Bacterial infections respiratory disorders

Chronic granulomatous disease is a rare inherited disorder characterized by the failure of neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and macrophages to produce the respiratory burst (Curnutte and Babior, 1987) this leads to recurrent bacterial and fungal infections often starting within the first year of life. 

Infection is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in MDS patients, accounting for 40-60% of deaths in various studies. The common infections are those normally associated with neutropenias, such as Gramnegative septicaemia and bacterial bronchopneumonias. Indeed, most MDS patients are neutropenic at some stage in their disease. Even those who do not have a neutropenia may have a defect in their neutrophil function. Many patients have clearly-defined defects in T- and B-lymphocyte functions, and variable defects in monocyte numbers or function have been described. Disorders of neutrophil function are common. Many reports indicate that phagocytosis, chemotaxis, respiratory-burst activity and degranulation are defective in some MDS patients, and hypogranulation is often observed. 

St. John s wort has been used to treat a wide range of ailments for more than 2000 years, and is said to have been prescribed by Hippocrates himself. Apart from depression, St. John s wort is being promoted or used as a treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sleep problems, nocturnal enuresis, bacterial and viral infections such as HIV-AIDS, respiratory conditions, peptic ulceration, inflammatory arthritis, cancer, and skin wounds (Rey and Walter, 1998 Walter et ah, 2000). It is also said to increase libido, an application dating from the Middle Ages (Fletcher, 1996). No empirical evidence is currently available to support any of these uses. 

It contains Thujone, which could be toxic. Native Americans used thuja for malaria, gout, scurvy, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, and coughs. Thuja s volatile oil acts as a stimulant, a diuretic, and an irritant. Thuja is used for respiratory tract infections and in conjunction with antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial skin infections and Herpes simplex. 

---