Can High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels Predict Functional Outcome Following Epidural Steroid Injection in Patients with Lumbar Disc Disease?

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Purpose: Inflammatory cytokines produced at the site of disc herniation are considered as pain generators in patients with lumbar disc disease. Whether a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) assay can be used in order to predict the quantum of inflammation surrounding nerve roots is a matter of investigation.

Pancreatic disease patients are at higher risk for infection compared to those with other co-morbidities.

Background: Surveillance of infection (CDI) in patients with underlying diseases is important because use of prophylactic antibiotics makes them prone to CDI. Epidemiology of CDI in this high-risk population is poorly understood. A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of CDI in patients with specific underlying co-morbidities.

Vitamin D deficiency in adult patients with ulcerative colitis: Prevalence and relationship with disease severity, extent, and duration.

Background: Vitamin D plays a key role in gut immunity and maintenance of the mucosal barrier. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) worsens ulcerative colitis (UC) and its supplementation ameliorates the disease in mouse models. The prevalence and predictors of VDD in UC are not known.

Quantification of major constituents of biofilms in occluded pancreatic stents.

Purpose: Biofilms comprise bacterial populations enclosed in a matrix that attaches to surfaces such as medical stents. We characterized the biofilm components in occluding pancreatic stents and investigated potential factors for the formation of the biofilms.

Methodology: The clinical details of 24 patients (M : F, 15 : 9) undergoing pancreatic stent retrieval were noted and the retrieved stents were processed for the quantification of biofilm proteins and polysaccharides and the molecular identification of bacteria.

Role of Positron Emission Tomography in Assessing Disease Activity in Ulcerative Colitis: Comparison with Biomarkers.

Background: Disease activity in ulcerative colitis (UC) is best assessed clinically by Mayo score. 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computerized tomography (FDG PET-CT) is a noninvasive imaging technique to assess extent, disease activity and response to treatment of UC, especially in high risk population or patients unwilling for endoscopy.

Aims: We conducted a prospective observational study with the aim of assessing and correlating UC disease activity by clinical criteria, endoscopy, histology, serum and fecal biomarkers, and FDG PET-CT.

Characterization of biofilms in biliary stents and potential factors involved in occlusion.

Aim: To quantify the components in biofilms and analyze the predisposing factors involved in occlusion of biliary stents.

Methods: In a prospective study conducted from April 2011 to March 2014 at a tertiary care hospital, all consecutive patients who required endoscopic biliary stent exchange/removal were included. Etiology of the biliary disease was diagnosed by imaging, cytology and on follow-up.

Toxigenic isolates from clinically significant diarrhoea in patients from a tertiary care centre.

Background & Objectives: Clostridium difficile is the primary cause of hospital-acquired colitis in patients receiving antibiotics. The pathogenicity of the organism is mainly due to the production of toxins. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of toxigenic C.

Toxinotyping and Sequencing of Isolates from Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northern India.

Background: is an important cause of infectious colitis among hospitalized patients across the globe. The pathogenic potential of in producing significant morbidity and mortality is mainly due to production of toxins A and B. The outbreaks of .

Prevalence and molecular types of Clostridium difficile isolates from faecal specimens of patients in a tertiary care centre.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) leads to considerable morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Faecal specimens from 1110 hospitalized patients suspected for CDI were cultured for isolation of C. difficile and characterization of virulence genes.

Fidaxomicin--the new drug for Clostridium difficile infection.

Clostridium difficile is one of the many aetiological agents of antibiotic associated diarrhoea and is implicated in 15-25 per cent of the cases. The organism is also involved in the exacearbation of inflammatory bowel disease and extracolonic manifestations. Due to increase in the incidence of C.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for management of Clostridium difficile infection.

The widespread use of antibiotics has led Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) to become a common problem with pronounced medical and economic effects. The recurrence of CDI after treatment with standard antibiotics is becoming more common with the emergence of more resistant strains of C. difficile.

C-reactive protein in patients with Guillain Barré syndrome.

