Biofilm demolition and antibiotic treatment to eradicate resistant Helicobacter pylori: a clinical trial.

Background & Aims: Helicobacter pylori attaches to gastric mucosa and grows as a biofilm. This constitutes protection from antimicrobial agents. We assessed the role of a pretreatment with n-acetylcysteine in destroying biofilm and overcoming H pylori antibiotic resistance.

Endotracheal lidocaine in preventing endotracheal suctioning-induced changes in cerebral hemodynamics in patients with severe head trauma.

Introduction: In patients with severe head trauma, endotracheal suctioning can result in adverse reactions including cough, systemic hypertension, increased intracranial pressure, and reduced cerebral perfusion pressure. The aim of this prospective, blinded clinical trial in mechanically ventilated patients with severe head trauma whose cough reflexes were still intact was to assess the effectiveness of endotracheally instilled lidocaine in preventing endotracheal suctioning-induced changes in cerebral hemodynamics (increase in intracranial pressure and reduced cerebral perfusion pressure) after a single endotracheal suctioning.

Methods And Results: Ten minutes after lidocaine instillation into the endotracheal tube, secretions were suctioned for <30 s through a standard closed endotracheal suctioning circuit.

TAFI deficiency in liver cirrhosis: relation with plasma fibrinolysis and survival.

Introduction: TAFI (thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor) is a potent anti-fibrinolytic and anti-inflammatory factor of liver origin. It is markedly reduced in liver cirrhosis but its effect on fibrinolysis remains controversial and no data are available on its prognostic value. We evaluated the relationship of TAFI level with plasma fibrinolysis and survival in cirrhotic patients.

Rapid detection of clarithromycin resistance in Helicobacter pylori using a PCR-based denaturing HPLC assay.

Objectives: We evaluated a new approach for the rapid detection of clarithromycin resistance in Helicobacter pylori, based on PCR and denaturing HPLC (DHPLC).

Methods: A 180 bp fragment of the 23S rRNA gene was amplified using DNA from 81 clinical H. pylori isolates (51 isolates were shown to be resistant to clarithromycin by Etest), and, directly, from 101 gastric biopsies from patients with digestive diseases, who were infected with H.

High levels of dual resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole and in vitro activity of levofloxacin against Helicobacter pylori isolates from patients after failure of therapy.

Current treatment for Helicobacter pylori infections generally includes two or more antimicrobials (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, nitroimidazoles, tetracycline, etc.), but treatment fails in 10-20% of all cases, often because of drug resistance. Levofloxacin has been proposed as an alternative for these refractory infections.

High-dose versus low-dose clarithromycin in 1-week triple therapy, including rabeprazole and levofloxacin, for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Goals: To compare high-dose versus low-dose clarithromycin in 1-week triple therapy including rabeprazole and levofloxacin.

Background: Regimens containing rabeprazole and levofloxacin have proved to be effective against H. pylori infection.

[Epidemiological monitoring of legionellosis: a case-control study in an university general hospital].

The authors report the early results of a case-control study carried out about the risk of legionellosis. During the first year, they have tested urine samples from patients with unknown pneumonia, using a legionella-sensitive test for the detection of its antigen. Out of 171 samples, 9 have turned out to be positive (5.