Mumps in the Eastern Bohemia Region of the Czech Republic - a Serological Survey 2008-2012.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of mumps has decreased in many countries since the introduction of vaccination programmes, however, in the past decade a rapid increase in the disease occurrence has been reported worldwide. The reason for this situation is still not clear. We present the results of a serological survey carried out in the Eastern Bohemia Region of the Czech Republic during the years 2008-2012. METHODS: In total, 2,536 samples of 2,034 patients were examined during the study period. The study cohort was divided into two groups, one consisted of individuals born before the introduction of mandatory vaccination and the other one comprised individuals born after mandatory vaccination started. For the serology analyses the ELISA kits RIDASCREEN Mumpsvirus IgM and IgG (R-Biopharm®, Germany) were used. RESULTS: Out of 2,536 samples (including paired sera), 23.9% (n=606) were positive and 12% (n=304) had equivocal results. Most of the positive samples were obtained from patients aged 17-20 years. Significantly more (p<0.05) positive patients were born after the start of the national vaccination programme (patient group 2) (22.8%) compared to those born before its start (patient group 1) (13.7%). Interestingly, the analysis of data showed that 75.3% of patients falling into group 1 had anti-mumps IgG antibodies, which means that they had contracted mumps, whilst 23.5% of patients of group 2 had undetectable IgG antibodies, even though they should have been vaccinated. CONCLUSION: The data from our study, with a low number of positive samples in the first years of the study and an increase in the last two years, could suggest the occurrence of outbreaks every 4-6 years.

Laser ablation generation of clusters from As-Te mixtures, As-Te glass nano-layers and from Au-As-Te nano-composites. Quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Arsenic tellurides have found important applications in various fields of science, but only a few gold-arsenic tellurides have been reported. Laser ablation synthesis (LAS), a suitable method for the generation of new compounds, has been used to generate clusters from As-Te mixtures, an As-Te glass and Au-As-Te nano-composites. METHODS: Chalcogenide glass nano-layers prepared via Physical Vapour Deposition - thermal evaporation were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). LAS with laser desorption ionisation quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI QIT TOFMS) was used for the generation and analysis of new AuxAsmTen clusters. The stoichiometry of the clusters was determined via isotopic envelope modelling. RESULTS: A simple procedure for the preparation of the Au-As-Te nano-composite was developed. From As-Te mixtures only five binary AsmTen clusters were generated, while from a glass layer 10 binary AsmTen clusters were identified, because during the deposition of the glass the elements reacted with each other to form a complex three-dimensional (3D) structure. Using LAS on the Au-As-Te nano-composite leads to the formation of six unary Ten (n = 1-6), 16 binary (AsmTen and AuxTen), and 31 ternary AuxAsmTen clusters. CONCLUSIONS: LAS was demonstrated to be a useful technique for the generation of AuxAsmTen clusters in the gas phase. More AsmTen clusters were generated from the deposited glass layers than from As-Te mixtures. Most of the ternary AuxAsmTen clusters generated from the nano-composite are reported here for the first time.

[Human polyomaviruses]. / Lidské polyomaviry.

Polyomaviruses belong to a group of viruses that has recently attracted the attention of many research groups. During 35 years, JC and BK viruses, known pathogens in immunocompromised patients, seemed to be the only human polyomaviruses. But in 2007, two other polyomaviruses, WU and KI, were isolated whose pathogenicity is still a matter of discussion. A year later, another human polyomavirus, associated with Merkel cell carcinoma, was identified, and seven more were described by the end of 2014. Some of them were found to be related to various diseases, others seem to be a part of the normal skin and mucosal microbiome. The article summarizes basic information about all so far described human polyomaviruses.

[Determination of the naturally occurring Q80K mutation in the HCV NS3 protease gene]. / Vysetrení prilrozene variant Q80K v genu pro proteázu NS3 HCV.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to introduce a diagnostic method for detecting variants of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with protease NS3 resistance primarily to simeprevir (Q80K mutation in HCV genotype 1a) and its subsequent use in routine practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The detection of HCV resistance-associated variants in the NS3 protease gene by sequence analysis was introduced in the molecular biology laboratory of University Hospital Hradec Kralove in 2015. The primers were designed by sequence analysis software Custom Primers - OligoPerfect™ Designer. The method was optimized for HCV genotype 1a. The search for variants was performed using two programs. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients with genotype 1a chronic hepatitis C have been examined since 2015. In five of them, the Q80K variant was detected. CONCLUSION: The development of resistance to antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C gained importance after the introduction of direct-acting antivirals. Given the relatively high prevalence of the Q80K mutation in HCV genotype 1a, it is crucial to confirm its presence or absence before the therapy is initiated. The reported method enables clear and early detection of the Q80K mutation.

