婴幼儿脓毒症不同免疫状态细胞因子变化探讨

目的 检测不同免疫状态脓毒症婴幼儿细胞因子浓度的变化,探讨婴幼儿脓毒症免疫功能紊乱的可能机制.方法 深圳市儿童医院重症监护室2007年5月至11月收治的脓毒症患儿36例为研究组,16例正常婴幼儿为对照组.根据人类白细胞抗原(HLA)-DR的测定值,将患儿分为免疫激活组(DR-H组)和免疫抑制组(DR-L组).用流式细胞术检测CD14+单核细胞HLA-DR表达率;实时荧光定量PCR检测CD4+T细胞IL-10、IL-6 mRNA表达;ELISA检测IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α、IL-10血浆浓度.结果 (1)小儿危重病例评分DR-H组高于DR-L组(90.15±4.43 vs 81.91±7.45,P＜0.05).(2)细胞因子变化:两组前炎症细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6血浓度均明显高于对照组(P＜0.05),DR-H组TNF-α高于对照组.两组问比较,IL-1β及IL-6差异无显著性,DR-H组TNF-α高于DR-L组(P＜0.05).两组IL-6基因表达均高于对照组(P＜0.05),以DR-L组增高尤为显著.两组IL-10均高于对照组(P＜0.05),DR-L组IL-10基因表达高于对照组及DR-H组.结论 CD14+单核细胞HLA-DR表达检测对婴幼儿脓毒症危重程度及预后有一定判断价值.婴幼儿脓毒症发病过程中,前炎症细胞因子始终处于高表达状态,导致免疫抑制的主要原因可能是抗炎因子IL-10过表达.     

不同浓度胆红素对新生儿脐血单核细胞白细胞介素-6、肿瘤坏死因子-α分泌的影响

目的 探讨不同浓度胆红素生儿脐血单核细胞(CBMC)分泌IL-6、TNF-α水平的影响.方法 选择10例健康新生儿为研究对象,在无菌操作条件下收集脐血,用明胶/自体血浆贴壁法获得脐血单个核细胞(CB-MNC),先予小同浓度胆红素的生血清清蛋白溶液孵育1 h.再予脂多糖(LPS,1 mg/L)刺激培养24 h,收集上清液.采用ELISA法检测其上清液中IL-6和TNF-α水平.采用PEMS 3.0 for Windows软件行统计学分析.结果 LPS可刺激CBMC分泌IL-6、TNF-α,低浓度胆红素(102.6 umol/L)可抑制其分泌;先经低浓度胆红素孵育CBMC,再接受LPS刺激.CBMC分泌IL-6和TNF-α水平升高;在经较高浓度胆红素和高浓度胆红素(153.9 umol/L、220.6 umol/L、307.8 umol/L)作用后,LPS刺激CBMC分泌IL-6和TNF-α的作用受到抑制.随胆红素浓度升高,胆红素抑制CBMC分泌IL-6和TNF-α作用越明显.CBMC分泌IL-6水平与TNF-α变化呈正相关(r=0.777 9 P<0.01).结论 胆红素可抑制CBMC分泌TNF-α和IL-6,其机制可能是胆红素与细胞膜结合破坏了细胞表面受体,影响了细胞活化;亦可能是胆红素进入细胞内破坏了细胞内的信号传导系统,抑制了细胞因子DNA的合成和转录.     

1,25-(OH)2D3抑制脂多糖诱导的脐血CD4+T细胞IL-13和IL-17的表达

目的 本研究旨在探讨生命早期脂多糖(LPS)对脐血CD4+T细胞白介素-13(IL-13)和白介素-17(IL-17)表达的影响及1,25-(OH)2D3对其表达的干预作用,为维生素D的临床合理应用及其对哮喘等变态反应性疾病的防治提供理论依据。方法 选取顺产的足月新生儿12例,断脐后立即取胎盘端脐静脉血50 mL,采用密度梯度离心法分离脐血单个核细胞(CBMCs),磁珠分选CD4+T细胞后依据不同的处理方法分为空白刺激组、LPS(10 μg/mL)单独刺激组和LPS(10 μg/mL)+1,25-(OH)2D3(10-8 mmol/L)共刺激组。培养72 h后采用双抗夹心酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和Real-Time PCR分别检测培养上清液中IL-13和IL-17水平及CD4+T细胞中IL-13和IL-17 mRNA表达。结果 与空白刺激组相比,LPS单独刺激组培养上清液中IL-13和IL-17水平及CD4+T细胞中IL-13和IL-17 mRNA表达水平明显升高(均P<0.01),而1,25-(OH)2D3处理可降低其表达水平(均P<0.05),但仍高于空白刺激组(均P<0.01)。结论 LPS可促进脐血CD4+T细胞IL-13和IL-17的表达;1,25-(OH)2D3对于LPS诱导的脐血CD4+T细胞IL-13和IL-17表达具有抑制作用,提示1,25-(OH)2D3可能在变应原致敏的早期发挥一定保护作用。     

