Evaluation of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in Canadians 40 years of age or more.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the side effects and immune responses after three serial doses of a new inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in people 40 years of age or more. DESIGN: Open, noncomparative trial. SETTING: A hospital, a regional laboratory and public health units in British Columbia. PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of 64 healthy adults aged 40 to 61 years who were seronegative for hepatitis A virus (HAV). All were staff or associates of the health facilities. Exclusion criteria included elevated serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase levels, a history of liver disease and recent travel to areas of high risk for HAV infection. INTERVENTION: A formalin-inactivated, alum-adsorbed vaccine containing 720 ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) units of antigen from HAV strain HM175 per 1.0-mL dose was injected intramuscularly into the delgoid area. The second and third doses were given 1 and 6 months later respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A detailed diary of any adverse effects for 3 days after each dose. HAV antibody levels in blood samples taken before and 30 days after each dose. RESULTS: All subjects completed the planned series of vaccinations and blood tests; symptom diaries were returned after 190 (99%) of 192 vaccinations. Local symptoms, most often soreness, were reported after 46% of the vaccinations but were mild and usually resolved within 24 hours. A temperature of more than 38.0 degrees C was never reported. Seroconversion occurred in all cases after the two primary doses, and the subjects were still seropositive at 6 months. After the booster dose the geometric mean titre was 2380 mIU/mL, all values being 200 mIU/mL or greater. CONCLUSION: In healthy adults 40 years of age or more the HAV vaccine was well tolerated and highly immunogenic. Final antibody levels were much higher than reported in people passively immunized against HAV with immune serum globulin.     

Prevalence of HIV infection in provincial prisons in British Columbia.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the prevalence of HIV infection among people entering provincial adult prisons in British Columbia and to study associations between HIV infection and specific demographic and behavioural characteristics. DESIGN: Prospective, unlinked, voluntary survey involving HIV antibody testing of saliva specimens. SETTING: All adult provincial prisons in British Columbia through which inmates are admitted to the provincial correctional system. PARTICIPANTS: All adult inmates admitted to provincial prisons in British Columbia between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 1992. OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate of HIV positivity. Independent variables included sex, native status (native or non-native), self-reported HIV status, age group and history of injection drug use. RESULTS: A total of 2482 (91.3%) of 2719 eligible inmates volunteered for testing. Refusal was not associated with sex, native status, self-reported HIV status or age group; inmates who reported a history of injection drug use were more likely than the others to refuse HIV antibody testing (12.9% v. 6.8%; p < 0.001). The 2482 inmates who were tested for HIV were similar to the general inmate population with regard to sex, native status and age group. A total of 28 inmates were confirmed to be HIV positive, for an overall prevalence rate in the study population of 1.1% (95% confidence interval 0.8% to 1.6%). The prevalence rates were higher among the women than among the men (3.3% v. 1.0%; p = 0.023, Fisher's exact test) and among the inmates who reported a history of injection drug use than among those who did not report such a history (2.4% v. 0.6%; p < 0.001). There was no association between HIV status and native status or age group. Logistic regression analysis revealed the higher prevalence rate among the women to be explained by more of the women than of the men reporting a history of injection drug use. Of the 30 people who stated that they were HIV positive and who were tested, 19 (63.3%) had a negative result; conversely, 17 who reported that they were HIV negative or had not been tested had a positive result. CONCLUSIONS: Unlinked, voluntary HIV antibody testing of inmates can achieve high participation rates. The overall prevalence rate of 1.1% and the rate among the female inmates of 3.3% confirm that HIV infection is a reality in prisons and that the virus has established a clear foothold in inmate populations. Harm-reduction interventions should include a comprehensive education program for inmates on infectious diseases, the availability of condoms throughout prisons and the distribution of bleach for sterilizing needles and syringes. From a public health perspective, these data suggest an urgent need for access to sterile injection equipment in addition to other preventive measures.     

