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In the present study the effect of ciprofloxacin versus ceftazidime on concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the sera of patients with severe sepsis was evaluated. The study included 58 previously healthy patients suffering from severe sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria, treated with either ciprofloxacin or ceftazidime after thorough clinical and microbiological evaluation and followed up for clinical outcome. Levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1b (IL-1b), IL-6, and IL-8 and of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, as well as of IL-1 receptor antagonist and soluble TNF receptors I and II, in serum were measured at baseline and 24 and 48 h after the first antimicrobial dose. Mean SAPS-II scores, development of septic shock, and mortality rates were similar in the two groups (43.2 ± 9.2, 21.4%, and 14.3% in the ceftazidime group versus 49.8 ± 11.3, 20%, and 13.3% in the ciprofloxacin group). Serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels at 24 and 48 h were significantly lower in the ciprofloxacin group, while the IL-10/TNF-α ratio was significantly higher, than those for the ceftazidime group. Among patients with high baseline TNF-α levels, there were significant increases in the IL-10/TNF-α ratio at both 24 and 48 h over that at admission for the ciprofloxacin group, while no differences were noted in the ceftazidime group. These results indicate that ciprofloxacin may have an immunomodulatory effect on septic patients by attenuating the proinflammatory response, while there is no evidence that differences in the cytokines measured have any impact on the final outcome.

Objectives: Multitransfused adult β-thalassemic patients constitute a population with high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, because of transmission of HCV from infected blood donors prior to the introduction of anti-HCV screening. The aim of this study was to compare them with otherwise normal patients with HCV infection. Methods: Forty-two adult multitransfused β-thalassemics and 49 otherwise normal patients of the same age, with chronic HCV infection were studied. Viral parameters, autoimmunity indices and liver histology were evaluated. Results: Serum HCV RNA levels were found significantly lower in thalassemic (median: 65 150 international units per milliliter (IU/ml); range: 3 059 380 IU/ml) than in non-thalassemic (NT) patients (median: 580 000 IU/ml; range: 10 956 000 IU/ml; P=0.001). The most prevalent genotype in thalassemic group was genotype 4 (32.4%) while in NT group was genotype 3a (59.2%). Cryoglobulins were detected in 8/42 (19%) thalassemic patients and in 12/49 (24.5%) NTs. Thalassemic patients had significantly lower levels of C3 and C4 components of complement and higher incidence of anti-nuclear antibodies than those without thalassemia. In patients with thalassemia a lower grading score was noted in liver biopsy compared with those without thalassemia (4.41±1.98 vs 5.38±2.09, P=0.038). On the contrary, thalassemic patients were found to have a higher staging score (3.08±1.51 vs 2.33±1.34, P=0.024). Conclusions: Adult β-thalassemic patients, compared with other patients with HCV infection, present lower necroinflammatory activity and lower viral load but higher staging score. Autoimmune features are marginally different. Age of acquiring the infection, iron overload and modulation of immune system by transfusions are the proposed causes of these differences.

Objectives : To analyze the clinical characteristics and determine predictive factors of mortality in previously healthy individuals suffering from severe sepsis. Methods : The study included 139 patients with severe sepsis, admitted to the Department of Medicine over a two years period. Data recorded on admission included demographic information, blood pressure, core temperature, white blood count, hepatic and renal function tests, coagulation factors, blood gases, serum lactic acid levels, simplified acute physiology score (SAPS-II) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Results : On admission, 62 patients were hypotensive, 52 had signs of diffuse intravascular coagulation (DIC), 72 had renal and 27 hepatic dysfunction. The overall mortality rate was 27.3%. Twenty-nine patients had septic shock on admission with a mortality rate of 62.07%. Hypoxemia, metabolic acidosis and the presence of DIC were more frequent in non-survivors, who also had significantly higher SAPS-II on admission and days 3 and 7. Independent factors associated with mortality were older age, septic shock, DIC and acute renal failure on admission, as well as SAPS-II at all time points and lactic acid levels on day 7. Conclusions : Septic patients with advanced age, septic shock, renal failure, DIC and metabolic acidosis on admission are at increased risk of mortality. The sustained presence of high SAPS-II and lactacidemia one week after admission are also important risk factors of poor outcome.

