Compatible results obtained from biotyping and serotyping in Serratia marcescens.

The correspondence between complete serotype and biotype (P.A.D. Grimont and F. Grimont, J. Clin. Microbiol. 8:73-83, 1978) of 474 Serratia marcescens strains was studied. Of 127 serotypes, 70 were represented by two or more strains of the same serotype belonged to one biotype. However, for 91% of serotypes, strains of the same serotype belonged to one biogroup--i.e., a group of closely related biotypes. Biogroups are A1 (A1a, A1b); A2/6 (A2a, A2b, A6a, A6b); A3 (A3a, A3b, A3c, A3d); A4 (A4a, A4b); A5/8 (A5, A8a, A8b, A8c); and TCT (TCT, TT). Only two serotypes were composed of a mixture of pigmented and nonpigmented biogroups. Pigmented biogroups (A1 and A2/6) were otherwise differentiated from nonpigmented biogroups (A3, A4, A5/8, and TCT) by serotyping. Some biogroups preferentially occurred in some O serogroups: A4 in 01; A2/6 in O6, O8, and O14; and A3 in O9, O12, and O15. Three H serogroups were found to be biochemically homogeneous: H1, H7, and H20 were respectively and uniquely composed of biogroups A4, TCT, and A3. A square matrix of O versus H serogroups, with the corresponding biogroup for each O X H combination, was used for comparisons between O groups and between H groups. Identical patterns of biogroups were shown by serogroups O6, O8, and O14. Taxonomical, ecological, and practical consequences of these findings are discussed.     

Seroepidemiology of adult diarrhea rotavirus in China, 1977 to 1987.

In 1982, large outbreaks of diarrhea that were caused by group B adult diarrhea rotavirus (ADRV) occurred throughout the People's Republic of China. Until 1982, group B rotavirus had never been associated with disease in humans. To determine whether ADRV was a new virus introduced in 1982 or had been present before that time, we examined antibody titers of ADRV in gamma globulin (pooled immunoglobulin) pools that were prepared during 1977 to 1987 in four cities in the People's Republic of China (Shanghai, Lanzhou, Wuhan, and Chandu). ADRV antibodies were assayed by using a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibodies were present in most Chinese gamma globulins tested, including those collected in Shanghai before the 1982 epidemic, and absent from American reference pools. The highest titers of antibody to ADRV (3,200) were found in gamma globulins collected in 1983 in Shanghai just after the epidemic, and these were fourfold higher than titers present in the preceding years. The quality of the gamma globulins stored for up to 12 years was tested by measuring levels of immunoglobulin G to group A rotavirus; these were equally high in gamma globulin pools prepared in the United States and in all samples from the People's Republic of China. Serum samples from patients from an outbreak of ADRV had elevated titers to ADRV 3 and 16 months after the onset of symptoms. These findings, as well as other epidemiologic findings on ADRV, suggest that the organism is an important and continuing cause of diarrhea in the People's Republic of China, was present before the first epidemic in 1982, and represents a risk to surrounding populations in Asia.     

Grief processing and deliberate grief avoidance: a prospective comparison of bereaved spouses and parents in the United States and the People's Republic of China

In this study, the authors measured grief processing and deliberate grief avoidance and examined their relationship to adjustment at 4 and 18 months of bereavement for 2 types of losses (spouse, child) in 2 cultures (People's Republic of China, United States). Three hypotheses were compared: the traditional grief work assumption, a conditional grief work hypothesis, and a view of grief processing as a form of rumination absent among resilient individuals. Although cultural differences in grief processing and avoidance were observed, the factor structure of these measures proved invariant across cultures. Consistent with the grief work as rumination hypothesis, both grief processing and deliberate grief avoidance predicted poor long-term adjustment for U.S. participants. Furthermore, initial grief processing predicted later grief processing in both cultures. However, among the participants in the People's Republic of China, neither grief processing nor deliberate avoidance evidenced clear psychological consequences.     

