We examined the effect of three types of Kampo medicines on human cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication in the human embryonic fibroblast cell line, MRC-5. Treatment of cells with at least 0.01 mug/ml of Kampo medicines inhibited the cytopathic effects of CMV-infected MRC-5 cells. Moreover, Kampo medicine decreased the replication of CMV without affecting the inhibition of host cells, with a concom...

Background: Common clinical manifestations of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection include flu-like symptoms with fever, diarrhea, leukopenia, and elevated liver enzymes. Diagnosis is made by detection of the virus by buffy-coat blood culture or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Methods: Here we describe a women renal transplant recipient who presented with acalculous cholecystitis with C...

We evaluated six commercially available DNA extraction kits for their ability to recover DNA from various dilutions of cytomegalovirus (CMV) added to four different specimens: bronchoalveolar lavage, cerebral spinal fluid, plasma, and whole blood. The kits evaluated included the Puregene DNA isolation kit (PG), Generation Capture Column kit, MasterPure DNA purification kit, IsoQuick nucleic aci...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Despite increasing intensity and profound immunosuppression associated with newer therapies for hematologic malignancies, little information exists regarding cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in settings other than allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). DESIGN AND METHODS We reviewed the epidemiology of CMV disease in patients who were CMV polymerase chain reac...

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pregnant women at the end of pregnancy in Kuwait using cord blood and maternal urine. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Urine samples were collected prior to childbirth, and cord blood was collected immediately after delivery from 983 women. Anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were determined using...

BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus (CMV) load measurement is used to assess the efficacy of treatment of CMV disease, but lacks standardization. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) international standard for reporting, we correlated viral load with CMV disease resolution. METHODS CMV load was quantified in plasma using a test calibrated to the WHO standard. Three predictive rules were predefine...

OBJECTIVE Postnatal HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) occurs in spite of antiretroviral therapy. Co-infections in breast milk with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are associated with increased HIV-1 shedding in this compartment. We investigated CMV levels and EBV detection in breast milk as potential risk factors for MTCT of HIV-1 via breastfeeding. METHODS Cell-fre...

Recently, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, the DNA of cytomegalovirus was detected from depigmented white patches in patients with vitiligo. The reactivation of infection and occasional anti-CMV IgM circulating among patients infected by cytomegalovirus has been reported for years. We have studied 26 patients with clinical signs and symptoms of vitiligo, some of whom had a ...

Background: Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammation of the central nervous system in which autoantibodies are released against Aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), astrocytic water channels. The disease is characterized by transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. Viruses could be inflammatory agents in the brain. Due to such inflammatory reactions, autoantibodies would cross the blood brain bar...

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common among infants of HIV-infected mothers in resource-limited settings. We examined the prevalence and timing of infant CMV infection during the first year of life using IgG antibody and avidity among HIV-exposed infants in Malawi and correlated the results with the presence of detectable CMV DNA in the blood. The Breastfeeding, Antiretrovirals and Nutritio...