Comparison of real-time polymerase chain reaction and conventional biochemical methods for identification of Mycobacterium chelonae-Mycobacterium abscessus group to the species level.

The Mycobacterium chelonae-Mycobacterium abscessus group (MCAG) is the most common cause of infections because of rapidly growing mycobacteria. Rapid identification of MCAG to the species level is essential for choosing empiric antibiotic treatment and for public health measures. In this study, we compared the performance of a single-tube multiplex, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to 3 biochemical tests for species-level identification of 46 MCAG isolates.

Developing of granulomatous thyroiditis during etanercept therapy.

We describe a 32-year-old man who developed granulomatous thyroiditis (GT) during etanercept therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fever and thyroid pain developed 8 months after administration of etanercept. Noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas consistent with GT were detected in a thyroid biopsy.

Comparative immunohistological analysis of the Montenegro skin test reaction in asymptomatic infection and in acute and chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Introduction: The Montenegro skin test reaction and leishmaniasis lesions share fundamental characteristics of a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction.

Objectives: To determine whether the Montenegro skin test reaction (response to leishmanin) might approximate and thereby provide insight into the early inflammatory and immune response to Leishmania infection.

Materials And Methods: We compared the inflammatory response in biopsies of acute (evolution time < or = one month), and chronic lesions (evolution time > or = 6 months) with the Montenegro skin test reaction in the corresponding patients, and with the Montenegro skin test of asymptomatically infected volunteers.

Photographic and luminometric detection of luciferase reporter phages for drug susceptibility testing of clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates.

Luciferase reporter phages (LRPs) have proven to be efficient tools for drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Luminometric detection of LRP activity offers higher sensitivity and quantitative results, while a Polaroid film detection method offers a "low-tech" inexpensive alternative that is called the Bronx box. In this work we evaluated, improved, and compared the performance of the luminometer and the Bronx box formats for drug susceptibility testing with LRPs by using 51 clinical isolates of M.

The site of cutaneous infection influences the immunological response and clinical outcome of hamsters infected with Leishmania panamensis.

We determined that the site of inoculation (foot or snout) influences the clinical evolution and immune responses of hamsters infected with Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis. Hamsters infected in the snout showed (i) a more rapid and severe lesion evolution at multiple time points (P < 0.05), (ii) a more extensive inflammatory infiltrate and tissue necrosis, (iii) a higher tissue parasite burden, (iv) a higher antibody titre (P < 0.