Bacillus oleronius and Demodex mite infestation in patients with chronic blepharitis.

To better recognize the pathogenicity of ocular Demodex mites, we analysed Bacillus oleronius infection in patients with Demodex-related chronic blepharitis. The studies were conducted on 68 adult patients, in whom ophthalmological and parasitological tests permitted the distinction of a group of 38 patients with a diagnosis of Demodex-related chronic blepharitis (group 1, including a subgroup 1a with moderate blepharitis and a subgroup 1b with severe blepharitis) and a group of 30 healthy individuals (group 2). In every person studied six eyelashes were epilated from each eye and the number of Demodex per eyelash was scored. In parallel, bacterial culture and isolation allowed their phenotypic and molecular identification. The drug sensitivity of the isolates was tested using E-tests. Intensity of Demodex infestation showed no significant differences between subgroups 1a and 1b. From the epilated eyelashes 23 bacterial isolates were obtained, identified as being B. oleronius. All the studied strains were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, doxycycline and gentamicin. The Demodex mite represents an independent aetiopathogenetic factor in blepharitis. In parallel, the parasite may act as a carrier of B. oleronius bacteria, which most probably function as a co-pathogen in the development of severe forms of blepharitis.

Serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in chronic oral candidosis.

Serum IFN-gamma levels were studied in adult patients with chronic oral candidosis, associated with Candida albicans infection. In the group of patients, mean serum IFN-gamma levels (2.74+/-465 pg ml(-1)) were significantly lower than in healthy individuals (9.80+/-1.68 pg ml(-1)). In analysis of the C. albicans strains isolated from lesions in the patients, their ability was estimated to secrete proteinases. Serum IFN-gamma levels failed to correlate with infections induced by proteinase-producing C. albicans. The results allowed us to conclude that Candida infection may be associated with an insufficient IFN-gamma response of the host, which seems to result in chronic conversion of candidosis. Proteolytic activity of C. albicans strains in vitro is not related to virulence of the strains.

[The diagnostic value of anti-CMV and anti-HPV-B19 antiviral antibodies in studies on causes of recurrent abortions]. / Wartosc diagnostyczna przeciwcial przeciwwirusowych anty-CMV i anty-HPV-B19 w dochodzeniu przyczyn nawracajacych poronien.

Presence of serum anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) and anti-parvovirus B19 (HPV-B19) antibodies was studied in 11 women within the first day after consecutive spontaneous abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy and in the control group, consisting of 15 women in the second trimester of a normal pregnancy. Most of studied women manifested presence of serum IgG class anti-CMV antibodies (IgG-anti-CMV) and levels of the antibodies proved significantly higher in women following spontaneous abortions. The patients frequently demonstrated in parallel presence of serum IgG class anti-HPV-B19 antibodies. In one patient a generalised nonimmunological hydrops fetalis was disclosed and her serum contained IgM and IgG class antibodies against CMV as well as against HPV-B19. The results suggest that in majority of the studied women the spontaneous abortion might have resulted from fetal infection due to reactivation of chronic CMV infection in the course of pregnancy.

[Haemophilus isolates in children suffering from chronic upper respiratory tract infections]. / Paleckzki z rodzaju Haemophilus u dzieci z nawracajacymi zapaleniami górnych dróg oddechowych.

For a three year period, between 1992 and 1994, 271 isolates of H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae were examined using biochemical tests, beta-lactamase production and antibiotic susceptibility patterns. H. influenzae was examined by serological typing using polyvalent and monovalent sera a-f (Difco), as well. The strains were derived from children who were treated because of chronic pharyngitis. Sensitivity tests to Erythromycin, Gentamycin, Cefradine, Ampicillin, Doxycycline, Cefuroxime, Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid, Co-Trimoxazole, were performed with a standard disk-diffusion method. Biotyping was performed using API NH set (bioMerieux) and the ability to produce beta-lactamase was measured using iodometric method. Of 157 H. influenzae, 58 (36.9%) were typeable with H. influenzae antisera. The most common biotypes of these strains were I and II although biotypes III-VII were presented, as well. Of 114 H. parainfluenzae most of the strains showed the biotypes I and II. Its worth noting that 14% of H. influenzae and 15.8% of H. parainfluenzae strains were capable of beta-lactamase production. The strains of H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae were most resistant to Cefradine and Co-Trimoxazole, respectively.

[Effect of treatment with autologous staphylococcal vaccine on the course of the immunologic process]. / Wplyw leczenia autoszczepionka gronkowcowa na przebieg procesów odpornosciowych.

In 18 patients with furunculosis and in 9 with chronic inflammation of upper respiratory tract, some cellular immunity parameters were tested. These were: phagocytosis index and bactericidal activity against leukocytes. Humoral immunity was also investigated by measurement of serum gammaglobulins. All test were performed before treatment and 30 days after application of the last dose of autologous vaccine. In 12 patients with furunculosis, improvement of the clinical status (disappearance of furunculosis) was appearing together with an increase of phagocytosis index and bactericidal activity of leukocytes without changes in gamma-globulin levels. No such changes were found in remaining patients in whom no clinical improvement was found. The authors suggest that cellular immunity factors studied in this investigation permit for evaluation of the immunity status in patients receiving autologous staphylococcal vaccine.