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Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, Boston, Massachusetts; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients are at increased risk for varicella zoster virus reactivation and associated complications. The incidence, timing, and risk factors for severe herpes zoster (HZ) are not well described in the era of acyclovir (ACV) prophylaxis. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent first allogeneic HCT from October 2006 to December 2015 at our institution. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2019 Apr 16:e13095. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Pediatric Clinic, "P & A Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Nursing, Athens, Greece.

Background: Viral infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric transplant populations. We analyzed the epidemiology of viral infections in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients, including their incidence, associated risk factors, and outcome.

Methods: In a prospective study from September 2011 to September 2015 blood, urine and stool specimens were monitored weekly from transplantation to day 100 or after if clinically suspected, by use of real-time polymerase chain reaction. Read More

Iran J Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Mar;31(103):115-118

Departments of Otorhinolaryngology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Introduction: Varicella-zoster virus may cause an infectious disease called Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The related symptoms include facial nerve palsy (FNP), otalgia, the vesicular eruptions of the auricle and external auditory canal, less common ocular movement disorder, facial hypoesthesia, myofascial pain, vestibular symptoms, hearing loss, dysphasia, vocal cord paralysis, as well as tongue paralysis due to cranial neuropathies.

Case Report: Herein, we presented the case of a 55-year-old man with left peripheral facial nerve palsy, profound hearing loss, and true vocal cord paralysis. Read More

Brain Nerve 2019 Apr;71(4):302-308

Dermatology, Aichi Medical University.

Among human herpes viruses, those known to cause neurological symptoms are the herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 and the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which remain latent in the dorsal root ganglion. HSV causes herpes labialis, genital herpes, etc. VZV causes varicella during the primary infection, and shingles when reactivated. Read More

Transplant Proc 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Gastroenterology and Organ Transplantation Center, Koc University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Infections after solid organ transplantation are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection after solid organ transplantation is rare. Here we present a case presenting with acute hepatitis and shingles after a liver transplantation (LT). Read More

J Neurol Sci 2019 May 2;400:186-187. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Acute cerebellitis is a well recognized complication of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection in children. It has been described in adults in the setting of virus reactivation with a preceding herpes zoster rash, but it is exceedingly rare in adults who are not elderly or immunocompromised, particularly in the absence of a rash. To our knowledge, there has been only one reported case of acute cerebellitis in an immunocompetent adult less than age 65 with virological confirmation of acute VZV infection. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019 Apr 12:e27752. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is linked to a variety of malignancies; most endemic Burkitt lymphoma (BL) harbor EBV, whereas only a subset of the cases of sporadic BL is EBV positive.

Procedure: We retrospectively determined the herpesvirus seroprevalence at the time of diagnosis in pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients enrolled in NHL-BFM (Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster) studies. We accessed the seroepidemiological data from 1147 patients that became available during 1990-2007. Read More

Vaccine 2019 May 8;37(19):2537-2553. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Centre for Health Economics Research & Modeling Infectious Diseases (CHERMID), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Antwerp Unit for Data Analysis and Computation in Immunology and Sequencing (AUDACIS), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

Clinical trials covering the immunogenicity of a vaccine aim to study the longitudinal dynamics of certain immune cells after vaccination. The corresponding immunogenicity datasets are mainly analyzed by the use of statistical (mixed effects) models. This paper proposes the use of mathematical ordinary differential equation (ODE) models, combined with a mixed effects approach. Read More

Curr Opin Immunol 2019 Apr 7;59:25-30. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

Emory Vaccine Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Zostavax is a live-attenuated varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine recommended for use in adults >50 years of age to prevent shingles. The main risk factor for the development of shingles is age, which correlates with decreasing cell-mediated immunity. These data suggest a predominant role of T cell immunity in controlling VZV latency. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka. Electronic address:

Vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) is highly recommended for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients by several guidelines; however, the safety and seropositivity after live attenuated vaccines remain unclear in adult HSCT recipients. We analyzed titers of antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps, and varicella zoster virus (VZV) from Japanese adult patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) (n = 74), autologous HSCT (auto-HSCT) (n = 39), or chemotherapy (n = 93). The seropositive rates for measles, rubella, mumps, and VZV in allo-HSCT recipients were 20. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Apr 5;12(4). Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Trauma and Emergency (Anesthesia), All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India.

