Evaluation of the role of respiratory syncytial virus surface glycoproteins F and G on viral stability and replication: implications for future vaccine design.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of infant mortality worldwide and exhaustive international efforts are underway to develop a vaccine. However, vaccine development has been hindered by a legacy of vaccine-enhanced disease, poor viral immunogenicity in infants, and genetic and physical instabilities. Natural infection with RSV does not prime for enhanced disease encouraging development of live-attenuated RSV vaccines for infants; however, physical instabilities of RSV may limit vaccine development.

[Gammagraphic imaging of pheochromocytoma using 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine].

The authors present their first experiences with scintigraphic examination of pheochromocytoma by means of 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG). In two of the eight patients examined, the already established diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma was confirmed, in two the examination yielded confirmation of the presumed diagnosis, and in the remaining four patients presence of the tumor was excluded. In conformity with literary data, the authors found the given examination to be suitable for: 1.

[Determination of glomerular filtration in children using 99mTc-DTPA and the sequential gammagraphy method].

The method of sequence scintigraphy of the kidney with 99mTc-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentacetic acid) and subsequent determination of glomerular filtration rate by means of a gamma camera and computer were applied in examining 160 children with different diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. By modifying the commercial computer program a study with quantitative evaluation of some functional parameters was designed, involving also the determination of the overall and of separate values of GF 99mTc-DTPA according to G. Gates.

Dynamic 99mTc-DTPA renal gammagraphy with glomerular filtration rate determination.

Using the method of 99mTc-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), sequential renal gammagraphy with subsequent glomerular filtration rate determination by means of a gamma-camera and computer, a total of 285 patients with suspected renal and urinary tract diseases, subjects after surgery on these organs or those serving as controls after drug therapy were examined. With the help of a modified computer user's program, a study was designed to perform quantitative evaluation of some functional parameters as well as determination of total and separate glomerular filtration rate values by 99mTc-DTPA according to Gates. The benefits of the method employed in our study are that it is non-invasive, rapid, atraumatic, with low exposure to radiation while offering a broad range of applications in routine diagnostic practice of nephrology, and especially so in paediatric patients.