Comparison of positive BioFire FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis (ME) panels, CSF cultures, CSF parameters, clinical presentation and in-patient mortality among patients with bacterial and fungal meningitis.

Unlabelled: The BioFire FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis panel (MEP) was brought to the University of Kentucky in 2016 to aid in the identification of community-acquired meningitis and encephalitis (ME). This panel has shown variable performance with some institutions showing high sensitivity and specificity for many pathogens but others seeing false positives during clinical use. We evaluated the panel's performance using retrospective chart review of patients at the University of Kentucky from October 2016 to September 2022, including 7,551 MEP results.

The significance of low titer serum cryptococcal antigen testing from 2017 to 2023 performed in a tertiary care center.

Several false positive low serum cryptococcal antigen (SCrAg) reports by lateral flow assay (LFA) were identified in late 2016 at our tertiary care hospital. After the recall and correction of the problem in the reagent, we studied the significance of SCrAg LFA ≤ 1:10 from January 2017 to October 2023. Of 20 patients with 31 samples of SCrAg LFA ≤ 1:10, 14 patients (70%) were classified as true positives, four (20%) were indeterminate, and only two (10%) patients were false positives.

Acute myocarditis in a young male after gastroenteritis: A case report and literature review.

A 16-year-old patient presented with acute myocarditis after gastroenteritis. His ECGs showed STEMI-like evolutionary changes. Serial troponin measurement was maximum on 3rd day.

Total Plasma Protein S Is a Prothrombotic Marker in People Living With HIV.

Background: HIV-1 infection is associated with multiple procoagulant changes and increased thrombotic risk. Possible mechanisms for this risk include heigthened expression of procoagulant tissue factor (TF) on circulating monocytes, extracellular vesicles, and viral particles and/or acquired deficiency of protein S (PS), a critical cofactor for the anticoagulant protein C (PC). PS deficiency occurs in up to 76% of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH).

Risk factors of severe blastomycosis and comparison of diagnosis and outcomes between immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.

Background: Blastomycosis is an endemic fungal infection that causes pulmonary and systemic disease. It can occur irrespective of the patient's immune status. The risk factors associated with the severity of the disease are not well studied.

Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis Using the MVista Galactomannan Antigen Qualitative Lateral Flow-Based Immunoassay: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Accurate and timely methods for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis in resource-limited countries are lacking. antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is widely used in the United States (US) but not in resource-limited countries, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses and poor outcomes. Lateral flow assays (LFAs) can be used in this setting.

Environmental cadmium exposure induces kidney tubular and glomerular dysfunction in the Myanmar adults.

Cadmium is an environmental toxic metal and its exposure has become a worldwide public health threat. We aimed to evaluate the exposure assessment of cadmium in people living in Ta Zin Yae Kyaw village of Nyaung Don Township in Ayeyarwady Division, Myanmar and adverse effects of cadmium on the kidneys. Subjects (18-40 years) residing in this village were selected as the exposed group (n = 65) and those living in Kamayut Township in Yangon Division, Myanmar as the control group (n = 65).

Changing demographics and risk factors for cryptococcosis: A 12-year review at a tertiary care centre.

Background: Cryptococcosis is classically associated with the immunocompromised patients but there is a rising appreciation for its impact on the immunocompetent hosts. We sought to analyse the trends, diagnosis, treatment of different hosts and the effect of immunodeficiency and chronic liver disease on relapse and in-house mortality.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 12 years of patients with cryptococcosis, divided into three different groups: HIV-infected, transplant and non-HIV non-transplant (NHNT).

Extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease in Asian patients: A multinational study.

Background/aim: Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence has increased over the past two decades in Asia, data on extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) of IBD in Asian patients are limited. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of EIMs in Asian IBD patients.

Methods: In total, 1,764 patients (1,130 with ulcerative colitis [UC] and 634 with Crohn's disease [CD]) were recruited from 10 tertiary centers in Asia.

Platelets Endocytose Viral Particles and Are Activated via TLR (Toll-Like Receptor) Signaling.

Objective: Thrombocytopenia is associated with many viral infections suggesting virions interact with and affect platelets. Consistently, viral particles are seen inside platelets, and platelet activation markers are detected in viremic patients. In this article, we sought mechanistic insights into these virion/platelet interactions by examining how platelets endocytose, traffic, and are activated by a model virion.

HIV-Associated Histoplasmosis: Current Perspectives.

Histoplasmosis is an endemic mycosis caused by . Infection develops by inhalation of microconidia from environmental sites inhabited by birds and bats. Disseminated disease is the usual presentation due to impaired cellular immunity.

Efficacy of Cerebrospinal Fluid Beta-d-Glucan Diagnostic Testing for Fungal Meningitis: a Systematic Review.

