The temporal characteristics of the response of rotavirus specific IgM, IgG, 19A in serum and secretory antibody in feces to rotavirus were studied in 77 hospitalized patients with rotavirus induced gastroenteritis. The response in serum was characterized by the sequential appearance of rotavirus specific IgM, IgG, and 19A antibody. The IgM antibody appeared to be higher in the acute phase of the disease and was subsequently replaced by the IgG and 19A antibodies. However, the titers of IgG rotavirus antibody in convalescent specimens of serum were found to be statistically significantly lower in patients with severe or prolonged rotavirus infection than in specimens from subjects with mild or moderate disease.Most fecal specimens collected during both the acute and convalescent phase of illness contained virus specific secretory 19A. Higher concentrations of antibody were measured in convalescent samples from patients with prolonged diarrhea and virus shedding. These observations suggest a possible relationship between the severity of rotavirus infection and the nature of systemic and secretory antibody response.

We serially studied hematological profiles of 8 newborns with proven antenatal Candida chorioamnionitis and funisitis. Candida albicans was cultured from various sources in the infants; blood and CSF cultures were all negative. Seven of the 8 were premature; 5 were sick. We statistically compared hematological data of the ‘well’ and ‘sick’ babies. The latter showed neutrophilia (mean 52,381 vs. 11, 326/μl, p < 0.01) accompanied by significant elevation of nonsegmented granulocytes (NSG) and a NSG/neutrophil ratio greater than 0.3. Significant monocytosis (mean 7,836 vs. 2,869/μl, p < 0.01) and eosinophilia (mean 4,723 vs. 782/μl, p < 0.05) were also noted. Remarkable toxic granulations, vacuolization, and Döhle bodies were found in the neutrophils of the ‘sick’ newborns. Hematological profiles correlated with the infants’ clinical condition.

No abstract