Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Eur J Pharm Sci 2021 Jun 2;161:105779. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:

Bis-benzamidines are a diverse group of compounds with high potential in pharmacotherapy, and among them, pentamidine is a drug of great therapeutic significance in Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis and therapy. Pharmacokinetic properties of these cationic species such as transport, acid/base equilibria, and interactions with potential target molecules are still of interest, especially for recently designed compounds. To broaden our knowledge drug-likeness, human serum albumin binding, and acidity constants (K) were experimentally and theoretically examined for five pentamidine analogues 1 - 5 with -NH-CO-chain-CO-NH-bridges of increasing length and O, N, and S atoms in the chain. Read More

Eur J Endocrinol 2021 Apr 22;184(5):R207-R224. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Departments of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition) and Neurological Surgery, and Pituitary Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with increased mortality that is driven by cardiovascular, thromboembolic, and infection complications. Although these events are expected to decrease during disease remission, incidence often transiently increases postoperatively and is not completely normalized in the long-term. It is important to diagnose and treat cardiovascular, thromboembolic, and infection complications concomitantly with CS treatment. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Jan;100(1):e24245

Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.

Rationale: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder of the neuromuscular junctions that leads to fluctuating weakness and disabling fatigability. Due to difficulty in breathing caused by weakness of the respiratory muscles, patients with MG are more susceptible to pneumonia and other respiratory infections. As many patients with MG are given immunosuppressive therapy, this makes them more prone to infections. Read More

Chin Med J (Engl) 2020 Dec;133(23):2787-2795

Department of Infection and Immunity, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is one of the most common opportunistic infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, and is complicated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical features, characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of first-diagnosed HIV-associated CM after 2-years of follow-up.

Methods: Data from all patients (n = 101) of HIV-associated CM hospitalized in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from September 2013 to December 2016 were collected and analyzed using logistic regression to identify clinical and microbiological factors associated with mortality. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Nov 4;13(11). Epub 2020 Nov 4.

Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, Florida, USA.

We present a case of persistent pleural masses with mediastinal adenopathy in an immunocompromised patient initially biopsied, diagnosed and treated for pneumonia, ultimately requiring surgical thoracoscopy to diagnose pulmonary histoplasmosis. We discuss the diagnostic approach for pleural masses in immunocompromised patients, the limitations of tissue sampling, interpretation and methodology, and pitfalls of testing in making a pathogen-specific diagnosis. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021 01 26;68(1):e28714. Epub 2020 Sep 26.

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Aerodigestive adverse effects (AD-AE) during intravenous pentamidine (IV-P) infusion for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia prophylaxis are uncommon in retrospective chart review studies. We conducted a survey in patients on IV-P, which included 31 specific questions. Twenty-five patients were included in the analysis; AD-AE were observed in 22 (88%) with recurrence of symptoms in 88% participants with subsequent infusions. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020 15;10:224. Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

pneumonia (PCP) is an AIDS-defining illness. In patients with HIV, the benefit of PCP prophylaxis is well-defined when the CD4 T-cell count decreases below 200 cells/μL. In other immunocompromised patients, the value of PCP prophylaxis is not always as well-established. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2021 03;72(6):1033-1041

Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Background: The majority of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in Africa reflect maternal-to-child transmission. HIV exposed but uninfected (HEU) children have increased rates of morbidity and mortality when compared to HIV unexposed and uninfected (HUU) children. The mechanisms behind these unexpected trends are only partially understood but could be explained by the differences in the immune response to infections triggered by an altered immune system state. Read More

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2020 02 30;41(1):141-157. Epub 2020 Jan 30.

Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

remains an important fungal pathogen in a broad range of immunocompromised hosts. The natural reservoir of infection remains unknown. Pneumonia (PJP) develops via airborne transmission or reactivation of inadequately treated infection. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2019 Dec 15;21(6):e13191. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the first-line agent for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis for solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients because of its efficacy for this indication, extended antimicrobial coverage, and favorable cost. Reported sulfonamide allergy is not uncommon and often results in TMP-SMX avoidance. Desensitization offers an efficacious and cost-effective alternative to TMP-SMX avoidance. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jun;98(23):e15997

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is a clinical complex with unsatisfying treatment efficacy and poor prognosis which is difficult to be diagnosed at early stage. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical features of SLE with PCP, recognize the early onset indicating factors, and evaluate the treatment efficacy of combined caspofungin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (coSMZ).We reviewed data of 9 patients admitted with SLE-PCP and treated with caspofungin combined with coSMZ at Tangshan Gongren Hospital from January 2013 to December 2017. Read More

IDCases 2019 27;17:e00543. Epub 2019 Apr 27.

Infectious Disease Division, NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, New York, United States.

Clinical correlation is essential in assessing the relevance of the patient's history and physical findings in making a clinical presumptive diagnosis. False diagnostic associations may result in misdiagnosis. We present a case of an elderly female with HIV on HAART who presented with shortness of breath assumed to have Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) even though she had a clinical diagnosis of influenza B. Read More

Clin Transplant 2019 09 1;33(9):e13587. Epub 2019 Jul 1.

Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Program for Immunocompromised Hosts, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

These updated guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation review the diagnosis, prevention, and management of Pneumocystis jiroveci fungal infection transplant recipients. Pneumonia (PJP) may develop via airborne transmission or reactivation of prior infection. Nosocomial clusters of infection have been described among transplant recipients. Read More

Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2020 Feb 9;65(1):109-120. Epub 2019 May 9.

