Search results for "INFECTIONS"
showing 10 items of 2671 documents
Prevalence, predictors, and severity of lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients living with human immunodeficiency virus
2020
Abstract Background The burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is growing in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). NAFLD is associated with obesity; however, it can occur in normoweight (lean) patients. We aimed to investigate lean NAFLD in patients living with HIV. Methods We included patients living with HIV mono-infection from 3 prospective cohorts. NAFLD was diagnosed by transient elastography (TE) and defined as controlled attenuation parameter ≥248 dB/m, in absence of alcohol abuse. Lean NAFLD was defined when a body mass index was <25 kg/m2. Significant liver fibrosis was defined as TE ≥7.1 kPa. The presence of diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipid…
Fever and rhomboid target lesion in decompensated cirrhosis
2012
A 53-year-old woman with Child-Pugh B, hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis presented with a 3 day history of high fever (peak 39·5°C) and a non-itchy rash. On admission, physical examination showed mild ascites, and a temperature of 38·5°C, a pulse rate of 88 beats per min, and a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per min were recorded. Many large (about 15 cm diameter) target lesions were present on the patient’s trunk and arms and legs, seen as concentric rings of a dull red, pink, or violet colour surrounding a clear centre (fi gure). No mucosal lesions were noted. Laboratory tests recorded a white-blood-cell count of 12×109 cells per L and a C-reactive protein concentration of 3·4 mg/L. Abd…
Management of infections pre- and post-liver transplantation: Report of an AISF consensus conference
2014
SummaryThe burden of infectious diseases both before and after liver transplantation is clearly attributable to the dysfunction of defensive mechanisms of the host, both as a result of cirrhosis, as well as the use of immunosuppressive agents.The present document represents the recommendations of an expert panel commended by the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF), on the prevention and management of infectious complications excluding hepatitis B, D, C, and HIV in the setting of liver transplantation.Due to a decreased response to vaccinations in cirrhosis as well as within the first six months after transplantation, the best timing for immunization is likely before transp…
Pre-conception maternal helminth infection transfers via nursing long-lasting cellular immunity against helminths to offspring
2019
Mothers transfer immune cells via breastfeeding to provide offspring with long-term protection from parasitic infection.
Development of a long-lasting ventricular catheter impregnated with a combination of antibiotics.
2003
A ventricular silicone catheter impregnated with a combination of rifampin and a quinolone was developed in order to prevent ventricular shunt related infections. As model substance for the quinolones we used sparfloxacin, because of its specific physicochemical properties resulting in a quantitative detection also in the presence of a second antibiotic. In our study we focused especially on an optimization of the antibiotic release out of the impregnated catheters in order to develop long lasting devices with a broad antimicrobial spectrum. A release-optimized catheter was tested with an in vitro colonization test and additionally with a method developed to examine the spread of bacteria o…
Mycoplasma pneumonias distribution, epidemiology and prevalence in a triennial survey.
2005
OBJECTIVES. To evaluate: (1) the incidence of pneumonia monthly distribution; (2) the rate of pneumonitis due to Mycoplasma Pneumoniae; (3) the suitability of choosing an empirical-based antibiotic-therapy; (4) the need of a critical revision of Mycoplasma serological data. PATIENTS AND METHODS. We studied 188 patients admitted to the Palermo University Pediatrics Department, from september 1998 to august 2001, with admission diagnosis of pneumonia. RESULTS. The highest incidence of pneumonia was in december and march as in both months 28 cases occurred in the whole period 1998-2001 (average of 9.3 cases per each month). The highest rate of pneumonias by Mycoplasma Pneumoniae was in may wit…
Control of cytomegalovirus in bone marrow transplantation chimeras lacking the prevailing antigen-presenting molecule in recipient tissues rests prim…
1998
ABSTRACT Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during the transient immunodeficiency after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) develops into disease unless antiviral CD8 T cells are restored in due course. Histoincompatibility between donor and recipient is associated with increased risk. Complications may include a rejection response against the foreign major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens and a lack of antiviral control resulting from a misfit between donor-derived T cells and the antigenic viral peptides presented in recipient tissues. Here we have established a murine model of CMV disease after experimental BMT performed across a single MHC class I disparity. Specifically, BALB/c bon…
Clinical, immunological, and molecular analysis in a large cohort of patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia: an Italian multicenter study
2002
A questionnaire-based retrospective clinical and immunological survey was conducted in 73 males with a definite diagnosis of X-linked agammaglobulinemia based on BTK sequence analysis. Forty-four were sporadic and 29 familial cases. At December 2000, the patients' ages ranged from 2 to 33 years; mean age at diagnosis and mean duration of follow-up were 3.5 and 10 years respectively. After the mid-1980s all but 2 were on intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) substitution therapy, with residual IgG >500 mg/dl in 94% of the patients at the time of enrollment. Respiratory infections were the most frequent manifestation both prior to diagnosis and over follow-up. Chronic lung disease (CLD) was prese…
Heat shock protein 60 autoimmunity and early lipid lesions in cholesterol-fed C57BL/6JBom mice during Chlamydia pneumoniae infection
2004
Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and autoimmunity to heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) have both been documented to be associated with atherosclerosis. Herein, we studied the effects of C. pneumoniae infection and a diet with a low-cholesterol supplement on the development of autoantibodies to mouse Hsp60 and early lipid lesions in the aortic valve of C57BL/6JBom mice. In addition, pulmonary infection was investigated. C57BL/6JBom mice were given one to three C. pneumoniae inoculations and fed either a regular diet or a diet enriched with 0.2% cholesterol. Autoantibody responses against mouse Hsp60 developed in both diet groups when the mice were infected with C. pneumoniae and in uninfec…
Latency versus persistence or intermittent recurrences: Evidence for a latent state of murine cytomegalovirus in the lungs
1997
The state of cytomegalovirus (CMV) after the resolution of acute infection is an unsolved problem in CMV research. While the term "latency" is in general use to indicate the maintenance of the viral genome, a formal exclusion of low-level persistent productive infection depends on the sensitivity of the assay for detecting infectious virus. We have improved the method for detecting infectivity by combining centrifugal infection of permissive indicator cells in culture, expansion to an infectious focus, and sensitive detection of immediate-early RNA in the infected cells by reverse transcriptase PCR. A limiting-dilution approach defined the sensitivity of this assay. Infectivity was thereby …