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Biomedical subjects

L Jokipii

Publications and source records attributed to L Jokipii.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Leishmaniasis diagnosed from bronchoalveolar lavage.

A 51-year-old renal transplant patient, whose spleen had been removed 11 years ago, was admitted to hospital for elective surgery, which was cancelled as she developed spiking fever and nonproductive cough and her general condition deteriorated. After 2 weeks, leishmaniasis was unexpectedly diagnosed from a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen, which had been subjected to parasitological examination under the suspicion of pneumocystosis. Isoenzyme typing identified the parasite as Leishmania infantum. The patient had visited Malaga, Spain, twice a year, the last trip taking place 1 month before admission. Specific treatment was followed by rapid recovery without relapse during 1.5 years. Splenectomy and immunosuppressive medication obscured the clinical suspicion of leishmaniasis. The case is a reminder of the interstitial pneumonitis in leishmaniasis and emphasizes the value of broad-spectrum methods detecting a variety of parasites.

Animals

Acute phase response in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

The acute phase response induced by 19 episodes of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was analysed in a retrospective study. There were 9 men and 1 woman with HIV, aged 25-45 years (mean 37.2) and 4 men and 4 women with other immunodeficiencies, aged 18-35 years (mean 26.2). The outcome of these two groups with PCP did not differ: in the HIV group 4 died and in the non-HIV group 2 died. In the HIV group, peak serum C-reactive protein (S-CRP) ranged 41-228 mg/l, mean 126 (77.3), and in the non-HIV group 19-290 mg/l, mean 105 (89.1) (NS). The patients with a fatal outcome had higher mean peak S-CRP: 186 (73.8) mg/l versus 85.3 (63.5) mg/l in the survivors (p = 0.007). The HIV infection itself did not increase the S-CRP concentration, which was normal before or after PCP in all 7 survivors of the 11 episodes. Thus, PCP induces a clear-cut S-CRP response, which may be used for monitoring the treatment and evaluating the prognosis of the patient.

Acute-Phase Reaction

Coincidence of deficient delayed hypersensitivity and intestinal protozoa in homosexual men.

Stool samples of 134 subjectively and apparently healthy male homosexual volunteers were studied, and in 86 men (64.2%) 190 parasite infestations, up to 6 per host, were identified. The most frequent species were Endolimax nana (40), Entamoeba coli (38), Entamoeba histolytica (34), Entamoeba hartmanni (32), and Iodamoeba bütschlii (22); Cryptosporidium was not found. All 11 isolates of Entamoeba histolytica analysed belonged to a noninvasive zymodeme: 10 were of zymodeme I and I of zymodeme III. In 172 healthy control adults 6 parasite infestations were found. In the homosexual men, a negative tuberculin test was more frequent in the presence than in the absence of parasites. Entamoeba histolytica (p = 0.005) Entamoeba coli (p = 0.013) and Iodamoeba bütschlii (p = 0.004) were associated with the anergy.

Amoeba

Antibodies to cysts of Giardia lamblia in primary giardiasis and in the absence of giardiasis.

The significance of serum antibodies binding to cysts of Giardia lamblia was evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence. Titers of 10 or higher were found in 85.6% of adults, who had probably never had giardiasis. Titers in 118 adults (geometric mean, 29.9) were higher than in 35 children (16.4), and titers in women (42.3) were higher than in men (20.0). Titers in 150 patients with primary giardiasis (80.4) were higher than in control adults, but overlapping precluded serological diagnosis. Titers increased with the duration of infection. Female patients had higher titers (100.5) than did males (66.1), but men who had been infected longer than 45 days had high titers (132). Titers in second serum samples taken from 26 patients 2 weeks to 3 months after successful nitroimidazole treatment (58.1) were lower than before treatment (151.7) but higher than in 118 controls. We conclude that most people have antibodies which cross-react with G. lamblia but which are induced by other immunogens and that primary giardiasis induces protracted systemic antibody responses.

Adult

Semiquantitative culture results and pathogenic significance of obligate anaerobes in peritonsillar abscesses.

