Rhinovirus respiratory tract infection in hospitalized adult patients is associated with T2 response irrespective of asthma.

Objectives: We assessed the immunological response of hospitalized adult patients with rhinovirus infection, including critically-ill patients.

Methods: The differential white blood cell (WBC) count and the levels of 29 plasma cytokines/chemokines were compared between 50 adult hospitalized patients with rhinovirus infection and 100 age-matched controls with influenza virus infection.

Results: The demographics and comorbidities were similar between rhinovirus and influenza patients, but severe disease was more common for the rhinovirus cohort.

Mycophenolic acid, an immunomodulator, has potent and broad-spectrum in vitro antiviral activity against pandemic, seasonal and avian influenza viruses affecting humans.

Immunomodulators have been shown to improve the outcome of severe pneumonia. We have previously shown that mycophenolic acid (MPA), an immunomodulator, has antiviral activity against influenza A/WSN/1933(H1N1) using a high-throughput chemical screening assay. This study further investigated the antiviral activity and mechanism of action of MPA against contemporary clinical isolates of influenza A and B viruses.

Pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications of human rhinovirus infection in critically ill patients.

Background: Human rhinovirus (HRV) is frequently detected in patients with respiratory tract infection. However, the full clinical spectrum of HRV infection in critically ill patients is not well characterized.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and virological characteristics of critically ill patients with HRV infection.

Mycobacterium abscessus bacteremia after receipt of intravenous infusate of cytokine-induced killer cell therapy for body beautification and health boosting.

Background: We report the first series of Mycobacterium abscessus bacteremia after cytokine-induced killer cell therapy for body beautification and health boosting.

Methods: The clinical manifestations, laboratory and radiological investigations, cytokine/chemokine profiles, and outcomes were described and analyzed.

Results: Four patients were admitted, and 3 patients had septic shock.

Use of nasopharyngeal aspirate for diagnosis of pneumocystis pneumonia.

Quantitative PCR on nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) can achieve high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) compared to microscopic examination of bronchoscopic specimens in a population with low HIV prevalence. Since NPA is a minimally invasive procedure, it is ideal as a screening test for PCP.