Se Asian J Trop Med
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Jan 2009
Tuberculosis co-morbidity and perceptions about health care among HIV-infected plasma donors in rural China.
Limited community-based data exist about pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) comorbidity among HIV-infected individuals in China and no data exists about the TB burden in key high risk groups. We recruited 195 known HIV-infected plasma donors in one central China county and identified 9 (4.6%) active TB cases based on clinical assessment, including chest radiography. The low percentage of TB may be explained by improved immunity due to antiretroviral therapy.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Sep 2008
Salivary secretory IgA, pH, flow rates, mutans streptococci and Candida in children with rampant caries.
The aim of this study was to determine the levels of secretory IgA (SIgA), pH, flow rates, mutans streptococci (MS) and Candida in saliva of children with rampant caries compared to those caries-free. Thirty children (age 62-123 months) were enrolled and divided into two groups: Group I, children with rampant caries, Group II, caries-free children. The average salivary flow rate was measured from the volume yielded within 5 minutes and the pH was determined using a pH-electrode. ⋯ However, the mean values for salivary flow rates and pH were similar between the groups. The results reveal that children with rampant caries had significantly higher levels of SIgA, MS and Candida in their oral cavities. This finding tends to support the hypothesis that higher levels of salivary SIgA may reflect a past exposure of the host to cariogenic microorganisms.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Jul 2008
Bed rails and endotracheal tube connectors as possible sources for spreading Acinetobacter baumannii in ventilator-associated pneumonia patients.
This study aimed to determine molecular patterns of Acinetobacter baumannii using a PCR-based technique with REP-1, REP-2 and M13 primers to distinguish the patients' strains and the environmental strains (condensate, endotracheal tube connector, bed rail and nurses hands). There were 67 cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among 600 patients using mechanical ventilators in 10 wards from March to July 2006. The incidence of VAP was 11.2% or 8.9/1,000 ventilator days with a 54.5% fatality rate. ⋯ Identical fingerprints were found in clinical isolates and their bed rails, endotracheal tube connectors and condensates of 5 patients. The results demonstrate that multiple clones of MDR A. baumannii were widely spread in the hospital. Bed rails and contaminated endotracheal tube connectors could be potential sources of A. baumannii spread.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Jul 2008
Hematological changes in tuberculous spondylitis patients at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.
In this study, we compared the platelet count with erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) in patients with tuberculous spondylitis to evaluate the correlation. This was a retrospective 3-year study covering January 2004 to December 2006 at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Platelet counts, hemoglobin levels, ESR, peripheral blood counts and peripheral blood smears on 17 patients with tuberculous spondylitis were obtained. ⋯ Thrombocytosis also correlated with the hemoglobin level. We suggest that evaluating hematological values in suspected cases of tuberculosis should be considered. The presence of hematological changes should raise the suspicion of tuberculosis in spondylitis patients.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · May 2008
Case ReportsHuman Chromobacterium violaceum infection in Southeast Asia: case reports and literature review.
Chromobacterium violaceum infection in humans is a rare tropical and subtropical disease. The awareness of this organism is limited in spite its ubiquitous distribution. Several cases have been reported from Southeast Asia. ⋯ Optimal antimicrobial treatment and duration are unknown. Consequently, the outcome is usually fatal. The study reported two patients who suffered from fulminant Chromobacterium violaceum sepsis with disseminated infection, and reviews the literature for cases reported from Southeast Asia.