Biotype and Lior serogroup distribution of enteric Campylobacter isolated from children in Bangui (Central African Republic), and comparison with Penner serotypes

The new extended biotyping scheme of Lior as well as the slide agglutination technique were applied to 209 strains of enteric Campylobacter isolated from children in Bangui (Central African Republic). Three biotypes of C. jejuni and 2 biotypes of C. coli were identified among the strains; 31.1% were C. jejuni I, 11% C. jejuni II, 2.4% C. jejuni III, 44% C. coli I and 11.5% C. coli II. We were able to serotype 71.3% of the strains with 20 immune sera prepared against strains of Campylobacter isolated previously; 63% of the strains were distributed among the ten most common serogroups. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of biotypes or serogroups between strains from healthy and diarrhoeic children. Comparison of Lior serogroups with Penner serotypes showed that different Penner serotypes may correspond to a Lior serogroup and vice versa.     

Outbreak of infection caused by Enterobacter cloacae producing the novel VEB-3 beta-lactamase in China

Over a 4-month period from November 2002 to February 2003, 27 ceftazidime-resistant or cefotaxime-resistant nonrepetitive Enterobacter cloacae isolates were collected from 27 patients hospitalized at HuaShan Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. The Etest did not detect extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in those 27 isolates; however, screening by the NCCLS ESBL disk test and confirmatory tests detected ESBLs in 4 of 27 isolates and PCR detected ESBLs in 23 of 27 isolates. The majority of ESBL producers exhibited the same repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR pattern but harbored different ESBL genes. CTX-M-3 was the most prevalent ESBL in our study. Interestingly, 12 clonally related E. cloacae isolates possessed a novel bla(VEB)-type beta-lactamase, bla(VEB-3). Bla(VEB-3) was encoded by the chromosome and was located in an integron. Nine of the 12 isolates harbored both the bla(VEB-3) and the bla(CTX-M-3)-like ESBLs. This is the first report of a VEB-1-like ESBL in China and the first report of the simultaneous presence of VEB-1 and CTX-M-3-like ESBLs in an isolate.     

Experimental infection with bovine herpesvirus-4 enhances atherosclerotic process in rabbits

An association of herpesvirus and atherosclerosis has been suggested by seroepidemiologic studies and detection of the virus in arterial tissues. To facilitate the studies of the pathogenic role of herpesvirus in atherosclerosis, we established a rabbit model of atherosclerosis with bovine herpesvirus type-4 (BHV-4). Forty New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into six groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were inoculated iv with BHV-4 and control Groups 4, 5, and 6 with normal saline. Groups 1 and 4 were fed a regular diet throughout the experiment; Groups 2 and 5 were fed a diet supplemented with 2% cholesterol for 3 weeks starting at 3 weeks postinoculation; and Groups 3 and 6 with a diet supplemented with 2% cholesterol for 6 weeks starting at 3 days postinoculation. Extensive atherosclerotic lesions in Groups 2, 3, and 6, and small lesions in two rabbits in Group 1 were observed, but no obvious lesions were observed in Groups 4 and 5. BHV-4 DNA was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction and liquid hybridization in aortic sections, various tissue samples, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of all infected rabbits. Our studies demonstrated that BHV-4 can accelerate the atherosclerotic process in rabbits, and that experimental infection of rabbits with BHV-4 can be a useful atherosclerosis model.     

Immunoglobulin allotypes in a Chinese population: comparison of haplotype frequencies with other Asian groups

Two groups of Chinese individuals of the city of Wuhan in the People's Republic of China, consisting of 98 blood bank donors and 278 workers in a steel factory, respectively, have been typed for G1m, G2m, G3m, A2m and Km allotypes. The Gm-A2m haplotype frequencies as well as the Km gene frequencies appeared to be quite similar in these two groups of people, the main haplotypes being Gmaf;n;b A2m2 and Gmza;..;g A2m1. After joining the data of the two groups, the frequencies of the main Gm haplotypes and the A2m and Km gene frequencies have been compared with those of six other Asian populations. In Asia, going from the south to the north, an increasing frequency of Gmza;..;g and a decreasing frequency of Gmaf;n;b were observed. The frequencies found in the investigated Chinese population lie between the frequencies found in the Chinese from Taiwan and the Japanese.     

