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Biomedical subjects

J Colaert

Publications and source records attributed to J Colaert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Destructive endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Case report and review of the literature.

A case of highly invasive native valve endocarditis, occurring in a young man with a preexisting cardiac anomaly, and caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis is described. Despite treatment with antibiotics the disease progressed with further growth of the bacterial vegetations and invasion of the myocard. The patient was successfully treated by surgery. Twenty three cases of endocarditis by S. lugdunensis have now been described. This organism is a major cause of destructive endocarditis accompanied by high mortality. As the outcome usually is more favourable in patients who underwent valve replacement surgery, rapid identification to the species level of coagulasenegative staphylococci is required. S. lugdunensis endocarditis should be treated preferably by surgical intervention.

Adult↗

Significance of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin in children.

Stools of 147 children belonging to different age groups were examined for the presence of Clostridium difficile, its cytotoxin and other enteric pathogens. None of the 31 full-term neonates, 5 (16%) of the 32 premature neonates, 27 (46%) of the 59 infants and 1 (4%) of the 25 older children excreted C. difficile in their stools. Faecal cytotoxin was only detected in four infants (7%). There was no correlation with diarrhoea, previous antibiotic therapy, type of diet, or the concomitant presence of other intestinal pathogens. We conclude that colonisation of the intestine by C. difficile is probably acquired from environmental sources and that it cannot be regarded as a significant cause of diarrhoea in children.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Method for selecting optimal cells for enterovirus isolation as determined in an outbreak of echovirus type 33 meningitis.

An outbreak of echovirus type 33-induced meningitis which occurred in Belgium in 1982 is reported. To identify the causative agent, titers of an early isolate were measured on a variety of cells in order to select the optimal cells. A human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line was found to be the substrate of choice due to its proficient isolation of the virus. This method of determining infectious titres is recommended for improving enterovirus isolation in other epidemics.

Adolescent↗

Immunological alterations in haemophiliacs treated with lyophilized Factor VIII cryoprecipitate from volunteer donors.

We studied immune function in Belgian haemophiliacs treated with Factor VIII from volunteer donors. No patient had clinical evidence of immune deficiency. We found a decrease in T-helper cells (p less than 0.0005), in the ratio of T-helper over T-cytotoxic/suppressor cells (1.72 +/- 0.47 versus 2.24 +/- 0.82 in controls, p less than 0.005) and in lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogens (p less than 0.05). These findings could not be linked to the amount of F VIII received over the last year, the time since last F VIII administration, circulating immune complexes (54% positive patients, 7% positive controls, p less than 0.005), increased ALT levels, antibodies to cytomegalo -virus (85% of the patients, 45% of the controls, p less than 0.005), antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, nor to the presence of HLA-DR 5 which was found in 56% of the haemophiliacs (20% of the overall Belgian population, p less than 0.005). Either F VIII induces long lasting immunological alterations unrelated to AIDS, or haemophilia is itself associated with such changes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Non-A, non-B hepatitis-like nuclear particles in nonparenchymal cells of the liver.

Nuclear particles, morphologically similar to those seen in hepatocytes during non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis, were detected in several types of nonparenchymal cells in 10 human liver-biopsy specimens, including cases of hepatitis A and B and nonviral hepatic disease. They were also found in nonparenchymal cells of the liver in two of four normal chimpanzees and in two of four chimpanzees during experimental NANB viral hepatitis. In nonparenchymal cells the particles formed loose-to-intermediate aggregates, similar to those first described in hepatocytes during NANB hepatitis. Tightly packed aggregates, the predominant pattern in hepatocytes, were generally missing. The high prevalence of morphologically identical particles in various liver diseases and their presence in healthy livers, both in hepatocytes and in nonparenchymal cells not presumed to support the growth of hepatitis viruses, speak against their specificity for NANB hepatitis viruses. It is proposed that the particles represent a newly recognized and widespread cellular feature, of as yet unknown function.

Animals↗

Syphilis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and cytomegalovirus infection in homosexual men in Antwerp.

In a homosexual communication centre in Antwerp 196 homosexual men were screened for seromarkers of syphilis, hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). A comparison group consisted of 118 heterosexual men attending a venereal disease clinic in Antwerp. Treponemal antibodies were found in 7.1% of homosexual men, of whom half gave no history of past or present infection. Anti HAV was present in 43.3%, HBV seromarkers in 34.4%, and CMV antibodies in 71.2% of homosexual men. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in eight homosexual men, but not in the heterosexual control group. Prevalence rates of infections other than HAV were significantly higher in homosexual men than in heterosexual men. Answers to a questionnaire were used to evaluate risk factors for different diseases, which were: duration of active homosexuality for all infections, promiscuity (greater than or equal to 10 partners in the past six months) for syphilis and hepatitis B, and anal intercourse for hepatitis B. Visiting saunas and travelling for sexual contacts also indicated a higher risk for STD, but were an indirect expression of promiscuity.

Adolescent↗

Efficacy of heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine in haemodialysis patients and staff. Double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

The efficacy of a heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine, 3 micrograms of surface antigen (HBsAg), given at 0, 1, 2, and 5 months, was evaluated in 401 haemodialysis patients in 18 centres by a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised trial. The attack-rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in the control group was 18% over 435 days. The protective efficacy rate of the vaccine was 78% against all HBV infections in the entire study (p = 0.00016), and 94% against HBsAg-positive hepatitis more than 3 months after day 0. Those patients in whom HBV developed showed no evidence of vaccine-acquired anti-HBs. Among 152 similarly randomised staff members receiving three monthly injections, all 5 HBsAg-positive infections occurred in the placebo group (p = 0.022). The vaccine induced anti-HBs in 88% of the patients and 100% of the staff. Immediately after the fourth injection, anti-HBs levels were as high in responding patients as in staff. There were no serious side effects. In the four-dose schedule the vaccine provides dialysis patients with protection of the same order as that given by other hepatitis B vaccines to normal subjects.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

In vitro activity of ceftazidime (GR 20263) and other beta-lactam antibiotics against Haemophilus influenzae.

Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined for ceftazidime (GR 20263 - pentahydrate), RO 13-9904, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, lamoxactam, cefamandole and ampicillin using clinical isolates of beta-lactamase-producing and beta-lactamase-negative Haemophilus influenzae. RO 13-9904 and cefotaxime were the most active, followed by ceftazidime, lamoxactam and cefoperazone. Ceftazidime displayed high stability against the beta-lactamase-producing strains with a low MBC:MIC ratio.

Ampicillin↗