Herpes zoster is a clinical manifestation of reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia after a past primary infection. It can be associated with severe pain, a crop of vesicles in typical dermatomal distribution but the neuralgic pain persists long, making the patient uncomfortable and often disturbing patient's sleep. There are cases reported after trauma or post surgeries that are mainly related to organ transplant or malignancy. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2019 Mar 23;19(3):77-80. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

A 53-year-old immunocompetent male visited our hospital complaining of chest pain which persisted for 6 h. After detailed examination, the patient was diagnosed with viral pericarditis and treated with aspirin. On day 3 after admission, rash with blisters appeared on the right side of chest. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Pediatric Emergency Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Objectives: To evaluate the causes and management of acute ataxia (AA) in the paediatric emergency setting and to identify clinical features predictive of an underlying clinically urgent neurological pathology (CUNP).

Study Design: This is a retrospective medical chart analysis of children (1-18 years) attending to 11 paediatric emergency departments (EDs) for AA in an 8-year period. A logistic regression model was applied to identify clinical risk factors for CUNP. Read More

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, ON, Canada.

Shingles and its most common disabling complication, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), represents a serious public health challenge in the older population. The decline in the T-cell-mediated immune response to Varicella Zoster Virus after age 50 is clearly associated with increased risk of viral reactivation, causing an acutely painful zoster rash which may have a severe prodrome of dermatomal pain and persist as seriously debilitating PHN well beyond the resolution of the rash. However, new vaccines and adjuvants are being developed and trialed, and are now more effective in preventing shingles and the sequelae of PHN. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2019 Apr 3;19(1):87. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No.123, Dapi Rd., Niaosong Dist, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan.

Background: To report the epidemiology and clinical features of viral anterior uveitis in patients in southern Taiwan.

Methods: A retrospective, case series study. HLA-B27 negative anterior uveitis patients with increased intraocular pressure or corneal edema seen at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from January 1, 2007 to January 31, 2018 had their aqueous sent for polymerase chain reaction analysis. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Mar 31;12(3). Epub 2019 Mar 31.

Division of Pulmonaryand Critical Care Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.

The use of immunosuppressing agents can act as a catalyst for viral reactivation, promoting systemic infection with organ involvement. Current literature remains sparse on this topic but does provide individual case reports involving single viruses. We present the case of an immunocompromised patient with skin lesions, pancreatitis, colitis and hepatitis. Read More

Vaccine 2019 Apr 29;37(18):2482-2493. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

GSK, Wavre, Belgium. Electronic address:

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.

Methods: Adults aged ≥50 (ZOE-50) and ≥70 (ZOE-70) years were randomly vaccinated with RZV or placebo. Read More

Complement Ther Med 2019 Apr 22;43:81-84. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Ortenau Klinikum Offenburg und Gengenbach, Ebertplatz 12, 77654, Offenburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Objectives: To assess the value of bee products with respect to antiviral efficacy against herpes viruses.

Design: A systematic review was done using the JUSTfind System of the Justus-Liebig-University Gießen and Scopus.

Results: Three trials on honey and 6 trials on propolis were conducted. Read More

J Assoc Physicians India 2019 Jan;67(1):99

Pan Afr Med J 2018 13;31:30. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Service de Pédiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Mohamed VI, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Mohammed Premier, Oujda, Maroc.

Varicella is a rash illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It mainly affects children with usually a benign outcome. However, several complications of variable severity can be observed including bacterial infectious complications and neurological complications. Read More

Intern Med 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology & Respiratory Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.

