The effect of mogamulizumab on the aberrant T cell population in the peripheral blood - A monocentric retrospective analysis.

Background And Objectives: The effect of mogamulizumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) on T cells (TC) in the peripheral blood and its potential role to navigate treatment intervals are explored.

Methods: We investigated within a retrospective monocentric analysis the effect of mogamulizumab on the CD3 TC and the aberrant T cell population (TCP), i.e.

Effective high-throughput RT-qPCR screening for SARS-CoV-2 infections in children.

Systematic SARS-CoV-2 testing is a valuable tool for infection control and surveillance. However, broad application of high sensitive RT-qPCR testing in children is often hampered due to unpleasant sample collection, limited RT-qPCR capacities and high costs. Here, we developed a high-throughput approach ('Lolli-Method') for SARS-CoV-2 detection in children, combining non-invasive sample collection with an RT-qPCR-pool testing strategy.

Calculated parenteral initial treatment of bacterial infections: Intra-abdominal infections.

This is the seventh chapter of the guideline "Calculated initial parenteral treatment of bacterial infections in adults - update 2018" in the 2 updated version. The German guideline by the Paul-Ehrlich-Gesellschaft für Chemotherapie e.V.

Oscarellin, an Anthranilic Acid Derivative from a Philippine Sponge, Oscarella stillans, as an Inhibitor of Inflammatory Cytokines in Macrophages.

A new anthranilic acid derivative (1) was isolated from a Philippine sponge, Oscarella stillans (Bergquist and Kelly). The structure of compound 1, named oscarellin, was determined as 2-amino-3-(3'-aminopropoxy)benzoic acid from spectroscopic data and confirmed by synthesis. We examined the immunomodulating effect of compound 1 and its mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.

[Current strategies against multi-drug resistant organisms].

The global spread of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) is a major threat to public health. Fighting MDRO spread requires a multi-faceted approach as summarized in the German Antibiotic Resistance Strategy (DART). In the hospital, this includes antibiotic stewardship concepts and strict infection control measures.

Antimicrobial activity of the novel pleuromutilin antibiotic BC-3781 against organisms responsible for community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CARTIs).

Background: BC-3781 is an investigational semi-synthetic pleuromutilin antibiotic, which recently finished a clinical Phase 2 trial in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. BC-3781 binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit and cross-resistance with other antimicrobial classes is uncommon. We evaluated the activity of BC-3781 against organisms responsible for community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CARTIs).

Suppression of the antigen-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cell activation by Artekeiskeanol A.

Effects of artekeiskeanol A, a newly isolated coumarin derivative from Artemisa keiskeana Miq. (Compositae), the extract of which is used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as a folk medicine, on the antigen-induced activation of RBL-2H3 cells were examined. RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with dinitrophenol (DNP)-specific IgE, and then stimulated with the antigen DNP-conjugated human serum albumin (DNP-HSA).

PD-140248 (Parke-Davis & Co).

PD-140248 is an isomerase inhibitor and topoisomerase II inhibitor under development by Parke-Davis and Co as a potential treatment for bacterial infection. Although no details of active development have been published in the scientific literature since 1996, in September 1999, the company confirmed that PD-140248 is still in active development [338530]. The compound is one of two new pyrrolidinyl naphthyridines (the other compound being PD-131628) with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, including activity against quinolone-resistant bacteria.

Molecular epidemiology of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Europe.

In many European countries, the level of pneumococcal resistance to macrolides has now passed the level of resistance to penicillin G. A total of 82 erythromycin A-resistant isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were collected by 11 laboratories in seven European countries. All of the isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, analyzed for clonal relatedness by multilocus sequence typing, and characterized for macrolide resistance genotypes.

Beta-lactam susceptibilities and prevalence of ESBL-producing isolates among more than 5000 European Enterobacteriaceae isolates.

In vitro susceptibility to 15 beta-lactam antibiotics was evaluated using Enterobacteriaceae isolated during the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program. Piperacillin/tazobactam was the most active penicillin against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella pneumoniae (94.9%, 98.

Cytotoxic lissoclimide-type diterpenes from the molluscs Pleurobranchusalbiguttatus and Pleurobranchus forskalii.

Three new chlorinated diterpenes, 6-8, along with five known ones, 1-5, were isolated from the molluscs Pleurobranchus albiguttatus and P. forskalii collected in the Philippines. These diterpenes are presumably metabolites of a Lissoclinum species of ascidian on which the molluscs have fed.

Experimental study on the safety of a new connecting device.

Background: The tested device is a new connecting tool for infusion systems that has been designed to replace conventional single-use stopcocks. Because outbreaks of bloodstream infections have been observed during the use of similar connectors in the United States, we examined the microbiological safety of the connecting device after artificial contamination in the laboratory setting and during routine clinical use.

Methods: In the first part of the study, the new device was tested in 3 types of in vitro experiments.

Daptomycin in vitro susceptibility in European Gram-positive clinical isolates.

The objective of this study was to determine the activity of daptomycin, a novel lipopeptide, against European Gram-positive isolates (n = 1539). The MIC(90)-values of daptomycin against Staphylococcus aureus isolates was 0.25 mg/L, against Enterococcus faecalis 4 mg/L, against Enterococcus faecium 8 mg/L, 0.

