A novel virus, TT virus (TTV), recently discovered by Okamoto et al. in the serum of a patient with posttransfusion hepatitis, is thought to be one of the causative agents of blood-borne acute hepatitis. The association of this virus with acute sporadic hepatitis was evaluated. TTV DNA was detected in 4 (4.9%) of 81 cases of acute hepatitis A, in 5 (16.7%) of 30 cases of acute hepatitis B, in 1 (25.0%) of 4 cases of acute hepatitis C, in 1 (9.1%) of 9 cases of cytomegalovirus and Eppstein-Barr infection, and in 8 (13.6%) of 59 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown etiology. These positive rates of TTV in various etiologies did not differ significantly amongst each other, and were similar to those of healthy volunteers, i.e. 12.0% (12/100). The comparison of levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, hepaplastin test and prothrombin time between TT virus-positive and -negative patients did not show any differences. This indicates that TTV is neither a main causative agent of acute sporadic hepatitis of unknown etiology, nor does it affect the clinical features of acute hepatitis with already known etiology.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Renal lesions in a strain of spontaneously diabetic WBN/Kob rats.

In WBN/Kob strain rats, only males spontaneously develop hyperglycemia, glycosuria, hypoinsulinemia and glucose intolerance from about nine months of age. The kidneys of male rats of this strain were histopathologically studied to evaluate the changes which appeared as complications of diabetes mellitus. Thickening of the basement membrane, increase of the mesangial matrix and fibrin-cap lesions were noted in the glomeruli. Armanni-Ebstein degeneration was occasionally found in the tubules. Linear deposition of plasma components such as IgG and albumin in the basement membrane of the glomeruli, tubules and Bowman's capsule characterized the immunohistological pattern. These findings are similar to the findings in diabetic nephropathy in humans. Since the onset of diabetes mellitus in the strain is slow and symptoms are generally mild, insulin administration is usually not necessary for survival. This strain, therefore, appears to be an important animal model for the study of complications of diabetes in humans.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty of both pulmonary and aortic valves in a neonate with pulmonary atresia and critical aortic stenosis.

We report a case of hydrops fetalis originating from critical aortic stenosis and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum that was diagnosed in utero by echocardiography. We performed a percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty of the bilateral semilunar valves on the 2nd day after birth. We used a stiff-ended guidewire to perforate the pulmonary valve. After valvuloplasty, the aortic valve pressure gradient decreased from 55 to 25 mmHg. The procedure was successful, and the patient's heart condition improved.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