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immunoglobulin responses at the mucosal interface.mucosal surfaces are colonized by large communities of commensal bacteria and represent the primary site of entry for pathogenic agents. to prevent microbial intrusion, mucosal b cells release large amounts of immunoglobulin (ig) molecules through multiple follicular and extrafollicular pathways. iga is the most abundant antibody isotype in mucosal secretions and owes its success in frontline immunity to its ability to undergo transcytosis across epithelial cells. in addition to translocating ig ...201121219173
intravenous moxifloxacin in routine hospital treatment of respiratory tract infections in china: results of a multicenter, noninterventional study.to investigate the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of moxifloxacin (mxf) (intravenous [iv] or sequential therapy [iv followed by oral]) under daily treatment conditions in a large number of patients with respiratory tract infections.201121674024
randomized placebo-controlled trial on azithromycin to reduce the morbidity of bronchiolitis in indigenous australian infants: rationale and protocol.acute lower respiratory infections are the commonest cause of morbidity and potentially preventable mortality in indigenous infants. infancy is also a critical time for post-natal lung growth and development. severe or repeated lower airway injury in very young children likely increases the likelihood of chronic pulmonary disorders later in life. globally, bronchiolitis is the most common form of acute lower respiratory infections during infancy. compared with non-indigenous australian infants, ...201121492416
comparison between nasopharyngeal swab and nasal wash, using culture and pcr, in the detection of potential respiratory pathogens.nasopharyngeal carriage of potential pathogens is important as it is both the major source of transmission and the prerequisite of invasive disease. new methods for detecting carriage could improve comfort, accuracy and laboratory utility. the aims of this study were to compare the sensitivities of a nasopharyngeal swab (nps) and a nasal wash (nw) in detecting potential respiratory pathogens in healthy adults using microbiological culture and pcr.201121489228
sublingual therapeutic immunization with a polyvalent bacterial preparation in patients with recurrent respiratory infections: immunomodulatory effect on antigen-specific memory cd4+ t cells and impact on clinical outcome.recurrent respiratory tract infections (rrtis) are common clinical conditions in individuals with alterations of the immune function. a prospective open pilot study in a cohort of patients with rrtis has been performed to assess whether sublingual immunization with a polyvalent bacterial vaccine could exert an immunomodulatory effect on the antigen-specific immunological responses and have an impact on the clinical outcome. seventeen patients with rrtis were recruited. an oral polyvalent bacteri ...201121391984
infections and immunodeficiency in down syndrome.down syndrome (ds) is the most common genetic disease and presents with cognitive impairment, cardiac and gastrointestinal abnormalities, in addition to other miscellaneous clinical conditions. ds individuals may have a high frequency of infections, usually of the upper respiratory tract, characterized by increased severity and prolonged course of disease, which are partially attributed to defects of the immune system. the abnormalities of the immune system associated with ds include: mild to mo ...201121352207
common cold.each year, children suffer up to 5 colds and adults have two to three infections, leading to time off school or work, and considerable discomfort. most symptoms resolve within 1 week, but coughs often persist for longer.201121406124
the use of c-reactive protein in predicting bacterial co-infection in children with bronchiolitis.bronchiolitis is a potentially life-threatening respiratory illness commonly affecting children who are less than two years of age. patients with viral lower respiratory tract infection are at risk for co-bacterial infection.201122540082
complication of warfarin therapy presenting as empyema.a number of risk indices have been formulated in an attempt to predict risk of a major hemorrhage in an individual on warfarin therapy. no single index to date is able to reliably predict this risk in an individual patient. although most warfarin related hemorrhages are gastrointestinal or intracranial in origin this case represents a particularly rare entity of a major hemorrhage presenting as an encysted empyema. to the best of our knowledge this has never before been described.201122263065
ligation of cd46 to cd40 inhibits cd40 signaling in b cells.cd40 induces b cells to switch to ige in the presence of il-4 and up-regulates their expression of the low-affinity receptor for ige, cd23, which promotes the immune response to allergen complexed with ige antibody. cd40 binds to cd40l and to the c4b-binding protein (c4bp) using distinct sites. cd46 is a receptor for the product of activated complement c4b. some microbial antigens bind both c4bp and cd46, potentially bridging cd40 to cd46. in addition, immune complexes containing both c4b and c4 ...201121393637
vesiculobullous eruption of the right arm after intravenous clarithromycin.clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. in clinical trials, adverse drug reactions of clarithromycin are usually mild and transient. only 1% of the adverse reactions are severe. herein, we present a case with vesiculobullous skin reaction and vein thrombosis caused by administration of intravenous clarithromycin.201121455431
parental administration of antipyretics to children with upper respiratory tract infections without consultation with a physician.to evaluate the administration of antipyretics to children with upper respiratory tract infections (urti) by their parents or guardians without consultation with physicians, and compare epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients who received antipyretics and of untreated patients.201121328720
a computational and experimental study of the regulatory mechanisms of the complement system.the complement system is key to innate immunity and its activation is necessary for the clearance of bacteria and apoptotic cells. however, insufficient or excessive complement activation will lead to immune-related diseases. it is so far unknown how the complement activity is up- or down- regulated and what the associated pathophysiological mechanisms are. to quantitatively understand the modulatory mechanisms of the complement system, we built a computational model involving the enhancement an ...201121283780
