Telavancin versus Vancomycin for Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia due to Gram-positive Pathogens

The results from two methodologically identical double-blind studies indicate that telavancin is noninferior to vancomycin based on clinical response in the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia due to Gram-positive pathogens

Lung epithelium as a sentinel and effector system in pneumonia – molecular mechanisms of pathogen recognition and signal transduction

Pneumonia, a common disease caused by a great diversity of infectious agents is responsible for enormous morbidity and mortality worldwide. The bronchial and lung epithelium comprises a large surface between host and environment and is attacked as a primary target during lung infection. Besides acting as a mechanical barrier, recent evidence suggests that the lung epithelium functions as an important sentinel system against pathogens. Equipped with transmembranous and cytosolic pathogen-sensing pattern recognition receptors the epithelium detects invading pathogens. A complex signalling results in epithelial cell activation, which essentially participates in initiation and orchestration of the subsequent innate and adaptive immune response. In this review we summarize recent progress in research focussing on molecular mechanisms of pathogen detection, host cell signal transduction, and subsequent activation of lung epithelial cells by pathogens and their virulence factors and point to open questions. The analysis of lung epithelial function in the host response in pneumonia may pave the way to the development of innovative highly needed therapeutics in pneumonia in addition to antibiotics

Filtre géotextile du barrage de Torcy-Vieux (71) : prélévements et analyses

The Torcy-Vieux dam is a homogeneous earthfill dam which was built around 1800. There were several phases of construction interrupted by incidents and repairs. In 1987, the last one consisted in logging trees on the downstream slope, boring 12 drainage wells on the downstream toe and building a downstream shoulder of about 4 m height, with drain wrapped around with geotextile filters. In 1997 an inspection operation noticed seepages on the superior part of the downstream slope. A more acute analysis came to the conclusion of a high risk of internal erosion and clogging of the drain geotextile filters. In august 1998, the pulling down operation of the downstream shoulder gave opportunity to take samples and do laboratory tests. Their results are given in this study report.Le barrage de Torcy-Vieux (Saône et Loire) est un barrage en remblai, construit vers 1800. Son histoire se caractérise par une construction en plusieurs étapes et une succession d'incidents et de réparations. Le confortement de 1987 a consisté en un déboisage important du parement aval, la réalisation de 12 puits drainants en pied aval, et enfin, la construction d'une recharge stabilisatrice d'environ 4 m de hauteur en pied de talus aval, avec drain granulaire et filtre géotextile sur les deux faces. En 1997, l'exploitant a observé des suintements sur le talus aval, au dessus de la recharge. Une expertise a conclu à un risque d'érosion interne et de colmatage du filtre du drain. Le démontage de la recharge en 1998 fut l'occasion de prélèvements et d'analyses approfondies dont les résultats sont présentés dans cet article

Genetic Diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Isolated from Ventilated Patients with Nosocomial Pneumonia, Cancer Patients with Bacteremia, and Environmental Water

Random amplified polymorphic DNA typing was used to study the genetic diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from (i) ventilated patients with nosocomial pneumonia who were hospitalized in intensive care units, (ii) cases of bacteremia in cancer patients with severe neutropenia, and (iii) rivers and swimming pools. Genetic diversity was determined by three phylogenetic methods and by statistical analysis of population genetics. The population studied undergoes epidemic clonality with a high rate of genetic recombination. P. aeruginosa bacteremia and pneumonia are not caused by specific clones within this species