View clinical trials related to Infection.
Filter by:Helicobacter pylori colonises an estimated 50% of the world´s population (Taylor & Blaser, 1991; Go, 2002). Despite clear clinical guidelines on the treatment of this infection (Malfertheiner et al. 2007) there is a drive to find alternative ways to control this infection in a wider perspective without the complications of induction of antibiotic resistance in the pathogen. L. reuteri has been widely studied in clinical trials and has been shown to have probiotic, health-promoting effects in both adults and children (Connolly 2004; Casas & Dobrogosz, 2000). L. reuteri has been shown in numerous studies to be safe for human consumption and it has been shown to colonise the human gastrointestinal tract (Wolf et al., 1995, Valeur et al., 2004). Studies using supplementation with L. reuteri in both symptomatic and non-symptomatic H. pylori-infected subjects show a clear reduction of infection load after 4 weeks of use and this was concomitant with a reduction in symptoms associated with the infection (Imase et al. 2007; Francavilla et al. 2007, unpublished data). Further, dietary supplementation with L. reuteri during and after the period of H. pylori eradication therapy has also been shown to reduce the side effects of this therapy without affecting the degree of eradication (Lionetti et al., 2007). It is also feasible, through the inhibitory action of L. reuteri on H. pylori, that pre-exposure to L. reuteri may weaken H. pylori and make it more susceptible to antibiotic attack during eradication. However, an earlier pilot study was not been able to demonstrate a reduction in gastric inflammation caused by H. pylori. This pilot study was performed with L. reuteri ATCC 55730 that has since been found to lack anti-inflammatory activity in in vitro screens. Recent selection of natural, human L. reuteri strains has identified a specific strain with strong anti-inflammatory properties in vitro (Lin et al, 2007 and submitted 2007). A combination of this strain, together with the earlier proven L. reuteri strain, is expected to lead to both a reduction of H. pylori load as well as a reduction in the gastric inflammation related to the pathogen.
It has been reported that mouse cytomegalovirus infection alone can elevate the blood pressure in mice. Since HCMV has uniquely evolved with its human host, with little genetic similarity to the animal CMV counterparts, and it only replicates in human, an epidemiological study is required to define the relevance of HCMV infection and expression of hcmv-miRNA-UL112 to the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. The investigators found that hcmv-miR-UL112, a human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded miRNA, was highly expressed in the hypertensive patients. Among the top miRNA target predictions, the investigators demonstrate that IRF-1 is a direct target gene of hcmv-miR-UL112, along with MICB that has been previously reported. Both IRF-1 and MICB play critical roles in immuno/inflammatory and anti-infection response. Thus, the investigators speculated that IRF-1 and MICB repression by hcmv-miR-UL112 could be considered a unifying mechanism that evades the host response at several levels: antiviral, inflammatory, and immune. In addition, there is an increasing evidence that IRF-1 may be important in apoptosis, angiogenesis, neointima formation and the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. IRF-1 can up-regulate angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AGTR2) that exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions and affects regulation of blood pressure. It has been reported that the targeted disruption of the mouse AGTR2 gene resulted in a significant increase in blood pressure and increased sensitivity to angiotensin II. The nitric oxide synthase expression and NO synthesis in macrophages and distinct cardiomyocytes are induced and controlled by IRF-1 in response to inflammation, important steps in vascular biology that may improve endothelial function and inhibit smooth muscle cell migration, and a key pathophysiological event in hypertension. Collectively, these reports support a strong relationship between IRF-1 regulation and hypertension, indicating a potential role of hcmv-miR-UL112 and HCMV infection in the pathogenesis of hypertension.Thus, the investigators want to investigate the potential link between HCMV infection and essential hypertension.
We aim to study if pathological NETs formation could be the underlying pathology among patients with recurrent infections and a normal screening of the immune system.