A 43-year-old man with malignant lymphoma who had been treated with the C-MOPP regimen was admitted to our hospital with skin eruption. He was diagnosed to have varicella, and treatment with acyclovir and immune globulin was started. Chest computed tomography revealed multiple nodules in the both lung fields. Read More

J Virol 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Center for Molecular and Tumor Virology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932

The major immediate-early IE62 protein of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is delivered to newly infected cell nuclei, where it initiates VZV replication by transactivating viral immediate-early (IE), early (E), and late (L) genes. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is a potent cytokine produced following primary VZV infection. Furthermore, VZV reactivation correlates with a decline in IFN-γ-producing immune cells. Read More

Curr Med Res Opin 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

e Baycrest Health Sciences , Toronto , Canada.

Background: The Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) can reactivate later in life as Herpes Zoster infection (HZI), a severe disease resulting in painful complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The Herpes Zoster (HZ) vaccine has been indicated for use among adults 50 years and older for prevention of HZI. Currently, no clinical practice guideline or funding exists specifically for HZ immunization in long-term care facilities (LTCF) for adults age >60 years. Read More

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Mar;21(3):203-207

Division of Immunization Program, Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin 150056, China.

Objective: To investigate the level of IgG antibody to varicella in the healthy population aged 1-19 years in Harbin, China.

Methods: Random sampling was performed to select 1 203 healthy individuals aged 1-19 years in Harbin. According to age, they were divided into ≥1 years group (n=240), ≥4 years group (n=396), ≥7 years group (n=364) and 14-19 years group (n=203). Read More

Mil Med 2019 Mar;184(Supplement_1):126-132

Defense Health Agency-Immunization Healthcare Branch Regional Office, Building 1-2532 Armistead St, Fort Bragg, NC.

Herpes zoster (HZ, shingles) affects individuals (60+ years) by reactivation of varicella virus from primary infection. Approximately one-third of the general population will develop HZ and are at increased risk of stroke. Our objective was describing possible associations between self-reported HZ vaccination and stroke with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, a cross-sectional nationwide telephone survey. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Mar 20;12(3). Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Family Medicine, Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi, Michigan, USA.

A 43-year-old previously healthy man presented to the primary care clinic with concurrent ipsilateral viral parotitis and herpes zoster ophthalmicus. The patient experienced painful swelling below the right ear as well as painful vesicles on the right forehead, eyelid and cheek in the V1 dermatomal region. There were no lesions in the oral cavity or nose. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Mar 18;9(1):4743. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.

Interest is growing in the role of infectious agents in the pathogenesis of dementia, but current evidence is limited. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of any of eight human herpesviruses on development of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, Global Health, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, clinical trials registers and grey literature sources from inception to December 2017 for observational studies with cohort, case control or self-controlled designs, or randomised controlled trials of interventions against herpesviruses. Read More

J Int Med Res 2019 Mar 18:300060519833529. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

1 Department of Neurology, Hengshui People's Hospital, Hengshui, China.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) can invade the brainstem or brain via the glossopharyngeal, vagus , or facial nerve, resulting in brainstem inflammation or encephalitis. We report the case of a 66-year-old male patient with a primary manifestation of medulla injury of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, combined with a medulla lesion, who was misdiagnosed with lateral medullary syndrome. Facial nerve injury and earache subsequently occurred and human herpes virus 3 (VZV) was detected by second-generation sequencing of the cerebrospinal fluid. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuokashimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1193, Japan.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection sometimes result in visceral disseminated VZV infection (VD-VZV), which is a fulminant disease featured by abdominal pain and the absence of skin lesions, particularly occurs in the immunosuppressive patients. Brachial plexus neuritis (BPN) is another rare type of VZV infection usually appears without blisters. Few diagnostic images of both VD-VZV and BPN-VZV have been reported. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2019 03 14;15(3):e1007650. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a lymphotropic alpha-herpesvirinae subfamily member that produces varicella on primary infection and causes zoster, vascular disease and vision loss upon reactivation from latency. VZV-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) disseminate virus to distal organs to produce clinical disease. To assess immune evasion strategies elicited by VZV that may contribute to dissemination of infection, human PBMCs and VZV-specific CD8+ T cells (V-CD8+) were mock- or VZV-infected and analyzed for immunoinhibitory protein PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4, LAG-3 and TIM-3 expression using flow cytometry. Read More

Glycobiology 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Laboratorio de Glicobiología Humana y Diagnóstico Molecular; Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos. Av. Universidad 1001, Cuernavaca, México.

