Characterization of a molluscum contagiosum virus homolog of the vaccinia virus p37K major envelope antigen.

We present the first nucleotide sequence data for molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), an unclassified poxvirus. A 2,276-bp XhoI fragment from a near left-terminal fragment of MCV subtype I (MCVI) and a 1,920-bp XhoI fragment from the corresponding locus of MCV subtype II (MCVII) were sequenced and analyzed for open reading frames (ORFs). A large, complete ORF of 1,167 bp was present in both fragments.

Accuracy of sonography in transient synovitis.

The presence of acute transient synovitis (TS, irritable hip) often warrants hospital admission not only to exclude underlying sepsis but also to aspirate when the intraarticular pressure might induce ischemia in the femoral head. Diagnostic doubt may affect this admission. We evaluated 68 patients in a prospective study comparing sonography with diagnostic aspiration and clinical examination.

An alternative approach to pyogenic hepatic abscess in childhood.

Childhood pyogenic hepatic abscess is rare and remains a difficult diagnostic problem. Seven cases in six children were treated over a 13 year period. There was a recurrence in one patient 7 years after the first presentation.

Atlantoaxial instability in Down's syndrome: clinical and radiological screening.

One hundred and thirty children with Down's syndrome were screened for the presence of atlantoaxial instability, using both clinical examination and radiographs of the cervical spine taken in flexion and hyperextension views. Seven children were found to have radiological evidence of atlantoaxial instability, with an atlanto-dens interval greater than 5.0 mm in one or all positions.

Endoscopic correction of vesico-ureteric reflux by subureteric Teflon injection: follow-up ultrasound and voiding cystography.

The technique of subureteric Teflon injection for the correction of vesico-ureteric reflux was first described by Puri and O'Donnell in 1984. The Teflon granuloma that occurs after the injection anchors the submucosal ureter, thereby preventing reflux. This paper reviews the ultrasound and cystographic findings in 88 patients with 115 refluxing ureters followed-up for periods ranging from 3 months to 3 years.

Molluscum contagiosum virus types in genital and non-genital lesions.

The endonuclease digest patterns of viral DNA from 48 genital and 45 non-genital molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) lesions were examined. The overall ratio of MCVI to MCVII was 3.23:1.

Electro-spinal stimulation in children with adolescent and juvenile scoliosis.

A series of forty-one patients with adolescent or juvenile idiopathic scoliosis who were treated with electro-spinal stimulation is reported. Nineteen children were removed from the program because of curve progression or unacceptable deformity. Sixteen of these (39%) required surgery as a first alternative.

The isolation of fumB mutants of Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli strains lacking the terminus region of the chromosome (min 29-36) due to an IS10-promoted deletion did not grow well in rich medium; they also did not grow on fumarate minimal medium because fumAC (min 35.7) is deleted. Strains with secondary mutations that partially suppress the deletion phenotype displayed healthier growth on rich medium and grew on minimal fumarate medium.

Larval Sulcascaris sulcata from calico scallops, Argopecten gibbus, along the southeast coast of the United States.

Adductor muscles of calico scallops, Argopecten gibbus, collected off the southeastern coast of the United States from May 1982 to December 1984 were examined for the presence of larvae of the parasitic nematode, Sulcascaris sulcata. Infection intensity, prevalence, and larval length were all positively correlated (P less than 0.001) with scallop shell height (age).

Red cell enzyme and serum protein gene markers in Fijians.

A total of 332 persons from three localities in the Fiji Islands have been tested for genetic variation in 24 red cell enzyme systems and 4 serum protein systems. Polymorphic variation was present at 7 red cell enzyme loci and 1 serum protein locus. The remaining systems were invariant except for a single individual with a slow variant at the GOT1 locus and another individual with a D variant at the TF locus.

Status of a group of spina bifida children not managed by early surgery.

At Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, the policy towards neonates with Spina Bifida is one of individualised care. This means that those children who, experience has shown, will not be long term survivors are not subjected to procedures that are distressing and traumatic to the infant and parents. They are given full nursery care.

Population genetic studies in the Kimberley of Western Australia.

More than 800 blood samples from members of 13 tribal groups in the northwest of Australia have been tested for 18 enzyme systems controlled by 21 loci and for haemoglobin. Two novel alleles, PGM2(11) and ACP1F, are each restricted to a single tribal population, suggesting relatively recent mutations. Other alleles conform very broadly with their distributions in other Australian Aboriginal populations.

Diastematomyelia: a critical review of the natural history and treatment.

Twenty-eight children whose diastematomyelia had been diagnosed at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, were reviewed with respect to presenting symptoms, treatment, and outcome. Two children suffered significant neurologic damage during prophylactic removal of their bone spurs. Three children underwent spinal correction under traction with their bony spurs in situ without suffering any neurologic sequelae.

Beak sign in duodenal duplication cyst.

Duodenal duplication cyst is an uncommon congenital anomaly of the alimentary tract and preoperative diagnosis is important in relation to the surgical approach. This paper describes a beak-like projection of the duodenum in contrast studies which enabled a confident preoperative diagnosis of duodenal duplication cyst in four infants.

Placental enzymes: a population genetic study.

A total of more than 800 placentae from six different population groups have been examined for electrophoretic variation in 13 enzyme systems. Whilst, in many instances, the phenotype designation is presumptive, having been arrived at after critical visual comparison with illustrations in the literature, a number of new alleles have been reported here and further population genetic data have been presented. Two new alleles, MPI3 and MPI4 are described in the mannose phosphate isomerase system the former in both the Port Moresby sample and in the Chinese, whilst the latter was restricted to the Chinese samples.

A population genetic study of the Banks and Torres Islands (Vanuatu) and of the Santa Cruz Islands and Polynesian Outliers (Solomon Islands).

As part of a multidisciplinary survey of populations in the Banks and Torres Islands of Vanuatu and the Southern and Central Districts of the Solomon Islands, nearly 2,400 persons have been tested for ABO blood groups and a number of serum protein and red cell enzyme genetic marker systems. For the ABO system, the populations are characterized in general by high gene O and low gene B frequencies except in two of the Polynesian Outlier Islands, Rennell and Bellona, which have high frequencies of B. Among the serum proteins, several alleles have distributions indicating significant movement of people between islands.