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Haematologica 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

Respiratory tract infections due to community-acquired respiratory viruses including respiratory syncytial virus, Influenza, parainfluenza virus 3 and human metapneumovirus are detected in up to 40% of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in whom they cause severe symptoms including pneumonia and bronchiolitis and can be fatal. Given the lack of effective antivirals and the data from our group demonstrating that adoptively transferred ex vivo-expanded virus-specific T cells can be clinically beneficial for the treatment of both latent (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, BK virus, human herpesvirus 6) and lytic (adenovirus) viruses, we investigated the potential for extending this immunotherapeutic approach to respiratory viruses. We now describe a system that rapidly generates a single preparation of polyclonal (CD4+ and CD8+) virus-specific T cells reactive against 12 antigens derived from 4 viruses (respiratory syncytial virus, Influenza, parainfluenza virus 3 and human metapneumovirus) that commonly cause post-transplant morbidity and mortality. Read More

J Virol 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

INSERM 1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France

: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infects over 90% of the population, and establishes a latent infection, with asymptomatic episodes of reactivation. However, HHV-6 reactivation is associated with morbidity and sometimes mortality in immunocompromised patients. To date, the control of the virus in healthy virus carriers and its failure in patients with disease remain poorly understood. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 Mar 29;153:34-39. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Center for Neuroscience, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA.

Infection with Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) has been associated with different epilepsy syndromes, including febrile seizures and status epilepticus, acute symptomatic seizures secondary to encephalitis and temporal lobe epilepsy. This neurotropic DNA virus is ubiquitous and primary infection occurs in up to 80% of children by age two years. While two viral variants have been identified, HHV-6B is the one that has been primarily linked to disease in humans, including epilepsy. Read More

Cancer Manag Res 2019 12;11:2109-2118. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China,

Purpose: We previously identified human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection in the pathogenesis of glioma. Direct repeat (DR)7, encoded by HHV-6, has been reported to possess malignant transforming activity and involved in Hodgkin's lymphoma carcinogenesis. Here, we aimed to determine the role of DR7 in the development and progression of glioma. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2019 Mar 15:e13073. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.

Background: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch and the administration of immunosuppressive agents are considered risks for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) reactivation after stem cell transplantation (SCT). However, the incidence of HHV-6 reactivation in HLA-mismatched related SCT remains unknown.

Methods: We monitored plasma HHV-6 DNA loads weekly using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for 5 weeks after SCT and compared serum IL-6 levels in HLA-mismatched SCT groups. Read More

Clin Transplant 2019 Mar 7:e13518. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Clinical School, Ochsner Medical Center, The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.

These updated guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation review the diagnosis, prevention, and management of HHV-6A, HHV-6B, HHV-7, and HHV-8 in the pre- and post-transplant period. The majority of HHV-6 (A and B) and HHV-7 infections in transplant recipients are asymptomatic; symptomatic disease is reported infrequently across organs. Routine screening for HHV-6 and 7 DNAemia is not recommended in asymptomatic patients, nor is prophylaxis or preemptive therapy. Read More

Front Microbiol 2019 18;10:269. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.

Koplik spots are considered a disease-specific sign for measles, although comprehensive virological studies have not been conducted to date. In Japan, a national survey of 3023 measles and measles-suspected cases was conducted between 2009 and 2014 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) to detect various rash/fever-associated viruses. Koplik spots were observed in 717 of 3023 cases (23. Read More

J Med Virol 2019 Feb 28. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases Research Unit, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.

Between September 2014 and December 2015, 298 sera from rash and fever patients from all over Cuba were investigated for specific IgM antibodies against measles, rubella, dengue, human parvovirus B19 (B19V) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. B19V IgM positive and equivocal samples were investigated by a polymerase chain reaction and genotyping. No measles, rubella or dengue cases were detected. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2019 Feb 22;6(2):ofz037. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor.

Background: Umbilical cord blood transplant (UCBT) is used for patients who do not have a matched donor, but engraftment often takes longer than with a standard allogeneic transplant, likely increasing the risk for infection. We characterized specific infections and outcomes in adults undergoing UCBT at our 2 centers.

