Lancet
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Pleomorphic virus-like particles about 100 nm in diameter with a fringe of closely applied peplomers (7-9 nm in length) were observed by electron microscopy in the stools of 20 children and adults with gastroenteritis. In most of the samples no other viral or bacterial pathogens were detected. In form and under immune electron microscopy these virus-like particles resembled the Breda virus isolated from diarrhoeic calves. These objects may be a viral pathogen of humans.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Anti-lipopolysaccharide immunotherapy in management of septic shock of obstetric and gynaecological origin.
Freeze-dried human plasma rich in anti-lipopolysaccharide (anti-LPS) immunoglobulin G was used to treat septic shock (systolic pressure less than or equal to 80 mm Hg, central venous pressure greater than or equal to 6 cm H2O) in obstetric and gynaecological patients. Mortality in conventionally treated patients was 9/19 (47.4%) compared with 1/14 (7.1%) in anti-LPS-treated patients. ⋯ The development of complications of septic shock was much reduced in the treated group. Anti-LPS thus appears significantly to reduce mortality and morbidity in septicaemia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Protection of infants against rotavirus diarrhoea by RIT 4237 attenuated bovine rotavirus strain vaccine.
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the ability of RIT 4237 live attenuated bovine rotavirus (subgroup 1) vaccine strain to protect against natural rotavirus infection in children. 178 infants aged 8 to 11 months received a single oral dose of RIT 4237 vaccine or placebo and were followed up serologically and clinically during a subgroup 2 rotavirus epidemic. No side-effects attributable to the vaccine were observed. ⋯ The 2 children in the vaccine group with rotavirus diarrhoea were regarded as primary vaccine failures since they had no detectable serum antibody responses after vaccination. Vaccine prepared from RIT 4237 strain of attenuated bovine rotavirus thus seems to protect children against heterologous subgroup 2 rotavirus diarrhoea.