To investigate the genetic characteristics of human influenza type B viruses circulating in Chungbuk province, Korea, we tested 510 clinical samples of nasopharyngeal suction from pediatric patients diagnosed with respiratory illness between June 2007 and June 2008. Twelve out of thirty-six isolates were identified as type B influenza virus by RT-PCR and sequencing analysis. Interestingly, genetic characterization of type B viruses isolated in this study revealed that all type B influenza viruses were the Yamagata lineages, a vaccine strains of southern hemisphere during 2007~2008, rather than the Victoria lineage of northern hemisphere during 2007~2008. Furthermore, there were a total of twelve unique mutations (HA: H40Y, D/G230S, V252M and K272R and NA: P3H, P/T/S42Q, N59S) occurred in our type B isolates. These results suggest that relative high prevalence of type B viruses in Korea during 2007~2008 season might be due to the wrong vaccine strains selection. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate continuous evolutions of human type B viruses by antigenic drift and also highlight the need to closely monitoring of influenza viruses to aid the early detection of potentially pandemic strains as well as underscore the need for new therapeutics.
Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Influenza B virus ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Pandemics ; Prevalence ; Seasons ; Suction ; Victoria

We investigated HBV markers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 50 subjects with neurologic disorders or other disorders, who visited Dept. of neurology, college of medicine, Yeungnam University, from April-1 to August-31 1994 and were performed cerebrospinal fluid analysis to investigate the detection rate of HBV markers in cerebrospinal fluid and the possibility of neurologic disorders associated with HBV infection. The results were as follows. The positivity of HBsAg and. HBV prevalence rate in serum were 6(12.04) and 37(74.0%). Thf, number of patient with HBsAg, only anti-HBV and no markers were 6(12.0%), 31(62.0%) and 13(26.0%), respectively. The positivity of HBsAg and HBV prevalence rate in cerebrospinal fluid were 3(6%) and 18(36.0%). The number of patient with HBsAg, only anti-HBV and no markers were 6(100.0%), 12(38.7%) and 0(0.0%) respectively. The number of patient with virus associated diseases(VAD) and non virus associated diseases(NVAD) were 26(52%) and 24(48%). The HBV prevalence rate in serum of VAD and NVAD groups were 88.5% and 58.3% (p<0.05). The HBV prevalence rate in CSF of VAD and NVAD groups were 53.8% and 16.7%(p<0.05). The HBV prevalence rate in serum and CSF of VAD and NVAD groups were 60.9% and 28.6%
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine* ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurology ; Prevalence

Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalopathy is a rare condition associated with the influenza virus, but the role of influenza in this condition has not been clarified. We experienced a patient with influenza A and B virus co-infection who initially presented mild gastrointestinal symptoms and rapidly progressed to coma. Magnetic resonance imaging showed severe brain edema and multiple intracranial hemorrhagic lesions. The patient was treated with oseltamivir and corticosteroid, and her clinical course improved without neurological sequelae.
Brain Edema ; Coinfection* ; Coma ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Influenza, Human* ; Leukoencephalopathies* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Oseltamivir

Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalopathy is a rare condition associated with the influenza virus, but the role of influenza in this condition has not been clarified. We experienced a patient with influenza A and B virus co-infection who initially presented mild gastrointestinal symptoms and rapidly progressed to coma. Magnetic resonance imaging showed severe brain edema and multiple intracranial hemorrhagic lesions. The patient was treated with oseltamivir and corticosteroid, and her clinical course improved without neurological sequelae.
Brain Edema ; Coinfection* ; Coma ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Influenza, Human* ; Leukoencephalopathies* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Oseltamivir

Influenza B virus infections appear to be more common extra-respiratory tract symptoms, compared to influenza A virus infections. Benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) is a benign disease that is caused mainly by many viruses like influenza A or B virus infection. Usually BACM is fully cured with only supportive treatment without unnecessary investigation or invasive procedure. This report describes an eight-year-old boy with acute bilateral calf pain and walking difficulty who diagnosed with BACM after influenza B virus infection.
Child ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; Influenza B virus ; Influenza, Human ; Male ; Myositis ; Walking

This study aims to develop a rapid and convenient test card for simultaneous detection of influenza A and influenza B viruses using quantum dot-based immunochromatographic assay. The test card consists of a test strip and a plastic casing. The test strip is composed of absorbent paper, a buffer pad, nitrocellulose membrane (NC membrane), sample pad, quantum dot-labeled antibody pad, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) board. The NC membrane is coated with mouse monoclonal antibodies against influenza A and influenza B viruses for the T lines (test lines), and reference proteins A and B for the C line (control line). The quantum dot-labeled antibody pad contains mouse monoclonal antibody-quantum dot conjugates against influenza A and influenza B viruses. The results showed that the detection limit of the test card for both viruses ranged from 1.51 ×10² to 2.71×10³ TCID50/ml, indicating its sensitivity for accurate detection of influenza A and influenza B viruses without being affected by various variants. The test card exhibited specific reactions with different subtypes of influenza A and influenza B virus culture fluids and showed no cross-reactivity with adenovirus, novel coronavirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus, Staphylococcus aureus, and other pathogens. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of the test card for simultaneous detection of influenza A and influenza B viruses meet the requirements for clinical use. It offers the advantages of simplicity, rapidity, and no requirement for special equipment, enabling quick auxiliary diagnosis to prevent disease transmission.
Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Influenza, Human/diagnosis* ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; COVID-19 ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Influenza B virus