We studied the bacteria in consecutive peritonsillar abscesses using semiquantitation of the primary culture findings and correlated the results to clinical parameters. Puncture-aspirated pus from 42 abscesses yielded 133 isolates. Group A streptococci were isolated 10 times and, unlike other bacteria, were isolated 4 times in pure culture; other beta-hemolytic streptococci were found in 8 abscesses, and anaerobes were found in 28. The infections were polymicrobial, with two to seven bacteria in 83%. Anaerobes were more abundant than nonanaerobes; members of the genera Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Peptostreptococcus, and Fusobacterium were the most important quantitatively, considering both frequency and abundance. In patients with ongoing antibiotic treatment, nonanaerobes (but not anaerobes) were less abundant than in untreated patients. The abundance of obligate anaerobes (specifically cocci and gram-positive rods) correlated to the severity of illness as defined by fever and short duration before hospitalization. With other groups of bacteria, no such correlation was found. The correlation was not explained by a difference between the antibiotic-treated and the untreated patients. The results indicate the value of the semiquantitation of culture data and the frequency and pathogenic significance of obligate anaerobes in peritonsillar abscesses.

Adolescent

Gas chromatographically quantitated lactate in empyema and other pleural effusions.

To determine the value of gas chromatographically measured lactate in distinguishing between empyema and other causes of pleural effusion, consecutively collected samples of pleural fluid were studied. In 15 cases of empyema the mean lactate concentration was 11.60 mM and higher than in 41 patients with other diagnoses (mean 3.98 mM). The concentration of lactate remained unchanged during storage at 4 degrees C for two years. Gas chromatographic quantitation of lactate is useful in the presumptive diagnosis of empyema, and stability of the lactate concentration allows retrospective analyses.

Adult

Comparative activity of metronidazole and tinidazole against Clostridium difficile and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius.

Broth dilution MICs of metronidazole against 38 strains of Clostridium difficile (0.13 microgram/ml) and 11 strains of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (0.11 microgram/ml) were lower than those of tinidazole (0.16 and 0.17 microgram/ml, respectively). As molar concentrations the nitroimidazoles were equally active. The MICs of the two drugs correlated positively, and the relative activity of tinidazole increased with decreasing susceptibility of both species.

Clostridium

Timing of symptoms and oocyst excretion in human cryptosporidiosis.

To determine the timing of symptoms and oocyst excretion after the acquisition of cryptosporidium infection, we used a screening parasitologic stool examination to identify patients and then contacted them for the collection of retrospective histories and follow-up stool specimens. The study included 68 otherwise healthy patients with an identifiable source and time of infection. All 68 had diarrhea, 61 had abdominal pain, most also had other gastrointestinal symptoms, 33 had fever, and all recovered spontaneously. Among the 50 patients who submitted follow-up stool samples, more than 90 percent of the 610 symptomatic days and of the 136 oocyst-positive stools occurred between days 7 and 28 of infection, the mean incubation period was 7.2 days (range, 1 to 12), and the mean duration of illness was 12.2 days (range, 2 to 26). During the oocyst-excretion period cryptosporidium was detected in 90 percent of Ziehl-Neelsen-stained fecal concentrates. The end of oocyst excretion could be accurately determined in 26 patients; 19 (73 percent) had positive stools after the cessation of symptoms for a mean period of 6.9 days (range, 1 to 15). Fourteen patients were studied for two or more months, and in three of them asymptomatic episodes of oocyst excretion were detected up to two months after clinical recovery. We conclude that many cases of symptomatic cryptosporidiosis occur among immunocompetent patients, some of whom may excrete oocysts even when they have become asymptomatic. Conversely, infected symptomatic patients may occasionally have intermittently negative stools.

Abdomen

Volatile fatty acid findings in vaginal fluid compared with symptoms, signs, other laboratory results, and susceptibility to tinidazole of malodorous vaginal discharges.

The relevance of volatile fatty acids as a diagnostic test in 79 women with abnormal vaginal discharge was evaluated by a blind, randomised, and placebo controlled trial of tinidazole as a single oral 2 g dose. Automated gas chromatography of ether extracts of discharges taken before treatment showed volatile fatty acids in 18. Volatile fatty acids correlated with malodorous, colour, and microscopically assessed altered bacterial flora and clue cells. At follow up one week later, the odour, colour, and volatile fatty acids in the vaginal discharge of women treated with tinidazole had become normal more often than in those receiving placebo. The disappearance of volatile fatty acids correlated with clinically assessed improvement in women treated with tinidazole. The volatile fatty acid test as an indicator of anaerobic bacterial flora is objective, technically simple and fast, has few problems of sample size and transportation, and may be useful in the aetiological classification and follow up treatment of non-specific vaginal discharges.

