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To detect and identify adenovirus (Ad), we used a combination of PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Nested PCR with two primer sets that hybridize to the conserved region for hexon proteins of 14 prototypes of Ad, Ad serotype 1 (Ad1) to Ad8, -11, -14, -19, -37, -40, and -41, amplified a 956-bp DNA fragment. The amplified fragments from the 14 prototypes were completely differentiated with a combination of three restriction endonucleases, EcoT14I, HaeIII, and HinfI. We applied this new method for 127 samples of conjunctival scrapings from patients with conjunctivitis and compared the results with those obtained with the combination of culture isolation and a neutralization test (NT). PCR gave a positive result in 69 of 127 cases (54.3%), while only 61 of the 127 samples (48.0%) tested positive by culture isolation. Compared with isolation, the PCR method had a sensitivity of 100% (61 of 61). Positive PCR samples were further classified as Ad37 (59.5%), -3 (31.9%), -11 (4.3%), -8 (2.9%), and -4 (1.4%) by PCR-RFLP analysis. Of eight samples that were PCR positive and culture isolation negative, six were Ad37 and two were Ad8 by PCR-RFLP analysis. These differentiations of isolation-positive samples were identical to the results obtained by the NT. It took only 3 days to detect and identify Ad by PCR-RFLP analysis, whereas it took at least 3 weeks by culture isolation and NT. Our newly developed method of detecting and typing human Ad by PCR-RFLP analysis is more sensitive, accurate, and rapid than the conventional method of culture isolation and an NT.

Aim-To investigate the relation between gestational age, birth weight, and antenatal corticosteroid administration and the time of ductus venosus closure. Methods-Ninety eight neonates of 30-41 weeks gestational age were studied by daily ultrasonography until ductus venosus closure. Results-In neonates of 30-33 weeks gestational age, the ductus venosus closed at 6.0 (2.4)days (mean (SD)); in those of 34-36 weeks gestational age, it closed at 6.1 (2.8) days; and in those of 37-41 weeks gestational age, it closed at 4.2 (2.1) days. The eVect of antenatal administration of corticosteroids on the time of closure was also investigated in neonates of 30-34 weeks gestational age. Closure occurred by 5.5 (2.4) days in the group given corticosteroids compared with 7.5 (2.1) days in the remainder. Conclusions-The ductus venosus closed sooner after birth in neonates of greater gestational age or higher birth weight. Antenatal corticosteroid administration had a significant eVect in promoting closure. (Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2001;85:F57-F59) Keywords: ductus venosus closure; antenatal corticosteroids; gestational age; birth weightThe adaptation of the respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, metabolic, and nervous systems from the intrauterine to the extrauterine environment must be accomplished dynamically and smoothly at birth. The adaptation of the postnatal circulatory system is the most abrupt and dynamic of these changes. There are three specific vascular shunts in the fetal period: the foramen ovale, which by closing separates the left and right heart systems; the ductus arteriosus, which separates the pulmonary and systemic circulation; the ductus venosus, which separates the hepatoportal and systemic circulation. The pathophysiology and mechanism of closure and the pharmacological manipulation of the ductus arteriosus have been studied in detail. The ductus venosus, on the other hand, has been the subject of very little study because it is regarded as having little pathophysiological significance. A functionally patent ductus venosus was found to shunt at least 25% of the total portal blood flow in 50% of lambs between the second and sixth days of life, 1 which is a level that cannot be ignored. Moreover, the early postnatal period is an unstable phase for the respiratory and circulatory systems and often a period of frequent drug treatment. In addition, if feeding is started from an early age, liver metabolism and other factors aVect ductus venosus patency, and clinically there is the possibility of deleterious eVects on the body from endogenous and exogenous toxic substances.The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation of gestational age and birth weight to the time of functional closure of the ductus venosus, as well as whether or not antenatal administration of corticosteroids aVects the time of closure. Materials and methodsThe subjects were 98 neonates of 30-41 weeks gestational age, who were in the Perinatal Center of the Ehime Prefecture Central Hospital between June 1995 and D...

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Adenovirus type 3 (Ad3) isolates, isolated from 45 patients with acute conjunctivitis during the year 1990 in Japan, were studied by DNA restriction enzyme analysis with restriction endonucleases recognizing 6-bp sequences (BamHI, SmaI, HindIII, BglII) and endonucleases recognizing 5-or 4-bp sequences (HinfI and TaqI). All 45 isolates of Ad3 were identified as the genome type Ad3f by six endonucleases. They were further classified into three varieties by HinfI, varieties H 1 (87.5%), H 2 (8.9%), and H 3 (2.2%), and into five varieties by TaqI, varieties T 1 (75.6%), T 2 (13.3%), T 3 (2.2%), T 4 (4.5%), and T 5 (8.9%). The use of HinfI and TaqI was sufficient to distinguish six subgenome types: types Ad3fH 1