Granulomatous mastitis, erythema nodosum, and polyarthritis: a case report.

Background: Granulomatous mastitis is a rare inflammatory disease of the breast, typically seen in woman of child-bearing age. No definitive etiology has been described. In rare instances, this condition has been reported to be associated with extramammary manifestations such as erythema nodosum and arthritis.

Acute Multifocal Nonhematogenous Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis in a Healthy Adolescent: An Atypical Presentation.

Osteomyelitis represents inflammation and infection of bone tissue by a pathogen. Acute osteomyelitis is more likely to be unifocal compared to a chronic process which tends to be multifocal and recurrent. Early diagnosis, aggressive appropriate antibiotic therapy and a multidisciplinary approach are essential for a satisfactory prognosis and improved outcome.

Vaginal Discharge in a Pre-pubertal Girl Posing a Diagnostic Challenge.

Vaginal discharge in prepubescent girls is not an uncommon problem in pediatric outpatient practice. Among its various etiologies, foreign body lodgement is quite frequent in this age group. Diagnosis is sometimes forthcoming after history and physical exam, and the removal of the foreign object is followed by a prompt resolution of symptoms.

Chronic HIV Infection Is Associated with Upregulation of Proinflammatory Cytokine and Chemokine and Alpha Defensin Gene Expression in Colorectal Mucosa.

HIV may induce gastrointestinal (GI) mucosal immune dysregulation similar to inflammation observed in ulcerative colitis (UC). Colorectal biopsies from healthy controls (N=12) and from participants with HIV (N=20) or UC (N=9) were subjected to real time (RT)-PCR for selected cytokines, chemokines, antimicrobial peptides, Toll-like receptors, and inflammatory signaling and epithelial barrier proteins. HIV long terminal repeat relative copy number (RCN) in HIV participant biopsies was quantified by RT-PCR.

Genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in humanized HIV-transgenic mice triggers HIV shedding and is associated with greater neurological disease.

Background: Epidemiological studies consistently demonstrate synergy between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Higher HIV-1 loads are observed in coinfected individuals, and conversely, HIV-1 is associated with more-severe herpetic disease. A small animal model of coinfection would facilitate identification of the biological mechanisms underlying this synergy and provide the opportunity to evaluate interventions.

Griffithsin protects mice from genital herpes by preventing cell-to-cell spread.

Griffithsin, which binds N-linked glycans on gp120 to prevent HIV entry, has the most potent HIV-1 inhibitory activity described for any antiviral lectin and is being developed for topical preexposure prophylaxis. The current studies were designed to further assess its potential by exploring its activity against herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), a cofactor for HIV acquisition, in vitro and in a murine model. Safety was evaluated by examining its impact on epithelial barrier integrity in polarized cultures and testing whether repeated intravaginal dosing potentiates the susceptibility of mice to genital herpes.

Bridging the gap between preclinical and clinical microbicide trials: blind evaluation of candidate gels in murine models of efficacy and safety.

Background: Despite significant protection in preclinical studies, cellulose sulfate (CS) failed to protect women against HIV-1/2 and was associated with a trend toward increased HIV-1 acquisition in one of the clinical trials. These results highlight the need for preclinical tests more predictive of clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to test coded vaginal gels, including CS, in murine models of safety and efficacy to determine the models' utility for evaluating future products.

Orbital compression syndrome presenting as orbital cellulitis in a child with sickle cell anemia.

Orbital bone infarction with subsequent orbital compression syndrome presenting as orbital cellulitis is reported in a child with sickle cell anemia. She deteriorated despite the use of antibiotics and improved after the surgical drainage of the collection. Radiographic findings, absence of sinusitis, hemorrhagic nature of the collection, and negative cultures all were consistent with orbital compression syndrome secondary to a vasoocclusive crisis.

Susceptibility to genital herpes as a biomarker predictive of increased HIV risk: expansion of a murine model of microbicide safety.

Background: A crucial gap in the development of microbicides for HIV prevention is the absence of models predictive of safety. Previous studies have demonstrated an increased susceptibility to genital herpes in mice following repeated applications of nonoxynol-9 (N-9). This study was designed to explore the underlying mechanisms, focusing on the effects that N-9 has on genital tract epithelium and to apply this expanded model to evaluate the safety of microbicides that have been advanced to clinical trials.

Disruption of tight junctions by cellulose sulfate facilitates HIV infection: model of microbicide safety.

Background: The lack of biomarkers that are predictive of safety is a critical gap in the development of microbicides. The present experiments were designed to evaluate the predictive value of in vitro models of microbicide safety.

Methods: Changes in the epithelial barrier were evaluated by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) after exposure of human epithelial cells to candidate microbicides in a dual-chamber system.

Novel approaches in fighting herpes simplex virus infections.

The development of novel strategies to eradicate herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a global public health priority. While acyclovir and related nucleoside analogues provide successful modalities for treatment and suppression, HSV remains highly prevalent worldwide and is a major cofactor fueling the HIV epidemic. HSV is the predominant cause of genital ulcerative disease, and neonatal and sporadic infectious encephalitis.

An infant with diffuse lung masses.

Chronic granulomatous disease presenting as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in an infant is described in this report. Symptoms of chronic, intermittent respiratory distress had been previously attributed to gastroesophageal regurgitation and asthma. The isolation of an unusual pathogen even from a nonsterile site, particularly when symptoms persist, should not be considered as a contamination but prompt further investigation to exclude phagocytic or other immune deficiencies.

Herpes simplex virus downregulates secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor: a novel immune evasion mechanism.

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), an anti-inflammatory mediator of mucosal immunity, inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in cell culture. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that higher concentrations of SLPI in mucosal secretions are associated with a reduced risk of HIV transmission. The current studies were designed to test the hypothesis that HSV triggers a loss of SLPI to evade innate immunity and that this response may contribute to the increased risk of HIV infection in the setting of HSV infection.