Body Fluids

Outbreak of cryptosporidiosis among veterinary students.

We describe an outbreak of human cryptosporidiosis in 5 veterinary students in contact with experimentally infected calves. All persons experienced symptoms of gastroenteritis, with the main complaint of diarrhoea lasting for 1-13 days. The persons recovered spontaneously; one was hospitalized for 10 days. The diagnosis was based on the demonstration of Cryptosporidium oocysts from stools by the smear method and the formalin-ether concentration method, both combined with the acid-fast staining technique. Both methods gave almost equal results. The role of Cryptosporidium as an occupational risk is discussed.

Adult

Cryptosporidiosis associated with traveling and giardiasis.

The aim of this study was to reveal sources where cryptosporidiosis may be acquired. We studied 4545 patients, from whom 5730 stool samples were obtained for the diagnosis of parasitic infections during 13 mo, and found that 119 of these patients (2.62%) excreted oocysts of Cryptosporidium. About two-thirds of the patients reported no animal contacts. There were no cases among children under the age of 5 yr, which is evidence against endemicity, and the prevalence was highest (6.22%) in young adults aged 15-29 yr. The sex distribution was unremarkable: of the 119 patients, 56 were men and 63 were women. Most patients reported a recent trip abroad, which had taken place 12 times more frequently during the previous month than earlier. Cryptosporidiosis was five times more frequent in patients who had recently visited Leningrad than in others, and seven times more frequent in patients with Giardia lamblia than in others. Sporadic cryptosporidiosis occurs mainly in travelers, and seems to be acquired from similar sources as giardiasis.

Adolescent

Peritonsillar abscess: bacteriological evaluation.

The pus from a series of 41 peritonsillar abscesses was examined bacteriologically. In the majority of the abscesses a mixed bacterial flora was found. The specimens yielded 0-7 different bacterial species per abscess (mean 3.0). One species alone was isolated only in five cases (12.5%). Both anaerobic and aerobic bacteria were isolated from the specimens of 25 patients (61%), only anaerobes from two specimens (4.9%), and only facultative bacteria from 12 specimens (29%). Beta haemolytic streptococci were cultured in 43.9% of the cases, but Streptococcus pyogenes group A in only 10 cases (24.4%). Thus, the pus of the peritonsillar abscess seems to be caused by a mixed bacterial infection, where anaerobic bacteria play a significant role. Indications of tonsillectomy in cases with peritonsillar abscess are discussed.

Adolescent

Reverse inoculum effect in bactericidal activity and other variables affecting killing of group B streptococci by penicillin.

Variables of the effect of penicillin G on the numbers of viable group B streptococci in broth cultures were studied. One-fourth of the MIC was the lowest concentration that reduced the viable count compared with antibiotic-free controls. The rate of killing increased with the concentration of penicillin up to 4 X MIC, but no further. During the first 2 or 3 h, the bactericidal activity was more rapid than later on. The MIC and supraoptimal concentrations of penicillin killed an inoculum of 10(6) organisms more rapidly than an inoculum of 10(4) organisms. The MIC was not inoculum dependent. The reverse inoculum effect was revealed by the killing curves but not by the MBC. There were reproducible differences among strains as to the rate of killing by penicillin; these did not correlate with the rate of multiplication, which also varied among strains. Among the 11 strains tested, there were no tolerant ones.

Female

Comparative evaluation of the 2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole compounds dimetridazole, metronidazole, secnidazole, ornidazole, tinidazole, carnidazole, and panidazole against Bacteroides fragilis and other bacteria of the Bacteroides fragilis group.

Tube-dilution MICs of seven 2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole compounds varying at the 1-substitution were determined against Bacteroides fragilis. Activities on a molar basis were ranked: tinidazole greater than panidazole greater than ornidazole greater than metronidazole greater than or equal to secnidazole greater than carnidazole greater than dimetridazole. Geometric mean MICs varied from 0.5 to 6.6 microM, and MICs against individual strains varied up to 50-fold between compounds. In general, the MIC of each drug correlated with that of each of the other drugs, but with tinidazole the correlation coefficients tended to be small and were not significant versus metronidazole and secnidazole. MICs against 14 other bacteria of the B. fragilis group, including B. distasonis, B. ovatus, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. uniformis, and B. vulgatus, were within the range determined for B. fragilis.

Antifungal Agents