We report a case of a 45-year old Filipino post-kidney transplant patient maintained on steroids, who presented with floaters in her left eye. Vitreous aspirate was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). A distinct band (435 bp) was found that confirmed the presence of HCMV. Since a rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial ...

Cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 226 patients with suspected viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the most frequent viruses involved in these infections. A positive PCR result was obtained in 18 patients (7 cases positive for herpes simplex viruses, 5 for enterovirus, 3 for JC virus, 2 for varicella-zoster virus, and 1...

INTRODUCTION Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) are responsible for a variety of human diseases, including central nervous system diseases. The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques on cerebrospinal fluid samples has allowed the detection of viral DNA with high sensitivity and specificity. METHODS Serial dilutions of quantified commercial controls of each ...

Primary ocular herpes is usually seen as a follicular conjunctivitis and blepharitis, with or without involvement of the cornea. It is unknown, however, to what extent asymptomatic and/or subclinical primary disease occurs, and whether primary ocular herpes follows direct droplet spread to the eye. Previous models of murine ocular herpes have used trauma (scarification) to introduce virus into ...

OBJECTIVE Viruses have a role in the pathogenesis of various forms of arthritis. This study aimed at determining whether viral DNA can be detected in joint samples in the early stages of idiopathic arthritides. METHODS Synovial fluid (SF) and synovial tissue (ST) samples were obtained from 73 patients, with undifferentiated arthritis (n=22), rheumatoid arthritis (n=13), spondyloarthropathy (n...

OBJECTIVE To define the clinicopathologic features of eyelid involvement in Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS). METHODS Four patients with eyelid edema consistent with MRS were evaluated clinically, including diagnostic imaging in 2 patients. Eyelid tissue from these patients was examined by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Polymerase chain reaction for herpes simplex virus was per...

A guanine derivative with an acyclic side chain, 2-hydroxyethoxymethyl, at position 9 has potent antiviral activity [dose for 50% inhibition (ED(50)) = 0.1 muM] against herpes simplex virus type 1. This acyclic nucleoside analog, termed acycloguanosine, is converted to a monophosphate by a virus-specified pyrimidine deoxynucleoside (thymidine) kinase and is subsequently converted to acycloguano...

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a broad spectrum of diseases, mainly because of its genomic characteristics, which result in different latency patterns in immune cells and infective mechanisms. The patient described in this report is a previously healthy young man who presented to the emergency department with clinical features consistent with meningitis and genital ulcers, whic...

Recent evidence on neoplastic changes of limbal stem cells and molecular genetic abnormalities in pterygium suggested that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation may promote its development. In addition, the presence of oncogenic viruses including Human papillomavirus (HPV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) or Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in pterygium has been reported by...