Direct detection of Molluscum contagiosum virus in clinical specimens by in situ hybridization using biotinylated probe.

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is an unclassified poxvirus which has recently become recognized as causing a major sexually transmitted disease. At present no assay is available for specific detection of MCV because the virus cannot be serially propagated in cell culture. Since MCV produces an abortive, limited growth with some cytopathic effect in certain cell lines, we were able to develop an in situ hybridization assay for detection of MCV genome in clinical specimens. Human fetal diploid lung cell monolayers were infected with clinical specimens, and after proper incubation and fixation in paraformaldehyde, hybridization was performed under full stringency conditions with a molecularly cloned biotinylated probe. Only MCV infected cells showed homology to the MCV probe with a purple-brown cytoplasmic staining. Additionally, we have described an in situ hybridization assay for direct detection of MCV genome in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsies. Characteristic intracytoplasmic Molluscum bodies (Henderson-Paterson bodies) were detected in stratum spinosum cells of the epidermis. Striking staining similarities have been observed between in situ hybridization and haematoxylin-eosin cytostaining. These procedures are the first successful identification of MCV genome in clinical samples by molecular hybridization, with sensitivity and specificity equal to or greater than electron microscopy.     

Physiological analysis of motor reorganization following lower limb amputation.

It is now known that amputation results in reorganization of central motor pathways, but the mechanism for the changes is unclear. One possibility is alteration of the excitability of the alpha motoneurons. We studied motor reorganization and excitability of alpha motoneurons to Ia input in 6 subjects with unilateral lower limb amputation. A Cadwell MES-10 stimulator was used to deliver transcranial magnetic stimuli through a circular coil centered on the sagittal axis 4 cm anterior to Cz and through an 8-shaped coil positioned over scalp locations 1 cm apart along the coronal axis. Surface EMG was recorded bilaterally from quadriceps femoris, the first muscle immediately proximal to the site of amputation. Excitability of the spinal alpha motoneuron pool to Ia afferents was assessed by determining the ratio of the maximal H reflex to the maximal M response (H/M ratio) elicited in the quadriceps femoris. Stimuli of equal intensity delivered to optimal scalp positions recruited a larger percentage of the alpha motoneuron pool in muscles ipsilateral to the stump than in those contralateral to the stump (P less than 0.01). Mean onset latencies of motor evoked potentials were shorter in ipsilateral muscles than in contralateral muscles (P less than 0.01). Muscles ipsilateral to the stump showed a trend toward activation from a larger number of scalp positions than those contralateral to the stump (P = 0.06). There was no difference in the quadriceps H/M ratios (7.2% ipsilateral vs. 10.9% contralateral). The absence of changes in the excitability of the alpha motoneuron pool in the presence of motor reorganization targeting muscles proximal to the stump suggests that reorganization occurs proximal to the alpha motoneuron level.     

Fever associated with teething.

A relationship between teething and fever was sought by examining mothers' reports of the 20 days before the eruption of the first tooth in 46 healthy infants. Twenty infants had a fever of greater than 37.5 degrees C on day 0 compared with seven infants (or fewer) from day 19 to day 4. The danger of attributing fever to teething is emphasised.     

Spatial learning deficits in adult children of alcoholic parents

This study investigated whether the visuospatial deficits displayed by chronic alcoholics are present in persons at risk for alcoholism. Participants were 34 matched social drinkers, half of whom were children of alcoholic parents and half of whom had no family alcoholism history. Ss with a family history of alcoholism displayed visuospatial learning that was significantly poorer than that displayed by Ss with no family alcoholism history. The learning patterns displayed by those with a family alcoholism history were similar to those displayed by previously studied detoxified alcoholics and young children of alcoholics using a similar learning task. Data suggest that visuospatial learning deficits may reflect an antecedent to rather than a consequence of chronic alcohol abuse.