The WHO update on influenza A (H5N1) in Hong Kong

In May 1997 influenza A subtype H5N1 virus was isolated in the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong from a child who died. Until then, the H5N1virus was known to infect only various species of birds, including chickens and ducks. After the first hum     

Pandemic H1N1 influenza

The 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus that has targeted not only those with chronic medical illness, the very young and old, but also a large segment of the patient population that has previously been afforded relative protection - those who are young, generally healthy, and immune naive. The illness is mild in most, but results in hospitalization and severe ARDS in an important minority. Among those who become critically ill, 20-40% will die, predominantly of severe hypoxic respiratory failure. However, and potentially in part due to the young age of those affected, intensive care with aggressive oxygenation support will allow most people to recover. The volume of patients infected and with critical illness placed substantial strain on the capacity of the health care system and critical care most specifically. Despite this, the 2009 pandemic has engaged our specialty and highlighted its importance like no other. Thus far, the national and global critical care response has been brisk, collaborative and helpful - not only for this pandemic, but for subsequent challenges in years ahead.     

甲型H1N1流感研究进展

2009年6月11日世界卫生组织（WHO）宣布将甲型H1N1流感大流行警告级别提高为最高级6级,这意味着甲型H1N1流感已在全球大流行。甲型H1N1流感是一种新发疾病,其特点仍待进一步观察总结。本文就近期关于甲型H1N1流感的研究进展做一总结。     

重症甲型H1N1流感研究进展

甲型H1N1流感最新疫情的突出特点是重症和死亡病例数显著增加,有关我国重症甲型H1N1流感患者的临床特征、预后、危险因素等方面的研究尚未见相关报道.本文拟对国外有关这方面的研究进行总结,为我国重症甲型H1N1流感的诊断及治疗提供借鉴.     

H1N1 influenza A virus induced atrioventricular block

We report a case of an 18-year-old female who presented with respiratory failure secondary to H1N1 infection, and who subsequently developed high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. The conduction abnormalities persisted over 2 weeks following complete resolution of respiratory symptoms. A permanent pacemaker was implanted for safety and subsequent pacemaker follow-up suggested reversibility of the conduction abnormality. This case highlights the potential impact of the H1N1 influenza virus on the cardiac conduction system.     

A statistical phylogeography of influenza A H5N1

The geographic diffusion of highly pathogenic influenza A H5N1 has largely been traced from the perspective of the virus's victims. Birds of a variety of avian orders have been sampled across localities, and their infection has been identified by a general genetic test. Another approach tracks the migration from the perspective of the virus alone, by way of a phylogeography of H5N1 genetic sequences. Although several phylogenies in the literature have labeled H5N1 clades by geographic region, none has analytically inferred the history of the virus's migration. With a statistical phylogeography of 192 hemagglutinin and neuraminidase isolates, we show that the Chinese province of Guangdong is the source of multiple H5N1 strains spreading at both regional and international scales. In contrast, Indochina appears to be a regional sink, at the same time demonstrating bidirectional dispersal among localities within the region. An evolutionary trace of HA(1) across the phylogeography suggests a mechanism by which H5N1 is able to infect repeated cycles of host species across localities, regardless of the host species first infected in each locale. The trace also hypothesizes amino acid replacements that preceded the first recorded outbreak of pathogenic H5N1 in Hong Kong, 1997.     

Pandemic influenza A/H1N1 and organ donation

R. Lattes, N. Jacob, J. de la Fuente, G. Fragale, P. Massari. Pandemic influenza A/H1N1 and organ donation.
Transpl Infect Dis 2010: 12: 169–172. All rights reserved Abstract: One of the concerns regarding the pandemic of novel influenza A/H1N1 virus is its potential to hamper transplant programs if the decision is made that organs from donors with influenza A/H1N1 should not be used. Evidence of transmissibility through organ transplantation is speculative at best. We report the outcome of 2 kidney transplant recipients who received kidneys from the same deceased donor, in whom the diagnosis of infection by the novel virus became available only after engraftment. The donor also had received a complete course of antiviral treatment before donation. The recipients were transplanted at 2 different facilities and were managed differently. Neither recipient developed flu syndrome, and both had an uneventful outcome. It is possible to speculate that kidneys from donors who have had confirmed influenza A/H1N1 and who have received antiviral treatment can be safely used in transplantation.     

