Noise level in neonatal incubators: A comparative study of three models.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants usually have to spend a long time in an incubator, excessive noise in which can have adverse physiological and psychological effects on neonates. In fact, incubator noise levels typically range from 45 to 70 dB but differences in this respect depend largely on the noise measuring method used. The primary aim of this work was to assess the extent to which noise in an incubator comes from its own fan and how efficiently the incubator can isolate external noise. METHODS: Three different incubator models were characterized for acoustic performance by measuring their internal noise levels in an anechoic chamber, and also for noise isolation efficiency by using a pink noise source in combination with an internal and an external microphone that were connected to an SVAN958 noise analyzer. RESULTS: The incubators studied produced continuous equivalent noise levels of 53.5-58 dB and reduced external noise by 5.2-10.4 dB. CONCLUSIONS: A preterm infant in an incubator is exposed to noise levels clearly exceeding international recommendations even though such levels usually comply with the limit set in the standard IEC60601-2-19: 2009 (60 dBA) under normal conditions of use.

Correlação entre medidas ecocardiográficas e hemodinâmicas na avaliação do átrio direito e ventrículo direito em pacientes com hipertensão pulmonar / Correlation between echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements in right atrium and right ventricle assessments of patients with pulmonary hypertension

Introdução: Hipertensão Pulmonar (HP), uma condição clínica grave, pode levar à disfunção sistólica do ventrículo direto (DSVD), com implicações prognósticas. Pacientes com suspeita de HP devem ser submetidos ao ecocardiograma transtorácico (ECOTT) para diagnóstico e avaliação, colocando-o como o principal exame de triagem e acompanhamento. Objetivo: Verificar a associação e a concordância das medidas referentes à pressão média no átrio direito (AD) e à disfunção sistólica do ventrículo direto (DSVD) ao (ECOTT) e ao cateterismo de câmaras direitas (CCD) em pacientes com (HP). Métodos: Foram incluídos indivíduos com diagnóstico de (HP). Todos os pacientes foram submetidos ao ECOTT e CCD. Avaliou-se pelo ECOTT: área do átrio direito (AAD), pressão média do átrio direito (AD) através por meio do diâmetro e da colapsabilidade da veia cava inferior (PMADECOTT ), strain AD (SAD), TAPSE (excursão sistólica do plano anular tricúspide), MAF (mudança da área fracional), SPLVD (strain da parede livre do VD) e onda s´ tricuspídea. Pelo CCD avaliaram-se pressão média do (PMADCCD ) e índice cardíaco (IC). Resultados: Dos 16 pacientes, 13 eram do sexo feminino. A idade média foi de 44,4 anos (±14,9). Constataram-se associação entre pressão média do átrio direito PMADCCD com área do átrio direito, PMADECOTT pressão média do átrio direito e SAD strain do átrio direito (r=0,845, r=0,621 e r=-0,523, respectivamente; p< 0,05). Verificou-se associação entre as categorias de risco de mortalidade, mensuradas pelas medidas AAD da área do átrio direito e pressão média do átrio direito PMADCCD (X2=10,42; p=0,003), com concordância moderada (k=0,44; p=0,012). DSVD A disfunção sistólica do ventrículo direto estava presente em dez pacientes. Houve associação entre disfunção sistólica do ventrículo direto DSVD (presente ou ausente) e índice cardíaco IC (r=0,522; p=0,04), com concordância moderada (k=0,43; p=0,037). Conclusão: As medidas do ecocardiograma transtorácico (ECOTT) e cateterismo de câmara direita (CCD) demostraram associação na avaliação da pressão média do átrio direito com melhor associação entre área do átrio direito AAD e pressão média do átrio direito (PMADCCD) . Houve associação com concordância moderada quanto à disfunção sistólica do ventrículo direto (DSVD) entre métodos. (AU)