Several case reports and cohort studies have examined the use of (1,3)-beta-d-glucan measurement with cerebrospinal fluid to diagnose fungal meningitis. This systematic review aims to characterize the evidence regarding cerebrospinal fluid (1,3)-beta-d-glucan measurement to detect fungal meningitis. We searched PubMed for (1,3)-beta-d-glucan and each of several distinct fungi, cerebrospinal fluid, and meningitis.

Comparing the Outcomes of Ceftaroline Plus Vancomycin or Daptomycin Combination Therapy Versus Monotherapy in Adults with Complicated and Prolonged Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia Initially Treated with Supplemental Ceftaroline.

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia confers considerable morbidity and mortality. Although vancomycin or daptomycin monotherapy is usually curative, prolonged bacteremia necessitating supplemental ceftaroline has occurred. The practice has led to the question of whether to continue with ceftaroline following bacteremia resolution.

Detection of (1,3)-β-d-Glucan in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Histoplasma Meningitis.

The diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis is often difficult. Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (1,3)-β-d-glucan (BDG) is available as a biological marker for the diagnosis of fungal meningitis, there are limited data on its use for the diagnosis of meningitis. We evaluated CSF BDG detection, using the Fungitell assay, in patients with CNS histoplasmosis and controls.

Central nervous system histoplasmosis: Multicenter retrospective study on clinical features, diagnostic approach and outcome of treatment.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement occurs in 5 to 10% of individuals with disseminated histoplasmosis. Most experience has been derived from small single center case series, or case report literature reviews. Therefore, a larger study of central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis is needed in order to guide the approach to diagnosis, and treatment.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism at +276 G>T of the Adiponectin Gene and Plasma Adiponectin Level in Myanmar Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at rs 1501299 (SNP+276 G>T) of the adiponectin gene and plasma adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Myanmar.

Methodology: One hundred T2DM patients and 104 non-diabetic subjects were included in this cross-sectional analytical study. Genotype frequencies were determined by polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

Helicobacter pylori bab characterization in clinical isolates from Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Background: Helicobacter pylori BabA is an important outer membrane protein that involves in the attachment to the gastric mucosa and enhances the virulence property of the bacterium. This study was aimed to characterize the bab genotypes, to evaluate its association with cagA, vacA and clinical diseases as well as degree of gastric inflammation.

Methods: H.

Characterizing in Myanmar.

Background/aims: Differences in the infection rate are not sufficient to clarify the dissimilarity of gastric cancer incidence between Myanmar and its neighboring countries. To better understand this trend, the virulence gene was characterized in Myanmar.

Methods: Glutamate-proline-isoleucine-tyrosine-alanine (EPIYA) patterns and CagA multimerization (CM) motifs of genotypes were examined by performing polymerase chain reactions and DNA sequencing.

Improvement in Diagnosis of Histoplasma Meningitis by Combined Testing for Histoplasma Antigen and Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M Anti-Histoplasma Antibody in Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis is a life-threatening condition and represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or brain tissue is diagnostic; however, culture is insensitive and slow growth may result in significant treatment delay. We performed a retrospective multicenter study to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a new anti-Histoplasma antibody enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of IgG and IgM antibody in the CSF for diagnosis of CNS histoplasmosis, the primary objective of the study.

Persistence of Macrocytosis after Discontinuation of Zidovudine in HIV-Infected Patients.

The duration of macrocytosis after stopping zidovudine (ZDV) is unknown. Among 104 HIV-infected patients treated with ZDV for more than 1 year, 84 patients had macrocytosis at ZDV discontinuation. The median mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 114.

Respiratory Muscle Paralysis Associated With Colistin, Polymyxin B, and Muscle Relaxants Drugs: A Case Report.

Polymyxins B and E (colistin) exert a bactericidal effect on the gram-negative bacterial cell wall, causing permeability changes in the cytoplasmic membrane, leading to cell death. Their use was substantially decreased in clinical practice from the 1970s to 2000s due to their significant nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity compared to the newly introduced antibiotics. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria infections in this century has led to an upsurge in the use of these "older" drugs.

Post operative fungal endopthalmitis due to Geotrichum candidum.

Geotrichum species have been rarely reported as the cause of sepsis, disseminated infection in immunosuppressed patients. The patient we describe developed indolent endophthalmitis four months after her routine right eye cataract surgery. The intraoperative sample from right vitreous fluid grew Geotrichum candidum.

The Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors in Bhutan, Vietnam, and Myanmar Is Related to Gastric Cancer Incidence.

Gastric cancer is a significant health problem in Asia. Although the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is similar in Bhutan, Vietnam, and Myanmar, the incidence of gastric cancer is highest in Bhutan, followed by Vietnam and Myanmar. We hypothesized that H.

Histoplasmosis complicating tumor necrosis factor-α blocker therapy: a retrospective analysis of 98 cases.

Background: Histoplasmosis may complicate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blocker therapy. Published case series provide limited guidance on disease management. We sought to determine the need for long-term antifungal therapy and the safety of resuming TNF-α blocker therapy after successful treatment of histoplasmosis.