Publications

seroprevalence of chlamydia pneumoniae in chile.	we used microimmunofluorescence to survey the prevalence of antibodies to chlamydia pneumoniae in 403 serum samples from asymptomatic subjects aged 6 months to 89 y in santiago, chile. the results suggest that chlamydia pneumoniae infection is endemic in chile, with a seroprevalence of 60% which does not differ by gender.	1999	10381230
[assay of specific anti-chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies by elisa method. 3. setting of serological criteria].	"hitazyme c. pneumoniae" (or "hitazyme cpn", for short) is a diagnostic reagent that has been recently developed by adopting an elisa method for detection of anti-chlamydia pneumoniae (c. pneumoniae) antibodies. when this reagent is used under a current diagnostic standard that has been set as a provisional standard, however, high antibody positive rates are often produced for both igg and iga even using the specimens of healthy persons. so, it is difficult to distinguish c. pneumoniae-infected ...	1999	10386026
in vitro susceptibilities of chlamydia pneumoniae isolates from german patients and synergistic activity of antibiotic combinations.	the susceptibilities of six chlamydia pneumoniae type strains and of six german patient isolates to erythromycin, azithromycin, roxithromycin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, ofloxacin, and rifampin were investigated. mics and minimal chlamydicidal concentrations were all within the ranges reported previously. combinations of azithromycin with either ofloxacin, doxycycline, or rifampin, as well as combinations of three antibiotics (rifampin, azithromycin, and ofloxacin or doxycycline), showed syner ...	1999	10390251
acute purulent exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chlamydia pneumoniae infection.	in order to investigate the role of bacteria, including mycoplasma pneumoniae and especially chlamydia pneumoniae in acute purulent exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), we examined sputum specimens and acute and convalescent sera taken 26 d apart from 49 outpatients experiencing an acute purulent exacerbation of copd. the sera were tested for antibodies to c. pneumoniae with the microimmunofluorescence test, and for antibodies to m. pneumoniae with the indirect fluoresc ...	1999	10390424
microbial etiology and bacterial resistance.	the nature of the causative organisms involved in community-acquired pneumonia has always attracted the interest of investigators. despite multiple studies using different methodological approaches, it remains a matter of controversy because a reliable cause cannot be obtained in a significant percentage of cases, even when using more sophisticated diagnostic procedures. the recent discovery of new pathogens such as the legionella species or chlamydia pneumoniae, highly prevalent worldwide shows ...	1999	10391406
community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly.	the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (cap) in the elderly is higher compared to younger populations. in addition, pneumonia in the elderly is a life-threatening problem. as our demographics have changed, clinicians have developed a heightened interest in managing pneumonia in the elderly. the development of pneumonia in elderly patients differs from that in younger individuals due to a complex array of factors. (1) the organisms involved depend on the setting in which the pneumonia deve ...	1999	10391411
atherosclerosis is not an infectious process.		1999	10393403
the species specificity of the microimmunofluorescence antibody test and comparisons with a time resolved fluoroscopic immunoassay for measuring igg antibodies against chlamydia pneumoniae.	to examine the species specificity of the microimmunofluorescence test (mif) and assess a time resolved fluoroscopic immunoassay (tria) for measuring igg antibodies to c pneumoniae.	1999	10396235
[chlamydia pneumoniae in coronary plaques: increased detection with acute coronary syndrome].	there is seroepidemiologic and experimental evidence for a link between chlamydia (c.) pneumoniae and arteriosclerosis. however, the clinical importance and the pathogenic pathways implicated remain unclear. in the present study, we sought to evaluate the presence and the location of c. pneumoniae in coronary atheroma, as well as a potential prevalence with unstable versus stable angina.	1999	10226644
detection of chlamydia pneumoniae by colorimetric in situ hybridization.	chlamydia pneumoniae causes chronic infections, which have been associated with cardiovascular diseases. the antigenic structures of the organism have been detected in atherosclerotic lesions by immunohistochemistry. we wanted to further evaluate the presence and localization of c. pneumoniae in different tissues by in situ hybridization. we established a new colorimetric in situ hybridization method using a digoxigenin-labelled probe and studied the localization of c. pneumoniae in formalin-fix ...	1999	10230702
chlamydial heat shock proteins and disease pathology: new paradigms for old problems?	the mucosal pathogen chlamydia trachomatis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is a significant cause of sexually transmitted disease. although most acute infections can be easily managed, complications often occur that can be especially severe in women. it has been proposed that increased exposure to conserved chlamydial antigens, such as through reinfection or persistent infection, results in chronic inflammation and tissue scarring and contributes to the pathogenesis of endom ...	1999	10231012
necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis in a 14-yr-old female.	a case of a 14-yr-old female with necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (nsg) is presented. she was referred because of chest pain and malaise, and radiography revealed multiple pulmonary nodules. her history showed seasonal sensitization to aeroallergens and hay fever. infectious agents or malignancies did not characterize these nodules. however, she was treated with macrolide antibiotics because of suspected infection with chlamydia pneumoniae. open lung biopsy showed histological findings of nsg ...	1999	10232451
bacteria found in blocked bypass grafts.		1999	10233788
can c-reactive protein predict the future?		1999	10233822
[a case of atypical pneumonia caused by viral-bacterial-fungal association].		1999	10234764
emended description of the order chlamydiales, proposal of parachlamydiaceae fam. nov. and simkaniaceae fam. nov., each containing one monotypic genus, revised taxonomy of the family chlamydiaceae, including a new genus and five new species, and standards for the identification of organisms.	the current taxonomic classification of chlamydia is based on limited phenotypic, morphologic and genetic criteria. this classification does not take into account recent analysis of the ribosomal operon or recently identified obligately intracellular organisms that have a chlamydia-like developmental cycle of replication. neither does it provide a systematic rationale for identifying new strains. in this study, phylogenetic analyses of the 16s and 23s rrna genes are presented with corroborating ...	1999	10319462
analysis of the 16s rrna gene of micro-organism wsu 86-1044 from an aborted bovine foetus reveals that it is a member of the order chlamydiales: proposal of waddliaceae fam. nov., waddlia chondrophila gen. nov., sp. nov.	the structural gene encoding the 16s rrna of the new obligate intracellular organism presently designated wsu 86-1044t was sequenced and analysed to establish its phylogenetic relationships. the 16s rdna sequence was most closely related to those of chlamydial species, having 84.7-85.3% sequence similarity, while it had 72.4-73.2% similarity with rickettsia-like organisms. when the sequences of the four species of chlamydiae (chlamydophila psittaci, chlamydia trachomatis, chlamydophila pneumonia ...	1999	10319478
two nursing home outbreaks of respiratory infection with legionella sainthelensi.	to describe outbreaks of infection caused by legionella sainthelensi occurring in older residents of two nursing homes and to determine risk factors for the development of infection.	1999	10323647
commentary: chlamydia pneumoniae infection and ischaemic heart disease.		1999	10336284
chlamydia pneumoniae infection of human endothelial cells induces proliferation of smooth muscle cells via an endothelial cell-derived soluble factor(s).	an association of chlamydia pneumoniae with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease has been determined epidemiologically and by the detection of c. pneumoniae organisms in atherosclerotic lesions in both humans and animal models of atherosclerosis. previously, it has been shown that c. pneumoniae is capable of replicating in cell types found within atheromatous lesions, viz., endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (smc), and macrophages, yet the role of c. pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of a ...	1999	10338498
lymphotoxin inhibits chlamydia pneumoniae growth in hep-2 cells.	cytokines such as gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-alpha) inhibit the intracellular replication of chlamydia pneumoniae or chlamydia trachomatis. in this study, we found that another cytokine, lymphotoxin (tnf-beta), restricts the growth of c. pneumoniae in hep-2 cells. when lymphotoxin (10 u/ml) was added during incubation from 8 to 16 h postinoculation, inclusion body formation was severely reduced. in addition, we observed activation of nitric oxide production and the nuc ...	1999	10338541
chlamydia pneumoniae infection and atherosclerotic coronary disease.	previous works have suggested an association between chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary heart disease. we evaluated the prevalence of c. pneumoniae infection in patients with acute myocardial infarction (ami) and coronary heart disease (chd).	1999	10347340
[chlamydia pneumonia and atherosclerosis].		1999	10347630
[chlamydia pneumonia and atherosclerosis].		1999	10347631
[chlamydia pneumonia and atherosclerosis].		1999	10347632
effect of azithromycin plus rifampin versus that of azithromycin alone on the eradication of chlamydia pneumoniae from lung tissue in experimental pneumonitis.	azithromycin, doxycycline, and rifampin, alone or in combination, were tested in vitro against chlamydia pneumoniae ar-39. the combination of azithromycin plus rifampin showed the strongest activity and produced higher rates of eradication of c. pneumoniae from lung tissues than azithromycin alone in experimental mouse pneumonitis.	1999	10348778
c-reactive protein in healthy subjects: associations with obesity, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction: a potential role for cytokines originating from adipose tissue?	c-reactive protein, a hepatic acute phase protein largely regulated by circulating levels of interleukin-6, predicts coronary heart disease incidence in healthy subjects. we have shown that subcutaneous adipose tissue secretes interleukin-6 in vivo. in this study we have sought associations of levels of c-reactive protein and interleukin-6 with measures of obesity and of chronic infection as their putative determinants. we have also related levels of c-reactive protein and interleukin-6 to marke ...	1999	10195925
