Gm and Km PHENOTYPE FREQUENCIES IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC ACTIVE HEPATITIS (CAH) B VIRUS INFECTION

Patients with CAH, extrahepatic HBV manifestation and healthy children were studied for presence of Gm 1,2,3,10,21 factors and Km 1 factor. Significantly higher frequency of Gm (1, 2, 3, 10, 21) phenotype was shown in CAH group as compared with the other two groups. Relationship between Km factors and examined groups was not found.     

An immunoblotting procedure for screening glycophorins and band 3 protein in the same blots: Identification of glycophorin and band 3 variant forms

An immunoblotting procedure is described which makes it possible to screen multiple blood samples for the presence of glycophorin and band 3 variant forms with altered electrophoretic mobility. The procedure can be simplified by using whole red blood cell hemolysates instead of membranes for SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The use of hemolysates also has the advantage that antigens sensitive to proteolysis are not degraded in vitro. The same nitrocellulose blots were used for immunoenzymatic detection of glycophorins with a set of anti-glycophorin monoclonal antibodies, and for autoradiographic detection of band 3-derived bands with ¹²⁵I-labeled anti-band 3 monoclonal antibody. The screening of 157 Caucasian blood samples revealed the presence of a slower-migrating form of band 3 in seven cases and variant glycophorin in one case. The variant glycophorin exhibited the features of hybrid glycophorin of B-A type.     

Lung cancer in relation to occupational and environmental chromium exposure and smoking

The increased occurrence of lung cancer in residents of Dolny Kubin, the North-Slovakia district with ferrochromium industry, compared to the general population of Slovakia, led us to the study assessing influence of the occupational and environmantal exposure to chromium on the lung cancer incidence, respecting also the risk coming from cigarette smoking. Residents of Dolny Kubin district with the diagnosed lung cancer in 1984-1999 were involved in the study. The occurrence of lung cancer was significantly higher in people working in ferrochromium industry. The age at the onset of the disease in people exposed to chromium was by 5.5 years lower than in non-exposed. Smoking was an important risk factor, which has been proved particularly in non-exposed group where 62% were smokers and the onset of the lung cancer in them occured about 3.4 years earlier than in non-smokers. In exposed groups, no significant effect of smoking was found. We can conclude, that occupational exposure to chromium was identified as the main risk factor of lung cancer in Dolny Kubin district even overlaying effect of smoking.     

Human rhinovirus C infections in pediatric hematology and oncology patients

Children with cancer and HSCT recipients are at high risk for common viral infections. We sought to define the viral etiology of ARI and identify risk factors. Nasal wash samples were collected from pediatric hematology–oncology patients and HSCT recipients with ARI during the 2003–2005 winter seasons. Real‐time RT‐PCR was performed to detect Flu A, influenza B, RSV, PIV 1‐3, human MPV, and HRV. HRV specimens were sequenced and genotyped. Seventy‐eight samples from 62 children were included. Viruses were detected in 31 of 78 samples (40%). HRV were detected most frequently, in 16 (52%) including five HRVC; followed by seven (22%) RSV, five (16%) Flu A, four (13%) MPV, and two (6%) PIV2. There was a trend toward higher risk of viral infection for children in day care. Only 8% of the study children had received influenza vaccine. HRV, including the recently discovered HRVC, are an important cause of infection in pediatric oncology and HSCT patients. Molecular testing is superior to conventional methods and should be standard of care, as HRV are not detected by conventional methods.     

Prevalence of pertussis antibodies in maternal delivery, cord, and infant serum

BACKGROUND: Passively acquired maternal antibodies protect infants from many pathogens. With increasing reports of infant pertussis, we evaluated pertussis antibodies in maternal-infant paired sera from 1999-2000. METHODS: Antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), and fimbrial proteins (FIM) were measured by validated IgG-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) in 64 maternal-umbilical cord serum pairs and in 61 of 64 infant sera. Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of pertussis antibodies and cord : maternal GMC ratios were calculated. RESULTS: Mean maternal age and gestation were 29.7 years (range, 19-42) and 39.3 weeks (range, 35.6-40.9), and 81% of mothers were white. GMCs of maternal antibodies at delivery (ELISA units/mL) were 2.4 for PT, 6.9 for FHA, and 13 for FIM. Cord GMCs were 169%, 178%, and 157% of maternal delivery values for PT, FHA, and FIM, respectively, demonstrating active placental transfer (P<.001). Pertussis-specific IgG values for each antigen decayed to below the threshold of detection by age 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Despite efficient placental transfer, low maternal pertussis antibody levels and their rapid decay in infant sera leave infants with little humoral protection against pertussis. These data support the rationale for maternal or neonatal immunization, with acellular pertussis vaccines, to prevent life-threatening pertussis in early infancy.     

