Objective: Study and development of a gerbil model of pneumococcal meningoencephalitis secondary to acute middle ear (ME) otitis. Preliminary data raised the hypothesis of a direct bacterial dissemination from the ME focus to the central nervous system. This infection pattern was examined.
Design: Animals were inoculated bilaterally by transbulla challenge with a serotype 3 strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae at various inoculum sizes. The incidence and course of meningeal complications were studied in relation to the course of ME otitis.
Results: After inoculation of 40 bacteria per ear, lethal meningeal complications occurred in 14 (29%) of 48 cases. A 76% rate (25 of 33 animals) of early meningeal involvement was observed after inoculation of 10(4) bacteria per ear. Actual involvement of brain was confirmed histologically for both infection schemes. Bacterial counts 20 to 22 hours after infection with the higher inoculum showed various phases of the extension of the ME infection to brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and bloodstream. Bacterial counts in ME and brain tissue were strongly correlated (P < .001). Nine of the 25 animals with infection of the central nervous system had positive brain tissue cultures without bacteremia.
Conclusion: Gradations in inflammatory aspects of the meninges and cerebral parenchyma, together with bacteriologic findings, indicate a primary invasion of meningeal spaces that can result in lethal encephalitis and septicemia. This model might be useful for preclinical therapeutic assays on pneumococcal meningeal complications, including infections due to strains with abnormal susceptibility to antibiotics.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1994.01880330015004 | DOI Listing |
Virulence
December 2025
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA.
This review summarizes key virulence factors associated with group B (GBS), a significant pathogen particularly affecting pregnant women, fetuses, and infants. Beginning with an introduction to the historical transition of GBS from a zoonotic pathogen to a prominent cause of human infections, particularly in the perinatal period, the review describes major disease manifestations caused by GBS, including sepsis, meningitis, chorioamnionitis, pneumonia, and others, linking each to specific virulence mechanisms. A detailed exploration of the genetic basis for GBS pathogenicity follows, emphasizing the roles of capsules in pathogenesis and immune evasion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Surg
January 2025
Department of Neurosurgery, Ward 2. Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Objective: Demonstrate the superiority of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) compared to trigeminal microvascular decompression (MVD).
Methods: Clinical data, including immediate, short-term, and long-term pain relief, complications, duration of the operation, and postoperative hospital stay, were retrospectively analyzed for 114 patients diagnosed with PTN who were treated with either PBC or MVD between January 2018 and December 2021.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences observed in the pain relief rates between the two surgical methods at 24 h postoperatively (MVD: 91.
Front Immunol
January 2025
Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Background And Objective: Neurobrucellosis is a rare neurological disorder characterized by diverse clinical manifestations. Although several relevant cases were reported, our understanding of this disorder is limited. In this study, we presented the clinical and imaging characteristics of four cases of neurobrucellosis.
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January 2025
Department of Radiology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Objective: Acute cerebral infarction is a common complication of intracranial tuberculosis (TB), causing irreversible damage to brain tissue and significantly affecting patient prognosis. This study aims to explore the risk factors associated with acute cerebral infarction in patients with intracranial tuberculosis.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from eligible intracranial TB patients treated at our hospital between January 2020 and March 2023.
Front Med (Lausanne)
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Guangxi University of Science and Technology First Affiliated Hospital, Liuzhou, China.
Purpose: This study aims to explore the underlying causes, diagnostic strategies, and treatment approaches of trauma-induced invasive syndrome (KPIS) through a rare case report. By highlighting the role of trauma as a potential trigger for KPIS, particularly in high-risk populations such as individuals with diabetes, this study seeks to provide valuable insights for improving clinical outcomes and promoting public health awareness.
Background: invasive syndrome is a multi-organ infectious disease commonly associated with complications such as liver abscess, lung abscess, endophthalmitis, and purulent meningitis, with high mortality and disability rates.
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