Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0085437 (bacterial meningitis)
 4,038 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A combination of forced sedimentation and air-drying has been used to prepare cerebrospinal fluid cells for scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of surface morphology, the similarity of CSF cells to blood cells is emphasized. Various types of cells were demonstrated in bacterial meningitis, multiple sclerosis and CNS leukemia.
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PMID:A simple method for demonstrating cells in the cerebrospinal fluid by scanning electron microscopy. 32 18

For the past several years immunologists have been fascinated by a series of experiments showing that transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) suppresses T- and B-lymphocyte growth as well as IgM and IgG production by B cells. Moreover, while exerting chemotactic activity on monocytes and inducing expression of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 by these cells, TGF beta interferes with bacterially induced tumor necrosis factor alpha production, oxygen radical formation and the adhesiveness of granulocytes to endothelial cells. These mechanisms may provide the basis for the effect of TGF beta to prevent the microvascular changes associated with brain edema formation in bacterial meningitis. Given the potential of lymphocytes as well as macrophages to produce TGF beta 1, this cytokine may exert negative feedback signals on the immune response, provided the cytokine is processed from its latent form to the bioactive homodimer. Potent effects of TGF beta have been observed in experimental animals including the inhibition of the generation of virus-specific cytotoxic T cells and antiviral antibodies as well as the diminution of cellular infiltrates with decreased major histocompatibility complex class-II expression and CD8+ T cells in the tissue of virally infected animals. TGF beta may also be of importance in tumor immunology. By the production of bioactive TGF beta as detected in glioblastoma and acute T-cell leukemia, tumor cells may induce an immunodeficiency state and escape immune surveillance. In inflammation, monitoring of TGF beta in the tissue will bring light on the immune regulation in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
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PMID:Modulation of the immune response by transforming growth factor beta. 148 57

Many kinds of microorganisms can produce toxic septicemia in immunocompromised hosts. We are reporting alpha-hemolytic streptococcal septicemia and meningitis in two children with hematological malignancies. [Case 1] 6 year old girl who had been suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia. She had sepsis and bacterial meningitis in maintenance-therapy for leukemia. Streptococcus sanguis was isolated from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). [Case 2] 11 year old girl who had had malignant lymphoma (non-Hodgkin type). She also had sepsis and bacterial meningitis due to Streptococcus mitis which was isolated from blood and CSF in maintenance-therapy. Both cases had been treated with anti-cancer drugs and had severe granulocytopenia. Positive rate of blood cultures during the recent 6 years (1984.1-1989.12) at our department was 6.0% (total number of cultures were 2,019, positive cultures were 121). Strains of 131 bacteria were determined; Gram-positive cocci were 70 strains (53.4%) and Gram-negative rods were 52 strains (39.7%). Fifteen strains (11.5%) of alpha-hemolytic Streptococci were isolated during 6 years. One hundred thirteen cases of septicemia were analysed in medical charts and 12 cases of alpha-hemolytic streptococcal septicemia were observed (5 cases with infective endocarditis and 7 cases in immunocompromised states).
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PMID:[Alpha-hemolytic streptococcal septicemia and meningitis in immunocompromised children]. 191 21

The examination of cerebrospinal fluid has provided useful information for diagnosis of CNS infections. The progress of analytical technology has brought the possibility to detect very small amounts of chemical substances. I thought that new information from brain should be obtained by using modern analytical technology for several substances in CSF. Free amino acid pattern, glutamine, homocarnosine, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), neuron specific enolase (NSE) and 2',5'-oligoadenylic acid synthetase (2-5 A) in CSF have been examined for information of brain injury and dysfunctions. The results are as follows. 1) The individual difference and constancy of free amino acid pattern in CSF were found in children without any neurological diseases. 2) The levels of free amino acids in CSF increased in the acute phase of bacterial meningitis. 3) High levels of glutamine in CSF of children with acute bacterial meningitis were normalized during the recovery phase. 4) A marked imbalance of free amino acids in CSF was found in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. 5) A decrease of homocarnosine levels in CSF was related with the degree of unconsciousness in children suffering from neurological diseases. 6) High GAD activities in CSF were observed in the acute phase of aseptic meningitis and after intrathecal injection of methotrexate for the therapy against meningeal leukemia. 7) High NSE activities in CSF were found in the acute phase of bacterial meningitis, intracranial hemorrhage, encephalopathy and encephalitis. 8) High 2-5A activities CSF were measured in the acute phase of mumps meningitis with subsequent decreases during the recovery phase. These results suggest that several substances in CSF are useful as markers of brain injury and dysfunction.
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PMID:[Cerebrospinal fluid as informative source of the brain]. 201 95

