Clostridium difficile infection in rural Ontario: a retrospective multisite population-based study.

Introduction: We conducted a retrospective, population-based study to assess the prevalence of Clostridium difficile infections and the associated risk factors among inpatients and outpatients in our region.

Methods: We used laboratory data over a 2-year period to identify inpatient and outpatient cases of C. difficile infection.

Do genetic mutations and genotypes contribute to onychomycosis?

Background: The variability in susceptibility to onychomycosis for individuals exposed to the same environmental risk factors raises the possibility that there may be individuals with a genetic predisposition to dermatophyte infection.

Objective: To determine whether there are genetic mutations or genotypes which contribute to onychomycosis.

Methods: The PubMed database was searched for examples of immune deficiencies resulting in dermatophyte infections.

Sanitization of contaminated footwear from onychomycosis patients using ozone gas: a novel adjunct therapy for treating onychomycosis and tinea pedis?

Background: Ozone gas possesses antimicrobial properties against bacteria, viruses, and yeasts. Previously, we demonstrated the efficacy of ozone in killing ATCC strains of the dermatophyte fungi Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Objective: To test the efficacy of ozone gas in sanitizing onychomycosis patient footwear contaminated with fungal material as a means of minimizing the risk of reinfection.

Preventing and curing citrulline-induced autoimmune arthritis in a humanized mouse model using a Th2-polarizing iNKT cell agonist.

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate lymphocytes with unique reactivity to glycolipid antigens bound to non-polymorphic CD1d molecules. They are capable of rapidly releasing pro- and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines and constitute attractive targets for immunotherapy of a wide range of diseases including autoimmune disorders. In this study, we have explored the beneficial effects of OCH, a Th2-polarizing glycolipid agonist of iNKT cells, in a humanized mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in which citrullinated human proteins are targeted by autoaggressive immune responses in mice expressing an RA susceptibility human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR4 molecule.

Severe necrotizing pancreatitis following combined hepatitis A and B vaccination.

Necrotizing pancreatitis is a severe form of pancreatitis and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We report a case of necrotizing pancreatitis that developed following combined hepatitis A and B vaccination. No other causes of pancreatitis could be determined.