Distribution of TT virus genomic groups 1-5 in Brazilian blood donors, HBV carriers, and HIV-1-infected patients

Human isolates of the highly prevalent TT virus (TTV) have been classified into five major genomic groups (1-5). The geographical distribution of the groups throughout the world is not well known. Five different PCR assays were developed in an attempt to amplify specifically TTV DNAs of each genomic group. Serum samples collected from 72 Brazilian adults (24 voluntary blood donors, 24 hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, and 24 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients) were tested. TTV DNA from at least one genomic group was detected in 11 (46%) blood donors, 13 (54%) HBV carriers, and 24 (100%) HIV-1 patients. All five genomic groups were detected in the three populations, with the exception of group 2 in blood donors. Some samples, negative with all five specific assays, were positive with the commonly used untranslated region (UTR) PCR system. On the other hand, TTV DNA was detected in some samples by using specific assays but not with the UTR PCR. Mixed infections with 2-5 TTV isolates from different groups were detected in 21% blood donors, 29% HBV carriers, and 71% HIV-1 patients. Fifteen PCR products (three obtained with each assay) were sequenced. Most sequences showed high (>86%) homology with those of TTV isolates belonging to their presumed groups. However, three sequences had low homology with all TTV sequences available from the DNA databanks. In conclusion, TTV isolates belonging to all five known genomic groups circulate in Brazil, and the results suggest the existence of new and as yet uncharacterised major genomic groups.     

Atypical respiratory pathogens

The main atypical pathogens in respiratory tract infections are classified on the basis of their ability to cause atypical pneumonia. This is not a well-defined clinical entity, and it is evident that atypical pathogens can sometimes cause 'typical' pneumonias and vice versa. This emphasizes the need for microbiological diagnosis, since it affects the selection of proper treatment, in which β-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides are not effective. Moreover, mixed infections caused by atypical and typical pathogens together are common. At this moment rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods are lacking. Besides numerous viruses, the main bacterial pathogens causing atypical pneumonias are Mycoplasma pneumoniae , two chlamydia species. Chlamydia pneumoniae and C. psittaci , one rickettsia, Coxiella burnetti , and several Legionella species. The majority of these pathogens cause upper respiratory tract infections more often than overt pneumonias. An atypical agent, Chlamydia pneumoniae , has also been associated with chronic inflammatory conditions in the cardiovascular system. The most recently discovered pathogen in atypical pneumonias is a hantavirus causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.     

1049例育龄妇女下生殖道感染情况调查

目的了解育龄妇女下生殖道感染情况,为育龄女性生殖健康提供进一步的数据资料。方法对1049例来自健康体检中心的21~40岁育龄妇女的阴道后穹窿及宫颈分泌物标本进行检测,阴道清洁度、滴虫采用显微镜镜检法,淋球菌、解脲支原体、人型支原体、真菌采用培养法,沙眼衣原体则采用免疫层析法。检测结果进行统计学分析。结果女性生殖道感染的感染率为53.3%,其中混合感染率为9.8%,而清洁度异常率仅为28.4%;前三位病原体感染依次为解脲支原体(35.9%)、衣原体(18.1%)、真菌(6.7%)。结论女性生殖道感染情况严重,具有隐匿性,应加强对无症状感染的育龄妇女的监测。     

High-density proteoglycan induces specific suppression of adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

We compared the levels of serum antibodies in male and female C57Bl/6 mice during the primary and after challenge infection with Giardia muris. Male mice began passing cysts in their faeces earlier than females, and were shedding cysts for over 60 days, while females stopped shedding cysts by day 20 after infection. In both males and females there were significant increases in parasite-specific IgM 10 and 20 days after infection. No differences in parasite-specific serum IgA were observed until 40 days after infection. Parasite-specific IgG (whole) levels were elevated on days 20 and 40 in females, while males showed no significant increases. In addition, females had a much stronger IgG2b and IgG3 response than males. After challenge with either cysts or soluble parasite protein only the females had significant increases in specific anti-parasite IgG2b. Our data show differential ability of males and females to control the infection with G. muris is paralleled by a difference in the anti-parasite serum IgG response of the mice.     

Concurrent infections ofTrichinella spiralis andToxoplasma gondii in mice

Concurrent infections with two parasites: a nematode,Trichinella spiralis, and a protozoon,Toxoplasma gondii, were investigated. Antibody production (total immunoglobulin and IgM) was similar in double and single infections. However, the number ofToxoplasma cysts in the brains of mice infected withTrichinella and challenged 1–6 weeks later withToxoplasma was higher than in mice infected withToxoplasma alone, while mice infected withToxoplasma and challenged 4–14 days later withTrichinella had lower worm burdens in the intestine than animals infected withTrichinella alone. Greater loss in body weight was observed in mice infected with both parasites than in those infected with either parasite alone.     

