The efficacy of gentian violet (Gv) in eradicating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in decubitus ulcers was investigated. Decubitus ulcers (a total of 18 cases) were scrubbed with Gv aqueous solution 0.1% and ointment containing Gv 0.1% was applied daily. MRSA was not detected in these lesions for 3-34 days (average, 10.5 +/- 2.5 days) after the application of Gv ointment. Before this trial, all patients were treated with povidone-iodine and antibiotics; however, those treatments were not effective in eradicating MRSA from skin lesions. Skin irritation and other systemic side effects caused by Gv were not observed. Our data suggest that Gv is a useful agent for treatment of the decubitus ulcers infected with MRSA.
During primary viral infection, in vivo exposure to high doses of virus causes a loss of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells. This phenomenon, termed clonal exhaustion, and other mechanisms by which CTLs are deleted are poorly understood. Here we show evidence for a novel form of cell death in which recently stimulated CD8+ HIV-1 envelope gp160-specific murine CTLs become apoptotic in vitro after brief exposure to free antigenic peptide (P18-I10). Peak apoptosis occurred within 3 h of treatment with peptide, and the level of apoptosis was dependent on both the time after initial stimulation with target cells and the number of targets. Using T cell-specific H-2Dd/P18-I10 tetramers, we observed that the apoptosis was induced by such complexes. Induction of apoptosis was blocked by cyclosporin A, a caspase 3 inhibitor, and a mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, but not by Abs to either Fas ligand or to TNF-α. Thus, these observations suggest the existence of a Fas- or TNF-α-independent pathway initiated by TCR signaling that is involved in the rapid induction of CTL apoptosis. Such a pathway may prove important in the mechanism by which virus-specific CTLs are deleted in the presence of high viral burdens.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.