全程接种疫苗狂犬病暴露者的免疫效果及其影响因素分析

目的探讨全程接种疫苗狂犬病暴露者的免疫效果及其影响因素分析。方法回顾性分析2013年1月至2014年12月我院门诊1248例全程接种狂犬病疫苗的狂犬病暴露者的临床资料,所有狂犬病暴露者均采用酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)测定抗狂犬病毒抗体,观察并分析其接种疫苗后的免疫效果。对所有狂犬病暴露者进行问卷调查,并对可影响接种疫苗后的免疫效果的因素进行单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析。结果本研究共检测1248份样品,其中阳性例数为1188例,阳性率为95.19%,男女间的阳性率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);单因素结果分析显示,年龄、暴露部位、狂犬疫苗接种史、慢性疾病史、接种期间是否抽烟、接种期间是否喝酒和接种期间是否有使用激素或免疫抑制剂均为影响狂犬疫苗接种后免疫效果的相关因素;多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,年龄、暴露部位、狂犬疫苗接种史、慢性疾病史、接种期间是否有使用激素或免疫抑制剂均为影响狂犬疫苗接种后免疫效果的独立危险因素。结论狂犬病暴露者接种狂犬病疫苗有助于狂犬病的预防,而对于抗狂犬病毒抗体阴性者,应加强免疫,确保免疫效果。年龄、暴露部位、狂犬疫苗接种史、慢性疾病、接种期间是否有使用激素或免疫抑制剂均为影响狂犬疫苗接种后免疫效果的独立危险因素。     

The management of varicella-zoster virus exposure and infection in pregnancy and the newborn period. Australasian Subgroup in Paediatric Infectious Diseases of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases

Zoster immunoglobulin (ZIG) should be offered to pregnant, varicella-seronegative women with significant exposure to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (chickenpox) infection. Oral aciclovir prophylaxis should be considered for susceptible pregnant women exposed to VZV who did not receive ZIG or have risk factors for severe disease. Intravenous aciclovir should be given to pregnant women who develop complicated varicella at any stage of pregnancy. Counselling on the risk of congenital varicella syndrome is recommended for pregnant women who develop chickenpox. ZIG should be given to a baby whose mother develops chickenpox up to 7 days before delivery or up to 28 days after delivery. Intravenous aciclovir should be given to babies presenting unwell with chickenpox, whether or not they received ZIG. Breastfeeding of babies infected with or exposed to VZV is encouraged. A mother with chickenpox or zoster does not need to be isolated from her own baby. If siblings at home have chickenpox, a newborn baby should be given ZIG if its mother is seronegative. The newborn baby does not need to be isolated from its siblings with chickenpox, whether or not the baby was given ZIG. After significant nursery exposure to VZV, ZIG should be given to seronegative babies and to all babies born before 28 weeks' gestation.     

Live varicella vaccine in both immunocompromised and healthy children

BACKGROUND: There is no information on the use of live varicella vaccine in Mexican children. Our objective was to evaluate antibody response and safety of the live varicella vaccine in both healthy and immunocompromised Mexican children. METHODS: One hundred children with no history of varicella/zoster were vaccinated with a live attenuated varicella vaccine. According to their immune status, patients were divided into either a compromised (leukemia, solid tumors, chronic renal failure, and cirrhosis) or a healthy children group. Serum IgG antibodies against VZV were measured by ELISA at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after vaccination. RESULTS: A positive VZV-ELISA at baseline was detected in 36 of 67 (53.7%) immunocompromised children and in 22 of 33 (66%) healthy children. Among VZV-seronegative children, seroconversion at 6 months post-vaccination was observed in 90.3% of compromised children and in 100% of healthy children. Increases in serum antibody levels at 3 and 6 months post-vaccination was similar in both groups. VZV vaccine-related adverse reactions, mostly mild and local, were detected in 29% of the children. Three compromised children had a mild rash symptomatic of varicella after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: About 50% of immunosuppressed children (mean age 8.8 +/- 3.6 years) with no varicella history were VZV-seronegative. Almost all of these compromised VZV-seronegative patients seroconverted 6 months after vaccine. In addition, antibody titers were similar in both compromised and healthy children.     

