Reye's syndrome affects children with a history of viral infection treated with aspirin. Its pathogenesis is unclear. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is released by macrophages activated by viral infection, endotoxin, and phagocytosis, and it has been shown to be a mediator of the toxic and metabolic effects of endotoxaemia. The metabolic effects of endotoxin and TNF are similar to those found in ...

Acetylsalicylic acid is a frequently used medication worldwide. It is not used in pediatrics due its association with Reye syndrome. However, in case of pediatric intoxication, children are more fragile to salicylate poisoning because of their reduced ability of buffer the acid stress. Intoxication leads to a decoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and subsequently to a loss in mitochondrial fu...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Adenovirus is a common pathogen in the pediatric population. Respiratory, gastrointestinal, or renal systems are often involved in adenovirus infections. Several neurologic syndromes have been attributed to adenovirus, such as adenovirus aseptic meningitis, myelitis, subacute focal encephalitis, and Reye-like syndrome. The purpose of this study was to describe the clini...

C ellular mitochondria play important roles in the production of energy required by human cells, thermogenesis, calcium and iron homeostasis, innate immune responses, production of reactive oxygen species, and programmed cell death (apoptosis). Approximately 1000 nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins have been identified to date. A mutation in any of these genes has the potential to giv...

Avian influenza virus was not known to cause systemic infection in humans before. We report a 3-year-old boy with good past health who developed pneumonia caused by H5N1 avian influenza A virus (A/Hong Kong/156/97). The virus was isolated from a tracheal aspirate. There were complications of Reye's syndrome, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple organ system failure. He had a histor...

Systemic primary carnitine deficiency (CDSP, OMIM 212140) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by low serum and intracellular concentrations of carnitine. CDSP may present with acute metabolic derangement simulating Reye's syndrome within the first 2 years of life. After 3 years of age, patients with CDSP may present with cardiomyopathy and muscle weakness. A linkage with D5S436 in 5...

Hyperammonemia is a key factor in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) as well as other metabolic encephalopathies, such as those associated with inherited disorders of urea cycle enzymes and in Reye's syndrome. Acute HE results in increased brain ammonia (up to 5 mM), astrocytic swelling, and altered glutamatergic function. In the present study, using fluorescence imaging techniques...

Viral infections and antiviral responses have been linked to several metabolic diseases, including Reye's syndrome, which is aspirin-induced hepatotoxicity in the context of a viral infection. We identify an interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)-dependent but type I interferon-independent pathway that strongly inhibits the expression of retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) and suppresses the in...

BACKGROUND Human infection with an avian influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) was reported recently in Hong Kong. We describe the clinical presentation of the first 12 patients and options for rapid viral diagnosis. METHODS Case notes of 12 patients with virus-culture-confirmed influenza A H5N1 infection were analysed. The clinical presentation and risk factors associated with severe disease were...