Growth of HIV-uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers in Guangdong, China: an 18-month longitudinal follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the early growth (weight and length) of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children from the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) program in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A total of 731 HEU children were longitudinally followed up at 7 time points, with anthropometric measurement conducted of weight and length (supine) in the first 18 months. Z scores were calculated, with and without adjustment for gestational age. RESULTS: A total of 708 HEU children were included in the final follow-up cohort, and 105 (14.83%) children completed all 7 follow-up visits. The mean of adjusted weight-for-age Z scores in these children was above zero and showed a decreasing trend in 18 months. The mean of adjusted length-for-age Z scores showed a decreasing trend and was above zero in the first 12 months; this declined to under zero at age 18 months. The proportion of underweight was 0.28-2.19% and that of stunting was 0.71-4.63% at each follow-up month-age. Slower growth in HEU children was associated with no sustained food subside after 6 month, mothers' hemoglobin content less than 100 g/L during pregnancy, preterm birth, and low birth weight (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HEU children could catch up to WHO growth standards in first 18 months in Guangdong; however, growth declined after 12 months, and these children need sustained nutritional support.

Comparison of lipopolysaccharide and protein immunogens from pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica bio-serotype 1B/O:8 and 2/O:9 using SDS-PAGE.

OBJECTIVE: Yersinia enterocolitica is an extracellular pathogen and its related antigens interact with the host immune system. We investigated the difference in immunological characteristics between a highly pathogenic and poorly pathogenic strain of Y. enterocolitica. METHODS: We used SDS-PAGE and western blotting to characterize lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Yersinia outer membrane proteins (Yops), membrane proteins, and whole-cell proteins from poorly pathogenic Y. enterocolitica bio-serotype 2/O:9, isolated from China, and highly pathogenic bio-serotype 1B/O:8, isolated from Japan. RESULTS: These two strains of Y. enterocolitica had different LPS immune response patterns. Comparison of their Yops also showed differences that could have accounted for their differences in pathogenicity. The membrane and whole-cell proteins of both strains were similar; immunoblottting showed that the 35 kD and perhaps the 10 kD proteins were immunogens in both strains. CONCLUSION: The major antigens of the two strains eliciting the host immune response were the LPS and membrane proteins, as shown by comparing protein samples with reference and purified preparations.

[Etiological analysis of influenza surveillance data in Xuzhou from 2005 to 2011].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and subtypes of influenza viruses in Xuzhou city from 2005 to 2011 and to provide the scientific supports for influenza prevention and control in this religion. METHODS: The throat swab samples were collected from the influenza-like cases from national influenza like illness sentinel hospital in Xuzhou. The samples were used for influenza virus isolation and identification, sent on the national flu center to confirm according to the "national influenza surveillance program" and "influenza virus and experimental technology". RESULTS: From Oct. 2005 to Dec. 2011, a total of 9561 swab specimens were collected in which 1152 strains were identified for influenza viruses with total isolated rate of 12.0%. Among these strains, 708 strains were A1 (H1N1) subtype (14.2%), 466 strains were A3 (H3N2) subtype (40.5%), 78 strains were new H1N1 subtype (6.8%), 362 strains were BV (Victoia) subtype (31.4%) and 82 strains were BY (Yamagate) subtype (7.1%). The top detection rate (25.9%) arose in 2007, secondary detection rate (17.4%) occurred at 2009 and the lowest one (2.3%) appeared in 2011. From the winter of 2005 to the spring of 2006 A1 (H1N1) subtype had appeared as predominant strains but in the winter of 2006 the predominant strains were BV subtype. It changed to A3 subtype in 2007 to 2009 and the other three dominant strains were A1, BV and BY in 2008. In the winter of 2009, both A3 (H3N2) and new H1N1 subtype were predominant strains. BV subtype was predominant strains in 2010 to 2011. The prevalence of A3 subtype appeared in all the year while prevalence of BV only arose in the spring and winter. So the detection rate was high in January (34.4%) but low in August (2.2%). The influenza population is correlated with age, the highest detection rate arose in 5-age group and the lowest detection rate appeared in 25-age group. CONCLUSION: Influenza subtype A1, A3, New H1N1 are all appeared as predominant strains in Xuzhou city from 2005 to 2010. Besides, the prevalence of BV subtype is stronger in recently.

