The impact of immunosuppressive therapy on QuantiFERON and tuberculin skin test for screening of latent tuberculosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease scheduled for anti-TNF therapy.

Objective: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) should be routinely screened for latent tuberculosis (LTB) before starting anti-TNF therapy in order to prevent reactivation of LTB. Besides tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-G-IT) has gained wide acceptance as a screening strategy for LTB in IBD, although it may be negatively influenced by the prior use of immunomodulators (IMM) such as azathioprine or methotrexate. This study aimed to assess the impact of IMM on the TST and the QFT-G-IT for LTB screening in IBD patients scheduled for anti-TNF therapy.

Fulminant pancytopenia due to cytomegalovirus infection in an immunocompetent adult.

A case of severe and irreversible pancytopenia secondary to acute primary cytomegalovirus infection in an immunocompetent woman is described. The patient presented with thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, anemia, and abnormal liver function tests. Treatment with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin was ineffective in reconstituting hemopoiesis.

Prospective monitoring of BK virus replication in renal transplant recipients.

Background: BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) can be diagnosed only with renal graft biopsy. Definitive diagnosis of BKVAN requires demonstration of BK virus (BKV) replication in renal allograft tissues. Non-invasive analysis of urine and blood is considered essential in screening renal transplant recipients.

Prevalence study of Legionella spp. contamination in Greek hospitals.

Water and swab samples were collected from 13 hospitals and analyzed for Legionella counts. Legionella was detected in eight out of 13 hospitals and in 22 of 130 water and swab-collected samples. A total of 72.

Implantation of MNNG crystals into a Triturus intact limb affects mitotic and labeling indices, regeneration rate, and morphogenesis in the contralateral, regenerating limb.

Experimental administration of chemical carcinogens to various mammals is highly effective in inducing malignant tumors. In contrast, treatment of regeneration-competent animals even with much higher doses of the same drugs only exceptionally leads to tumor-like growth. Usually, carcinogenic materials implanted or injected into a regenerating limb of urodele amphibia interfere with the regenerative process and frequently lead a).