肠道病毒71型感染患儿免疫功能探讨

目的 探讨肠道病毒71型(EV71)感染患儿免疫功能变化与病情程度的关系.方法 患儿46例,健康同龄儿童12例,根据病情由轻到重将患儿分为4组:手足口病组11例、中枢神经系统病变组20例、中枢神经系统病变伴自主神经功能失调组10例、神经源性肺水肿组(pulmonaryedema,PE组)5例.进行下述检测:CD14~+单核细胞人类白细胞DR抗原(HLA-DR)表达率、淋巴细胞免疫分型、CD4~+CD25~+Foxp3~(high)调节性T细胞(regulatory T cells,Treg cells)及TH17细胞比例;白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素10(IL-10)、转录生长因子β(TGF-β)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、白细胞介素17A(IL-17A)血浓度;CD~4T细胞Foxp3、ROR-γt基因表达;血清免疫球蛋白及补体等.结果 (1)前炎症细胞因子TNF-α及IL-1β在轻症患儿中增高,随病情加重而下降,PE组明显降低(P<0.05);抗炎细胞因子IL-10及IL-10/TNF-α比值随病情加重增高,PE组增高明显(P<0.05).(2)HLA-DR、CD3~+T细胞、CD4~+T细胞、CD8~+T细胞、NK细胞随病情加重呈现逐步下降趋势,PE组下降最为明显(P<0.05).各组间B淋巴细胞及抗体差异无统计学意义.(3)Treg细胞比例、转录因子Foxp3 mRNA及诱导因子TGF-β血浓度随病情加重降低,而TH17细胞比例、IL-17A血浓度、转录因子ROR-γt mRNA及诱导因子IL-6血浓度随病情加重升高.结论 EV71感染患儿机体免疫功能随病情程度而变化,轻症患儿处于全身炎症反应状态,重症或危重症病例处于代偿性抗炎症反应或混合性拮抗反应状态,对EV71感染的免疫调控治疗应强调分阶段、个体化.     

CD4+T细胞因子在胆道闭锁患儿肝脏组织中的表达及其意义

目的 检测T淋巴细胞中的11种CD4+T细胞因子在胆道闭锁(biliary atresia,BA)患儿肝脏组织中的表达,以探讨其在胆道闭锁发病机制中的意义.方法 在病理的基础上,采用流式微球技术对29例BA及9例对照组患儿肝脏组织CD4+T细胞表达的11种细胞因子(IL-12p70、IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-10、IL-8、IL-6、IL-4、IL-5、IL-1β、TNF-α和TNF-β)同时进行定量检测,并对其代表因子IFN-γ进行免疫组化定位分析.结果 CD4+T细胞表达的11种细胞因子中,BA组患儿肝脏组织中IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6、IL-8、IFN-γ、TNF-α以及Th1细胞因子总量(IL-1β、IL-2、IL-8、IL-12p70、IFN-γ、TNF-α、TNF-β)与促炎因子总量(IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6、IL-8、IL-12p70、IFN-γ、TNF-α、TNF-β)分别为2920.69、1 106.01、152.22、12 614.22、834.18、161.29、19 504.55、19653.06,数值明显高于对照组的1 096.00、243.68、5.98、965.17、147.28、30.56、2 617.93、2 623.91,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 由CD4+Th1细胞及其细胞因子所介导的针对胆道上皮细胞的免疫炎症性疾病可能是造成胆道闭锁的主要原因之一.     

