Cytomegalovirus infection in patients with solid-organ transplant. Recently reviewed immunologic response and pathogenicity mechanisms.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompromised host is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The protective immunity against the virus is both humoral and cellular. Immunologic mechanisms in rejection as in the immune response against CMV infection are similar but there is difficult to separe as histologic and clinically independent events. At least eight different genes of CMV are homologous to human proteins related to the immune response. The potential role of these genes with homology to human genes can be at different levels. The relevance that immunodominant antigens have on the natural control of CMV infection, suggests that the future design of a vaccine directed to protecting from disease those susceptible to primary infection, in an immunocompromised state, should involve a combination of antigens that include pp65, IE1-exon 4 and gB as a recombinant proteins.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus in childhood.

OBJECTIVE: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have been found in up to 25% of adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in 69% of affected children. We investigated ANCA and antibodies to myeloperoxidase (MPO) in 50 children with SLE. METHODS: ANCA in serum were measured by indirect immunofluorescence and antibodies to MPO by ELISA. RESULTS: ANCA were found in 8 (7 perinuclear ANCA, 1 cytoplasmic ANCA) of the 50 sera tested (16%). All the 8 ANCA positive patients were also positive for anti-MPO antibodies. No association with vasculitis or specific organ involvement was observed. CONCLUSION: Our results in children are roughly similar to those reported for adults.

[Treatment of diarrheic disease at home. Comparison of 2 forms of oral solutions: liquid and concentrated in small bags]. / Tratamiento de la enfermedad diarreica en el hogar. Comparación de dos presentaciones de suero oral: líquida y concentrada en sobres.

One hundred children, ranging in ages from a month to a year, with acute diarrhea who were treated at home following the basic standard recommendations, were studied. In order to prevent dehydration, half of the children were given oral solution (OS) containing the concentrated official formula in packets (group A), and the remaining half was given a commercially prepared ready-to-use OS (group B). During the treatment period, two house calls were made and the third day the patient was asked to come in for a check-up at the hospital. The clinical and socioeconomic characteristics were similar in both groups. The majority of parents made some reference to the "salty" taste of their OS, while only a few thought it has a sweet taste. In Group B, there were greater numbers of relatives who did not wash their hands before administering the OS and did it through bottles. A reminder was given on suggestive signs of dehydration expected, during the second home visit, although they were few. In both groups the average amount of OS administered was greater than 40 mL/kg/24 hours. The majority of the patients gained weight during the treatment. Four patients showed signs of slight dehydration (three from group A and one from group B). The OS's bacteriologic examination was positive for enteropathogens in 16% of the samples from group A and in 5% from group B. The average time the diarrhea continued was similar for both groups. Sodium concentration ranged from 60 to 120, potassium from 15 to 30 mmol/L, in 85% of those cases in group A and 98% in group B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)