Possible role of Helicobacter pylori serology in reducing endoscopy workload.

We validated a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Helico-G, in diagnosing H. pylori in 129 patients (mean age 50 years, range 15-86). We analysed the results of endoscopy against serology to see whether there was a possibility of adopting the strategy of not endoscoping dyspeptic subjects under the age of 45. H. pylori infection was considered present if either histology and/or culture were positive. The ELISA had a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 72%, positive predictive value of 85%, negative predictive value of 77% and accuracy of 82% in detecting H. pylori. In a subgroup of 52 subjects aged 45 or less (mean age 35 years, range 15-45), 17 out of 25 patients with positive endoscopic findings were H. pylori seropositive while 16 out of 27 patients had normal endoscopic findings. Eighteen out of the 52 patients (35%) were H. pylori seronegative and normal endoscopically except for five patients (10%) who had mild to moderate oesophagitis and two who had non-erosive gastritis (4%). All patients with duodenal ulcer disease (7) were seropositive giving predictive values of positive and negative serology for a diagnosis of duodenal ulcer disease as 28% and 100%, respectively. Therefore adopting a strategy of endoscoping subjects under the age of 45 only if they were H. pylori seropositive would have saved 35% of endoscopies in this age group but missed oesophagitis in 10%. Negative serology would tend to exclude duodenal ulcer disease while positive serology discriminates poorly for it. Serology may be a useful adjunct in screening to reduce endoscopy workload provided that patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms are excluded.     

Long term effects of exposure to viral infections in utero

An analysis was conducted of the major findings of a long term follow up study of 3076 subjects who were exposed to viral infections in utero and who at the time of analysis were up to 40 years of age. Mortality and morbidity were compared with those in a control population matched for sex and date and area of birth. An excess of cancers (16 cases against seven) appeared to be clustered among those exposed to herpes viruses (varicella or cytomegalovirus). There was evidence of an increased risk of diabetes among those exposed to mumps during the first trimester (four cases among 128 subjects against none in 148 controls). The most surprising finding was a decrease of diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and of the nervous system among subjects exposed to antenatal varicella zoster infection. The mechanism for the association may include production of fetal anti-idiotype antibodies in response to transplacentally acquired maternal autoantibodies.     

Hepatitis C viral infection in a Chinese hemodialysis unit

Background The prevalence of hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection among maintenance hemodialysis （MHD） patients varies among countries and among dialysis units within a single country. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of HCV infection in MHD patients in a Chinese hemodialysis unit.Methods One hundred and ninety-two patients on MHD for an average of （86.1±30.0） months （range 6-181 months） were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. HCV antibody and HCV-RNA were measured in these MHD patients before hemodialysis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and polymerase chain reaction （PCR） methods.According to the result, all the patients were then divided into two groups： GroupⅠwas positive for HCV antibody and/or HCV-RNA （n=32）, and Group Ⅱ was negative for HCV antibody and HCV-RNA （n=160）. The following information was obtained for all the patients： socio-demographic data, history of blood transfusions and kidney transplantation, and some laboratory values. The MHD patients who were positive for HCV antibody and/or HCV-RNA were followed for more than three years. The disease activities were graded into ＂asymptomatic＂ if alanine aminotransferase （ALT） was less than 40 U/L,＂low activities＂ if ALT was 40-79 U/L, and ＂high activities＂ if ALT was equal to or above 80 U/L.Results The prevalence of HCV infection in MHD patients in our dialysis unit in May 2009 was 16.7, which was significantly higher than in general population （3.2%）. Among the 32 MHD patients with HCV positive, 20 patients were positive for HCV antibody but negative for HCV-RNA, eight patients were positive both for HCV antibody and HCV-RNA,four patients were negative for HCV antibody but positive for HCV-RNA. Eleven patients had a history of kidney transplantation and 12 had a history of blood transfusion, which were significantly more than among the MHD patients without HCV. Thirty of the 32 MHD patients were asymptomatic. There were no significant differences in age, aspartate aminotransferase （AST）, ALT, or between HCV-RNA positive group and HCV-RNA negative group. But the dialysis duration in the HCV-RNA positive group was significantly longer than that in the HCV-RNA negative group. All the 20HCV-RNA negative patients were asymptomatic. Two of the 12 HCV-RNA positive patients had low activity. None of the 32 cases with HCV positive markers had cirrhosis.Conclusions A high prevalence of HCV infection in MHD patients is related to blood transfusion and kidney transplantation. Occult HCV infection is present in MHD patients. Chronic hepatitis C among MHD patients is mild in disease activity, and is not progressive, perhaps due to immunological abnormalities in these patients.     