Effects of Killed and Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine on Symptoms and Specific Airway Conductance in Asthmatics and Healthy Subjects

Killed and live influenza virus vaccines were given to asthmatics and healthy subjects to investigate symptoms and alterations in their respiratory performance after vaccination. Polyvalent killed influenza virus vaccine was given to 16 asthmatics and live attenuated influenza virus vaccine to 23 asthmatics and 21 healthy subjects. Fourteen of the 16 asthmatics vaccinated with the killed vaccine displayed a significant rise in serum antibody level as measured by a single radial haemolysis in gel (SRH test). 11 of the 23 asthmatics and 14 of the 21 healthy subjects vaccinated with the live attenuated vaccine displayed a significant rise in the SRH test. Among the subjects with no measurable initial antibodies and with a significant rise in the SRH test, one asthmatic vaccinated with the killed vaccine experienced symptoms of common cold with fever and dyspnoea 1 week after vaccination. Three asthmatics and four healthy subjects vaccinated with live attenuated vaccine experienced mild symptoms, mainly rhinorrhoea, cough and sore throat 2 to 3 days after vaccination. No alterations in specific airway conductance in asthmatics or in healthy subjects were observed. We conclude that both killed and live attenuated influenza virus vaccines are tolerated well by asthmatics and appear to be safe for asthma patients.     

ADA活性紫外吸收测定法的改良及复感儿淋巴细胞该酶活性的检测

检测了42例健康儿童和17例反复上呼吸道感染患儿（复感儿）的血淋巴细胞腺苷脱氨酶（ADA）活性，结果表明：复感儿的血淋巴细胞中ADA活性较健康儿童低下，且大多同样伴有不同程度的免疫功能低下；从复感儿组中筛选了两侧ADA活性和免疫功能明显低下的患儿，拟采用这两例患儿的血淋巴细胞进行ADA－SCID基因治疗的实验研究。     

发病前细菌感染抑制过敏性哮喘发作的实验研究

目的： 研究发病前细菌感染对过敏性哮喘发病的影响。 方法： 用豚鼠作动物模型，观察金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌、链球菌、肺炎双球菌等4种呼吸道常见细菌感染之后哮喘发作时肺泡灌洗液中的白细胞总数、酸性粒细胞总数和百分比以及肺部的病理变化。 结果： 各细菌感染组肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中的白细胞总数均明显低于对照组，金黄色葡萄球菌组和大肠杆菌组酸性粒细胞总数和百分比明显降低，病理结果表明各细菌感染组的病变程度都要明显轻于对照组。 结论： 部分细菌感染后能够抑制哮喘的发作。     

Comparison of assays to detect cytomegalovirus shedding in the semen of HIV-infected men

We sought to determine the optimal assays for cytomegalovirus (CMV) shedding in semen. Over a 2-month period, 149 HIV-1-infected men who have sex with men each provided up to three semen specimens. Specimens were tested for CMV by culture, rapid assay (shell vial) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). By culture, 30% of seminal plasma and 28% of seminal cell specimens grew CMV. By rapid assay, results were 38 and 33%, respectively. By PCR, 56% of seminal cell specimens demonstrated CMV: 20% in a single semen specimen; 33% in two specimens; and 34% in all three specimens. Overall, 69% of men had CMV detected by PCR in at least one seminal cell specimen. By quantitative PCR, 14% had ten, 14% had 100, 16% had 1000, and 12% had 10 000 copies in 6.25 μl of semen analyzed. Adjusting for initial CD4+ cell count, men with CMV shedding demonstrated by PCR at the first visit were approximately four times as likely to shed CMV at a subsequent visit (RR 4.28, CI: 2.30–7.95). CMV shedding was associated with decreased CD4+ cell counts in peripheral blood (P=0.05). It is concluded that the PCR assay provided the greatest sensitivity among the three detection methods.     

Safety of anti-immunoglobulin E therapy with omalizumab in allergic patients at risk of geohelminth infection

BACKGROUND: Although the role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in immunity against helminth parasites is unclear, there is concern that therapeutic antibodies that neutralize IgE (anti-IgE) may be unsafe in subjects at risk of helminth infection. OBJECTIVE: We conducted an exploratory study to investigate the safety of omalizumab (anti-IgE) in subjects with allergic asthma and/or perennial allergic rhinitis at high risk of intestinal helminth infection. The primary safety outcome was risk of infections with intestinal helminths during anti-IgE therapy. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 137 subjects (12-30 years) at high risk of geohelminth infection. All subjects received pre-study anthelmintic treatment, followed by 52 weeks' treatment with omalizumab or placebo. RESULTS: Of the omalizumab subjects 50% (34/68) experienced at least one intestinal geohelminth infection compared with 41% (28/69) of placebo subjects [odds ratio (OR) 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-2.95, one-sided P=0.14; OR (adjusted for study visit, baseline infection status, gender and age) 2.2 (0.94-5.15); one-sided P=0.035], providing some evidence for a potential increased incidence of geohelminth infection in subjects receiving omalizumab. Omalizumab therapy was well tolerated, and did not appear to be associated with increased morbidity attributable to intestinal helminths as assessed by clinical and laboratory adverse events, maximal helminth infection intensities and additional anthelmintic requirements. Time to first infection (OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.79-2.15, one-sided P=0.15) was similar between treatment groups. Infection severity and response to anthelmintics appeared to be unaffected by omalizumab therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In this exploratory study of allergic subjects at high risk of helminth infections, omalizumab therapy appeared to be safe and well tolerated, but may be associated with a modest increase in the incidence of geohelminth infection.