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH), a serious clinical condition, can lead to right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD) with prognostic implications. Patients with suspected PH should undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for diagnosis and evaluation as the main screening and follow-up exam. Objective: To verify the associations of and agreement between measurements of mean pressure in the right atrium (RA) and RVSD with TTE Method: Individuals diagnosed with PH were included. All patients underwent TTE and RCC. The following were evaluated by TTE: right atrial area (RAA), mean right atrial pressure through the diameter and collapsibility of the inferior vena cava (RMAPTTE), RA strain (RAS), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, fractional area change, RV free wall strain, and tricuspid s' wave. Mean RA pressure (RMAPRCC) and cardiac index (CI) were evaluated through the RCC. Results: Of the 16 patients, 13 were female. The mean patient age was 44.4 (±14.9) years. An association was found between RMAPRCC and AAD, RMAPTTE, and RAS (r=0.845, r=0.621, and r=-0.523, respectively; p<0.05). There was an association between the mortality risk categories measured by the RAA and RMAPRCC measures (X2=10.42; p=0.003), with moderate agreement (k=0.44; p=0.012). RVSDJ was present in 10 patients. There was an association between RVSD (present or absent) and CI (r=0.522; p=0.04) with moderate agreement (k=0.43; p=0.037). Conclusion: The TTE and RCC measurements showed an association in the assessment of mean right atrial pressure, especially between RAA and RMAPRCC. An association with RVSD and moderate agreement between methods were also noted. (AU)

AIDS in the Americas: a public health priority for the region.

PIP: 156 countries have reported over 250,000 AIDS cases to the WHO. Taking underreporting into account in developing countries, this figure grows to over 600,000 with 300,000 deaths. HIV-1 infection rates are estimated at between 5-10 million people. Projections indicate that there will be 5 million AIDS cases by 2000. AIDS is an unprecedented health problem that has enormous social, political, medical, and economic implications. The Americas account for 61% of the total cases reported to the WHO. Of the 46 countries in the Americas there have been 153,720 cases reported as of May 1, 1990. 96% of these cases were reported in the US, Brazil, Canada, Haiti, and Mexico. The geographic distribution of AIDS is not homogeneous because of a variety of factors. It was not introduced simultaneously in all countries; some were exposed later than others. Some countries have better detection systems. Excluding North America, the English-speaking Caribbean countries account for only 2% of the population, while the Latin Caribbean countries have 6%, yet they have 10% and 21% of the cases, respectively. Sexual transmission patterns reveal that bisexual men are the largest bridge between the homosexual and heterosexual community, not IV drug users. Studies show that blood donors who are paid are 18 times more likely to be HIV-1 positive in some areas. As AIDS prevalence increases in the heterosexual community, the rate of perinatal transmission also increases. This in turn increases the infant mortality rate because of increases in pediatric AIDS cases. Pediatric cases currently threaten much of the progress that has been made in developing countries in lowering the infant mortality rate. If this pandemic is to be stopped, prevention efforts must be increased as well as a shift in resources at the local, national, and global levels to find some effective method of containment.^ieng

HIV and HTLV-I infections in the Americas: a regional perspective.

With over 143,000 cases of AIDS reported to the World Health Organization from 145 countries and with an estimated 5 to 10 million people worldwide infected with HIV, AIDS has become firmly established as a global pandemic. In the region of the Americas over 100,862 cases of AIDS have been reported with indigenous transmission documented in 45 to 46 countries. While North America has the highest annual number of AIDS cases per population, with 72 cases/million, the Caribbean subregion has a disproportionately high number of cases, with annual rates as high as 200 to 300 cases/million population for some countries. Despite differences in absolute number of cases, there has been a remarkable similarity in the temporal rate of increase of AIDS in the countries of the Americas, reflecting delayed introduction of the virus to some areas with an early exponential increase similar to that observed initially in the United States. Although the modes of transmission of HIV are the same throughout the region, evidence of increasing bisexual and heterosexual transmission, particularly in the Caribbean subregion, has resulted in a lower male-to-female ratio of AIDS cases and increased perinatal transmission. Clinically, a resurgence of diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections, and tuberculosis has been documented in association with HIV infection in many tropical countries of the Americas. With relatively high rates of HTLV-I infection already established in the Caribbean subregion, the overall public health problems of the Americas will be markedly potentiated by further spread of these 2 human retroviruses. If HIV infection continues to penetrate the poor and less advantaged populations in Latin America and the Caribbean, the potential exists for a massive epidemic in the Americas that may rapidly parallel the situation in Africa.