A review of two third-generation cephalosporins, ceftazidime and cefotaxime, is presented. Ceftazidime, often used as a single agent, has shown greater activity than cefotaxime against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Pseudomonas species, Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter sp, and Enterobacter sp. It has been effective as monotherapy in the treatment of peritonitis, gynecologic infections, chronic bronchitis, and infections in patients with leukemia and granulocytopenia, as has cefotaxime when in combination with an aminoglycoside. Cefotaxime has shown good activity against most aerobic gram-negative bacilli and against Staphylococcus. It has been used in respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and septicemia. In contrast to first-generation and most second-generation cephalosporins, third-generation cephalosporins have proven useful in some types of meningitis. Ceftazidime and cefotaxime successfully penetrate into the cerebrospinal fluid and cures of bacterial meningitis have been reported with both drugs. Both ceftazidime and cefotaxime have been successfully used in children, infants, and neonates, as well as adults. Safety profiles of ceftazidime compare favorably with those of other third-generation cephalosporins.
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PMID:Ceftazidime and cefotaxime--the clinician's choice. 266 Sep 95

Central nervous system (CNS) infections in immunocompromised hosts are often accompanied by subtle disorders because immunosuppression usually decreases the inflammatory response. CNS infections in immunocompromised patients are usually caused by organisms different from those found in the general population. The organism causing CNS infection in an immunocompromised host can often be predicted if the type of immune abnormality of the patient is known. The common causes of CNS infection in immunocompromised hosts are reviewed here. Meningitis in patients with neutropenia is usually due to enteric Gram negative bacilli that live in the patient's own digestive tract. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is most common and is followed by E. Coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Proteus. A major risk in patients with abnormal immunoglobulins or splenectomy is infection with encapsulated bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis. Meningitis caused by any of the encapsulated bacteria can be fulminant. Listeria monocytogenes is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in patients with impaired cellular immunity. Nocardia asteroides is a leading cause of brain abscess in patients with hematologic malignancy. Most patients have evidence of concomitant pulmonary lesions. Fungi are among the most common organisms involving the CNS in immunocompromised hosts. Susceptible patients include those with lymphoma or leukemia and those who receive therapies aimed at suppressing delayed hypersensitivity. Cryptococcus neoformans is a common fungal cause of CNS infection in immunocompromised hosts. The primary site of infection is the lung. Spread to the CNS is via the blood stream. The clinical course is highly variable: meningitis, meningoencephalitis and focal mass lesions. Candida causes meningitis or meningoencephalitis characterized by multiple small abscesses in neutropenic hosts. Organisms reach the CNS via the blood stream usually from the digestive tract or infected intravenous catheters. Aspergillus causes brain abscess, cerebral infarction and focal meningitis in patients with neutropenia. The primary infection is in the lung. The parasites that infest the CNS of immunocompromised patients are usually those that exploit a T-lymphocyte, mononuclear phagocyte host defect. The most common are Toxoplasma gondii and Strongyloides stercoralis. There have been a few cases of amebiasis with dissemination to the brain in patients with hematologic malignancies. Toxoplasma gondii causes major CNS disease in immunocompromised hosts: meningoencephalitis or mass lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:[Infections of the central nervous system in malignant hemopathies]. 372 88

A relapse of acute myeloid leukaemia occurred in a 45-year-old woman 18 months after the disease was initially diagnosed and treated. During remission reinduction therapy, she developed a Gram-negative septicaemia, acute respiratory failure, acute renal failure, diabetic hyperglycaemia with ketoacidosis, and probable bacterial meningitis. She required assisted respiration for two days, received peritoneal dialysis for five days, and was unconscious for seven days. The patient eventually recovered, achieved full remission of her leukaemia, and survived a further 2 1/2 years, mostly in excellent health. Oncologists are often criticized for unjustifiable optimism and excessive zeal in the treatment of patients with malignant disease. This case illustrates that such optimism and zeal may be justified, and that intensive efforts to save the lives of seriously ill patients with chemosensitive malignant diseases are worthwhile.
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PMID:How zealously should a patient with relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia be treated? Good survival after five simultaneous, potentially lethal, complications. 658 66