重症甲型H1N1流感并肺炎的CT表现

目的探讨甲型H1N1流感并肺炎的CT表现。方法 5例临床确诊甲型H1N1流感的重症患者共8次胸部CT扫描(复查3例)资料。结果 5例中均为双肺多叶、多段实变灶,无明显肺叶、肺段或特定体位分布趋势;大片肺实变表现为双侧沿支气管树分布的肺段实变;内有明显的空气支气管征;相邻肺段实变融合或在叶间裂处相邻的肺叶实变扩展,于影像接触部位融合,形成更大片实变影;肺内小病灶均为双肺多发,呈类圆形或棉团状,沿肺纹理分布最多见;大片肺实变可呈均匀致密实变、磨玻璃样变、蜂窝状实变,小病灶与大片实变灶一致,磨玻璃样变可出现在初诊和吸收期病例;反应性胸膜增厚及胸膜积液常见;无纵膈、肺门淋巴结肿大。结论 CT改变提示:甲型H1N1重症病例并肺炎在病程发展阶段,病变有经支气管肺泡系播散的特点。     

Liver involvement in severe human influenza A H1N1

Influenza A is a disease caused by a RNA virus, member of the orthomyxoviridae family. The influenza infection is characterized primarily by pulmonary affection that may advance to an acute pulmonary respiratory failure course. Hepatic involvement is not frequent and accounts for < 3% of all cases. We describe two patients with acute Influenza A H1N1 infection who developed hepatic involvement. Needle core liver biopsy of one of the patients revealed only micro and macrovesicular steatosis.     

甲型H1NI流感研究进展

目前南半球大部分国家已经历了甲型H1N1流感流行高峰期,而北半球温带地区逐渐进入活跃期,部分国家和地区出现地区性暴发。尽管当前甲型H1N1的流行总体上比较温和,但随着发病人数的增加,重症及危重症病例数逐渐增多,死亡病例也在明显增加。本文复习近期文献,就目前甲型H1N1流感流行态势、临床特点、病毒变异和耐药以及疫苗等热点问题作一综述,为临床医师掌握最新研究动态、及时发现和救治重症及危重症病例、降低病死率提供帮助。     

Fulminant myocarditis associated with novel H1N1 influenza A

Myocarditis secondary to H1N1 influenza has been described in children, but only very rarely in adults. We describe a 36-year-old man with no significant medical history who presented with flu-like symptoms of 3-week duration. When he sought medical attention, he was already manifesting heart failure secondary to fulminant myocarditis, along with multiorgan failure. Despite aggressive management, including circulatory support with a catheter-based mechanical cardiac assist device (Impella 2.5 Cardiac Assist Device, Abiomed, Danvers, MA) as a bridge to cardiac transplant, and aggressive antiviral and antibacterial therapy, the patient died of cardiac arrest. An H1N1 polymerase chain reaction postmortem assay produced positive results, and a diagnosis of fulminant viral myocarditis and multiorgan system failure was established.     

甲型H1N1流行性感冒33例确诊病例临床分析

目的 总结甲型H1N1流行性感冒(流感)确诊患者的临床特征,以期为今后的甲型H1N1流感防治工作积累经验.方法 将2009年5月15日-6月22日在北京地坛医院隔离治疗并达到出院标准的33例甲型H1N1流感确诊患者纳入研究,采用SPSS11.0软件进行统计学分析.结果 33例患者中有25例在发病前1周曾前往美国、加拿大、日本等甲型H1N1流感流行国家旅行.12例有明确密切接触史患者的潜伏期为1-6 d.患者的主要临床症状有发热(66.7%)、咳嗽(60.6%)、咳痰(42.4%)、咽痛(36.4%).24例(72.7%)患者实验室检查结果均正常,仅少数患者出现轻度异常.33例患者均达到出院标准,病毒核酸检测连续2次阴性距出现首发症状的时间为2～16 d,住院时间为3～16 d.结论 新型甲型H1N1流感具有症状轻微、病程较短、预后良好等临床特征,如无严重基础疾病,患者均能治愈.     

Shoenfeld's syndrome after pandemic influenza A/H1N1 vaccination

Recently, reports have suggested grouping different autoimmune conditions that are triggered by external stimuli as a single syndrome called autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). This syndrome is characterized by the appearance of myalgia, myositis, muscle weakness, arthralgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment and memory loss, and the possible emergence of a demyelinating autoimmune disease caused by systemic exposure after vaccines and adjuvants. In the current study, the authors reported the first Brazilian case of a woman who developed ASIA, which was characterized by arthralgia, changes in inflammatory markers, and chronic fatigue, after the pandemic anti-influenza A/H1N1 vaccine without causing any other rheumatic disease, and it had a positive outcome.