Draft Genome Sequence of a Listeria monocytogenes Isolate of Core Genome Multilocus Sequence Typing Complex Type 2521 from Ready-to-Eat Meat Sausage Related to an Outbreak (Sigma1) in Germany.

We report here the draft genome sequence of a Listeria monocytogenes strain, core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) complex type 2521 (CT2521), isolated from ready-to-eat meat sausage related to a protracted and supraregional listeriosis outbreak (Sigma1) in Germany from 2014 to 2019.

Outcome and clinical course of EHEC O104 infection in hospitalized patients: A prospective single center study.

OBJECTIVES: Shiga-toxin producing O157:H7 Entero Haemorrhagic E. coli [STEC/EHEC] are the most common cause of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome [HUS] related to infectious haemorrhagic colitis. Nearly all recommendations on long term treatment of EHEC infections refer to this strain. The 2011 outbreak in Northern Europe was the first of this dimension to be caused by the serotype O104:H4. We report on the 3.5 year follow up of 61 patients diagnosed with symptomatic EHEC O104:H4 infection in spring 2011. METHODS: Patients with EHEC O104 infection were followed in a monocentric, prospective observational study at four time points: 4, 12, 24 and 36 months. These data include the patients' histories, clinical findings, and complications. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients suffering from EHEC O104:H4 associated enterocolitis participated in the study at the time of hospital discharge. The mean age of patients was 43 ± 2 years, 37 females and 24 males. 48 patients participated in follow up 1 [FU 1], 34 patients in follow up 2 [FU 2], 23 patients in follow up 3 [FU 3] and 18 patients in follow up 4 [FU 4]. Out of 61 patients discharged from the hospital and included in the study, 54 [84%] were examined at least at one additional follow up. Serum creatinine decreased significantly between discharge and FU 1 from 1.3 ± 0.1 mg/dl to 0.7 ± 0.1 mg/dl [p = 0.0045]. From FU 1 until FU 4, no further change in creatinine levels could be observed. The patients need of antihypertensive medications decreased significantly [p = 0.0005] between discharge and FU 1 after four months. From FU 1 until FU 3, 24 months later, no further significant change in antihypertensive treatment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that patients free of pathological findings at time of discharge do not need a specific follow up. Patients with persistent health problems at hospital discharge should be clinically monitored over four months to evaluate chronic organ damage. Progressive or new emerging renal damage could not be observed over time in any patient.

[A 44-year-old woman with hereditary nonpolyposis colon carcinoma: screening examinations for non-colonic tumors]. / 44-jährige Patientin mit hereditärem nichtpolypösem Kolonkarzinom: Vorsorgeuntersuchungen nichtkolonischer Tumoren.

A 44-year-old woman presented in March 2010 for surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In October 2004, rectal cancer had been diagnosed and treated by resection of the rectum with adjuvant chemotherapy. A diagnosis of hereditary nonpolyposis colon carcinoma (HNPCC) was established on the basis of the Amsterdam II criteria. Due to a lack of clear guidelines we decided to perform annual systematic surveillance examinations of the stomach and the most frequent tumor manifestations. Until 2009, extracolonic tumors were not observed in the patient. In March 2010, EGD showed a discrete erosive lesion in the gastric antrum, which was biopsied. Most notably, the histopathological examination revealed a poorly differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma. Due to the poor differentiation, we decided against technically possible, endoscopic resection. The patient underwent subtotal gastrectomy and is still doing fine 28 months after surgery. This case prompted us to evaluate our surveillance approach in HNPCC patients and to review the literature.

[Autoimmune liver diseases]. / Autoimmunerkrankungen der Leber.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) can occur in all age groups. AIH affects women more commonly than men (3:1). Clinical presentation may be an acute hepatitis up to fulminant liver failure, but can also be asymptomatic. AIH is characterized by lymphoplasmacellular infiltrates on liver biopsy, elevated liver enzymes in serum and the absence of active viral markers. Patients characteristically present with hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated serum levels of IgG and autoantibodies. Corticosteroids are the drug of choice for induction of remission, azathioprine the drug of choice for maintenance of remission. Rapid response to immunosuppressive treatment supports the diagnosis and leads to a good long-term prognosis.Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are immune mediated diseases affecting bile ducts. While PBC has a slow progression to cirrhosis and complications mostly will be limited to complications of cirrhosis, PSC additionally carries a high risk of developing cholangiocellular carcinoma. The treatment of choice in PBC and PSC is oral ursodeoxycholic acid which may slow progression of liver disease and may ameliorate lab findings.

Multiplex neuritis in a patient with autoimmune hepatitis: a case report.

