RAPD PCR detects co-colonisation of multiple group B streptococcus genotypes: A practical molecular technique for screening multiple colonies.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal meningitis, pneumonia, and sepsis. The biggest contributing factor of neonatal infections is due to vertical transmission from maternal colonisation of GBS in the genitourinary tract. Multiple serotype colonisation is often not investigated in epidemiological studies, but it is an important consideration for serotype-based vaccine development and implementation to ensure less abundant serotypes are not under-represented. In this study, we show that RAPD PCR is a quick tool useful in screening the presence of genetically different strains using multiple colony picks from a single patient swab. We observed a maximum of five different GBS strains colonising a single patient at a specific time.

Impact of reactive oxygen species generation on Helicobacter pylori-related extragastric diseases: a hypothesis.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that contribute to pathogenesis of a variety of H. pylori-related gastric diseases, as shown in animal and human studies. Helicobacter pylori infection is also associated with variety of systemic extragastric diseases in which H. pylori-related ROS production might also be involved in the pathogenesis of these systemic conditions. We proposed that Hp-related ROS may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of Hp-related systemic diseases including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and other relative neurodegenerative diseases, thereby suggesting introduction of relative ROS scavengers as therapeutic strategies against these diseases which are among the leading causes of disability and are associated with a large public health global burden. Moreover, we postulated that H. pylori-related ROS might also be involved in the pathogenesis of extragastric common malignancies, thereby suggesting that H. pylori eradication might inhibit the development or delay the progression of aforementioned diseases. However, large-scale future studies are warranted to elucidate the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms, including H. pylori-related ROS, involved in H. pylori-associated systemic and malignant conditions.

Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical data regarding Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited. The aim was the evaluation of Hp infection in patients with NAFLD and its association with disease severity. METHODS: 28 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (15 with simple nonalcoholic fatty liver [NAFL], 13 with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) and 25 matched healthy controls were recruited. Blood samples for anti-Hp Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and standard biochemical tests were obtained after overnight fasting, and (13)C urea breath test was performed before liver biopsy in NAFLD group. RESULTS: Higher rates of anti-Hp IgG (P=.038) were observed in NAFLD compared to control group. Only two NAFLD patients neither were Hp IgG seropositive nor did they have a history of eradication treatment compared to 11 control subjects (P=.002). Both Hp infection (assessed by history of Hp eradication treatment and/or Hp IgG seropositivity) (P=.034) and log(HOMA-IR) (P=.007) could independently predict NAFLD in logistic regression analysis. There were similar rates of Hp IgG seropositivity or positivity in (13)C urea breath test or their combination between NAFL and NASH patients. There were no significant differences in steatosis grade, fibrosis stage, lobular or portal inflammation, or ballooning, when NAFLD patients were divided according to Hp IgG seropositivity or (13)C urea breath test positivity. CONCLUSIONS: Hp infection may represent one more hit contributing to the pathogenesis of NAFL, though not to the progression from NAFL to NASH. These results warrant further validation. If confirmed, eradicating Hp infection may have certain therapeutic perspectives in NAFLD treatment.

Haematoma caused by bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy.

We report a case of a bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy (BMATB) associated haematoma in an 85-years old male without any predisposing risk factors. Six days after BMATB, he suffered from a massive thigh and buttock haematoma and a fall in haematocrit. It is important to know that BMATB can have complications aiding early recognition and therapy.