effect of pasteurization temperature on quality of aonla juice during storage.a study was carried out to detect the changes in colour and quality attributes of aonla juice during storage after pasteurization at different temperatures. after extracting juice from aonla cv. chakaiya, it was pasteurized at five different temperatures and preserved with 500 ppm so2 in pet bottles under ambient conditions. juice was periodically analysed for colour and chemical characters up to 9 months of storage. though the contents of ascorbic acid and polyphenols in juice decreased with in ...201123572745
are there any differences in clinical and laboratory findings on admission between h1n1 positive and negative patients with flu-like symptoms?the world health organization alert for the h1n1 influenza pandemic led to the implementation of certain measures regarding admission of patients with flu-like symptoms. all these instructions were adopted by the greek national health system. the aim of this study was to retrospectively examine the characteristics of all subjects admitted to the unit of infectious diseases with symptoms indicating h1n1 infection, and to identify any differences between h1n1 positive or negative patients. patient ...201121214902
high detection rates of nucleic acids of a wide range of respiratory viruses in the nasopharynx and the middle ear of children with a history of recurrent acute otitis media.both bacteria and viruses play a role in the development of acute otitis media, however, the importance of specific viruses is unclear. in this study molecular methods were used to determine the presence of nucleic acids of human rhinoviruses (hrv; types a, b, and c), respiratory syncytial viruses (rsv; types a and b), bocavirus (hbov), adenovirus, enterovirus, coronaviruses (229e, hku1, nl63, and oc43), influenza viruses (types a, b, and c), parainfluenza viruses (types 1, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b), hu ...201121915878
new target for inhibition of bacterial rna polymerase: 'switch region'.a new drug target - the 'switch region' - has been identified within bacterial rna polymerase (rnap), the enzyme that mediates bacterial rna synthesis. the new target serves as the binding site for compounds that inhibit bacterial rna synthesis and kill bacteria. since the new target is present in most bacterial species, compounds that bind to the new target are active against a broad spectrum of bacterial species. since the new target is different from targets of other antibacterial agents, com ...201121862392
rapid identification of acinetobacter spp. by fluorescence in situ hybridization (fish) from colony and blood culture material.multi-drug-resistant strains of the acinetobacter baumannii complex cause nosocomial infections. rapid identification of acinetobacter spp. is desirable in order to facilitate therapeutic or hygiene decisions. we evaluated a newly designed dna probe that can be used under standard conditions in both a microwave oven and a slide chamber for the rapid identification of acinetobacter spp. by fluorescence in situ hybridization (fish). using fish, the new probe correctly identified 81/81 acinetobacte ...201124516735
trimeric autotransporter adhesins in members of the burkholderia cepacia complex: a multifunctional family of proteins implicated in virulence.trimeric autotransporter adhesins (taas) are multimeric surface proteins exclusively found in bacteria. they are involved in various biological traits of pathogenic gram-negative bacteria including adherence, biofilm formation, invasion, survival within eukaryotic cells, serum resistance, and cytotoxicity. taas have a modular architecture composed by a conserved membrane-anchored c-terminal domain and a variable number of stalk and head domains. in this study, a bioinformatic approach has been u ...201122919579
the emerging relationship between the airway microbiota and chronic respiratory disease: clinical implications.until recently, relationships between evidence of colonization or infection by specific microbial species and the development, persistence or exacerbation of pulmonary disease have informed our opinions of airway microbiology. however, recent applications of culture-independent tools for microbiome profiling have revealed a more diverse microbiota than previously recognized in the airways of patients with chronic pulmonary disease. new evidence indicates that the composition of airway microbiota ...201122082166
challenges of antibacterial discovery.the discovery of novel small-molecule antibacterial drugs has been stalled for many years. the purpose of this review is to underscore and illustrate those scientific problems unique to the discovery and optimization of novel antibacterial agents that have adversely affected the output of the effort. the major challenges fall into two areas: (i) proper target selection, particularly the necessity of pursuing molecular targets that are not prone to rapid resistance development, and (ii) improveme ...201121233508
novel multitarget real-time pcr assay for rapid detection of bordetella species in clinical specimens.a novel multitarget real-time pcr (rt-pcr) assay for the rapid identification of bordetella pertussis, b. parapertussis, and b. holmesii was developed using multicopy insertion sequences (iss) in combination with the pertussis toxin subunit s1 (ptxs1) singleplex assay. the rt-pcr targets for the multiplex assay include is481, commonly found in b. pertussis and b. holmesii; is1001 of b. parapertussis; and the is1001-like sequence of b. holmesii. overall, 402 bordetella species and 66 non-bordetel ...201121940464
integrated analysis of three bacterial conjunctivitis trials of besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension, 0.6%: etiology of bacterial conjunctivitis and antibacterial susceptibility profile.the purpose of this paper is to report on the bacterial species isolated from patients with bacterial conjunctivitis participating in three clinical trials of besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension, 0.6%, and their in vitro antibacterial susceptibility profiles.201122034556
the neisseria meningitidis znud zinc receptor contributes to interactions with epithelial cells and supports heme utilization when expressed in escherichia coli.neisseria meningitidis employs redundant heme acquisition mechanisms, including tonb receptor-dependent and receptor-independent uptakes. the tonb-dependent zinc receptor znud shares significant sequence similarity to huma, a heme receptor of moraxella catarrhalis, and contains conserved motifs found in many heme utilization proteins. we present data showing that, when expressed in escherichia coli, znud allowed heme capture on the cell surface and supported the heme-dependent growth of an e. co ...201122083713
Effect of nasal mometasone furoate on the nasal and nasopharyngeal flora.OBJECTIVE: Mometasone furoate (MF) is one of the commonly used topical steroids, particularly for patients with allergic rhinitis. However, its effect on the colonization of bacteria that may cause superinfections by suppressing the local immunity is not known. Thus, we investigated the effect of MF use on the nasal and nasopharyngeal microbial flora. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Swab samples were taken from 35 patients who required MF monotherapy, just before and after one month of the treatment. Sam ...201121889281