Immunotyping of Japanese encephalitis viral strains

Immunological typing of 15 Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus strains was done by HI and AGDP tests with preliminary cross adsorption of antibodies with antigens, observing standard quantitative adsorption conditions. Most of the strains (12) were found to belong to the immunological type Jagar-01, including the strains isolated in the USSR, Korean People's Democratic Republic, most strains isolated in Japan (6 out of 7) and Chinese People's Republic (3 out of 4). The Hanoi-60 strain isolated in Socialist Republic of Vietnam belongs to the Nakayama immunological type. A correlation was shown between strain grouping by the immmunological type and genetic markers (hemagglutinin thermoresistance at 42 degrees C/20 min and optimal pH range for HA test). Two strains were found to represent transitional variants between the above two immunological types.     

HLA and Juvenile Chronic Polyarthritis

HLA antigen have been identified in patients with juvenile chronic polyarthritis (J.C.P.) (n = 35). In J.C.P. the incidence of antigen B27 (57%) was found to be higher than in a normal population (n = 1,000). On recent evaluation of the clinical status, serology and x-rays, the patients with juvenile chronic polyarthritis who has been followed up many years, could be subdivided into four groups: Group 1: J.C.P. evolving to ankylosing spondylitis (n = 3); Group 2: J.C.P. with sacroiliitis (n = 17); Group 3: J.C.P. without sacroiliitis (n = 9); Group 4: juvenile rheumatoid arthritis characterised by a positive serology (n = 6). Groups 1 and 2 were characterized by a high incidence of antigen B27 (19/20). Only one subject of groups 3 and 4 had antigen B27. Sex distribution in groups 1 and 2 was found to be similar to that found in ankylosing spondylitis in adults and sex distribution in groups 3 and 4 was found to be similar to that found in rheumatoid arthritis in adults. It is concluded that if B27 positive develop juvenile chronic polyarthritis they have a high risk of developing sacroiliitis and acute uveitis. The authors propose to give the name Still's disease to the total group of children presenting initial symptoms corresponding to the criteria of Ansell & Bywaters (1959). Follow-up of the cases permitted their further classification as juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, as juvenile chronic polyarthritis with or without sacroiliitis or as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.     

Is there a geographic epidemiology of serogroups O of Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

3720 human strains of P. aeruginosa from Egypt, France, Greece, Iracq and Portugal were studied by serotyping, phage typing, and ONPG-test. The comparison of the results with the data of the scientific literature suggests that three classes of P. aeruginosa O groups can be characterized on the basis of their geographical distribution in the world: 1 degree Nine serogroups with worldwide distribution: 0:1, 0:2, 0:3, 0:4, 0:5, 0:6, 0:8, 0:9 and 0:11. 2 degrees Five serogroups absent (or very rare) in a few countries but present in others: 0:7, 0:10, 0:12, 0:13 and 0:16. 3 degrees Two serogroups very rare in all countries: 0:14 and 0:15.     

The porA alleles are identical in subgroup III serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in China in the 1960s and 1980s.

