Trichinellosis Outbreak Linked to Consumption of Privately Raised Raw Boar Meat - California, 2017.

On January 15, 2017, a hospital physician notified the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) in California of a patient with a suspected diagnosis of trichinellosis, a roundworm disease transmitted by the consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing Trichinella spp. larvae (1). A family member of the initial patient reported that at least three other friends and family members had been evaluated at area hospitals for fever, myalgia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Emmonsia helica Infection in HIV-Infected Man, California, USA.

Emmonsia-like fungi have rarely been reported from North America. We report a fatal case of E. helica infection in a man with advanced HIV infection from California, USA, who had progressive respiratory failure and a brain abscess.

Comparison of clinical efficacy and renal safety of telbivudine and entecavir in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Objective: Limited data is available on the clinical outcomes of telbivudine (LdT) and entecavir (ETV) in pre-emptive antiviral chemoprophylaxis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and renal safety of LdT and ETV in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who received cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Methods: Altogether 290 treatment-naïve CHB patients undergoing intense chemotherapy were enrolled to receive daily 600 mg of LdT or 0.

Fulminant Pseudomembranous Colitis Presenting as Sigmoid Stricture and Severe Polyposis with Clinical Response to Intracolonic Vancomycin.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Severe diseases carry significant morbidities such as septic shock, acute kidney injury, bowel perforation, and mortality. Immunocompromising conditions increase the risk of developing the disease but whether these individuals suffer a more fulminant course or warrant a more potent first-line treatment is still controversial issue.

Comparison of efficacy and renal safety of telbivudine and entecavir in treatment-naive elderly patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Data comparing the clinical outcomes of telbivudine (LdT) and entecavir (ETV) in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis B are limited.

Goals: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and renal safety of LdT and ETV in treatment-naive elderly (≥ 60 years) patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: A total of 33 patients treated with LdT were consecutively enrolled in the study.

Gender-related differences in clinical course of crohn?s disease in an Asian population: a retrospective cohort review.

Context: Data from Asian populations about gender-related differences in Crohn's disease are few. Objectives This study was to analyze the clinical characteristics between women and men affected by Crohn's disease.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study to analyze consecutive Crohn's disease patients from Jan 2000 to Dec 2012.

Role of C-reactive protein in response-guided therapy of pyogenic liver abscess.

Background: Protocols for antibiotic treatment of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) are usually based on clinicians' own experience without any validation. Our study was to evaluate the clinical implication of C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting treatment outcome and adequacy of antibiotic therapy of PLA.

Patients And Methods: Patients with PLA in whom white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and CRP were checked regularly during the clinical course were included.

Age-related differences in the clinical course of Crohns disease in an Asian population: a retrospective cohort review.

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with young and adult onset Crohns disease. Among 79 consecutive Crohns disease patients (11 (13.92%) with onset =16 years old), young onset Crohns disease was significantly associated with fever (36.

Spontaneous abdominopelvic abscess as an initial manifestation of Crohn's disease: a retrospective cohort review.

Objective: The study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of abdominopelvic (AP) abscess in patients with and without newly diagnosed Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: We investigated 91 consecutive patients with AP abscess (14 newly diagnosed with CD) from January 2001 to December 2010. The clinical, radiological, microbiological and pathological features and patients' outcomes were evaluated.

Older age as a poor prognostic sign in patients with pyogenic liver abscess.

Background: Previous studies have focused on the role of age as a prognostic factor in pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) and results have been controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of PLA in elderly (age ≥65 years) and non-elderly patients in order to identify any differences so that an early diagnosis can be made and appropriate therapeutic measures can be instituted promptly.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with PLA.

Intestinal tuberculosis complicated with perforation during anti-tuberculous treatment in a 13-year-old girl with defective mitogen-induced IL-12 production.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine which is secreted by activated phagocytes and dendritic cells and promotes cell-mediated immunity to intracellular pathogens, by inducing type 1 helper T cell (TH1) responses and interferon- γ (IFN- γ) production. Defects in the IL-12 may cause selective susceptibility to intracellular pathogens, such as mycobacteria. We herein report on a 13-year-old girl with defective mitogen-induced IL-12 production, who developed intestinal tuberculosis with wide dissemination involving the lung and urinary tract.

Is hepatic neoplasm-related pyogenic liver abscess a distinct clinical entity?

Aim: To compare the clinical characteristics of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) in patients with and without hepatic neoplasm (HN).

Methods: Authors performed a retrospective analysis involving patients with PLA. The demographic, clinical features, laboratory and imaging findings, management and outcome of patients with and without HN were studied.

Clinical characteristics of concurrent and sequentially presented lupus-related protein-losing enteropathy: what are their differences?

Our objective was to compare patients with concurrent and sequentially presented systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). Patients with history of SLE admitted for PLE were selected and their clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and imaging characteristics, treatment and outcome were analyzed. From 2001 to 2010, 21 and 27 patients had concurrent and sequentially presented SLE-related PLE, respectively, and their clinical characteristics were comparable except the following: the concurrent group had more pleural effusion (P < 0.

Protein-losing enteropathy associated with or without systemic autoimmune disease: what are the differences?

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) associated with or without systemic autoimmune (SA) diseases.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with PLE were selected, and their clinical characteristics, laboratory, endoscopic and imaging characteristics, treatment, and outcome were analyzed.

Results: From 2001 to 2010, 74 patients (60 patients with SA disease) with a female predominance were diagnosed with PLE.

Choledochal varices bleeding: A case report.

Choledochal varices are a rare cause of hemobilia associated with chronic portal vein thrombosis. We present a case of chronic portal vein thrombosis complicated with bleeding from choledochal varices. The presentation, clinical manifestations and management are described.

Refractory celiac disease: an unusual disease in a Chinese patient.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease characterized by mucosal inflammation and villous atrophy of the small bowel upon exposure to ingested gluten. Although common in developed countries, it is extremely rare in the Chinese population. Refractory celiac disease (RCD) is a rare complication of CD with poor prognosis.

Correlation of serum biomarkers with clinical severity and mucosal inflammation in Chinese ulcerative colitis patients.

Objective: Serum biomarkers are commonly used for diagnosing and monitoring the disease activity of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. However, their role in predicting active mucosal inflammation on Chinese patients is unknown. Our aim was to determine the sensitivity and correlation of these biomarkers with clinical severity and mucosal inflammation.

Cytoplasmic expression of mRNAs containing the internal ribosome entry site and 3' noncoding region of hepatitis C virus: effects of the 3' leader on mRNA translation and mRNA stability.

Translation initiation in many eukaryotic mRNAs is modulated by an interaction between the cap binding protein complex, bound to the 5' end of the mRNA, and the polyadenosine binding protein, bound to the 3'-terminal polyadenosine sequences. A few cellular and viral mRNAs, such as the hepatitis C virus (HCV) mRNA genome, lack 3'-terminal polyadenosine sequences. For such mRNAs, the question of whether their 3'-end sequences also regulate the initiation phase of protein synthesis via an interaction with their 5' ends has received intense scrutiny.