Eight episodes of rifabutin-associated anterior uveitis in AIDS patients are reported. Uveitis developed after two weeks to nine months of medication, commonly when rifabutin was administered along with clarithromycin and/or fluconazole. Recovery was closely correlated to suspending rifabutin early, while less dependent on total rifabutin dose or epidemiological patient characteristics. In two cases, discontinuation of rifabutin alone relieved ocular inflammation. Repeated exposure to rifabutin was successful with a reduced dosage in three patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diurnal variations in blood gases and metabolites for draught Zebu and Simmental oxen.

In previous articles it has been shown that blood parameters may be useful to assess physical fitness in draught cattle. The aim of the present study was to detect possible variations in baseline values for the key metabolites: lactate and free fatty acids (FFA), and for blood gases in samples drawn from a catheterized jugular vein. Sampling took place immediately after venipuncture at intervals of 3 min for 1 hr in Simmental oxen (N = 6) and during a period of 24 hr at intervals of 60 min for Zebu (N = 4) and Simmental (N = 6) oxen. After puncture of the vein, plasma FFA and oxygen (pvO2) were elevated for approximately 15 min. All parameters returned to baseline values within 1 hr of the catheter being inserted. Twenty-four-hour mean baseline values for all measured parameters were significantly different (P < or = 0.001) between Zebu and Simmental. All parameters elicited diurnal variations which were mainly related to feed intake. The magnitude of these variations is comparable to the responses to light draught work. It is concluded that a strict standardization of blood sampling, at least in respect of time after feeding, is required for a reliable interpretation of endurance-indicating blood parameters measured under field conditions.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Infection of monocytes/macrophages by HIV in vitro.

Because of the very important role of the mononuclear phagocyte system in the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection, a culture system for in vitro studies of infection of monocytes/macrophages with HIV was developed. A method is described for the infection of human monocytes/macrophages cultured on hydrophobic membranes (Teflon) with different strains of HIV. The HIV isolates can be characterized according to their replication potential on monocytes/macrophages cultures. The biological properties of some HIV1 and HIV2 isolates are compared in lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage cultures.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