新生儿和婴幼儿手术应激后外周血单核细胞Toll样受体水平变化及临床意义

目的 探讨新生儿、婴幼儿手术应激后外周血单核细胞Toll样受体(TLR)2、4表达变化规律及临床意义.方法 选择择期手术患儿32例,包括新生儿组9例,婴幼儿组23例,分别于术前、术后、术后1天、3天、7天采集外周血2ml肝素抗凝.采用流式细胞术检测单核细胞表面TLR2、4的水平;分离外周血单核细胞,用LPS刺激后,EUSA法测定上清液中TNF-α和IL-6的水平.结果 新生儿组和婴幼儿组术后TLR2和TLR4表达均明显降低,与术前比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),术后1天均恢复正常(P>0.05).LPS刺激的TNF-α水平术后明显抑制,术后1天逐渐上升;IL-6水平无明显变化.结论 手术创伤早期可致TLR2和TLR4表达下调,导致机体对病原微生物的敏感性下降.     

胆红素对早产儿NOD样受体2介导的炎症信号通路的影响北大核心CSCD

目的探讨胆红素对早产儿NOD样受体2（NOD2）介导的炎症信号通路的影响。方法收集2016年4月至2017年1月苏州大学附属儿童医院新生儿科收治的15例早产儿外周血各2 mL,分离外周血单个核细胞,平均分为6组,分别为空白对照组（A组）、胞壁酰二肽（MDP）对照组（B组）、102 μmol/L胆红素组（C组）、102 μmol/L胆红素＋MDP组（D组）、153 μmol/L胆红素＋MDP组（E组）、255 μmol/L胆红素＋MDP组（F组）。A组、B组加入缓冲液,C组、D组、E组、F组分别加入102 μmol/L、102 μmol/L、153 μmol/L、255 μmol/L胆红素溶液孵育1 h,弃上清,A组、C组加入培养基液,B组、D组、E组、F组加入等量MDP激动剂刺激细胞24 h,分别收集细胞和上清液,实时定量-聚合酶链反应测定细胞中NOD2 mRNA的表达量,酶联免疫吸附法测上清液中白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）的表达水平。结果经MDP激动剂和102 μmol/L、153 μmol/L、255 μmol/L的胆红素刺激后,NOD2 mRNA的表达量（7.16±3.08、6.19±1.99、7.02±4.04、6.84±1.81）与空白对照组（7.46±3.70）比较差异均无统计学意义（均P〉0.05）。经MDP激动剂刺激后,B组IL-6表达水平（5.13±2.36）较空白对照组（3.84±1.44）明显上升,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;2组TNF-α水平比较差异无统计学意义（4.85±2.47比4.04±2.26,P〉0.05）。经102 μmol/L的胆红素刺激后,IL-6、TNF-α表达水平与空白对照组比较差异均无统计学意义（3.26±1.06比3.84±1.44、3.45±1.84比4.04±2.26,均P〉0.05）;经153 μmol/L、255 μmol/L胆红素刺激后,IL-6、TNF-α表达水平（IL-6：2.58±1.33、2.16±0.94;TNF-α：2.32±1.49、2.42±1.42）较空白对照组（3.84±1.44、4.04±2.26）明显降低,差异均有统计学意义（均P〈0.05）。结论胆红素对NOD2无明显抑制作用,低浓度胆红素对IL-6、TNF-α无明显抑制作用,但高浓度胆红素抑制炎性因子IL-6、TNF-α的分泌,高胆红素可能通过抑制单核细胞表面NOD2介导的炎症信号通路传导来抑制机体抗感染免疫应答能力。     

宫内巨细胞病毒感染DNA定量对早产儿脑损伤发病的影响

目的探讨早产儿宫内巨细胞病毒(CMV)感染CMV-DNA定量测定与早产儿脑损伤的关系及可能的炎症机制。方法选择2008—2009年本研究中3家医院产科分娩、确诊脑损伤的早产儿为观察组,1∶1配对选择B超确诊无脑损伤的早产儿为对照组,分别用酶联免疫吸附试验法检测脐血白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、IL-6、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、IL-10水平,荧光定量PCR测定脐血CMV-DNA水平,比较两组各指标的差异,分析早产儿脑损伤发病影响因素,评价CMV-DNA负载量对早产儿脑损伤发病风险的影响。结果共493例早产儿生后3～7天完成了头颅B超检查,其中脑损伤120例,脑损伤发生率24.3%,对照组配对入选120例无脑损伤早产儿。观察组脐血CMV-DNA阳性率、IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α水平均高于对照组,IL-10水平低于对照组[阳性率:63.3%比17.5%,IL-1β:(11.4±3.2)μg/L比(5.5±2.1)μg/L,IL-6:(7.8±1.4)μg/L比(3.7±0.8)μg/L,TNF-α:(6.9±1.7)μg/L比(3.5±1.1)μg/L,IL-10:(5.8±1.4)μg/L比(12.7±2.9)μg/L,P均<0.05]。观察组患儿脐血CMV-DNA拷贝数(经对数lg转换)水平高于对照组[(6.8±1.1)比(4.9±0.8),P<0.05]。DNA拷贝数(经对数lg转换)为6～7以及>7是早产儿脑损伤的独立危险因素,其优势比分别为2.344(95%CI:1.117～3.579)和2.679(95%CI:2.018～4.417)。结论早产儿早期CMV感染程度与生后脑损伤的发病风险密切相关,CMV导致的早期脑损伤可能与细胞免疫因子失调相关。     