[atherosclerosis--a chronic infectious disease caused by chlamydia pneumoniae].	recent investigations allow a controversial but convincing interpretation of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis). atherosclerosis can be apparently the result of ultrachronic persistent infection by chlamydia pneumoniae and not the result of heterogenous risk factors. the main arguments for the chlamydial genesis are: correlation of coronary heart disease and other atherosclerotic diseases and antibodies against chlamydia pneumoniae. chlamydia pneumoniae could be detected with ...	1999	10200611
[chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia].		1999	10201185
signal transduction pathways activated in endothelial cells following infection with chlamydia pneumoniae.	chlamydia pneumoniae is an important respiratory pathogen. recently, its presence has been demonstrated in atherosclerotic lesions. in this study, we characterized c. pneumoniae-mediated activation of endothelial cells and demonstrated an enhanced expression of endothelial adhesion molecules followed by subsequent rolling, adhesion, and transmigration of leukocytes (monocytes, granulocytes). these effects were blocked by mabs against endothelial and/or leukocyte adhesion molecules (beta1 and bet ...	1999	10202027
role of 'atypical' pneumonia pathogens in respiratory tract infections.	the 'atypical' pathogens are important causes of pneumonia, causing illness ranging from mild to life-threatening. the most common atypical pathogens are mycoplasma pneumoniae and chlamydia pneumoniae; others include legionella species, chlamydia psittaci and viruses such as influenza, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. infection rates for these agents are difficult to determine because many clinicians and investigators do not routinely test for them, but reported rates are in the range ...	1999	10202227
levofloxacin in the treatment of community acquired pneumonia.	levofloxacin is the first fluoroquinolone with enhanced activity against streptococcus pneumoniae to be released in canada. in vitro, it is active against more than 99% of isolates of s pneumoniae, even those resistant to penicillin. it is also active against respiratory pathogens such as haemophilus influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis, mycoplasma pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumoniae and legionella species. when given orally, bioavailability is greater than 99%, and the drug is highly concentrated in ...	1999	10202232
asthma, atopy and chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in adults.	factors involved in the development of inflammation and asthma in nonatopic subjects have remained largely obscure, although there is some evidence to suggest that certain infections may play a role.	1999	10202367
a review of chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis.	chlamydia pneumoniae is a gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that causes acute upper and lower respiratory infections. its distribution is worldwide. seroepidemiological studies have shown an association between c. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis, and the risk of acute myocardial infarction. several studies had detected c. pneumoniae in atherosclerotic lesions from coronary and carotid arteries, in abdominal aortic aneurysms (aaa), and in sclerotic aortic valves. one study consistentl ...	1999	10204048
relation of chlamydia pneumoniae serology to mortality and incidence of ischaemic heart disease over 13 years in the caerphilly prospective heart disease study.	to investigate the effect of chlamydia pneumoniae infection on future development of ischaemic heart disease and mortality.	1999	10205100
chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies may predict fatal heart disease		1999	10205137
chronic infection in the aetiology of atherosclerosis--focus on chlamydia pneumoniae.	an inflammatory basis to atherosclerosis is now accepted. it remains plausible (but unproven) that common infectious agents may contribute to the inflammatory signal, and hence the development (and/or progression of atherosclerosis and its clinical sequelae. of the candidate microorganisms implicated, chlamydia pneumoniae has emerged as the most likely pathogen to have a casual role. evidence for this is based on sero-epidemiological, pathological and laboratory-based evidence, in addition to ea ...	1999	10208475
[prevalence of anti-chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in preadolescent children in congo].	chlamydia pneumoniae (cpn) is recognised as a common cause of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections. seroepidemiological studies seem to indicate a world-wide distribution of this organism. in order to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to cpn in a healthy pediatric population, we measured anti-c. pneumoniae antibodies in a group of 253 infants without respiratory tract infections, aged from 1 to 12 years. sera were obtained from children seen at immunization clinics and schools i ...	1999	10214510