Certain viral infections are known to modify the glycosylation profile of infected cells through the overexpression of specific host cell fucosyltransferases (FUTs). Infection with CMV (cytomegalovirus), HCV (hepatitis C virus), HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type-1) and VZV (varicella-zoster virus) increase the expression of fucosylated epitopes, including antigens sLex (Siaα2-3 Galβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAcβ1-R) and Ley (Fucα1-2 Galβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAcβ1-R). The reorganization of the glycocalyx induced by viral infection may favor the spread of viral progeny, and alter diverse biological functions mediated by glycans, including recognition by the adaptive immune system. Read More

Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019 Mar 11. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan

Acyclovir (ACV) resistance-associated mutations in two recombinant herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) clones were compared. Recombinant HSV-1 lacking its thymidine kinase (TK) and expressing varicella-zoster virus (VZV) TK ectopically had no mutations in the VZV TK gene. By contrast, recombinant HSV-1 expressing HSV-1 TK ectopically harbored mutations in the HSV-1 TK gene. Read More

J Clin Virol 2019 Apr 2;113:35-38. Epub 2019 Mar 2.

Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association, Canada; The Ottawa Hospital/The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Molecular methods enable more rapid and sensitive detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) than viral culture.

Objective: Three commercial molecular methods, all of which detect both HSV-1 and HSV-2, were compared to viral culture for the detection of HSV from swab specimens.

Study Design: Pediatric and adult patient viral swab specimens were cultured for HSV. Read More

Chin Med J (Engl) 2019 Mar;132(6):659-663

Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.

Background: Herpes virus is considered to be the pathogen of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) infection. Previous studies have found that patients with ARN caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are often older, and patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) induced ARN are considerably younger. However, in our clinical work, we find that VZV is also a pathogen in younger ARN patients. Read More

J Neurovirol 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Clinical Science Graduate Program, University of Colorado Graduate School, Aurora, CO, USA.

To evaluate the infectious etiologies, clinical features, and outcomes of patients with CNS infections at a tertiary care center. Patients that present with a pleocytosis in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), defined as a CSF WBC count > 5 cells/mm, from July 2015 to June 2016 at a tertiary care hospital were analyzed for this report. Data from patients with confirmed (n = 43) and presumed (n = 51) CNS infections were analyzed. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2019 Feb 18;7(2):268-271. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Pediatrics ZNA Queen Paola Children's Hospital Antwerp Belgium.

When a previously healthy child presents to the hospital with a stroke, generally a Varicella zoster virus vasculopathy seems most likely. However, other causes of a local cerebral vasculitis are possible and need to be explored. Read More

BMC Med Res Methodol 2019 Mar 7;19(1):51. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Centre for Health Economics Research and Modelling Infectious Diseases (CHERMID), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

Background: Our work was motivated by the need to, given serum availability and/or financial resources, decide on which samples to test in a serum bank for different pathogens. Simulation-based sample size calculations were performed to determine the age-based sampling structures and optimal allocation of a given number of samples for testing across various age groups best suited to estimate key epidemiological parameters (e.g. Read More

Eye Contact Lens 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Department of Ophthalmology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of both chickenpox and Herpes zoster (HZ). In the United States, there are around one million cases of HZ per year. Ten percent of HZ cases are subtyped as herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) specifically and involve the V1 distribution. Read More

J Urol 2019 Feb 8:101097JU0000000000000155. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Urology, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center , Burlington , Massachusetts.

Purpose: We evaluated the pathophysiology of lichen sclerosus and nonlichen sclerosus urethral stricture disease by comparing protein expression related to inflammation, cell cycle disruption, oxidative stress, hormone receptor status and infection.

Materials And Methods: Tissue samples were collected from the urethral strictures of 81 patients undergoing urethroplasty. Clinical and demographic data were obtained by chart review. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora.

