Subject(s)
Biomedical Research , Blogging , Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic , Health Policy , Power, Psychological , Public Opinion , HumansABSTRACT
The etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is unknown. In Norway, a vaccine against Neisseria meningitides group B was administered to teenagers in 1988--1989 in a protection trial. In order to estimate the relative risk of CFS/ME according to vaccine history, we conducted a case-control study in 2007, with 201 cases diagnosed at one of two hospitals and 389 controls. The adjusted odds ratio for CFS/ME was 1.06 (95% CI: 0.67-1.66) for subjects who received the active vaccine contrasted to subjects who did not. Using this design, no statistically significant association between vaccination against meningococcal disease in teenagers and occurrence of CFS/ME could be observed.
Subject(s)
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/epidemiology , Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control , Meningococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage , Meningococcal Vaccines/adverse effects , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Cohort Studies , Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/etiology , Female , Humans , Immunization Programs , Male , Meningococcal Infections/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Vaccination/adverse effects , Young AdultABSTRACT
Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans is a common dermatosis in travellers to the tropics and typically presents as one or a few migrating serpiginous lesions on the lower extremities or buttocks. We present two Norwegian holidaymakers who developed extensive disease after returning from Brazil and Tanzania, respectively. Both patients responded to the treatment with ivermectin.
Subject(s)
Anthelmintics/therapeutic use , Hookworm Infections/diagnosis , Ivermectin/therapeutic use , Larva Migrans/diagnosis , Travel , Adult , Animals , Female , Hookworm Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Larva Migrans/drug therapy , Male , Norway , Treatment Outcome , Tropical ClimateSubject(s)
Acetamides/administration & dosage , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Infective Agents/administration & dosage , Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Oxazolidinones/administration & dosage , Acetamides/adverse effects , Administration, Oral , Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects , Anti-Infective Agents/adverse effects , Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Drug Hypersensitivity , Drug Monitoring , Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial , Drug Utilization , Female , Humans , Linezolid , Male , Norway , Oxazolidinones/adverse effects , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy , Streptococcal Infections/drug therapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is an increasing problem in many parts of the world and in Norway the increase has been substantial since 1998. New therapies for MDR-TB have not been introduced since the fluoroquinolones in the 1970s. The cure rate of this disease has been reported to be lower than for non-drug resistant TB, and the use of new experimental drugs in combination therapy is warranted. METHODS: Ten consecutive patients with culture proven MDR-TB were treated with the novel antibiotic drug linezolid in combination regimens for 6-40 (median 17) weeks and followed up 11-50 (median 24) months after end of treatment. All strains were sensitive to linezolid with MIC<4 mg/l. Treatment was given as direct observed therapy (DOT) and sputum cultures, blood chemistry and neurologic examination were undertaken on a regular basis. RESULTS: Nine patients were cured, one patient with poor adherence to treatment and advanced AIDS died. Seven of 10 patients experienced serious adverse events, which led to withdrawal of linezolid in all seven. Six patients developed peripheral neuropathy and five patients bone marrow depression, blood transfusions were given to three patients and in all five patients bone marrow function normalized after cessation of linezolid. Peripheral neuropathy was not fully reversed in all patients. CONCLUSION: Linezolid seems highly active in combination treatment of MDR-TB. Cultures became negative 10-37 days after the introduction of the drug. However, peripheral neuropathy and bone marrow depression led to linezolid withdrawal in seven patients, and neuropathy may not be fully reversible in all patients.
