[Different manifestations of the cerebral nocardiosis]. / Unterschiedliche Manifestationsformen der zerebralen Nokardiose.

Nocardial infections affect mainly the respiratory tract but also can attack the CNS. Clinical experience with cerebral nocardiosis is very limited. We present two patients with very different cerebral affections due to nocardiosis. Cerebral nocardial infections can cause both multiple small abscesses and single large abscesses in the human brain. Despite the rare incidence of cerebral nocardiosis, it is an important differential diagnosis of expansive processes and abscesses in the CNS.

Chitinolytic activity in viable spores of encephalitozoon species

By employing 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-NN',N"-triacetylchitotriose substrate in a semi quantitative assay, chitinolytic activity in viable spores of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and E. intestinalis was detected and dependence on reaction time, spore concentration, concentration of substrate and temperature were demonstrated. It was possible to block the chitinolytic activity by chitin hydrolysate. By incubation at 80§C for 10 min or at 55§C for 20 min the spores were loosing the chitinolytic activity. Incubation of the spores in trypsin reduced the chitinolytic activity. Cellulase activity could not be detected.

Chitinolytic activity in viable spores of Encephalitozoon species.

By employing 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-NN',N"-triacetylchitotriose substrate in a semi quantitative assay, chitinolytic activity in viable spores of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and E. intestinalis was detected and dependence on reaction time, spore concentration, concentration of substrate and temperature were demonstrated. It was possible to block the chitinolytic activity by chitin hydrolysate. By incubation at 80 degrees C for 10 min or at 55 degrees C for 20 min the spores were loosing the chitinolytic activity. Incubation of the spores in trypsin reduced the chitinolytic activity. Cellulase activity could not be detected.

Glucocorticoids inhibit activation-dependent expression of costimulatory molecule B7-1 in human monocytes.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids act as immunosuppressive drugs mainly via their effects on antigen-presenting cells. They are known to influence production of cytokines as well as expression of cell surface molecules. B7 molecules belong to the most important costimulatory signals for T-cell activation during transplant rejection. They are expressed on antigen-presenting cells and up-regulated during the immune response. We studied the influence of glucocorticoids on the regulation of these accessory signals. METHODS: Human monocytes were purified from peripheral blood of healthy volunteers by centrifugal counterflow elutriation. Activation-dependent transcription and expression of B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry in the absence or presence of glucocorticoids. RESULTS: The expression pattern of B7-1 and B7-2 on monocytes depends on the type of stimulation. Activation by interferon-gamma induces both B7-1 and B7-2, whereas cAMP exclusively up-regulates B7-2. Glucocorticoids selectively inhibit the expression of B7-1 while leaving B7-2 unaffected. The effect occurs at concentrations that are reached during therapeutical application of the substances in humans. It is mediated via the cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptor, as it can be abrogated by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486. Inhibition of B7-1 occurs at the transcriptional level. Up-regulation of the molecule can similarly be inhibited by hydrocortisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone at equipotent doses. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of the up-regulation of B7-1 by glucocorticoids is a previously unknown mechanism of action of these substances and may relevantly contribute to their effects as immunosuppressive drugs.

Blinded, externally controlled multicenter evaluation of light microscopy and PCR for detection of microsporidia in stool specimens. The Diagnostic Multicenter Study Group on Microsporidia.

The quality parameters for the detection of microsporidia in identical sets of 50 stool samples were determined for six laboratories where technicians used light microscopy and for six laboratories where technicians used PCR. The average overall sensitivities were 67% (89% for patient samples only) for the PCR laboratories and 54% (80% for patient samples only) for the light microscopy laboratories. Specificities were 98 and 95%, respectively. Differences in results were most apparent between the individual laboratories rather than between the two major methods used.

[The problem of maxillary and mandibular mucosal condition before, during and after insertion of complete dentures]. / Le problème de l'état des muqueuses maxillaires et mandibulaires avant, pendant et après l'insertion des prothèses totales.

The buccal mucosa recouvring the edentulous ridges is composed with two tissues limited by a basal membrane: a stratified squamous keratinized epithelium overlying the connective tissue. After insertion of complete denture, the most common pathology is the inflammation of the mucosa in front dentures from several causes (infection, trauma, allergy). The bacterial deposit control and effective hygiene are able to treat prosthetic stomatitis. Nevertheless it must be emphasize that prosthetic treatment must be correctly conducted and often controlled.