No abstract

Impregnation or coating of cotton and polyester fibers with cationic copper endows them with potent broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antimite properties (Borkow, G. and Gabbay, J. (2004). Putting Copper into Action: Copper-impregnated Products with Potent Biocidal Activities, FASEB Jounal, 18(14): 1728-1730). This durable platform technology enables the mass production of woven and non-woven fabrics, such as sheets, pillow covers, gowns, socks, air filters, mattress covers, carpets, etc. without the need of altering any industrial procedures or machinery, but only the introduction of copper oxide-treated fibers. The biocidal properties of fabrics containing 3-10% copper-impregnated fibers are permanent, are not affected by extreme washing conditions, and do not interfere with the manipulation of the final products (e.g., color, press, etc.). In this article, the authors describe data showing that (i) antifungal socks containing 10% w/w (weight/weight) copper-impregnated fibers alleviate athlete’s foot; (ii) antimicrobial fabrics (sheets) containing 10% (w/w) copper-impregnated fibers decrease bacterial colonization in a clinical setting; and (iii) these products do not have skin-sensitizing properties or any other adverse effects. Taken together, these results demonstrate the wide preventive and curative potential of copper oxide-impregnated apparel products.

West Nile (WN) virus is endemic in Israel. The last reported outbreak had occurred in 1981. From August to October 2000, a large-scale epidemic of WN fever occurred in Israel; 417 cases were confirmed, with 326 hospitalizations. The main clinical presentations were encephalitis (57.9%), febrile disease (24.4%), and meningitis (15.9%). Within the study group, 33 (14.1%) hospitalized patients died. Mortality was higher among patients >70 years (29.3%). On multivariate regressional analysis, independent predictors of death were age >70 years (odds ratio [OR] 7.7), change in level of consciousness (OR 9.0), and anemia (OR 2.7). In contrast to prior reports, WN fever appears to be a severe illness with high rate of central nervous system involvement and a particularly grim outcome in the elderly.

417 cases of West Nile (WN) fever were serologically confirmed throughout Israel; 326 (78%) were hospitalized patients. Cases were distributed throughout the country; the highest incidence was in central Israel, the most populated part. Men and women were equally affected, and their mean age was 54±23.8 years (range 6 months to 95 years). Incidence per 1,000 population increased from 0.01 in the 1st decade of life to 0.87 in the 9th decade. There were 35 deaths (case-fatality rate 8.4%), all in patients >50 years of age. Age-specific case-fatality rate increased with age. Central nervous system involvement occurred in 170 (73%) of 233 hospitalized patients. The countrywide spread, number of hospitalizations, severity of the disease, and high death rate contrast with previously reported outbreaks in Israel.

No abstract

CIU in the elderly population is nearly equally distributed in both sexes and is characterized by fewer wheals, lower rates of concomitant symptomatic dermographism, lower rates of angioedema, and lower ASST positivity.

Chronic idiopathic (spontaneous) urticaria (CIU) is sometimes resistant to the conventional and high doses of antihistamines (AHs). This study compares the clinical and laboratory characteristics of AH responsive and AH-resistant CIU subjects. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from 385 CIU patients. Urticaria activity score (UAS), concomitant angioedema, dermatographism, positive autologous serum skin (ASST), and laboratory data were collected. The control group consisted of 44 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals. Two hundred forty-five CIU patients controlled with AH medications were included in the CIU group. Forty-six patients failed to show clinical improvement during 8 weeks of treatment with fourfold AH doses and were included in the resistant CIU (R-CIU) group. The R-CIU group was characterized with a higher incidence (58.7%) of angioedema than the CIU group (28.5%; p < 0.001), more cases concomitant physical urticaria (23.9% in R-CIU versus 12.2% in CIU; p = 0.014), more positive ASST (73.9% in R-CIU versus 45.4% in CIU; p < 0.001), and higher baseline UAS (5.28 ± 0.81 in R-CIU versus 3.32 ± 1.25 in CIU; <0.001). R-CIU was characterized with more severe basopenia (0.04 ± 0.07 cell/mm(3) versus 0.16 ± 0.13 cell/mm(3); p < 0.001), higher mean platelet volume (10.87 ± 2.21 femtoliter (fl) versus 8.65 ± 1.74 fl; p < 0.001), higher levels of C-reactive protein (8.62 ± 3.91 mg/L versus 2.49 ± 1.34 mg/L; <0.001), and higher levels of serum C3 (1.66 ± 0.36 g/L versus 1.19 ± 0.35 g/L; p < 0.001. R-CIU is a clinically more severe disease with laboratory features of low-grade inflammation and platelet activation.

The main objective of this study was to assess whether aspirin 100 mg QD can improve blood pressure (BP) control and endothelial function in subjects with arterial hypertension (AH) and hypercholesterolaemia. In total, 21 patients of both sexes (52.1711.5 years) with treated AH and hypercholesterolaemia on antihypertensive and statin therapy were included in the treatment group. In the control group, 20 matched patients of both sexes (51.3712.7 years), but without statin therapy, were recruited. Treatment group subjects received aspirin (100 mg QD) for a duration of 12 weeks at randomization (Treatment phase-1), followed by single blind matching placebo for 12 weeks (Placebo phase) and then again received aspirin (100 mg QD) for an additional 12 weeks (Treatment phase-2). The control group participated in Treatment phase-1, but did not continue Placebo phase and Treatment phase-2. At randomization and at the end of each study phase, mean 24-h systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were assessed by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and endotheliumdependent (flow mediated, FMD) and -independent (nitroglycerin induced, NTG) vasodilatations of brachial artery were measured using high-resolution ultrasound. In Treatment phase-1, reduction of SBP and DBP (DSBP 5.772.6 mmHg, P ¼ 0.008; DDBP 3.871.7 mmHg, P ¼ 0.014) and improvement of FMD (4.170.6%, P ¼ 0.019), in Placebo phase an elevation of SBP and DBP (DSBP À6.272.9 mmHg, P ¼ 0.002; DDBP À4.271.9 mmHg, P ¼ 0.031) and worsening of FMD (À3.870.9%, P ¼ 0.027), and in Treatment phase-2 reduction of SBP and DBP (DSBP 4.972.3 mmHg, P ¼ 0.005; DDBP 4.171.3 mmHg, P ¼ 0.024) and improvement of FMD (4.571.3%, P ¼ 0.009) were observed in the treatment Group but not in the control group. Addition of low-dose aspirin to antihypertensive medications and statins in hypertensive and hypercholesterolaemic subjects can reduce both SBP and DBP by improvement of endothelial function.