The role of infection and vaccination in the genesis of optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis in children

This article describes the association between previous infection and/or vaccination and the development of optic neuritis (ON) in 18 children. Ten of these children subsequently developed clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS), while in 8 patients a clinically definite etiology could not be confirmed. Vaccination preceded the first ON attack in 6 patients, all but one of whom subsequently developed MS. It also preceded subsequent demyelinating events in 6 patients. Ten of the patients had a bacterial or viral infection within the 2 weeks prior to the first symptoms of ON. Intrathecal antibody synthesis against 2 or more viruses could be shown in 5 out of 8 patients studied; 5 out of 6 patients had oligoclonal antibodies in CSF and 12 out of 16 patients a high IgG index. Neither intrathecal antibody synthesis against 2 or more viruses nor elevated IgG indexes could be found in the control patients. Measles and mumps occurred at a significantly later age in the children who subsequently developed MS than in the control children, and these patients had significantly more events that might have impaired the blood-brain barrier than the controls. These results indicate that immunological events leading to MS may be triggered during childhood. Vaccination and infection often precede ON in childhood. Intrathecal viral antibody production can occur already in childhood at the time of the first symptoms of MS.     

Increased occurrence of free immunoglobulin light chains in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection

The presence of free immunoglobulin light chains (FLCs) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera of patients with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, multiple sclerosis (MS), and neurologically healthy control individuals was investigated by paying special attention to ensure that only truly free light chains would be detected. The FLCs were extracted by specifically binding them to Sepharose-coupled anti-FLC monoclonal antibodies, and thereafter they were electrophoresed and immunoblotted with monoclonal antibodies to both light chain (LC) isotypes. A frequent occurrence of kappa and lambda FLCs was found in both CSF and sera of HIV-1 infected patients. In HIV-1 infection and in MS, the frequency of FLCs of the CSF was equal. In healthy controls, only occasional weak FLCs were observed in either CSF or serum. FLC bands of the CSF from patients with HIV-1 infection tended to be more intensive than those of the appropriately diluted sera. Both intrathecal synthesis of FLCs and their transudation from sera through the impaired blood-brain barrier (BBB) may contribute to this. Increasing severity of general HIV-1 infection was accompanied by an increase of FLC intensity in sera. A qualitative demonstration of FLC in the CSF may be meaningful only in the absence of altered BBB function.     

Postoperative convalescence after inguinal hernia surgery: Prospective randomized multicenter study of laparoscopic versus Shouldice inguinal hernia repair in 1042 patients

Interest in inguinal hernia surgery has increased significantly with the introduction of new operating techniques during the past decade. This multicenter study compared short-term results in patients treated by the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal patch technique (TAPP; n=518) and the Shouldice technique (n=524). We evaluated demographics, operative data, complications, hospital stay, postoperative pain, use of analgesics, functional status, sick leave, and complaints up to 3 months postoperatively. The median operating time was shorter in the Shouldice group (55 vs. 65 min), but there were no significant differences in complication rates, and major complications were rare. The hospital stay was 1 day or less in over 98% of cases in both groups, but more operations were performed on outpatient basis in the Shouldice group. In the TAPP group postoperative pain and analgesic consumption were less, postoperative functional status was better, and sick leave was shorter (10 vs. 14 days). These results show that the two methods are equally safe and have few major complications. The TAPP operation is associated with less postoperative pain, better postoperative functional status, and shorter sick leave, but at the price of a longer operating time. Electronic Publication     

Herpes simplex virus latency in the nervous system – a new model

Permissive herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in tissue culture results in host cell destruction. Latent HSV infection in vivo occurs in neurons of peripheral sensory ganglia (PSG) and it therefore can not take place in neurons in which the virus has completed a lytic replication cycle similar to that present in vitro. Our hypothesis, based on experimental data and observations in humans, suggests that establishment of latent infection and reactivation of HSV-1 does not involve neuronal cell loss. Latency is established in neurons in which the virus does not replicate and is determined, in part, by the tissue levels of a herpes transactivating protein (Vmw65) that is a component of the viral tegument. We also suggest that reactivation of latent infection does not involve destruction of neurons and is due to replication of virus at the peripheral mucocutaneous tissues to where virus or viral DNA have been transported from the nervous tissue. Alternatively, reactivation is initiated in the PSG using a replication cycle which does not involve irreversible damage to neurons. This model explains the lack of damage to neurons which continue to serve as permanent reservoirs of latent virus for the entire life of the host.     

