Some measures of systemic host defences, i.e. white cell counts, lymphocyte subsets, delayed-type hypersensitivity and polymorphonuclear leucocyte functions, were evaluated in 42 patients suffering from cutaneous superficial mycoses and in 35 healthy volunteers. Patients were divided according to the extent of their lesions into two groups: group A (30 patients) with skin involvement > or = 30% and group B (12 patients) with skin involvement < or = 1%. No significant abnormalities in systemic defence mechanisms were observed in group B patients, whereas multiple alterations of polymorphonuclear phagocyte activities, i.e. chemotaxis, phagocytosis, mitogen-induced superoxide anion production, were observed in patients with extensive lesions. The values of these phagocytic functions remained significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in these patients after recovery and during a 6-month follow-up period.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro activity of two new oral cephalosporins, cefixime and cefdinir (CI 983), on human peripheral mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions.

The in vitro effects of cefixime and cefdinir (CI 983), two so-called third-generation oral cephalosporin derivatives, on human polymorphonuclear and mononuclear phagocyte functions (random migration and chemotaxis, specific and nonspecific phagocytosis, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, superoxide production, microbicidal activity) were studied. Neither antibiotic, in the range of its attainable therapeutic concentration, exhibited any toxic effect on random migration, chemotaxis, metabolic activation and microbicidal mechanisms of phagocytic cells. Cefixime did not interfere in phagocytosis while cefdinir enhanced both phagocytosis frequency and index. The modulating effect on phagocytosis exerted by cefdinir was achieved at very low antibiotic concentrations (0.06 mg/l for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and 0.03 mg/l for monocytes) when non-opsonized zymosan particles were used as phagocytic challenge. Moreover, the effect was demonstrated both in the presence of cefdinir and after pretreatment of cells with the antibiotic and its removal by washings. As for specific phagocytosis, parameters were slightly increased by cefdinir but only the phagocytosis index was significantly improved in the presence of 2 mg/l of antibiotic.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gynaecomastia and azoospermia as sole presenting symptoms of feminizing adrenal tumor.

Adrenal feminizing tumours are rare but frequently malignant. A case of adrenal feminizing tumour in a 35-year-old man, which presented with gynaecomastia and infertility due to azoospermia, without loss of libido and sexual potency is reported in this paper. Our patient represents a relatively unusual case. The long free interval from the excision allows us to consider the patient cured as despite the pathological malignant features of the neoplasm.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMedDate not supplied