Background: In temporal arteries (TAs) from giant cell arteritis patients, varicella zoster virus (VZV) is seen in perineurial cells that surround adventitial nerve bundles and form the peripheral nerve-extrafascicular tissue barrier (perineurium). We hypothesized that during VZV reactivation from ganglia, virus travels transaxonally and disrupts the perineurium to infect surrounding cells.

Methods: Mock- and VZV-infected primary human perineurial cells (HPNCs) were examined for alterations in claudin-1, E-cadherin and N-cadherin. Read More

Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2018 Jul-Dec;8(2):161-162. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV), that attacks peripheral or cranial nerves and result in painful cutaneous inflammation. Boceprevir is a protease inhibitor which used as a new therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis C infection. Boceprevir associated herpes zoster is extremely rare condition. Read More

Vaccine 2019 Apr 28;37(15):2131-2141. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Integrated Bioscience and Biotechnology, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a neurotropic and lymphotropic alpha herpesvirus that causes varicella and herpes zoster (HZ). At a primary infection, VZV causes varicella in young children. Reactivation of latent VZV in sensory ganglia causes painful HZ in elderly people, occasionally leading to a serious complication, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

From the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Address correspondence to Robert F. Padera, Jr., MD, PhD, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115. e-mail:

Objective: A variety of infectious agents, including varicella zoster virus (VZV), have been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). The detectability of the virus in patients with GCA has been controversial. To further investigate an association between GCA and VZV infection, ten years of GCA cases were evaluated for VZV by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Read More

J Ophthalmic Vis Res 2019 Jan-Mar;14(1):97-100

Department of Ophthalmology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Purpose: To report the unusual case of an immunocompetent individual with herpes zoster ophthalmicus who developed central retinal artery occlusion and subsequent neovascular glaucoma.

Case Report: A 40-year-old, immunocompetent patient was diagnosed with herpes zoster ophthalmicus and central retinal artery occlusion on initial presentation. Subsequently, he developed neovascular glaucoma. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2019 Feb 29;6(2):ofz041. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche and Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.

Background: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is a lymphotropic and vasculotropic herpesvirus with potential pro-atherogenic effects. We explored the influence of coinfection with HHV-8 and other herpesviruses on the rate of progression of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in virologically suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods: Prospective cohort study including men who have sex with men (MSM) infected with HIV. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 Mar;33(3):283-284;288

Ramsey-Hunt syndrome is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which mainly affects the facial nerve. The typical clinical features of Ramsey-Hunt syndrome are peripheral facial paralysis and ear herpes. In this case, initial symptoms were hoarseness and coughing, afterwards typical symptom occurred 5 days later which were earache, late-onset herpes, and facial paralysis. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Feb 22;20(4). Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 41346 Gothenburg, Sweden.

A recombinant subunit vaccine (Shingrix) was recently licensed for use against herpes zoster. This vaccine is based on glycoprotein E (gE) of varicella zoster virus (VZV), the most abundantly expressed protein of VZV, harboring sites for N- and O-linked glycosylation. The subunit vaccine elicits stronger virus-specific CD4+ T cell response as well as antibody B cell response to gE, compared to the currently used live attenuated vaccine (Zostavax). Read More

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.

We shortly discuss a possible contribution of insulin-degrading enzyme to Alzheimer´s disease pathology by binding varicella zoster virus glycoprotein E, which increases the infectivity and cell-cell spread of the virus. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2019 Feb 26:1-11. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

a Department of Ophthalmology , Peking University Third Hospital , Beijing , China.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal ganciclovir (GCV) injection in refractory endotheliitis.

Methods: Retrospectively recruited 25 eyes with endotheliitis, proved by clinical manifestations, positive PCR for viral DNA and responded poor to topical and systemic antiviral medications. All patients received additional continued intravitreal GCV injections. Read More

Aging Clin Exp Res 2019 Mar 25;31(3):301-307. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

CNR Aging Branch-NI, Padova, Italy.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful cutaneous rash with vesicular lesions, lasting up to 3 weeks, and caused by reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus (VZV). It may be associated with complications, the most feared being post-herpetic neuralgia. Effective vaccines are available to prevent HZ, but uptake remains low. Read More