Cytomegalovirus disease in patients with common variable immunodeficiency: three case reports.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most frequent clinically relevant primary immunodeficiency and shows enormous heterogeneity in clinical presentation. Despite clinical immunodeficiency, opportunistic infections are not a typical manifestation of CVID. A retrospective study of 32 patients followed up for 335 patient-years was performed to determine the frequency of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. Symptomatic CMV infection was documented in 3 CVID patients. Patients No. 1 and 2 suffered from CMV pneumonia, with complications due to atypical mycobacteriosis in patient No. 1. Patient No. 3 suffered from CMV enteritis. A history of cancer and chronic hepatitis C infection (patient No. 1), immunosuppressive therapy for interstitial lung disease (patient No. 2) and serious enteropathy complicated with malnutrition (patient No. 3) may have contributed to the complications despite only mild abnormalities in T-cell subpopulations. The direct detection of CMV in bronchoalveolar lavage, stool or tissue samples was the most beneficial diagnostic laboratory method, whereas the detection of CMV DNA in blood did not produce positive results. Adequate treatment of CMV disease led to significant clinical improvement in all 3 patients. The frequency of CMV disease appears to be higher than previously described. In our experience, the probability of opportunistic infections in CVID patients increases with secondary comorbidities and their management.

[Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum -- the causative agent of neurosyphilis]. / Treponema pallidum, subspecies pallidum - puvodce neurosyfilis.

Neurosyphilis is defined as infection of central nervous system by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. Neurosyphilis can develop at any stage after initial infec-tion and is reflected in laboratory results. The pathogenesis of neurosyphilis is similar to that of classical form of syphilis. Individuals with persistent abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid are at risk of the development of clinical manifestations. Proper understanding of particular forms of neurosyphilis for differential diagnosis is important to determine potential risk of the development of progressive disease in neurology.

[Human metapneumovirus]. / Lidský metapneumovirus.

Respiratory viral infections are the most significant cause of increased mortality and morbidity especially in immunocompromised people. These infections are increasingly recognized as being the cause of the failure of a graft or the cause of death in both solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Treatment with potent immunosuppressive medication is necessary for regulation in order to prevent rejection of solid organs and graft-versus-host disease. As a consequence of this therapy, infections are more common. Respiratory viral infections are the most frequent and serious complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Despite increased methods of testing for viral pathogens, nearly 10% of pneumonia in HSCT recipients still remain "idiopathic pneumonia syndrome". Recently described human metapneumovirus could be one of the etiological agents of this syndrome.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in adult population in the Czech Republic - time for birth cohort screening.

Chronic hepatitis C is curable disease. Low detection rate could be one of the reasons of poor treatment uptake. It is important to identify HCV prevalence and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive patients in population by effective screening strategy such as risk-based or birth cohort screening programs. There are no national population-based estimates of the HCV prevalence in the Czech Republic (CZ). The most recent seroprevalence survey determined a prevalence of positive anti-HCV antibodies of 0.2% (in 2001). The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of HCV, HCV viraemia and HCV genotype in the CZ adult population. We also estimated the number of persons living with chronic hepatitis C in CZ. The examined group included 3000 adults, 18-90 years of age enrolled in 2015. All serum samples were examined to determined anti-HCV antibodies positivity, HCV-RNA positivity and genotypes. Of the 3000 samples, 50 were found to be anti-HCV-positive, for a seroprevalence of 1.67% (2.39% in males, 0.98% in females). The overall prevalence of positive HCV RNA was 0.93%: 1.5% in males, 0.39% in females. HCV genotype (GT) 1a was determined in 25%, GT 1b in 25% and GT 3a in 46%. Since 2001, the HCV seroprevalence has increased 8-fold. The highest HCV seroprevalence occurred in males aged 30-44 years. We can estimate that there are more than 140,000 people with HCV antibodies and more than 80,000 people with chronic hepatitis C living in the CZ. The introduction of birth cohort HCV screening could be beneficial for the country.

