Peracute streptococcal pyomyositis: report of two cases and review of the literature

Pyomyositis occurs infrequently in temperate climates. The fulminating peracute form caused by group A Streptococcus is exceedingly rare. We present two children with streptococcal pyomyositis. One child was admitted in septic shock and required intensive supportive care during the acute stage of his illness. Persistent swelling and tenderness of his left thigh presented a diagnostic problem, which was eventually resolved with the aid of computerized tomography. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy from the onset of illness, surgical debridement of the affected muscle was necessary. The second child presented with pyomyositis of the left paravertebral muscles and signs of incipient shock but did well on antibiotic therapy alone.     

In vivo anti-melanoma activities of the Melan-A/MART-1101–115 T CD4+ cell peptide

Malignant melanoma causes significant health problems. The identification of tumour-associated antigens has led to novel approaches to increase T cell mediated anti-tumour immune response. Melan-A/MART-1 has been use as target antigen for several T cell based immunotherapeutic treatments. More recently, the critical role of CD4+ T cells in inducing and maintaining anti-tumour immunity has been increasingly recognized. In order to optimize tumour immunotherapy, greater efforts have been concentrated on the identification of tumour antigens presented by MHC class II molecules to CD4+ T cells. In a publication, Tiwari et al. (2004) [1] have identified by a computational approach the 15-mer amino-acid sequence 101–115 (PPAYEKLSAEQSPPP) of the Melan-A/MART-1 as a good target for a vigorous and safe immunotherapy. Therefore, we have investigated the in vivo anti-tumour activity of this peptide in a murine melanoma model. For the prophylactic treatment, 20 μg or 50 μg peptide was subcutaneously injected in mice once a week during 3 weeks before tumour induction. Treatment with 50 μg peptide significantly affected tumour development. Thus, our preliminary data demonstrate potential in vivo prophylactic activity of the 101–115 peptide-based vaccine to control melanoma growth.     

Breast milk donors in France: a portrait of the typical donor and the utility of milk banking in the French breastfeeding context.

Although information regarding attitudes and characteristics of human blood donors has been researched, little is known about the motivations and demographic and personality characteristics of women who choose to donate their breast milk. Eight milk banks in France participated in a study examining donor characteristics, providing data on 103 women. The results showed that the donors were women of average childbearing age with strong support at home. Almost half did not work outside of the home, compared to the national average of 80% of women in this age group; similarly, a large number (currently working or not) were from the health and social services fields. Reasons for donation were largely altruistic, and a general optimistic attitude prevailed within the participants. The results of this study provide useful information for the recruitment of potential donors as well as information on how to facilitate and provide optimal service through milk donation.     

Concomitant and discriminatory validity of the Adolescents' Fear of Dental Treatment Cognitive Inventory

The revised edition of the Inventaire cognitif de la peur des traitements dentaire pour adolescent(e)s [Adolescents' Fear of Dental Treatment Cognitive Inventory] (ICPTD-A) was administered to 38 subjects chosen at random and to nine subjects chosen with an obvious dental phobia problem. Its concomitant validity was established by relating the ICPTD-A scores to those of a behavioral test. The Pearson correlation coefficients that were thus obtained were -0.66 for the general population and -0.87 for the population suffering from dental phobia. The discriminatory validity was then established with a repeated measurement variance analysis based on the scores of the dental phobics after the administration of a recognized psychological treatment program intended to reduce their phobia. The results have shown a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups as well as a significant difference between pre- and posttreatments. The authors have therefore concluded that the ICPTD-A is a valid tool for the assessment of dental phobia in 12-15-year-old adolescents.     

Blastomycosis in solid organ transplant recipients

BACKGROUND: Blastomyces dermatitidis, the etiologic agent of blastomycosis, causes severe disease and substantial mortality in those immunocompromised by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or malignancy. In solid organ transplant recipients, the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes have not been fully described. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-series at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. Case patients were solid organ transplant recipients with blastomycosis. RESULTS: From 1986 to 2004, we identified 11 cases of post-transplant blastomycosis with 64% occurring between 2000 and 2004. Onset of infection occurred a median of 26 months post transplantation with near equal distribution before and after the first year of transplantation. Rejection did not precede any case of post-transplant blastomycosis. Opportunistic co-infections were common, occurring in 36% of patients. Pneumonia was the most common clinical presentation and was frequently complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Extrapulmonary disease predominantly involved the skin and spared the central nervous system. The overall mortality rate was 36%; however, this increased to 67% in those with ARDS. None of the surviving patients relapsed or received routine secondary antifungal prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Blastomycosis is an uncommon infection following solid organ transplantation that is frequently complicated by ARDS, dissemination, and opportunistic co-infection. After cure, post-transplant blastomycosis may not require lifelong antifungal suppression.