Value of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Pretreatment in Experimental Sepsis Model in Rats

Background and Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the actions of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the changes of endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) alpha, and oxidative stress parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in experimental sepsis model in rats. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: sham (group 1), sepsis (group 2), and sepsis + CAPE (group 3), n = 8 each. CAPE was administered (10 mu mol/kg) intraperitoneally to group 3 before sepsis induction. Serum ET-1, serum TNF-alpha, tissue SOD activity, and tissue MDA levels were measured in all groups. Results. Pretreatment with CAPE decreased ET-1, TNFalpha, and MDA levels in sepsis induced rats. Additionally SOD activities were higher in rats pretreated with CAPE after sepsis induction. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that CAPE may have a beneficial effect on ET and TNF-alpha levels and oxidative stress parameters induced by sepsis in experimental rat models. Therefore treatment with CAPE can be used to avoid devastating effects of sepsis

A Case of Infectious Mononucleosis Presenting with Cholestatic Hepatitis

Although mild liver involvement is common in patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection-induced infectious mononucleosis, acute cholestatic hepatitis is rare. In this report, we describe a 21-year-old previously healthy man with EBV-induced infectious mononucleosis presenting with acute cholestatic hepatitis. Serological tests for EBV infection were consistent with acute infection (EBV capsid antigen was reactive with IgM and IgG antibodies) and the Monospot test was positive. The patient was managed supportively and his condition improved. Acute EBV infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with cholestatic hepatitis

Comparison of colistin monotherapy and non-colistin combinations in the treatment of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter spp. bloodstream infections: A Multicenter retrospective analysis

balkan, ilker inanc/0000-0002-8977-5931; altay, fatma aybala/0000-0002-7149-2968; Karabay, Oguz/0000-0003-0502-432X; Durdu, Bulent/0000-0002-0244-4006WOS: 000349144300018PubMed: 25821319Objectives: To compare the efficacy of colistin (COL) monotherapy versus non-COL based combinations in the treatment of bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to multidrug resistant Acinetobacter spp.(MDR-A) . Materials and Methods: Retrospective data of 107 MDR-A BSI cases from 27 tertiary centers in Turkey were included. Primary End-Point: 14-day mortality. Secondary End-Points: Microbial eradication and clinical improvement. Results: Thirty-six patients in the COL monotherapy (CM) group and 71 in the non-COL based combinations (NCC) group were included in the study. Mean age was 59.98 20 years (range: 18-89) and 50.5% were male. Median duration of follow-up was 40 days (range: 9-297). The 14-day survival rates were 52.8% in CM and 47.23% in NCC group (P = 0.36). Microbiological eradication was achieved in 69% of CM and 83% of NCC group (P = 0.13). Treatment failure was detected in 22.9% of cases in both CM and NCC groups. Univariate analysis revealed that mean age (P = 0.001), Charlson comorbidity index (P = 0.03), duration of hospital stay before MDR-A BSI (P = 0.04), Pitt bacteremia score (P = 0.043) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (P = 0.05) were significant in terms of 14-day mortality. Advanced age (P = 0.01) and duration of hospital stay before MDR-A BSI (P = 0.04) were independently associated with 14-day mortality in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: No significant difference was detected between CM and non-COL based combinations in the treatment of MDR-A BSIs in terms of efficacy and 14-day mortality

Efficacy of Colistin and Non-Colistin Monotherapies in Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Bacteremia/Sepsis

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the efficacies of colistin and non-colistin monotherapies in multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia (MDR-AB). Materials and methods: Cases with MDR-AB from 27 tertiary-referral hospitals between January 2009 and December 2012 were included. Patients' data that were on either colistin monotherapy (CM) or non-colistin monotherapy (NCM) were compared. Mortality on Day 14 was the primary endpoint, whereas microbiological eradication and clinical outcome were the secondary ones. Results: Eighty-four cases were included in the study with 36 being in the CM group and 48 in the NCM group. Thirty-eight (452%) cases were male and the mean age was 602 years. The mean durations of pre-MDR-AB hospital stay and intensive care unit stay were 25.8 days and 20.9 days, respectively. All of the cases had fever (>38 degrees C). The mean Pitt bacteremia score (PBS) of the patients was calculated as 6.8, APACHE 2 score as 18.9 and the Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI) as 3.7 (CM: 3.6 vs. NCM: 3.9). Twenty (55.6%) cases in the CM group and 26 cases in the NCM group (542%) (p=0.81) died; 9 cases in the CM group (25%) and 16 cases in the NCM group (33 3%) had treatment failure (P=0.55). Bacteriological eradication was achieved in 20 (55.6%) cases in the CM group and in 36 cases (75%) in the NCM group (P=0.061). Conclusions: No significant difference could be identified between the colistin monotherapy and non-colistin monotherapy options in MDR-AB cases with respect to the results of efficacy and 14-day mortality