[Pathology of enterovirus 71 infection: an autopsy study of 5 cases].

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features of fatal enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection.

Methods: Autopsy was performed in 5 neonates died of EV71 infection. Tissue samples from major organs were collected, formalin-fixed and examined under light microscopy.

[Histopathologic study of avian influenza H5N1 infection in humans].

Objective: To identify histopathologic changes of major organs and to correlate clinical symptoms in patients infected by avian influenza H5N1.

Methods: Autopsy study was performed in two patients died of avian influenza HSN1 infection, following conventional protocols and strict safety procedures. Tissue samples from all major organs of two cases and lung samples of one case were collected and fixed in 4% formaldehyde.

[Clinical characteristic analysis of the first human case infected by influenza A (H5N1) in Jiangxi Province].

Objective: To describe the clinical, laboratory and radiological presentation of a human case infected by influenza A (H5N1), and to understand its management and prognosis.

Methods: The clinical and autopsy data of the first human case infected by influenza A (H5N1) in Jiangxi Province were collected and analyzed.

Results: The first case infected by influenza A (H5N1) in Jiangxi Province was confirmed by laboratory findings with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and influenza A (H5N1) isolation.

[Expression of SARS-CoV in various types of cells in lung tissues].

Objective: To investigate the cell types infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in lung tissues and explore the mechanism of lung injury in SARS.

Methods: In-situ hybridization(ISH) and immunohistochemistry(IHC) double staining was applied to study the lung tissues from 7 SARS cases of Beijing and one of Anhui province. According to SARS-CoV genome sequence, the cDNA probe was synthesized and labelled by digoxin.

Biosafety level 3 laboratory for autopsies of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome: principles, practices, and prospects.

Background: During the outbreak of the emergent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection, >30% of the approximately 8000 infected persons were health care workers. The highly infectious nature of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) compelled our pathologists to consider biosafety issues in the autopsy room and for tissue processing procedures.

Methods: A specially designed biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) autopsy laboratory was constructed and divided into a clean area, a semicontaminated area, a contaminated area, and 2 buffer zones.

Multiple organ infection and the pathogenesis of SARS.

After >8,000 infections and >700 deaths worldwide, the pathogenesis of the new infectious disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), remains poorly understood. We investigated 18 autopsies of patients who had suspected SARS; 8 cases were confirmed as SARS. We evaluated white blood cells from 22 confirmed SARS patients at various stages of the disease.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus is detected in intestinal tissues of fatal cases.

Objectives: A significant percentage of confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, and the viral sequence was detectable in the stool of most patients. At present, the knowledge of the pathology of the digestive system in SARS patients is limited. Because a resurgence of the SARS epidemic is constantly possible, there is an urgent need to understand the involvement of the digestive system in this new disease.