The importance of the presence of aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in sulcus gingivalis of patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Over-replication of periodontal pathogens in the periodontium induces production of proinflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein that can stimulate systemic inflammatory status and can initiate atherosclerosis and its consequences. In our pilot study we examined whether periodontal status and serum levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein are associated with the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in the periodontium of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Material/methods: We randomly selected 38 of 166 outpatients with CVD, of which 21 patients had chronic ischemic heart disease (IHD) only and 17 had both IHD and essential hypertension (HT).

High virologic sustained response for former young intravenous drug users with chronic hepatitis C treated by pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin.

Aims: The aim of this clinical study was to assess virological response at end-of -treatment (ETR), sustained virological (SVR) and biochemical response in former drug users with chronic hepatitis C treated with PEG-IFN-alpha and R.

Patients: Ninety two former drug users (21 F, 71 M) average age 27 years (18 to 41 years) and previously not treated with IFN-alpha and R (naive patients, pts) were evaluated for their virological and biochemical response. Standard treatment regimen of either 24 or 48 weeks was applied in patients with genotype 3 or genotype 1, respectively.

Dilemmas regarding the proper route of adrenaline administration in anaphylaxis.

The authors outline current practice regarding the pre-hospital use of adrenaline. They conclude that intramuscular adrenaline recommended in the current European guidelines may not be the only correct route of administration. Both intradermal and intravenous routes may be more appropriate in certain situations.