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R B Dessau

Publications and source records attributed to R B Dessau.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Coronaviruses in brain tissue from patients with multiple sclerosis.

Brain tissue from 25 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and as controls brain tissue from 36 patients without neurological disease was tested for the presence of human coronaviral RNA. Four PCR assays with primers specific for N-protein of human coronavirus strain 229E and three PCR assays with primers specific for the nucleocapsid protein of human coronavirus strain OC43 were performed. Sporadic positive PCR assays were observed in both patients and controls in some of the PCR assays. However, these results were not reproducible and there was no difference in the proportion of positive signals from the MS patients compared to controls. Evidence for a chronic infection with the human coronaviruses strain 229E or OC43 in brain tissue from patients with MS or controls has not been found in this study.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Antagonism between penicillin and erythromycin against Streptococcus pneumoniae in vitro and in vivo.

The combination of beta-lactam antibiotics and macrolides is often recommended for the initial empirical treatment of acute pneumonia in order to obtain activity against the most important pathogens. Theoretically, this combination may be inexpedient, as the bacteriostatic agent may antagonize the effect of the bactericidal agent. In this study, the possible interaction between penicillin and erythromycin was investigated in vitro and in vivo against four clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae with MICs of penicillin ranging from 0.016 to 0.5 mg/L and of erythromycin from 0. 25 to >128 mg/L. In vitro time-kill curves were generated with clinically relevant concentrations of penicillin (10 mg/L) and erythromycin (1 mg/L), either individually or in combination. Antagonism between penicillin and erythromycin was observed for the four isolates. In vivo interaction was investigated in the mouse peritonitis model. After intraperitoneal inoculation, penicillin and erythromycin were given either individually or in combination. For two of the four isolates, mortality was significantly higher in the groups treated with the combination of penicillin and erythromycin than in the groups treated with penicillin alone [32/36 (86%) vs. 3/12 (25%), P<0.05; and 24/36 (67%) vs. 3/12 (25%), P<0.05, respectively]. Using the mouse peritonitis model, in vivo time-kill curves showed that there was antagonism between erythromycin and penicillin for the examined isolate. The antagonism demonstrated in vitro and in vivo between penicillin and erythromycin suggests that ss-lactam antibiotics and macrolides should not be administered together unless pneumococcal infection is ruled out.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Coronaviruses in spinal fluid of patients with acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis.

UNLABELLED: Acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis (AMON) may be an initial symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). Coronaviruses have been implicated in the etiology of MS. The objective of the present study was to look for coronaviral RNA in AMON, which could be present in the initial stages of the development of MS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Spinal fluids from 37 patients with AMON and 15 surgical control patients with protrusion of the intervertebral disk were assayed with a nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for human coronaviruses strain (HCV) 229E and OC43. RESULTS: Four patients and 1 control were positive for HCV-229E. No evidence of HCV-OC43 was found. The frequency of positive samples was low and there was no statistical difference between AMON and controls. CONCLUSION: This study does not provide evidence for an etiological role of human coronaviruses in acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Absence of entero- and cardioviral RNA in multiple sclerosis brain tissue.

OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological evidence suggests that an infectious agent may be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Picornaviruses are possible candidates for an etiological agent, because of their neurotropic properties and ability to cause chronic infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Autopsy brain tissue from 25 patients with clinically definite MS and 33 control patients without inflammatory neurological disease was tested with reverse transcription PCR specific for enteroviruses and cardioviruses. RESULTS: All specimens were found negative. CONCLUSION: These results do not support the theory of a persisting entero- or cardioviral infection as the cause of Ms as we found no evidence of the presence of entero- or cardioviral genomes in the brains from MS patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Azithromycin].

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Azithromycin↗
PubMed1995

Pulmonary nodules due to Corynebacterium ulcerans.

A 53 year old male with symptoms of coughing for 6 months presented with bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules suggestive of metastatic disease. By surgical resection 4 out of 6 nodules were removed. Histopathological examination showed granulomatous necrotizing inflammation with growth of Corynebacterium ulcerans, which did not produce diphtheria toxin. The patient was treated with penicillin for 1 week. Follow-up for 2 yrs showed no sign of recurrence.

Corynebacterium Infections↗
PubMed1994

[Ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae. Prevalence in isolates from Danish children].

