Randomized trial of the addition of gram-positive prophylaxis to standard antimicrobial prophylaxis for patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation

The purpose of the study reported here was to investigate the impact of prophylaxis against gram-positive infections in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation in a randomized trial. Forty-three patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplant were enrolled in a nonblinded randomized trial to receive or not to receive prophylaxis for gram-positive infections with 10(6) U of penicillin intravenously (i.v.) every 6 h (q6h) (if penicillin allergic, 750 mg of vancomycin i.v. q12h) in addition to standard antimicrobial prophylaxis with 400 mg of norfloxacin orally three times a day, 200 mg of fluconazole orally once a day, and 5 mg of acyclovir per kg of body weight i.v. q12h. The patients were being treated for germ cell cancer (n = 15), breast cancer (n = 16), Hodgkin's disease (n = 3), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 4), acute myeloid leukemia (n = 1), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 1), and ovarian cancer (n = 3). The trial was stopped because of excess morbidity in the form of streptococcal septic shock in the group not receiving gram-positive prophylaxis. There were significantly fewer overall infections (10 versus 3; P = 0.016) and streptococcal infections (9 versus 1; P = 0.0078) in the group receiving gram-positive prophylaxis. There were no significant differences in the numbers of deaths, duration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, or incidence of neutropenic fever between the two groups. Prophylaxis for gram-positive infections with penicillin or vancomycin is effective in reducing the incidence of streptococcal infections in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplant. However, this approach may carry a risk of fostering resistance among streptococci to penicillin or vancomycin.     

Letter: Reliability of transcutaneous PO2 with Roche Oxygen Monitor 5300 at 44 C in newborn infants with RDS

A microtiter cell-culture method was developed and used to titrate virus isolates for characterization. Virus dilutions and chicken kidney cell suspensions were dispensed into the wells of disposable microculture plates, with infectivity endpoints being determined microscopically on the fifth or sixth day, or by reading crystal-violet-stained monolayers on day 6. With this method, 37 candidate avian adenoviruses isolated from diagnostic accessions were characterized as avian adenoviruses (AAV). The criteria used for characterization were production of round-cell cytopathic effect, resistance to chloroform treatment, inhibition by 5-bromodeoxyuridine, and the presence of an antigen showing identity with a known AAV by precipitation in agar gel. Statistical anlaysis of eight replicate titrations of three AAV indicated that the titration method was highly reproducible. Use of the microculture method for titrations gave substantial savings in indicator cells, media, incubator space, culture dishes, and time.     

A primate model for enteral nutrition by tube

To establish an animal model for the controlled study of enteral nutrition by tube, five adult chair-adapted primates (Macaca fasicularis) had gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes placed for the delivery of a modified protein isolate diet. Following 7 days of postoperative depletion with a hypocaloric infusion of dextrose (20 kcal, 0 g N/kg/day), the animals were repleted for 10 days with tube feedings (124 kcal, 0.73 g N/kg/day). There was no operative mortality or morbidity and each animal demonstrated conversion to anabolism by significant weight gain, positive nitrogen balance, and net protein synthesis as determined by [15N]glycine protein turnover rates. Significant correlation was found between caloric intake and nitrogen balance at the level of nitrogen provided in this diet (r = 0.88, p less than 0.05). This model was found to be well suited for the surgical and nutritional techniques required for the long-term study of enteral nutrition by tube.     

Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: a rational approach to treatment

Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver in a 3 year old child has been successfully treated by ligation of the hepatic artery branches supplying the lesion. The prominence of the abnormal vasculature in the lesion and its possible aetiological involvement is stressed. Because of the risks of partial hepatectomy, hepatic artery ligation is suggested as the treatment of choice for focal nodular hyperplasia.     

Effects of albumin and/or furosemide therapy on pulmonary edema induced by hydrochloric acid aspiration in rabbits

Aspiration of hydrochloric acid in rabbits resulted in an increased P(A-a)O2 together with increases in both lung water volume and lung extravascular albumin. This finding suggests lung damage following acid aspiration is related to changes in capillary permeability, with pulmonary edema resulting from the movement of albumin and water into the interstitial space. Therapy with albumin and furosemide together reduced the lung water and albumin accumulation and decreased P(A-a)O2. Treatment with albumin or furosemide alone was ineffective. Caution should be exercised in administering albumin alone for therapy of pulmonary edema when plasma protein is not clearly decreased, or when increased pulmonary capillary permeability is suspected.     

Plaque-type blue nevus

Blue nevus may rarely appear in plaque form. It seems to be a benign and asymptomatic lesion, but because of its rarity, no definite prognosis can be given. Only through reporting of additional cases and their follow-up will the prognosis become clear.