PIP: The article describes in detail the extent and nature of HIV and HTLV-1 infections, and AIDS in the Americas. Surveillance statistics are provided for general populations, homosexual and bisexual men, IV-drug users, female prostitutes, hemophiliacs, heterosexual partners of HIV-infected persons, blood donors, and pregnant women. As of publication, over 100,862 AIDS cases have been reported in the region, with indigenous transmission documented in 45-46 countries. Clinical manifestations of HIV infection and AIDS are discussed. North America claims the highest annual AIDS cases per population at 72/million, while the Caribbean subregion has a disproportionately high number of cases, with annual rates reaching 200-300/million for some countries. The temporal rate of increase of AIDS cases has, however, been fundamentally comparable for all countries of the Americas. While HIV transmission modes are the same throughout the region, increasingly lower male-female ratios of AIDS cases, and more cases of perinatal transmission especially in Caribbean countries. Diarrheal disease, respiratory infections, and tuberculosis have also been documented as associated with HIV infection in many tropical countries of the Americas. Further, relatively high rates of HTLV-1 infection in the Caribbean will only exacerbate already significant public health problems faced by some countries of the region. Should HIV continue infiltrating poor, disadvantaged populations of Latin America and the Caribbean, HIV infection levels and AIDS could reach epidemic proportions similar to that witnesses in Africa.

HIV-1 and HTLV-I in sexually transmitted disease clinics in the Dominican Republic.

A cross-sectional seroprevalence study of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) was undertaken among 494 attendees in two Santo Domingo sexually transmitted disease clinics in 1989. All participants were evaluated for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, syphilis, and genital ulcers. Of the 494 participants, 15 (3.0%) were positive for HIV-1 and 14 (2.8%) were positive for HTLV-I. Twelve of 371 (3.2%) men were HIV-1 seropositive: 0 of 68 homosexual/bisexual and 12 (4.0%) of 302 heterosexual men (one seronegative male could not be classified). Three (2.4%) of 123 women were HIV-1 seropositive. One (1.5%) homosexual/bisexual man, five (1.7%) heterosexual men, and eight (6.5%) women were HTLV-I seropositive. Among heterosexual men, HIV-1 was associated with multiple lifetime sex partners (O.R. = 5.9; 95% C.I. = 1.4, 23; p = 0.007). HIV-1 was associated with genital ulcer disease among women (p = 0.004). Among women, HTLV-I was associated with professional sex work (O.R. = 18; 95% C.I. = 2.1, > 100; p = 0.001). These findings suggest the need for control of sexually transmitted diseases and targeted educational programs for prevention of HIV-1 and HTLV-I among individuals with high-risk behaviors in the Dominican Republic.

Ophthalmia neonatorum: a chart review.

Cases of ophthalmia neonatorum diagnosed at Grady Memorial Hospital 1967-1973 were reviewed. Of 302 cases 43 could be diagnosed as gonococcal, 86 chlamydial, 3 gonococcal and chlamydial, 31 staphylococcal, and 5 chemical. Silver nitrate prophylaxis was routinely employed. Gonococcal cases peaked during the third quarter of the year and chlamydial during the fourth quarter. Gonococcal cases were associated with a longer duration of ruptured fetal membranes. Definitive etiologic diagnosis could not be estalished on clinical grounds alone. Chlamydial ophthalmia was more common among black babies but other forms of ophthalmia were equally distributed with respect to race. The risk of gonococcal ophthalmia developing in an infant born to an infected mother was less than 2% if Credé prophylaxis is used. Therapy with topically applied sulfonamides was effective against chlamydial ophthalmia. Therapy with parenterally administered penicillin and topically applied antibiotics was effective against gonococcal ophthalmia.

STD control in less developed countries: the time is now.

PIP: This discussion of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in less developed countries covers incidence/prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, sequelae, future trends, and new opportunities for STD control -- technological changes, health service changes, and social and political changes. For most countries, current, population-based information on STD is lacking, yet STDs appear to be common problems in nearly all countries. The prevalence of gonococcal infection in non-STD clinic populations has been as high as 5-20%, and incidence estimates made in a few settings have ranged from 3-10% per annum. These observations may overrepresent the STD problem, yet they have been identified in countries in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The prevalence of reactive serological tests for syphilis among antenatal clinic attendees has been as high as 10-15% in some countries of Africa and the Western Pacific. Chancroid infection is extremely common in many of the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Penicillinase-producing "N. gonorrhoeae" (PPNG) infections are a dramatic example of the emergence and worldwide dissemination of resistant gonococci since 1976. At this time PPNG isolates constitute over 10% of all gonococcal infections in nearly all southeast Asian and Africa settings where this problem has been explored. PPNG cause more than 50% of gonococcal infections in some settings. As a result of increasing PPNG prevalence, penicillin, previously the standard therapy for gonorrhea, has been replaced by alternative agents in many settings. A variety of antimicrobial agents are effective for PPNG infections, but these are too expensive or unavailable in many developing countries. Sequelae of STD produce enormous direct and indirect costs. Acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) caused by gonorrhea, chlamydia, and other STD agents is common throughout the world. In developing countries ectopic pregnancy is a common surgical emergency. Improved diagnostic tests, new approaches to treatment of STD, and development of vaccines provide opportunities for better STD control, as have changes in health care delivery. The promotion of the primary health care concept, a shift in emphasis of the international family planning programs, as well as a focus on support systems of health programs all are crucial to STD efforts, and their improvement enhances STD control possibilities. Also, greater discussion of the STD health problems has led to more serious consideration of these diseases and their control.^ieng

