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Drug Active (drug + active)
Selected AbstractsOccult hepatitis B infection in patients infected with HIV: Report of two cases of hepatitis B reactivation and prevalence in a hospital cohortJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2010B. Bloquel Abstract Patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are particularly at risk of hepatitis B reactivation. Two cases of patients infected with HIV with isolated anti-HBc antibodies who had experienced an HBV reactivation are described. In the two cases HBV reactivation occurred after withdrawal of anti-retroviral treatment with anti-HBV activity from the patients' highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), in accordance with HIV genotypic resistance profiles. Consequently, plasma samples from 383 patients infected with HIV were tested to assess the prevalence of occult HBV infection in the Infectious Diseases Department Unit of Nancy Hospital by investigating serological patterns and HBV replication. Forty-five percent (172/383) of patients had had previous contact with HBV. Isolated anti-HBc antibodies were observed in 48 patients (48/383, 12%) and, among these, 2 were HBV-DNA positive. Since 75% (288/383) of the patients were treated with HAART, including at least one drug active against HBV, occult HBV infection was perhaps unrecognized. In cases of HIV infection, all patients should be screened for HBV infection and the knowledge of HBV status as well as the monitoring of HBV viral load are essential in preventing HBV reactivation. Consideration should be given to the continuation of drugs with anti-HBV activity in co-infected patients receiving HAART, as cessation of therapy is associated with a risk of HBV reactivation. At least, close monitoring of the HBV viral load is warranted in such situations. J. Med. Virol. 82:206,212, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Comparative activity of linezolid against staphylococci and enterococci isolated in ItalyCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 6 2002S. Stefani The activity of linezolid, a new oxazolidinone, was tested against 862 Gram-positive cocci isolated in Italy and compared with the activities of 12 antibiotics. Overall, MIC90s for linezolid (2,4 mg/L) indicated an in vitro activity comparable to that of vancomycin in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (4 mg/L), S. epidermidis (2 mg/L) and methicillin-susceptible strains. Enterococcus faecalis strains were susceptible to linezolid (MIC90 2,4 mg/L), glycopeptides and , -lactams. In E. faecium, only glycopeptides (MIC90 2 mg/L) and linezolid (MIC90 2 mg/L) were active. Linezolid was the only drug active against two strains of Enterococcus showing a VanA phenotype. Owing to its antibacterial profile, linezolid represents a promising drug for the treatment of Gram-positive infections. [source] 2223: Carbon monoxide as a mediator in the retinaACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010C BUCOLO Purpose Carbonic monoxide (CO) is organic gas ubiquitously synthesized in mammalian tissues by enzyme that has constitutive and inducible forms. This gas is produced as metabolic end-product in specific cell life phases, and may acts as atypical neuronal messenger. Evidence has recently accumulated suggesting that CO may be cytoprotective because its bioactions, including inhibition of apoptosis, platelet aggregation, complement activation, and inflammatory cytokine production. CO appears to be important to counteract the cytotoxicity caused by excessive production of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species. Methods In vitro and in vivo models. Results Induction of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 by hemin has been found to prevent retinal cell death after ischemia provoked by ocular hypertension in rats. The LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in rat eye, is also inhibited by CO. Interestingly, drugs active as inhibitors of iNOS block CO-induced increases in cGMP in the retina.Drugs inhibiting NO formation by acting on iNOS activity have been found to potently reduce intraocular pressure. Studies from our lab showed that an increase of CO availability by hemin or carbon monoxide-releasing molecules lower the intraocular pressure, suggesting a suppress action of iNOS-derived NO production. Conclusion A better understanding of CO regulation may lead to new therapeutic options that are safer and more efficacious than currently available treatments for various sight-threatening eye diseases, such as retinal degenerations. [source] Main Structural and Stereochemical Aspects of the Antiherpetic Activity of Nonahydroxyterphenoyl-Containing C -Glycosidic EllagitanninsCHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, Issue 2 2004Stéphane Quideau Antiherpetic evaluation of five nonahydroxyterphenoyl-containing C -glycosidic ellagitannins, castalagin (1), vescalagin (2), grandinin (3), roburin B (5), and roburin D (7), was performed in cultured cells against four HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains, two of which were resistant to Acyclovir. All five ellagitannins displayed significant anti-HSV activities against the Acyclovir -resistant mutants, but the monomeric structures 1,3 were more active than the dimers 5 and 7. Vescalagin (2) stands out among the five congeners tested as the most potent and selective inhibitor, with an IC50 value in the subfemtomolar range and a selectivity index 5×105 times higher than that of Acyclovir. Molecular modeling was used to provide a rationale for the surprisingly lower activity profile of its epimer castalagin (1). These ellagitannins have promising potential as novel inhibitors in the search for non-nucleoside drugs active against Acyclovir -resistant herpes viruses. [source] | ||||||||||