This study aims to develop a rapid and convenient test card for simultaneous detection of influenza A and influenza B viruses using quantum dot-based immunochromatographic assay. The test card consists of a test strip and a plastic casing. The test strip is composed of absorbent paper, a buffer pad, nitrocellulose membrane (NC membrane), sample pad, quantum dot-labeled antibody pad, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) board. The NC membrane is coated with mouse monoclonal antibodies against influenza A and influenza B viruses for the T lines (test lines), and reference proteins A and B for the C line (control line). The quantum dot-labeled antibody pad contains mouse monoclonal antibody-quantum dot conjugates against influenza A and influenza B viruses. The results showed that the detection limit of the test card for both viruses ranged from 1.51 ×10² to 2.71×10³ TCID50/ml, indicating its sensitivity for accurate detection of influenza A and influenza B viruses without being affected by various variants. The test card exhibited specific reactions with different subtypes of influenza A and influenza B virus culture fluids and showed no cross-reactivity with adenovirus, novel coronavirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus, Staphylococcus aureus, and other pathogens. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of the test card for simultaneous detection of influenza A and influenza B viruses meet the requirements for clinical use. It offers the advantages of simplicity, rapidity, and no requirement for special equipment, enabling quick auxiliary diagnosis to prevent disease transmission.
Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Influenza, Human/diagnosis* ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; COVID-19 ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Influenza B virus

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of influenza A and B infections and analyze the effect of oseltamivir in hospitalized children. METHODS: We investigated children under the age of 15, who were diagnosed with influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2, or B from January to April 2014. The subjects were admitted to the Changwon Fatima Hospital and diagnosed using a rapid antigen test from nasopharyngeal swabs. The medical records of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 302 pediatric patients with influenza were enrolled. Influenza B infection was the most common type (n=187, 61.9%), followed by A/H3N2 (n=100, 33.1%) and A/H1N1 (n=15, 5.0%). Compared to patients diagnosed with influenza A, patients diagnosed with influenza B were older (P=0.005), and the duration of fever was significantly longer (P=0.001). A total of 161 patients (53.3%) had been vaccinated against influenza during the season, before admission. Among the patients infected with A/H3N2 and B, the duration of fever was shorter in oseltamivir recipients compared to oseltamivir non-recipients (P=0.026 and P=0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences between influenza A and B groups in terms of age, demographics, and clinical course. Although the effectiveness of oseltamivir on influenza differs according to the type of influenza, our data provides evidence that oseltamivir is beneficial for both A and B infections.
Child ; Child, Hospitalized* ; Demography ; Fever ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine* ; Humans ; Influenza, Human* ; Medical Records ; Oseltamivir ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is divided into four types as classic KS, AIDS-associated KS, African endemic KS and iatrogenic KS. Classic KS is most common on the distal portion of the lower extremities. KS sometimes develops on the hand, but there is currently no report of KS on the finger in Korea. Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) plays as a key role in development of KS and it is necessary for the development of KS, but it is not sufficient by itself. So, other etiologic factors such as environmental and racial factors, gender and the immune state have recently been considered as being involved with the development of KS. We present here a rare case of KS that developed on the finger of a 44-year-old male who had hepatocellular carcinoma due to hepatits B virus infection.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Fingers ; Hand ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Viruses

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lamivudine is an oral nucleoside analogue with potent antiviral activity against HBV inducing normalization of ALT and improvement of necro-inflammation and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. But its role in decompensated cirrhosis has not been established. The Child-Pugh score is a reliable and convenient prognostic indicator reflecting liver synthetic function. We evaluated the incidence of any improvement in Child-Pugh score after lamivudine treatment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with HBV associated active decompensated cirrhosis showing detectable serum HBV received lamivudine (100 or 150 mg/day) for 6-45 months (median 16). The Child-Pugh score at 6th month of lamivudine treatment was compared with base line score. RESULTS: The Child-Pugh score improved ( 2-point reduction) in 17 (65.4%) patients, was constant in 8 (30.8%), and aggravated ( 2-point increase) in one (3.8%) of 26 patients. HBV DNA was initially cleared in 24 cases (92.3%) but breakthrough developed in 7 (29.2%). HBeAg was lost in 5 (25%) of 20 cases. Initial improvement was maintained in 14 (82.4%) of 17 cases but aggravated with breakthrough in 3 (17.6%). Two of 5 patients waiting for liver transplantation showed marked improvement and were removed from the list. CONCLUSION: Lamivudine can be an effective treatment for patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to HBV infection, improving the Child-Pugh score in many cases. However, deterioration of liver function associated with DNA breakthrough was an important problem in patients showing initial improvement.
DNA ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lamivudine* ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation