Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.6.1.2 (alanine aminotransferase)
26,722 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis is rare in adults, usually occurring in immunocompromised individuals and in otherwise healthy women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Three cases of HSV hepatitis occurring in pregnant women were diagnosed at our institution between 1981 and 1990. This diagnosis was not suspected clinically, and in each case was made on the basis of histology, immunoperoxidase studies, and viral cultures of liver tissue. Clinically, the patients had severe anicteric liver failure with markedly elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels; two of the three patients died. None had mucocutaneous lesions at the time of diagnosis. Histologically, two distinct patterns of necrosis and inflammation were seen. Two of the cases had well-demarcated foci of necrosis scattered randomly throughout the lobules with neutrophilic infiltration, giving the impression of abscess formation. Hepatocytes at the periphery of these areas of necrosis had enlarged nuclei with "ground-glass" inclusions; however, no Cowdry type A inclusions were seen. Rare multinucleated cells were present. Immunoperoxidase staining using antibodies to HSV was positive primarily in the hepatocytes with inclusions. The third case had diffuse, almost total hepatic necrosis with no viral inclusions and virtually no inflammatory response. This histologic pattern is similar to that seen in neonates with HSV infection. Immunoperoxidase studies in this case were negative; however, viral cultures were positive. While HSV hepatitis may be suspected or diagnosed on the basis of histology alone, viral cultures are an important adjunct since viral inclusions may be absent. Prompt diagnosis is important since antiviral therapy is now available.
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PMID:Herpes simplex virus hepatitis in pregnancy: a clinicopathologic study of three cases. 174 Mar 3

A 17-year-old male patient with T-cell type lymphoblastic lymphoma in complete remission underwent high dose chemotherapy (busulfan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). The patient had been taking oral acyclovir (200 mg x 5) daily from seven days prior to the ABMT (day -7). On day +24, he complained of epigastralgia and general malaise, and the next day his GOT and GPT rose to 570 U/l and 397 U/l, respectively. Although he had no mucocutaneous lesions, hepatitis caused by a herpes virus was suspected, and high dose intravenous acyclovir (10 mg/kg x 3/day) was immediately started. His GOT, GPT and total bilirubin reached peaks of 2,870 U/l on day +26, 1,830 U/l on day +27 and 10.3 mg/dl on day +39, respectively, and rapidly improved thereafter. Serological analyses on IgG antibody titers to herpes simplex virus type 1 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed specific increases (454-fold before transplantation to 3,830-fold on day +46). Antiviral antibody titers to cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus and Epstein-Barr virus showed no significant changes. The serologic markers of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis A virus and hepatitis C virus were all negative. The results indicate the patient's severe icteric hepatitis to have been caused by a reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 due to immunosuppression after high dose chemotherapy with ABMT. It is suggested that prompt commencement of high dose intravenous acyclovir is required to treat severe herpes simplex virus hepatitis affecting immunocompromised patients.
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PMID:Severe herpes simplex virus hepatitis following autologous bone marrow transplantation: successful treatment with high dose intravenous acyclovir. 175 18

Although case reports of herpes simplex virus (HSV) causing acute hepatitis in otherwise healthy adults have appeared recently in the literature, a prospective study of the incidence of HSV-hepatitis in the general population hitherto has not been reported. In the present study, serum samples from 124 young adults attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic with either genital herpes infections (n = 86) or non-herpes sexually transmitted diseases (n = 38) (controls) were analyzed for liver enzyme abnormalities (including aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]). Twelve of eighty-six (14%) herpes-infected patients had mildly abnormal liver enzyme tests (less than or equal to twice the upper limit of normal) as opposed to only 1 of 38 controls (2.6%), (P less than .05). All individuals in the herpes-hepatitis group were anicteric, and only two complained of constitutional symptoms (malaise and fatigue). Liver enzyme tests were repeated in nine herpes-hepatitis patients 1 week after their genital lesions had resolved, and in six of nine patients the results had returned to within normal limits. Four patients subsequently returned at the onset of a recurrence of their genital herpes. In all four, serum ALT levels were elevated from the previous occasion, and in three of the four levels just exceeded the upper limit of normal. One patient was followed through three recurrences of his genital herpes. In that individual, the extent of liver enzyme abnormalities appeared to correlate with the presence or absence of his genital lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Genital herpes and hepatitis in healthy young adults. 301 68