Background: Aminophylline, a theophylline compound that contains ethylenediamine, has untoward side effects on many organ systems. Objective: The goal of this case report was to illustrate the occurrence of acute adverse events (ie, chest discomfort and myocardial enzyme elevation) that may be associated with aminophylline treatment. Methods: To uncover previous studies/reports on this subject, a literature search (1950–2003) was conducted on MEDLINE, UpToDate, and Doctor's Guide, using the search terms aminophylline toxicity, theophylline toxokinetics, pharmacotoxic myocardial injury, hypersensitivity myocarditis, and diagnosis of myocardial infarction with biomarkers of cardiac injury. A 76-year-old, obese, female patient was admitted to University Hospital (Rion, Greece) for an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Beginning on day 0 of hospitalization, the patient was treated with aminophylline 750 mg IV, given in a 24hour constant infusion, for persistent wheezing. We monitored the patient's condition using electrocardiography, echocardiography, and blood chemistry analysis. Results: While undergoing aminophylline treatment, the patient developed vague chest discomfort and myocardial enzyme elevation due to aminophylline-induced cardiotoxicity. Mild wheezing was still present on physical examination on day 2 of hospitalization. The serum creatine kinase (CK) level was slightly increased. On day 6 of hospitalization, the patient's symptoms worsened, with mild epigastric discomfort, tachycardia, fatigue, and tightness in the chest. Blood gas analysis revealed mild hypoxia and hypocapnia. Pulmonary perfusion scan showed a low risk for pulmonary thromboembolism, as indicated by the absence of segmental perfusion defects. Blood chemistry analysis showed increased serum CK (×2.5) and CK isoenzyme (CK-MB) fraction (×8.6) levels. Echocardiography on day 7 showed a slight hypertrophy of the septum, with normal dimensions of the ventricles and a 70% ejection fraction. Aminophylline treatment was permanently discontinued, and the patient's signs and symptoms promptly improved. Conclusions: In the case presented here, the exclusion of usual causes of increased serum CK and CK-MB fraction levels, together with the increased serum aminophylline concentration and, most importantly, the rapid alleviation of symptoms and normalization of myocardial enzymes in absolute temporal relationship to the discontinuation of the drug, suggested that aminophylline treatment might be associated with elevated levels of myocardial enzymes. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2003;64:379–386)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of HLA-DR antigen expression in monocytes, in patients with community-acquired infections presenting with fever, as possible markers for the patients' final outcome.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in Greek patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its association with HCV genotypes and liver histology.93 HCVAb (+) patients underwent lacrimal function testing (Schirmer-1 test, break-up time test and Rose-Bengal staining test) and estimation of serum cryoglobulins and autoantibodies. 80 healthy volunteers were included in the study as controls.34 out of 93 HCV patients (36.6%) and eight out of 80 healthy subjects (10%) had at least two abnormal lacrimal function tests suggestive of KCS (p0.001), cryoglobulinemia was evident in 20 patients (21.5%), rheumatoid factor (RF) in 43 (46.2%), antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 19 (20.4%), antinuclear antigens (anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B) in one (1.1%) and two (2.2%) patients, respectively. Reduced prevalence of KCS was found in patients with genotype 3a compared to those with other genotypes (5/30, 16.7% vs 20/42, 47.6%, p = 0.007), probably because of their younger age. In patients with KCS a higher staging score was noted in liver biopsy compared to those without KCS (4.50 +/- 1.65 vs 3.06 +/- 1.88, p = 0.005).Greek patients with chronic HCV infection have a high prevalence of KCS (36.6%). The low frequency of anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B antibodies in these patients denotes different pathogenetic associations from primary Sjogren's syndrome.

AIM: To detect the prevalence of anti-HAV IgG antibodies in adult multitransfused beta-thalassemic patients. METHODS: We studied 182 adult beta-thalassemic patients and 209 controls matched for age and sex from the same geographic area, at the same time. Anti-HAV IgG antibodies, viral markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were evaluated. RESULTS: Anti-HAV IgG antibodies were detected more frequently in thalassemic patients (133/182; 73.1%) than in healthy controls (38/209; 18.2%, P < 0.0005). When we retrospectively evaluated the prevalence of anti-HAV IgG antibodies in 176/182 (96.7%) thalassemic patients, whose medical history was available for the previous ten years, it was found that 83 (47.2%) of them were continuously anti-HAV IgG positive, 16 (9.1%) acquired anti-HAV IgG antibody during the previous ten years, 49 (27.8%) presented anti-HAV positivity intermittently and 28 (15.9%) were anti-HAV negative continuously. CONCLUSION: Multitransfused adult beta-thalassemic patients present higher frequency of anti-HAV IgG antibodies than normal population of the same geographic area. This difference is difficult to explain, but it can be attributed to the higher vulnerability of thalassemics to HAV infection and to passive transfer of anti-HAV antibodies by blood transfusions.

there was no edema in the scrotum. The patient was initially subjected to duplex ultrasonography of his right leg, which turned negative for deep venous thrombosis. Subsequently, a CT scan of the right thigh and abdomen was performed, revealing an enormous fluid collection within the peritoneal cavity (Figure 2A) and a notable fl uid collection within the lateral aspect of the right thigh (Figure 2C). The fluid in the right thigh exhibited approximately the same density with ascitic fl uid (Figure 2A and C). No masses were detected in the pelvis. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From the outset, Community law had an absolute authority on national law. The primacy of the EU law has always been one of its fundamental characteristics which ensures its uniform application on the territory of the Member States. The respect of the national identity, introduced to the primary law since the treaty of Maastricht, aims to give a margin of discretion to MS and to counterbalance the effects of the integration. The process of exceptional integration offered by the EU is marked by successes and failures. The EU has to deal with very difficult European issues, with crises at different levels, concerning the euro zone, the immigration, the lack of confidence of European citizens at the European institutions highlighted by the BREXIT. Does the EU have the capacity to respond at the crises? The challenge to be taken up is to achieve the modernity of the EU law by renewing the concept of integration. The respect of national identity by the EU which paves the way to a supranational identity could be the appropriate remedy to the conflicting relations between national law et EU law.