Alternative Spermidine Biosynthetic Route Is Critical for Growth of Campylobacter jejuni and Is the Dominant Polyamine Pathway in Human Gut Microbiota.The availability of fully sequenced bacterial genomes has revealed that many species known to synthesize the polyamine spermidine lack the spermidine biosynthetic enzymes S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase and spermidine synthase. We found that such species possess orthologues of the sym-norspermidine biosynthetic enzymes carboxynorspermidine dehydrogenase and carboxynorspermidine decarboxylase. By deleting these genes in the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, we found that the carboxynor ...201122025614
moraxella catarrhalis as a respiratory pathogen.background: moraxella catarrhalis is gaining significance as a pathogen over few decades because of increased rate of isolation in respiratory specimens and due to emergence of multidrug resistant strains. therefore, appropriate antimicrobial agents are required for eradication and prevention of spread of the organism. material and methods: -the study was conducted over 1-year period inpatients of lower respiratory tract infections (l.r.t.i.) in p.g.i.m.s. rohtak (haryana) . assessment of clinic ...201122234107
polymerase chain reaction, bacteriologic detection and antibiogram of bacteria isolated from otitis media with effusion in children, shiraz, iran.background: otitis media with effusion is one of the leading causes of hearing loss in children. effective treatment of effusion in the middle ear requires appropriate empirical treatment and characterization of responsible pathogens. objective of the present study was to detect pathogens in clinical samples from patients with otitis media with effusion in our area and to determine the sensitivity profile of isolated organisms to commonly used antibiotics.methods: sixty three samples of middle e ...201123115412
presentation and management of pediatric orbital cellulitis.orbital cellulitis is a serious, vision-threatening infection.201122942886
c4-alkylthiols with activity against moraxella catarrhalis and mycobacterium tuberculosis.antimicrobial resistance represents a global threat to healthcare. the ability to adequately treat infectious diseases is increasingly under siege due to the emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms. new approaches to drug development are especially needed to target organisms that exhibit broad antibiotic resistance due to expression of β-lactamases which is the most common mechanism by which bacteria become resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. we designed and synthesized 20 novel monocyclic β-l ...201122014754
Rapid Identification of Mycobacteria and Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a Single Multiplex PCR and DNA Sequencing.Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health problem for which rapid diagnosis is critical to both treatment and control. This report describes a multiplex PCR method, the Mycobacterial IDentification and Drug Resistance Screen (MID-DRS) assay, which allows for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) and the simultaneous amplification of targets for sequencing-based drug resistance ((R)) screening of rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide. Additionally, the same multip ...201122162548
efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia based on pharmacokinetic analysis.moxifloxacin is a respiratory quinolone that is expected to be useful for treating community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, but few clinical studies and not a detailed evaluation of its pharmacokinetics have been conducted in japan in patients with pneumonia. we assessed the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin in 18 patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia using pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis. there was significant improvement in body temperature, white blood cell count, c-r ...201121847518
Frequency of Alloicoccus otitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae in children with otitis media with effusion (OME) in Iranian patients.OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of common bacterial agents of otitis media with effusion (OME), together with investigation these agent in the adenoid tissue and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated bacteria in Iranian children with OME. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial culture methods were used for detection and isolation of Alloicoccus otitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae in 63 middle ear fluid samples and 4 ...201121868180
RbsB (NTHI_0632) mediates quorum signal uptake in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain 86-028NP.Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is a respiratory commensal and opportunistic pathogen, which persists within biofilms on airway mucosal surfaces. For many species, biofilm formation is impacted by quorum signalling. Our prior work shows that production of autoinducer-2 (AI-2) promotes biofilm development and persistence for NTHI 86-028NP. NTHI 86-028NP encodes an ABC transporter annotated as a ribose transport system that includes a protein (RbsB) with similarity to the Escherichia col ...201121923771
use of the chinchilla model for nasopharyngeal colonization to study gene expression by moraxella catarrhalis.young adult chinchillas were atraumatically inoculated with m. catarrhalis via the nasal route. detailed histopathologic examination of nasopharyngeal tissues isolated from these m. catarrhalis-infected animals revealed the presence of significant inflammation within the epithelium. absence of similar histopathologic findings in sham-inoculated animals confirmed that m. catarrhalis was exposed to significant host-derived factors in this environment. twenty-four hr after inoculation, viable m. ca ...201122184412
haemophilus influenzae type b carriage among young children in metropolitan atlanta in the context of vaccine shortage and booster dose deferral.short-term deferral of the haemophilus influenzae type b (hib) vaccine booster dose during a recent u.s. hib vaccine shortage did not result in widespread hib carriage in atlanta, as the hib carriage rate was found to be 0.3% (1/342). hib colonization was significantly more common among males and day care attendees.201122012977
Innate immunity and the role of defensins in otitis media.Otitis media is the most common pediatric disease in developed countries and a significant cause of morbidity and hearing loss in developing countries. The innate immune system is essential to protecting the middle ear from infection. Defensins, broad-spectrum cationic antimicrobial peptides, have been implicated in prevention of and the early response to acute otitis media; however, the mechanisms by which defensins and other antimicrobial molecules mediate this protection have not been complet ...201121901304
