摘要:

Human influenza A viruses do not spread in the bird population and vice versa. The viral component involved in keeping influenza A viruses of these two independently evolving reservoirs apart is the nucleoprotein. However, reassortants with a mixed genome are created through antigenic shift. This kind of recombination between avian and human influenza A strains seems to occur during double infection, specifically of pigs which are tolerant of becoming infected with influenza A viruses from both reservoirs. To minimize the probability of such antigenic shift, it is recommended that pigs are kept in closed farms, especially in southeast Asia, the starting point of most influenza pandemics.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157337

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In this retrospective study of 126 children with acute arthritis admitted to Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital over a 2-year period, diagnoses were viral-related arthritis in 26%, sepsis 16%, rheumatic fever 15%, transient hip synovitis 13%, connective tissue disease 11%, Henoch-Schoenlein purpura 8% and other diagnoses 14%. This pattern is more representative of general hospitals than rheumatology clinics. Polyarthritis patients did not represent a medical emergency or diagnostic difficulties. In 74 children who presented with monoarthritis, 64 were admitted as possible sepsis, proven in only 20 cases. Familial Mediterranean fever and brucella arthritis presented special problems of differential diagnosis; the most helpful findings were ill health, high fever, point tenderness and positive C-reactive protein. Neutrophil leucocytosis and high erythrocyte sedimentation rate were not as helpful.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157338

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The changes in the level of plasma apolipoproteins after 1 month of fasting-refeeding during Ramadan were measured in 12 healthy subjects. Apolipoproteins AI, All, and B had increased significantly by the end of the fasting month. On the other hand, apolipoprotein E had significantly decreased. Apolipoproteins CII and CIII also decreased, although not significantly. These observations suggest that changing the eating pattern from several spaced meals in a day to a fasting-refeeding cycle could change the plasma apolipoprotein profile. Thus subjects with lipoprotein abnormalities and/or heart disease should consult their physician before fasting in Ramadan.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157339

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The cilia are an essential component of the respiratory defense system. Certain ciliary abnormalities are produced by chronic infections. In this prospective study, ultrastructural features of cilia are described in 46 subjects. Thirty patients were studied for the problem of recurrent chest infections; of these, 6 showed ciliary abnormalities which were specific and diagnostic of primary ciliary dyskinesia. In 24 patients there were other abnormalities which were presumably secondary to chronic infections. This paper describes the various ciliary abnormalities seen in the latter group. It is emphasized that, as ciliary abnormalities may be the result rather than the cause of infections, a diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia should be made with caution.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157340

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The significance of identifying the infecting schistosome species has been highlighted recently by the availability of specific chemotherapeutic agents and an awareness that the tissue response – and therefore the prognosis – may be species-dependent. Moreover, human interference with the ecological systems in parts of the developing world has modified the epidemiological map of schistosomiasis resulting in a rising incidence of mixed infections. Differentiation between the ova of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium, the two species commonly seen in immigrants to Kuwait and to other non-endemic areas of the world, usually poses no problems in urinary and faecal specimens. However, in histopathological samples, their distinctive morphological features cannot often be assessed reliably. We obtained satisfactory differentiation by using a modified Ziehl-Neelsen method on 81 routinely fixed and processed biopsy samples. Moreover, on destained sections previously stained with haematoxylin and eosin, the differences were equally evident. Details of the method and its applications both in routine histopathological practice and for research are discus

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157341

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Fifty-five new compounds belonging to the naturally occurring benzylidenechromanones were synthesised and their activity against the important human pathogenic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida spp., Trichosporon cutaneum and Torulopsis glabrata was assessed in vitro using a microtitre technique. These yeasts had already been found resistant to miconazole, at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 100 µg/ml or more. The structural differences between the molecules of the new compounds, such as their three-dimensional shape, the presence of oxygen or sulphur hetero-atoms, or a cyclic bridge, were studied to establish models for their structure-to-antimycotic activity. Twenty-eight of the compounds were found active against the tested yeasts and had an MIC of 6 µg/ml. There was a heterogeneity in the response of the yeasts to the active compounds, which could be linked to structural factors in C. neoforman

