Incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis and other potential pathogens in neonatal conjunctivitis.

OBJECTIVE: Ocular infection in neonatology is a permanent and important health problem. To improve primary attention, prevention, and control, the study of the potential bacterial etiology of all consecutive cases of conjunctivitis was incorporated as a regular procedure in primary care from July 1995 to December 1998. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prof. A. Posadas Hospital (Great Buenos Aires) has an average of 4294 births per year. This report analyzes the results obtained in 332 infants (age range, 0-30 d) with conjunctivitis. Clinical conjunctivitis was diagnosed in inpatients and outpatients by the same specialized staff. Isolation and characterization of bacteria were done by conventional microbiologic methods, including specific search for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia trachomatis was studied by antigen immunodetection and polymerase chain reaction, and genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: Conjunctivitis had an incidence (cases per 1000 live births) of 39.6 in 1995, 25.3 in 1996, 15.4 in 1997, and 15.2 in 1998. Microbial growth was detected in 167 (50.3%) of 332 cases. Ocular C. trachomatis infection was detected in 26 cases (7.83%). Five of seven isolates in tissue cultures belonged to type E and two to type G. Bacteria from respiratory ecology were the main isolates: Haemophilus influenzae (16.9%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (12.3%), and Staphylococcus aureus (8.7%). Haemophilus influenzae isolates were not serotyped and 17.2% of them were b-lactamase producers. In 15 cases both H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae were isolated together. Of S. pneumoniae, 4.9% were oxacillin resistant. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a decline in the total number of cases of neonatal conjunctivitis, but the disease is still an important health problem. Chlamydia trachomatis also shows a decreasing profile with an incidence of (cases per 1000 live births) 4.39 in 1995, 1.85 in 1996, 1.01 in 1997, and 0.78 in 1998, and a tendency to show more incidence in spring-summer and significant accumulation of cases in babies between 7 and 9 days of age. Haemophilus influenzae alone (12.3%) or associated with S. pneumoniae (4.5%) appears as a prevalent potential bacterial pathogen. A significant accumulation of H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae cases occurs in winter. In 47.6% of cases, there was no bacterial growth. No significant seasonal differences in percentage of negative cultures or among the three-day age groups were detected. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was not found associated with ophthalmia neonatorum in this series.

[Correlation of serum prolactin, sperm count and motility. Prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in the infertile male]. / Relación de la prolactina sérica con el recuento y motilidad espermática. Estudio de prevalencia de la hiperprolactinemia en el varón infértil.

Serum prolactin (PRL) levels were measured in 147 males. All patients had no known tumor, endocrine disorder, or symptoms or signs of hyperprolactinemia. All patients denied taking any medication or agents that could alter PRL levels. Semen analyses revealed 34 patients were normospermic, 69 were oligospermic, 26 were azoospermic, and 18 were purely astenzoospermic. PRL levels for the patient groups were not statistically significantly different. PRL values were higher than the normal ranges in 12.2% of the overall study population. A lower incidence (6.19%) was observed for hyperprolactinemia in the normospermics. These findings are comparable to those described elsewhere. Serum testosterone did not drop significantly in the hyperprolactinemics. Similarly, the FSH and LH values did not change significantly. The possible role of PRL in male infertility and the effect of hyperprolactinemia of varying degrees and etiology on sperm count and motility are discussed.

[Polyuric dilatation of the urinary tract in congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Clinical and diagnostic aspects. Presentation of a case and review of the literature]. / La dilatación poliúrica del tracto urinario en diabetes insípida nefrogénica congénita. Aspectos clínicos y diagnósticos. Presentación de un caso con atrofia renal. Revisión de la literatura.

Massive polyuria existing in congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus can cause a more or less severe dilatation of the urinary tract in absence of obstruction. Clinical and diagnostic aspects of this pathology are presented relating then with other types of diabetes insipidus. One case of bilateral severe dilatation with evolution towards renal atrophia is presented. Mechanical obstruction was discarded. The disease was refractory to urinary concentration tests and therapy to reduce urine volume. The possible etiopathological mechanisms of functional obstruction and surgical alternatives directed to preserve the kidney function are explained and discussed. The current literature is reviewed but the cases reported are few due to the low incidence of urological affectation. Presence of kidney atrophia is exceptional.