The prevalence of ampicillin-resistance was assessed among a total of 2766 strains of H. influenzae isolated from lower respiratory tract secretions, middle ear secretions, spinal fluid specimens, and blood cultures from children 0-15 years of age tested in two separate counties in Denmark during the period from 1986 to May, 1993. All strains were tested for susceptibility to ampicillin with disc or tablet diffusion technique and strains were examined for beta-lactamase production with a chromogenic cephalosporinase test. In the county of Northern Jutland the rate of beta-lactamase production in non-encapsulated H. influenzae was 2.5% in 1986 rising to 9.3% in 1993. The rate of beta-lactamase production in H. influenzae type b was 4.1% without any rise. In the county of Copenhagen the rate of beta-lactamase production in non-encapsulated H. influenzae rose from 6.3% in 1986 to 10.6% in 1992. In 1993 a further increase to 20.7% was noticed. This year the number of specimens sent to the laboratory and the number of H. influenzae isolated were lower compared to previous years. Thus a different selection of patients may explain the increase in the rate of beta-lactamase production in 1993. The rate of beta-lactamase production in H. influenzae type b was 8.5%. No strains were resistant to ampicillin in diffusion test other than the beta-lactamase producers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Respiratory syncytial virus infection. A frequent child disease in Denmark with annual outbreaks].

Infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of illness in infants often leading to hospital admission during the winter months. Diagnosis of RSV by direct detection of virus antigen has been implemented in a number of departments of clinical microbiology, and on this background a descriptive study of the seasonal incidence, sex and age distribution of RSV in two Danish counties was undertaken. A total of 5533 clinical episodes of respiratory infection were registered from October 1988 to September 1992 in the two counties and 1421 (26%) were positive for RSV. The incidence of hospital admission for RSV infection was 14 per 1000 below three years of age in Copenhagen County in the winter season 1991-1992. The seasonal peak of RSV infection was postponed about one month in Northern Jutland as compared to the capital area. Only 10 episodes (three positive) were from primary care, the remainder from hospitals and other institutions. RSV-testing was rarely requested in general practice. The study confirmed the importance of RSV infection in young children admitted with lower respiratory tract infection. We recommend the establishment of a surveillance system incorporating the local departments of clinical microbiology for warning of the yearly epidemics during which RSV infections may also be a risk outside the paediatric age span.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Polymerase chain reaction as a rapid diagnostic assay for cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients.

The aim of this study was to apply a polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of CMV infection and determine its clinical value in renal transplant recipients. We have applied the PCR to urine and blood specimens collected from 27 renal transplant recipients as well as blood from 49 normal blood donors. Ten of twenty-seven patients, compared to 3 of 49 normal blood donors, had CMV-DNA present in one or more samples. Six of the ten CMV-DNA-positive patients had positive CMV serology, and 3 of the 10 had severe clinical symptoms of active CMV infection. In four additional patients with positive CMV serology - but without clinical signs of active CMV infection - no CMV-DNA could be detected by the PCR. In the three patients with severe symptoms, PCR could detect CMV-DNA before serology became positive, and in one of these three patients, serology remained negative despite the patient's death from clinically obvious CMV pneumonia. PCR thus appears capable of detecting active CMV infection at a time when CMV serology is inconclusive, but cannot substitute for serology as the only routine analysis since a transient viraemia might be missed. However, in immunosuppressed patients with severe CMV infection, PCR could provide an early diagnosis, enabling the clinician to implement early specific treatment.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1993

Computerized surveillance in clinical microbiology with time series analysis.

An automatic surveillance system to detect changes in the incidences of microorganisms diagnosed in the department of clinical microbiology has been developed. The program is incorporated into the laboratory computer system and gives a weekly list of microorganisms whose isolation rates compared with those of a previous period exceed a chosen limit. The system uses time series analysis with moving weighted averages, and the detection limit is based on the distribution of the residuals. Output from the system included information about potential outbreaks of gastroenteritis, nosocomial infection with Corynebacterium jeikeium, and a seasonal epidemic of respiratory syncytial virus. The system also listed organisms not commonly isolated in the laboratory and detected incorrect reports. We conclude that continuous surveillance of laboratory data with time series analysis is a valuable tool for epidemiologic surveillance and quality control. Large quantities of data may be screened.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1991

[Reproducibility of a rapid test for HIV antibody].

This study evaluated three rapid test kits for HIV antibody detection. Thirty consecutive blood specimens from the infectious diseases outpatient clinic were examined by three house officers who tested each specimen twice in a blind and randomized experiment. HIV-Chek (Du Pont) and HIV-1/HIV-2 TestPack (Abbott) were easy to handle and gave good intra- and interobserver agreement and good agreement with routine ELISA. Recombigen (BioScience) was difficult to interpret and gave poorer intra- and inter-observer variation. We suggest that HIV-Chek and TestPack can be used for assessment of patients' HIV antibody status in emergency circumstances with only minimal instruction of the staff.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1991

[Psychogenic polydipsia: pronounced cerebral edema after exaggerated consumption of boiled water].

A case of psychogenic polydipsia is presented. A 40 year old female was brought to the emergency room after a sudden seizure at home. The patient had spontaneous eye opening, was making incomprehensible sounds and had abnormal and agitated flexion of the limbs. Severe cerebral edema was seen on the computed tomogram. The patient was found to have hypotonic polyuria and hyponatremia. Two months previously, the patient had stopped taking bromazepam (a benzodiazepine) and on the advice of a neighbour had taken plenty of water to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The diagnosis and therapy are discussed.

Adult↗