ABSTRACT
In a fibrin-clot model of sepsis, developed in mice, treatment with the antibiotics ceftazidime (Cfz) and ofloxacin (Ofl) caused significant (p < 0.01) release of endotoxin and TNF-alpha after 4.5 h when compared with control (untreated) and amikacin (Ami) treated group. Except for control group, the level of bacteremia declined in all three antibiotic-treated groups. The results suggest that antibiotic therapy, irrespective of the agent used, results in an increase in endotoxin levels in vivo. The amount of endotoxin liberated by Ami was much smaller than with Cfz and Ofl therapy, which makes it an appropriate agent for the treatment of sepsis. An increase in the level of TNF-alpha along with endotoxin is suggestive of increased inflammatory response.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Endotoxins/metabolism , Klebsiella pneumoniae/pathogenicity , Sepsis/drug therapy , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Amikacin/pharmacology , Amikacin/therapeutic use , Animals , Ceftazidime/pharmacology , Ceftazidime/therapeutic use , Disease Models, Animal , Humans , Inflammation , Klebsiella Infections/complications , Klebsiella Infections/drug therapy , Klebsiella Infections/microbiology , Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects , Mice , Ofloxacin/pharmacology , Ofloxacin/therapeutic use , Sepsis/microbiology , Sepsis/mortalityABSTRACT
An immunological study of pathogenesis of tuberculosis was carried out in BALB-c mice in-vitro. Peritoneal macrophages obtained from BALB-c mice were challenged with virulent (H37Rv) and avirulent (H37Ra, BCG, M. phlei) strains of mycobacteria. Activated peritoneal macrophages showed enlargement, presence of intracellular bacteria and vacuolation. These significant changes in macrophage morphology were clearly evidenced in cells infected with virulent strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis i.e. H37Rv while being absent in cells infected with avirulent H37Ra, BCG and M. phlei. Virulent mycobacteria (H37Rv) survive the phagocytic action of macrophages by residing inside the vacuoles. The capacity of virulent and avirulent strain to stimulate TNF-alpha production from peritoneal macrophage of BALB-c mice was also examined at different time interval i.e. 1,2,4,6 and 8th day by measuring cytolytic activity of culture supernatant against murine fibroblast cell line. The pattern of highest TNF release was in case of H37Rv and least with M. phlei as measured in culture supernatant after 1,2,4,6 and 8th day.
Subject(s)
Macrophages, Peritoneal/microbiology , Mycobacterium phlei/pathogenicity , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/pathogenicity , Animals , Macrophages, Peritoneal/metabolism , Macrophages, Peritoneal/pathology , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Phagocytosis , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/biosynthesisABSTRACT
Smears from 74 known smear negative cases of leprosy were examined after staining with Auramine 'O'. 40.54% cases were positive for fluorescent bacilli. 60.52% of cases on treatment and 19.44% cases after RFT had fluorescent bacilli in the skin smears. Results suggest the possibility of a non acid-fast fluorescent positive variant of M. leprae.
Subject(s)
Leprosy/microbiology , Mycobacterium leprae/isolation & purification , Skin/microbiology , Benzophenoneidum , Humans , Microscopy, Fluorescence/methodsABSTRACT
An analysis of 200 skin smear results from multibacillary patients showed that the average bacteriological index (BI) of a patient varied considerably from his site-wise highest BI. The average BI was equal to site wise highest BI only in 17.5% of cases and in the rest, it ranged from 99% to as low as 36% of the highest site-wise BI. In follow-up smears, site-wise consistency of the highest BI was found in 96% of cases. It is suggested that for follow-up purposes, repeating smear from only one such site would be adequate.
