Search

Rationale: Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein is a chloride channel regulating fluid homeostasis at epithelial surfaces. Its loss of function induces hypohydration, mucus accumulation, and bacterial infections in CF and potentially other lung chronic diseases. Objectives: To test whether neutrophil elastase (NE) and neutrophil-mediated inflammation negatively impact CFTR structure and function, in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Using an adenovirus-CFTR overexpression approach, we showed that NE degrades wild-type (WT)- and [Delta]F508-CFTR in vitro and WT-CFTR in mice through a new pathway involving the activation of intracellular calpains. Measurements and Main Results: CFTR degradation triggered a loss of function, as measured in vitro by channel patch-clamp and in vivo by nasal potential recording in mice. Importantly, this mechanism was also shown to be operative in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection murine model, and was NE-dependent, because CFTR integrity was significantly protected in NE(-/-) mice compared with WT mice. Conclusions: These data provide a new mechanism and show for the first time a link between NE-calpains activation and CFTR loss of function in bacterial lung infections relevant to CF and to other chronic inflammatory lung conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of neurocysticercosis (NCC) in a French Caucasian with no history of travel to endemic areas. NCC is said to be a pleomorphic taeniid parasitic infection that is acquired through carriers of the adult intestinal tapeworm, Taenia solium. The persistence of right frontal lesions was found to be up to one year after the diagnosis. It was concluded that NCC should be considered when multiple taeniid scolices are studied within the same cystic lesion.

Background. Mucormycosis is a deadly invasive fungal infection whose characteristics are only partially understood. Methods. Data on mucormycosis obtained in France between 2005 and 2007 from 2 notification systems were merged. The 2008 European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group definition criteria were applied and risk factors for death were analyzed by hazard ratios (HRs) calculated from the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results. A total of 101 cases (60 proven, 41 probable), mostly in men (58%) .50 years (mean age, 50.7 ± 19.9) were recorded. Hematological malignancies represented 50% (median time for occurrence, 8.8 months after disease onset), diabetes 23%, and trauma 18% of cases. Sites of infection were lungs (28%; 79% in hematology patients), rhinocerebral (25%; 64% in diabetic patients), skin (20%), and disseminated (18%). Median time between first symptoms and diagnosis was 2 weeks. The main fungal species were Rhizopus oryzae (32%) and Lichtheimia species (29%). In cases where the causative species was identified, R. oryzae was present in 85% of rhinocerebral forms compared with only 17% of nonrhinocerebral forms (P <.001). Treatment consisted of surgery in 59% and antifungals in 87% of cases (liposomal amphotericin B in 61%). Ninety-day survival was 56%; it was reduced in cases of dissemination compared with rhinocerebral (HR, 5.38 [2.0-14.1]; P, .001), pulmonary (HR, 2.2 [1.0-4.7]; P = .04), or skin localization (HR, 5.73 [1.9-17.5]; P = .002); survival was reduced in cases of hematological malignancies compared with diabetes mellitus (HR, 2.3 [1.0-5.2]; P < .05) or trauma (HR, 6.9 [1.6-28.6], P =.008) and if &ges;2 underlying conditions (HR, 5.9 [1.8-19.0]; P = .004). Mucormycosis localization remained the only independent factor associated with survival. Conclusions. This 3-year study performed in one country shows the diverse clinical presentation of mucormycosis with a high prevalence of primary skin infection following trauma and a prognosis significantly influenced by localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the discussion during the symposium on the topic related to recent developments in infectious diseases and HIV or AIDS pathology. Pathology of cerebral malaria; Description of hemorrhagic fevers; Changes in the global clinical pathology of HIV or AIDS.

We studied five fatal cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), confirmed using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, in Vietnamese children. The liver seems to be a target for dengue virus, so postmortem examinations were performed to investigate elementary lesions, local recruitment of inflammatory cells and whether the virus was present in target cells of the liver. We detected severe, diffuse hepatitis with midzonal necrosis and steatosis in two patients, focal areas of necrosis in two patients, and normal histology in one patient. Dengue virus antigen was detected using immunohistochemistry in hepatocytes from necrotic areas in four cases. There was no recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells, and no lymphocytes were detected in the liver lesions of patients who died from DHF. Lymphocytic infiltration occurred in only one hepatitis B virus-positive patient, with no signs of chronic hepatitis. Kupffer cells had mostly been destroyed in cases with focal or severe necrosis. TUNEL tests were positive in necrotic areas, with positive cells forming clusters, suggesting that an apoptotic mechanism was involved. Thus, we suggest that the hepatocyte and Kupffer cells may be target cells supporting virus replication and that the councilman body is an apoptotic cell, as in the pathogenesis of yellow fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MIC of erythromycin, oleandomycin, spiramycin, josamycin, lincomycin and pristinamycin was determined for 100 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from cases of acute urethritis in men. The method of dilution in agar was used: blood agar with the addition of ‘Polyvitex’ and an innoculum of 103–104 bacteria per spot.With respect to the break points defined by the C.F.A. all the strains of N. gonorrhoeae studied are sensitive to erythromycin, spiramycin, josamycin and pristinamycin, 12% strains are resistant to oleandomycin and 75% to lincomycin.The active antibiotics are classified as follows according to the active weight expressed by the MIC50: erythromycin, pristinamycin, 0·125 mg/l; josamycin, 0·5 mg/l spiramycin, oleandomycin, 2 mg/l. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]