Respiratory syncytial virus genotypes and disease severity among children in hospital

OBJECTIVES: To determine the spectrum of N and G genotypes of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing respiratory tract infection and whether particular genotypes are associated with severity of infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were obtained from 114 infants with acute respiratory tract infection due to RSV over two seasons. Viral mRNA was extracted from NPAs or cultured virus, reverse transcribed, and the cDNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using primers directed to parts of the N and G gene respectively. Amplicons were separately digested with four different restriction endonucleases for each gene. The fragments were separated by agarose gel, electrophoresis, and the electrophoretic patterns used to assign the various genotypes. Disease severity was assessed as very mild (upper respiratory tract signs only), mild (coryza and signs of lower respiratory tract infection), moderate (requiring nasogastric or intravenous fluids), and severe (requiring oxygen or ventilation). RESULTS: Five of the six known N genotypes were detected, but NP4 and NP2 were found most frequently. There was no association between N genotype and disease severity. Six G (SHL) genotypes were detected. Significantly (p = 0.04) more of the infants infected with the SHL2 genotype had severe or moderate disease. CONCLUSIONS: During the seasonal peaks of RSV respiratory tract infection at least 10 different RSV genotypes cocirculated. While there is no association between N genotypes and disease severity, infection with the SHL2 G genotype appears to result in moderate to severe disease.     

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pulmonary arterial hypertension in mixed connective tissue disease

A case of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is presented in which mediastinal lymphadenopathy was the most prominent radiological finding detected by plain chest radiographs and computed tomography. Pulmonary arterial hypertension, which is a rare and often fatal complication of MCTD, also developed in this patient.     

High-dose cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin as consolidation therapy for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in first remission: a pilot study

High-dose (HD) cytosine arabinoside (ARA-C) is more effective treatment than conventional-dose ARA-C regimens for patients with relapsed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). We report here that HD ARA-C given during the first remission of ANLL has resulted in long remission durations and a high proportion of patients who survive more than three years free of disease. From August 1979 to September 1983, 36 adult patients with ANLL in first remission received one to three courses of HD ARA-C (3 g/m2 by one-hour infusion every 12 hours for 12 doses on days 1 through 6) alone or with daunorubicin (30 mg/m2 for two or three doses on days 7 through 9). Three patients died of sepsis or hemorrhage during consolidation, and 14 patients have relapsed from five to 48 months after diagnosis. The remaining 19 patients are in continued complete remission (CCR) from 11 to 62 months. Denoting all deaths in remission as relapse, the actuarial probability of CCR is 42% at 62 months, with an apparent plateau in the survival curve. Of the first 22 patients treated, ten remain in CCR from 37 to 62 months with no therapy for at least three years. Due to its heightened anti-leukemic activity, HD ARA-C allows brief but effective consolidation of ANLL in first remission, with long-term disease-free survival comparable to other approaches.     

CD33+ CD14− Phenotype Is Characteristic of Multinuclear Osteoclast‐Like Cells in Giant Cell Tumor of Bone

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a benign bone tumor with a shown clinical behavior of local recurrences and rare distant metastases. GCTB is composed of uniformly distributed osteoclastic giant cells, thought to originate from the fusion of monocyte–macrophage lineage cells, in a background consisting of mononuclear rounded cells and spindle‐shaped cells. Several reports showed the specific expression of markers, such as CD14 on the mononuclear rounded cell population, however, lacking osteoclastic giant cells. Blood monocytes that were CD14+, CD33+, or CD14+/CD33+ have also been shown to be programmed as pre‐osteoclasts. The macrophage marker CD33 is expressed earlier than CD14 in macrophage maturation, whereas CD14 is expressed longer than CD33. The aim of this study was to investigate CD14/CD33 expression profiles in GCTB. Nineteen GCTB tumor samples of 19 patients were studied. Immunofluorescent analyses were performed with monoclonal antibodies against CD14, CD33, RANK, and CD51. To unambiguously further prove the expression of these molecules, quantitative RT‐PCR was used with subsequent sequencing of its products. All samples showed similar immunoreactivity profiles. The mononuclear rounded cell population was positive for RANK, CD51, CD14, and CD33. The osteoclastic giant cell population expressed RANK and CD51, as well as CD33, but was consistently negative for CD14 expression. The CD14 and CD33 profiles were confirmed by quantitative RT‐PCR. These RT‐PCR products were sequence verified. Osteoclasts in GCTB are the result of fusion of CD33‐expressing pre‐osteoclasts that further fuse with CD14+ mononuclear cells. Although these results reflect a static rather than a dynamic spectrum, we strongly believe that osteoclastogenesis seems not to be the exclusive result of fusion of intratumoral CD14+ mononuclear cells. Moreover, CD33‐modulated osteoclastogenesis opens up the possibility for novel therapeutic directions.     

Adequate symptom relief justifies hepatic resection for benign disease

Background  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of partial liver resection for benign liver lesions.     

半肢骨骺发育异常1例

１　病例报告　男,７岁．因双下肢不等长,右膝及右踝关节骨性肿大就诊．无明显外伤史,亦无红、肿、热、痛病史．查体：发育正常,营养良好．双下肢不等长,左６０ｃｍ,右６４ｃｍ,有跛行．右膝及右踝内侧肿大,肤色正常,关节活动无异常．Ｘ线：右侧半身诸关节（肩、肘、腕、髋、膝、踝）骨骺及干骺发育均较左侧增大,肢体较长,骨骺出现亦较对侧提早．如右尺骨茎突骨骺较左侧提早出现（图１）．右肘关节肱骨小头骨骺较左侧增大（图２）．右髋臼发育浅平,边缘毛糙,右股骨头骨骺较左侧明显增大,其距泪滴之距离较左侧大１．０ｃｍ,呈…     

Fas分子与肝细胞凋亡

近年来细胞分子生物学领域中的两个重要进展,即细胞凋亡概念的提出和Ｆａｓ分子的分离与鉴定对肝病的研究有重要影响,加深了人们对肝细胞损伤与死亡的认识．１９９３年Ｏｇａｓａｗａｒａｅｔａｌ［１］进行的Ｆａｓ单抗毒性实验证实了Ｆａｓ分子系统在肝细胞凋亡或损伤...     

Retrograde Inversion Stripping as a Complication of the Clarivein? Mechanochemical Venous Ablation Procedure

The endovenous revolution has accelerated the development of new techniques and devices for the treatment of varicose veins. The ClariVein^® mechanochemical ablation device offers tumescentless treatment with a rotating ablation tip that can theoretically become stuck in tissue. We present the first report of retrograde stripping of the small saphenous vein without anaesthesia following attempted use of the ClariVein^® device, without adverse sequelae.