Narrow Results

Spondylodiscitis is a infective processes of the spinal column, that can affect the vertebrae in isolation (spondylitis), the discs (discitis) or both (spondylodiscitis). Three infection pathways are described from a pathogenetic perspective: endogenous, exogenous, and per continuitatem. The hematogenic form is the most common (about 60%), but cases of direct inoculation following surgical procedures on the spine (15%) or contamination by contiguity (12%) are not rare. Diagnosis is based on clinical, laboratory, radiological, microbiological and histopathological data, where the magnetic resonance imaging is the technique of choice for the diagnosis. Treatment may be medical using antibiotics to eliminate the infection or surgery using spinal fixation to prevent spinal instability and ample debridement of infected tissue. We report on a patient who had spondylodiscitis due to a sigmo-rettal fistula caused by a intrarectal penetration of a toothpick which was accidentally swallowed by the patient; which was successfully treated with targeted antibiotic therapy and immobilization.

Purpose: To determine the rate of antibiotic elution from tobramycin-impregnated ProOsteon (Interpore) and Collagraft (Zimmer). Methods: Five samples of Collagraft and ProOsteon were impregnated with a solution containing 1.2 g of tobramycin and 10 ml of sterile water. The samples were then allowed to dry overnight. These samples were stored at 37°C in separate test tubes containing phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The solution in each test tube was removed with a pipette at hours 3, 6, 9 and 12 and days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13. The PBS was then replaced. The pipetted solution was sent for laboratory quantification and also used in a bioassay to determine antibiotic level. To serve as a control, two additional samples of each bone graft that were not impregnated with antibiotic were placed in separate test tubes and subjected to the same protocol. Results: The antibiotic elution rate for both ProOsteon and Collagraft was high at 3 hours [5362 and 4875 μg/ml on day 3 (3.1 μg/ml) for the Collagraft and day 7 (3.7 μg/ml) for the ProOsteon]. Effective intravenous tobramycin level is considered to be 4–6 μg/ml. Conclusion: Bone graft substitute can be used as a delivery vehicle for tobramycin. In addition, antibiotic-impregnated synthetic bone graft may potentially fill a dead space or cavitary defect without the need for large autologous grafts and does not require later removal.

Elite athletics requires maximum effort by the pursuer, exposing the tendons, ligaments and muscles, including the heart muscle, to intense and frequent mechanical and metabolic demands, which may increase the susceptibility to, and severity of, infections in these tissues. Furthermore, intense and frequent exercise with insufficient resting periods can compromise the immune system. Muscles and tendons are more vulnerable to overuse injuries in the recovery period following various infections. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of a substantial proportion of cases of tendinitis and tendinosis are still largely unknown, gram-positive cocci prevail as the most common etiologies in soft tissue infections. The recent identification of binding sites of staphylococci to intercellular tissue matrix components have opened up the possibility of selectively blocking such binding by prior vaccination. New molecular biological methods, enabling the identification of slow-growing bacteria that are difficult to culture, including Bartonella and Rickettsia, have created the possibility of studying the potential role also of such organisms in soft tissue conditions, including myocarditis. Acute myocarditis remains the most frequent form of myocarditis, commonly emerging in the course of an acute respiratory infection. Since myocarditis episodes are frequently subclinical and self-healing, athletes (and others) should generally be recommended rest during infections, especially during the early phase of the infection.

Infections following limb-saving surgeries still happen frequently and are refractory to treatment, even though the treatment of massive bone defects caused by bone resection of bone tumors has improved gradually. Once infections become intractable, they generally result in amputations in spite of all kinds of treatment. We report the case of a patient who developed an intractable infection after limb-saving surgery utilizing a massive frozen autograft and a tumor prosthesis, but whose limb was finally successfully salvaged by multiple surgical interventions. We conclude that continued perseverance in treatment after infections may enable preservation of the limb and restoration of good function.