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157342

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The type of household spoons or measuring devices used by 630 mothers in Kuwait when administering drugs to children was determined. Only a very small percentage of mothers used calibrated measuring devices. The rest used household spoons: 99% in the case of those measuring out teaspoonfuls and 92.5% of those measuring out tablespoonfuls. The capacity of the household spoons used was found to range from 2.5 to 5.0 ml for teaspoons and 7.0 to 15.0 ml for tablespoons. Of the mothers using household spoons, 93.5% used a teaspoon with a capacity of ≤ 3.7 ml, and 97.7% used a tablespoon with a capacity of ≤ 10.0 ml. Thus, more than 90% of children may be receiving inadequate doses of liquid medicines. Accurate drug administration can be assured only by using devices of known capacity. It is recommended that these be made available and parents be provided with directions for their use. The provision of oral syringes is particularly recommen

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157343

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The in vitro activity of 15 antimicrobial agents was tested against 21 clinical isolates of Brucella melitensis from Kuwait. The minimum inhibitory concentration for 90% of strains (MIC 90) was determined. Tetracycline and doxycycline showed similar activity (MIC 90 ≤ 0.25). The corresponding values for other antimicrobials were: rifampin (4), tri-methoprim-sulfamethoxazole (4/76), ciprofloxacin (0.25), and ampicillin (8). Among the aminoglycosides, MIC 90 was lower for gentamicin (0.5) than that for tobramycin (1), streptomycin (2) or amikacin (4). Of the cephalosporins, MIC 90 for ceftriaxone (2) and cefotaxime (2) was lower than that for cefuroxime (32), cephalothin (64) or cefoxitin (64). The effect of antimicrobials in combinations was assessed by fractional inhibitory concentration and fractional bactericidal concentration indices in three strains. Though variations among strains were present, synergy ( < 0.5) was observed between doxycycline plus trimethoprim-sulfame-thoxazole, rifampin, streptomycin, gentamicin or cefotaxime; ciprofloxacin plus streptomycin or gentamicin, and cefotaxime plus gentamicin. Other combinations of ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole with those agents that were combined with doxycycline showed indifference &(< 0.5–4). Antagonism &(< 4) was seen in only one strain for the combination of ciprofloxacin plus rifampin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole plus cefotaxime. Time-kill studies showed that doxycycline or gentamicin alone decreased the viable counts below 2 log 10 after 24 h. Combinations of doxycycline plus gentamicin or ciprofloxacin plus gentamicin decreased the viable counts below 2 log 10 within

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157344

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The condition of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) persistent antigenaemia was studied in 96 cases of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and 110 control patients admitted to Cairo University Hospital. The aim was to determine the incidence of HBsAg carriers among hepatosplenic schistosomiasis cases. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to detect HBsAg in serum samples. A total of 15.6% of patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis were seropositive compared with only 1.8% of the control group. Five patients out of 16 who had to be operated on for bleeding varices were seropositive for HBsAg. This high figure indicates the need to consider precautions for the safety of personnel operating on chronic bilharziasis patients. In addition, in cases of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis associated with HBS persistent antigenaemia, liver derangement and chronic active hepatitis must be anticipated and their clinical and laboratory manifestations looked for.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157345

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A case of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis complicated by brain infarction, due to septic emboli causing left-sided hemiplegia, is reported. The cerebal infarction was detected with gallium-67 citrate (67Ga) scan and missed by CT scan. The diagnosis of S. aureus endocarditis was confirmed by a positive blood culture and the findings of echocardiography. A whole-body67Ga scan detected the primary focus of septic endocarditis in the right maxillary sinus and the embolic spread from the heart to the right cerebral hemisphere and to the bones of the feet. In this case 67Ga imaging was more sensitive than brain CT. Whole body 67Ga scan should thus be used more frequently in cases of septic endocarditis to define both the source and the embolic spread of inflammation.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157346

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger