Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and the orbital apex syndrome

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) commonly causes isolated ophthalmoplegic syndromes. Visual loss caused by optic neuritis secondary to HZO can be reversible or irreversible. HZO rarely presents as an orbital apex syndrome, when an association with meningo-encephalitis has been reported. We report a case of orbital apex syndrome secondary to HZO treated with systemic steroids and acyclovir. Our patient suffered no systemic complications and displayed a rapid resolution of optic neuropathy. We discuss this case in the light of previous reports and explore the possible pathogenic mechanisms involved.     

Naturally occuring antibodies against nerve growth factor in human and rabbit sera: comparison between control and herpes simplex virus-infected patients

Antibodies against nerve growth factor (NGF) in sera were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), by their isolation after passage of sera through NGF immunoadsorbent columns and by their specificity to bind and immunoprecipitate mouse NGF as well as to stain by immunohistochemical methods cellular sites of NGF synthesis. Increased levels of anti-NGF antibodies were found in sera of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected patients but not in HSV-inoculated rabbits. As HSV latency is known to be promoted by NGF in vitro, these results may suggest that anti-NGF antibodies modulate the cytokine function of NGF and thus might play a role in HSV infection. The biological function of circulating antibodies against NGF, in general, is now open to future investigation.     

中西医联合治疗单纯疱疹性角膜炎的疗效观察

目的 :探讨单纯疱疹性角膜炎是中西医联合用药的治疗方法。方法 :本组 10 0例 ( 10 6只眼 )单纯疱疹性角膜炎患者应用抗病毒药物联合清热解毒中药的疗效观察。结果 :本组病例治疗后总有效率 82 .0 8%。结论 :中西医联合治疗措施是我们对单纯疱疹性角膜炎治疗的一项新的探讨。     

聚合酶链反应（PCR）对单纯疱疹病毒性脑炎的临床诊断价值

应用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）检测技术对１１８例颅内感染性疾病患者及３７例无神神经系统疾病患者脑脊液（ＣＳＦ）中的单纯疱疹病毒ＤＮＡ（ＨＳＶ－ＤＮＡ）进行了检测及分型。结果提示：“散发性脑炎”组的阳性率为３８．４６％（２０／５２），细菌、真菌性脑膜炎、其它病毒性脑炎组以及无神经系统疾病组均为阴性。作者认为：①本检测是目前单纯疹病毒性脑炎（ＨＳＥ）较为简便而准确的早期诊断方法之一；②ＨＳＶ分型检测，对病原诊断更具有全面性；③两型单纯疱疹病毒均可引起ＨＳＥ。     

聚合酶链反应诊断单纯疱疹病毒性脑炎

用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）扩增患者脑脊液（ＣｈＦ）中病毒特异性ＤＮＡ可早期快速诊断单纯疱疹病毒性脑炎（ＨＳＥ）。１９例临床确诊的病毒性脑炎患者，经ＰＣＲ在ＣＳＦ中检出单纯疱疹病毒（ＨＳＶ）１３例，全部阳性标本均经分子杂交证实为ＨＳＶ－ＤＮＡ，而１４例其他神经疾病（ＯＮＤ）对照组均为阴性，显示了这一方法的特异性。其中７例病毒性脑炎ＣＳＦ标本分别用ＰＣＲ分子杂交和病毒分离等三种方法检测ＨＳＶ；显示ＰＣＲ最为敏感。表明ＰＣＲ技术的广泛应用将提高ＨＳＥ的早期诊断水平，指导临床正确治疗。     

Herpetic croup: two case reports and a review of the literature

Croup is an acute infectious illness usually occurring in children; it is characterized by brassy cough and stridor. The main pathogens include mainly parainfluenza and influenza viruses. Recently there have been reports of prolonged croup caused by the herpes simplex viruses. We report two cases of prolonged croup due to herpes simplex types 1 and 2. We also review and summarize the reported pediatric cases of herpetic croup.     

Real-time nested multiplex PCR for the detection of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and varicella zoster virus

One hundred forty-nine specimens were tested in a LightCycler nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (LCnmPCR) for Herpes simplex virus (HSV)1, HSV2, and VZV. Eighty-one were from genitourinary medicine (GUM) patients and the other 68 specimens were from other patients with skin lesions. The results were compared to a conventional multiplex nested PCR (nmPCR) using agarose gel electrophoresis. Twenty-five specimens were positive in both assays for HSV1 and 29 were positive for VZV. For HSV2 there were 27 positive in the LCnmPCR and 26 positive in the nmPCR assay. The melting temperatures (Tms) of each target were different with a mean of 84.75 degrees C for HSV1, 88.57 degrees C for HSV2, and 83.62 degrees C for VZV. The melting curves of positive specimens directly overlaid the melting curves of the positive controls in the assay. The LCnmPCR assay is a convenient alternative to conventional PCR using agarose gel electrophoresis. It improves specimen turnaround time by eliminating the need for gel electrophoresis, transillumination, and gel photography. It also shows increased sensitivity for HSV2 over our standard assay. This LCnmPCR reduces further the possibility of amplicon contamination with nested PCR protocols.     

Comparative usage of herpesvirus entry mediator A and nectin-1 by laboratory strains and clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus

The herpesvirus entry mediator A (HVEM/HveA) and nectin-1 (HveC/CD111) are two major receptors for herpes simplex virus (HSV). Although structurally unrelated, both receptors can independently mediate entry of wild-type (wt) HSV-1 and HSV-2 by interacting with the viral envelope glycoprotein D (gD). Laboratory strains with defined mutations in gD (e.g. rid1) do not use HVEM but use nectin-2 (HveB/CD112) for entry. The relative usage of HVEM and nectin-1 during HSV infection in vivo is not known. In the absence of a defined in vivo model, we used in vitro approaches to address this question. First, we screened HSV clinical isolates from various origins for receptor tropism and found that all used both HVEM and nectin-1. Second, we determined the numbers of surface receptors on various susceptible and resistant cell lines as well as on primary fibroblasts derived from an individual with cleft lip/palate ectodermal dysplasia (CLPED1). Although CLPED1 cells can only express a defective form of nectin-1, they allowed entry of wild type and mutant HSV strains by usage of either HVEM or nectin-2. Finally, we compared the ability of HVEM and nectin-1 to mediate entry when expressed at varying cell surface densities. Both receptors showed a direct relationship between the number of receptors and HSV susceptibility. Direct comparison of receptors suggests that nectin-1 is more efficient at promoting entry than HVEM. Overall, our data suggest that both receptors play a role during HSV infection in vivo and that both are highly efficient even at low levels of expression.     

巢式PCR检测龈下菌斑中HCMV、EBV、HSV-1与慢性牙周炎活动性的关系

目的　建立临床检测龈下菌斑标本中人巨细胞病毒 (HCMV)、Epstein Barr病毒 (EBV)、单纯疱疹病毒 1型 (HSV 1 )巢式PCR方法 ,研究这 3种病毒与慢性牙周炎活动性的关系。方法　收集6 2例慢性牙周炎患者 (男性 2 7例、女性 35例 ,平均年龄 5 3岁 )的牙周炎活动部位、牙周炎静止部位的龈下菌斑 ,提取DNA后使用巢式PCR检测HCMV、EBV、HSV 1 ,比较分析其在同一病人不同部位的检出率。结果　牙周炎活动部位的HCMV检出率为 38.7%,EBV的检出率为 5 8%,HSV 1的检出率为30 .6 %,两种以上病毒合并感染的检出率为 4 0 .3%;牙周炎静止部位的HCMV检出率为 1 4 .5 %,EBV为 2 2 .6 %,HSV 1为 1 1 .3%,两种以上病毒合并感染的检出率为 1 1 .3%。这 3种病毒及其合并感染在牙周炎活动部位的检出率均高于牙周炎静止部位 ,差异有统计学意义 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　提示HC MV、EBV、HSV 1与慢性牙周炎的活动性相关。