community-acquired pneumonia in adults: a multicentric observational aipo study.	the aim of this study was to obtain reliable data about the current aetiology (i.e. the frequency of the individual pathogens) of community-acquired pneumonia (cap) while surveying the diagnostic and therapeutic behaviour of italian chest physicians, compared with existing guidelines, and to test the usefulness of the current severity "criteria" or score as a predictor of disease outcome and guide for appropriate hospitalization. a prospective multicentre observational trial was carried out betw ...	1999	10218366
is cardiovascular disease preventable by vaccination?	the possibility of using vaccination as a tool in the prevention of atherosclerotic disease was opened by the findings that infection with chlamydia pneumoniae was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including acute myocardial infarction. since this finding, data have accumulated confirming the initial epidemiological association and demonstrating the presence of c. pneumoniae and/or its components in vascular lesions. recent intervention trials with antimicrobial drugs have f ...	1999	10219715
[electron microscopy, chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis].		1999	10220758
[chlamydia pneumoniae as a causative agent in atherosclerosis].	there are indications that inflammatory mechanisms play a part in the development of atherosclerosis, and infections by various micro-organisms have been related to the development of atherosclerotic lesions of vascular walls. epidemiological observations, immunohistochemical examination of samples of vascular wall and studies in laboratory animals have yielded strong indications that infections with chlamydia pneumoniae, a gram-negative bacterium, are related to the development of atheroscleros ...	1999	10221082
[atherosclerosis as an infectious disease].	according to several published studies micro-organisms may be involved in atherogenesis. an association is described between cytomegalovirus or chlamydia pneumoniae and an increased risk of vascular events. the micro-organisms are able to infect endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in vivo and in vitro, evoking to pathophysiological reactions of these cells which may lead to atherosclerosis, arterial thrombosis and plaque rupture. in two small secondary prevention trials, macrolide treatmen ...	1999	10221083
lack of association between first myocardial infarction and past use of erythromycin, tetracycline, or doxycycline.	to evaluate the association of prior treatment with antibiotics active against chlamydia pneumoniae with the risk for incident myocardial infarction, we conducted a population-based case-control study. we found that use of erythromycin, tetracycline, or doxycycline during the previous 5 years was not associated with risk for first myocardial infarction. these results suggest little or no association between the use of these antibiotics and the risk for first myocardial infarction in the primary ...	1999	10221884
[chlamydia pneumoniae infection and mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in pediatric patients].	we evaluated a total of 1104 pediatric patients with acute lower respiratory tract infection for c. pneumoniae infection and m. pneumoniae infection by serology during july 1995 to december 1998. a microimmunofluorescence test was used for diagnosis of c. pneumoniae infection and a high density particle agglutination test for that of m. pneumoniae infection. acute c. pneumoniae infection was found in 149 patients (13.5%), acute m. pneumoniae infection in 118 patients (10.7%), and dual infection ...	1999	10655676
prospective study of community-acquired pneumonia of bacterial etiology in adults.	the aim of this study was to prospectively analyze the bacterial etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in adults in spain. from may 1994 to february 1996, 392 episodes of cap diagnosed in the emergency department of a 600-bed university hospital were studied. an etiological diagnosis based on noninvasive microbiological investigations was achieved in 228 cases (58%); 173 of these diagnoses were definitive and 55 probable. streptococcus pneumoniae, which caused 23.9% of the episodes, was the p ...	1999	10691195
emerging risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases.		1999	10692662
[infections with chlamydia pneumoniae, helicobacter pylori or cytomegalovirus and atherosclerosis].	it's known that common risk factors of atherosclerosis can explain only 50% of its etiology. in only 40% patients risk factors modification inhibits progression of atherosclerosis. therefore looking for new risk factors of atherosclerosis is necessary. in recent years the inflammatory-infectious hypothesis of atherosclerosis has been reevaluated. the discovery of heavy infections load in the serum of patients with acute coronary syndromes might suggest a potential immunological mechanism trigger ...	1999	10695364
[infection, atherosclerosis and acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease].	the established risk factors for ischemic stroke do not sufficiently explain all clinical and epidemiological features of the disease, such as the winter peak of stroke incidence, the decline of stroke during this century and the time point of cerebral ischemia. a role of infectious disease as stroke risk factor may partly explain above features. several case-control studies with both hospital and population control groups showed that acute infection within the preceding week and mainly respirat ...	1999	10696660
