Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0022568 (keratitis)
 5,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This article describes the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and varicella zoster virus DNA in situ hybridization of 14 corneal buttons obtained from 14 patients (average age 69.0 years) after perforating keratoplasty (four patients) or surgical enucleation (10 patients) at different times after the clinical onset of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (average 58.7 months). The main histopathologic features were intense stromal vascular scarring (12 patients) and granulomatous reaction to Descemet's membrane (nine patients). Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, varicella zoster virus (VZV) antigen could be detected by immunohistochemistry in two patients within epithelial cells of the cornea and in the limbal episclera during the active phase of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. For in situ hybridization we used the 35S-labeled HindIII A and C fragment of VZV and identified viral DNA in five corneal buttons obtained 1 day to 8 years after the clinical onset of infection. Viral DNA was mainly found in mononuclear cells with eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions within vascular stromal scars, in keratocytes, and in epithelial cells of the cornea. Our results show that VZV DNA is detectable in human cornea even 8 years after the clinical onset of herpes zoster ophthalmicus and may indicate VZV persistence in a latent form in corneal tissue or reactivation of the virus from an endogenous or exogenous source causing a severe and often recurrent keratitis in the progress of herpes zoster ophthalmicus.
 ...
PMID:Detection of varicella zoster virus DNA and viral antigen in human cornea after herpes zoster ophthalmicus. 838 87

We report the frequency and type of infectious ocular complications following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and review diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. During the period September 1988 through November 1994, 684 patients underwent OLT at Mount Sinai Hospital (New York). Nine orthotopic liver transplant patients (1.3%) developed ocular infections: Candida albicans endophthalmitis (2), Aspergillus fumigatus endophthalmitis (1), cytomegalovirus retinitis (4), herpes simplex virus keratitis (1), and varicella-zoster virus panophthalmitis (1). The mean time from OLT to ocular symptoms was 42 days for patients with fungal infections and 128 days for patients with viral infections. Blurred vision was the commonest symptom (five of nine cases). The mean duration of follow-up was 2 years (range, 33 days to 5 years). Permanent loss of vision occurred in three patients, five had improvement in visual acuity, and one died of disseminated aspergillosis 33 days after OLT. Infectious ocular complications following OLT may occur as isolated events or with disseminated disease. Fungal infections occur earlier (mean, 42 days after OLT) than viral infections (mean, 4 months after OLT). The clinical presentation may be atypical; aggressive vitreoretinal procedures and serial examinations may be required to establish the diagnosis. Cytomegalovirus retinitis in orthotopic liver transplant patients may not require life-long maintenance therapy with antiviral agents.
 ...
PMID:Infectious ocular complications in orthotopic liver transplant patients. 919 78

The modern local antibiotics, such as the aminoglycosides and quinolones, are very successful in treating infectious conjunctivitis and keratitis. More notably in some Third World countries, however, suppurative keratitis is found in more than half of the infectious disease cases caused by Fusarium species. Here, of course, treatment should be antifungal. The emergence of some problematic microorganisms is related to contact lens wear. Pseudomonas, for example, have the ability to adhere to contact lenses and thus form microcolonies, which are protected by biofilm that predisposes to infection. Acanthamoeba infections of the cornea are a direct consequence of inappropriate or inadequate disinfection of contact lens systems. Occasionally the diagnosis of herpes simplex manifestations of the outer eye can be very difficult. Even more confusing is the delayed appearance of zoster manifestations, such as pseudodendrites, particularly in cases of zoster sine herpete eruptione. The polymerase chain reaction is of particular value in demonstrating the presence of varicella zoster DNA. Although infectious disease of the outer eye remains common, the incidence and complications have increased because of frequent use of antimicrobial agents. In the under-developed areas of the world, however, infections are still very common, are frequently caused by fungi, and are the cause of serious ocular complications. In the Western World infectious eye disease does not seem to be a major diagnostic or therapeutic point at present. Some organisms that have been in the environment all along, however, have emerged in the past half century as a major problem. Thus, in the past years a number of new techniques in diagnosis as well as new insights in pathophysiology and new developments in treatment have emerged that are of interest.
 ...
PMID:Infectious diseases of the conjunctiva and cornea. 1016 42

A protein of 10,425 Da was purified from the edible mushroom Rozites caperata and shown to inhibit herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 replication with an IC50 value of < or = 5 microM. The protein designated RC-183 also significantly reduced the severity of HSV-1 induced ocular disease in a murine model of keratitis, indicating in vivo efficacy. HSV mutants lacking ribonucleotide reductase and thymidine kinase were also inhibited, suggesting the mechanism does not involve these viral enzymes. Antiviral activity was also seen against varicella zoster virus, influenza A virus, and respiratory syncytial virus, but not against adenovirus type VI, coxsackie viruses A9 and B5, or human immunodeficiency virus. Characterization of RC-183 by mass spectroscopy, sequencing, and other methods suggests it is composed of a peptide (12 or 13 mer) coupled to ubiquitin via an isopeptide bond between the c-terminal glycine of ubiquitin and the epsilon amino group of a lysine residue in the peptide. The peptide sequence did not match any known sequence. Thus, RC-183 is a novel antiviral that may have clinical utility or serve as a lead compound for further development. Determining the mechanism of action may lead to identification of novel steps in viral replication.
 ...
PMID:Isolation and partial characterization of an antiviral, RC-183, from the edible mushroom Rozites caperata. 1051 9