We encountered a case which proved to be a mixed infection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2 in retrospective terms by in situ hybridization (ISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The case was a male. The gestational age was 39 weeks and 2 days. The birth body weight was 3024 g. A fever developed from the age of 6 days and he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the age of eight days. AST was 1042 IU/L, and ALT 206 IU/L. In spite of treatment, the patient died at the age of 12 days. Using paraffin embedded tissues, we performed the ISH and PCR on the cerebrum, lungs, liver, spleen, bone marrow, adrenal gland, and kidneys. With the ISH, the lungs, liver, spleen and adrenal gland were both HSV type 1 and type 2. With the PCR, only the liver was positive for type 1, and the lungs, liver, spleen, and adrenal gland were positive for type 2. In the ISH, a probe showing a cross reaction between type 1 and type 2 was used for type 1 probe this time. But a type 2 probe and PCR did not show a cross reaction. We concluded that this case confirmed the presence of mixed infection (HSV type 1 and type 2) in neonatal HSV infection.
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PMID:[A case of neonatal herpes infection which proved to be a mixed infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2]. 874 14

The compound 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) is a potent inhibitor of a number of viruses in vitro such as human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus. PMEA also proved to be effective in vivo against feline immunodeficiency virus in cats and simian immunodeficiency virus in rhesus monkeys. In an open, non-placebo-controlled trial, the safety of weekly doses of PMEA in 10 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex was studied for a period of 11 weeks. CD4+ T-cell counts at baseline were between 10 and 450/mm(3). The drug was administered intravenously at a dose of 1000 mg. No serious side-effects were seen. On one occasion one patient showed alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels 5 times higher than the upper limit of normal and another patient showed on one occasion aspartate aminotransferase levels 5 times higher than the upper limit of normal. In another patient serum amalyse levels increased, on one occasion 1.5 times above the upper limit of normal. An improvement in general well-being was reported by all patients. For patients with a CD4+ T-cell count > 100/mm(3) at baseline, the CD4+ T-cell count increased from a mean of 283/mm(3) at baseline to a mean of 448/mm(3) at the end of the study. Repeat infusions of PMEA at a dose of 1000 mg were safe and well tolerated. Our results suggest that PMEA, administrated according to this treatment schedule, may be effective in treating patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
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PMID:Safety of 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: a pilot study. 886 29

Despite hepatitis B immunoprophylaxis hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence is a frequent and often fatal complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The purine nucleoside analogues penciclovir and its oral form famciclovir (FCV) proved to be well tolerated and effective against herpes simplex and zoster virus infections. In addition, an effective reduction of duck and human HBV replication was observed. Therefore, we conducted an uncontrolled pilot study of famciclovir in patients with HBV recurrence after OLT. Twelve patients have received famciclovir for at least 3 months in an open compassionate-use protocol. FCV was administered orally 500 mg three times a day for all patients (except one patient who was started on 750 mg three times a day for the first 2 weeks). Immediately after starting famciclovir, serum HBV DNA levels declined in 9 of 12 patients (75%) with a mean reduction from baseline levels of 80% after 3 months, 90% after 6 months, and > 95% after 12 months of treatment. With continued treatment, 5 of these 9 patients became negative by conventional hybridization assay, and in one of these HBV DNA became undetectable by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 28 weeks after the start of treatment. Three patients showed no (sustained) reduction in HBV DNA after at least 3 months of treatment; therefore, FCV was stopped. Latest serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels decreased in 6 of 12 patients (50%) with a median decrease of 80% (range, 40%-95%) in comparison to pretreatment ALT values. ALT levels normalized in 4 patients (33%). One patient died due to sepsis and peritonitis in week 13 of treatment. This event was not related to FCV. No clinically significant side effects were noticed in any patient. The oral nucleoside analog famciclovir reduces HBV replication and transaminase levels in patients with HBV recurrence after liver transplantation. Because long-term FCV treatment is well tolerated, famciclovir appears to be a promising antiviral strategy in the treatment of HBV in immunocompromised patients.
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PMID:Famciclovir treatment of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation: a pilot study. 934 58

Herpes simplex-induced fulminant hepatitis is an infrequently reported cause of hepatitis in adults. Pregnant females and patients with impaired cellular immunity may be at increased risk, although healthy adults have been affected. The diagnosis may be underrecognized due to nonspecific presenting symptoms and lack of typical cutaneous herpes lesions. We present three cases of fatal herpes simplex fulminant hepatitis. Our review of case reports of herpes simplex hepatitis in adults demonstrates improved survival with intravenous acyclovir therapy. We believe that empiric use of acyclovir should be considered while the diagnostic evaluation of non-acetaminophen-induced fulminant hepatitis is underway. Recognition of characteristic liver function abnormalities seen with fulminant herpes simplex hepatitis include marked elevation of transaminases with AST > ALT and a mild hyperbilirubinemia (anicteric hepatitis), and they should prompt acyclovir therapy. This is especially true when there are no obvious risk factors for other forms of hepatitis.
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PMID:Herpes simplex-induced fulminant hepatitis in adults: a call for empiric therapy. 1125 65

