Simultaneous Detection and Identification of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza Virus A ( H3N2 , H1N1 ) and B by One - tube Multiplex Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Influenza virus are the most common pathogen for causing severe upper respiratory infection in all age groups. A multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been developed to detect and subtype influenza A (H3N2 and H1N1), B virus and RSV simultaneously in one tube reaction. Amplification with primers derived from conserved sequences within the nucleocapsid for RSV and hemagglutinin subunit for Influenza A (H3N2 and H1N1) and B viruses yielded a 384 bp, a 300 bp, a 236 bp and a 151 bp, respectively. Assay specificity was confirmed by pulse field gel electrophoresis and autosequencing method. Assay sensitivity was 3 PFU/ml of RSV, 22 PFU/ml, 45 PFU/ml of Influenza type A (H3N2 and H1N1) and 6.6 PFU/ml of Influenza B virus by plaque assay. A rapid and sensitive detection method of a one-tube with multiplex RT-PCR capable of identifying more than one viral template as well as synchronizing reverse transcription and PCR had the potential to produce considerable savings of time and cost effectiveness in the diagnostic laboratory.

Analysis of Increased Myotatic Reflex in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyse the myotatic reflex characteristics of children with spastic cerebral palsy compared with normal infants and children. METHOD: Thirty four children with spastic cerebral palsy and 42 normal children were examined. The tendon taps were applied to the patellar and Achilles' tendons and shin using an electric reflex hammer. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were recorded from hamstring (HAM), rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemias (GCL) by surface electrodes. The response ratios of HAMs/RF and TA/GCL were determined from CMAP amplitude. RESULTS: The mean HAM/RF ratios after patellar taps were 0.32+/- 0.33, 0.37 +/-0.33 and 0.32+/- 0.19 in children with cerebral palsy, normal infants, and children over 1 year of age, respectively. The mean TA/GCL ratios following Achilles tap were 0.40 +/- 0.30, 0.93+/- 0.11, and 0.25+/- 0.14 in children with cerebral palsy, normal infants, and children over 1 year of age, respectively. All the spastic cerebral palsy children showed muscle responses in RF, HAM, TA and GCL after shin tap, but normal children did not. CONCLUSION: The results reflect that the reflex responses are exaggerated in children with spastic cerebral palsy, and it can be used in the early diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

Visual Evoked Potentials in Premature Infants

Visual evoked potentials(VEPs) are the cerebral electrical activities recorded from the occipital scalp following a flash or pattern stimulation and can detect the lesions of sensory visual pathways. Although the VEPs change with the maturation of CNS in children, a few studies have documented the maturational changes in premature infants. Using the light- emitting diode goggles, VEPs were studied in 131 neurologically intact infants of 28~41 weeks gestational age or 34~59 weeks postmenstrual age. The VEPs were analysed by three waveforms; normal, abnormal, and flat, and four patterns; N300, P200-N300, P100-N155-P200-N300, and P100 pattern. Normal waveforms were 63 of 131 VEPs(48.1%). Of the normal waveforms, N300 patterns were 38.1%, P200-N300 36.5%, P100-N155-P200-N300 19.0%, and P100 6.4%. Each pattern correlated with the postmenstrual age. These findings support the hypothesis of VEP pattern changes according to the maturation of the visual system with age.