ABSTRACT
Over four months, three cases of biopsy-proven herpes simplex esophagitis were seen at Centre hospitalier Pierre-Boucher, Longueuil, in young adult males with no evidence of immunosuppression and negative serological testing for antibody against the human immunodeficiency virus. Clinical presentation consisted of odynophagia, fever and retrosternal chest pain. All patients rapidly improved with acyclovir therapy.
ABSTRACT
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is still enigmatic. Using indirect immunofluorescence testing for measuring antibody against human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), this study investigated the association of CFS with infection by HHV-6. Seventeen patients (group A) fulfilling the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) definition for CFS were compared with eight patients (group B) with chronic fatigue but not meeting the CDC criteria. No significant difference was found between the two groups for 30 parameters including sex, age, exposure to children and serology for Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and toxoplasma. Univariate analysis showed that patients in group A complained more frequently of a sore throat, headache and of recurrent type of fatigue. These three parameters are discriminant in identifying patients who will meet the CDC case definition of CFS. The titre of antibody against HHV-6 in group A (1:99) was significantly higher than in group B (1:15) (P=0.007). Elevated HHV-6 titres suggests that this virus could be a cofactor in the pathogenesis of CFS.
ABSTRACT
A 37-year-old woman with a cadaveric renal allotransplantation required intra-cranial shunting devices after a presumptive episode of tuberculous meningitis. Six months later, she developed a culture-proven cryptococcal meningitis. Without having her ventriculo-auricular shunt removed, she was successfully treated with a short course of amphotericin B (335 mg) and flucytosine (nine days) followed by prolonged therapy with oral fluconazole (400 mg daily for 72 days). Three years post treatment she had no evidence of relapse, and normal renal graft function.
ABSTRACT
Six clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium highly resistant to penicillin are reported. These strains did not produce beta-lactamase and no plasmid DNA could be detected. It is postulated that the mechanism of resistance is one or more chromosomally mediated alterations of penicillin-binding proteins.