Immunisation of adults during an outbreak of diphtheria

In an outbreak of infection due to Corynebacterium diphtheriae in a hospital for mentally subnormal adults sera from 211 members of staff were screened for diphtheria antitoxin titres. Of these, 79 (37%) required immunisation, and a low dose preparation (1 LfU of diphtheria and 10 LfU tetanus toxoids) was offered. Of the 64 subjects who accepted a single immunisation and were subsequently retested, seroconversion to diphtheria toxoid occurred in 45 (70%), the rate being highest in younger adults. Seroconversion to tetanus toxoid occurred in 59% of subjects. Local reactions to the single dose were reported by 29 (43%) subjects, and nine (13%) experienced moderately severe local reactions and systemic symptoms. We conclude that adults should not be vaccinated without previous screening for susceptibility to diphtheria; that neither previous immunisation nor age is reliable in predicting the need for vaccination; and that though a single booster dose of diphtheria toxoid is probably effective in adults under 45, two doses should be given to those in the older age group.     

北京市门头沟区2007-2012年水痘病例流行病学调查分析

目的对2007-2012年北京市门头沟区报告的水痘病例进行分析,了解其流行病学特征,为预防控制水痘提供参考。方法病例资料来源于《中国疾病预防控制系统》,流行病学资料来源于病例的流行病学个案调查。对资料进行流行病学分析。结果北京市门头沟区2007-2012年共报告水痘病例1 053例,水痘发病基本呈现5~6月和12月~次年1月两个高峰。发病年龄最小2月、最大50岁,发病人数最多的是6~10岁年龄组,共发病414例,占总发病人数的39.32%;发病最多的3个职业分别为小学生、散居儿童和托幼儿童;1 053例病例中完成流行病学调查的1030例,其中发热497例,占48.25%。出疹程度轻度（50个以下散在皮疹）724例,占70.29%;出疹程度中度（50~500个皮疹）287例,占27.86%;出疹程度重度（可触及大量皮疹或疹间无正常皮肤）19例,占1.85%,出疹严重程度差异有统计学意义（Z=-2.956,Ρ〈0.01）;有水痘疫苗免疫史的427例,占41.46%;无免疫史的441例,占42.82%,有无水痘免疫史的病例发热的发生率差异无统计学意义（χ2=2.234,P〉0.05）;有免疫史的病例出疹程度较轻。结论接种水痘疫苗后儿童临床症状较轻,为控制水痘疫情,应进一步提高水痘疫苗的接种率,并且有必要开展第2剂次的免疫。     

