Increased incidence of herpes zoster in the setting of cytomegalovirus preemptive therapy after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a common infectious disease after kidney transplantation (KT). The incidence of HZ may increase during cytomegalovirus (CMV) preemptive therapy. We therefore evaluated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of HZ after KT, according to the type of CMV prophylaxis used. METHODS: We retrospectively established a cohort of KT recipients who underwent transplantation from June 2008 to May 2010. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to CMV prophylaxis regimen: Group A (preemptive therapy), Group B (universal prophylaxis <3 months), and Group C (universal prophylaxis >3 months). The incidence rate of HZ was compared in each group, and risk factors for HZ were identified. RESULTS: The incidence rate of HZ was 46.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.4-66.5) per 1000 person-years. The incidence rate was higher in Group A than in Group C (80.0 vs. 13.0 per 1000 person-years; P = 0.001). Median onset time of HZ after KT was shorter in Group A than in Group B (0.9 vs. 9.9 months; P < 0.001) and Group C (0.9 vs. 14.8 months; P = 0.008). Post-herpetic neuralgia occurred in 7 patients (23%). No visceral involvement or death was related to HZ. By multivariate analysis, only female gender (corrected relative risk 1.59; 95% CI 1.09-2.00) was independently associated with HZ development. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of CMV preemptive therapy, a differentiated varicella zoster virus-specific prophylaxis might be necessary for patients with HZ risk factors.

Evaluation of predominant reaction mechanisms for the Fenton process in textile dyeing wastewater treatment.

This research quantitatively evaluated the predominant reactions in a large-scale Fenton process that treated dyeing wastewaters and suggested an economical and effective treatment process. Through plant analysis, it was found that a great part of the COD was removed by ferric coagulation. The comparative evaluation of Fenton oxidation and ferric coagulation revealed that ferric coagulation was the predominant mechanism to remove COD and colour. In Fenton oxidation, the removal efficiencies of SCOD and colour were 67.7% and 84.7%, respectively. In ferric coagulation, those of SCOD and colour were 60.8% and 62.0%, respectively. A combined process with iron coagulation/precipitation and Fenton oxidation reduced the hydrogen peroxide dosage by over 40% compared to a conventional dosage.

[Immunomodulating effect of locoregional cytokine therapy in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Immunokorrigiruiushchii éffekt lokoregional'noi tsitokinoterapii u bol'nykh tuberkulezom legkikh.

The immunomodulating effect of local and regional cytokine therapy was studied in patients with different forms of pulmonary tuberculosis. The signs of immunosuppression either preserve or progress with tuberculostatic chemotherapy (a control group). The inclusion of cytokine therapy into a treatment regimen for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (an experimental group) assures complete correction of immune disorders in 30% of patients, as manifested by a significant increase in the absolute count of T lymphocytes, in the relative content of CD8 cells and monocytes with HLA-DR antigen expression. The most pronounced effect was achieved in patients with a fibrocavernous form of pulmonary tuberculosis. Immunological correction was accompanied by positive clinical and laboratory changes. Arrested intoxication, improved X-ray pattern of the lung, and ceased bacterial isolation were recorded in the patients. Positive clinical and immunological changes suggest that it is expedient to include local and regional cytokine therapy as part of treatment in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.