patients with acute myocardial infarction in northern italy are often infected by helicobacter pylori.	the classical risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (ami) fail to explain all the epidemiological variations of the disease. among the new risk factors recently reported, several infectious agents appear to increase the risk of ami. in particular, acute and chronic respiratory diseases due to chlamydia pneumoniae, and helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) infection seem to be strongly involved. the aim of this work is to determine the prevalence of h. pylori infection in a group of male patient ...	1999	10705706
[helicobacter pylori, chlamydia pneumoniae, reactive c protein, and cerebrovascular diseases].		1999	10670238
[chlamydia pneumoniae and arteriosclerosis].	introduction: the relationship between chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis has been assessed in several studies. development and conclusions. their results suggest a possible role of chlamydia pneumoniae in the origin and development of the disease, while the actual link between them are still unknown. however, the presence of chlamydia pneumoniae in patients with atherosclerosis could be just a coincidence.	1999	10714290
key developments in unstable angina.		1999	10715869
animal models of infection-mediated vasculitis.	the human vasculitides are idiopathic syndromes for which both autoimmune and infectious causes have been proposed. although proof of a correlation between infection and human vasculitis would aid in patient management, it is difficult to confirm causality. to study infection-mediated vascular disease, different animal models have been developed. infections with the bacterium chlamydia pneumoniae, an rna virus, and herpesviruses all cause vascular pathology and are reviewed here. many aspects of ...	1999	9894626
chronic infections and coronary heart disease.	the rapidly changing patterns of coronary heart disease (chd) prevalence and presentation fail to be explained by conventional cardiovascular risk factors alone. an infectious basis to atherosclerosis may, at least in part, be contributing to the variable rates of prevalence of chd in different parts of the world. the evidence for such an association appears to be strongest for chlamydia pneumoniae. results of recent anti-chlamydia antibiotic intervention pilot studies have renewed interest in t ...	1999	10622075
[the studying of chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerosis].		1999	10635643
the progression of lower limb atherosclerosis is associated with iga antibodies against chlamydia pneumoniae.	to study the influence of serologically diagnosed chronic infection with chlamydia pneumoniae on the progression of lower limb atherosclerosis in a group of disposed men.	1999	10637151
characterization of low-density lipoprotein uptake by murine macrophages exposed to chlamydia pneumoniae.	exposure to chlamydia pneumoniae is correlated with atherosclerosis in a variety of clinical and epidemiological studies, but how the organism may initiate and promote the disease is poorly understood. one pathogenic mechanism could involve modulation of macrophage function by c. pneumoniae. we recently demonstrated that c. pneumoniae induces macrophages to accumulate excess cholesterol and develop into foam cells, the hallmark of early atherosclerotic lesions. to determine if c. pneumoniae-indu ...	1999	10602673
[community-acquired respiratory tract infections. current data on the efficacy of various classes of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance of the main prevalent bacteria species].	the american thoracic society regards fluoroquinolones together with macrolides and doxycycline as first choice antibiotics in the empirical treatment of community acquired pneumoniae in non-hospitalized patients, while the deutsche gesellschaft für pneumology only recommends macrolides and doxycycline for these patients.	1999	10603732
[chlamydia pneumoniae--a pathogen with cardiovascular significance].		1999	10605419
[persistence of chlamydia pneumoniae in coronary plaque tissue. a contribution to infection and immune hypothesis in unstable angina pectoris].	there is an increasing number of pointers towards a causative connection between chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis. but the pathogenetic mechanism and intimal structures that are involved remain unclear. starting with the hypothesis of a chronic infection, as demonstrated by the presence of the chlamydial stress (heat-shock) protein 60 (hsp 60), the presence and localization of these bacterial products in coronary atheromas was investigated.	1999	10605420
serological evidence of chlamydia pneumoniae lipopolysaccharide antibodies in atherosclerosis of various vascular regions.	the role of chlamydia pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has so far mainly been investigated in patients suffering from coronary heart disease; the other vascular regions have virtually been ignored. the aim of this study was to carry out a statistical survey of serological markers of a c. pneumoniae infection in patients with different patterns of atherosclerosis manifestation.	1999	10611843
[chlamydia pneumoniae and asthma].		1999	10614091
microbial aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalised patients.	adult patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia were studied prospectively to determine the microbial aetiology of pneumonia. between april 1996 and march 1997, blood and sputum samples were collected for culture. throat swabs were obtained for isolation of viruses and for detection of antigens of chlamydia pneumoniae, influenza viruses a and b, respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus. antibodies against legionella spp., mycoplasma pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumoniae, chla ...	1999	10614951