The porA genes from serogroup A, subgroup III strains isolated in the People's Republic of China in 1966 and in 1984 and 1985 were amplified by PCR at an annealing temperature of 75 degrees C. The DNA sequences (5 strains) and the restriction patterns generated by MspI (14 strains) were identical, unlike the results reported by Peixuan et al. (Z. Peixuan, H. Xujing, and X. Li, J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:458-462, 1995). Furthermore, PCR products which were amplified at an annealing temperature of 60 degrees C, as described by Peixuan et al., were heterogeneous in our study.     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to human group B rotavirus and their use in an antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs)--B5C9, B5E4, and B10G10--to human group B rotavirus, an agent implicated in epidemic outbreaks of diarrhea in the People's Republic of China, primarily in adults, were prepared. MAb reactivity was decreased when virus preparations were treated with EDTA, suggesting reactivity with the outer-capsid protein(s). Competition experiments suggested that these MAbs recognize overlapping epitopes within a single antigenic site. A simple antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for the human group B rotavirus was established by using these MAbs as capture antibodies. Fifteen clinical samples obtained from three epidemic areas in the People's Republic of China and previously shown by Chinese scientists to contain group B virus were all positive in the MAb capture antigen detection ELISA, whereas none of the 57 samples lacking the group B virus reacted in the test. The results suggest that this MAb capture antigen detection ELISA will be useful to identify outbreaks caused by the human group B rotavirus and to monitor possible spread of the virus.     

Modification of pancreatic carcinogenesis in the hamster model. 6. The effect of ductal ligation and excision

The effect of ligation and excision of the pancreatic duct in pancreatic carcinogenesis was examined in the hamster model. Animals were treated with a single dose (20 mg/kg body weight) of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) either immediately (Group 1) or on Days 1 (Group 2), 3 (Group 3) or 7 (Group 4) after ligation and excision of the duct of the splenic lobe. Group 5 received BOP shortly after laparoscopy, and Group 6 consisted of BOP-treated controls. All hamsters were killed 46 weeks after BOP treatment. The results showed that despite advanced atrophy of the splenic lobe distal to the excised duct in Groups 1-4, some hamsters in Groups 2, 3, and 4 showed hyperplasia, dysplasia, and increased mitotic activities of ductal and ductular cells. However, carcinomas in the duct-excised atrophic lobe were found only in Groups 1-3. These data indicate that BOP carcinogenesis is mediated through blood circulation, and that cancer development is not inhibited in the duct-excised lobe for up to 3 days after surgery. However, in the entire pancreas, a significant reduction in tumor incidence was seen when the carcinogen was given immediately, or to a lesser extent, 1 day after surgery, regardless of whether or not excision was made. On the contrary, BOP, when given 3 and 7 days after duct excision, enhanced tumor development in the nonexcised (intact) pancreas, compared with other test groups and with BOP controls. Both inhibition and enhancement seemed due to a proportional decrease and increase, respectively, of BOP-responsive cells throughout the intact pancreas.     

Moving with the sun

A global 24-hour telemedicine conference entitled, "Moving with the Sun" was successfully completed on June 30 and July 1 1997 between participants from Hong Kong and China, as well as with sixteen major international medical centres around the globe. In addition to celebrating the return of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China, the conference also signified the establishment of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong as a bridge between Western countries and the PRC.     

Evaluation of the spindle apparatus of in-vitro matured human oocytes following cryopreservation

The present study was conducted to determine if the cryopreservationof immature human oocytes has a deleterious effect on the meioticspindle following maturation in vitro. Oocytes were obtainedin excess from in-vitro fertilization patients and divided intofour groups. Groups 1 (n = 98) and 2 (n = 80) consisted of immatureoocytes cryopreserved before or after maturation in vitro respectively.Groups 3 (n = 37) and 4 (n = 9) served as non-frozen controlsand included oocytes matured in vitro and in vivo respectively.The meiotic spindle was identified after incubation in anti-tubulinmonoclonal antibody (1 h, 37°C) and fluorescein-conjugatedgoat anti-mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) (1 h, RT). Chromosomeswere counterstained with 4‘, 6’-diamidino-2-phenylindole.Following cryopreservation, group 1 oocytes demonstrated a 63%survival rate and 68% maturation rate in vitro. In all, 58%of the oocytes in group 2 survived the thaw. The number of oocyteswith normal spindles in group 1 (81.0%) was not significantlydifferent from control groups 3 (83.8%) and 4 (88.9%), whilethe number of group 2 oocytes with normal structures (43.5%)was significantly lower than groups 1 (P = 0.0004), 3 (P = 0.0002),and 4 (P = 0.025). These results suggest that cryopreservationof the prophase I human oocyte does not significantly increaseabnormalities in the resulting meiotic spindle.     

