HLA-B*51 and B*15 alleles confer predisposition to Behçet's disease in Moroccan patients.

HLA class I polymorphism in Moroccan patients with Behçet's disease has not been investigated so far. In this study, HLA-B* phenotype frequencies were analyzed in 86 unrelated Moroccan patients (45 males, 41 females) and 111 ethnically matched healthy controls. The predisposing effect of the B*51 was confirmed (30.

A 5-year epidemiological study of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in a medium- and long-stay neurological unit.

Thirty-eight different strains of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL Kp), isolated from urine and pus samples of 38 patients hospitalized in a medium- and long-stay neurology department between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1996, were analysed by antibiotic resistance phenotyping, DNA macrorestriction by pulsed-field electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing of beta-lactamases. An epidemiological survey was conducted to identify risk factors for infection by ESBL Kp in this setting. The 38 isolates were distributed into 13 antibiotypes, three of which predominated (13, six and six isolates).

Prospective study of corticosteroid as an adjunct in the treatment of endobronchial tuberculosis in adults.

Although endobronchial tuberculosis frequently causes bronchial stenosis, there are no specific therapies to prevent the sequelae. The use of corticosteroids remains controversial and there have been no prospective comparative studies about the effectiveness of corticosteroids. This study was undertaken in order to determine the effectiveness of corticosteroids in the prevention of complications of endobronchial tuberculosis.

[Phlebotomines of Nicaragua. II. Description of Lutzomyia legerae n. sp. (Diptera:Psychodidae)].

Both sexes of Lutzomyia legerae n. sp., a new species of phlebotomine sand fly belonging to the subgenus Lutzomyia, cruciata complex, are described from specimens collected in peridomestic environment, by light-trap, in central Nicaragua.

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor and cellular profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with bronchial asthma.

Background: To elucidate the role of T-cell activation in the physiologic changes and cellular infiltrations in the bronchial tree of patients with symptomatic bronchial asthma, we measured the concentration of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), cellular compositions and IL-2R expression on cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. We also measured physiologic parameters, including a provocation concentration of histamine required to reduce the forced expiratory volume in 1 second by 20% of the prechallenge baseline (PC20).

Results: The concentration of sIL-2R and the ratio of IL-2R expression on CD3 positive lymphocytes were significantly higher in BAL fluid from 20 patients with symptomatic bronchial asthma than concentrations in fluid from nine healthy controls (p < 0.

A study of the bronchial provocation test with methacholine in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Bronchial hyperreactivity is a characteristic feature of bronchial asthma. Recent respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, atopic family history, pulmonary tuberculosis, pulmonary sarcoidosis, cystic fibrosis, and farmer's lung have also been demonstrated to have bronchial hyperreactivity to inhaled methacholine. It is not known if pulmonary tuberculosis can cause nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity and what the mechanism would be.

Complications in transbronchial lung biopsy.

Transbronchial lung biopsy was performed in 68 patients with various lung diseases. As an inital diagnostic procedure in diffuse and localized lung diseases, trasbronchial lung biopsy offers an attractive alternative to open lung biopsy. Recently imporvement in the development of medical technology has greatly facilitated this technique, but it must be kept in mind that a transbronchial lung biopsy is not without complication and sometimes potentially serious complications may occur.