CD4+CD25+调节性T淋巴细胞与Th17细胞在新生儿脓毒症炎性免疫反应中的作用

目的 探讨CD4+ CD25+调节性T淋巴细胞(CD4+ CD25+Treg)与Th17细胞在新生儿脓毒症炎性免疫反应中的作用.方法 选取脓毒症新生儿20例,抽取其静脉血3 mL备检,未加任何体外丝裂原刺激培养.采用流式细胞术检测外周血CD4+ CD25+ Treg的比例;采用实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time PCR)检测CD4+T淋巴细胞IL-17A、IL-17F、转录因子ROR-γt、Foxp3及相关细胞因子IL-6、TGF-β等mRNA表达;ELISA法检测IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α等前炎性因子蛋白表达;收集同期体检健康足月新生儿16例作为健康对照组.结果 与健康对照组比较:1.新生儿脓毒症组CD4+ CD25+Treg比例明显增高[(15.33±2.68)％比(2.96±0.56)％,P＜0.01],其转录因子Foxp3表达亦明显增高[(42.76±10.83) ×10-4比(22.34±4.17)×10-4,P＜0.01].2.新生儿脓毒症组较健康对照组CD4+T淋巴细胞高表达IL-17A及IL-17F[IL-17A:(13.56±3.21)×10“比(4.76 ±1.39)×10-6,P＜0.01;IL-17F:(7.62±1.45)×10-4比(1.89±0.48) ×10-4,P＜0.01].Th17细胞转录因子ROR-γt表达较健康对照组明显增高[(9.22±1.79) ×10-5比(2.84±0.56) ×10-5,P＜0.01].3.新生儿脓毒症组前炎性细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α表达明显增高[IL-1β:(2977.36±653.97) pg/L比(480.52±120.36) pg/L,P＜0.01;IL-6:(3143.82±775.08) pg/L比(393.78 ±96.55) pg/L,P ＜0.01;IL-10:(3216.98±678.43) pg/L比(326.11±62.45) pg/L,P＜0.01; TNF-α:(3582.24±876.13) pg/L比(1233.68±289.39) pg/L,P＜0.01].结论 新生儿脓毒症CD4+ CD25+Treg介导的免疫抑制及Th17介导免疫激活反应同时存在.     

过敏性紫癜患儿PBMC体外CD40L表达及炎症因子产生的研究

目的通过检测过敏性紫癜(HSP)患儿外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)体外表达CD40配体(CD40L)及产生炎症因子,探讨其发病机制.方法分别采用流式细胞技术及ELISA法检测PBMC表达CD40L阳性细胞率及培养上清中IL-1β、TNF-α、IL-6浓度,并进行相关分析.结果与正常儿童比较,HSP的CD40L阳性细胞率及IL-1β、TNF-α、IL-6浓度明显增高;且CD40L与IL-1β及TNF-α均呈正相关.结论CD40L异常信号介导的炎症反应参与HSP发病.     