Contrary to the present practice of measurement of cardio-vascular risk factors or inflammatory risk factors such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP) from a blood sample from the vein of one arm, by using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test Resonance Phenomena between 2 identical substances, one can non-invasively detect the approximate location on the body of abnormally increased risk factors in just 2 minutes, by detecting the resonance with L-Homocystine, even when blood CRP failed to detect any abnormality. This is performed by projecting a 0.5 to approximately 5mW red spectral laser beam with 560-670nm wavelength, to at least 6 standard parts of the body, when one of the control risk markers placed next to the laser beam also exists in the part of the body tested. It is generally believed that CRP is increased in the presence of acute myocardial infarct, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, metabolic abnormalities such as often detected in diabetes, inflammation and underlying infection of the cardio-vascular system, and in some cancers. However, in our study, when the clinical significance of CRP and L-Homocystine was compared, we found that CRP often was not increased when there was extensive infection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis as well as asymptomatic infection by Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus Type I, Human Herpes Virus Type 6, Borrelia Burgdorferi, or Chlamydia Trachomatis in the heart (and other parts of the body), particularly when there was liver cell dysfunction such as an increase in ALT. In contrast, L-Homocystine was often increased in the presence of localized infections of the heart and other parts of the body. For screening of Cardio-Vascular diseases by this method, 0.5mg of L-Homocystine as a control marker was found to be the most sensitive and reliable, compared with most effective amount of CRP, 0.5ng, for detecting early Cardio-Vascular problems due to various localized infections. About 0.5ng of cardiac Troponin T and cardiac Troponin I were also useful for detecting early stages of heart disease but they are not as sensitive as L-Homocystine. Once the pathogenic factors were identified, the effective medication was given, and the Selective Drug Uptake Enhancement Method (originally discovered by the first author in 1990) was applied after the effective drug was administered, to selectively deliver the medication to the pathological area, while reducing drug uptake to the normal parts of the body. As a result, the therapeutic effect was markedly accelerated.
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PMID:2 minute non-invasive screening for cardio-vascular diseases: relative limitation of C-Reactive Protein compared with more sensitive L-Homocystine as cardio-vascular risk factors; safe and effective treatment using the selective drug uptake enhancement method. 1293 59

Suicide gene expression in specific tissue of transgenic animals has been used for cell-specific ablation. To examine the influence of hepatocyte removal, we produced the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) transgenic rat, whose gene was regulated by an albumin enhancer promoter. The liver presence of HSVtk was demonstrated in one line of the transgenic rats. We injected ganciclovir (GCV, 50mg/kg) into the rat on alternate days. After 28 days of GCV administration, liver tissues, and blood of the rats were collected. The histological investigation revealed infiltration of T cells, macrophages, granulocytes/neutrophils, and hepatocyte cell death. The biochemistry analysis demonstrated elevated levels of AST, ALT, and total bilirubin in transgenic rat. In conclusion, the transgenic rat with expressed albumin-specific HSVtk developed experimental hepatitis with administration of GCV, and will be a useful model to facilitate the evaluation of drug effects for clinical control of liver disease.
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PMID:Inducible liver injury in the transgenic rat by expressing liver-specific suicide gene. 1462 69

In recent years preclinical and clinical studies have been undertaken with selected monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) either alone or coniugated to toxins in patients with several lymphoid malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) and hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Two MoAbs, directed against CD20 antigen (Rituximab, RIT) and CD52 antigen (Campath-1H, alemtuzumab, ALT) demonstrate significant activity in CLL. The most notable success to data has been achieved with ALT, both in previously treated and untreated patients with CLL. ALT is a humanized rat IgG1 antibody that binds to the cell membrane of virtually all normal as well as malignant lymphocytes. In the vast majority of CLL patients ALT causes constant reduction of abnormal blood lymphocytes, usually in less than 4 weeks, and disappearance of CD5/CD19 co-expression cells from blood. The regression of lymphoid infiltration from other sites is less clear. ALT is also highly active in patients with CLL in progression, even refractory to fludarabine (FA). Hematological toxicity, especially long-lasting lymphocytopenia, was noted in the majority of patients. The most important clinical side effects of ALT treatment were infections, mainly herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus reactivation. RIT is also active in CLL in conventional doses. However some studies suggest that higher doses are more effective than standard doses, used routinely in other lymphoid malignancies. The activity of ALT and RIT in CLL patients resistant to FA and their synergistic interactions with cytotoxic drugs suggests that a combination of these agents may lead to further progress in the treatment of this disease. The T-cell variant of PLL has demonstrated impressive responses to ALT in several trials even if the patients were refractory to deoxycoformycin (DCF) and other agents. However, this MoAb is not curative, because all patients eventually relapsed. Consequently, treatment with ALT may need to be associated with stem cell transplantation to consolidate and maintain long-term remissions. Recently anti-CD22 and anti-CD25 immunotoxins have been investigated in purine analogues refractory or relapsed HCL. The presented results indicate that these agents are highly active and well tolerated even if the patients were resistant to 2-CdA or DCF.
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PMID:Monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of chronic lymphoid leukemias. 1510 4


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