Streptococcus pneumoniae exposure is associated with human metapneumovirus seroconversion and increased susceptibility to in vitro HMPV infection.It remains largely unknown which factors determine the clinical outcome of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections. The aim of the present study was to analyse whether exposure to bacterial pathogens can influence HMPV infections. From 57 children, serum samples and colonization data for Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae were collected at 1.5, 6, 14 and 24 months of age. Seroconversion rates to HMPV were determined and related to ba ...201121883660
wheeze in preschool age is associated with pulmonary bacterial infection and resolves after antibiotic therapy.neonates with airways colonized by haemophilus influenzae, streptococcus pneumoniae or moraxella catarrhalis are at increased risk for recurrent wheeze which may resemble asthma early in life. it is not clear whether chronic colonization by these pathogens is causative for severe persistent wheeze in some preschool children and whether these children might benefit from antibiotic treatment. we assessed the relevance of bacterial colonization and chronic airway infection in preschool children wit ...201122140482
Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of the carriage and invasive disease isolates of Neisseria meningitidis in Finland.The relationship between carriage and the development of invasive meningococcal disease is not fully understood. We investigated here the changes in meningococcal carriage in 892 military recruits in Finland during a non-epidemic period from July 2004 to January 2006 and characterized all the oropharyngeal meningococcal isolates obtained (n=215) by phenotypic (serogrouping, serotyping) and genotypic (porA typing and multilocus sequence typing) methods. For comparison, 84 invasive meningococcal d ...201122135261
Bacterial tracheitis: a varied entity.The objective of the study was to highlight the different presentations of bacterial tracheitis (BT), a potential life-threatening cause of airway obstruction in children.201121975496
SadA, a trimeric autotransporter from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, can promote biofilm formation and provides limited protection against infection.Salmonella enterica is a major cause of morbidity worldwide and mortality in children and immunocompromised individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. Outer membrane proteins of Salmonella are of significance because they are at the interface between the pathogen and the host, they can contribute to adherence, colonization, and virulence, and they are frequently targets of antibody-mediated immunity. In this study, the properties of SadA, a purported trimeric autotransporter adhesin of Salmonella enteri ...201121859856
intranasal immunization of the combined lipooligosaccharide conjugates protects mice from the challenges with three serotypes of moraxella catarrhalis.there are no licensed vaccines available against moraxella catarrhalis, a significant human respiratory pathogen. lipooligosaccharide (los) based conjugate vaccines derived from individual serotype m. catarrhalis only showed partial protection coverage. a vaccine combining los conjugates of two or three serotypes might provide a broader protection.201122216312
microbiology of acute and chronic maxillary sinusitis in smokers and nonsmokers.we evaluated the microbiology of sinus aspirates of smokers and nonsmokers with acute and chronic maxillary sinusitis.201122224311
comparison of the surface and core bacteria in tonsillar and adenoid tissue with beta-lactamase production.adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy, indicated for children with recurrent or persistent symptoms of infection or hypertrophy, are among the most frequent operations performed in children. this study was carried out for investigating the microbial flora of the tonsils and adenoids regarding to core and surface microorganisms and also pathogen microrganisms' beta-lactamase production rate. cultures were taken from the core and surface of tonsils and adenoids of the 91 patients at the time of the surg ...201122754799
isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria from chronic suppurative otitis media patients in kerman, iran.chronic supportive otitis media (csom) is one of the commonest illnesses in ent practice. this study was conducted to find out the various aerobic microorganisms associated with csom and their current antimicrobial susceptibility patterns to commonly used antimicrobials.201122737435
biofilm formation by bacteria isolated from upper respiratory tract before and after adenotonsillectomy.failure of antibiotics to eradicate the microbial pathogens primarily responsible for otorhinolaryngological diseases has led to the hypothesis that these microorganisms may be structured in a biolfilm. aim of the study was to evaluate the ability to produce biofilm among bacteria isolated from tonsils and/or adenoids and nasopharynx. biopsies and swabs were collected during surgery and after 3 and 6 months in 32 children undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy. production of biofilm by st ...201122515296
the microbial flora in the nasal septum area prone to perforation.to explore the colonizing bacterial flora of the nasal septum area, that is mostly afflicted by perforations, 101 healthy police students had swab samples taken from that location. the described culture strategy recovered positive cultures from 95% of the test subjects and from 60% with more than one organism. in total, 191 bacterial isolates were classified according to colony morphology, gram-stain and a panel of standard laboratory techniques. a part of the bacteria was identified to species- ...201122339678
etiologic agents of otitis media in benin city, nigeria.otitis media continues to be a major presentation in the ear, nose and throat clinic.201122540074
aetiological agents in chronic suppurative otitis media in sri lanka.chronic suppurative otitis media (csom) is assumed to be a complication of acute otitis media (aom), but the risk factors for csom are not clear. objectives: 1. to study the aetiological organisms for csom. 2. to identify the effect of demographic factors on disease manifestation.201123386888
mucosal immunization with the moraxella catarrhalis porin m35 induces enhanced bacterial clearance from the lung: a possible role for opsonophagocytosis.moraxella catarrhalis is a significant cause of respiratory tract infection against which a vaccine is sought. several outer membrane proteins are currently under investigation as potential vaccine antigens, including the porin m35. we have previously shown that the third external loop of m35 was immunodominant over the remainder of the protein for antibody produced in mice against the refolded recombinant protein. however, as this loop is predicted to fold inside the porin channel we also predi ...201122566804