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was determined in 53 patients with neurological diseases as follows: Epilepsy (n:17), febrile convulsions (n:3), meningoencephalitis (n:17), encephalopathies (n:10), CNS leukemia (n:3), congenital hydrocephalus (n:2) and pseudoileus neonatorum (n:1). Compared with the mean normal value (5.2 +/- 2.5 pmol CO2 formed/hr/ml) reported in Part I, a significant increase of GAD activity in CSF was demonstrated in patients with uncontrolled epileptic seizures (11.4 +/- 3.9 pmol CO2 formed/hr/ml), febrile convulsions (13.5 +/- 8.7), viral meningitis with or without encephalitis (20.3 +/- 13.6), encephalopathies (30.0 +/- 25.9), CNS leukemia (11.1 +/- 5.0), congenital hydrocephalus (20.5 +/- 7.3) and pseudoileus neonatorum (28.6). Markedly high GAD activity was found in patients with CNS leukemia several days after intrathecal injection of methotrexate (39.8 +/- 18.0). On the other hand, significantly low GAD activity was shown in patients with bacterial meningitis or brain abscess (1.3 +/- 1.2). This suggests that some bacterial factors may be inhibitory toward GAD activity in CSF. High GAD activity in CSF may be useful as an indicator of aseptic brain dysfunction, although it was not always correlated with the severity of symptoms.
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PMID:Glutamic acid decarboxylase in cerebrospinal fluid in infancy and childhood Part II. Glutamic acid decarboxylase activity in cerebrospinal fluid of children with neurological diseases. 666 Apr 21

The ratio of glutamine to homocarnosine (G/H ratio) in CSF of children with meningeal pathology or convulsions was measured and the following results were obtained. 1. The mean G/H ratio of normal subjects was 83.0 +/- 41.4. 2. The mean G/H ratios of the patients with bacterial meningitis and meningeal leukemia were 115.9 +/- 81.9 and 115.2 +/- 49.2, respectively. Significant differences were found between those in normal subjects and these diseases. 3. The mean G/H ratio of the patients with viral meningitis was 80.0 +/- 35.1 and no significant difference was found between normal subjects and these patients. 4. The mean G/H ratios in the patients with controlled versus uncontrolled epilepsy were 130.9 +/- 67.1 and 74.8 +/- 49.4, respectively. A significant difference was found between normal subjects and the patients with controlled epilepsy. 5. The mean G/H ratio in the patients with febrile convulsions was 46.5 +/- 6.3. A significant difference was found between normal subjects and these patients. These data suggest that a high G/H ratio in CSF may indicate the excited state of the brain.
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PMID:Brain function estimated from the ratio of glutamine to homocarnosine levels in cerebrospinal fluid. 666 Apr 25

CSF-proteins of 1770 children and adolescents with different neurological diseases and of 75 controls were examined by zone electrophoresis in agarose gel electrophoresis and by immunofixation electrophoresis. The quantitative evaluation of the phoretograms by an analog computer revealed oligoclonal changes of the gamma-globulin profile in 53 patients with subacute or chronic CNS-infections and in 5 children with a medulloblastoma. Seventeen of 37 children with congenital infections had 1--5 oligoclonal gamma-fractions consisting of IgG. Five to seven oligoclonal IgG fractions were detected in each of 16 children with SSPE. All 6 adolescents with multiple sclerosis had 2--5 oligoclonal IgG fractions. One to five oligoclonal gamma-bands occurred transiently in the CSF of 4 children with prolonged meningoencephalitis caused by different viruses, in 3 children with a prolonged non-bacterial meningitis of probable viral origin, in 2 infants with prolonged bacterial meningitis after corticosteroid therapy, and in 1 child with prolonged bacterial meningitis during cytostatic therapy. Four to six oligoclonal gamma-subfractions were found at different times during progressive viral encephalitis that developed during maintenance therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and in 2 patients with chronic meningoencephalitis of unknown origin. Since oligoclonal gamma-globulin was detected almost invariably in the CSF of patients with prolonged or chronic neurologic infections, this finding implies persistence of antigens in the CNS and pathologic invasion of lymphocytes with selective proliferation of antigen-stimulated clones.
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PMID:Occurrence of oligoclonal gammaglobulin in the CSF of children with prolonged and chronic CNS-infections. 721 82


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