Cell Culture of a Swine Genotype 4 Hepatitis E Virus Strain.

HEV infection has become a global health concern. The study of HEV pathogenicity has been hindered by the lack of a suitable in vitro culture system. In the present research, we systematic demonstration of efficient replication of swine GT4 HEV in A549 cells, Huh-7 cells, and HepG2/C3A cell lines.

Outcome of hospital deliveries of women living at high altitude: a study from Lhasa in Tibet.

Aim: To describe rates of neonatal mortality, low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA), and relate outcome to ethnicity and perinatal risk factors of liveborn infants of hospital deliveries in Lhasa. The differences in these variables between ethnic Tibetans and non-Tibetans were also studied.

Methods: Data were prospectively collected on the outcome of all liveborn infants born in four hospitals in the urban area of Lhasa, Tibet, in 2005.