The purpose if this study is to determine whether a microbial sealant (iodine + cyanoacrylate) [InteguSEAL®, Kimberly-Clark] reduces surgical site infections when compared to iodine and isopropyl alcohol (povacrylex in isopropyl alcohol) [Duraprep®] in oncologic surgery.
The study is conducted to analyse the infection rate in children treated with VEPTR-Implants for severe spine or thoracic deformities.
The purpose of this study is to find a correlation between function of cytomegalovirus -specific T cells and the probability for intrauterine transmission.
Iron deficiency is considered one of the main nutritional deficiency disorders despite the apparent availability of a high-quality diet even in developed countries, and Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common form of anemia in the world. IDA during pregnancy has been associated with adverse health consequences for both the mother and her developing fetus. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) may be the most common bacterial infection worldwide, infecting almost half of people in developed countries and 80% of people in developing countries. The available data on the prevalence of Hp infection in Taiwan population was 54.4%. We all know that infection with Hp is strongly associated with peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, but recent evidence suggests that Hp is associated with iron deficiency and anemia, although the mechanisms remain unclear. Till now, only few previous studies specifically have addressed a potential role of Hp infection on anemia or iron deficiency during pregnancy. Our previous Research showed, between the Hp infection (+) and Hp infection (-) gravidas, the associations between the Hp infection and iron deficiency were stronger, although not statistically significant. This might be due to that we needed more cases and evidences to prove the relationship between maternal Hp infection and serum iron, ferritin and hemoglobin levels, or we should further consider the interactions of the particular customs or diet preference of the Taiwanese gravidas. This longitudinal study will recruit 140 women from the antenatal care clinics of E-Da Hospital to examine the association between Hp infection and maternal IDA. The standardized interviews of mothers (anthropometric data, socioeconomic status, medical history, obstetric history, alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and history and duration of iron supplementation during pregnancy) will be conducted, Hp infection status will be determined by the urea breath test and IgG enzyme immunoassay, and the measurement of hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin levels will be obtained 5 times at various antepartum and postpartum points of time during pregnancy (routine prenatal visits of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester, puerperium and 2 weeks after delivery). We hope that we could investigate the possible role of Hp infection in iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy in Taiwan, and that early detection and treatment of anemia may reduce the risk of blood transfusion and perinatal and maternal mortality.
H pylori gastric infection is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide. The discovery that most upper gastrointestinal diseases are related to H pylori infection and therefore can be treated with antibiotics is an important medical advance. Currently, a first-line triple therapy based on proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) plus two antibiotics (clarithromycin and amoxicillin or nitroimidazole) is recommended by all consensus conferences and guidelines. Even with the correct use of this drug combination, infection can not be eradicated in up to 23% of patients. Therefore, several second line therapies have been recommended. A 7 d quadruple therapy based on PPI, bismuth, tetracycline and metronidazole is the more frequently accepted. However, with second-line therapy, bacterial eradication may fail in up to 40% of cases. When H pylori eradication is strictly indicated the choice of further treatment is controversial. When available, endoscopy with culture and consequent antibiotic susceptibility testing remains the most appropriate option for patients with two eradication failures to avoid a widespread use of expensive antibiotics. The use of these drugs may also induce severe side-effects and development of H pylori resistant strains. Resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori can display a dense biofilm with mucus and microorganisms in a coccoid shape on the mucosal surface of stomach that may have a role in determining the resistance to the antibiotic therapies. Possibly, N-acetil-cysteine (NAC) may dissolve biofilm architecture and help to eradicate resistant strains of H pylori.
The primary purpose of this experimental therapy is to treat, with the aid of bacteriophages, patients with non-healing postoperative wounds or bone, upper respiratory tract, genital or urinary tract infections in whom extensive antibiotic therapy failed or the use of the targeted drug is contraindicated.
The investigators will evaluate the effects of an endurance exercise program on the physical performance, the well being, and indicators of metabolic function in patients with an HIV infection.