Role of drug injection in the spread of HIV in Argentina and Brazil.

Drug injectors' have become the second largest HIV transmission category in Argentina and Brazil, as is the case in many pattern I countries, making up more than one-quarter of all AIDS cases reported by 1991. HIV seroprevalence data suggest that the expanding proportion of AIDS cases attributable to drug injection stems from an absolute increase in the number of AIDS cases among drug injectors, and is not merely reflective of a decline in the proportion of cases reported in other transmission categories. Results of a review of studies in Argentina and Brazil indicate that HIV seroprevalence is increasing rapidly, contrary to the situation in some pattern I countries in which HIV seroprevalence among drug injectors is either stably high or increasing only slightly. Also contrary to most pattern I countries, cocaine rather than heroin is the injected drug of choice in Argentina and Brazil. Given that injectors of cocaine are more likely to be HIV infected than are heroin injectors, differences in the type of drug injected between countries may have distinct epidemiological consequences on the spread of HIV.

PIP: AIDS cases attributable to using contaminated needles in nonmedicinal drug injection have increased in Argentina from 11.3% in 1987 to 39% in 1991. A similar increase (from 1.8% in 1985 to over 30% in 1991) occurred in Brazil. To complement existing information, data searches were conducted and personal communications from current researchers were collected for a total of 24 documents from Argentina and 18 from Brazil. The median sample size was 68 in Brazil and 188 in Argentina; most studies were from outpatient facilities, males constituted more than two-thirds of the sample in half of the studies, and the median age (when reported) was between 16 and 29 years old. Analysis of data from selected studies showed that HIV seroprevalence among drug injectors in both countries has increased rapidly, with the greatest increase occurring in Brazil. This rapid increase may also be influenced by the fact that cocaine, rather than heroin, is the drug of choice. Cocaine injection involves drawing blood into the syringe before injection and also more frequent injections. The level of seroprevalence among drug injectors varies among different subpopulations. Sexually transmitted disease clinic attenders who are IV drug users show rates of 6.58% and 51.9% seropositivity. Incarcerated persons who are drug injectors were associated with seropositivity rates of 35% (adults), 60.9% (adolescents), 53.5% (adolescents in security institutes), and 18% (female inmates who volunteered for testing), with drug injection the most important risk factor in 90.4%. Among prostitute injectors, rates were reported of 20% in 1988 and 50% in 1989-90 in the same population. Street children in Rio de Janeiro who use IV drugs (68 of 3389 surveyed) had a rate of 13.2% in 1987-88. The risk factors associated with HIV infection among drug injectors are socioeconomic status and injecting and sex practices. Co-infection patterns among drug injectors have also been found, with concomitant HIV-1 and HTLV-1 reported in 20% of 85 HIV positive drug injectors. Overall, these data suggest that there is an absolute increase in the number of AIDs cases among drug injectors rather than a decline in the proportion of cases reported in other transmission categories. Drug injector transmission poses a threat to the sex partners and offspring of injectors and provides a bridge to the heterosexual infection of women. While there is no obvious quick solution to the problem of IV drug use, there are programs which can slow the spread of HIV among injectors. It is urgent to control sexual transmission and drug injection transmission of HIV in these countries.