Prevalence of mupirocin resistance in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis: results of the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Study of the Paul-Ehrlich-Society for Chemotherapy, 2001.

A multicentre surveillance study comprising 26 laboratories located in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland was carried out in November 2001. A total of 787 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and 456 isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis mainly recovered from hospitalised patients, were tested. MICs for mupirocin were determined using the broth microdilution procedure.

Comparison of fascaplysin and related alkaloids: a study of structures, cytotoxicities, and sources.

The fascaplysin class of compounds have been further investigated from six organisms consisting of four sponge collections (Fascaplysinopsis reticulata) and two tunicate collections (Didemnum sp.). This work is an extension of an earlier communication and reports the isolation of 12 new fascaplysin derivatives: 10-bromofascaplysin (7), 3,10-dibromofascaplysin (8), homofascaplysate A (9), homofascaplysin B-1 (11), 3-bromohomofascaplysins B (12), B-1 (13), and C (15), 7,14-dibromoreticulatine (17), reticulatol (20), 14-bromoreticulatol (21), and 3-bromosecofascaplysins A (22) and B (23), along with known compounds: fascaplysin (1), reticulatine (4), 3-bromofascaplysin (6), and homofascaplysin C (14).

Resistance integrons and super-integrons.

Integrons are genetic elements composed of a gene encoding an integrase, gene cassettes and an integration site for the gene cassettes (att). The integrase excises and integrates the gene cassettes from and into the integron, but integrons themselves are not mobile. Two groups of integrons are known: resistance integrons and super-integrons.

In vitro activity of daptomycin against gram-positive European clinical isolates with defined resistance determinants.

The in vitro activity of daptomycin against 337 gram-positive European clinical isolates with known resistance genes was determined. The MIC ranges for Staphylococcus aureus, enterococci, pneunococci, and streptococci were 0.03 to 1, 0.

Toxin-gene profile heterogeneity among endemic invasive European group A streptococcal isolates.

We determined the toxin-gene profiles of 239 endemic, invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) isolates that circulated, within a 5-year period, in European university hospitals. Profiling was performed by use of multiplex polymerase chain reaction that screened for 9 streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (speA, speB, speC, speF, speG, speH, speJ, ssa, and smeZ). Analysis revealed that invasive GAS isolates do not share a common toxin-gene profile.

Site-specific manifestations of invasive group a streptococcal disease: type distribution and corresponding patterns of virulence determinants.

As part of a national surveillance program on invasive group A streptococci (GAS), isolates that caused specific manifestations of invasive GAS disease in The Netherlands were collected between 1992 and 1996. These site-specific GAS infections involved meningitis, arthritis, necrotizing fasciitis, and puerperal sepsis. An evaluation was performed to determine whether GAS virulence factors correlate with these different disease manifestations.

New sesquiterpene quinols from a Micronesian sponge, Aka sp.

Three new sesquiterpene quinols (1, 2, and 5) and two known ones (3 and 4) were isolated along with halistanol sulfate (6) from a marine sponge of the genus Aka collected from Yap Island, Federated States of Micronesia. Their structures were determined from spectral data, and the structure of siphonodictyal C (3) was revised. Sulfates 3 and 6 inhibit CDK4/cyclin D1 complexation, whereas 1 and 4 do not.

[Modern diagnostics for urological infections].

This paper provides a short overview of modern, molecular-based diagnostic procedures of urogenital tract infections. Although gaining importance, molecular methods have not yet become a reliable substitution for the classic procedures in terms of costs and quality standards. As an example of a new molecular approach in microbiology, a method for the detection of the most relevant uropathogens in a single PCR is presented.

Psammaplins from the sponge Pseudoceratina purpurea: inhibition of both histone deacetylase and DNA methyltransferase.

Four novel bisulfide bromotyrosine derivatives, psammaplins E (9), F (10), G (11), and H (12), and two new bromotyrosine derivatives, psammaplins I (13) and J (14), were isolated from the sponge Pseudoceratina purpurea, along with known psammaplins A (4), B (6), C (7), and D (8) and bisaprasin (5). The structures of psammaplins E (9) and F (10), which each contain an oxalyl group rarely found in marine organisms, were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 4, 5, and 10 are potent histone deacetylase inhibitors and also show mild cytotoxicity.

Mutations in GyrA, ParC, MexR and NfxB in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The target enzymes GyrA and ParC and two efflux pump regulatory genes mexR and nfxB were analysed to determine changes associated with fluoroquinolone resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both low- and high-level ciprofloxacin resistance was associated with a Thr-83Ile substitution in GyrA. A ParC Ser-80Leu substitution was found in highly resistant isolates in tandem with the Thr-83Ile substitution in GyrA.

Juncins I-M, five new briarane diterpenoids from the Indian Ocean gorgonian Junceella juncea Pallas.

Five new diterpenoids, juncins I-M (1-5), of the briarane skeleton have been isolated from the Indian Ocean gorgonian Junceella juncea in addition to four known derivatives, gemmacolides A-C (6-8) and juncin H (9). The structures of 1-5 were established by the interpretation of spectroscopic data.