Methods: All adults who underwent UCBT between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2015 were included. Read More

J Med Virol 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Objective: There has been little research on human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) in healthy adults and prevalences in different age groups have been unclear. Therefore, the major objective of this study was to evaluate seroprevalence to HHV-6 antibodies in ordinary working people and examine the effect of aging on seroprevalence. Also, as HHV-6B is reactivated in saliva, another objective was to investigate an association between age and HHV-6B reactivation based on measured salivary HHV-6 DNA levels. Read More

Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2019 Apr 13;92(3):395-401. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Poisoning Detection Center, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China.

Purpose: Occupational trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome (OTHS) clinically manifests as generalized severe rash resembling drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) and afflicts predominantly HLA-B*13:01 gene carriers after their exposure to trichloroethylene. Meanwhile, OTHS may also be associated with human herpesvirus such as herpesvirus-6 (HHV6) and cytomegalovirus (HCMV) reported to participate in the pathology of DIHS. This study explored the association of carrying HHV6 and HCMV, and the joint association of carrying HLA-B*13:01 and HHV6 and HCMV with OTHS. Read More

Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Univ Michigan, Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States ;

Rationale: "Non-infectious" pulmonary complications are significant causes of morbidity and mortality post allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. Early onset viral reactivations or infections are common after transplant. Whether the first onset viral infection causes "non-infectious" pulmonary complications is unknown. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 ;67(4):1379-1389

Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, where neuroinflammation and immune cells are key pathological factors. Recently, it was suggested a possible association between AD and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection. Since we recently observed that multiple sclerosis patients with KIR2DL2 expression on natural killer (NK) cells are more susceptible to herpesvirus infection, we tested the possible implication of KIR/HLA genetic for HHV-6A infection. Read More

J Dermatol 2019 Mar 21;46(3):226-233. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Dermatology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS), also referred to as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), is a multi-organ systemic drug reaction characterized by hematological abnormalities and reactivation of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6). DIHS/DRESS is typically associated with a limited number of drugs, such as the anticonvulsants. Our group has treated 12 patients for DIHS/DRESS due to lamotrigine (LTG), but their presentation differed from that of patients with DIHS/DRESS caused by other drugs. Read More

Eur Neurol 2018 18;80(5-6):229-235. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that leads to inflammation, demyelination and neurodegeneration. Viral aetiology has been suspected to be an MS trigger for a long time, and herpesviruses (HSs) are among the potential pathogens involved.

Objectives: The present investigation aims to detect the presence of antibodies against the herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) in the serum of MS patients and control individuals in north-eastern Poland. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2019 Jan 16;19(1):19. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Ophthalmology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, 2-22-36, Ohashi, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8515, Japan.

Background: To report the first case of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) corneal endotheliitis that developed after intravitreal ranibizumab injections.

Case Presentation: A 63-year-old man with a medical history of diabetes and systemic steroid treatment for bullous pemphigoid had been receiving intravitreal injections of ranibizumab in the left eye for 2 years according to a Pro Re Nata treatment regimen for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. Twenty days after the last injection, the patient presented with pain and decreased visual acuity in his left eye. Read More

Indian J Nephrol 2018 Nov-Dec;28(6):477-481

Laboratory of Pathology Souss, Agadir, Morocco.

Allopurinol-induced drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe illness related to hypersensitivity syndrome characterized by fever, skin rash, lymph node enlargement, hematological abnormalities, especially eosinophilia and atypical lymphocytosis, and single or multiple organ involvement. The syndrome is difficult to diagnose in view of its clinical heterogeneity and long latency period within 8 weeks after start treatment. We report a case of DRESS syndrome in a 64-year-old man, induced by allopurinol treatment for asymptomatic hyperuricemia, started 8 weeks earlier but stopped only 3 days after because of the onset of rash. Read More

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2018 Dec;7(suppl_2):S75-S78

Seattle Children's Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle.

Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) is a ubiquitous pathogen that infects most individuals before the age of three years. HHV-6B reactivates in approximately 40% of transplant recipients where it has been associated with a number of important outcomes, especially in allogeneic transplant recipients. This article will review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of HHV-6B infection. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 6;9:2803. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

International Centre for Infectiology Research, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France.

The aberrant expression of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) elements of the HERV-W family has been associated with different diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In particular, the expression of the envelope protein (Env) from the multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus (MSRV), a member of HERV-W family and known for its potent proinflammatory activity, is repeatedly detected in the brain lesions and blood of MS patients. Furthermore, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection has long been suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of MS and neuroinflammation. Read More

Viruses 2018 12 19;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Research Unit in Virology and Cancer, Children's Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, 06720 Mexico City, Mexico.

Herpesviruses are common components of the human microbiome that become clinically relevant when a competent immunosurveillance is compromised, such as in transplantation. Members of the beta and gamma subfamilies are associated with a wide diversity of pathologies, including end-organ disease and cancer. In this study, we developed a multiplex qPCR technique with high specificity, sensitivity, efficiency and predictability that allowed the simultaneous detection and quantification of beta and gamma human herpesviruses. Read More

Curr Opin Pediatr 2019 Apr;31(2):226-231

Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Hypertension and Pheresis, Washington University School of Medicine and St Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis.

Purpose Of Review: Infections represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation in children. We review recent advances in epidemiology, assessment, prevention and treatment for several different infections.

Recent Findings: Infections, such as bacterial urinary tract infection or opportunistic viral infection remain common, may be increasing and represent a large proportion of hospitalization. Read More

Front Oncol 2018 13;8:512. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.

In order to determine the role of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in human disease, several confounding factors, including methods of detection, types of controls, and the ubiquitous nature of the virus, must be considered. This is particularly problematic in the case of cancer, in which rates of detection vary greatly among studies. To determine what part, if any, HHV-6 plays in oncogenesis, a review of the literature was performed. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Dec 6;8(1):17683. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Section of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy.

We have previously reported that human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection of endothelial cells (ECs) induces the loss of angiogenic properties, through the expression of HHV-6 U94, possibly associated to the release of a soluble mediator. It is also known that the soluble isoform of HLA-G exhibits an anti-angiogenic function, important in implantation, transplantation and neoplastic development. In this study, we analyzed the expression of HLA-G in HHV-6 infected ECs, showing that both HHV-6A and HHV-6B infection induce a potent up-modulation of HLA-G, including both membrane and soluble isoforms. Read More

Cancer Manag Res 2018 20;10:5991-6001. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China,

Purpose: We previously found the involvement of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection in the pathogenesis of glioma. U94/rep, encoded by HHV-6, has been identified to play a vital role in viral gene expression and latency. Recent studies have shown its inhibition of angiogenesis and tumorigenesis in endothelial cells and prostate cancer cell line PC3, respectively. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 12 11;115(52):E12126. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Department of Neurology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1419733141, Iran

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 12 11;115(52):E12127. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Viral Immunology Section, National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892

Mol Genet Metab Rep 2019 Mar 20;18:1-6. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children' Medical Center, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya First Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.

Objective: The prognosis of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)with neurological involvement is generally dismal; however, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is recognized as effective to stabilize or improve the clinical symptoms of ALD. Herein, we report the clinical outcomes of patients with ALD who consecutively underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation with reduced intensity conditioning at our institution.

Patients: Sixteen patients with ALD, who were symptomatic (n = 14) or presymptomatic (n = 2), received SCT from 2010 to 2016. Read More

Viruses 2018 11 21;10(11). Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert von Ostertag-Straße 7-13, 14163 Berlin, Germany.

Human herpesvirus-6A and -6B (HHV-6A and -6B) are two closely related betaherpesviruses that infect humans. Upon primary infection they establish a life-long infection termed latency, where the virus genome is integrated into the telomeres of latently infected cells. Intriguingly, HHV-6A/B can integrate into germ cells, leading to individuals with inherited chromosomally-integrated HHV-6 (iciHHV-6), who have the HHV-6 genome in every cell. Read More

Wiad Lek 2018;71(7):1289-1294

Sumy State University, Sumy, Ukraine.

Objective: Introduction: Herpesviruses (HVs) are ubiquitous pathogens that infect humans usually during childhood, followed by a life-long persistence in a latent state in many sites of a body including the nerve cells. After reactivation HVs can affect the Central Nervous System (CNS) becoming a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide as well as long-term neurological sequelae. Despite being an important public health problem very few population-based studies were conducted so far in the world and none in Ukraine. Read More

J Infect Dis 2018 Nov 10. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplantation and Stanford Immunology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA.

Background: Liver failure of unknown etiology (LFUE) has a transplant-free survival rate of less than 25%. Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may be associated with LFUE, but existing studies are limited by small sample size.

Methods: We identified all children who underwent liver transplant for LFUE at a single quaternary children's hospital. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2019 Feb 27;21(1):e13024. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.

Background: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) encephalitis is a known life-threatening complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, few studies have focused on the occurrence of HHV-6 encephalitis in patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) combined with a calcineurin inhibitor as prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This study aimed to investigate the impact of MMF administered for GVHD prophylaxis in the occurrence of HHV-6 encephalitis after allo-HSCT and the characteristics of this condition. Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2018 Oct;28(5):698-699

Department of Clinical Laboratory, and Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, P. R. China.

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2019 ;19(2):221-225

Microbiology and Virology Unit, Policlinico University Hospital of Bari, Italy.

Background And Objective: Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a small vessel vasculitis that can be limited to the skin but may also affect other organs. Often, its cause is unknown. LCV has previously been reported to occur with the reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). Read More

Virol Sin 2018 Oct 29;33(5):402-409. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China.

Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019 Mar 22;25(3):587-593. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Viral infection is a serious complication that can greatly affect patient mortality and morbidity after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). For the early identification of patients at high risk for viral infection, we evaluated the impact of lymphocyte area under the curve (AUC) value as a new predictive factor for early immune reconstitution after allo-HSCT against viral infection. This study included 286 patients who underwent their first allo-HSCT at Kyoto University Hospital between 2005 and 2017. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2019 Feb 15;21(1):e13014. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Pediatrics C, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.

Background: In recent years, liver transplantation (LT) has become a well-accepted therapeutic modality for children with end-stage liver disease, with transplantation surgery being performed at a younger age. Human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) infection occurs in most children within the first 2 years of life, therefore, data on primary HHV-6 infection in pediatric liver transplant recipients is scarce.

Objective: To describe the course of primary HHV-6 infection after pediatric LT. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 5;9:834. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurovirology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, United States.

One third of children with epilepsy are refractory to medications. Growing data support a role of common childhood infections with neurotropic viruses and inflammation in epileptogenesis. Our objective was to determine the frequency of Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection and cytokine levels in saliva from children with seizures compared to healthy controls and to controls with a febrile illness without seizures. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 10 15;115(44):11292-11297. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;

Pathogens, particularly human herpesviruses (HHVs), are implicated as triggers of disease onset/progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neuroinflammatory disorders. However, the time between viral acquisition in childhood and disease onset in adulthood complicates the study of this association. Using nonhuman primates, we demonstrate that intranasal inoculations with HHV-6A and HHV-6B accelerate an MS-like neuroinflammatory disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Read More

Transfusion 2018 11 4;58(11):2617-2626. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Research and Development Division, Japan Blood Products Organization, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) contains immunoglobulin G against various viruses, except those that have been screened, such as human immunodeficiency and hepatitis C viruses. Antivirus titers reflect the serostatus of the blood donor population in the collection region and are of clinical interest.

Study Design And Methods: During the past 10 years, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella-zoster, hepatitis A and B, Epstein-Barr, and human respiratory syncytial viruses; human parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, and 3; human herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2; human herpesvirus 6; cytomegalovirus (CMV); human adenoviruses (HAdVs) 1, 2, 3, 7, and 11; human parvovirus B19; and human echovirus 9 and 11 titers in IVIG lots have been measured by a commercial testing facility. Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2018 10;24(5, Neuroinfectious Disease):1349-1369

Purpose Of Review: This article reviews the spectrum of neurologic disease associated with human herpesvirus infections.

