Oropharyngeal shedding of herpesviruses before and after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination against COVID-19

IntroductionConcerns were raised over an increase in Bell's palsy, herpes simplex and herpes zoster after BNT162b2 vaccination, all are manifestations of herpesviruses reactivation. As herpesviruses commonly reactivate in the oropharynx, we have hypothesized that oropharyngeal shedding of herpesviruses will increase after vaccination.MethodsImmune-competent Adults, excluding those using topical steroids or manifesting symptomatic herpesvirus infection, were sampled before BNT162b2 vaccination and one week after. Herpesviruses 1–7 shedding was tested with a multiplexed PCR.ResultsIn 103 paired samples the prevalence of herpesviruses was similar before and after vaccination: HSV1, 3.9% vs. 5.8% (p = 0.75); HSV2, 0% vs. 1% (p = not applicable, NA); VZV, 0% vs. 0% (p = NA); EBV, 14.6% vs. 17.5% (p = 0.63); CMV, 0% vs. 0% (p = NA); HHV6, 4.9% vs. 7.8% (p = 0.55); HHV7, 71.8% vs. 72.8% (p = 1); any herpesvirus, 73.8% vs. 74.8% (p = 1).DiscussionWe did not find evidence for increased oropharyngeal reactivation of herpesviruses one week after BNT162b2.     

Safety profile of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine: Pooled analysis of two large randomised phase 3 trials

Background

The ZOE-50 (NCT01165177) and ZOE-70 (NCT01165229) phase 3 clinical trials showed that the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) was ≥90% efficacious in preventing herpes zoster in adults. Here we present a comprehensive overview of the safety data from these studies.

Long-term effectiveness of zoster vaccine live for postherpetic neuralgia prevention

BackgroundPostherpetic neuralgia (PHN) occurs in 5–30% of individuals with herpes zoster (HZ) and is characterized by long-lasting pain. Zoster vaccine live (ZVL) is licensed for people 50 years and older to prevent HZ and PHN. This study evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of ZVL against PHN.MethodsWe conducted an open cohort study within Kaiser Permanente Northern California with continuous accrual of people as they became age-eligible for ZVL. We defined PHN using a PHN diagnosis between 90 and 365 days after an incident episode of HZ. We estimated VE against PHN using Cox regression with a calendar timeline stratified by year of birth and adjusted for sex, race, influenza vaccination, outpatient visit frequency, comorbidities, and immune compromise status.ResultsFrom 2007 to 2016, 1·5 million people entered the study population and 33% received ZVL. During 7·6 million person-years of follow-up, there were 62,205 HZ cases, 4150 (6·7%) of which went on to develop PHN. Overall VE for PHN was 64·8% (95% CI 61·3, 68). VE was 82·8% (95% CI 77·6, 86·7) during the first year after vaccination, 58·3% (95% CI 50.1, 65.2) during the third year, and then waned more gradually to 48·7% (95% CI 30·2, 62·3) during the eighth year. VE in persons vaccinated when aged 80 years or older was similar to VE in younger vaccinees. VE in persons vaccinated when immune compromised was similar to VE in immune competent.ConclusionsOverall, ZVL was 65% effective against PHN. It was effective in all age groups and provided moderate protection through 8 years.     

Meeting report: Initial World Health Organization consultation on herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine preferred product characteristics,March 2017

The development of vaccines against herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an important global goal for sexual and reproductive health. A key priority to advance development of HSV vaccines is the definition of preferred product characteristics (PPCs), which provide strategic guidance on World Health Organization (WHO) preferences for new vaccines, specifically from a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) perspective. To start the PPC process for HSV vaccines, the WHO convened a global stakeholder consultation in March 2017, to define the priority public health needs that should be addressed by HSV vaccines and discuss the key considerations for HSV vaccine PPCs, particularly for LMICs. Meeting participants outlined an initial set of overarching public health goals for HSV vaccines in LMICs, which are: to reduce the acquisition of HIV associated with HSV-2 infection in high HIV-prevalence populations and to reduce the burden of HSV-associated disease, including mortality and morbidity due to neonatal herpes and impacts on sexual and reproductive health. Participants also considered the role of prophylactic versus therapeutic vaccines, whether both HSV-2 and HSV-1 should be targeted, important target populations, and infection and disease endpoints for clinical trials. This article summarizes the main discussions from the consultation.     

Infections at the bottom end of the gastrointestinal tract

This article concentrates on specific infections of the distal gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly those that are transmitted sexually, by anal intercourse. Syphilis, gonorrhoea and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) are age old and well known diseases, but the features may be unfamiliar to GI histopathologists. Every histopathology trainee will have seen Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection of squamous epithelium (e.g. oesophagus, vulva and anus), but the HSV pseudotumour of the anus/perineum can present a pitfall to those who have not previously encountered this entity. Another, more recently described, entity that has a predilection for the ano-rectal region is Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) positive mucocutaneous ulcer, and this also presents a diagnostic trap to the unwary.     

