Prevalence and patterns of resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from carriers attending day care centers in the area of Athens

The prevalence and patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance to antibiotics was examined in 146 nasopharyngeal carrier strains obtained during April and May, 1997, from 382 healthy children attending eight day care centers (DCCs) in the area of Athens. Reduced susceptibility to at least one antibiotic was found in 32.6% as follows: penicillin 11.4% (intermediate), cefotaxime 0.8% (intermediate), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 22.7%, erythromycin 13.6%, tetracycline 11.4%, chloramphenicol 8.3%. Most of the nonsusceptible to penicillin isolates belonged to serogroups 23, 9, and 19. Multidrug resistance was detected in 11.4% of S. pneumoniae isolates including five penicillin nonsusceptible serogroup 23 strains. More than half of the multidrug resistant strains were susceptible to penicillin and belonged to serogroups 6 (4), 23 (1), 19 (1), and 1(1). Strains that belonged to the same serogroup/serotype and had identical resistance patterns appeared to cluster in some DCCs. Antibiotic use in the previous month was associated with reduced susceptibility to penicillin (p = 0.007) and multidrug resistance (p = 0.012). In conclusion, a moderate prevalence of reduced susceptibility to penicillin in pneumococcal carrier strains was found in our community. Multidrug resistance was common and was often associated with susceptibility to penicillin. Several distinct patterns of resistance were observed, suggesting the spread of resistant clones to our country.     

Cat scratch disease in Greece

An indirect fluorescent antibody test for Bartonella henselae, B quintana, and B elizabethae was performed in all 18 children who presented to our paediatric outpatient clinic with cat scratch disease over a six year period. Serum samples were taken on admission, after 15 days, and after six months. Diagnosis was confirmed in 15 patients (83%) and was based on seroconversion or a fourfold change of the antibody titre to B henselae in 12 patients and on a single high titre (>128) in three patients. Lymphadenopathy was present in all patients, erythema nodosum in one, osteomyelitis in one, hepatitis in one, transverse myelitis in one, and liver or spleen granulomata, or both, in three patients. Cat scratch disease developed in autumn or winter in 12 patients. All had a history of physical contact with a cat. Our study shows that our clinical suspicion was accurate in the diagnosis of cat scratch disease in a high percentage of patients presenting to a hospital and that indirect fluorescent antibody testing for B henselae is a useful diagnostic tool.

     

Identification of 22 novel loci associated with urinary biomarkers of albumin,sodium, and potassium excretion

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Optimizing immunomodulators and anti-TNF agents in the therapy of Crohn disease

Randomized trials support the use of the thiopurines and anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies in treating Crohn disease. New therapeutic approaches and laboratory assays have helped optimize the use of these agents. Thiopurine methyltransferase activity should always be determined to avoid thiopurines in individuals with absent enzyme activity. The role of metabolite-adjusted dosing when initiating thiopurines is not settled. Measuring metabolites helps guide management in patients failing therapy. Loss of response to anti-TNF therapy is mitigated by maintenance therapy and concomitant immunomodulators. When loss of response to infliximab occurs, management is guided by the serum concentrations of infliximab and antibodies to infliximab.     

Relation of serum leptin levels to lipid profile in healthy children

The association of leptin with body fat concentration is well established. There is also experimental evidence of a direct effect of leptin on lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether leptin levels are related to the corresponding serum lipid levels independently of body fat mass. The study population consisted of 294 phenotypically healthy school children aged 6 to 12 years. Age, sex, body weight, height, Tanner stage, and triceps skinfold thickness were recorded for all participating subjects. A blood sample was drawn in the morning after a 12-hour fast, and serum total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; triglyceride; and leptin levels were determined. Multiple regression analysis showed that triglyceride values were positively correlated with the ln(log(e))-transformed leptin levels (beta =.01, P <.001), whereas HDL levels were inversely associated with lnleptin values (beta = -.06, P =.05) after controlling for age, sex, Tanner stage, and body mass index when each of the lipid parameters was tested separately in the regression model. However, the introduction of both triglycerides and HDL values in the same model eliminated the significance of association of HDL with lnleptin, and the positive relationship of triglycerides with lnleptin remained significant. Our results indicate that triglycerides are independently associated with leptin levels after controlling for any known confounder.     

Cat-scratch disease associated with osteomyelitis

A case of cat-scratch disease in an 8 year-old girl is reported. The inoculation injury followed by regional lymphadenopathy was typical of Parinaud syndrome. This patient also had vertebral lesions on scintigraphy, x-rays and CT scan. While the oculoglandular localization spontaneously improved within a few weeks, osteomyelitic lesions remained grossly unchanged after almost 2 years of follow-up.