Serologic study of Bartonella sp. infection among human population of Southern Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against Bartonella sp. in a randomly selected sample from the population of the patients of North Sanitary District of Jaén. METHODS: We used a commercially available immunofluorescent test (Focus-Technology IFA Bartonella quintana and B. henselae test). RESULTS: Six hundred five healthy individuals were divided by sex into three age groups. We detected that 13.55% and 11.07% subjects were IgG seropositive to B. henselae and B. quintana, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the prevalence of both Bartonella species in Andalusia (Southern Spain) is relatively high. No statistical difference in the seropositivity was observed among these groups. In both cases, the IgG antibody titers ranged from 1/128 to 1/512.

Serologic study of Bartonella sp. infection among human population of Southern Spain / Estudio serológico de la infección por Bartonella sp. en la población humana del sur de España

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against Bartonella sp. in a randomly selected sample from the population of the patients of North Sanitary District of Jaén.MethodsWe used a commercially available immunofluorescent test (Focus-Technology IFA Bartonella quintana and B. henselae test).ResultsSix hundred five healthy individuals were divided by sex into three age groups. We detected that 13.55% and 11.07% subjects were IgG seropositive to B. henselae and B. quintana, respectively.ConclusionsOur data show that the prevalence of both Bartonella species in Andalusia (Southern Spain) is relatively high. No statistical difference in the seropositivity was observed among these groups. In both cases, the IgG antibody titers ranged from 1/128 to 1/512.

IntroducciónEl propósito de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos IgG frente a Bartonella sp. en una muestra escogida al azar de la población de pacientes del Distrito Sanitario Norte de Jaén.MétodosSe ha utilizado una prueba de inmunofluorescencia disponible comercialmente (Focus-Technology IFA Bartonella quintana y prueba de B. henselae). Seiscientos cinco individuos sanos se dividieron por sexo en 3 grupos de edad.ResultadosDetectamos que el 13,55% y el 11,07% de los sujetos eran IgG seropositivos a B. henselae y B. quintana, respectivamente. En ambos casos, los títulos de anticuerpos IgG variaron de 1/128 a 1/512.ConclusiónNuestros datos muestran que la prevalencia de ambas especies de Bartonella en Andalucía (sur de España) es relativamente alta. No se observaron diferencias estadísticas en la seropositividad entre grupos de edad.

Serologic study of Bartonella sp. infection among human population of Southern Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against Bartonella sp. in a randomly selected sample from the population of the patients of North Sanitary District of Jaén. METHODS: We used a commercially available immunofluorescent test (Focus-Technology IFA Bartonella quintana and B. henselae test). RESULTS: Six hundred five healthy individuals were divided by sex into three age groups. We detected that 13.55% and 11.07% subjects were IgG seropositive to B. henselae and B. quintana, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the prevalence of both Bartonella species in Andalusia (Southern Spain) is relatively high. No statistical difference in the seropositivity was observed among these groups. In both cases, the IgG antibody titers ranged from 1/128 to 1/512.

Prevalence of platelet reactive antibodies in patient's refractory to platelet transfusions.

INTRODUCTION & AIMS: Though platelet transfusions have greatly reduced the incidence of major haemorrhagic complications associated with the management of haematological and oncological disorders, refractoriness to infused platelets becomes a major clinical problem for many of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was done to determine the percentage of platelet alloimmunisation due to platelet-reactive antibodies in 340 patients with hematologic or oncologic diseases who had received multiple transfusions (> 10) of blood and blood components and showed platelet refractoriness in 1-hour post transfusion sample. RESULTS: Platelet-reactive antibodies were detected in the sera of 127 out of 340 patients (37.35%) who received multiple transfusions (> 10) and showed platelet refractoriness. CONCLUSION: Platelet-reactive antibodies appear to be an important cause of platelet refractoriness in patients of acute leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, NHL, MDS and multiple myeloma receiving multiple platelet transfusions. Platelet refractoriness in patients of ITP and chronic leukaemia appears to be due to other causes and not due to platelet-reactive antibodies.