Economic cost of dengue in Puerto Rico

Dengue, endemic in Puerto Rico, reached a record high in 2010. To inform policy makers, we derived annual economic cost. We assessed direct and indirect costs of hospitalized and ambulatory dengue illness in 2010 dollars through surveillance data and interviews with 100 laboratory-confirmed dengue patients treated in 2008-2010. We corrected for underreporting by using setting-specific expansion factors. Work absenteeism because of a dengue episode exceeded the absenteeism for an episode of influenza or acute otitis media. From 2002 to 2010, the aggregate annual cost of dengue illness averaged $38.7 million, of which 70% was for adults (age 15+ years). Hospitalized patients accounted for 63% of the cost of dengue illness, and fatal cases represented an additional 17%. Households funded 48% of dengue illness cost, the government funded 24%, insurance funded 22%, and employers funded 7%. Including dengue surveillance and vector control activities, the overall annual cost of dengue was $46.45 million ($12.47 per capita).     

Potential routes for indirect transmission of African swine fever virus into domestic pig herds

Following its introduction into Georgia in 2007, African swine fever virus (ASFV) has become widespread on the European continent and in Asia. In many cases, the exact route of introduction into domestic pig herds cannot be determined, but most introductions are attributed to indirect virus transmission. In this review, we describe knowledge gained about different matrices that may allow introduction of the virus into pig herds. These matrices include uncooked pig meat, processed pig‐derived products, feed, matrices contaminated with the virus and blood‐feeding invertebrates. Knowledge gaps still exist, and both field studies and laboratory research are needed to enhance understanding of the risks for ASFV introductions, especially via virus‐contaminated materials, including bedding and feed, and via blood‐feeding, flying insects. Knowledge obtained from such studies can be applied to epidemiological risk assessments for the different transmission routes. Such assessments can be utilized to help predict the most effective biosecurity and control strategies.     

Infections with cardiopulmonary and intestinal helminths and sarcoptic mange in red foxes from two different localities in Denmark

Monitoring parasitic infections in the red fox is essential for obtaining baseline knowledge on the spread of diseases of veterinary and medical importance. In this study, screening for cardiopulmonary and intestinal helminths and sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) was done on 118 foxes originating from two distinct localities in Denmark, (Copenhagen) greater area and southern Jutland. Fifteen parasite species were recorded in 116 foxes (98.3%), nine parasitic species are of zoonotic potential. Parasite diversity was greater in foxes of Copenhagen in terms of overall parasite species richness and species richness of all helminth groups individually: trematodes; cestodes; and nematodes. Six parasite species were recovered from foxes of Copenhagen, but not from foxes of Southern Jutland: Echinochasmus perfoliatus; Echinostoma sp.; Pseudamphistomum truncatum; Dipylidium caninum; Angiostrongylus vasorum; and Sarcoptes scabiei, but Toxascaris leonina was only recorded in foxes of southern Jutland. A high prevalence and abundance of A. vasorum in foxes of Copenhagen was observed. The prevalence of four nematode species; Eucoleus (Capillaria) aerophilus, Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxocara canis, and Crenosoma vulpis, in foxes of both localities were comparable and ranging from 22.9% to 89%. The prevalence of Mesocestoides sp. was significantly higher in foxes of Copenhagen. Taenia spp. were detected using morphological and molecular analysis, which revealed the dominance of T. polyacantha in foxes of both localities. Infections with sarcoptic mange were evident only among foxes of Copenhagen (44.9%), which significantly affected the average weight of the infected animals. Further remarks on the zoonotic and veterinary implications of the parasites recovered are given.     

Preparing for the 2019‐2020 influenza season

Although the 2017‐2018 influenza season had very high rates of influenza‐associated illness, the 2018‐2019 influenza season was comparable to previous seasons. Influenza A was the most commonly identified type worldwide, although variations in influenza A subtype prevalence existed. Influenza vaccination remains the single most effective way to prevent influenza‐associated illness. A novel influenza antiviral, baloxavir, has demonstrated promising results; however, concerns about development of resistance exist.