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Objective To analyze clinical and laboratory features, viral load and viral shedding period of patients with mild or severe H1N1 influenza A infection. Methods Seventy mild cases and 16 severe cases with concurrent pneumonia were included from Shcnzhen area for analysis.Nasopharyngeal-swab specimens of patients were collected and viral load was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay during their hospitalization. The viral load and viral shedding period were compared between patients over 14 years old and less than 14 years old, and between 70 mild cases without pneumonia and 16 severe cases with pneumonia. The statistic analysis was performed using t test and chi square test. Results The most common symptoms and signs of the patients were fever, cough and enlargement of tonsils. However, the severe cases suffered more frequently from cough, dyspnea and high fever compared with the mild cases (x2 = 10. 9 and 14.3, respectively, t=3.65; both P＜0.01 ). The levels of white blood cell (WBC) count and alanine arninotransferase (ALT) of severe patients were both significantly higher than those of mild patients(t= 3.2, 2.4,respectively; both P＜0.05). The chest radiology of the severe cases showed interstitial pneumonia,mostly with ground glass image. The viral load of patients under 14 years was significantly higher than those over 14 years [(4.86± 1.23) lg vs (4. 17±0.89) lg; t=2.3, P＜0.05], and the viral shedding period of patients under 14 years was significantly longer than those over 14 years [(5.33±0. 49) d vs(3. 63±0.28) d; t=3.4, P＜0.01]. The severe patients also displayed significantly higher viral load and prolonged viral shedding period than the mild patients [(6. 36±1. 44) lg vs (4. 35±0.99) lg, t=6.1,P＜0.01; (5.75±1.77) d vs (4. 24±1. 96) d, t=3.2, P＜0.01]. Conclusion Age anddisease severity of patients with H1N1 influenza A infection are significantly associated with viral load and viral shedding period.
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The imaging appearance of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), including CT and MRI appearance, the differential diagnosis between PML and other similarly diseases were reviewed.
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Objective To observe clinical application value of percutaneous interventional techniques for the treatment of complications of AIDS.Methods Twenty-one AIDS patients with complications were enrolled.CT guided percutaneous needle biopsy and drainage were conducted,and the correct rate of diagnosis,clinical curative effect and complications post-interventional therapy were observed.Results The operations of all patients executed successfully.Fourteen patients underwent 16 times biopsy,11 were correctly diagnosed,the diagnostic accordance rate was 81.25%.Drainage was performed in 6 patients with abscess or cystis,then the lesions completely disappeared in 3,deflated in 2,while the rest one needed continously draining.Partial splenic embolization (50%) was performed in 1 patient,and after operation platelet content increased,while hepatic function decreased temporality.No complicated infection and other severe complications occurred.Conclusion Percutaneous interventional techniques for the treatment of complications of AIDS are safe and feasible.Medical staffs should be careful to exposition of HIV infection.
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Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of AIDS complicated with disseminated Penicillium marneffei (PM) infection. Methods A total of 12 patients with AIDS complicated with disseminated PM infection were collected and the symptoms, signs, laboratory examination results and image manifestations of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results (1) The diagnosis of PM infection in all the 12 cases were confirmed by peripheral blood culture.All the 12 cases (100％) had irregular fever (38-41 ℃) and enlarged lymph nodes, 8 cases (66％) had skin rashes; 8 cases (66％) had hepatomegaly; 9 cases (75％) had splenomegaly while 8 cases (66％) had anemia. (2) Imaging manifestation: Five cases manifested bilateral pulmonary disseminated miliary nodular shadows or lattice signs; 1 case showed enlarged hilar lymph node and 2 zases showed patchy shadow with pleuritis. One case presented sub-pleural curve line shadow at the posterior part of the right lower lung,and adhesion between the intestinal wall and intestinal mesentery in mass form in the abdomen by CT examination. Conclusion Patients suffering from AIDS (CD4T lymphocytes ＜50/μ L) with impaired immunity might be susceptible to complication of disseminated PM infection, which presents mainly damage of multiple organs and symptoms such as fever; enlargement of liver,spleen and lymph nodes, as well as specific skin maculopapular rashes. Imaging manifestations in the lungs were revealed as miliary nodular shadows and lattice-like shadows. Intensified abdominal CT might reveal presence of several enlarged postperitoneal lymph nodes and intestinal adhesion in shape of cakes.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the chest X-ray manifestations of SARS cases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was conducted among 52 clinically confirmed SARS patients from February 9 to May 10, 2003. Chest X-ray scanning was performed at a interval of 1 - 3 days according to the requirements. The manifestations and special features of SARS in X-ray were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Small or large patchy shadows with intensive density in both lungs were observed in 31 cases, ground-glass like opacification in 16, small patchy shadows in one lung lobe or one lung segment in 18, nodular shadows in one lung segment in 1, and increased lung marking in lung interstitial tissues in 2. Rapidly changing consolidations revealed in chest X-ray images were found to be associated with SARS infections, and they were not affected by treatment with antibiotics.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chest X-ray provides a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis and treatment of SARS, and those present with symptoms and signs should undergo chest X-ray scanning every 1 - 3 days.</p>