acute glomerulonephritis associated with pneumonia: a possible chlamydia pneumoniae etiology?		1999	10618895
[acute respiratory chlamydia pneumoniae infections in adults. value of direct gene amplification diagnosis].	chlamydia pneumoniae has been established recently as an important human respiratory pathogen. the aim of this study was to define the incidence of chlamydia pneumoniae in acute respiratory infections by evaluating its presence in posterior nasopharyngeal aspirates or broncho-alveolar lavage specimens by polymerase chain reaction-hybridization (pcr-eia) as well as the titres of specific antibodies in serum by a relisa test and a micro-immunofluorescence (mif) test. 68 adults patients were invest ...	1999	10637911
[chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis].	there is widespread consensus that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. between possible pathogenetic mechanisms, infective hypothesis has received increasing attention. researches have recently focused their attention on the role of chlamydia pneumoniae, a gram-negative intracellular organism, as infection by this bacterium has been demonstrated frequently associated with atherosclerosis. this review attempts to analyze and critically evaluate available data of the literature about the a ...	1999	10638018
bacterial pneumonia.	bacterial pneumonia is significantly more common in persons who are hiv-infected than in the general population and is most common among injection drug users and in persons with advanced hiv disease and immunosuppression. the clinical features of bacterial pneumonia are similar to those in hiv-seronegative persons, but bacteremia is more common. when a pathogen is identified, streptococcus pneumoniae is consistently the most common, occurring in 20% to 70% of cases. haemophilus influenzae, staph ...	1999	10638512
evaluation of two serological tests for the diagnosis of chlamydial respiratory disease.	serological tests for chlamydial infection are one of the most frequently used methods in the diagnosis of atypical respiratory infections. use of serological tests has implicated chlamydial infections in asthma, arthritis and coronary heart disease, but the specificity of chlamydial serology tests has been questioned. the immunofluorescence test is the most sensitive and specific serological test available for detection of chlamydial antibodies. this study compares two commercially available im ...	1999	10643015
[role of chlamydia pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of coronary disease].	several studies have demonstrated an association chlamydia pneumoniae with coronary artery disease, suggesting that infection with c. pneumoniae increases the risk for coronary artery disease by factor 2 or more. since atherosclerosis is considered to be a chronic inflammatory process, these data would fit into the response-to-injury hypothesis of atherosclerosis rather than representing a completely novel concept. several pathomechanisms as increased cytokine synthesis, proliferative and proagg ...	1999	10643056
newer pediatric pathogens.	newer laboratory techniques have allowed the detection of previously unrecognized microbial agents that are now pathogenic in children, as well as newly recognized manifestations of previously known pathogens. clinical reports of these newer agents or manifestations are reviewed so that pediatricians can become familiar with these emerging infectious diseases. physicians need to consider these organisms in the differential diagnosis in appropriate clinical illnesses.	1999	10645465
vaccination against infections by chlamydia pneumoniae.	chlamydia pneumoniae is an intracellularly growing bacterium that causes respiratory infections and is strongly associated with atherosclerosis. antibodies against c. pneumoniae are frequently encountered in the adult population, indicating past exposure to the micro-organism. immunity to reinfection is, however, only partial and does not prevent development of sequelae. infections caused by and associated with c. pneumoniae are a major cause of morbidity and mortality world wide. development of ...	1999	10646092
[secondary prevention of atherosclerosis].	secondary prevention of ischaemic diseases due to atherosclerosis, whatever their initial territory, relies on 2 drug classes: antiplatelet agents (mainly aspirin) and statins. despite the proven benefit of these medications on cardiovascular morbidity and life expectancy they are underprescribed. other drugs (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, antibiotics active against chlamydia pneumoniae) may soon increase our present therapeutic resources.	1999	10649648
relation of c pneumoniae antibodies to ischaemic heart disease. finnish study finds significant association between raised igg, but not iga, titres and mortality.		1999	10651478
search for agents causing atypical pneumonia in hiv-positive patients by inhibitor-controlled pcr assays.	pneumonia is one of the most frequent complications in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-patients with pneumocystis carinii as the leading cause. the true prevalence of atypical agents such as chlamydia pneumoniae, c. trachomatis, legionella pneumophila and mycoplasma pneumoniae in this population of patients is unknown as the currently used method for diagnosing these agents is measurement of antibody levels. however, this method is of limited value in human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-positi ...	1999	10836344