[Experience with the PCR method in chlamydia detection.].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The study was intended to summarize and evaluate the results in patients with a suspected infection by the genus Chlamydia, investigated with an in-house method of nested PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The study worked with data from patients living in eastern Bohemia, who were examined in the years 2001-2003 at the Dept. of Molecular Biology, a research laboratory shared by the Institute of Clinical Microbiology and the Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 291 explorations were done in 2001, in 2002 already 562 and in 2003 their figure reached 760. The total number of samples received for investigation during that period was 1 613. 1 587 were actually investigated, 26 were unsuitable and could not be used. More than 70 % of all investigations were done with three types of material: urine (41.8 % of all the investigated samples), BAL (15.3 % of all the investigated samples) and whole blood (14.9 % of all the investigated samples). The investigations were carried out with the in-house nested PCR method, which uses primers from the MOMP(ompA) area of the genus Chlamydia spp. RESULTS: Total positivity was 5.67 %, in 1.26 % of the samples the resulted was considered uncertain and 93.07 % of the investigated samples were negative. In men PCR positivity was 6.11 %, in women 5.35 %. The major proportion of positive samples was from the age groups 70-79 years (11.67 %), 10-19 years (6.51 %) and 40-49 years (6.45 %). Overall positivity in smears from the urogenital system was 6.48 %, from urine 3.92 %, from BAL 10.70 % and from whole blood 5.51 %. KEYWORDS: nested PCR, Chlamydia spp., detection.

[Prevalence change of HGV(GBV-C) infection and its coinfection with HBV a HCV infections in haemodialysis patients]. / Sledování zmen ve výskytu markeru HGV(GBV-C) infekce a soucasného výskytu markeru HBV A HCV infekcí u hemodialyzovaných pacientu.

Prevalence of HGV(GBV-C) infection and its coinfection with HBV a HCV infections were studied in group of 82 haemodialysis patients. This study was realized 20 months latter again -- 16 patients from 82 were running in dialysis, 17 patients were transplanted and 49 patients died (non of this viruses was cause of their death). HGV(GBV-C) RNA was detected in serum of 22 patients, 20 months latter it was detected in serum of 3 patients; one positive was new. 20 months latter any HGV(GBV-C) RNA was not detected in serum of 4 originally positive patients. Three of ten HBsAg positive patients were coinfected by HGV(GBV-C) RNA; 20 months latter any coinfection was found. In the first we found HGV(GBV-C) RNA in serum of 5 anti-HCV positive patients and in serum of 1 HCV RNA positive patient; 20 months latter it was in serum of 1 and 1 respectively. Elevation of ALT and AST levels were found in serum of 3 from 82 patients; two patients were coinfected with HBV or HCV. Any from 2 running dialysis patients with elevation of ALT and AST levels was not HGV(GBV-C) RNA positive. This virus is not probably frequent cause of liver disease in dialysis patients and it is not necessary to routinely screen for HGV(GBV-C) infection in this group of patients.

The risk of infection transmission from blood progenitor cell concentrates.

The possibility of infection transmission by infusion of cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cells concentrates or bone marrow is well known. For this reason the European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group (EBMT) and International Society for Haemotherapy and Graft Engineering (ISHAGE) standards include a panel of serological tests to be performed in donors and patients with the aim to lower the likelihood of infection transmission. The study was performed on a group of 71 patients and 22 donors. No laboratory signs of active infection were found in 15 donors (13 related, 2 unrelated), i.e., in 68.2% and in 55 patients (77.5%). The active infection from herpes viruses was the most common (in patients 13, in donors 7). Hepatitis B was found in only one case. The cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) test was the most common marker of previous infection, and it was found in 14 donors and 55 patients. We can conclude that the rate of clinically unsuspected infections in donors and patients, including cases requiring immediate treatment among the patient groups, is relatively high and fully justifies the practice of prophylactic serological testing using the whole palette of tests according to EBMT and ISHGE in both autologous and allogenous transplantations of hematopoietic stem cells.