Ocorrência de cochonilhas em espinheira-santa (Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek) / Occurrence of mealybugs in "espinheira-santa" (Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek)

Maytenus ilicifolia é uma espécie medicinal nativa do Brasil que vem sendo cultivada para atender a crescente demanda do mercado. Os fatores que interferem na produção, tal como a incidência de pragas e doenças, devem ser estudados para garantir o incremento na produtividade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi registrar a ocorrência e a identificação de cochonilhas associadas a 15 acessos de espinheira-santa (Maytenus ilicifolia) do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma da Embrapa Clima Temperado e do Instituto Federal Sul-rio-grandense. Foi registrada a quantidade de plantas infestadas em cada acesso e identificado, em laboratório, as espécies de cochonilhas infestantes. O número de plantas infestadas variou entre os acessos. Foram identificadas as cochonilhas Ceroplastes sp. e Saissetia oleae, família Coccidae. Dos 10 acessos infestados, 23 (11,3%) plantas apresentaram infestação com Ceroplastes sp. e, apenas uma (0,5%), com Saissetia oleae. O acesso 133 mostrou a maior incidência de Ceroplastes sp. (33,3%), seguido do acesso 130 (25,0%). O acesso 123 foi o que apresentou menor quantidade de plantas infestadas (4,8%). Saissetia oleae ocorreu em apenas uma planta, pertencente ao acesso 136 (5,6%).

Maytenus ilicifolia is a medicinal species native to Brazil which has been cultivated to meet the growing market demand. Factors that interfere with the production, such as the incidence of pests and diseases, should be studied to ensure increased productivity. The aim of this study was to record the occurrence and the identification of mealybugs associated with 15 "espinheira-santa" (Maytenus ilicifolia) accessions from the Active Germplasm Bank of "Embrapa Clima Temperado" and "Instituto Federal Sul-rio-grandense". The quantity of infested plants in each accession was recorded and the species of infested mealybugs were identified in the laboratory. The number of infested plants varied among accessions. The identified mealybugs were Ceroplastes sp. and Saissetia oleae, family Coccidae. Of 10 infested accessions, 23 plants (11.3%) showed infestation with Ceroplastes sp., and only one (0.5%) with Saissetia oleae. Accession 133 showed the highest incidence of Ceroplastes sp. (33.3%), followed by accession 130 (25.0%). Accession 123 had the least amount of infested plants (4.8%). Saissetia oleae occurred in only one plant, belonging to accession 136 (5.6%).

Tratamento de reestenose intrastent com o novo stent farmacológico firebird TM, limerador de sirolimus - Resultados angiográficos e ultrassonográficos de um ano de evolução / Treatment of in-stent restenosis with the new firebird TM sirolimus eluting stent - One year angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up results

Introdução: A reestenose intrastent (RIS), resultante da excessiva resposta reparadora neointimal após o implante da prótese, é uma das principais limitações da intervenção coronária percutânea. A despeito da eficácia dos stents farmacológicos (SF) de primeira geração no tratamento da RIS, questões relacionadas à segurança e ao perfil de flexibilidade/navegabilidade dessas próteses estimularam o desenvolvimento de novas gerações de SF. O novo SF Firebird TM (Microport Co. Ltd., Xangai, China) combina uma plataforma de aço inoxidável (316 L) de hastes finas (0,0040 polegada), um potente agente antiproliferativo (sirolimus, na dose de 9 ug/mm2) e um revestimento que inclui três camadas de polímero durável, que controla a liberação do fármaco. Apesar de ser um dos SF mais utilizados na China, pouco se conhece sobre seu desempenho, sobretudo em subgrupos de maior complexidade. Método: Entre fevereiro e dezembro de 2009, pacientes portadores de lesão reestenótica única, de stents não-farmacológicos, foram submetidos a intervenão coronária percutânea com implante de stent Firebird TM. Avaliação com angiografia ultrassom intracoronário (USIC) foi programada para todos os pacientes...

BACKGROUND: In-stent restenosis (ISR), resulting from excessive neointimal hyperplasia, is a major limitation of percutaneous coronary intervention. Despite the efficacy of first generation drug-eluting stents (DES) in the treatment of ISR, issues related to the safety and flexibility/navigability profile have encouraged the development of new generations of DES. The new FirebirdTM DES (Microport Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China) combines a stainless steel platform (L316) of fine struts (0,0040'), a powerful anti-proliferative agent (sirolimus, at a dose of 9 µg/mm²) and a coating that includes three layers of a durable polymer, which controls drug release. Though it is a most used DES in China, little is known about its performance, particularly in subgroups of greater complexity. METHOD: Between February and December 2009, patients with single bare metal stent restenotic lesions, were submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention with FirebirdTM stent implantation. Angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were scheduled for all patients at 12 months of follow-up. The primary end-point was late loss and the percentage of in-stent volumetric obstruction at 12 months. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with mean age of 56.8 ± 7.7 years were included, of which 80% were males and 40% diabetics. The anterior descending artery was the most frequently treated vessel (44%) and most lesions had a diffuse/proliferative pattern (64%). At 12 months, late luminal loss was 0.3 ± 0.24 mm, and no case of binary restenosis was identified. IVUS percent volumetric obstruction was 2.6 ± 1.9%. CONCLUSION: In this single center study, the new FirebirdTM DES showed favorable angiographic and IVUS results for the treatment of bare metal ISR at the one year follow-up.

More than a tropical dream: South-South cooperation in HIV prevention.

AIDS: Latin American and Caribbean countries possess the capability and expertise to manage their own HIV/AIDS programs but still need help with financial capital and material resources for these programs to reach their potential. Latin American countries have been especially proactive in working with each other to share information and develop regional planning programs. The history of HIV program development in this region is briefly outlined. Countries are continuing to work together with each other and with the private sector to design and manage programs that prevent and/or treat HIV infection.^ieng

Antiretrovirals: reality or illusion?

AIDS: The use of antiretroviral drugs and combination therapy to treat HIV disease has been widely favored, despite obstacles such as cost, difficult dosing schedules, management of side effects, and inexperience of health practitioners in customizing treatment and counseling patients on use and adherence. Several benefits of drug therapy are discussed. One benefit is that the cost of therapy is lower than the overall cost of a patient not on therapy who will need more services and hospitalizations and will have higher incidences of opportunistic infections. Drug therapy also enables individuals to continue contributing to society by slowing the development of HIV and improving the quality of life. The Pan American Health Organization and UNAIDS are investigating ways to improve access to drugs in Latin America, the Caribbean, and other countries by working with pharmaceutical companies to coordinate drug purchases or negotiate price reductions. In addition, in order for antiretroviral therapy to be most effective, treatment should also include counseling, testing, and education.^ieng

Combating AIDS in the Caribbean: a coordinated subregional approach.

PIP: The extent of the HIV epidemic in the Caribbean is described as related to the subregional coordinating project CAREC, or Caribbean epidemiology Center, an agency under Pan American Health Organization, for 19 English speaking countries and Suriname. By July 1990, 1702 AIDS cases had been reported to CAREC, out of 5726 cases in 27 Caribbean countries excluding Puerto Rico. 90% of the cases occurred in the 5 largest, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Initially the transmission pattern was predominantly among male homo- and bisexuals, but not it is mostly heterosexual with a growing mother-to-child transmission. All countries are now screening blood or blood donors. CAREC is coordinating epidemiologic surveillance, helping national laboratories to screen by providing confirmatory tests, providing culture-relevant health education materials and AIDS information, assisting with surveys, holding training workshops for health care workers, and assisting member countries in designing education and counseling programs for high risk women.^ieng

Gonococcal tenosynovitis-dermatitis and septic arthritis. Intravenous penicillin vs oral erythromycin.

Twenty-three patients with disseminated gonococcal infections--15 with acute tenosynovitis, six with septic monoarticular arthritis, and two with both--were randomly given five days of erythromycin stearate or estolate, 500 mg orally every six hours (13 patients), or crystalline aqueous penicillin G potassium, 1 million units intravenously every three hours for three days (ten patients). There were no treatment failures. Cultures taken one and seven days and two and four weeks after completion of therapy were uniformly negative. Clinical resolution was rapid in both groups, as judged by response of fever, joint tenderness, and disappearance of joint effusion. Orally administered erythromycin is a useful alternative to penicillin in the treatment of disseminated gonococcal infections, particularly in penicillin-allergic pregnant women.

HIV/AIDS and its interaction with tuberculosis in Latin America and the Caribbean.

At present, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is thought to have infected over 17 million people worldwide, over 1 million in North America and roughly 2 million in Latin America and the Caribbean. By comparison, infection with the tuberculosis (TB) agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis is far more common, current estimates indicating that roughly one-third of the world's population is infected. These two infections tend to aggravate each other. That is, HIV leads to a progressive immune system depression that favors reactivation of TB in people with latent tuberculous infections; it promotes progression of TB primary infections or reinfections to full-blown tuberculous disease; and it fosters TB transmission, because those simultaneously infected with HIV and M. tuberculosis tend to develop a bacilliferous and contagious TB that can be transmitted to other susceptible individuals, even though the latter are HIV-negative. In addition, this coinfection tends to promote circulation of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis and to produce peculiar manifestations that complicate TB diagnosis, treatment, and control. Overall, it seems clear that the growing threat posed by these associated agents demands effective action in the form of well-coordinated measures involving throughgoing participation by all countries.