National surveillance of AIDS in health care workers

Information obtained for all persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) reported to the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, includes a question about employment in a health care or clinical laboratory setting. As of May 1, 1986, a total of 922 (5.5%) of 16,748 adults with AIDS reported employment in such settings. Ninety-five percent of these health care workers belonged to recognized high-risk groups for AIDS; the proportion with "no identified risk" has not increased with time. All AIDS patients (including health care workers) who do not belong to high-risk groups are referred for further investigation. Of 88 health care workers initially reported with no identified risk, ten were from countries where heterosexual transmission is believed to play a major role; additional information was unobtainable or incomplete for 17 individuals. Of 61 persons on whom interviews or other follow-up information was obtained, 44 (73%) were reclassified. Specific occupational exposures that could be implicated as the source of human immunodeficiency virus infection were not identified for any health care workers with AIDS. A review of surveillance data supports other studies indicating that the risk of human immunodeficiency virus transmission in the occupational setting is low.     

Varicella-zoster virus infection in the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Sri Lanka

OBJECTIVES: To determine the morbidity and mortality patterns of varicella and risk factors affecting its outcome, and the facilities available at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Sri Lanka. METHODS: A retrospective study on all patients admitted with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection to the IDH from August 2000 to July 2001. Data were collected from the hospital records. RESULTS: Among the 1690 patients admitted during the study period, 1090 (64.9%) were due to VZV infection. Nine hundred and eighty nine (90.7%) had varicella and 101 (9.3%) herpes zoster. Common complications were secondary bacterial infection (62.1%), neurological complications (3.4%), pneumonia (9.1%) and carditis (1.01%). They were significantly commoner in patients with coexisting diseases. Hospital stay was significantly shorter in patients who received early aciclovir, which was not available on a regular basis. Forty one patients died and mortality was highest in the elderly. The commonest cause of death was pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Varicella related complications are high in patients with coexisting diseases. Mortality rates are higher than reported elsewhere. Health care facilities available at IDH are quite inadequate, and should be improved.     

Ocular Trauma in a Rural Population of North China:The Handan Eye Study

Objective To determine the prevalence of ocular trauma and the proportion of blindness and visual impairment due to trauma in a rural population in northern China.
Methods The Handan Eye Study is a population-based cross-sectional study that surveyed 6830 Chinese people aged 30+years from 13 randomly selected villages in Yongnian County, city of Handan, Hebei Province, in July, 2006. All participants underwent a standardized interview and extensive examinations. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on ocular trauma.
Results Of the 5837 participants who filled out the questionnaire, 124 subjects [2.1%;95%confidence interval (CI), 1.8%-2.5%] reported a history of ocular trauma in either eye, including 19 (0.3%) persons reporting trauma in both eyes. Men were more likely to have an eye injury than women [odds ratio (OR), 3.3;2.2-4.9]. In multiple logistic regression models, ocular trauma was significantly more frequent among normotensive participants when compared with hypertensive participants (hypertensive vs. normotensive:OR, 0.6;0.4-0.9) and among participants who had a history of falls (OR, 2.4;1.2-4.8). The proportion of unilateral visual impairment and unilateral blindness due to trauma were 10.5% (13 subjects) and 21.0%(26 subjects), respectively.
Conclusion Our study reports the prevalence of severe ocular trauma among adults in rural China, revealing a high proportion of blindness and visual impairment due to trauma. These findings suggest the need for educational strategies to increase eye health awareness in this rural population with focus on providing at least appropriate first aid care to reduce blindness due to trauma.     

