CONCLUSION: The recombinant RD1 antigens induced M. tuberculosis-specific DTH responses. These antigens may therefore be useful in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.”
“BACKGROUND: Data supporting a quinolone or a macrolide as preferred therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) due to Legionella pneumophila are not firmly established. Some literature suggests a benefit of quinolones learn more over macrolides.
OBJECTIVE: To compare time to clinical stability (TCS) and length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients with Legionella pneumonia who were treated with levofloxacin (LVX) compared to those treated with newer macrolides.
DESIGN: An analysis of patients with Legionnaires’ disease from the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Organization database
was performed. Patients were diagnosed with CAP using radiographic and clinical Ion Channel Ligand Library criteria, while Legionella was detected by urinary antigen or sputum culture. All patients received a macrolide (azithromycin or clarithromycin) or LVX. TCS was defined as the time from hospital admission to candidacy for switch to oral therapy.
RESULTS: A total of 39 patients were included
for analysis. The mean TCS for the macrolidc group was 5.1 days vs. 4.3 days for the LVX group (P = 0.43). The mean LOS for the macrolide group was 12.7 days vs. 8.9 days for the quinolone group (P = 0.10).
CONCLUSION: LOS and TCS were not statistically different between the macrolide and the LVX groups in treating CAP due to Legionella, despite trends in both outcomes favoring LVX.”
“Prurigo pigmentosa is a recurrent dermatosis with severe pruritus and several peculiar clinical features. Its exact etiology and pathogenesis are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features and chronological changes in the histopathology of prurigo pigmentosa in Korean patients and to assess the etiology of this condition. We reviewed the medical records, clinical 5-Fluoracil solubility dmso photographs and biopsy specimens from 50 patients diagnosed with prurigo pigmentosa. Mean age at diagnosis was 23.7 years (range, 15-61 years). Prurigo pigmentosa started as urticarial papules or plaques,
changing first to papulovesicles and then to reticulated brownish macules. The most frequent sites were the back and chest, especially depressed areas such as the central back and inter-mammary area. Dietary change was suspected as a cause of prurigo pigmentosa in 17 patients. Histopathologically, early-stage lesions had dermatitis herpetiformis-like features; fully-developed lesions displayed impetigo-like or acute, generalized, exanthematous, pustulosis-like features; and late lesions presented with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation-like features. Oral minocycline, with or without dapsone, was effective in inhibiting the appearance of new lesions, but did not prevent recurrence. Prurigo pigmentosa is not rare in Korea, is apparently associated with dietary modification and preferentially involves the depressed regions of the trunk.