[Analysis on pathogen detection for 53 influenza outbreaks].

OBJECTIVE: In order to provide a scientific basis for influenza prevention and control, analyzing the epidemic characteristics and laws of influenza outbreaks in Xuzhou area during 2005-2011. METHOD: Using fluorescent-PCR method to detect influenza virus nucleic acid on Nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected from influenza outbreak cases during 2005-2011 and fast classifying influenza virus A1 (H1N1), A3 (H3N2), new H1N1 BV (Victoria) and BY (Yamagate) on subtypes. At the same time, isolating the influenza virus with MDCK cells, and sending them to the National Influenza Center for review, after the preliminary identification of the isolated influenza virus. RESULTS: During 2005-2011, there are 53 influenza outbreaks in Xuzhou area, which caused by influenza virus subtype BV accounting for 26.42% (14/53), A3 accounting for 49.1% (26/53), A3 and A1 mixture accounting for 3.77% (2/53) and the new H1N1 accounting for 20.75% (11/53). The outbreaks in 2007 and 2009 mainly caused by A3, and show that the winter spring (January) and summer autumn (September) as two popular peaks during 2005-2011; BV mainly causes the outbreaks from Feb. to Jun. CONCLUSION: In Xuzhou area, since the winter of 2005, influenza virus subtype BV, the A3, and new H1N1 has alternately as mainly predominant strain, caused local influenza outbreaks. In which BV has increased trend year by year during 2005-2011. The students in primary and secondary schools are the major crowd of influenza outbreaks. Fluorescent-PCR detection methods could be a preferred method for reliable and rapid diagnostic of epidemic influenza outbreaks.

[Research on the aetiology of suspected enterovirus infected patients in Xuzhou district in 2009].

OBJECTIVE: To understand and master the situation in which enterovirus caused hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) in Xuzhou district in 2009 so as to provide scientific basis for the control and prevention of hand-foot-and-mouth disease. METHODS: The researchers adopted fluorescence RT-PCR method to detect EV and EV71 as well as the CA16 specificity RNA from 222 samples of anal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs from the 240 cases who were diagnosed clinically as hand-foot-mouth disease infected by enterovirus. Also, the researchers conducted EV71-IgM antibody detection on 114 samples of acute phase serum with ELA method. RESULTS: Among the 240 enterovirus infected patients, the total EV infection rate is 72.50% (174/240), among which EV71 infection rate is 57.92% (139/240), CoxA16 infection rate is 9.17% (22/240), and other EV infection rate is 5.42% (13/240). The EV71-RNA positive rate of the samples of 222 anus swabs among the 240 suspected enterovirus infected patients is 45.94% (102/222), the samples of swallow swab EV71-RNA positive rate is 25.68% (57/222) and the EV71-IgM antibody positive rate of 114 samples of acute phase serum is 86.84% (99/114). The EV71-RNA positive rate of oropharyngeal swabs of 254 healthy children is 1.57% (4/254) , and no CoxA16-RNA was detected. In the oropharyngeal swabs of 54 close contacts (medical personnel), the EV-RNA detected is negative. The positive rate of EV71-IgM antibody of the 258 healthy children's serum samples is 2.71% (7/258). CONCLUSION: The widespreading of hand-foot-mouth disease in Xuzhou district is caused mainly by type 71 enterovirus. Inapparent infection of type 71 enterovirus exists among children under the age of 3 during the time of widespreading period and IgM antibody develops in them. It is difficult for adults to be infected by EV71 even if they contact the contagion source closely. The positive rate of EV71-IgM antibody in the samples of acute phase serum of suspected cases is the highest (86.84%), and the second highest is the positive rate of RNA of EV71 of anal swabs (45.94%) and of the EV71 of oropharyngeal swabs (25.68%). ELA reagent kit is used in the early diagnosis of EV71 infection for it is easy to operate, fast and economic, so, it is worth popularizing in the grass-root medical units.