持续幽门螺杆菌感染对胃黏膜的作用及其转归的影响因素

目的　探讨幽门螺杆菌 (Hp)长期感染对胃黏膜的作用及其转归的影响因素。方法随访 114例 10年前诊断Hp感染的患者 ,分析对比 10年前后其Hp感染情况、胃镜和病理组织学变化。并检测了其中 80例Hp持续感染者血清抗HpCagA IgG和抗HpIgE ,分析它们与Hp长期感染不同转归的关系。结果　 114例患者中 34例 (2 9 8% )Hp转阴 ,80例 (70 2 % )Hp持续阳性。Hp感染持续 10年后消化性溃疡的发生率、胃黏膜慢性炎症程度、肠上皮化生 (IM )和糜烂的发生率均显著增加 ,其IM严重程度显著加剧。而Hp转阴者消化性溃疡的发生率、胃黏膜慢性炎症程度均显著低于 10年前 ,并显著低于Hp持续阳性者。Hp长期感染后发展为消化性溃疡 (PU)者血清抗HpCagA IgG和抗HpIgE阳性率显著高于持续保持慢性浅表性胃炎 (CSG)不变者 ,发生黏膜糜烂和IM者血清抗HpCagA IgG阳性率显著高于不发生黏膜糜烂和IM者 ,均P <0 0 0 5 ,而胃黏膜的慢性炎症程度是否加剧与CagA无关。结论　Hp持续感染可增加消化性溃疡的发生率 ,加剧胃黏膜的炎症程度 ,并促进肠上皮化生的形成和发展 ,根除Hp不仅能减轻胃黏膜的炎症程度 ,而且能阻止肠上皮化生的发生和发展。CagA阳性菌株和产生抗HpIgE的个体 ,其Hp长期感染后病变的转归均较阴性者严重 ,因此 ,对于这类患者应     

Musculoskeletal status of men and women who entered a fitness programme

The musculoskeletal status at entry into a fitness programme and the incidence of injuries during the first four months of the programme were evaluated in 991 men and women who were aged 20-63 years. At entry, about half of the subjects reported having received treatment for musculoskeletal ailments previously, or that currently they were experiencing musculoskeletal pain and/or discomfort, and about one-third of the subjects reported one or more movement limitations. New injuries during the first four months of the programme were reported by 38% of subjects, with an average duration of impairment of 3.8 weeks, and 43% of those who were injured sought medical treatment. The most frequent type, location, and cause of injury were "joint sprains/strains" (66%), the lower leg (70%), and jogging (33%), respectively. Musculoskeletal problems (previous treatment, current pain or discomfort or movement limitations) in the leg did not predict leg injuries during the programme, but back problems did predict back injuries. Age, sex, body mass index, a parental history of musculoskeletal disease, a sporting history, and the frequency of vigorous exercise during the first four months did not predict injury. The study emphasized: first, the vulnerability of previously-sedentary persons to musculoskeletal injury and the consequent need for care in the management of fitness programmes; secondly, the need for the evaluation of such programmes if they are to have a rational rather than an intuitive basis; and thirdly, the need for epidemiological research on the musculoskeletal system as a basis for systematic efforts, partly through education and ergonomics, to reduce wear and tear on the musculoskeletal system.     

聚集性感染家族内乙型肝炎病毒标志物

目的:研究HBV 血清标志物及HBV DNA在聚集性感染家族内的流行模式.方法:以2002/2005在我院感染科就诊的来自偏远山区的HBsAg阳性者为先证者,询问其家族史,筛选具有3代或以上遗传信息的家系. 签署知情同意书后,对这家系中所有的人进行流行病学调查,收集血样. 用ELISA检测HBsAg,抗-HBs,HBeAg,抗-HBe,抗-HBc;用Real-Time PCR 定量检测HBV DNA.结果:共收集27个家系237人;HBsAg,抗-HBs,HBeAg,抗-HBe,抗-HBc,HBV DNA的总体阳性率分别为45.6%,5.9%,26.7%,11.8%,62.9%,28.3%;在HBV聚集性感染家族中,男性的HBsAg,HBeAg,HBV DNA的阳性率显著高于女性;HBsAg及HBV DNA相对年龄成双峰分布,主要集中在18岁和45岁.结论:在聚集性感染家族中,HBV的流行病学资料有其自身特点;家族聚集性感染者符合慢性HBV感染的自然病程,多为婴幼儿期感染所致,可能与宿主的遗传易感性有关.     

