Recurrent group B stretococcus infection in an extremely premature infant: as a preterm neonate, infant and toddler

We report five discrete episodes of group B streptococcus (GBS) bacteraemia in an extremely premature infant, extending into early childhood. The first four episodes occurred during infancy despite appropriate treatment. Breastmilk was positive for group B streptococcal 16S DNA by polymerase chain reaction. The fifth episode occurred at 17 months of age, shortly after stopping antimicrobial prophylaxis.Radiological investigations did not identify a focus for recurrence of GBS bacteraemia, and immunological investigations and targeted whole genome sequencing yielded only transient hypogammaglobulinaemia of infancy, which resolved.This case highlights invasive GBS infection as a cause of infant morbidity. Premature infants are at particular risk of invasive as well as recurrent disease. GBS is typically a sensitive organism and each episode of GBS in our patient was effectively treated with penicillin. The role of breastmilk in recurrent GBS is controversial; in this case infant and mother isolated identical GBS serotypes and were concurrently treated with rifampicin.

Autoantibodies in the sera of breast cancer patients: Antinuclear and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies as example

BACKGROUND

Inflammation and cell necrosis are one of the consequences that accompany breast cancer. However, inflammation and cell necrosis are well known to be involved in stimulation of cellular and humeral immunity.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to investigate the immune response to the inflammation that accompanies cancer through measuring plasma concentration of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and anti-double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid antibodies (ADSDAs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-five newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were involved in this study from the Radiation Isotopes Center Khartoum (RICK) compared to 18 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Intravenous blood sample was obtained from each study subject and Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) technique was used to determine the concentration of the two antibodies.

RESULTS

Regarding the ANA concentration in the patients; the range was 0.7-1.8 IU/ml, mean was 0.96, and the standard deviation (SD) was 0.25; while the range of the concentration in the control subjects was 0.3-0.6 IU/ml, mean was 0.47, and SD was 0.07. However, when the means of patients and controls were compared, the difference was significant (P < 0.000). Concerning the result anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), its concentration range in the patients was 2.6-151.9 IU/ml, the mean was 55.2, and SD was 25.6, while in healthy people concentration range was 26.1-97.3 IU/ml, the mean was 50.3, and SD was 16.9. There was no significant change between the patients and controls (P = 0.46).

CONCLUSION

The ANA concentration in the patients was significantly increased, while there was no significant difference between the results of ADSDAs in the patients and the control subjects.