Distribution of serotypes ofNeisseria meningitidis in the Federal Republic of Germany, 1979–1981

A total of 378 strains of serogroups B, C, Y and W-135Neisseria meningitidis isolated from patients in the Federal Republic of Germany between 1979 and 1981 were serotyped. Serotype 2 predominated (approximately 60%–75%), followed by serotypes 1, 4, 5 and 8. Cross-reactions were common with undiluted, unabsorbed antisera.     

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on wild marsh-deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) from Southeast Brazil: infestations before and after habitat loss

The lake from Porto-Primavera hydroelectric power station inundated an area of 2,200 km2 at the border of S?o Paulo and Mato-Grosso do Sul States, Brazil. Infestations by ticks were evaluated on 135 marsh deer, Blastocerus dichotomus (Illiger), captured before and after inundation. Ticks were collected for identification, and infestation level of animals was assessed by scoring. Deer were divided into four groups according to capture location and temporal relation to the inundation. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were captured before inundation. Group 4 was captured after inundation. Four tick species were found: Amblyomma cajennense (F.), Amblyomma triste Koch, Anocentor nitens (Neumann), and Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 had 30, 45, 100, and 96%, respectively, of animals carrying B. microplus ticks. A. triste was observed on 16, 22, 22, and 88% of animals from groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. A. nitens and A. cajennense were observed only on group 4, on 32 and 16% of the animals, respectively. Groups 1 and 2 had only 4.8 and 6.1% of animals with high infestation levels, respectively, and no ticks on 46.8% and 45.5% of the animals, respectively. Conversely, groups 3 and 4 lacked noninfested animals and had high infestation levels on 77.8 and 50% of deer, respectively. Marsh area shrinkage was blamed for higher infestation levels on deer from groups 3 and 4. The widespread presence of A. triste on marsh deer, a Neotropical tick species, raises the possibility of a natural host-parasite relationship.     

Serogrouping and subtyping of Legionella pneumophila with monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies directed against Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 to 6 were produced by fusing splenocytes of BALB/c mice with the Sp 2/0-Ag14 or the NSO mouse myeloma cell lines. Specificity of these antibodies was determined by indirect fluorescent-antibody staining: 8 reacted with L. pneumophila serogroup 1 and, respectively, 13, 6, 6, 5, and 10 reacted with serogroups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; all except 5 were serogroup specific, and none presented cross-reactions with six other species of Legionellaceae. Serogroup determination of 35 isolates of L. pneumophila with seven selected monoclonal antibodies resulted in correct serogrouping in all instances; a pool of the same seven monoclonal antibodies stained intensely all strains of L. pneumophila without any staining of the other species of Legionellaceae. When 24 serogroup 1 isolates of L. pneumophila were stained with eight serogroup 1-specific monoclonal antibodies, the staining patterns could be clustered in five distinct groups. These hybridomas thus represent an unlimited source of standard reagent that could be used in the detection and serogrouping of L. pneumophila; differences in staining patterns could be used as epidemiological markers for these bacteria.     

Isolation of a spotted fever group rickettsia from a patient and related ecologic investigations in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.

Investigation of patients, healthy persons, and ticks in Jinghe County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, for evidence of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiosis demonstrated strong evidence for a high prevalence of pathogenic SFG rickettsiae. Antibodies to SFG rickettsiae were detected in 62.5% of healthy subjects tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and 20% tested by complement fixation test. Two febrile patients were documented as having acute spotted fever rickettsiosis by complement fixation seroconversion. One, and 11-year-old Kazakh boy with eschar and regional lymphadenopathy, had an SFG rickettsia (An strain) isolated from his blood. A hemolymph test revealed that 20% of ticks contained rickettsiae. Two strains of SFG rickettsiae were isolated from male and female Dermacentor nuttalli ticks. The human SFG rickettsial isolate is the first to be obtained in the People's Republic of China.