Delay in diagnosis of influenza virus in an elderly hospitalized patient: a fatal outcome.

Influenza is a well established cause of seasonal hospitalizations and deaths among older persons. However, influenza is frequently underdiagnosed by physicians, because its clinical presentations are often complex, particularly in elderly patients. We report the case of a 78-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department in January 2008 with fever, vomiting, and a history of asthenia and falls in the preceding three days. Diagnosis of influenza at admission was missed. Influenza was diagnosed by direct fluorescent antibody in a sputum specimen four days later, but the evolution was rapidly unfavorable with fatal respiratory distress syndrome. This case illustrates that, during the influenza season, influenza should be suspected in elderly patients admitted to hospital even if they do not present with classical symptoms. Immunofluorescence testing on sputum specimens can provide a rapid diagnosis and merits further evaluation.

Distribution of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Different Stages of Schistosoma japonicum / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To study the presence of iNOS in Schistosoma japonicum and demonstrate its distribution in different stages of this schistosome. Methods Cryostat sections for adult worms and paraffin sections for eggs in the liver of infected mouse, sporocysts and cercariae in snails were prepared, immunofluorescent test was performed to detect the presence of iNOS in adult worms, sporocysts, cercariae and miracidium, the distribution of this enzyme was observed in different stages of Schistosoma japonicum. Western blotting was used to further demonstrate the immunoreactivity to iNOS in adult worms. Results The results of immunofluorescent test showed that specific yellow- green fluorescence was mainly among subtugment of adult worms. Positive staining was also distributed on the surface of miracidium and its glands. For both sporocysts and cercariae, the majority of fluorescence was on their surface. Anti-iNOS antibody could recognize an apparent specific band in Western blotting of adult worm proteins, with a of Mr 210 000. Conclusion There is an expression of iNOS-like enzyme in Schistosoma japonicum.

A Case of Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita

We report a case of epidermolysis bullosa acqumta with characteristic clinical features, subepidermal vesicles in histopathology, and deposits of IgG in basement membrane zone at routine direct immunofluorescent test. 1M NaCl-treated immunofluorescent test was performed in order to correctly diagnose our case. In this method, linear immunofluorescent deposits of IgG were found only at the dermal part of separation induced by 1M NaC1 treatment to skin specimen.

Estimation of Alteration of Peripheral Blood Immune Cells in Patients with Plopecia Areata / 대한피부과학회지

Authors have quantitated the T cell and T subsets(T and T cell) in the per- ipheral blood of 16 patients with alopecia areata and 16 normal healthy controls. The results are as follows: 1. The mean values of the T cell in total patient group(54,6+7.9g) and AAP group(5,3. 1+8. 1%) showed staticstially significant decrease when it compared with the mean value of the control group(64.6+3.6%) respectively(p<0.005). In ATU group the mean value of the T cell(53. 1+8. 1%) also showed decreasing tendency in comparison with that of control. The mean values of the T cell in total patient group(30.9+8. 9%) RIld AAP group(3'l. 5+8. %) showed statistically significant decrease when it compared with the mean value of the control group(42,6+8.9%) respectively(p<0. 005). In ATU group the mean value of the T< cell(28. 7+10. 9%) also showed decreasing tende- ncy in comparison with that of control. 3. The mean values of the Tr, cell in total patient group(6. 1+2. 2%) and AAP group(5.9+2.4%) showed staticstially significant decrease when it compared with the mean value of the control group(7.9+1.3%) respectively(p(p pl, pgp p25) In ATU group the mean value of the T cell(6. 7+0. 9%) also showed decreasing tendency in comparison with that of control. 4. The mean values of the T/T ratio showed no significant difference between the patient groups(total, AAP, ATU) and control group, respectively. Above data showed that defect of T cell and T subsets may be associated with the pathogenesis of alopecia areata.