Clinical and morphologic studies on the guinea pig eye infected with human influenza virus strains of different virulence

Human influenza virus serotypes H3N2 and H2N2 caused iridocyclitis and uveitis when inoculated at does of 10(6) 6.5 EID50 into the guinea pig eye anterior chamber. Virulent influenza virus strains and their attenuated variants prepared by passaging in chick embryos (CE) have been compared in this model. These studies showed that virulent viruses cause more severe damage in the eyes than the attenuated strains.     

Correlation between TS phenotype and pathogenicity of some animal viruses

Summary The pathogenicity of seven ts mutants of poliovirus belonging to 4 functional groups and of five ts mutants of fowl plague virus belonging to 5 complementation groups was studied. Among ts mutants of poliovirus five had lost their pathogenicity for monkeys, one showed a considerably reduced pathogenicity and one had retained it practically completely. Among ts mutants of fowl plague virus three had lost their pathogenicity for chickens to a considerable extent and two had retained it completely. The viruses isolated from the organs of the animals infected with the ts mutants retaining their pathogenicity had ts⁺ phenotype. No correlation has been found between the appurtenance of ts mutants to certain functional or complementation groups and degree of pathogenicity. It is suggested, however, that mutational changes in different cistrons of the genome of the viruses tested leading to development of the ts phenotype are, indeed, accompanied by reduction in pathogenicity and that retained pathogenicity in some mutants seems to be due to ts⁺ reversion.     

Outcome assessment of the Ministry of Health Malaysia dialysis programme

We describe the outcomes on haemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) provided by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The assessment was based on data from the Malaysian Dialysis Registry on 2480 HD and 732 CAPD patients who commenced dialysis between 1980 and 1996. Young patients (age < 40) have remarkable long term survival (life expectancies of 16 years on HD, 18 years on CAPD). Adjusting for background mortality, relative survival of older patients was as good as younger ones. Diabetics did poorly. 52% of HD and 26% of CAPD patients were employed in 1996. 71% of HD patients scored 10(normal) on QL index (a measure of quality of life) while 60% of CAPD patients have similar score. Differences in rehabilitation and QL index scores by age, gender and diabetes were also observed. Outcomes of dialysis in the MOH programme are reassuring.     

One-stage immediate breast reconstruction with implant following skin-sparing mastectomy in Asian patients

The Asian breast reconstruction patient is usually of lower mean age, lower body mass index (BMI), and has relatively small breasts. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of 1-stage immediate breast reconstruction using saline-filled implants in the Asian patients.Between April 2002 and July 2005, 30 patients underwent skin-sparing mastectomy and 1-stage immediate breast reconstruction with a saline-filled implant. Mean age was 42.9 years, with a mean BMI of 21.9 and a mean implant volume of 283 mL.The overall success rate was 96.6%, with 1 case of implant exposure secondary to chest skin necrosis. At mean follow-up of 21.5 months (range 6 to 40 months), 1 patient developed local recurrence (3.33%).Perfusion of the chest skin flap is reliable enough to allow 1-stage breast reconstruction with small saline-filled breast implants. We present this as an additional option for immediate breast reconstruction in thin women with small breasts.