Korean and American Research Institutes Combine Approaches in Analysis of Viral Infectivity

The Elimination of Hospital Acquired Infections: A realistic Goal?

Arana Announces Issuance of Key European Patent for Evibodies.

Living Cell Technologies Reports Interim Results Showing Sustained Beneft with DIABECELL^® Implants for Insulin Dependent Diabetes.

Topical Microbicide Field Receives Boost with Human Effcacy Result.

WuXi PharmaTech Honored on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacifc 2008 List for the Fifth Consecutive Year.

Syngenta Enters into Research Collaboration with Anhui Academy, China.

Bayer Schering Pharma to Invest 100 Million Euro in China to Build a Global R&D Center.

Dow AgroSciences, China National Rice Research Institute Announce Collaboration on Rice Research.

World's First Robotic Radiosurgery System Introduced at Apollo Hospitals.

Fortis Ties up with International Oncology.

Apotex and Intas Biopharma Partner to Develop Biosimilars.

Abbott Opens New Pediatric Nutrition Manufacturing Facility in Singapore.

Schering-Plough Opens First R&D Centre in Singapore.

Hyfux Still Expanding.

GSK to Commit $1.3 Million to Singapore Institute's Vaccine Development Projects.

Invida to Market Breakthrough Anti-nausea Patch in Asia Pacifc.

NUS Partners International Rice Research Institute to Address Global Food Security Challenge.

Singapore Research Organizations Team up to Advance Drug Discovery Using Brain Tumor Stem Cells.

AUSTRALIA – World-Class Cancer Center to be Built in Parkville.

AUSTRALIA – Cure Found for Devastating Muscle Disease.

AUSTRALIA – HIV Test to Help Monitor Sufferers.

AUSTRALIA – Radium Weed Weeds Out Sun Spots, Skin Cancer.

AUSTRALIA – Kava Safe and Effective in Reducing Anxiety.

CHINA – CAS Develops New Salt-tolerant Wheat.

CHINA – Search for Passengers on Flights with Flu Case.

HONG KONG – Hong Kong Confirms Asia's 1st Swine Flu Case.

INDIA – Indian Healthcare Market to Grow Despite Slowdown.

INDIA – WHO Lifts Vaccine Embargo on India.

JAPAN – Scientists Create World's First Transgenic Monkeys.

JAPAN – Japan Swine Flu Cases Surge.

NEW ZEALAND – New Frontiers in Gene Behavior.

NEW ZEALAND – Innovative Pet Food Research Consortium Launched.

SINGAPORE – 50 Receive Healthcare Humanity Awards.

SINGAPORE – No-Go for Swine Flu Parties.

SINGAPORE – Asia's First Combined Heart and Liver Transplant.

SINGAPORE – Singapore to Host Conference on Tobacco or Health.

SINGAPORE – Diabetes Hits Asia's Youth.

SOUTH KOREA – $14.6 mn for Fight Against New Flu.

TAIWAN – Flu Vaccine to be Available by End of Year.

TAIWAN – Mutation in Gene allows Cancer to Spread.

TAIWAN – Scientists Find Ways to Improve Cancer Drugs.

TAIWAN – Team Makes Discovery in Search for New Antibiotic.

TAIWAN – Taiwan Tags Sixteen Countries with Yellow Travel Alert Over Flu.

TAIWAN – Team Makes Breakthrough in Therapy for Childhood Cancer.

THAILAND – Thailand Tries to Become Starch-Production Hub.

THAILAND – Thailand and Taiwan to Begin Biotech Cooperation Plan.

VIETNAM – US gives Vietnam Protective Bird Flu Equipment.

OTHER REGIONS — UNITED STATES – Over 52's May Be Better Protected.

AUSTRALIA – Hospital Infections Bring Costly Loss in Lost Bed Days.

CHINA – Novel Mechanism in Chinese Herbs Discovered for Cancer Treatment.

CHINA – "Dung of the Devil" Plant Roots Point to New Swine Flu Drugs.