Herpes simplex antigen in immune complexes of patients with erythema multiforme: presence following recurrent herpes simplex infection

Serum samples from patients with erythema multiforme (EM) were examined for the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigen in immune complexes using the Raji cell radioimmunoassay. Raji-cell-bound immune complexes from eight of 12 patients with EM after HSV infection and four of four patients with EM of uncertain cause had increased anti-HSV binding, while patients with EM after drug exposure and patients with recurrent HSV infections without EM had binding in the same range as controls. Viral cultures for HSV of immune complexes eluted from Raji cells were negative. Sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation studies of serum samples of patients with EM after HSV infection showed HSV antigen in large molecular weight fractions. The HLA typing of lymphocytes from 16 patients with EM after HSV infection was not different from that of controls. Immune complexes composed of antibody and HSV antigen are present in serum samples of patients with EM after HSV infection and some cases of EM of uncertain cause and may mediate the pathogenesis of these disorders.     

Value of symptoms to predict tilt testing outcome in patients with clinical suspicion of vasovagal syncope

Studies to assess the value of clinical symptoms to predict the head-up tilt test (HUT) outcome in patients with suspicion of vasovagal syncope have shown controversial results. We undertook this study to compare the frequency of symptoms between subjects with and without history of syncope, its association with syncopal spells in those with a history of syncope and positive or negative HUT, and to identify clinical predictors of HUT outcome. Sixty seven subjects with a history of unexplained syncope and 26 subjects without a history of syncope were interviewed using a structured questionnaire before undergoing HUT, which was performed first in a passive phase and, if negative, was repeated with pharmacological challenge using 5 mg of sublingual isosorbide. Questionnaire included the 16 symptoms most frequently reported in previous studies. Only five symptoms were reported more frequently by subjects with history of syncope in comparison with subjects without it: visual blurring, dysesthesia, sighing dyspnea, tremor in fingers, and diaphoresis. Comparison of symptom frequency between patients with history of syncope and positive or negative HUT revealed that only two were significantly different: nausea and hot flashes. However, a detailed analysis of the data indicates that only hot flashes occurring just before the syncope were more common in those with a positive HUT. Although some symptoms were found more frequently in patients with a history of syncope than in those without it, the use of a structured questionnaire in the group of patients failed to predict the outcome of the HUT.     

Clinical presentation and operative repair of hernia of Morgagni

A 77 year old woman who presented with an incarcerated hernia of Morgagni was successfully treated without complications. A Medline search (1996 to date) along with cross referencing was done to quantify the number of acute presentations in adults compared to children. Different investigating modalities--for example, lateral chest and abdominal radiography, contrast studies or, in difficult cases, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging--can be used to diagnose hernia of Morgagni. The favoured method of repair--laparotomy or laparoscopy--is also discussed. A total of 47 case reports on children and 93 case reports on adults were found. Fourteen percent of children (seven out of 47) presented acutely compared with 12% of adults (12 out of 93). Repair at laparotomy was the method of choice but if uncertain, laparoscopy would be a useful diagnostic tool before attempted repair. Laparoscopic repair was favoured in adults especially in non-acute cases.     

Management of varicella exposure in a neonatal intensive care unit

We describe the management of an exposure to varicella in a neonatal intensive care unit. Thirty-seven hospital staff members with negative histories of varicella were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibody to varicella zoster; all were seropositive. None were restricted from clinical duties, were given varicella-zoster immune globulin, or developed disease. Although only 1 of 38 cord serum samples from normal term infants was seronegative, 10 of 22 neonatal intensive care unit infants were seronegative. The high rate of seronegativity among these patients was related to chronological age older than 2 months and to multiple transfusions of packed red blood cells. This probably reflects natural catabolism of maternal antibody and loss of antibody in serum removed from these infants for diagnostic tests. Infants lacking antibody were given varicella-zoster immune globulin. Antibody levels following administration of varicella-zoster immune globulin were directly related to the dose administered.