4th Department of Internal Medicine - Hematology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove and Faculty of Medicine Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

The present study aims to evaluate the diagnostic yield of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in patients with hematological malignancies and describe the most common pathogens detected in BAL fluid (BALF.) An analysis of 480 BALF samples was performed in patients with hematological malignancies over a period of 7 years. The results of culture methods, PCR, and immunoenzymatic sandwich microplate assays for Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) in BALF were analyzed. Read More

Mycopathologia 2019 Jun 6;184(3):457-458. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Infectious Diseases Division, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy.

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in non-HIV patients is infrequent and characterized by atypical presentations and increased severity. Although hematogenous dissemination from the lungs can lead to extrapulmonary infections, isolation of oocysts from blood in human subjects has not been documented. We report a case of P. Read More

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2019 05 14;35(5):428-429. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

1 Department of Virology and Centre Pasteur of Cameroon, Member of the International Network of Pasteur Institutes, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Clin Infect Dis 2019 09;69(8):1303-1309

Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

Background: Serum (1,3)-beta-D glucan (BDG) is increasingly used to guide the management of suspected Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). BDG lacks specificity for PCP, and its clinical performance in high-risk cancer patients has not been fully assessed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for PCP detection is highly sensitive, but cannot differentiate between colonization and infection. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 03 1;46(3):251-258. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

From the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City; Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.

Objective: To evaluate the role of cytomegaloviral or pneumonia (CMV/PJP) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with pulmonary hemorrhage (PH).

Methods: We retrospectively examined hospital records for 27 SLE patients with PH who received bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analyses. Clinical profile and mortality rates were compared between groups with and without CMV/PJP. Read More

Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao 2018 Aug;40(4):450-455

Department of Gastroenterology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) complicated with Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia (PJP). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 5 patients who were hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2012 to July 2017 for treatment of IBD complicated with PJP. Demographic characteristics,clinical manifestations,treatments,and outcomes were descriptively analyzed. Read More

Transplant Proc 2018 Sep 13;50(7):2053-2058. Epub 2018 Mar 13.

Department of Cardiac, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Transplantology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland. Electronic address:

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of infections caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae among lung transplant recipients in the context of immunosuppression.

Methods: The study group consisted of 94 patients (37 women and 57 men; mean age 42.03 years) transplanted between 2009 and 2016 at the Silesia Center for Heart Diseases (SCCS). Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018 Aug;98(30):2414-2417

Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of infection and colonization in non-AIDS patients. From January 2010 to December 2017, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was detected by Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) staining and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) in non-AIDS patients with bronchoscopic alveolar lavage at Peking University First Hospital. At the same time, was detected in the environment of the hospital. Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2018 12 16;29(14):1451-1453. Epub 2018 Aug 16.

1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA.

Although Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is a frequent manifestation of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the granulomatous form is uncommon. Here, we present an unusual case of granulomatous PCP consequent to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) after highly active antiretroviral therapy. A 36-year-old woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented with cough and dyspnea that were attributed to typical PCP associated with AIDS. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2018 Aug 8;19:927-931. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

BACKGROUND Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) - formerly known as Pneumocyctis carinii pneumonia - with newly diagnosed AIDS is an uncommon presentation in people over 50 years of age. A high level of suspicion is required for this diagnosis when an elderly patient with pneumonia is not responding to broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment. CASE REPORT We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with dyspnea, cough, and significant hypoxemia requiring high-flow oxygen supplement with bilateral lung infiltrates, treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics for a presumed diagnosis of pneumonia. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Apr 21;2018. Epub 2018 Apr 21.

Rheumatology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.

We present a case of a 57-year-old woman who contracted pneumonia while on Benepali, the biosimilar version of etanercept for rheumatoid arthritis. She had seropositive erosive disease. She was admitted to clinic with a 2-week history of dyspnoea, dry cough and fever. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Mar;97(12):e0162

Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Department of Infectious Diseases.

Rationale: Cognitive dysfunction is a common presenting symptom in patients with HIV/AIDS. It is usually directly associated with HIV infection or due to opportunistic infection. Rapidly progressive dementia, however, is rarely observed in acute HIV infection or during immune reconstitution. Read More

Intern Med J 2018 Jan;48(1):81-83

Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

The association of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is not clearly defined. In our experience of 291 patients with AML, 20 (14 males and 6 females, median age 56) developed PJP (incidence 6.8%). Read More

Transplant Proc 2017 Oct;49(8):1893-1898

Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: The echinocandins have shown anti-Pneumocystis jiroveci activity in nonhuman animal models; however, the corresponding human clinical experience has been rarely reported. We report a clinical picture of P jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) and determine the effects of concomitant therapy with echinocandins and trimethoprim (TMP)-sulfamethoxazole (SMZ).

Methods: We investigated a retrospective case series of heart transplantation (HT) recipients with PJP from July 1988 to December 2015. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2017 11;153(11):1137-1141

Center for Blistering Diseases, Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Importance: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a potentially lethal opportunistic infection that primary prophylaxis can help prevent. The risk of prophylactic therapy must be weighed against the incidence of PCP in the patient population. Prophylaxis most frequently involves trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, with second-line therapies, including atovaquone, dapsone, and pentamide. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 02 15;17(3):571-572. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, Division of Internal Medicine, "Villa Sofia-Cervello" Hospital, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

PLoS One 2017 15;12(5):e0176881. Epub 2017 May 15.

Infectious Diseases, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.

P. jiroveci (Pj) causes a potentially fatal pneumonia in immunocompromised patients and the factors associated with a bad outcome are poorly understood. A retrospective analysis on Pj pneumonia (PjP) cases occurring in Tor Vergata University Hospital, Italy, during the period 2011-2015. Read More