Shedding of rubella virus in postsymptomatic individuals; viral RNA load is a potential indicator to estimate candidate patients excreting infectious rubella virus.

BACKGROUND: Since the first isolation of rubella virus (RuV) in 1962, comprehensive data regarding the quantitative evaluation of RuV shedding remain unavailable. In this study, we evaluated the shedding of viral RNA and infectious virus in patients with acute RuV infection. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed 767 specimens, including serum/plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), throat swabs, and urine, obtained from 251 patients with rubella. The viral RNA load and the presence of infectious RuV were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and virus isolation. RESULTS: Virus excretion peaked 0-2 days after rash onset and decreased over time. The median viral RNA load dropped to an undetectable level on day 3 after rash onset in serum/plasma, day 2 in PBMCs, days 10-13 in throat swabs, and days 6-7 in urine. Infectious virus could be isolated for up to day 2 after rash onset in serum/plasma, day 1 in PBMCs, days 8-9 in throat swabs, and days 4-5 in urine. The minimum viral RNA load that allowed virus isolation was 961 copies/mL in serum/plasma, 784 copies/mL in PBMCs, 650 copies/mL in throat swabs, and 304 copies/mL in urine. A higher viral RNA load indicated a higher likelihood of the presence of infectious virus. CONCLUSION: These findings would contribute to improve algorithms for rubella surveillance and diagnosis. In addition, this study indicates that the results of RT-qPCR enable efficient rubella control by estimating candidate patients excreting infectious virus, which could help prevent viral transmission at an early stage and eliminate rubella ultimately.

Nonsurgical orthodontic treatment for a patient with Sotos syndrome.

Sotos syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by overgrowth in childhood, specific facial manifestations, advanced bone age, and mental retardation. The purpose of this article is to describe the nonsurgical orthodontic treatment of a 10-year-old boy with a skeletal mandibular protrusion, unilateral posterior crossbite, and Sotos syndrome. After maxillary lateral expansion, the skeletal Class III relationship with an anterior crossbite improved because of mandibular clockwise rotation, whereas the facemask had a marginal effect. After growth at 16 years, he had a skeletal Class I relationship, and thus, conventional orthodontic treatment with preadjusted edgewise appliances was initiated. After 41 months of multibracket treatment, acceptable occlusion with a functional Class I relationship was obtained. One year postretention, few changes in occlusion and facial features were observed. Our results demonstrate that considering the maxillofacial vertical growth during the peripubertal period associated with Sotos syndrome, more attention should be paid to the early orthopedic treatment with the facemask and/or chincap.

Parotid gland atrophy after conservative treatment of a post-traumatic parotid fistula in a two-year-old boy.

A parotid fistula is a rare complication following parotid gland and duct injury. A two-year-old boy with a previous parotid fistula after parotid injury due to a dog bite was successfully treated with pressure-dressing therapy, which is generally non-invasive and tolerable by young children. During follow-up, ultrasonography revealed atrophy of the parotid gland. This finding is consistent with the healing mechanism previously assumed in adult patients with a parotid fistula. Consideration should be paid to the possibility of oral environmental changes associated with reduced saliva secretion from parotid gland atrophy after conservative treatment of parotid fistula.

Hemifacial Microsomia Caused by First and Second Brachial Arch Syndrome Treated with Orthodontic Approach: A Case Report.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To present a growing patient with unilateral mandibular hypoplasia and microtia involved in the first and second branchial arch syndrome (FSBAS) treated with functional appliance. BACKGROUND: The FSBAS comprises several developmental facial hypoplasia in ear and maxillofacial bones, resulting in hemifacial microsomia. Treatment for hemifacial microsomia varies greatly depending on the grade of mandibular deformities. Functional appliance treatment during growth period is available for mild to moderate mandibular deformities. However, there are few reports of hemifacial microsomia treated with functional appliance. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient, an 8-year-and-5-month-old girl, had a chief complaint of mandibular deviation. She had been diagnosed with the FSBAS at birth. Her facial profile was straight and panoramic radiograph indicated that the mandibular ramal height of the affected side was about 60.4% compared to the unaffected side. The occlusal cant was 6°, and the right maxilla and mandible showed severe growth deficiency. At the age of 10 years, functional appliance with expander was used; for 2 years 6 months, the maxillomandibular growth was controlled and from panoramic radiograph, the ramus height of the affected side was increased to 65.0% compared to the unaffected left mandibular ramus. At the age of 12 years and 8 months, multibracket treatment was initiated. After 32 months of active treatment, proper occlusion with functional Class I canine and molar relationships was obtained, although facial asymmetry associated with the difference of ramus heights still existed. The resulting occlusion was stable during 1.5-year retention period. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated the importance of orthopedic treatment during growth period in the patient with hemifacial microsomia involving the FSBAS. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This report proposes an efficacy of conventional orthodontic treatment for growing patients with hemifacial microsomia involved in the FSBAS.

Age-related changes in mRNA levels of hepatic transporters, cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in female rats.

Hepatic transporters and metabolic enzymes affect drug pharmacokinetics. Limited information exists on the alteration in mRNA levels of hepatic transporters and metabolic enzymes with aging. We examined the effects of aging on the mRNA levels of representative hepatic drug transporters and metabolic enzymes by analyzing their levels in 10-, 30- and 50-week-old male and female rats. Levels of mRNA of drug transporters including multidrug resistance protein (Mdr)1a, multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp)2, breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp) and organic anion-transporting polypeptide (Oatp)1a1, and the metabolic enzymes cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A1, CYP3A2 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A1 were analyzed using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA levels of transporters in male rats did not decrease with age, while the mRNA levels of Bcrp and Oatp1a1 in female rats decreased with age. The mRNA levels of CYP3A1 and CYP3A2 in male rats were higher than those in female rats. The mRNA levels of metabolic enzymes decreased with age in female but not male rats. In particular, the mRNA levels of UGT1A1 in 10-week-old female rats were higher than those in male rats. mRNA expression of hepatic transporters and metabolic enzymes are more susceptible to aging in female than male rats. The age-related decreases in the mRNA levels of Bcrp, Oatp1a1, CYP3A1 and CYP3A2 in female rats may affect the metabolism and transport of substrates. This study showed that aging affected the mRNA expression of hepatic transporters and metabolic enzymes in rats.

Changes in mRNA expression of ABC and SLC transporters in liver and intestines of the adjuvant-induced arthritis rat.

In this study, a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the effects of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) on the amounts of mRNA of 12 types of rat ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and solute carrier (SLC) transporters in the liver and small intestine, 7 (D7) and 21 days (D21) after the injection of adjuvant. There were no significant differences in mRNA levels of ABC and SLC transporters between the livers of AA and control rats on D7, except in the case of Mdr1a. However, levels of Mdr1a, Mrp2 and Oatp SLC transporters were significantly lower in AA than in the control livers on D21. In contrast, the mRNA levels of several ABC and SLC transporters, especially Mrp2, Bcrp, LAT2 and Oatp1a5, were significantly lower in the small intestines of AA rats compared with the controls on D7, though there were no significant differences by D21. The time-dependent alterations in mRNA levels of the pregnane X receptor, but not the constitutive androstane receptor, in the liver and intestine were similar to the changes in mRNA levels of most transporters examined. The present study showed that AA was associated with reduced mRNA expression of several ABC and SLC transporters in the liver and small intestine, but that the time courses of the effects of AA on mRNA expression differed between the liver and small intestine. These results raise the possibility of a functional change of the transporters of liver and intestine in AA rats.