Amantadine therapy of epidemic influenza a(2) (Hong Kong)

In a double-blind comparison of the therapeutic effect of amantadine in a natural outbreak of Hong Kong influenza in January 1969 near Houston, Texas, the decrease in titers of virus in throat swabs from 12 treated patients during the first 10 hr of treatment was appreciably greater than similar titers of virus from 16 untreated patients (P = 0.06). The titer of shed virus decreased significantly more rapidly (P < 0.05) among amantadine-treated patients ill more than 48 hr before treatment than among five control patients who had been ill more than 48 hr. Cough, sore throat, and nasal obstruction cleared more rapidly in treated patients (P < 0.05), and decline of fever in 6 treated patients sick for less than 48 hr before treatment was more rapid than among 13 untreated patients who had been ill for less than 48 hr. These findings are considered to be consistent with a limited therapeutic effect of the drug.     

Genetic recombination between influenza viruses A0/NWS and A 2/Hong Kong

Summary Genetic cross was performed in human conjunctival cell cultures between two strains of influenza A virus, Ao/NWS and A2/Hong Kong, both of which plaque with high efficiency on the above cells and which differ from each other in some genetic markers. Clones of progeny virus from mixed infection were isolated in the absence of selective procedures and individually tested for the following marker characteristics; the serotype of the hemagglutinin and the neuraminidase, plaque size, plaque forming capability on FL cells, and requirement of DEAE-dextran for plaque formation. Characterization of 42 clones showed the recombination frequency in two factor cross between the above markers ranged from 18 to 43%. There was no indication of linkage between the markers employed. From the absence of recombination within the serotype of the hemagglutinin or that of the neuraminidase, it was suggested that recombination occurs mainly by exchange of cistrons. Three clones were suspected to be initiated by partially heterozygous virus particles.     

Thyroid abnormalities during chronic lithium treatment in Hong Kong Chinese: a controlled study.

Fifty Chinese psychiatric patients on chronic lithium treatment and the same number of sex- and age-matched control outpatients were assessed by a thyroidologist and underwent laboratory investigations. Lithium patients had a higher rate of goitres (50% vs 10%, P < 0.0001) and a higher mean TSH level (P < 0.005) than controls. Thyroid antibodies were detected in 7 older manic-depressive patients as opposed to 1 control, but not in patients with recurrent unipolar mania. Five patients, but no controls, had single or multiple episodes of hyperthyroidism, which was followed in 2 of them by biochemical hypothyroidism. It is suggested that variations in iodine status, dietary goitrogens, immunogenetic makeup and their complex interactions with chronic lithium treatment may contribute to ethnically different patterns of thyroid abnormalities.     

Cytogenetic analysis of hematologic malignancies in Hong Kong. A study of 98 cases.

The karyotypes of 98 patients between the ages of 8 and 81 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are presented. Although the well-described cytogenetic abnormalities associated with particular FAB subtypes in the West were observed, certain important local differences were noted. In ALL, hyperdiploidy was rarely observed, whereas the Philadelphia chromosome was observed in 50% of abnormal karyotypes. In AML, the t(8;21) was infrequently observed in M2 case, whereas trisomy 4 and 6, rarely reported elsewhere, formed 12% of the abnormal cases. In MDS, the incidence of -5/5q- and/or -7/7q- was 83% of cases with aberrant cytogenetic findings. Neither i(17q) nor an extra Ph was seen in 26 cases of CML including 9 cases of accelerated phase/blast crisis. In addition, previously unreported cytogenetic abnormalities occurring as single cases are presented. These findings are discussed in the context of geographical heterogeneity of chromosomal abnormalities in leukemia and emphasize the importance of continued epidemiologic studies of cytogenetics in hematologic malignancies.     

A Hong Kong influenza hemagglutinin light chain: amino acid sequence of cyanogen bromide fragment CN2.

The amino acid sequence of cyanogen bromide peptide CN2 from the hemagglutinin light chain (HA₂) of the Hong Kong influenza varient A/Memphis/102/72 has been determined by manual Edman degradation of tryptic, chymotryptic, thermolytic, and Staphylococcus aureus protease peptides. This fragment contains 98 amino acid residues and extends from residues 18 to 115 in the sequence of HA₂. It contains no proline, half-cystine, or glycosylated residues.