Experimental administration of the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 results in decreased diversity of E. coli strains in pigs.

The strain Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is widely used as an efficient probiotic in therapy and prevention of human infectious diseases, especially of the intestinal system. Concurrently, small adult pigs are being used as experimental omnivore models to study human gastrointestinal functions. EcN bacteria were applied to 6 adult healthy female pigs in a 2-week trial.

Bacteriocinogeny in experimental pigs treated with indomethacin and Escherichia coli Nissle.

Aim: To evaluate bacteriocinogeny in short-term high-dose indomethacin administration with or without probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) in experimental pigs.

Methods: Twenty-four pigs entered the study: Group A (controls), Group B (probiotics alone), Group C (indomethacin alone) and Group D (probiotics and indomethacin). EcN (3.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome.

Human intestinal microbiota create a complex polymicrobial ecology. This is characterised by its high population density, wide diversity and complexity of interaction. Any dysbalance of this complex intestinal microbiome, both qualitative and quantitative, might have serious health consequence for a macro-organism, including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO).

Value of amniotic fluid interleukin-8 for the prediction of histological chorioamnionitis in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Objective: To determine whether amniotic fluid levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) are of value in the antenatal diagnosis of acute histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Charles University, Medical School and University Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

Methods: We compared amniotic fluid IL-8 levels in twenty-nine pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes between 24th and 36th gestational weeks with presence and absence acute histological chorioamnionitis or/and microbial invasion in the amniotic cavity using nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney test), given the non-normal distribution of analyte.

[Considering the role of the PCR method in routine diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in peripheral blood tests in immunocompetent patients].

Infections caused by pathogenic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii in our geographic area is the most frequent parasitic infection; Czech Republic declares seroprevalence approx. 30 %. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is mostly based on serological methods are used (EIA IgM, IgA, IgE, IgG and avidity in IgG, Western Blot, complement fixation).

[Infections of the oral mucosa caused by herpes simplex virus].

Objectives: Recapitulation of our knowledge dealing with diagnosis and therapy of oral mucosal diseases caused by HSV.

Material And Methods: Analysis of a sample of 135 patients coming from Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové within 11 years. Statistical evaluation of the data and related associations (clinical diagnosis, age, gender, general health status, treatment mode) were realized by ANOVA analysis, t-test, and Fisher's exact test.

Clinical aspects and luteal phase assessment in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Objective: This study was undertaken to characterize the patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Study Design: Basic data of personal history and history of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, lower genital tract symptoms and signs in 50 patients were analyzed in this longitudinal follow-up study including the determination of midluteal serum progesterone and urinary pregnanediol levels during the luteal phase in 84 cycles (recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis) and 60 cycles (healthy controls).

Results: All patients suffered primary idiopathic form of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Malaria-an unusual cause of fever in the infant.

Malaria is the fourth most frequent cause of death in African children. Connected with perinatal diseases as well as gastrointestinal and respiratory infections malaria has been still a serious health problem of that region. Occurrence of tropical malaria in infants reported in European countries is relatively rare.

The serum levels of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis during attack, remission and in healthy controls.

The real cause of recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC) is concealed and the etiopathogenesis of this disease remains to be determined. In a cohort study, concentrations of metals in 44 patients with RVVC and 30 healthy age-matched women were measured and compared. The concentrations of serum calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) were measured photometrically, the zinc (Zn) levels were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

Experience with the PCR method in chlamydia detection.

Purpose Of The Study: The study was intended to summarize and evaluate the results in patients with a suspected infection by the genus Chlamydia, investigated with an in-house method of nested PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The study worked with data from patients living in eastern Bohemia, who were examined in the years 2001-2003 at the Dept. of Molecular Biology, a research laboratory shared by the Institute of Clinical Microbiology and the Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics.

[Comparison of the detection of anaerobic bacteria in haemoculture systems BACTEC Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F, BacT/Alert FAN Anaerobic and BacT/Alert FN Anaerobic].

The purpose of this study is to deal with the problem of anaerobic cultivation of clinical specimens and consider the possibility of using semi-automated blood culture instruments. The Bactec Lytic, BacT/Alert FAN Anaerobic and BacT/Alert FN Anaerobic bottles were inoculated with Bacteriodes fragilis, Clostridium perfringens, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Feingoldia magna strains. The times to detection (TTD) for positive bottles were evaluated with reference to the number of inoculated bacteria.

[Diagnostics of larval toxocariasis].

Purpose Of The Study: The paper, conceived as a retrospective study, resumes the results of our own investigations of the presence of serum IgG antibodies against Toxocara canis (as a crossover also against T. cati) in the sera of patients suspected of presenting larval toxocariasis in the region of Eastern Bohemia of the Czech Republic in the years 1997-2002. Our aim was to determine the immunity rate of IgG, its relationship to age and sex, further the whole range of diagnoses, the frequency of demands for such an examination by physicians and the evaluation of our experience with the detection of low avidity IgG.

[Comparison of the results of in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing using the Fungitest kit and the disc diffusion test].

Aim Of Study: Substantial progress has been achieved in the field of in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing, including the interpretation of the test results towards the clinical practice. Reference methods for antifungal testing of yeasts (M27-A) and filamentous fungi (M38-P) are available now. There are several alternatives to these standard protocols as the potential candidates for a routine laboratory testing of antifungal drugs.