The detection of VZV DNA in the serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of all 25 zoster patients documents that viremia is a common manifestation of herpes zoster. Sorivudine cream appears to be a safe and well-tolerated adjuvant therapy; however, further phase 2 studies are needed to determine its clinical efficacy for the treatment of herpes zoster. Trials registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00652184.

There are countless bacterial pathogens that cause disease in humans. Many of these bacterial infections not only cause significant morbidity and mortality in the human population but also cause a significant economic impact on society. Vaccines allow for reduction and potential eradication of such diseases. This article will review the currently approved antibacterial vaccines, which are vaccines for pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, meningococcus, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenza, cholera, typhoid, and anthrax.

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Summary Five matched pairs of horses were used to investigate the effects of phenylbutazone on a range of physiological, biochemical and haematological variables. The drug was given by mouth daily for 15 consecutive days at the manufacturer's recommended dose rates to one group of horses (Group A); the second group (Group B) received equivalent doses of a placebo. For some of the measured parameters, significant changes were recorded in both groups, indicating background instability. Significant decreases in serum total protein, albumin, plasma pH, viscosity and magnesium, and an increase in albumin: globulin ratio occurred in Group A, but not in Group B. These changes were, therefore, attributed to phenylbutazone or its metabolites. Toxicologically, the change in pH is probably unimportant but the decrease in protein concentration may have resulted from a protein losing enteropathy and/or from decreased synthesis in the liver. In one animal which received phenylbutazone, clinical signs of toxicity (lethargy, inappetance, oedema) were observed and evidence of hepatotoxicity and haematological changes were also noted in this horse. It is concluded that recommended dose rates of phenylbutazone should never be exceeded and that the period for which the highest dose (4.4 mg/kg body weight twice daily for four days) is administered should be reduced. In clinical cases, where phenylbutazone toxicity is suspected, measurement of serum or plasma protein concentration might provide an indication of the need to reduce dose levels or stop therapy. Résumé Cinq paires de chevaux comparables ont été utilisés pour rechercher les effets de la phénylbutazone sur un ensemble de variables physiologiques, biochimiques, hématologiques. Le médicament fut administréà un groupe de chevaux (Groupe A), par voie orale, chaque jour durant 15 jours consécutifs; on respectait les posologies recommandées par le fabricant. Un second groupe (Groupe B) recut dans les mêmes conditions un placebo. Pour quelques paramètres, des changements significatif furent constatés dans les deux groupes ce qui indique une instabilité des conditions fixes de l'expérience. Au sein du Groupe A, une diminution significative s̀e produisit pour les protéines totales, pour l'albumine, pour le pH plasmatique, pour la viscosité et pour le magnésium plasmatiques et une augmentation dans le rapport globuline albumines. Les modifications ne se produisirent point au sein du Groupe B. Les changements furent en conséquence attribués à la phénylbutazone ou a ses métabolites. Sur le plan toxicologique, la variation du pH est probablement sans importance; l'abaissement de la concentration en protéines peut résulter d'une entéropathie spoliatrice ou (et) d'une synthèse hépatique diminuée. Chez un animal recevant de la phénylbutazone, des signes cliniques de toxicité (léthargie, oedème et inappétence) furent observés; des signes d'hépatotoxicité et des sanguines furent remarqués chez ce cheval. On en conclue que les posologies recommandées pour la phénylbutazone ne devraient jamais...

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