[Pulmonary surfactant protein gene mutation associated with pediatric interstitial lung disease: a case study and the review of related literature].

Objective: To report a case of pulmonary surfactant protein (SP) gene mutation associated with pediatric interstitial lung disease, and study the clinical diagnosis process and review of related literature, to understand the relationship between interstitial lung disease and SP gene mutation in infants and children.

Method: The clinical, radiological, histological, and genetic testing information of a case of SP gene mutation related pediatric interstitial lung disease were analyzed and related literature was reviewed.

Result: A 2-year-old girl without a history of serious illness was hospitalized because of the shortness of breath, cough, excessive sputum, and the progressive dyspnea.

Characterization of human metapneumovirus from pediatric patients with acute respiratory infections in a 4-year period in Beijing, China.

Background: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was discovered by scientists in the Netherlands as a novel respiratory virus in 2001 and had been found in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) in China. The objective of this study was to determine the importance of hMPV infection in children in Beijing and the genotypes of the circulating virus by the surveillance during a four-consecutive-year period.

Methods: Clinical specimens collected from children with ARTI from January 2006 to December 2009 were tested for hMPV by RT-PCR using primers targeting the matrix (M) gene, followed by genotyping of hMPV directly from positive samples by diplex PCR with primers for glycoprotein (G) genes.

[Human metapneumoviruses were isolated from infants and children with acute respiratory infections in Beijing].

Objective: To obtain isolated human metapneumovirus (HMPV) strains from clinical specimens collected from infants and children in Beijing and to promote the investigation on this important respiratory pathogen.

Method: Clinical specimens including throat swabs from outpatients and nasopharyngeal aspirates from hospitalized children were collected from infants and children visited the affiliated children's hospital for acute respiratory infections during May 2008 to April 2009. HMPV positive specimens identified by RT-PCR and/or direct immunofluorescent assay with monoclonal antibody against HMPV were inoculated to LLC-MK(2) cells and incubated at 37°C and 33°C, respectively.

[Identification and typing of adenoviruses from pediatric patients with acute respiratory infections in Beijing from 2003 to 2008].

Objective: Adenovirus (ADV) is one of the most common causes of acute respiratory infections in infants and children. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of adenovirus infection among pediatric patients with acute respiratory infections in Beijing and the types of the adenoviruses circulating in Beijing on the molecular bases.

Method: Clinical specimens including throat swabs from outpatients and nasopharyngeal aspirates from hospitalized patients were collected from patients with acute respiratory infections in a consecutive period of 6 years from Jan 2003 to Dec 2008.

[Sequence analysis of the HA1 regions of hemagglutinin gene from influenza viruses (H3N2) isolated from children in Beijing in 2004 indicated antigenic variation].

Objective: To identify variations in hemagglutinin genes from influenza viruses (H3N2) isolated from infants and young children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) between March, 2004 and April 2005.

Methods: RNAs from influenza A virus strains (subtype H3) isolated from specimens collected from ARI children were extracted followed by amplification for HA1 fragments from hemagglutinin (HA) genes by RT-PCR. The sequences of the fragments were defined by direct sequencing for the PCR products or the target inserts after the PCR fragments were cloned into the TA-cloning vector pBS-T and analyzed by bioinformatic software.