Studies on the antibacterial effects of statins--in vitro and in vivo.Statin treatment has been associated with a beneficial outcome on respiratory tract infections. In addition, previous in vitro and in vivo experiments have indicated favorable effects of statins in bacterial infections.201121912631
molecular mechanisms mediating colonization of shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli strains.shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli (stec) are a group of pathogens which cause gastrointestinal disease in humans and have been associated with numerous food-borne outbreaks worldwide. the intimin adhesin has been considered for many years as the only colonization factor in these strains. however, the rapid progress in whole-genome sequencing of different stec serotypes has accelerated the discovery of other adhesins (fimbrial and afimbrial), which have emerged as important contributors to t ...201122144484
Molecular identification of bacteria in tracheal aspirate fluid from mechanically ventilated preterm infants.Despite strong evidence linking infections to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), limitations of bacterial culture methods have precluded systematic studies of airway organisms relative to disease outcomes. Application of molecular bacterial identification strategies may provide new insight into the role of bacterial acquisition in the airways of preterm infants at risk for BPD.201122016793
Biofilm formation in Streptococcus pneumoniae.Biofilm-grown bacteria are refractory to antimicrobial agents and show an increased capacity to evade the host immune system. In recent years, studies have begun on biofilm formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae, an important human pathogen, using a variety of in vitro model systems. The bacterial cells in these biofilms are held together by an extracellular matrix composed of DNA, proteins and, possibly, polysaccharide(s). Although neither the precise nature of these proteins nor the composition ...201121906265
community-acquired polymicrobial pneumonia in the intensive care unit: aetiology and prognosis.abstract: introduction: the frequency and clinical significance of polymicrobial aetiology in community-acquired pneumonia (cap) patients admitted to the icu have been poorly studied. the aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of severe cap of polymicrobial aetiology in patients admitted to the icu. methods: the prospective observational study included 362 consecutive adult patients with cap admitted to the icu within 24 hours of presentat ...201121914220
Viruses and bacteria in sputum samples of children with community-acquired pneumonia.Clin Microbiol Infect ABSTRACT: Few comprehensive studies have searched for viruses and bacteria in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We identified 76 children hospitalized for pneumonia. Induced sputum samples were analysed for 18 viruses by antigen detection and PCR, and for six bacteria by culture and PCR. Viruses were found in 72% of samples, bacteria in 91%, and both in 66%. Rhinovirus (30%), human bocavirus (18%) and human metapneumovirus (14%) were the most commonly detect ...201121851481
Clinical Significance of Serum S100A12 in Acute Otitis Media in Young Children.BACKGROUND: S100A12 is a calcium-binding protein predominantly expressed in neutrophil granulocytes in response to infections or inflammation. Acute otitis media (AOM) is a local infection mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and/or Moraxella catarrhalis (Mcat). METHODS: To study if S100A12 values could serve as a diagnostic marker, serum S100A12 concentrations were tested in young children before, at onset and after recovery from AOM. RESULT ...201122198825
nasopharynx as a microbiologic reservoir in chronic suppurative otitis media: preliminary study.the present study was designed to identify the correlations of bacterial strains of the middle ear and the nasopharynx in chronic suppurative otitis media (csom) patients who were scheduled for operations.201121949577
haemophilus influenzae infections in the h. influenzae type b conjugate vaccine era.the widespread use of haemophilus influenzae type b (hib) conjugate vaccines has nearly eradicated invasive hib disease where the vaccines are used. this success was accompanied by a shift in capsular serotypes of invasive h. influenzae disease, with nontypeable strains replacing type b strains as the most common bloodstream isolate, but there is no convincing evidence of a true increase in the incidence of non-serotype b invasive infections. h. influenzae causes predominantly mucosal infections ...201121900515
protein domain of unknown function 3233 is a translocation domain of autotransporter secretory mechanism in gamma proteobacteria.vibrio cholerae, the enteropathogenic gram negative bacteria is one of the main causative agents of waterborne diseases like cholera. about 1/3(rd) of the organism's genome is uncharacterised with many protein coding genes lacking structure and functional information. these proteins form significant fraction of the genome and are crucial in understanding the organism's complete functional makeup. in this study we report the general structure and function of a family of hypothetical proteins, dom ...201122073138
passive smoking and nasopharyngeal colonization by streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae, and moraxella catarrhalis in daycare children.exposure to tobacco smoke may be associated with higher risk of nasopharyngeal colonization and infection by streptococcus pneumoniae (sp), haemophilus influenzae (hi), and moraxella catarrhalis (mc). this study was done to determine the influence of passive smoking on s. pneumoniae, h. influenzae, and m. catarrhalis colonization rates among children. this is a prospective cross-sectional study. tertiary referral centers with accredited otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery and microbiology ...201122033573
nasopharyngeal bacterial colonization and gene polymorphisms of mannose-binding lectin and toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in infants.human nasopharynx is often colonized by potentially pathogenic bacteria. gene polymorphisms in mannose-binding lectin (mbl), toll-like receptor (tlr) 2 and tlr4 have been reported. the present study aimed to investigate possible association between nasopharyngeal bacterial colonization and gene polymorphisms of mbl, tlr2 and tlr4 in healthy infants.201122022564
