Autopsy findings in two cases of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection: detection of virus by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction

We describe the pathological findings in two fatal cases of neonatal infection with herpes simplex virus. One had an encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2); the other had a disseminated infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Confirmation of the diagnosis was obtained by use of the polymerase chain reaction to amplify viral DNA from paraffin sections of autopsy tissues. By using primers which amplify fragments of the HSV-1 thymidine kinase gene and HSV-2 glycoprotein gene respectively it was possible to discriminate between infection with HSV-1 and HSV-2. In contrast, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization using commercially available reagents did not distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection. However, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization are probably more reliable than the polymerase chain reaction for assessment of the distribution of virus in different tissues.     

Human spumaretrovirus antibody reactivity in multiple sclerosis

The role of human spumaretrovirus (HSRV) infections in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) was investigated with recombinant HSRV env-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The presence of HSRV antibodies was determined in pairs of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 60 MS patients. In 7 of these patients serial serum and CSF samples were obtained in relation to the clinical activity of the disease during a period of 2 years. No increased antibody reactivity was demonstrable in the MS population compared with 14 aseptic meningitis patients, 50 blood donors and 16 healthy controls. Slightly elevated levels of antibodies were demonstrable in serum and/or CSF in 4 MS patients but also in 1 patient with aseptic meningitis, 1 blood donor and 1 child. No marked serum or CSF HSRV antibody fluctuation was observed in the MS patients followed longitudinally. Thus, this study does not support the involvement of HSRV in the pathogenesis of MS.     

热环境劳动过程中机体的调节与适应

通过对冶金、锻造、铸造、陶瓷、纺织、印染、铁路、航运等行业的16个作业环境热环境参数和工人生理反应关系的调查,对现行的高温作业分级标准不足之处提出了一些看法,并认为IS0提出的热环境下机体反应的阈限值对我国亦是适宜的。经统计学分析发现,作业环境的计算温度和工人平均体温之间有明显相关(r=0.86)。不同气温下464名工人的主观感觉调查表明,35℃时100％的工人都有热或很热的感觉。     

病毒性脑炎患者S-100b蛋白浓度与临床的相关性

目的 观察病毒性脑炎急性和恢复期患者血液和脑脊液的S-100b蛋白浓度变化，探讨其与异常脑电图和影像学低密度灶体积等方面的相关性。方法 42例病毒性脑炎住院患者为观察组，25例与观察组相匹配的阑尾或胆囊摘除手术病人以及健康体检者为对照组，采用双抗体夹心ELISA法，检测其血液及脑脊液100b蛋白浓度；并应用SPSS10．0统计软件包进行统计学分析。结果病毒性脑炎急性期患者血液和脑脊液S-100b蛋白显著高于恢复期患者和对照组（P〈0．01）；血液和脑脊液S-100b蛋白浓度与低密度灶体积均呈显著正相关（rCSF=0．756，P〈0．01；r血液=0．685，P〈0．01）；轻度、中度及重度异常脑电图患者脑脊液S-100b蛋白浓度均高于血液（P〈0．01）；重度、中度异常脑电图患者血液及脑脊液S-100b蛋白浓度均高于轻度（P〈0．01）。结论脑脊液或血液中的S-100b蛋白浓度反映了神经胶质细胞的损害程度，也是脑组织破坏后较合适的生化标记物，对监测病毒性脑炎患者的病情变化和疗效观察具有重要价值。     

Polymorphisms in ADAM33 are associated with allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollen

