Objective New serum markers (1 3) β-D-glucan (β-D-glucan) and
Results The detection rates of serum β-D-glucan and KL-6 levels in non-HIV PCP were lower than those in HIV PCP (88% vs. 100%, 66% vs. 88%, respectively). The false positive rates of these markers in both groups were similar (12%, 37%, respectively). Oxygenation index, serum albumin, and mechanical ventila-
Legionella pneumophila is the etiologic agent of Legionnaires' disease. This bacterium contains a single monopolar flagellum, of which the FlaA subunit is a major protein constituent The murine macrophage resistance against this bacterium is controlled by the Birc1e/Naip5 gene, which belongs to the NOD family. We evaluated the intracellular growth of the flaA mutant bacteria as well as another aflagellated fliA mutant, within bone marrow‐derived macrophages from mice with an intact (C57BL/6, BALB/c) or mutated (A/J) Birc1e/Naip5 gene. The flaA mutant L. pneumophila multiplied within C57BL/6 and BALB/c macrophages while the wild‐type strain did not Cell viability was not impaired until 3 days after infection when the flaA mutant bacteria replicated 102‐3‐fold in macrophages, implying that L. pneumophila inhibited host cell death during the early phase of intracellular replication. The addition of recombinant interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) to the infected macrophages restricted replication of the flaA mutant within macrophages; these treated cells also showed enhanced nitric oxide production, although inhibition of nitric oxide production did not affect the IFN‐γ induced inhibition of Legionella replication. These findings suggested that IFN‐γ activated macrophages to restrict the intracellular growth of the L. pneumophila flaA mutant by a NO independent pathway.
BackgroundHepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is known to be involved in the resolution of pulmonary inflammation and repair of acute lung injury. Legionella pneumonia is sometimes complicated by acute lung injury. Our study aimed to determine the role of serum HGF levels in Legionella pneumonia.MethodsSera from patients with Legionella pneumonia (42 cases), other bacterial pneumonia (33 cases), pulmonary tuberculosis (19 cases), and normal controls (29 cases) were collected. The serum HGF levels for each serum sample were determined by sandwich ELISA. Clinical and laboratory data were collected by reviewing the medical charts.ResultsSerum HGF levels were higher in patients with Legionella pneumonia than in those with other bacterial pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, and controls. The HGF levels were compared with white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein, Alanine amino- transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The HGF levels were correlated to serum LDH levels. Moreover, serum HGF levels were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors.ConclusionsHGF levels increased in severer pneumonia caused by Legionella, suggesting that HGF might play a significant role in the Legionella pneumonia.
The incidence of influenza in the Naha city area in the southernmost part of Japan was surveyed in 2007 and 2008. Patients who had influenza-like symptoms and visited one of four general hospitals in Naha City, Okinawa, Japan were included in this study. The nasal or throat swab samples were applied to the rapid test for detecting influenza A and B virus antigens. The positive rate of influenza A and/or B virus antigen was 26.2% (8,480/32,380). Most cases (82.9%) were influenza A. In 2007, influenza A cases were detected during the entire year, and an epidemic peak was also noted in July, while no outbreak occurred in the summer of 2008. The surveillance of the rapid influenza virus antigen test seemed to provide reliable epidemiological data. This finding warrants further study in this region, including study of the influences of climate and socio-behavior patterns of the residents in the region on influenza epidemics.
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