Respiratory viral infection in exacerbations of COPD.

Background: Patients with COPD have frequent exacerbations. The role of respiratory viral infection is just emerging. We wished to determine prospectively the incidence of viral infection in exacerbated and stable COPD patients as well as smokers who do not have airways obstruction.

Association of the G4 rotavirus genotype with gastroenteritis in adults.

Rotavirus is the most common etiological cause of acute viral gastroenteritis in infants and young children worldwide, yet its role in the adult population is less well understood. We have recently identified rotavirus as the causative agent of severe diarrhea in adults, specifically in two gastroenteritis outbreaks in separate care for the elderly homes. Strain typing has shown the continued presence of P[8]G1, the emergence of P[8]G9, and the reemergence of P[8]G4.

Lack of association between serological evidence of past Coxiella burnetii infection and incident ischaemic heart disease: nested case-control study.

Background: Coxiella burnetii causes the common worldwide zoonotic infection, Q fever. It has been previously suggested that patients who had recovered from acute Q fever (whether symptomatic or otherwise) may be at increased risk of ischaemic heart disease. We undertook this study to determine if past infection with Coxiella burnetii, the aetiological agent of Q fever, is a risk factor for the subsequent development of ischaemic heart disease.

A touchdown nucleic acid amplification protocol as an alternative to culture backup for immunofluorescence in the routine diagnosis of acute viral respiratory tract infections.

Background: Immunofluorescence and virus culture are the main methods used to diagnose acute respiratory virus infections. Diagnosing these infections using nucleic acid amplification presents technical challenges, one of which is facilitating the different optimal annealing temperatures needed for each virus. To overcome this problem we developed a diagnostic molecular strip which combined a generic nested touchdown protocol with in-house primer master-mixes that could recognise 12 common respiratory viruses.

Real-time nested multiplex PCR for the detection of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and varicella zoster virus.

One hundred forty-nine specimens were tested in a LightCycler nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (LCnmPCR) for Herpes simplex virus (HSV)1, HSV2, and VZV. Eighty-one were from genitourinary medicine (GUM) patients and the other 68 specimens were from other patients with skin lesions. The results were compared to a conventional multiplex nested PCR (nmPCR) using agarose gel electrophoresis.

Development of an analytical methodology for sarin (GB) and soman (GD) in various military-related wastes.

The Army requires analytical methods that can detect chemical agents down to the low part-per-billion (ppb) levels in their waste streams in order to meet various state regulations regarding the classification of hazardous waste. Analytical methods were developed for the measurement of sarin (GB) and soman (GD) at ppb levels that involved preconcentration of relatively large volumes (40-150 microliters) of a chloroform extract onto a sorbent cartridge, followed by thermal desorption and analysis by GC-flame photometric detection. Certified reporting limits (CRLs) achieved with these methods ranged from 8.