Chicken pox is a very common infectious disease in children. Its corneal involvement is less serious than with measles, which may lead to blindness in numerous developing countries. However, with occasional cases occur. A case of a 59-year-old male patient whose left cornea was involved during a chicken pox infection at the age of 7 is reported. More recently, the vision of the right eye was normal at 20/20 and reduced to visual perception in the affected left eye. Corneal sensitivity was maintained in the left eye, which, however exhibited a central epithelial defect. A central round opacity of the left corneal stroma was believed to be the scar resulting from a previous disciform keratitis. The left central cornea was thinned and there was neither an anterior chamber flare nor new corneal vessels. This corneal condition required a corneal allograft, performed quickly because of the potential risk of perforation. Histopathological study of the corneal button showed a central corneal thinning with an increase in epithelial thickness. The corneal stroma was disorganized, with irregular collagen bundles. No inflammatory cells could be observed, however. All the histopathological changes observed were those of a corneal scar.
 ...
PMID:[Followup of chicken pox keratitis. Anatomic-clinical case report]. 1239 39

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus occurs when the varicella-zoster virus is reactivated in the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus represents up to one fourth of all cases of herpes zoster. Most patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus present with a periorbital vesicular rash distributed according to the affected dermatome. A minority of patients may also develop conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis, and ocular cranial-nerve palsies. Permanent sequelae of ophthalmic zoster infection may include chronic ocular inflammation, loss of vision, and debilitating pain. Antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famcidovir remain the mainstay of therapy and are most effective in preventing ocular involvement when begun within 72 hours after the onset of the rash. Timely diagnosis and management of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. with referral to an ophthalmologist when ophthalmic involvement is present, are critical in limiting visual morbidity.
 ...
PMID:Evaluation and management of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. 1244 71

It is usual to consider chicken pox as a benign infectious disease with a few anterior segment ocular complications like conjunctivitis, keratitis, episcleritis, scleritis, iridocyclitis, and glaucoma. The retinal manifestations are necrotising retinitis, vitritis, neuroretinitis, and retinal detachments. We report a case of neuroretinitis following chicken pox in a 23-year-old male. The complication was resolved by treatment with oral acyclovir in combination with systemic steroids. This report highlights the necessity for fundus examination in cases of chickenpox exhibiting visual symptoms.
 ...
PMID:Resolution of chicken pox neuroretinitis with oral acyclovir: a case report. 1470 4

(E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU, Brivudin, Zostex, Zerpex, Zonavir), now more than 20 years after its discovery, still stands out as a highly potent and selective inhibitor of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections. It has been used in the topical treatment of herpetic keratitis and recurrent herpes labialis and the systemic (oral) treatment of herpes zoster (zona, shingles). The high selectivity of BVDU towards HSV-1 and VZV depends primarily on a specific phosphorylation of BVDU to its 5'-diphosphate (DP) by the virus-encoded thymidine kinase (TK). After further phosphorylation (by cellular enzymes), to the 5'-triphosphate (TP), the compound interferes as a competitive inhibitor/alternate substrate with the viral DNA polymerase. The specific phosphorylation by the HSV- and VZV-induced TK also explains the marked cytostatic activity of BVDU against tumor cells that have been transduced by the viral TK genes. This finding offers considerable potential in a combined gene therapy/chemotherapy approach for cancer. To the extent that BVDU or its analogues (i.e., BVaraU) are degraded (by thymidine phosphorylase) to (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil (BVU), they may potentiate the anticancer potency, as well as toxicity, of 5-fluorouracil. This ensues from the direct inactivating effect of BVU on dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, the enzyme that initiates the degradative pathway of 5-fluorouracil. The prime determinant in the unique behavior of BVDU is its (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl) substituent. Numerous BVDU analogues have been described that, when equipped with this particular pharmacophore, demonstrate an activity spectrum characteristic of BVDU, including selective anti-VZV activity.
 ...
PMID:(E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU). 1538 33

Unilateral stromal keratitis is a known rare sequela of primary varicella infection. The authors describe a unique case of immunological (Wessely) ring formation and progressive ring thinning following primary varicella infection in a 6-year-old girl.
 ...
PMID:Ring corneal infiltrate and progressive ring thinning following primary varicella infection. 1840 61

In 1959, 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IDU) was described, the first antiviral drug ever to be (and still) marketed (for the topical treatment of herpetic keratitis). Now 50 years following the description (of the synthesis) of IDU, we have 50 compounds on the market that have been licensed for clinical use in the treatment of virus infections. Of those 50, exactly 25 have been formally approved as anti-HIV drugs; the other 25 have been formally approved for the treatment of other virus infections: herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and influenza virus infections.
 ...
PMID:Looking back in 2009 at the dawning of antiviral therapy now 50 years ago an historical perspective. 1969 80


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 Next >>