脐动脉血PCT、CRP检测在早产儿早期感染中的作用

目的:为进一步提高早产儿重症感染的早期诊断率探讨一种快速、可靠的方法。方法:用LUMITestPCT方法检测我院出生的有感染可能的早产儿的脐动脉血清降钙素原(PCT)。同时检测脐动脉血C反应蛋白(CRP);由新生儿专业的医师对其病情进行观察,在不知道PCT值时做出病情的临床诊断,52例病例分为:重症感染组(n=28)和对照组(n=24)。进行回顾性对比分析。结果:早期开始的早产儿感染与CRP、PCT浓度在出生时的增加相关,差异有极显著性(P<0.001);脐动脉血中,PCT浓度的增加与CRP水平变化呈正相关(r=0.88)。PCT的敏感性(96.4%)和特异性(95.8%)均高于CRP(敏感性75%,特异性91.6%)。结论:PCT可作为早产儿早期感染的早期、快速检测指标,与CRP相比,PCT敏感性、特异性均高。本研究方法对早产儿无创伤。     

肝硬化患者幽门螺杆菌感染的临床特点

目的:探讨肝硬化患者幽门螺杆菌( Hp)感染的临床特点.方法:对162例已行胃镜和幽门螺杆菌检查的肝硬化患者Hp感染情况进行回顾性分析.结果:Hp感染在性别和年龄间差异均无显著性(P＞0.05);Hp感染率随食管静脉曲张加重、肝功能恶化、门脉高压性胃病加重而降低(P＜0.05～P＜0 .01);Hp感染在消化性溃疡的有无发生间差异无显著性(P＞0.05).结论:在肝硬化患者中,Hp感染与食管静脉曲张、肝功能恶化、门脉高压性胃病、消化性溃疡的发生无关.对有Hp感染的肝硬化患者无需行根除治疗.     

滋肾通利胶囊治疗泌尿系感染临床研究

目的：观察滋肾通利胶囊治疗泌尿系感染的临床疗效。方法：随机设对照组（120例）和治疗组（136例）,对照组根据药敏选用抗生素口服或静脉滴注,治疗组在上述基础上加用滋肾通利胶囊治疗。2周为1疗程,两个疗程后统计疗效;1年后对复发率进行比较。结果：治疗组总缓解率96.3%,对照组81.7%（P〈0.05）;1年后治疗组复发率4.4%,对照组30.0%（P〈0.01）。结论：滋肾通利胶囊对泌尿系感染有良好作用,长期疗效尤其显著。     

Severe odontogenic infections

Background : Severe odontogenic infections are serious potentially lethal conditions. Following the death of a patient in the authors' institution this study was initiated to determine the risk factors, management and outcome of a consecutive series of patients.
Methods : All patients admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital under the care of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit with odontogenic infections in calendar year 2003 were investigated. Detailed information relative to their pre-presentation history, surgical and anaesthetic management and outcome was obtained and analysed.
Results : Forty-eight patients, 32M, 16F, average age 34.5, range 19 to 88 years were treated. All presented with pain and swelling, with 21 (44 per cent) having trismus. Forty-four (92 per cent) were as a result of dental neglect and four (8 per cent) were regular dental patients having endodontic treatment which failed. Of those known to have been treated prior to presentation, most had been on antibiotics. Most patients had aggressive surgical treatment with extraction, surgical drainage, high dose intravenous antibiotics and rehydration. The hospital stay was 3.3 (range 1–16) days. Patients requiring prolonged intubation and high dependency or intensive care (40 per cent) had longer hospitalization. No patient died and all fully recovered.
Conclusion : Severe odontogenic infections are a serious risk to the patient's health and life. Management is primarily surgical with skilled anaesthetic airway management. Antibiotics are required in high intravenous doses as an adjunct and not as a primary treatment.     

支气管肺蠊缨滴虫病的临床诊治进展

支气管肺蠊缨滴虫感染是一种新的寄生虫疾病,1993年至2008年国内共确诊48例,临床诊断和治疗有一定进展,但蠊缨滴虫感染病例的临床表现缺少特征性,蠊缨滴虫自然宿主、传播途径、流行区域及致病机制等多个方面也尚不明确,其生物学分类地位也有争议,国内还没有建立抗原抗体检测或分子生物学鉴定方法.