Characteristics of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (Xinjiang strain) in China

Virus strains isolated from blood of patients during a hemorrhagic fever outbreak in 1968 in southern Xinjiang, China, from Hyalomma asiaticum and from sheep, were found to be identical or closely related to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (C-CHF) virus by complement fixation and indirect immunofluorescence tests with convalescent sera of patients and with C-CHF reference antibody. The virus was inactivated by ether and acid. Viral synthesis was not suppressed by 5-iododeoxyuridine suggesting an RNA-containing genome. The buoyant density in sucrose was 1.16-1.18 g/cm3. The particle weight was estimated at 3.26 +/- 0.46 X 10(8). The diameter of the virus particles was 85-105 nm.

The surgical management of hereditary multifocal renal carcinoma

A family was described recently in which renal carcinoma developed in 10 members in 3 consecutive generations. The cancer tended to develop in patients at an early age, and to occur in both kidneys and at multiple sites more frequently than in nonfamilial renal cancer. The finding of a balanced reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 3 and 8 in affected family members suggest that an inherited genetic defect predisposes to the development of this cancer in middle-aged patients and offers a marker for screening individuals at risk. We herein discuss the surgical management of 4 family members, the proband and 3 relatives, who were discovered on screening to have bilateral, multifocal renal cancer. Certain compromises in the principles of radical tumor surgery have proved effective in these 4 patients. Partial nephrectomy has resulted in total extirpation of the bilateral tumors with survivals of 2 to 4 years without need for chronic dialysis. The sequential order of surgical procedures is important since partial nephrectomy of the least affected side first allows a total nephrectomy on the more affected side to be done later, when necessary, without transient renal failure.