Context: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant, widely used as a biomarker for various infectious and inflammatory conditions. Guillain-Barrι syndrome (GBS) is an acute, autoimmune, polyradiculoneuropathy, triggered by infectious agents such as Campylobacter jejuni. GBS is generally precipitated 1-3 weeks following C.

In vitro and in vivo activities of the novel Ketolide RBx 14255 against Clostridium difficile.

The MIC(90) of RBx 14255, a novel ketolide, against Clostridium difficile was 4 μg/ml (MIC range, 0.125 to 8 μg/ml), and this drug was found to be more potent than comparator drugs. An in vitro time-kill kinetics study of RBx 14255 showed time-dependent bacterial killing for C.

Evaluation of fecal myeloperoxidase as a biomarker of disease activity and severity in ulcerative colitis.

Background: Subclinical inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC) can predispose to relapses and biomarkers can detect mucosal inflammation.

Aims: To study the role of fecal myeloperoxidase (FMPO) in assessing disease activity and response to therapy in UC.

Methods: Patients with UC attending our hospital from July 2005 to September 2006 were studied.

Clostridium difficile infection: clinical spectrum and approach to management.

Clostridium difficile is recognized globally as an important enteric pathogen associated with considerable morbidity and mortality due to the widespread use of antibiotics. The overall incidence of C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is increasing due to the emergence of a hypervirulent strain known as NAP1/BI/027.

Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus & epidermal growth factor on experimentally induced Clostridium difficile infection.

Background & Objectives: Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) remains an important nosocomial ailment. Antimicrobial therapy used for CDAD gives inconsistent results. This experimental study was planned to investigate the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus and epidermal growth factor (EGF) for CDAD management.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of clinically isolated Escherichia coli.

All diarrheagenic Escherichia coli carry at least one virulence-related property. Stool samples from 244 patients having acute or persistent diarrhea received after the exclusion of routine enteropathogens were investigated. Purely or predominantly isolated E.

Clinical spectrum & pathogenesis of Clostridium difficile associated diseases.

Clostridium difficile is the major aetiological agent of antibiotic associated diarrhoea and colitis. The majority of hospitalized patients infected by C. difficile are asymptomatic carriers who serve as silent reservoirs for continued C.

Fecal lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase and serum C-reactive are effective biomarkers in the assessment of disease activity and severity in patients with idiopathic ulcerative colitis.

Background And Aim: Disease activity and severity of ulcerative colitis (UC) is assessed using colonoscopy, which is invasive, costly and has poor patient acceptability. The role of non-invasive biomarkers of intestinal inflammation in the evaluation of patients with UC is not known. The aim of the study was to examine the role of serum C-reactive protein (SCRP), fecal myeloperoxidase (FMPO) and fecal lactoferrin (FLF) in assessing disease severity, activity and response to therapy.

Effect of biotherapeutics on cyclosporin-induced Clostridium difficile infection in mice.

Background And Aim: Immunosuppressive therapy may precipitate Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD). We evaluated the role of cyclosporin in the development of CDAD in the experimental mouse model and studied the effect of probiotic and epidermal growth factor (EGF) as biotherapeutics measures.

Methods: BALB/c mice (n = 24) were divided into four groups.

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin in antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Clostridium perfringens type A is associated with 5-20% cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) even though Clostridium difficile is implicated in the most severe cases. Fecal specimens from one hundred hospitalized patients, who developed diarrhea regardless of antibiotic intake and who were negative for C. difficile toxin assay, were investigated for C.

Speciation of fecal Candida isolates in antibiotic-associated diarrhea in non-HIV patients.

Candida is the most frequently encountered fungal infection of the gastrointestinal tract after antibiotic exposure. The pathogenesis of Candida probably varies with each species. The speciation of fecal Candida after antibiotic use is not well investigated.

Comparative role of antibiotic and proton pump inhibitor in experimental Clostridium difficile infection in mice.

Clostridium difficile inoculated BALB/c mice were investigated to assess the comparative role of antibiotic and proton pump inhibitor. They were examined for colonization and toxin production by C. difficile as well as myeloperoxidase activity and histopathological changes in the intestinal tract.