BACKGROUND: A recent report provided evidence that a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 33 (ADAM33), a member of the ADAM family, is a novel susceptibility gene in asthma linked to bronchial hyper-responsiveness. However, there has been no investigation of the genetic role of ADAM33 variants in nasal allergy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the association between ADAM33 polymorphisms and Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis), a most common seasonal allergic rhinitis in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a case-control association study among a Japanese population, involving 95 adult individuals with JCPsis and 95 normal healthy controls. A total of 22 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADAM33 were genotyped using PCR-based molecular methods. RESULTS: Six SNPs of ADAM33 gene, three in introns (7575G/A, 9073G/A and 12540C/T) and three in the coding region (10918G/C, 12433T/C and 12462C/T), were strongly associated with JCPsis (P = 0.0002-0.022 for absolute allele frequencies) and most of the SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium with each other. A higher frequency of the common alleles of these SNPs was noted for the subjects with JCPsis in comparison with healthy controls. We also identified a haplotype associated with the disease susceptibility. In addition, associations were found between ADAM33 polymorphisms and various cedar pollinosis phenotypes including clinical severity, eosinophil counts in nasal secretion and allergen-specific IgE levels in sera, but not total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that polymorphisms in the ADAM33 gene are associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollen, but the functional relationship still needs clarification.     

流行性乙型脑炎病毒结构蛋白编码基因的重组构建

目的:建立流行性乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)C、prME,E等结构蛋白编码基因克隆.方法:病毒感染C6/36细胞,RT-PCR法依次获取该病毒结构蛋白基因并进行DNA测序分析,PCR克隆法将PCR产物分别构建于真核表达载体pcDNA 3.1的BamHI与EcoRI酶切位点并依次命名为pJC、pJME与pJE,通过DNA测序、电泳以及限制性内切酶分析加以鉴定.结果:JEV C、prME与E基因片段分别为380、2001以及1 500bp,各基因测序结果与发表的JEV JaGAr-01株相对应序列相一致,从重组质粒释出的插入子分别与各基因大小相符合.结论:pJC、pJME与pJE重组质粒分别含有C、prME与E蛋白编码基因.     

Fatal encephalitis in a patient with refractory celiac disease presenting with myorhythmia and carpal spasm.

We report the case of a woman with refractory celiac disease who developed abnormal spontaneous movements of the extremities and face consistent with myorhythmia. Investigation led to a diagnosis of encephalitis, confirmed by postmortem examination. The movements were likely caused by nonparaneoplastic encephalitis associated with refractory celiac disease. Etiologic and diagnostic considerations and treatment options are discussed.     

山西省运城地区流行性乙型脑炎的流行病学及临床特点

目的对2006年山西省运城地区流行性乙型脑炎（乙脑）进行流行病学及临床特点分析。方法收集79例确诊为乙脑的住院患者及相关资料，对流行病学特征、临床特点、实验室检查及治疗转归进行综合分析。结果乙脑患者以中、老年居多，占78．5％；发病季节集中于7、8、9月份；农民69例，占87．3％。所有患者均有发热；73例患者有意识障碍，占92．4％；27例有呼吸衰竭，占34．2％；乙脑特异性IgM抗体检测阳性率为85．1％。20例患者出现并发症，占25．3％。出院时完全康复37例，占46．8％；死亡14例，占17．7％；好转和自动出院分别为12和16例。7例（8．9％）留有不同程度的神经功能障碍。结论流行病学特征及临床特点是诊断乙脑的重要依据。     

Excessive daytime somnolence in Japanese patients with Parkinson''s disease

To investigate the prevalence and severity of excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to examine the main cause of EDS. Fifty-three Japanese patients with PD (PDs: 32 females and 21 males) and 17 controls (10 females and seven males) were evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The severity of the disease was evaluated by Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and information about quality and quantity of medications was collected. The correlations amongst EDS and age, severity of PD, duration of illness and medications were analyzed. The mean ESS score was significantly higher in advanced PDs than in controls, and correlated with the UPDRS score (r(s) = 0.743, P < 0.0001). Age, duration of illness and the dose of levodopa weakly correlated with ESS score. The intake of dopamine agonists did not affect the severity of EDS. The mean ESS score in PDs was lower than that reported in PD in European and American studies. EDS in Japanese patients with PD was milder compared with Caucasian patients, which might be due to the lower doses of the medications used in Japan. The results suggest that EDS in PD is mainly because of neuropathological changes of the disease itself.