1/278. Selective antibody deficiency to bacterial polysaccharide antigens in patients with netherton syndrome.Three patients with netherton syndrome, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, and humoral immune deficiency are described. Although quantitative serum immunoglobulin levels were generally normal, two patients had selective antibody deficiency to bacterial polysaccharide antigens, one associated with IgA-IgG-2 deficiency. A third patient had an antibody deficiency to protein antigens. This is the first report, to our knowledge, that describes antibody deficiency in patients with netherton syndrome. This finding demonstrates the importance of evaluating functional antibody responses to both protein and bacterial polysaccharide antigens and not relying on IgG subclass determination.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/278. Clinical and scientific importance of source control in abdominal infections: summary of a symposium.In May 1997, a panel of surgeon-investigators met to discuss the clinical importance and research implications of controlling the source of abdominal infections. It was concluded that source control is critical to therapeutic success and that antimicrobial therapy and other adjunctive interventions will fail if the source of infection is not controlled by resection, exteriorization or other means. The panelists presented different definitions of source control, depending on the scientific purpose of the definition. All participants agreed that failure to consider the adequacy of source control of infection has limited the value of most clinical trials of therapeutic anti-infective agents. Besides recognizing source control as an essential goal of patient care, the panelists emphasized the need for further investigative work to define, record and stratify the adequacy of source control in clinical trials of therapeutic agents for abdominal infections.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/278. Significance of serum c-reactive protein elevation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.serum c-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was determined by a radial immunodiffusion method in serum samples collected over a mean period of 19 months from a group of 17 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thirty-two episodes of CRP elevation were detected. Twenty of these were associated with active SLE, and 9 with proven or possible infection or bone fracture. In 3 cases no explanation for CRP elevation was readily apparent. There were 8 instances of onset or exacerbation of lupus activity without accompanying CRP elevation. These data indicate that CRP elevation in the course of SLE is frequently associated with activation of lupus, and that detection of such elevation does not differentiate between lupus activity and infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/278. Pocket infection complicating inadvertent transarterial permanent pacing. Successful percutaneous explantation.This report describes a patient admitted for the treatment of a pocket infection occurring 5 months after a dual chamber pacemaker implantation. The ventricular lead had been inadvertently placed into the left ventricle through the arterial system. After careful examination using transesophageal echocardiography and left heart angiogram, successful percutaneous extraction was performed without complication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/278. A heterozygous mutation of beta-actin associated with neutrophil dysfunction and recurrent infection.A human disorder caused by mutation in nonmuscle actin has not been reported. We report here a variant of nonmuscle actin in a female patient with recurrent infections, photosensitivity, and mental retardation. She also had abnormalities in neutrophil chemotaxis, superoxide production, and membrane potential response. Two-dimensional PAGE analysis of proteins from neutrophils and other cell types from this patient demonstrated a unique protein spot migrating at 42 kDa with pI shifted slightly to neutral relative to normal beta- and gamma-actin. digestion peptide mapping and Western blotting showed this spot to be an abnormal actin. A full-length cDNA library was constructed by using mRNA from patient's cells and cDNA encoding the mutant beta-actin molecule was identified by an in vitro translation method. Sequencing of the clones demonstrated a G-1174 to A substitution, predicting a glutamic acid-364 to lysine substitution in beta-actin and eliminating a HinfI DNase restriction site found in normal beta-actin sequence. By HinfI digestion and by sequencing, the mutation in one allele of patient's genomic dna was confirmed. Though no defect in cell-free polymerization of actin was detected, this defect lies in a domain important for binding to profilin and other actin-regulatory molecules. In fact, the mutant actin bound to profilin less efficiently than normal actin did. Heterozygous expression of mutant beta-actin in neutrophils and other cells of this patient may act in a dominant-negative fashion to adversely affect cellular activities dependent on the function of nonmuscle actin.