rapid identification of nine microorganisms causing acute respiratory tract infections by single-tube multiplex reverse transcription-pcr: feasibility study.	acute respiratory tract infections (aris) are leading causes of morbidity and, in developing countries, mortality in children. a multiplex reverse transcription-pcr (rt-pcr) assay was developed to allow in one test the detection of nine different microorganisms (enterovirus, influenza a and b viruses, respiratory syncytial virus [rsv], parainfluenzaviruses type 1 and type 3, adenovirus, mycoplasma pneumoniae, and chlamydia pneumoniae) that do not usually colonize the respiratory tracts of humans ...	1999	9854054
chlamydia pneumoniae but not cytomegalovirus antibodies are associated with future risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease: a prospective study in middle-aged to elderly men with treated hypertension.	several cross-sectional and prospective studies have indicated that high titers of antibodies to chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus (cmv) are associated with coronary heart disease. the aim of the present study was to examine whether elevated titers of antibodies to these pathogens are predictive of not only coronary but also cerebrovascular disease.	1999	9933263
the prevalence of chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic blood vessels of patients attending for redo and first time coronary artery bypass graft surgery.	to determine if chlamydia pneumoniae (c. pneumoniae) is more prevalent in atherosclerotic compared with normal blood vessels of patients requiring redo and first time coronary artery bypass graft surgery (cabg).	1999	9935022
is infection control an academic study?	this editorial aims to answer the question of whether infection control is an academic specialty. by considering the consequences of a lack of infection control in terms of patient morbidity and mortality and hence cost, it is easy to establish the importance of the area. infection control embraces not only developing policies for preventing the physical spread of a micro-organism but also prophylactic therapy such as vaccination and therapeutic measures such as antibiotics. infection control no ...	1999	9949958
demonstration of chlamydia pneumoniae in cardiovascular tissues from children with kawasaki disease.		1999	9951988
antibiotics and risk of subsequent first-time acute myocardial infarction.	increasing evidence supports the hypothesis of a causal association between certain bacterial infections and increased risk of developing acute myocardial infarction. if such a causal association exists, subjects who used antibiotics active against the bacteria, regardless of indication, might be at lower risk of developing acute myocardial infarction than nonusers.	1999	9952202
antibiotics for prevention of myocardial infarction? not yet!		1999	9952208
frequency of apolipoprotein e (apoe) allele types in patients with chlamydia-associated arthritis and other arthritides.	genetic background is important in determining whether certain infecting bacteria disseminate to the joint and cause arthritis. we assessed whether apoe genotype is associated with the presence of dna from chlamydia or other bacteria in synovial tissues of patients with various arthritides. nucleic acids from synovial tissues of 135 patients were screened by pcr for dna from chlamydia trachomatis, c. pneumoniae and other bacteria (pan-bacteria). apoe genotype was determined by a pcr-based method ...	1999	9973579
new studies illuminate brain disorders.		1999	10022090
comparison of pcr protocols including positive controls for detection of chlamydia pneumoniae in respiratory specimens.	in order to develop a practical approach for detection of chlamydia pneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) in clinical respiratory samples, positive controls for rdna and major outer-membrane protein gene targets were constructed. two pcr strategies detected chlamydial dna in excess of 1000 copies per ml in the same 19 of 135 clinical specimens and identified pcr inhibitors in the same four samples.	1999	10024436
infection of human endothelial cells with chlamydia pneumoniae stimulates transendothelial migration of neutrophils and monocytes.	we have previously shown that different isolates of chlamydia pneumoniae display heterogeneity in the in vitro stimulation of chemokines and adhesion molecules from infected human endothelial cells. in the present study, we examined the ability of different isolates of c. pneumoniae to promote transendothelial migration of neutrophils and monocytes. human umbilical vein endothelial cells (huvec) were infected with low (<15)-passage c. pneumoniae isolates a-03, ps-32, and br-393 and high (>40)-pa ...	1999	10024578
chlamydia pneumoniae infection in human monocytes.	chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with cardiovascular diseases in seroepidemiological studies and by demonstration of the pathogen in atherosclerotic lesions. it has the capacity to infect several cell types, including monocyte-derived macrophages, which play an essential role in the development of atherosclerosis. however, the persistence of c. pneumoniae in mononuclear cells is poorly understood. to study the morphology and biological characteristics of the infection, human pe ...	1999	10024593
chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis.	to review the literature for evidence that chronic infection with chlamydia pneumoniae is associated with atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndromes.	1999	10026342
chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies are associated with an atherogenic lipid profile.	to determine, within a representative population group of men and women, whether alteration of the lipid profile might underlie the reported association between chlamydia pneumoniae and ischaemic heart disease.	1999	10026343
chronic infection with helicobacter pylori, chlamydia pneumoniae, or cytomegalovirus: population based study of coronary heart disease.	to study possible associations between coronary heart disease and serological evidence of persistent infection with helicobacter pylori, chlamydia pneumoniae, or cytomegalovirus.	1999	10026344
elevated levels of c-reactive protein at discharge in patients with unstable angina predict recurrent instability.	in a group of patients admitted for unstable angina, we investigated whether c-reactive protein (crp) plasma levels remain elevated at discharge and whether persistent elevation is associated with recurrence of instability.	1999	10027805
detection of chlamydia pneumoniae but not cytomegalovirus in occluded saphenous vein coronary artery bypass grafts.	background: a causal relation between atherosclerosis and chronic infection with chlamydia pneumoniae and/or cytomegalovirus (cmv) has been suggested. whether the unresolved problem of venous coronary artery bypass graft occlusion is related to infection with c pneumoniae and/or cmv has not been addressed. methods and resutls: thirty-eight occluded coronary artery vein grafts and 20 native saphenous veins were examined. detection of c pneumoniae dna was performed by use of nested polymerase chai ...	1999	10027809
myocardial infarction, culture-negative endocarditis, and chlamydia pneumoniae infection: a dilemma?		1999	10028104
chlamydia infections and heart disease linked through antigenic mimicry.	chlamydia infections are epidemiologically linked to human heart disease. a peptide from the murine heart muscle-specific alpha myosin heavy chain that has sequence homology to the 60-kilodalton cysteine-rich outer membrane proteins of chlamydia pneumoniae, c. psittaci, and c. trachomatis was shown to induce autoimmune inflammatory heart disease in mice. injection of the homologous chlamydia peptides into mice also induced perivascular inflammation, fibrotic changes, and blood vessel occlusion i ...	1999	10037605
etiology and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in ambulatory children.	to determine the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in ambulatory children and to compare responses to treatment with azithromycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate or erythromycin estolate.	1999	10048679
identification of two novel genes encoding 97- to 99-kilodalton outer membrane proteins of chlamydia pneumoniae.	two genes encoding 97- to 99-kda chlamydia pneumoniae vr1310 outer membrane proteins (omp4 and omp5) with mutual similarity were cloned and sequenced. the proteins were shown to be constituents of the c. pneumoniae outer membrane complex, and the deduced amino acid sequences were similar to those of putative outer membrane proteins encoded by the chlamydia psittaci and chlamydia trachomatis gene families. by use of a monospecific polyclonal antibody against purified recombinant omp4, it was show ...	1999	9864239
antibiotics for myocardial infarction? a possible role of infection in atherogenesis and acute coronary syndromes.	the role of inflammatory mechanisms in the initiation, progression and clinical expression of atherosclerosis is increasingly appreciated. with this awareness, the possibility that acute or chronic infection may initiate or modulate these processes in an active area of investigation. infectious organisms may influence the atherosclerotic process through direct local effects on the coronary endothelium, on vascular smooth muscle cells and on macrophages in the atherosclerotic lesion. infection ma ...	1999	10193683
löfgren's syndrome as the first manifestation of acute infection due to chlamydia pneumoniae: a prospective study.		1999	10194106
viruses and bacteria in bronchial samples from patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia.	viruses and bacteria in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, protected specimen brush samples, and bronchial biopsies from 14 patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia (11 patients with common variable immunodeficiency [cvid] and three patients with x-linked agammaglobulinemia [xla]) were analyzed. at the time of the study, the patients had no signs of acute respiratory infections, and no antibiotics were administered. in addition to routine bacterial and viral cultures, polymerase chain reaction te ...	1999	10194166
single channel analysis of recombinant major outer membrane protein porins from chlamydia psittaci and chlamydia pneumoniae.	we recently demonstrated that the major outer membrane protein of chlamydia psittaci, the primary vaccine candidate for combating chlamydial infections, functions as a porin-like ion channel. in this study, we have cloned, expressed and functionally reconstituted recombinant major outer membrane proteins from c. psittaci and chlamydia pneumoniae and analysed them at the single channel level. both form porin-like ion channels that are functionally similar to those formed by native c. psittaci maj ...	1999	10069399