Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Meningitis, New York, NY, USA, 2009

We describe a case of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) meningitis in a New York, NY, resident who had no apparent risk factors. Clues leading to the diagnosis included aseptic meningitis during winter and the finding of hypoglycorrachia and lymphocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid. LCMV continues to be an underdiagnosed zoonotic disease.     

Post-transfusion hepatitis after open-heart surgery in Finland—a prospective study

Summary. A countrywide prospective study on open-heart surgery patients was performed between 1987 and 1989 to determine the prevalence and nature of post-transfusion hepatitis in Finland. Altogether 685 coronary by-pass operation patients, who received on average 12·3 units of blood products, were postoperatively followed for 6 months. Ten blood samples were drawn from each patient. Hepatitis was diagnosed when the alanine aminotransferase values exceeded the upper normal value 2·5 times in one sample and twice in another, and non-viral causes could reasonably be excluded. Eleven hepatitis cases (1·6%) were recorded with a mean incubation period of 8·4 weeks; all represented the non-A, non-B type. The majority had mild symptoms or were asymptomatic but two became icteric. Six patients (55%) had abnormal alanine aminotransferase values for at least 6 months, which indicates possible chronicity. These 685 open-heart surgery patients received a total of 8,436 units of blood products; thus the rate of NANBH cases per 1000 units was as low as 1·3. This is less than recently reported in six other prospective studies.     

Comparison of the classical immunofluorescent antibody tests for Epstein-Barr virus with commercially available test kits

Twenty reference sera with previously reported titers plus 10 normal seropositive and 10 seronegative sera were used to determine which assay for the detection of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus should be utilized in our laboratory. By three commercially available test systems and by slides prepared in our laboratory, all techniques detected the same number of samples positive for IgG antibodies to viral capsid antigen (VCA) and Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA), but the geometric mean titers (GMTs) varied. Major discrepancies arose in the sensitivity of detection of early antigen-diffuse (EA-D) and -diffuse and restricted (EA-DR). Slides prepared in our laboratory gave the best results, detecting 12 of 12 (100%). Slides prepared according to Gull and Hillcrest detected 11 of 12 (92%), and those prepared according to Zeus detected 9 of 12 (75%). From these data, we conclude that all of these methods for detection of VCA and EBNA are adequate. However, in determining antibody levels to EA-D and EA-DR, great care should be taken as to the source of the slide and specificity and sensitivity.     

干扰素治疗乙脑53例疗效分析

目的　了解干扰素治疗早期乙脑的效果。方法　对 5 3例乙脑患者随机分治疗组和对照组。观察病人用药后体温复常时间、意识障碍好转时间、极期持续时间及预后。结果　治疗组体温复常时间、意识障碍好转时间及极期持续时间均短于对照组 ,两组间有显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　干扰素能抑制乙脑病毒复制 ,调节机体免疫功能 ,从而使乙脑患者病情改善快 ,治愈率高。     

拉米夫定对乙型肝炎病毒阳性孕妇母婴垂直传播的影响

目的 探讨拉米夫定干预孕期乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)DNA载量变化对HBV母婴垂直传播的影响.方法 40例HBV DNA阳性孕妇采用双盲对照法分为观察组(20例)及对照组(20例),孕28周起至产后1周,观察组每日1次口服拉米夫定(片剂)100 mg,对照组则口服与拉米夫定相同形状的食物片剂(安慰剂)1粒.分别于孕28周和40周时检测两组孕妇血清HBV DNA定量.新生儿出生后按乙型肝炎免疫程序接种重组酵母乙型肝炎疫苗,追踪随访婴儿12个月并检测其血清HBV DNA和HBsAg、HBeAg、抗-HBs定量.结果 (1)孕28周时血清HBV DNA载量:观察组为(3.6±2.5)copy/ml,对照组为(2.9±2.0)copy/ml.两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).(2)孕40周时血清HBV DNA载量:观察组为(1.8±1.1)copy/ml,对照组为(3.6±1.8)copy/ml.两组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).观察组孕28周与40周(即用药前后)比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);对照组孕28周与40周比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).(3)两组孕妇共分娩41例新生儿,其中观察组20例,对照组21例.随访婴儿12个月结束时,有2例失访(5%,2/41).39例婴儿中感染HBV 4例(10%,4/39),其中观察组2例(10%,2/20),对照组2例(11%,2/19)(P＞0.05).(4)4例感染HBV婴儿的母亲在孕28、40周时,血清HBV DNA定量分别为(3.1±3.4)、(3.1±3.2)copy/ml,未感染HBV婴儿的母亲在孕28、40周时分别为(3.4±2.2)、(2.6±1.5)copy/ml.(5)观察组抗-HBs平均为(594±416)U/L,对照组平均为(458±398)U/L,两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 在孕期给予拉米夫定进行干预,孕妇血清HBV DNA载量可明显下降,但拉米夫定并没有降低乙型肝炎感染例数.     

Neuroborreliosis simulating a progressive stroke

A 55-year-old man with an onset and course of neurological symptoms of a progressive stroke was found to have a CNS infection caused by the borrelia spirochete. Almost complete recovery was seen after intravenous infusion of bencylpenicillin. Elevated borrelia IgG antibody titers could be seen for long time after recovery. The possibility of an infection due to neuroborreliosis must be considered. If CT scan doesn't show any focal ischemic or hemorrhagic area further investigation with lumbar puncture is necessary in stroke patients.