[The study of human rhinovirus in infants with lower respiratory tract infections].

OBJECTIVE: We want to explore the harm degree of human rhinovirus in infants in Beijing area. METHODS: From May 2008 to September 2009, 240 nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from the children and infants who were hospitalized and with lower respiratory tract infections. These specimens were screened for HRV by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and statistically analysised. RESULT: In all of 240 hospitalized children, 208 cases were admission diagnosis of pneumonia, accounting for 86.67% (208/240), no deaths, the ratio of male and female patients was 1.93 : 1, and the collected samples reached to a maximum number in February 2009. Real-time PCR used to detect human rhinovirus, positive samples number is 71, positive rate is 29.58% (71/240), and the main symptoms and clinical diagnosis was pneumonia. Most cases were less than 2 years old, making up 81.69% (58/71), amony them, 13 months-18 months age and > or = 24 months groups have the highest incidence rates, the incidence rate is 33.33%. CONCLUSION: Human rhinovirus happened in spring and winter seasons, especially the infants who were under 2 years are the main infection groups, the important symptoms are lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchiolitis et al. Human rhinovirus is seasonal and contagious, spreads fast, so protective measures in hospitals should be prepared to avoid cross-infection.

[Genetic analysis of a strain of adenovirus Ad7d2 isolated from an infant died of pneumonia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the genetic characteristics of a strain of adenovirus, Ad7d2, isolated from an infant died of severe pneumonia. METHODS: Virus isolation was performed by using the nasopharyngeal secretion from an 11-month-old infant with serious pneumonia. The viral DNA was amplified by PCR and the products were sequenced. RESULTS: One strain of virus was isolated and was named as BJ060316-1. Sequence analysis of the hexon and fiber gene of the PCR products showed that the strain was Ad7d2, which shared 99.5% homology for 950bp hexon fragment with AF321311 Ad7d2 isolated from Israel in 1993. Blast with deduced amino acid sequence showed that BJ060316-1 lost glutamine at site 253, and at the site 495 arginine replaced serine. For fiber gene, BJ060316-1 showed 99.7% homology with AB243118 Ad7 isolated in Japan in 2005 for 975 bp fragment. CONCLUSION: Adenovirus Ad7d2 strain BJ060316-1 isolated from a an infant with fatal pneumonia showed no virulence mutation.

Human bocavirus in children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection in Beijing Children's Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a parvovirus recently found to possibly cause respiratory tract disease in children and adults. This study investigated HBoV infection and its clinical characteristics in children younger than five years of age suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection in Beijing Children's Hospital. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection during the winters of 2004 to 2006 (from November through the following February). HBoV was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification and virus isolation and the amplification products were sequenced for identification. RESULTS: HBoV infection was detected in 16 of 333 study subjects. Coinfections with respiratory syncytial virus were detected in 3 of 16 HBoV positive patients with acute lower respiratory tract infection. The median age for HBoV positive children was 8 months (mean age, 17 months; range, 3 to 57 months). Among the HBoV positive children, 14 were younger than 3 years old, 9 were younger than 1 year old and 7 were younger than 6 months. These 16 positive HBoV children exhibited coughing and abnormal chest radiography findings and more than 60% of these children had wheezing and fever. Ten children were clinically diagnosed with pneumonia, 2 bronchiolitis, 2 acute bronchitis and 2 asthma. One child died. CONCLUSIONS: HBoV was detected in about 5% of children with acute lower respiratory infection seen in Beijing Children's Hospital. Further investigations regarding clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of HBoV infection are needed.