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/278. Infected ovarian cyst in a homozygous beta-thalassemic patient.An infected ovarian cyst in a thalassemic patient is rarely reported. We describe the case of a 22-year old woman with splenectomized homozygous beta-thalassemia who developed high fever and was diagnosed as having an infected ovarian cyst. The mechanisms which beta-thalassemia might predispose to infection and considered to be immunocompromized are discussed. She was given an intravenous antibiotic regimen and the infected ovarian cyst was removed. The difficulties in the diagnosis of an infected ovarian cyst is because of its rarity and the paucity of information on it in the literature. Therefore, the triad of ovarian cyst, immunocompromized host, and signs of infection with failure to identify any other source of infection should raise the suspicion of an infected ovarian cyst.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/278. Acute complications in the operative treatment of isolated ankle fractures in patients with diabetes mellitus.Using a computer database, we conducted a retrospective review of all ankle fractures treated at our institution from March 1985 to October 1996. Twenty-one patients with diabetes mellitus and isolated ankle fractures that were treated operatively met all inclusion criteria. Seven had insulin-dependent diabetes, and 14 had non-insulin-dependent diabetes. A randomly selected control group of 46 patients without diabetes who also underwent operative treatment of ankle fractures during this same time period were matched for age, sex, and fracture severity. The complication rate was 43% with 13 complications in nine patients with diabetes. There were seven (15.5%) complications in the control group. Complications in the diabetic group included seven infections (five deep, two superficial) and three losses of fixation. The complications were more severe in our diabetic population, requiring seven additional procedures including two below-knee amputations; a third patient refused an amputation. No additional procedures were required in our control group. All complications in our control group resolved with treatment. The relative risk for postoperative complications in patients with diabetes who sustained ankle fractures that were treated operatively was 2.76 times greater than the control group's (95% confidence interval, 1.57-3.97).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/278. Necrotizing infection of the face secondary to intranasal impaction of "crack" cocaine."Crack" is a crystalline form of cocaine that is readily available and sold in the form of small granules. The authors report a unique case of forced intranasal impaction of crack cocaine with subsequent extensive necrosis of the nose and upper lip accompanied by a necrotizing infection of the subcutaneous soft tissue of the cheeks, forehead, and temporal regions. The treatment of extensive facial necrosis resulting from infection and ischemia centers around the early diagnosis of the infectious process, prompt and aggressive surgical debridement, and the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/278. Thoracic lymphadenopathy in hiv patients: spectrum of disease and differential diagnosis.To evaluate the etiology and differential features of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy (LAD) in hiv patients, chest computed tomography (CT) records from an 18-month period were reviewed to identify all hiv-positive patients with intrathoracic LAD (nodal size > or = 1 cm). medical records were reviewed for the documentation of specific diseases causing LAD and the CD4 count at the time of imaging. Of 45 hiv-positive patients with LAD, 40 had specific diagnoses including 22 (55%) infections and 17 (43%) tumors; one patient had both (3%). Mycobacterial disease accounted for 78% of infections; five cases were secondary to bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. Of tumors, lymphoma (7 cases, 39%) was most common, followed by lung cancer, germ cell tumors, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Mean CD4 cell count in patients with tumors was much higher than in patients with infections (314 vs. 62, p < .01). patients with tumors were somewhat more likely than patients with infections to demonstrate axillary adenopathy (29 vs. 5%, p = .068). Cavitary disease was only observed in patients with infections (27%, p < .03). CT and clinical findings may help direct the differential diagnosis of LAD in AIDS, and promote expedient definitive diagnosis and therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/278. Evolution of iga deficiency to IgG subclass deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency.FIRST REPORT: male child with repeated pulmonary infections from the age of 4 months. He was diagnosed as iga deficiency (undetectable IgA levels) at the age of 3 years, when he presented repeated bouts of pneumonia and tonsillitis. Several immunologic evaluations were made between the ages of 4 months and 8 years. At 8 years and 9 months, the diagnosis of iga deficiency was confirmed, and associated IgG2 and IgG4 deficiency (29.0 mg/dl y 0.01 mg/dl) with normal total IgG serum level was found. With the administration of intravenous gammaglobulin, the lung infections remitted and the subsequent clinical course has been uneventful up to now. SECOND REPORT: a boy with repeated infections since the age of 2 months. iga deficiency was diagnosed at 1 year 7 months (undetectable serum IgA levels). At age 51/2 years, his clinical course worsened and more serious infections appeared. A new immunologic study revealed iga deficiency associated with CD4 cell deficiency (432 cells/mm3) and normal CD3, CD19, and CD8 levels. Despite intensive antibiotic treatment and care, the child died. The findings suggest an association of iga deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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