Molecular characterization of a Chinese pedigree with beta-thalassemia intermedia.

Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH), often associated with mutations in the beta-globin gene cluster, is normally benign, but a person carrying both HPFH and another beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) mutation will develop serious anemia. These people might be erroneously diagnosed as having homozygous beta-thal with common reverse dot-blot methods. Here we report a 5-year old boy with thalassemia intermedia, who is a compound heterozygote for the rare HPFH-6 deletion with codons 41/42 (-TCTT) beta(0)-thal, who inherited the deletion from his mother and the beta(41/42) mutation from his father.

[Effects of Alternanthera philoxeroides Griseb against respiratory syncytial virus infection in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of an oral preparation of Alternathera philoxeroides Griseb (APG) against respiratory syncytical virus (RSV) in mice.

Methods: APG preparation was administered orally in RSV-infected mice at different daily doses (2.5, 4.

[Investigation of viral pathogens contributing to habitual abortion].

Objective: To investigate the association of Coxsackie B virus (CBV) with habitual abortion.

Methods: CBV IgM antibody, viral RNA and virions were detected in 86 women with habitual abortion and 40 with induced abortion by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), RT-PCR and virus isolation, respectively.

Results: The positivity rate of CBV IgM were 87.

[Effects of Alternanthera philoxeroides Griseb against dengue virus in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Alternanthera philoxeroides Griseb extracts against dengue virus in vitro.

Methods: MTT assay and observation of cytopathic effect (CPE) were carried out to determine the cytotoxicity of Alternanthera philoxeroides Griseb on C6/36 cell lines and its effects on dengue virus.

Results: None of the 4 kinds of Alternanthera philoxeroides Griseb extracts exhibited obvious cytotoxicity on the cells at different concentrations with the exception of that over 320 microg/ml.

[Detection of serum coxsackievirus B-specific antibody and nucleic acid in aged patients with cardiopathy].

Objective: To understand the status of coxsackievirus B (CVB) infection in senior subjects and explore the association of the infection with cardiovascular diseases.

Method: By means of ELISA and RT-PCR, CVB IgG antibody and nucleic acid were detected in 172 patients with cardiopathy and 58 control subjects.

Results: The positivity rate of CVB IgG antibody was 43.

Detection of serum Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) immune complex and Cpn antibody in patients with coronary heart disease.

Objective: To understand the state of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), and explore the relationship between Cpn infection and the gonesis and progressin of CHD.

Method: By adopting sandwich method with double antibodies and indirect ELISA method, we detected serum Cpn immune complex and IgG antibody in 160 CHD patients (confirmed by coronary artery angiography) and 40 subjects without CHD.

Results: The positivity rate of Cpn IgG type immune complex in the CHD group (63.