Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Emmerling.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
In this prospective, randomized study fluconazole and amphotericin B/5-flucytosine were compared in the treatment of systemic candidiasis. Seventy-two non-neutropenic intensive care patients with systemic Candida infections were enrolled. Thirty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive fluconazole (400 mg on the first day then 200 mg) and 36 were randomized to amphotericin B/5-flucytosine (1.0-1.5 mg/kg body weight every other day and 3 x 2.5 g flucytosine/day) for 14 days following the diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference in clinical outcome in regard to the treatment of pneumonia and sepsis: 18/28 of the patients were treated successfully with fluconazole and 17/27 with amphotericin B/5-flucytosine. For the treatment of peritonitis, however, amphotericin B/5-flucytosine was more effective than fluconazole (55% vs. 25%). Furthermore, amphotericin B/5-flucytosine was found to be superior to fluconazole with regard to pathogen eradication (86% vs. 50%). Fluconazole was associated with less toxicity than amphotericin B/5-flucytosine.
A small-colony variant (SCV) of Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from a patient with a persistent wound infection (abscess and fistula) 13 months after herniotomy. The strain was nonhemolytic, nonpigmented and grew only anaerobically on Schaedler agar. As it was coagulase-negative, it was initially misidentified as a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. In further analysis, however, the microorganism was shown to be an auxotroph that reverted to normal growth and morphology in the presence of menadione and hemin (Schaedler agar) and could be identified as a SCV of Staphylococcus aureus. Surgery and antibiotic treatment of the patient with flucloxacillin and rifampicin for 4 weeks resulted in healing of the chronic wound infection.
Elimination of macrophages with high-molecular dextran sulphate (DS) markedly impairs resistance of mice to primary infection with smooth, virulent strains of Salmonella typhimurium, whereas stimulation of this system by killed Bordetella pertussis organisms increases resistance. In infection with rough, avirulent strains of S. typhimurium the elimination of macrophages was not followed by an essential loss of resistance, and it appears that other non-specific defence mechanisms, for example the complement system, may have compensated for the lack of macrophages. Macrophages, therefore, play an important role in defence during primary infection with virulent strains. In immunity to challenge infection with S. typhimurium, macrophages play an even more significant role. Treatment with DS completely removes immunity, and both humoral and cell-mediated immune mechanisms seem to require the participation of macrophages.
Nude mice, congenitally lacking most thymus-derived lymphocytes, are neither more susceptible nor more resistant against primary infection with virulent T. gondii cells than normal control mice. Both mouse groups died at the same time after intraperitoneal infection. Treatment with sulfadiazine protected both mouse groups against acute fatal disease. After termination of treatment with sulfadiazine the Nude mice gradually died, whereas the normal hairy mice survived. The latter had developed high amounts of antibodies and protective immunity to an otherwise lethal challenge infection. In the serum of Nude mice no antibodies could be detected. Pathologic alterations existed in the livers of Nude mice at the time of death.
Vitamin A given as retinol-acetate, retinol-palmitate as well as the derivates retinoic acid and a retinoid, strongly fortified the resistance of mice to infection with virulent cells of Listeria monocytogenes. However, strong enhancement of resistance was only achieved when high toxic doses of vitamin A were given. Apparently, this effect was due to a stimulation of the function of the mononuclear phagocytic system rather than of the T lymphocyte.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.