performance of xpert mtb/rif ruo assay and is6110 real-time pcr for mycobacterium tuberculosis detection in clinical samples.the cepheid xpert mtb/rif research-use-only (ruo) assay and a laboratory-developed test (ldt) targeting is6110 were evaluated and compared to mycobacterial culture as the gold standard. the performance characteristics of both molecular assays were determined by using 112 specimens from 90 patients, including 89 pulmonary specimens and 23 extrapulmonary specimens. of the specimens tested, 37 (33%) were culture positive for the mycobacterium tuberculosis complex; 29 were pulmonary, and 8 were extr ...201121849695
antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens associated with community-acquired respiratory tract infections in asia: report from the community-acquired respiratory tract infection pathogen surveillance (cartips) study, 2009-2010.a multicentre resistance surveillance study [community-acquired respiratory tract infection pathogen surveillance (cartips)] investigating the susceptibilities of 2963 clinical isolates of streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis, klebsiella pneumoniae, meticillin-susceptible staphylococcus aureus (mssa) and streptococcus spp. from asia against 12 antimicrobial agents was undertaken from 2009 to 2010. based on the breakpoints for oral penicillin v recommended by th ...201121880469
antibiotic resistance in primary care in austria - a systematic review of scientific and grey literature.abstract:201122123085
antimicrobial resistance of moraxella catarrhalis isolates in taiwan.background/purpose: the prevalence of ampicillin-resistant moraxella catarrhalis has been higher in taiwan than in other countries, with reports of 97.7% in the 1990s. the aims of this study were to assess resistance trends for m. catarrhalis, which causes respiratory tract infections, against several classes of oral antibiotics and to compare the minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) of antimicrobial agents against m. catarrhalis isolates between 1993-1994 and 2001-2004. methods: clinical isol ...201122154675
epidemiology and clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with pandemic influenza a (h1n1) 2009 infections: the effects of bacterial coinfection.numerous reports have described the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of influenza a (h1n1) 2009 infected patients. however, data on the effects of bacterial coinfection on these patients are very scarce. therefore, this study explores the impact of bacterial coinfection on the clinical and laboratory parameters amongst h1n1 hospitalized patients.201122050645
influenza virus induces bacterial and nonbacterial otitis media.otitis media (om) is one of the most common childhood diseases. om can arise when a viral infection enables bacteria to disseminate from the nasopharynx to the middle ear. here, we provide the first infant murine model for disease. mice coinfected with streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza virus had high bacterial load in the middle ear, middle ear inflammation, and hearing loss. in contrast, mice colonized with s. pneumoniae alone had significantly less bacteria in the ear, minimal hearing los ...201121930608
elicitation of epithelial cell-derived immune effectors by outer membrane vesicles of nontypeable haemophilus influenzae.outer membrane vesicles (omvs) are produced by all gram-negative microorganisms studied to date. the contributions of omvs to biological processes are diverse and include mediation of bacterial stress responses, selective packaging and secretion of virulence determinants, modulation of the host immune response, and contributions to biofilm formation and stability. first characterized as transformasomes in haemophilus, these membranous blebs facilitate transfer of dna among bacteria. nontypeable ...201121875967
effect of denture adhesive on the micro-organisms in vivo.gerodontology 2011; doi: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2010.00381.x effect of denture adhesive on the micro-organisms in vivo background:  denture adhesives increase the retention and stability of dentures in edentulous patients, especially in cases where salivary flow is impaired or in the management of traumatised oral mucosa. objectives:  the effect of a denture adhesive on the oral flora at different time intervals. method:  thirty denture-wearing patients were involved in this study. while half of th ...201122098056
viral-bacterial interactions and risk of acute otitis media complicating upper respiratory tract infection.acute otitis media (aom) is a common complication of upper respiratory tract infection whose pathogenesis involves both viruses and bacteria. we examined risks of acute otitis media associated with specific combinations of respiratory viruses and acute otitis media bacterial pathogens. data were from a prospective study of children ages 6 to 36 months and included viral and bacterial culture and quantitative pcr for respiratory syncytial virus (rsv), human bocavirus, and human metapneumovirus. r ...201121900518
evaluation of luminex xtag fungal analyte-specific reagents for rapid identification of clinically relevant fungi.invasive fungal infections (ifi) remain a serious threat to immunocompromised hosts. current diagnostic methods, including fungal culture and antigen detection, are slow and often lack specificity. rapid diagnostic tools with increased sensitivity and specificity could improve the care of patients with ifi. recently, luminex molecular diagnostics (toronto, canada) developed 23 analyte-specific reagents (asrs) for the detection of the most common clinically relevant fungi. this study's objective ...201121880976
alkyl hydroperoxide reductase is required for helicobacter cinaedi intestinal colonization and survival under oxidative stress in balb/c and balb/c il10-/- mice.helicobacter cinaedi, a common human intestinal bacterium, has been implicated in various enteric and systemic diseases in normal and immunocompromised patients. protection against oxidative stress is a crucial component of bacteria-host interactions. alkyl hydroperoxide reductase c (ahpc) is an enzyme responsible for detoxification of peroxides and is important in protection from peroxide-induced stress. h. cinaedi possesses a single ahpc, which was investigated with respect to its role in bact ...201122184416
Pharmacodynamic evaluation of commonly prescribed oral antibiotics against respiratory bacterial pathogens.Upper and lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs) account for a substantial portion of outpatient antibiotic utilization. However, the pharmacodynamic activity of commonly used oral antibiotic regimens has not been studied against clinically relevant pathogens. The objective of this study was to assess the probability of achieving the requisite pharmacodynamic exposure for oral antibacterial regimens commonly prescribed for RTIs in adults against bacterial isolates frequently involved in these ...201122026724