A 37-year old woman presented with a 9-year history of hepatitis of unknown origin and aminotransferases within a 3-fold upper limit of normal. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was diagnosed on the basis of elevated aminotransferases, soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas (SLA/LP) autoantibodies and characteristic histology. Immunosuppressive therapy led to rapid normalization of aminotransferases. Two years later, the patient developed left sided hemisensory deficits under maintenance therapy of prednisolone and azathioprine (AZT). Later she developed right foot drop and paraesthesia in the ulnar innervation territory on both sides. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebral panangiography suggested cerebral vasculitis. Neurological investigation and electromyography disclosed multiplex neuritis (MN) probably due to vasculitis. Consistent with this diagnosis, autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens were detectable in serum. Immunosuppression was changed to oral 150 mg cyclophosphamide (CPM0) per day. Prednisolone was increased to 40 mg/d and then gradually tapered to 5 mg. Oral CPM was administered up to a total dose of 40 g and then substituted by 6 times of an intervall infusion therapy of CPM (600 mg/m(2)). Almost complete motoric remission was achieved after 3 mo of CPM. Sensibility remained reduced in the right peroneal innervation territory. Follow-up of cranial MRI provided stable findings without any new or progressive lesions. This is the first report of multiplex neuritis in a patient with autoimmune hepatitis.

Fecal elastase-1 determination: 'gold standard' of indirect pancreatic function tests?

BACKGROUND: Tubeless pancreatic function tests measuring the content of elastase-1 and the activity of chymotrypsin in stool are used with different cut-off levels and with varying success in diagnosing functional impairment of the pancreas. The aim of our study was to re-evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of elastase-1 and chymotrypsin in stool in the assessment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. METHODS: In 127 patients displaying clinical signs of malassimilation, the secretin-caerulein test ('gold standard'), fecal fat analysis, fecal chymotrypsin activity and fecal elastase-1 concentration were performed. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was graded, according to the results of the secretin-caerulein test, into mild, moderate and severe. Chymotrypsin and elastase-1 in stool were estimated using two commercially available test kits. Fecal elastase-1 concentration of 200 and 100 microg/g stool and chymotrypsin activity of 6 and 3 U/g stool were used separately as cut-off levels for calculation. RESULTS: 1) In 65 patients, a normal pancreatic function was found using the secretin-caerulein test. In 62 patients, an exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was found and classified into severe (n = 25), moderate (n = 14) and mild (n = 23). 2) The correlation between fecal elastase-1 and chymotrypsin with duodenal enzyme outputs of amylase, lipase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase-1 ranged between 33% and 55% and 25% and 38%, respectively. 3) Using a cut-off of 200 microg elastase-1/g, stool sensitivities of fecal elastase-1 and fecal chymotrypsin (cut-off: 6 U/g) were 100% and 76%, respectively (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001 respectively) in severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, 89% and 47% respectively (P < 0.001; P = 0.34, respectively) in moderate and 65% for both in mild pancreatic insufficiency. Specificities of elastase-1 and chymotrypsin in stool were 55% and 47%, respectively. 4) Elastase-1 based diagnostic provided a positive predictive value of 50% using a cut-off' 200 microg/g stool in a representative group of consecutively recruited patients with gastroenterological disorders. CONCLUSION: Determination of fecal elastase-1 is highly sensitive in the diagnosis of severe and moderate exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and is of significantly higher sensitivity than fecal chymotrypsin estimation. Specificity for both stool tests is low. Correlation between elastase-1 and chymotrypsin in stool and duodenal enzyme outputs is moderate. Neither test is suitable for screening, as they provide a pathologic result in roughly half of 'non-pancreas' patients.

4-day triple therapy with rabeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with peptic ulcer disease--A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that a 7-day triple therapy achieves eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori between 90% and 95%. Due to a lack of highly effective short-term eradication studies the aim of the present pilot study was to investigate the effect of a 4-day triple therapy with the new proton pump inhibitor rabeprazole (20 mg b. i. d.) in combination with clarithromycin (500 mg b. i. d.) and amoxicillin (1 g b. i. d.) without acid-suppressive pre-treatment in patients with H. pylori-related peptic ulcer disease. METHODS: 20 patients (11 men, 9 women) with endoscopically diagnosed peptic ulcers (gastric ulcer: n = 5; duodenal ulcer: n = 9; combined gastric and duodenal ulcer: n = 2, gastric or duodenal ulcer scars: n = 4) and H. pylori infection were consecutively recruited. The Helicobacter pylori status was assessed by means of histology, CLO (urea-) test and C13-urea breath test (C13-UBT) at entry. Treatment success was determined by C13-UBT 35-42 days after end of treatment. RESULTS: In 18 out of the 20 patients (90%) [77-100%, 95%-CI] a negative test result was found in C13-UBT 35-42 days after treatment. The 2 patients who remained H. pylori-positive had a duodenal ulcer. CONCLUSION: A 4-day triple therapy of rabeprazole in combination with clarithromycin and amoxicillin seems to be highly effective in eradicating H. pylori and well tolerated in patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer disease. The achieved eradication rate of 90% is comparable with the established 7-day triple therapy regimens. On the basis of these results and considering costs, side effects and compliance a large number of patients should be enrolled in a confirmatory 4-day eradication trial.