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Biomedical subjects

E Gotuzzo

Publications and source records attributed to E Gotuzzo.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

An evaluation of diagnostic methods for brucellosis--the value of bone marrow culture.

Fifty patients, eventually diagnosed as having brucellosis, were studied prospectively for comparison of a simple culture of bone marrow aspirate from the iliac crest (0.5-1.0 ml) with two cultures of blood (5-10 ml) taken 30-60 min apart and with a tube-agglutination test. Cultures of bone marrow and blood were positive in 92% and 70% of the patients, respectively (P less than .001). Bacteria multiplied significantly faster in bone marrow cultures (4.32 vs. 6.65 days; P less than .001). All isolates were identified as Brucella melitensis biotype 1. Serological diagnosis was established in 86% of the patients. The efficacy of cultures of blood decreased significantly with chronic and subacute forms of infection, whereas that of bone marrow culture decreased only in chronic forms. Prior use of antibiotics reduced the positivity of cultures of blood but did not affect bone marrow culture. Bone marrow culture is recommended for patients with fever of unknown origin, negative serology, and unexplained articular or hematologic involvement, and patients in whom brucellosis is suspected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Molecular techniques in the study of Salmonella typhi in epidemiologic studies in endemic areas: comparison with Vi phage typing.

We examined 141 Salmonella typhi strains of known phage type isolated during ongoing epidemiologic studies in Santiago, Chile, and Lima, Peru. Plasmids were present in 12 (17%) of 70 S. typhi isolates from Santiago and 5 (7%) of 71 isolates from Lima; these plasmids were not associated with antimicrobial resistance. Identical 21 kilobase (kb) plasmids (as defined by restriction endonuclease digest pattern) were present in 13 of the 17 plasmid-containing isolates. Virtually identical digest patterns were identified when chromosomal DNA of selected strains from Santiago, Lima, and the United States was extracted and then digested with restriction endonucleases. The similarities among plasmids and chromosomal digest patterns emphasize the homogeneity and possible clonal origin of S. typhi isolates; these data also suggest that there is only a limited role for plasmid and chromosomal analysis as a substitute for phage typing in epidemiologic studies.

Bacteriophage Typing↗
PubMed1985

HLA studies in brucellar spondylitis.

Among the clinical manifestations of brucellosis, arthritis may occur in over one-third of the patients. Different articular syndromes have been well recognized: some are definitely infectious in nature, whereas others appear to be reactive. The possibility that B27 and B7-CREG antigens could predispose to the occurrence of brucellar spondylitis was investigated in 14 mestizo Peruvian patients. No association was found. Since there is a low frequency of B27 and B7-CREG in the control population, the possibility that a "native" antigen could be the predisposing one remains to be elucidated.

Brucellosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of bone marrow, blood, stool and duodenal contents cultures for bacteriologic confirmation of typhoid fever in children.

The relative efficacy of cultures made from duodenal contents (obtained by string capsules), bone marrow, blood and rectal swab was compared in 118 pediatric patients, 2 to 13 years old with suspected typhoid fever. Only 47% of children 2 to 6 years old tolerated the string device, as compared with 89% in children 7 to 13 years old (P less than 0.05). The four culture techniques were performed and at least one was positive for Salmonella typhi in 43 patients. Bone marrow cultures were positive in 84% of the confirmed cases, a sensitivity significantly greater than for duodenal contents (42%), blood (44%) and stool (65%) cultures. Higher recovery rates for blood cultures were found during the first week of illness than later (70 vs. 22%). Bone marrow cultures remain the most effective method for the recovery of S. typhi. Stool cultures appear to be more effective in children than in adults. Duodenal contents cultures offer little advantage in young (2 to 6 years old) children.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Humoral immune abnormalities in human brucellosis.

Humoral immune responses were evaluated in a group of patients with acute brucellosis due to Brucella melitensis biotype I. Levels of immunoglobulins, C3 and C4, and the presence of antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and circulating immune complexes were sequentially studied in all brucellosis patients during the acute phase of the disease and following specific therapy. Elevated levels of all immunoglobulin classes, IgG, IgM and IgA and C3, C4, were found in the majority of patients. Antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and circulating immune complexes were found in circulation, particularly during the active stages. These findings provide support for the participation of the humoral immune system in the pathogenesis of human brucellosis.

Adolescent↗