Synthesis of a novel pentasaccharide core component from the lipooligosaccharide of Moraxella catarrhalis.The novel pentasaccharide [p-(trifluoroacetamido)phenyl]ethyl 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-4-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-6-O-[2-O-(a-D-glucopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl]-a-D-glucopyranoside (1), which includes a linker moiety to enable facile coupling to an antigenic protein, was synthesised as a component of a potential vaccine candidate against the Gram-negative bacterium Moraxella catarrhalis. This microorganism is one of three principal causative agents of otitis media in children. The pentasaccharide r ...201122074676
mobile genetic elements in moraxella catarrhalis.moraxella catarrhalis is a gram-negative diplococcus that is a strict human pathogen, which for a long period of time was regarded as a simple commensal. research now shows that this organism is a pathogen its own right and is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract infections. further, there appears to be a dichotomy in the pathogenic potential of m. catarrhalis with upper respiratory tract infections mainly occurring in children, and lower respiratory tract infections mainly occ ...201122016866
acrb trimer stability and efflux activity, insight from mutagenesis studies.the multidrug transporter acrb in escherichia coli exists and functions as a homo-trimer. the assembly process of obligate membrane protein oligomers, including acrb, remains poorly understood. in a previous study, we have shown that individual acrb subunit is capable of folding independently, suggesting that trimerization of acrb follows a three-stage pathway in which monomers first fold, and then assemble. here we destabilized the acrb trimer through mutating a single pro (p223) in the protrud ...201122163011
antimicrobial actions of reactive oxygen species.reactive oxygen species (ros) are produced by host phagocytes and exert antimicrobial actions against a broad range of pathogens. the observable antimicrobial actions of ros are highly dependent on experimental conditions. this perspective reviews recent controversies regarding ros in salmonella-phagocyte interactions and attempts to reconcile conflicting observations from different laboratories.201121896680
Pharmacological antioxidant strategies as therapeutic interventions for COPD.Cigarette/tobacco smoke/biomass fuel-induced oxidative and aldehyde/carbonyl stress are intimately associated with the progression and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, targeting systemic and local oxidative stress with antioxidants/redox modulating agents, or boosting the endogenous levels of antioxidants are likely to have beneficial effects in the treatment/management of COPD. Various antioxidant agents, such as thiol molecules (glutathione and mucolytic ...201122101076
Pharmacological antioxidant strategies as therapeutic interventions for COPD.Cigarette/tobacco smoke/biomass fuel-induced oxidative and aldehyde/carbonyl stress are intimately associated with the progression and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, targeting systemic and local oxidative stress with antioxidants/redox modulating agents, or boosting the endogenous levels of antioxidants are likely to have beneficial effects in the treatment/management of COPD. Various antioxidant agents, such as thiol molecules (glutathione and mucolytic ...201122101076
Effect of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on nasopharyngeal carriage with Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis in a randomized controlled trial.Seven-valent CRM197-conjugated pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7(CRM197)) reduces both vaccine serotype nasopharyngeal colonization and vaccine serotype acute otitis media by 50-60%. However, overall pneumococcal carriage and impact on otitis media are partly offset by concomitant increase of nonvaccine serotypes. We investigated in a randomized controlled trial the impact of 2-doses and 2+1-doses of PCV7(CRM197) on carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae and of other nasopharyngeal commensals a ...201121893151
the role of oxyr and soxrs in oxidative stress survival in shigella flexneri.shigella flexneri, a facultative intracellular pathogen, is exposed to a variety of environments inside and outside of the human host. some of these environments may contain significant oxidative stress. s. flexneri mutants were generated with deletions in the major oxidative stress regulators oxyr and/or soxrs to test their importance in shigella biology. strains that contained a deletion of oxyr had reduced growth and survival during aerobic growth, but not microaerobic growth. the mutants wer ...201122015257
the role of oxyr and soxrs in oxidative stress survival in shigella flexneri.shigella flexneri, a facultative intracellular pathogen, is exposed to a variety of environments inside and outside of the human host. some of these environments may contain significant oxidative stress. s. flexneri mutants were generated with deletions in the major oxidative stress regulators oxyr and/or soxrs to test their importance in shigella biology. strains that contained a deletion of oxyr had reduced growth and survival during aerobic growth, but not microaerobic growth. the mutants wer ...201122015257
clinical spectrum of acute rhinosinusitis among atopic and nonatopic children in taiwan.rhinitis and sinusitis are very common medical conditions and have been shown to be frequently associated. the role of allergies in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis has been confirmed; however, the role of allergies in acute rhinosinusitis is debatable. nonetheless, allergies are an important factor in the development of rhinosinusitis.201122051141
staphylococcus aureus: is it a pathogen of acute bacterial sinusitis in children and adults?streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae, and moraxella catarrhalis are the etiologic agents of acute bacterial sinusitis (abs). staphylococcus aureus has been an uncommon cause of abs despite its frequent occupancy within the anterior nares. a quantitative culture of a maxillary sinus aspirate is the gold standard for determining etiology of abs. cultures of the middle meatus cannot be used as a surrogate for a maxillary sinus aspirate in children with abs, although they may be used in ...201122198792
correlation of in situ mechanosensitive responses of the moraxella catarrhalis adhesin uspa1 with fibronectin and receptor ceacam1 binding.bacterial cell surfaces are commonly decorated with a layer formed from multiple copies of adhesin proteins whose binding interactions initiate colonization and infection processes. in this study, we investigate the physical deformability of the uspa1 adhesin protein from moraxella catarrhalis, a causative agent of middle-ear infections in humans. uspa1 binds a range of extracellular proteins including fibronectin, and the epithelial cellular receptor carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesi ...201121876142
