MEDSCAPE's Infectious Diseases MedPulse 1-04-02

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>>> MEDSCAPE's Infectious Diseases MedPulse(R) <<<

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MedPulse is a weekly index of key news and features on Medscape's

specialty sites compiled by Medscape's Editors.

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___________________ NEW FEATURE ARTICLES THIS WEEK ____________________

-- MEDSCAPE CONFERENCE COVERAGE --

41ST ICAAC, CHICAGO, DEC 16-19, 2001

If you missed the meeting, check out our news coverage.

http://www.medscape.com/conference/icaac01

-- OTHER JOURNALS --

CALCIPHYLAXIS PRESENTING AS PENILE GANGRENE

Calciphylaxis is a rare disease, primarily identified in patients with end-stage renal disease who have secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Infect Urol 14(4):105-109, 2001

http://id.medscape.com/46629.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major world health problem and a common cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Clinical Cornerstone 3(6):24-36, 2001

http://id.medscape.com/46735.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

MYCOBACTERIUM CHELONAE: NONHEALING LEG ULCERS TREATED SUCCESSFULLY WITH AN ORAL ANTIBIOTIC

Leg ulcers plague mankind with prolonged suffering and disability.

J Am Board Fam Pract 14(6):457-461, 2001

http://id.medscape.com/46744.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS: COMMON, SUBTLE, AND MORE SERIOUS THAN EVER

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common and potentially most serious vaginal infection to affect women of reproductive age. Prevalence estimates range from 10% among low-risk populations to 64% among women at high risk.

Clinician Reviews 11(11):59-68, 2001.

http://id.medscape.com/46747.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

FOCUS ON ASTHMA: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

On Medscape's Asthma Resource Center you can get timely medical information on asthma and options for accurate diagnosis and effectivetreatment. The Asthma Resource Center gives you updated medical news,conference summaries, articles, MEDLINE abstracts, links to professional

organizations, and practice guidelines.

http://www.medscape.com/mp/rc/usmd/asthma

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___________________________________ NEWS ______________________________

-- EBOLA VIRUS --

EBOLA DEATH TOLL RISES TO 23 IN CENTRAL AFRICA

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has risen to 23 after the virus claimed another victim, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

http://id.medscape.com/46721.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- ANTHRAX --

NUCLEAR MEDICINE AIDS EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY ANTHRAX

A nuclear medicine procedure that has the potential to safely pinpoint even the smallest amounts of infected tissue has received preliminary approval for a clinical trial in the diagnosis of inhalation anthrax before symptoms become apparent.

http://id.medscape.com/46734.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

SUSPICIOUS LETTER AT US CAPITOL REPORTED SAFE

A threatening letter containing a powdery substance opened in the office of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle was tested and found not to be hazardous, the US Capitol police said on Thursday.

http://id.medscape.com/46778.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- TUBERCULOSIS --

POSITIVE PPD INDICATES TB INFECTION IN CHILDREN WITH PREVIOUS BCG

Among children in close contact with adults with tuberculosis, purified

protein derivative testing is useful in identifying those at risk for

infection, whether they have received BCG or not.

http://id.medscape.com/46722.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

HIGHER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS A RISK FACTOR FOR HIV IN ETHIOPIAN CHILDREN WITH TB

In Ethiopia, children with tuberculosis at high risk for coinfection with HIV are those who have better educated parents, parents with higher income and live in better conditions, researchers report.

http://id.medscape.com/46649.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- INFLUENZA --

UNIVERSAL FLU VACCINATION COSTS LESS THAN TREATMENT

Administration of the trivalent influenza vaccine to all healthy adults saves money over treatment of those who develop influenza-like illnesses with the oral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir or supportive care alone, report investigators from Cornell University and the New School University.

http://id.medscape.com/46640.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- STDs --

PCR ACCURATELY DETECTS CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS IN URINE FROM MALE PATIENTS

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test detects Chlamydia trachomatis at least as well in urine specimens as in endourethral swabs from male patients, according to two reports in the December issue of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

http://id.medscape.com/46600.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