CHINA – New Center at Chinese Academy of Sciences Pushes Life Science Innovation.

CHINA – A New Function of Insulin Receptor Discovered.

JAPAN – Researchers Identify Fat-Causing Protein.

SINGAPORE – Operation Conducted Entirely Through the Navel.

SINGAPORE – Saliva From Blood-Feeding Bug Could Help Prevent Heart Attacks.

SINGAPORE – 17 Projects Awarded Grants by A*STAR.

SINGAPORE – Third Medical School for Singapore.

SINGAPORE – Singapore's Medical Technology Sector Reports Strong Growth.

SINGAPORE – Scientists Unlock Secret to Youthful Skin.

SINGAPORE – Singapore Gears Up for Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccines.

SINGAPORE – NUS Gets World's Most High-Tech Microscope.

SINGAPORE – Waseda University Opens First Overseas Biosciences Research Institute in Singapore.

TAIWAN – Taiwan Makes Headway in New Drug Development.

TAIWAN – Nutrition Sensor in Plants Pivotal in Understanding Molecular Equilibrium in Human Body.

VIETNAM – U.S. Provides Aid to Vietnam for Pandemic Preparedness.

EUROPE – Heart Risks Cut Life Span by 10 Years.

NORTH AMERICA – Bad Drug Effects in Children from Medicines.

NORTH AMERICA – Virus Linked to Prostate Cancer Discovered.

NORTH AMERICA – Will H1N1 Mutate into "Superbug"?

Novel Multiplex PCR Technologies.

Reducing the Spread of TB in China: New Technology Needed to Turn the Tide.

Application of Rapid and Accurate Two-Stage Genotyping Strategy in MRSA Nosocomial Infection in Japan.

Introduction to Luminex^®xMAP^® Technology and Applications for Biological Analysis in China.

Label-free Real-time Cell Based Assay System for Evaluating H1N1 Vaccination Success.

INDIA – A novel form of gene regulation in bacteria.

INDIA – Algal biofuels are no energy panacea.

JAPAN – Medical Data Vision enhances the quality of medical care with Actian Vectorwise.

SINGAPORE – Singapore heart surgeon to receive honour from The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

SINGAPORE – ELGA^® to deliver innovative water purification at new Singapore General Hospital expansion.

AUSTRALIA – Specialised Therapeutics Australia: New drug to fight hospital superbug infection.

AUSTRALIA – Group of genes hold the clue in migraine cases.

AUSTRALIA – CT scans can triple risk of brain cancer, leukemia.

BRAZIL – Science can do more for sustainable development.

MIDDLE EAST – Particles and persecution: why we should care about Iranian physicists.

EUROPE – Medicyte coordinates EU-funded collaboration on Biomimetic Bioartificial Liver.

EUROPE – Selvita and Orion Pharma achieve a research milestone in Alzheimer's Disease Program.

EUROPE – Zinforo (ceftaroline fosamil) receives positive CHMP opinion in the European Union for the treatment of patients with serious skin infections or community acquired pneumonia.

USA – Vein grown from girl's own stem cells transplanted.

USA – Hidden vitamin in milk yields remarkable health benefits - Weill Cornell researchers show tiny vitamin in milk, in high doses, makes mice leaner, faster and stronger.

USA – New report finds biotechnology companies are participating in 39% of all projects in development for new medicines and technologies for neglected diseases.

USA – TriReme Medical receives FDA clearance for expanded matrix of sizes of Chocolate PTA balloon catheter.

USA – New data show investigational compound dapagliflozin demonstrated significant reductions in blood sugar levels when added to sitagliptin in adults with type 2 diabetes at 24 weeks, with results maintained over 48 weeks.

USA – Zalicus successfully completes Phase 1 single ascending dose study with Z944, a novel, oral T-Type Calcium Channel Blocker.

USA – Study provides clues to clinical trial cost savings.

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