胶原成分在儿童系膜增生性肾小球肾炎中的变化

目的观察系膜增生性肾小球肾炎（ＭｓＰＧＮ）系膜区胶原成分的变化。方法应用链菌素亲生物素过氧化酶连接法观察了３０例轻度ＭｓＰＧＮ肾穿刺活组织标本和正常的肾小球系膜区Ⅳ型胶原及其α链（α１、α３、α５链）、Ⅵ型胶原及Ⅰ型胶原的变化。结果（１）正常肾脏组织中，Ⅳ型胶原及其α１（Ⅳ）链分布于系膜区和基底膜，α３（Ⅳ）、α５（Ⅳ）链分布于基底膜，Ⅵ型胶原分布于系膜区、肾小球基底膜和间质，Ⅰ型胶原仅分布于肾间质。（２）在轻度ＭｓＰＧＮ时，系膜区内Ⅳ型胶原及其α１链、Ⅵ型胶原含量较正常对照明显增多（Ｐ＜０．０１）；当系膜区系膜细胞超过４个时，Ⅰ型胶原开始在肾小球内出现，且在硬化肾小球内Ⅰ型胶原均呈阳性；α３（Ⅳ）、α５（Ⅳ）链与正常对照比较无明显变化，硬化肾小球α３（Ⅳ）、α５（Ⅳ）染色呈阳性。结论系膜区胶原成分增多可先于系膜细胞增生，并随系膜细胞增生而增多，间质胶原成分Ⅰ型胶原，不但出现于硬化肾小球内，而且出现于系膜细胞增生较重时     

Breastfeeding perceptions in communities in Mangochi district in Malawi

Aim: To investigate mothers’ perceptions of breastfeeding and influences from their social network. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was carried out in Mangochi district, Malawi where questionnaire data from 157 rural and 192 semi‐urban mother–infant pairs were obtained. Results: The proportion of mothers who thought that exclusive breastfeeding should last for 6 months and those who reported to have actually exclusively breastfed were 40.1% and 7.5% respectively. Of those who reported practising exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, 77.5% stated that exclusive breastfeeding should last for 6 months. This opinion was independently associated with giving birth in a Baby‐Friendly facility, OR = 5.22; 95% CI (1.92–14.16). Among the mothers who thought that exclusive breastfeeding should last for less than 6 months, 43.9% reported having been influenced in their opinion by health workers. Infant crying was the most common (62.4%) reason for stopping exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: The findings illustrate the positive impact health workers can have, as well as the need to raise awareness of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding among both health workers and mothers. Furthermore, continued counselling of mothers on how to deal with stressful infant behaviour such as crying may assist to prolong exclusive breastfeeding.     

Cardiomyopathy in children in Ahmedabad

A clinical study and follow up of 20 children with cardiomyopathies upto age of 16 years are presented. The DCM was most common variety followed by RCM and HCM in pediatric age group. SHMD presenting with cardiomyopathy were common in infancy and early childhood. Cardiomyopathies presented most frequently between 2–5 years and 10–16 years age group with DCM having almost equal distribution. Clinical presentation of various types is described, despite of vigorous decongestive and vasodilator treatment in advanced cases, course was rapidly downhill and prognosis is poor in general.     

北京地区2007年儿童A群轮状病毒腹泻的流行病学研究

目的 研究北京地区急性腹泻儿童中A群轮状病毒(RV)感染的流行病学特点.方法 收集2007年4月至12月我院肠道门诊就诊的2039例急性腹泻患儿的粪便标本,采用标记金的A群RV单克隆抗体,以免疫层析双抗体夹心法定性检测A群RV抗原.结果 2039份粪便标本中,621份检测到A群RV,总检出率为30.5%(621/2039),其中男430例(69.2%),女191例(30.8%).RV感染者中,以6个月～2岁年龄段的患儿为最多,共571例(91.9%).检出率以10～12月份最高,均在30%以上,其中高峰出现在11月份,达43.4%.北京地区18个区县的统计数据显示,距市区较近的区县RV抗原检出率较低,边远区县较高.少部分患儿合并肠道细菌感染.结论 A群RV为北京地区2岁以下儿童急性腹泻病的主病原,6个月～2岁婴幼儿是A群RV的易感人群,10～12月份为北京地区的流行高峰.在流行季节对肠道细菌感染患儿常规进行A群RV抗原检测有助于避免漏诊和进行更合理的治疗.     

Achalasia in siblings in infancy

Achalasia is rare in children, more so familial. We report two siblings with familial achalasia who presented in their infancy with vomiting and failure to thrive. Achalasia can be misdiagnosed as upper gastrointestinal obstruction as happened in one of our siblings. Esophageal contrast roentgenography is diagnostic. Both the children were treated successfully by transabdominal esophagomyotomy with fundoplication.     