NO INCREASE IN PERIPHERAL JC VIRUS REPLICATION SEEN AT ONSET OF HIV-RELATED PML

Levels of JC virus DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are not very useful in predicting the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in HIV-infected patients, according to French investigators.

http://id.medscape.com/46699.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- PEDIATRIC ID --

WATER USED FOR INFANT FORMULA OFTEN CONTAMINATED IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Stored drinking water is often contaminated with E. coli in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, and probably other developing countries, with implications for the safety of replacement feeding of infants in such settings.

http://id.medscape.com/46617.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

PENICILLIN RESISTANCE INCREASED IN CHILDREN AFTER BETA-LACTAM USE

Young children who receive beta-lactam antibiotics are at increased risk of developing penicillin-resistant pneumococci.

http://id.medscape.com/46774.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

VACCINATION URGED FOR DAYCARE CHILDREN TO PROTECT AGAINST DRUG-RESISTANT S. PNEUMONIAE

Most parents of young children in daycare may be unaware of the availability of Prevnar vaccine to prevent multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

http://id.medscape.com/46777.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- GERIATRIC ID --

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS DO SEEM TO BOOST IMMUNITY IN THE ELDERLY

Nutritional supplements are probably worthwhile for helping prevent infections in the elderly, Dr. Kevin P. High concludes in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases for December 1st.

http://id.medscape.com/46651.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS --

PHYSICIAN JUDGMENT ON RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS NO BETTER THAN CHANCE

Physicians' ability to distinguish whether febrile patients with respiratory tract infections may have an ailment due to viruses or bacteria is decidedly low, according to Israeli researchers.

http://id.medscape.com/46668.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- HEPATITIS --

HIV MAY ENHANCE SEXUAL TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS C

From a study of subjects with no history of IV drug use or blood transfusion, Italian researchers report that the sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus may be favored by the presence of HIV infection.

http://id.medscape.com/46610.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

POLYMORPHONUCLEAR NEUTROPHILS ARE ELEVATED IN THE LUNGS OF HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

In patients with chronic HCV infection, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contains significantly more neutrophils than does lavage fluid from healthy control subjects, according to results of a Turkish study.

http://id.medscape.com/46703.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- GI INFECTIONS --

H. PYLORI INFECTION PLUS NSAID USE SYNERGISTICALLY INCREASES PEPTIC ULCER RISK

A synergistic interaction between the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Helicobacter pylori infection increases multiplies the risk of peptic ulcer and bleeding ulcer.

http://id.medscape.com/46758.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

PROTHROMBOTIC ABNORMALITIES PRECEDE HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME

In children infected with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and who go on to develop hemolytic-uremic syndrome, thrombin generation is augmented and fibrinolysis is inhibited before renal insufficiency manifests, according to results of a prospective study reported in the January 3rd issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

http://id.medscape.com/46759.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- HERPESVIRUSES --

HERPES REACTIVATION INHIBITED BY DIPYRIDAMOLE IN VITRO

Dipyridamole inhibits herpes simplex virus reactivation in mouse trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia, according to a report in the December Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

http://id.medscape.com/46620.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

NORMAL ORAL EPITHELIUM SUPPORTS PERSISTENT EBV INFECTION IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

The normal oral epithelium of HIV-infected patients can support persistent Epstein-Barr virus infection.

http://id.medscape.com/46783.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- FUNGAL INFECTIONS --

EARLY, RAPID INCREASE IN RISK FACTORS PREDICTS CANDIDA INFECTION IN SICU PATIENTS

The risk of colonization or infection by Candida can and should be assessed beginning on the first day a patient is admitted to a surgical intensive care unit, according to authors of a prospective, multicenter study.

http://id.medscape.com/46641.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

-- OTHER ID NEWS --

PATHOGEN EXPOSURE LEVEL TIED TO EXTENT OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS, ADVERSE OUTCOME RISK

Adding to a growing body of evidence of the key role played by infections in the development of atherosclerosis, results of a new study suggest that the degree of infectious burden correlates with the severity of atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular mortality risk.

http://id.medscape.com/46767.rhtml?srcmp=id-010402

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