Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis in a 6-year-old boy.

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is a complex disorder characterized by persistent or recurrent candidal infections of the skin, nails and/or mucous membranes. A familial occurrence has been reported in some instances, suggesting a genetic predisposition. CMC has also been suggested to be associated with a selective defect in T cell-mediated immunity to Candida antigens.

Primary school nurses' knowledge/competence pertaining to childhood asthma and its management prior to and following a National Asthma Education Program in Taiwan.

The main purpose of the National Asthma Education Program was to provide asthma education to school nurses in Taiwan. It was also designed to enhance the knowledge and competence of school nurses in managing the asthmatic problems that children experience while in school. In addition to providing instruction about current asthma management skills, tools, and other relevant information, the program demonstrated the use of the peak flow meter for asthmatic children.

Evaluation of clinical and immunological effects of inactivated influenza vaccine in children with asthma.

Although annual influenza vaccinations are recommended by many authorities, some doctors may be reluctant to vaccinate asthmatic children because of the risk of inducing bronchial reactivity and exacerbating the asthma. In this study, the effect of split influenza vaccine on clinical symptoms, airway responsiveness and its influence on T lymphocytes was evaluated. Twenty-one asthmatic children with stable asthma were recruited and divided into two groups.

Concomitant chronic sinusitis treatment in children with mild asthma: the effect on bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Study Objective: Previous studies have suggested that aggressive treatment of sinusitis can decrease bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). However, there is still too little evidence to draw this conclusion, and the concept remains controversial.

Design: A prospective, open-label study.

Reduced expression of CD69 and adhesion molecules of T lymphocytes in asthmatic children receiving immunotherapy.

T lymphocytes play a fundamental role in the initiation and regulation of chronic inflammatory responses in patients with asthma. CD69 is an early marker of T-cell activation. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) and L-selectin have been reported to increase in patients with allergic diseases and asthma.

Risk factors of mortality for salmonella infection in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Object: To investigate the risk factors of mortality for Salmonella infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Between 1995 and 1999 we reviewed 37 cases of Salmonella infection in 31 patients with SLE from a total of 1191 hospitalized patients with SLE at a medical center in Taiwan. Contrasting cases of patients who died with those who survived, we compared clinical and laboratory characteristics of SLE at the time of Salmonella infection, with special attention to potential risk factors (sex, age, complete blood count and differential count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, complements, Salmonella species, infection site, reinfection, SLE presenting with Salmonella infection, associated non-Salmonella infection, etc.

Initial presentation of hemolytic uremic syndrome in a boy with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Associating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with an initial presentation of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is rare. We report on a 13-year-old boy admitted to our hospital with an initial complaint of bilateral knee pain and multiple petechiae on both lower extremities. Diagnosis of atypical HUS was established according to the clinical triad of HUS without a veriotoxin-producing organism in his stool and the pathological finding compatible to thrombotic microangiopathy.