经方治疗水痘-带状疱疹病毒感染探讨

介绍运用经方辨治水痘和带状疱疹的异同。认为两者均为水痘-带状疱疹病毒感染引起的常见皮肤病。治疗水痘应以祛邪为主,辨证以六经中的太阳、阳明、少阳三阳经为重点,可运用石膏类方等;而对于带状疱疹,应重视扶正,辨证宜兼顾六经、衡量虚实,可予柴胡类方等。     

复方倍他米松注射液联合泛昔洛韦胶囊、普瑞巴林胶囊治疗带状疱疹的临床疗效观察

目的 对复方倍他米松注射液联合泛昔洛韦胶囊、普瑞巴林胶囊治疗带状疱疹的临床疗效进行观察并探讨。方法 选取2018 年1 月～2019 年12 月我院收治的118 例带状疱疹患者为研究对象，采用随机抽签的方式将患者分为对照组（泛昔洛韦胶囊+普瑞巴林胶囊+甲钴胺片+维生素B1 片）与观察组（联合复方倍他米松注射液），比较两组治疗总有效率、VAS 评分、QS 评分、C 反应蛋白、无新发皮疹时间、结痂时间及疼痛停止时间、随访2 个月后带状疱疹后遗神经痛发生率以及不良反应发生率。结果 观察组与对照组治疗总有效率分别为94.92%及76.27%，组间对比差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；治疗后，观察组VAS 评分显著低于对照组；观察组QS 评分低于对照组（P＜0.05）；治疗后，观察组C 反应蛋白显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）；观察组无新发皮疹时间、结痂时间及疼痛停止时间分别显著短于对照组（P＜0.05）；随访2 个月后，发现观察组带状疱疹后遗神经痛发生率显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）；观察组不良反应发生与对照组比较，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 复方倍他米松注射液联合泛昔洛韦胶囊、普瑞巴林胶囊治疗带状疱疹不仅效果好且安全性高，值得使用。     

双重围刺配合刺络拔罐治疗频次对急性带状疱疹疗效的影响

目的观察双重围刺配合刺络拔罐治疗急性期带状疱疹中治疗频次对临床疗效的影响。方法采用随机数字表法将100例急性期带状疱疹患者分为两组,每组50例。两组患者均口服盐酸伐昔洛韦和甲钴胺,联合双重围刺配合刺络拔罐治疗。试验组双重围刺法配合刺络拔罐的治疗频次为每日2次,对照组双重围刺法配合刺络拔罐的治疗频次为每日1次。对比观察两组患者治疗的临床疗效,止疱、结痂、脱痂时间,治疗前后疼痛视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分,疼痛缓解程度,每疗程末疼痛持续时间以及带状疱疹后遗神经痛发生率。结果试验组总有效率为98.0%,对照组总有效率为94.0%;两组治疗后VAS评分均较治疗前降低(P<0.05),且试验组低于对照组(P<0.05);试验组止疱、结痂、脱痂时间短于对照组(P<0.05);试验组疼痛缓解程度大于对照组(P<0.05);试验组前3个疗程末日疼痛持续时间均短于对照组(P<0.05);试验组后遗神经痛发生率为10.0%,对照组为18.0%。结论西药口服联合每日2次的双重围刺配合刺络拔罐对急性期带状疱疹患者可提高临床疗效,减轻患者疼痛持续时间及疼痛程度,缩短病程,疗效肯定。     

妊娠期、围生期带状疱疹25例临床分析

【摘要】 目的 探讨妊娠期、围生期带状疱疹的临床特征、治疗及预后。方法 收集2011年1月至2020年12月郑州大学第一附属医院住院治疗的妊娠期、围生期带状疱疹患者的临床资料，回顾分析临床特征、治疗及预后情况。结果 纳入25例，其中妊娠期22例（孕10 ~ 38周，孕早期1例、孕中期13例、孕晚期8例），产后1周内3例；年龄22 ~ 37岁，病程2 ~ 9 d。临床表现：皮疹位于头面部8例，胸背部5例，腰腹部7例，上肢1例，下肢3例，会阴1例，3例为播散性带状疱疹。皮疹形态均为红斑、丘疱疹、水疱，其中4例合并血疱，3例合并大疱，6例合并糜烂、渗出；5例发热，7例轻度、6例中度、11例重度疼痛。治疗：16例妊娠期、3例产后患者进行抗病毒治疗（口服或静脉滴注阿昔洛韦、单磷酸阿糖腺苷、膦甲酸钠氯化钠注射液），24例应用营养神经药物，1例妊娠期患者、3例产妇进行镇痛治疗，其他治疗包括抗感染、湿敷、红光照射等。预后：1例妊娠期患者早产，其余妊娠期患者均足月生产，新生儿无异常。3例妊娠期患者出现后遗症，1例为疼痛，2例为瘙痒。结论 本文25例妊娠期、围生期带状疱疹的治疗未观察到对胎儿、新生儿有明显影响。