哮喘大鼠气道重塑中尾加压素-的表达变化

目的：研究哮喘大鼠气道重塑血清和支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中尾加压素 Ⅱ（U-II）含量的变化及其作用。方法：32只雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为正常对照组、哮喘2周组、哮喘4周组和哮喘8周组,每组8只。以卵清白蛋白(OVA)致敏与激发建立哮喘大鼠气道重塑模型,图像分析技术测量大鼠支气管壁总面积和平滑肌面积,计算单位基底膜周径(Pbm)的支气管壁厚度(Wat)和平滑肌厚度(Wam),ELISA法测定血清和BALF中U-II的含量。结果：哮喘各组Wat及Wam均明显高于正常对照组（P<0.01）;哮喘组血清和BALF中U-II含量均显著高于正常对照组（P<0.01）,其中哮喘8周组血清和BALF中U-II含量显著高于哮喘4周组和哮喘2周组（P<0.01）,哮喘4周组也显著高于哮喘2周组（P<0.01）。各组大鼠BALF中的U-II含量与Wat及Wam呈正相关,BALF与血清中U-II含量亦呈正相关。结论：哮喘大鼠气道重塑血清和BALF中U-II含量增加;且U-II含量的变化与气道重塑相关。［中国当代儿科杂志,2010,12（4）：287-289］     

Poisoning in children in Japan

The Japan Poison Information Centre (JPIC) received 31510 inquiries about poisoning in children under 6 years old being exposed to poison in the fiscal year 1995. The most frequently implicated products were tobacco (20%) and the peak age for ingestion of household products was 1 year and younger (83.3%). Especially, the inquiries related to children less than 1 year old were 35.7% of the cases. In contrast, the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) data showed that the most common poisonings were due to pharmaceutical products and the inquiries related to children less than 1 year old were only 12.1%. The objective of this report was to find out the poison exposure in children in Japan and to compare the data with that of AAPCC.     

转流术治疗小儿精索静脉曲张

目的 采用转流术治疗小儿精索静脉曲张，重新建立精索静脉通道，使静脉回流受阻立即得到改善，消除因睾丸淤血而造成的损害，以利睾丸的正常发育。方法 对28例30侧(左侧26例，双侧2例)精索静脉曲张与腹壁下静脉进行吻合，通过腹壁下静脉，髂静脉转流，手术在放大镜下应用显微外科技术进行，其中28侧用精索静脉主干，2侧结扎一条属支，用另一条静脉进行吻合。结果 通畅率为100％。术后扩张迂曲静脉团消失，阴囊下坠感消失。术后随访24例，时间为3个月-10年。除1例二次手术证实为一条静脉属支漏扎而复发外，另23例全部治愈。结论 精索静脉曲张转流术效果明显优于结扎术，可减少因睾丸淤血对其造成的进一步损害，且术后复发率低。     

Rotavirus infection in children in Japan

Currently, a high morbidity of rotavirus diarrhea has been seen in children in developed and developing countries. Improvement of the vaccines is necessary in order to reduce the burden of diarrhea caused by rotavirus. A survey of rotavirus infection from diarrheal stool specimens in children of seven regions in Japan was conducted from 1984 to 1999. The present study discusses the survey results and reviews the national and international data of more than 23 papers and congress proceedings about rotavirus infection in Japan. We analyze the prevalence of rotavirus infection in acute diarrheal in- and outpatients, the distribution of rotavirus G-serotypes and surveillance data for seasonality and age groups in Japan. The data indicated that rotavirus is the most important cause of diarrhea in Japan among young children, with the prevalence ranging from approximately 9.7 to 88%. The most common rotavirus strains belonged to serotype G1, specifically since 1993. Serotypes G2, G3 and G4 had also been documented to be predominantly based in the area and year before 1992. However, untypeable rotavirus strains had been found each year, with a prevalence up to 56.7% which suggests that rare serotypes (except G1-4) or new serotypes might exist. Unexpectedly, in Tokyo and Sapporo from 1998 to 1999, G9 was found to be the first most prevailing serotype with a high prevalence of 52.9 and 71.4%, respectively. Despite these data from different geographic areas, the year under investigation was relatively clear in respect to seasonality, with a peak of rotavirus activity in late winter (February) through early spring (March). Age distribution had also characterized that the infection was predominant among children aged 1-2 years of age, although it was also common in children of 2-3 years. In addition, mixed infection with bacteria was documented.