Recent Findings: As more patients are becoming therapeutically immunosuppressed, human herpesvirus infections are increasingly common. Historically, infections with human herpesviruses were described as temporal lobe encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2019 Feb 15;21(1):e13003. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.

Background: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) is a cause of post-transplant acute limbic encephalitis (PALE). Seizures are associated with this disorder yet no predictive biomarkers have been identified. The objective of this study was to evaluate lab and neurodiagnostic biomarkers in patients with HHV6 associated PALE. Read More

Virol Sin 2018 Oct 17;33(5):456-458. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

MOE & MOH Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Clin Infect Dis 2019 Mar;68(6):903-912

Laboratorio de Virología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, México.

Background: During pregnancy, the Zika virus (ZIKV) replicates in the placenta and central nervous system (CNS) of infected fetuses; nevertheless, the ability of ZIKV to replicate in other fetal tissues has not been extensively characterized.

Methods: We researched whether dissemination of congenitally-acquired ZIKV outside the CNS exists by searching for the accumulation of the viral envelope protein, ZIKV ribonucleic acid (RNA), and infectious viral particles in different organs of a deceased newborn with Congenital Zika Syndrome. A real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect ZIKV RNA in the brain, thymus, lungs, kidneys, adrenal glands, spleen, liver, and small intestine. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2018 10 31;5(5):846-857. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the prognostic value of complement anaphylatoxin receptors in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing endomyocardial biopsy.

Methods And Results: In 102 patients (72.5% male patients, median age 54 years) with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, myocardial expression of C3aR was assessed among other parameters. Read More

Mediators Inflamm 2018 6;2018:6020625. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Department of Dentistry, University Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

This study evaluated the presence of cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, MCP-1, MIP-1, MIP-1, and TNF-) and human herpesvirus (HSV1, HSV2, EBV, CMV, VZV, HHV6, HHV7, and HHV8) in saliva samples taken from subjects with and without peri-implantitis. Forty-two periodontally healthy subjects were divided according to peri-implant condition: healthy and peri-implantitis groups. The clinical parameters as probing depth, clinical attachment level, plaque index, gingival bleeding, bleeding on probing, and suppuration were evaluated. Read More

Int J Hematol 2018 Dec 28;108(6):580-587. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

Department of Clinical Oncology/Hematology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the adverse events in multiple myeloma (MM) patients treated with cytotoxic agents, proteasome inhibitors (PIs), and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) such as bortezomib, lenalidomide, and thalidomide. The aims of our study were to prospectively analyze the clinical significance of CRF, and to evaluate the cumulative incidence of CRF and the survival rates of 16 MM patients who were treated with PIs and IMiDs. Reactivation of salivary human herpes virus (HHV)-6 and HHV-7 was analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Read More

N Engl J Med 2018 Aug;379(8):775-785

From the Departments of Medicine (S.E.T.), Radiology (S.M.), and Pathology (G.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, the Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital (W.G.T.), and the Departments of Medicine (S.E.T.), Dermatology (W.G.T.), Radiology (S.M.), and Pathology (G.E.), Harvard Medical School - all in Boston.

Virus Res 2018 09 18;256:134-141. Epub 2018 Aug 18.

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:

Background: Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) is a neurotropic virus that has been repeatedly associated with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). However, the mechanism behind this suggested association is not known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate what genes were affected by HHV-6B, possibly revealing HHV-6B induced disease causing mechanisms. Read More

Cytotherapy 2018 Sep 17;20(9):1182-1190. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Division of Molecular Therapy, Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Restoration of virus-specific immunity by virus specific T cells (VSTs) offers an attractive alternative to conventional drugs, and can be highly effective in immunocompromised patients, including hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. However, conventional VSTs manufacture requires preparation of specialized antigen-presenting cells (APCs), prolonged ex vivo culture in serum-containing medium and antigen re-stimulation with viruses or viral vectors to provide viral antigens for presentation on APCs.

Methods: To simplify this complex process, we developed a method to generate multiple VSTs by direct stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with overlapping peptide libraries in serum-free medium. Read More

Am J Transplant 2019 Jan 12;19(1):306-307. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.