Increasing procoagulant activity of circulating microparticles in patients living with HIV.

OBJECTIVES: HIV-infected individuals are at higher risk of non-AIDS diseases associated with procoagulant status. Microparticles are elevated in disorders associated with thrombosis (e.g., cardiovascular diseases). We investigated the association between microparticle levels in untreated and treated HIV-infected subjects, and determined the association with immune status, viral replication, and duration of antiretroviral therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 144 HIV-infected subjects, including 123 on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 21 before treatment initiation. A control group of 40 HIV-negative healthy adults matched for age and sex was used for comparison of microparticle levels. Treated subjects were divided into five groups depending on the period of antiretroviral exposure. Statistically significant differences were determined by Kruskal-Wallis test and Chi2 test. The relation between microparticles and other parameters was assessed using Spearman's coefficient of correlation. RESULTS: Microparticle levels were significantly higher in treated and untreated HIV-infected subjects than in non-HIV-infected controls (P<0.001). The microparticle level was similar between the groups on treatment (P=0.913). No association between the microparticle level and CD4+ count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, number of HIV-1 RNA copies, or duration of exposure to antiretroviral treatment was observed. CONCLUSION: Increased levels of microparticles may be due to processes independent of viral replication and CD4+ cell count, and microparticle release might persist even during viral suppression by antiretroviral treatment. Elevated microparticle levels might occur in response to other triggers.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy - epidemiology, immune response, clinical differences, treatment.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe disease of the central nervous system with very high mortality. It is caused by the JC virus with high seroprevalence, at up to 80%. Development of PML is typically opportunistic, particularly in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and usually affects patients with profound immunodeficiency. Furthermore, as a result of highly efficient immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory treatments in recent years, the number of PML cases has increased in the general population. In this article, the authors mention virological and epidemiological relationships and characteristic manifestations of PML. Possible relationships of humoral and cellular immunity are discussed and limited treatment options including prophylaxis are mentioned.

Fecal bacteriotherapy in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection.

AIM: Using a prospective analysis to assess the success of faecal bacteriotherapy (FBT) in antibiotic-associated colitis due to Clostridium difficile. To analyse whether any of the factors according to which the treated patients can be categorized has a statistically significant effect on the therapeutic outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the 2-year study period (2015-2016), 71 patients received FBT. After treatment, the patients were followed up by means of clinic visits or by phone. If colitis did not recur within eight weeks of follow-up, the treatment was considered successful. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 76%, with statistically insignificant decline in recurrences. Subgroup analysis did not show any statistically significant difference in the success rate between the routes of administration, i.e. through a naso-enteral feeding tube and rectal enema. Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences in the success rate between the types of prior antibiotic therapy or between using fresh and cryo-stored stool suspension. No unexpected adverse event or lethality occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Faecal bacteriotherapy is a successful and safe therapeutic alternative for recurrent C. difficile infections.

[Fecal bacteriotherapy for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis used in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the University Hospital Brno in 2010-2014 - a prospective study]. / Fekální bakterioterapie v lécbe rekurentní kolitidy zpusobené Clostridium difficile na Klinice infekcních chorob Fakultní nemocnice Brno v letech 2010-2014 - prospektivní studie.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of fecal bacteriotherapy in the treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study of fecal bacteriotherapy in 80 adult patients hospitalized in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Brno between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014. RESULTS: During the study period, 80 patients were treated with fecal bacteriotherapy. The majority of the study group received fecal bacteriotherapy via a nasojejunal tube (n=78) and two patients via a rectal enema. Six patients were instilled with 20 g of feces, with a success rate of 50 %. The outcomes of nine patients were unevaluable. In the rest of 65 patients, the success rate with 40 g of feces was 83.1 %. There were no severe adverse events or mortality associated with fecal bacteriotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Fecal bacteriotherapy is a safe and effective treatment modality in Clostridium difficile colitis.

[Liver abscesses - one of possible causes of fever of unknown origin]. / Jaterní abscesy - jedna z mozných prícin horecek nejasného puvodu.

Liver abscess is a focal suppurative liver process. According to the etiology liver abscesses are divided into bacterial (pyogenic), and parasiti (amebic). Parasitic cysts (e.g. caused by Echinococcus granulosus) can be secondary bacterial infected and their clinical and laboratory manifestations are like pyogenic abscesses. In clinical manifestation of liver abscesses dominates fever of unknown origin. Authors present two characteristic cases of liver abscesses as a Case reports. The origin of multiple pyogenic abscesses of mixed etiology (Enterococcus faecium, E. coli ESBL, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis) in 73-years old man was either in secondary infected liver hematomas after his fall and injury or in intrascapular subcutaneous abscess with spreading of microbes by blood stream into liver. Some of liver abscesses were evacuated during surgical laparotomy; the residual ones were puncted by radiologist under CT control. The patient was treated with combination of meropenem, vancomycin, metronidazol (4 weeks), and fluconazole (20 days). Antibiotic treatment with per oral doxycycline was continuing after patient's discharge from the hospital for 3 weeks. Three amebic liver abscesses were diagnosed in 27-years old man of Indian origin. The treatment was based on drainage of abscesses under CT control a long-term metronidazol treatment.