Current Issue : January - March Volume : 2013 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 7 Articles
Background: Co-infection with hepatitis C (HCV) is very common in human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)\r\ninfected patients. Although HIV co-infection clearly accelerates progression of HCV-related fibrosis and liver disease,\r\ncontroversy remains as to the impact of HCV on HIV disease progression in co-infected patients. HIV can cause\r\nimmune dysfunction, in which the regulatory function of T helper (Th) cells is very essential. Moreover, cytokines\r\nderived from Th cells play a prominent role in viral infection. Investigating the functional changes of Th1 and Th2\r\ncells in cytokine level can improve the understanding of the effect of co-infected HCV on HIV infection.\r\nMethods: In this study, we measured the baseline Th1/Th2 cytokine concentration in sera by using flow cytometry\r\nin HIV/HCV co-infection, HIV mono-infection, HCV mono-infection, and healthy control group, as well as the\r\ndynamic changes of these cytokine levels after receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).\r\nResults: The ratio of Th1 and Th2 cytokine concentration in HIV/HCV co-infection was higher than HCV monoinfection\r\nand healthy control group, while lower than HIV mono-infection group. After HAART was initiated, the\r\nTh1/Th2 ratio of HIV/HCV co-infection group decreased to the same level of healthy control, while HIV monoinfection\r\ngroup was still higher than the control group.\r\nConclusions: There was no significant evidence showing co-infected with HCV had negative effect on HIV related\r\ndiseases. However, co-infected with HCV can decrease Th1/Th2 ratio by affecting Th1 cytokine level, especially the\r\nsecretion of IFN-g. With the initiation of HAART, Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were progressively reduced. HIV was\r\nthe main stimulating factor of T cells in HIV/HCV co-infection group....
Amoebiasis continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Entamoeba histolytica\r\ninfections are commonly observed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world including Iran. In developed countries\r\nEntamoeba histolytica infections are commonly seen in travelers, recent immigrants, homosexual men, and inmates of institutions.\r\nThe disease is more severe in the two extremes of life. This paper paper describes a four-month-old male infant with Entamoeba\r\nhistolytica presenting initially with refusal of feeds, hyperactive bowel sound, vomiting, and diarrhea. A fecal sample was positive for\r\nEntamoeba histolytica by Lugol�s iodine solution and the concentration technique. He was successfully treated with metronidazole\r\nfor 5 days. This case illustrates that Entamoeba species could be pathogenic in young infant; therefore, awareness of the infection,\r\naggressive approach to diagnosis, and early initiation of treatment continue to be critical component of infection control....
Background: To ascertain the population rates and proportion of late entry into HIV care, as well as to determine\r\nwhether such late entry correlates with individual and contextual factors.\r\nMethods: Data for the 2003ââ?¬â??2006 period in Brazil were obtained from public health records. A case of late entry\r\ninto HIV care was defined as one in which HIV infection was diagnosed at death, one in which HIV infection was\r\ndiagnosed after the condition of the patient had already been aggravated by AIDS-related diseases, or one in which\r\nthe CD4+ T-cell count was = 200 cells/mm3 at the time of diagnosis. We also considered extended and stricter sets\r\nof criteria (in which the final criterion was = 350 cells/mm3 and = 100 cells/mm3, respectively). The estimated risk\r\nratio was used in assessing the effects of correlates, and the population rates (per 100,000 population) were\r\ncalculated on an annual basis.\r\nResults: Records of 115,369 HIV-infected adults were retrieved, and 43.6% (50,358) met the standard criteria for late\r\nentry into care. Diagnosis at death accounted for 29% (14,457) of these cases. Late entry into HIV care (standard\r\ncriterion) was associated with certain individual factors (sex, age, and transmission category) and contextual factors\r\n(region with less economic development/increasing incidence of AIDS, lower local HIV testing rate, and smaller\r\nmunicipal population). Use of the extended criteria increased the proportion of late entry by 34% but did not\r\nsubstantially alter the correlations analyzed. The overall population rate of late entry was 9.9/100,000 population,\r\nspecific rates being highest for individuals in the 30ââ?¬â??59 year age bracket, for men, and for individuals living in\r\nregions with greater economic development/higher HIV testing rates, collectively accounting for more than half of\r\nthe cases observed.\r\nConclusions: Although the high proportion of late entry might contribute to spreading the AIDS epidemic in less\r\ndeveloped regions, most cases occurred in large cities, with broader availability of HIV testing, and in economically\r\ndeveloped regions....
Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening soft tissue infection that results in rapid local tissue destruction. Type 1 necrotizing fasciitis\r\nis characterized by polymicrobial, synergistic infections that are caused by non-Group A streptococci, aerobic and anaerobic\r\norganisms. Type 2 necrotizing fasciitis involves Group A Streptococcus (GAS) with or without a coexisting staphylococcal\r\ninfection. Here we provide the first report of necrotizing fasciitis jointly associated with the microbes Group B Streptococcus and\r\nStaphylococcus lugdunensis. S. lugdunensis is a commensal human skin bacterium known to cause often painful and prolonged skin\r\nand soft tissue infections. To our knowledge, however, this is the first case of Staph. lugdunensis-associated necrotizing fasciitis to\r\nbe reported in the literature....
Toxocara vitulorum infection is characterized by frequent diarrhea, prominent ribs and unthriftness, recumbency and ultimately death. In Parmphistomum cervi the clinical signs include profuse fluid foetid diarrhoea, weakness and death may occur. Animals are thirsty and drinking frequently and intermandibular edema (bottle jaw). Moneizia benedini is highly pathogenic in young animals causes malnutrition leading to reduced weight gain. Trichuris species causes diphtheretic inflammation in calves. Strongyloides papillosus causes erosion of intestinal mucosa. Strongyle species infection leads to protein losing enteropathy and diarrhea. Cryptosporidium parvum causes decreased absorptive ability of the intestinal tract, fermentation of nutrients within the lumen, and osmotic diarrhea in calves. Buxtonella sulcata also can be a cause of diarrhoea in calves. Coccidiosis is usually associated with severe diarrhea, which causes loss of electrolytes and dehydration. Giardia infection results in distortion of the microvilli and disruption of the brush border. Entamoeba species are not pathogens in ruminants but it causes diahorrea rarely....
Background: The objective of this literature review was to determine whether crowding in the home is associated\r\nwith an increased risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in children younger than 5 years.\r\nMethods: A computerized literature search of PubMed and EMBASE was conducted on residential crowding as a\r\nrisk factor for laboratory-confirmed RSV illness in children younger than 5 years. Study populations were stratified by\r\nhigh-risk populations, defined by prematurity, chronic lung disease of prematurity, hemodynamically significant\r\ncongenital heart disease, or specific at-risk ethnicity (i.e. Alaska Native, Inuit), and mixed-risk populations, including\r\ngeneral populations of mostly healthy children. The search was conducted for articles published from January 1,\r\n1985, to October 8, 2009, and was limited to studies reported in English. To avoid indexing bias in the\r\ncomputerized databases, the search included terms for multivariate analysis and risk factors to identify studies in\r\nwhich residential crowding was evaluated but was not significant. Methodological quality of included studies was\r\nassessed using a Cochrane risk of bias tool.\r\nResults: The search identified 20 relevant studies that were conducted in geographically diverse locations. Among\r\nstudies of patients in high-risk populations, 7 of 9 found a statistically significant association with a crowding\r\nvariable; in studies in mixed-risk populations, 9 of 11 found a significant association with a crowding variable. In\r\nstudies of high-risk children, residential crowding significantly increased the odds of laboratory-confirmed RSV\r\nhospitalization (i.e. odds ratio ranged from 1.45 to 2.85). In studies of mixed-risk populations, the adjusted odds\r\nratios ranged from 1.23 to 9.1. The findings on the effect of residential crowding on outpatient RSV lower\r\nrespiratory tract infection were inconsistent.\r\nConclusions: Residential crowding was associated with an increased risk of laboratory-confirmed RSV\r\nhospitalization among high-risk infants and young children. This association was consistent despite differences in\r\ndefinitions of residential crowding, populations, or geographic locations....
We describe two linked cases of botulinum toxin intoxication to provide the clinician with a better idea about how botulism cases\r\nmay present since early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in botulism. Botulinum toxin is the strongest neurotoxin known.\r\nMethods:We review the available literature, the compiled clinical data, and observations. Results: After a slow onset of clinical signs\r\na married couple living in Vienna presented with dysphagia, difficulties in accommodation, inability to sweat, urinary and stool\r\nretention, dizziness, and nausea. They suffered intoxication with botulinum toxin type B. Botulism is a rarely occurring disease in\r\nAustria. In the last 21 years there were only twelve reported cases. Conclusion: Both patients went to a general practitioner as well\r\nas several specialists before they were sent to and correctly diagnosed at our outpatient department. To avoid long delays between\r\nintoxication and diagnosis we think it is crucial to advert to the complex symptoms a nonsevere intoxication with botulinum toxin\r\ncan produce, especially since intoxications have become rare occurrences in the industrialized societies due to the high quality of\r\nindustrial food production....
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