Lambda-Splittings and Line Intensities in the 3 <-- 1 Hot Band of 14N16O: The Spectrum of Nitric Oxide in the First Overtone Region

Intensities and Lambda-splittings have been measured for lines belonging to the 3 <-- 1 hot band of 14N16O. The vibrational transition moment and the Herman-Wallis coefficient have been determined. Hamiltonian constants have been calculated for the four vibrational states v = 0, 1, 2, and 3, and a synthetic spectrum has been generated in the first overtone region of NO, taking into account the hyperfine structure for the 2 <-- 0 band. Copyright 1998 Academic Press. Copyright 1998Academic Press

Lambda-Splittings and Line Intensities in the First Overtone of Nitric Oxide

Using Fourier transform spectra, absolute line parameters (positions, Lambda splittings, and intensities) have been measured in the two allowed subbands 2Pi1/2-2Pi1/2 and 2Pi3/2-2Pi3/2 of the 2 <-- 0 vibrational band of the 14N16O molecule. These line parameters have been compared with previous experimental results and with the values available in the current HITRAN database. The measured line intensities led to the determination of the transition dipole moment as well as the Herman-Wallis coefficients. Improved spectroscopic constants were also obtained for the v = 2 vibrational state. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997Academic Press

Detection of rubella virus in amniotic fluid by electron microscopy

We report in this paper the observation of rubella virus by electron microscopy in an amniotic fluid sample, collected from a pregnant woman with rubella infection. Virological investigations by inoculation of cell cultures with amniotic fluid and fetal blood remained negative, due probably to the presence of neutralizing antibodies in the samples. Electron microscopy is a rapid but weakly sensitive method to detect viruses in clinical specimens. However, this unusual observation would indicate that in some cases electron microscopy could be a useful technique to evidence a fetal rubella infection.

Cytomegalovirus viremia in HIV-infected patients treated with zidovudine

We followed the course of cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia in 65 patients treated with zidovudine for symptomatic HIV-1 infection. Blood samples were tested for the presence of CMV before initiation of treatment and every 3 months thereafter. 13 patients (20%) showed a positive CMV viremia at initiation of treatment. After 3 months of therapy, only 2 patients (3%) remained viremic. However, the frequency of CMV viremia increased from the 6th month of treatment and 28 (43%) of our patients showed a persistence of, or conversion to, positive viremia during the course of treatment. CMV viremia was associated with a decline in the patients' clinical state in 79% of the cases. In contrast, among the 37 patients, who remained negative for CMV viremia, 73% did not show a progression of the HIV-associated disease. The results suggest that CMV viremia could be considered as a useful marker for HIV-associated disease and its progression as well as for the efficacy of therapy.

Approaches to the diagnosis of viral pneumonias in the immunocompromised host: the importance of assaying cytopathogenic viral effects in bronchoalveolar lavage cells

Pneumonopathic conditions in the immunocompromised host (IH) are frequent and often serious. Rapid diagnosis is essential and is made possible by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Sixty-two pneumonopathic episodes in 53 immunocompromised patients were examined by BAL, for viral cytopathogenic effects (CPE) in isolated cells, with appropriate viral culture techniques. Viral culture was positive in seventeen of the eighteen episodes in renal allograft recipients and AIDS patients as against eight of the fourty-four episodes in other causes of IH (p less than 0.001). CPE was found thirteen times; in seven cases it was characteristic of cytomegalovirus. Positive viral culture and CPE were shown simultaneously during thirteen episodes in eleven patients. Ten patients died (autopsies performed in three cases confirmed viral presence). Positive viral culture with absence of CPE was observed in twelve cases. There were only four fatalities in this group (the autopsies performed in three cases did not establish the presence of a virus in the pulmonary parenchyma). The percentage of lymphocytes was high in both groups of patients (18.6 +/- 2.8%). CPE is a simple and rapid examination for the diagnosis of viral pneumonopathology in the IH. Prognosis at present is gloomy; more complex examinations such as viral cultures and/or identification of the virus by immunofluorescence will be indicated only when effective antiviral agents become available.

Approaches to the diagnosis of viral pneumonias in the immunocompromised host: the importance of assaying cytopathogenic viral effects in bronchoalveolar lavage cells

Pneumonopathic conditions in the immunocompromised host (IH) are frequent and often serious. Rapid diagnosis is essential and is made possible by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Sixty-two pneumonopathic episodes in 53 immunocompromised patients were examined by BAL, for viral cytopathogenic effects (CPE) in isolated cells, with appropriate viral culture techniques. Viral culture was positive in seventeen of the eighteen episodes in renal allograft recipients and AIDS patients as against eight of the fourty-four episodes in other causes of IH (p less than 0.001). CPE was found thirteen times; in seven cases it was characteristic of cytomegalovirus. Positive viral culture and CPE were shown simultaneously during thirteen episodes in eleven patients. Ten patients died (autopsies performed in three cases confirmed viral presence). Positive viral culture with absence of CPE was observed in twelve cases. There were only four fatalities in this group (the autopsies performed in three cases did not establish the presence of a virus in the pulmonary parenchyma). The percentage of lymphocytes was high in both groups of patients (18.6 +/- 2.8%). CPE is a simple and rapid examination for the diagnosis of viral pneumonopathology in the IH. Prognosis at present is gloomy; more complex examinations such as viral cultures and/or identification of the virus by immunofluorescence will be indicated only when effective antiviral agents become available.