Proposal for a new therapeutic high dosage of Pidotimod in children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Despite to PFAPA syndrome is considered a benign and self-limited condition in childhood its impact on patients and families can be remarkable in many cases. Currently, the therapeutic options for managing are non-specific and no consensus exists about the best treatment to use. Pidotimod has been suggested as a new potential treatment in PFAPA syndrome for its immunodulatory effects. We conducted a preliminary, prospective, controlled, open, cross-over trial to assess the efficacy and the safety of Pidotimod in the treatment of children with PFAPA syndrome. METHODS: 22 children with PFAPA syndrome were randomly allocated to treatment with pidotimod (with 2 vials of 400 mg daily) in combination with betamethasone 0.5-1 mg on need, based on parents/caregivers' decision (group A) or betamethasone 0.5-1 mg on need, based on parents/caregivers' decision (group B). Each treatment period was for 3 months (Phase 1), after that patients were switched to the other arm for other 3 months (Phase 2). Efficacy was expressed in terms of number of episodes of fever, pharyngitis, or aphthous stomatitis, as well as the additional use of betamethasone on need. Safety and tolerability of the Pidotimod were evaluated on the basis of the number and type of adverse events (AEs) recorded during the treatment. RESULTS: Patients receiving Pidotimod and use betametasone showed a significant decrease in frequency of fevers (p = 0.002); number of episodes of pharyngitis (p = 0.049); aphthous stomatitis (p = 0.036) as well as the betamethasone use on need (p = 0.007). Overall, 19/22 (86.4%) showed benefits from Pidotimod administration. The safety profile of Pidotimod was excellent as no serious adverse events have been reported in the treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: We firstly showed that high dosage of Pidotimod could be an effective and safe to reduce the PFAPA attacks in children.

[Diagnostics and comprehensive treatment of patients with odontogenic lymphadenitis complicated by phlegmons].

The duthor detected special changes in oral liquid of macro and trace substances concentrations and their ratio in dynamics of convalescence for 24 patients with odontogenic lymphadenitis complicated by phlegmon. It was established that termination of inflammatory process on earlier terms at addition in complex treatment of this pathology of polyvitaminic complex considerably lowering strontium concentration in oral liquid (Patent RU 2210378 from 20.08.2003).

Zoonosis emergentes / Emerging zoonosis

No disponible

Adenitis por micobacterias no tuberculosas / Nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis

Objetivo Estudiar las características epidemiológicas, clínicas y evolutivas de las linfadenitis por micobacterias no tuberculosas. Métodos Estudio retrospectivo de 54 pacientes menores de 14 años diagnosticados de linfadenitis por micobacterias atípicas entre 1987 y 2004. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: a) reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) o cultivo positivo; b) test de sensitinas positivo con valor superior en 6 mm al Mantoux, y c) hallazgos anatomopatológicos compatibles con infección micobacteriana, junto con Mantoux menor de 15 mm, radiografía de tórax normal, ausencia de contacto tuberculoso, Mantoux negativo en familiares directos, y exclusión de otras causas de adenitis granulomatosa. Resultados Se detectaron 54 casos de adenitis por micobacterias no tuberculosas. Estas infecciones aumentaron desde 1996 coincidiendo con una disminución de adenitis tuberculosas. La edad media de los pacientes fue de 35 meses (rango: 14 meses-6 años). La localización más frecuente fue submaxilar en 22 de 63 adenitis (34,9 %) y laterocervical en 21 adenitis (33,3 %). El Mantoux fue superior a 10 mm en 8/42 (19 %). El cultivo fue positivo en 18/34 de los casos (52,9 %) y la PCR en 8/15 (53,3 %). La micobacteria más aislada fue Mycobacterium avium (61 %). Se produjo fracaso terapéutico en 8 de los 21 pacientes tratados inicialmente con antibióticos (38 %) y en 10 de los 13 tratados con drenaje (77 %). En el 100 % (8/8) de los casos en los que se realizó exéresis quirúrgica se consiguió la curación definitiva. Conclusiones Los casos de adenitis por micobacterias no tuberculosas han aumentado desde 1996 en nuestro hospital. La rentabilidad de los cultivos es baja y el Mantoux presenta falsos positivos con frecuencia, lo cual dificulta el diagnóstico. La exéresis quirúrgica fue el tratamiento más eficaz. Sin embargo, en adenitis que presenten difícil abordaje quirúrgico y en recurrencias postexéresis el tratamiento farmacológico puede ser útil

Objective To study the clinical features, epidemiology and outcome of nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis (NTML). Methods A retrospective study was performed on 54 patients under 14 years old diagnosed with atypical mycobacterial lymphadenitis between 1987 and 2004. Inclusion criteria were: (i) positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or culture; (ii) positive sensitin skin test 6 mm above Mantoux; (iii) histopathologic features compatible with mycobacterial infection and/or positive direct smear for acid-fast bacilli, Mantoux reaction less than 15 mm, a normal chest radiograph, absence of exposure to an adult with tuberculosis, negative Mantoux test reactions in family members, and exclusion of other causes of granulomatous adenitis. Results Fifty-four patients were included in the study. The number of NTML cases increased notably from 1996, coinciding with a decrease in cases of tuberculous adenitis. The mean age was 35 months (range: 14 months-6 years). Submandibular nodes were involved in 22 of 63 cases of adenitis (34.9 %) and cervical nodes were involved in 21 (33.3 %). In 8/42 patients (19 %) the tuberculin skin test was larger than 10 mm. Cultures were positive in 52.9 % of the cases (18/34) and PCR in 53.3 % (8/15). The most frequently isolated mycobacteria was Mycobacterium avium (61 %). Therapy failed in 8/21 patients receiving antibiotics (38 %), in 10/13 patients with drainage alone (77 %) and in none of the patients who underwent surgery (8/8). Conclusions Nontuberculous mycobacterial adenitis has become more frequent in our hospital since 1996. Cultures do not always allow isolation of mycobacteria and the Mantoux test frequently yields false positive results, thus hampering diagnosis. The most effective treatment was surgical excision. Nevertheless, when the surgical approach is difficult or there is postoperative recurrence, pharmacological treatment can be useful

Doença da arranhadura do gato / Cat-scratch disease

Descriçäo de um caso de doença da arranhadura de gato ou linforreticulose benigna, que envolve gânglios linfáticos que drenam os sítios dérmicos ou conjuntivais primários de inoculaçäo. A doença é autolimitada e benigna, mas pode, por vezes, progredir para infecçäo sistêmica grave e recorrente com encefalite, neuroretinite e osteomielite. Seu agente etiológico é a Rochalimaea benselae, um bacilo Gram-negativo pleomórfico de pequenas dimensöes, membro do subgrupo a-2 das a - proteobactérias

[Results of the treatment of patients with atypical sarcoidosis of the respiratory organs]. / Rezul'taty lecheniia bol'nykh s atipichnym sarkoidozom organov dykhaniia.

Efficacy of treatment, including its immediate and longterm outcomes, in 109 patients with atypical respiratory sarcoidosis were analysed. The treatment regimens were as follows: corticosteroid hormones supplemented by delagil and vitamin E, intermittent corticosteroid therapy, administration of long-acting++ corticosteroid hormones and treatment with presocyl, delagil and vitamin E. Due to the given treatment, a favourable clinical effect was achieved in 74.3% of the cases with the process remaining stable in 2.8% and recurrent development of the disease in 22.9%. Persistent favourable outcomes in a distant future were registered in 82.9%, stable process--in 3.9%, and progression with aggravation and relapses--in 13.2% of the patients.