技术（ＰＣＲ）检测母血、脐血和胎盘组织ＨＰＶＢ１９ＤＮＡ；用鼠抗Ｂ１９单克隆抗体和Ｂ１９联合抗原（ＶＰ１＋ＶＰ２）建立了捕获式ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测母血和脐血ＨＰＶＢ１９特异性ＩｇＭ抗体。结果：１０４例母血中，ＨＰＶＢ１９ＩｇＭ阳性２例（１．９％），１０４例脐血中阳性３例（２．９％）。在母血、脐血及胎盘组织各１０４例中检出ＨＰＶＢ１９ＤＮＡ阳性分别为６例、４例、６例。因此试验组５１对母婴共１０２例中６例有ＨＰＶＢ１９感染（５．９％）；对照组５３对母婴共１０６例中２例有ＨＰＶＢ１９感染（１．９％）。两组Ｂ１９感染率差异无显著意义。提示：在北京地区，妊娠晚期存在Ｂ１９急性感染，应引起重视；Ｂ１９感染与早产或小于胎龄儿的发生可能不相关；新生儿Ｂ１９感染是通过胎盘传播的。对有Ｂ１９感染证据的新生儿进行随访及研究如何阻止胎盘传播很重要。     

Clinical outcome of invasive infections in children caused by highly penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae compared with infections caused by penicillin-susceptible strains

BACKGROUND: In this report based on data from the Institutional Surveillance System during 1994-1998, we document the continuing emergence of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains at the Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gómez in Mexico City. METHODS: We evaluate the clinical course of 49 invasive pneumococcal infection outside the central nervous system (CNS) by a number of factors including the site, severity, and place where the infection was acquired, the underlying health of the patient, and the adequacy of antimicrobial therapy. RESULTS: An underlying illness was present in 21 of 49 (43%) patients, 37 (75%) patients had taken previous antimicrobial therapy, and 25% of the infections were nosocomially acquired. Overall, 25 of 49 (51%) of the pneumococcal strains tested were pencillin-resistant; strains with the highest resistance to penicillin were also resistant to cephalosporins. Twenty-two percent of all strains were considered to be multidrug-resistant. Eleven of 25 penicillin-resistant strains were identified as multidrug-resistant, i.e., to erythromycin, TMP/SMX, and chloramphenicol. Ten serotypes accounted for 88% of the isolates, the most frequent serotypes being 23F, 14, 19V, 6A, and 6B. The overall case-fatality rate was 37% (18 of 49), with most deaths occurring within 3-5 days after antibiotic therapy was initiated. There was no difference in the case fatality rate between children with penicillin-nonsusceptible and penicillin-susceptible pneumococcal infections; instead; case-fatality rate correlated with severity of illness on admission and presence of underlying disease. CONCLUSIONS: Characterizing groups at risk for invasive pneumococcal disease could aid in the development of preventive programs and increase the benefits from wide use of future conjugated vaccines.     

HIV经血感染患者疾病发展与CD4细胞的相关性

目的 探讨CD4细胞计数在经血感染的HIV患者疾病发展中的意义。方法 对163例临床确诊的HIV患者CD4细胞计数的检测与其各系统机会感染的发生、临床分期及预后进行相关性分析。结果 CD4〈200／mm^3与CD4〉200／mm^3时机会感染及临床分期有统计学意义（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）。而CD4〈100／mm^3与CD4〉100／mm^3时相比AIDS的病死率有明显差异（P〈0．05）。结论 CD4细胞计数与HIV各系统机会感染、临床分期及预后有显著相关性，检测CD4细胞数可作为监测HIV病程进展的预兆指标。     

脑梗塞患者血清肺炎衣原体特异性抗体的检测

目的探讨肺炎衣原体(CPn)感染与动脉血栓性脑梗塞的关系.方法用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法测定了112例脑梗塞患者和50例其他疾病患者的血清肺炎衣原体特异性IgG抗体及IgM抗体.结果肺炎衣原体慢性感染率分别为脑梗塞组的85.71%(96/112)和对照组48.00%(24/50),脑梗塞患者肺炎衣原体慢性感染率均明显高于对照组,肺炎衣原体IgG阳性病例血清TG浓度明显高于肺炎衣原体IgG阴性的病例(P＜0.05);HDL-C则明显低于阴性组.结论脑梗塞患者肺炎衣原体感染率明显增高,提示肺炎衣原体感染可能与脑梗塞有关.其可能的机制是肺炎衣原体感染后形成免疫复合物沉积在血管壁,引起血管局部损伤;并改变了血脂浓度,增加了脑血管病发生的危险性.