changes in serogroup and genotype prevalence among carried meningococci in the united kingdom during vaccine implementation.herd immunity is important in the effectiveness of conjugate polysaccharide vaccines against encapsulated bacteria. a large multicenter study investigated the effect of meningococcal serogroup c conjugate vaccine introduction on the meningococcal population.201121881120
Ventilator-associated pneumonia in children after cardiac surgery in The Netherlands.We conducted a retrospective cohort study in an academic tertiary care center to characterize ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery in The Netherlands.201121877210
serratia pneumonia presenting as hemoptysis in a patient with sarcoidosis: a case report.serratia marcescens is a gram-negative bacillus which belongs to the family enterobacteriaceae. it is a facultative anaerobe and produces red pigment at room temperature. it naturally occurs in soil and water as well as the intestines, and it is responsible for nosocomial infections. there have been few reports about community acquired pneumonia of serratia.201121941452
the moraxella catarrhalis nitric oxide reductase is essential for nitric oxide detoxification.moraxella catarrhalis is a gram-negative obligate aerobe that is an important cause of human respiratory tract infections. the m. catarrhalis genome encodes a predicted truncated denitrification pathway that reduces nitrate to nitrous oxide. we have previously shown that expression of both the m. catarrhalis ania (encoding a nitrite reductase) and norb (encoding a putative nitric oxide reductase) genes is repressed by the transcriptional regulator nsrr under aerobic conditions and that m. catarr ...201121441505
preventing and treating secondary bacterial infections with antiviral agents.bacterial super-infections contribute to the significant morbidity and mortality associated with influenza and other respiratory virus infections. there are robust animal model data, but only limited clinical information on the effectiveness of licensed antiviral agents for the treatment of bacterial complications of influenza. the association of secondary bacterial pathogens with fatal pneumonia during the recent h1n1 influenza pandemic highlights the need for new development in this area. basi ...201121447860
airway microbiology and host defences in paediatric non-cf bronchiectasis.bronchiectasis in children without cystic fibrosis is most common in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. recurrent pneumonia in early childhood and defective pulmonary defences are important risk factors. these help establish a 'vicious cycle' of impaired mucociliary clearance, infection, airway inflammation and progressive lung injury. haemophilus influenzae, streptococcus pneumoniae, moraxella catarrhalis and pseudomonas aeruginosa are the main infecting pathogens. h. influenzae predo ...201121458739
interpreting assays for the detection of streptococcus pneumoniae.streptococcus pneumoniae is both an aggressive pathogen and a normal part of the human respiratory microbiome. clinicians and microbiologists have struggled to develop tests that can identify pneumococcal respiratory infection and accurately distinguish colonization from invasive disease. molecular methods hold the promise of an improved ability to rapidly detect microorganisms in respiratory secretions and to make an accurate diagnosis; however, interpretation of diagnostic testing for s. pneum ...201121460292
consumption patterns and in vitro resistance of streptococcus pneumoniae to fluoroquinolones.this article analyzes patterns of consumption of fluoroquinolones and documents the in vitro resistances of streptococcus pneumoniae isolates to fluoroquinolones in the ambulatory care setting in belgium over time. the volume of fluoroquinolone consumption has fallen consistently since 2003. fluoroquinolones were used primarily for their registered indications (i.e., urinary tract infections and lower respiratory tract infections). the mic distributions of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin in s. pne ...201121464243
in vitro and in vivo profiles of ach-702, an isothiazoloquinolone, against bacterial pathogens.ach-702, a novel isothiazoloquinolone (itq), was assessed for antibacterial activity against a panel of gram-positive and gram-negative clinical isolates and found to possess broad-spectrum activity, especially against antibiotic-resistant gram-positive strains, including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa). for gram-negative bacteria, ach-702 showed exceptional potency against haemophilus influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis, and a neisseria sp. but was less active against members o ...201121464250
clinical impact of combined viral and bacterial infection in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.new methods for identifying respiratory pathogens have led to several reports of a high yield of mixed infections in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (cap). the clinical impact of these findings has, however, not been fully evaluated. we aimed to compare patients with a pure bacterial etiology with those with findings of both bacteria and virus regarding severity of illness and length of hospital stay.201121466255
value of procalcitonin, c-reactive protein, and neopterin in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.the identification of biological markers in order to assess different aspects of copd is an area of growing interest. the objective of this study was to investigate whether levels of procalcitonin (pct), c-reactive protein (crp), and neopterin in copd patients could be useful in identifying the etiological origin of the exacerbation and assessing its prognosis.201121468168
detection of microorganisms in exhaled breath condensate during acute exacerbations of copd.summary at a glance: exhaled breath condensate (ebc) is a noninvasive method to assess airway biology. the aim of the present study was to evaluate ebc for the detection of microbial nucleic acids during acute exacerbations of copd (aecopd). bacterial nucleic acids can be identified in ebcs of copd patients with exacerbations, however, the results differed significantly from those of sputum. abstract: background and objective:  one hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) is colo ...201121470340
neisseria meningitidis adhesin nada targets {beta}1 integrins: functional similarity to yersinia invasin.meningococci are facultative-pathogenic bacteria endowed with a set of adhesins allowing colonization of the human upper respiratory tract, leading to fulminant meningitis and septicemia. the neisseria adhesin nada was identified in about 50% of n. meningitidis isolates and is closely related to the yersinia adhesin yada, the prototype of the oligomeric coiled-coil adhesin (oca) family. nada is known to be involved in cell adhesion, invasion, and induction of proinflammatory cytokines. because o ...201121471204
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