Child ; Humans ; Rotavirus Infections ; virology ; Viremia

BACKGROUND: Instead of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA test using RT-PCR, an enzyme immunoas-say for detection of HCV core protein as a simple, rapid method for the detection of HCV viremia has been developed recently. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of HCV core protein for the detection of HCV viremia by comparing the results of HCV RNA. METHODS: The study group included 71 patients; some of whom showed anti-HCV Ab. The HCV core protein assay was performed by enzyme immunoassay (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ, USA). RESULTS: The concordance rate between HCV RNA and HCV core protein assay was 75%. Compared with the HCV RNA results, HCV core protein assay showed 50% sensitivity and 97% specificity. Among 17 patients whose results for HCV RNA were positive and those of HCV core protein were negative, all of them had anti-HCV Ab. CONCLUSIONS: Although the sensitivity of HCV core protein was not high in cases with anti-HCV Ab, the positive results for HCV core protein suggests the presence of HCV viremia. So, HCV core protein may be used as a simple and rapid method for detection of HCV viremia.
Hepacivirus ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; RNA ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Viremia*

BACKGROUND: The expression of the SOCS genes in cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains largely unexplored. METHODS: Using quantitative RT-PCR of mononuclear cells, we conducted pairwise comparison of SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression levels among a healthy donor group (N=55), a pre-HSCT group (N=17), and the recipient subgroup (N=107), which were divided according to the occurrence of CMV viremia and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). RESULTS: Compared to that in the healthy donor group, SOCS1 expression was higher in the CMV+ subgroup, especially in the CMV+GVHD- group, but decreased in the other subgroups. When compared to the expression in the pre-HSCT group, SOCS1 expression was significantly higher in the CMV+ subgroup, especially in the CMV+GVHD+ subgroup. Meanwhile, compared to that in the healthy donor group, SOCS3 expression was significantly lower in all other groups. The CMV-GVHD- subgroup showed significantly lower SOCS3 expression compared to the CMV+ subgroup, the CMV+GVHD+ subgroup, and the CMV+GVHD- subgroup. CONCLUSION: We report differential expression of SOCS genes according to CMV viremia with acute GVHD occurrence after HSCT, suggesting that regulation of SOCS expression is associated with CMV viremia.
Cytomegalovirus* ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Humans ; Tissue Donors ; Viremia*

No abstract available.
Hepatitis C/*diagnosis ; Hepatitis C Antibodies/*blood ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; RNA, Viral/*blood ; Viremia/*diagnosis

BACKGROUND: The presence of serum varicella zoster virus (VZV) immunoglobulin M and G (IgM and IgG) aid diagnosis of and confirmation of immunization against varicella and herpes zoster. However, the relationship between serum VZV IgM and IgG and the clinical characteristics of VZV infection remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated quantitative changes in serum VZV IgM and IgG in accordance with the clinical features of varicella, herpes zoster, and disseminated herpes zoster compared with a normal control group. METHODS: A total of 922 patients were classified into 3 groups: varicella, herpes zoster, and disseminated herpes zoster. We assessed serum VZV IgM and IgG titers in association with age, severity of skin lesions, duration of skin lesions, immune status, and neurologic complications. RESULTS: In patients with varicella and herpes zoster, serum antibody titer varied significantly depending on age and the duration of skin lesions. A high serum VZV IgM titer was related to varicella or disseminated herpes zoster viremia. In herpes zoster, elevated antibody titers, especially VZV IgM, were associated with severe skin lesions and the presence of neurologic complications. CONCLUSION: Serologic data for varicella and herpes zoster varied according to clinical features. A high serum VZV IgM titer was associated with an unfavorable clinical course of herpes zoster.
Chickenpox* ; Diagnosis ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Skin ; Viremia

Maternal varicella resulting in viremia may transmit the virus to the fetus by either transplacental spread, or by ascending infection from lesion in the birth canal. The characteristic symptoms consist of skin lesions in dermatomal distribution, eye diseases, neurological defects, and limb hypoplasia. Varicella of the newborn is a life-threatening illness that may occur when a newborn is delivered either within five days of the onset of the illness or after postdelivery exposure to varicella. The severity of neonatal disease is dependent upon the timing of maternal illness. The clinical approach to varicella of newborns should emphasize prevention. Our patient was the first child of a 31-year- old mother who had varicella-zoster ten days before delivery. The child showed muscular hypotonia, poor feeding but no skin lesions.
Chickenpox* ; Child ; Extremities ; Eye Diseases ; Fetus ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Parturition ; Skin ; Viremia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although interferon-a(IFNa) is currently the most effective antiviral agent for treating patients with chronic hepatitis C, its efficacy is not always reliable. Factors suggested to infruence outcome of IFN-a therapy for chronic hepatitis C are histological activity, level of viremia and HCV genotype, etc. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between several pretreatment factors and response to IFN-a therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with chronic HCV infection(47 with chronic hepatitis and 7 with liver cirrhosis) who received IFN-a(2a or 2b) therapy(3 6 MU, three times a week, for 3 12 months) were included. Level of serum HCV RNA(50 patients), HCV genotype(27 patients) and IgM anti- HCV(21 patients) during pretreatment period were assayed. RESULTS: Overall, 19(35%) subjects achieved sustained response(SR), 12(22%) had transient response(TR) and 23(43%) did not respond (nonresponse;NR). Mean age of patients with SR, TR and NR was 46+ 10, 51+ 7.5 and 54+ 9.7 years, respectively(p<0.05 between SR and NR). Among 30 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis, 13(43%) achieved SR;but only one(14%) in 7 patients with liver cirrhosis. Mean serum HCV RNA level(X10' copies/ml) was higher in nonresponders(7,7+ 13.0) compared with SR(2.3+ 2. 7) or TR(3.1+ 4.9), although statistically insignificant HCV genotyping in 27 patients revealed type la in 5(18.5%), 1b in 14(52%), 2a in 5(18.5%), 2b in 1(3.7%) and 4 in 2(7%), respectively. In non-1b patients, SR rate was significantly higher than 1b patients(69.2% vs. 21.4%, p=0.03). Although IgM anti-HCV was positive in 12(57%) among 21 patients studied, the positive rate and the titer of IgM anti-HCV was not significantly different in three groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that in patients with chronic hepatitis C, infection with genotype 1b, old age, high serum HCV RNA level and the presence of cirrhosis would predict poor response to IFN therapy.
Fibrosis ; Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Interferons* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; RNA ; Viremia

BACKGROUND: It is common to find enlarged lymph nodes within hepatoduoedenal ligament during ultrasonography in patients with chronic hepatitis B. But, its clinical significance has not been clearly understood. METHODS: Lymph node volume within the hepatoduodenal ligament in 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 15 healthy controls was evaluated using ultrasonography. In patients with chronic hepatitis B, possible correlation of lymph node volume with biochemical tests, hepatitis activity index, and hepatitis B viremia was investigated. RESULTS: One or more lymph nodes were detected in 48 (96%) out of 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B (volume=3.4+/-2.4 mL, mean+/-S.D.) and 2 (13%) out of 15 controls (volume=0.4 mL, 0.6 mL). In chronic hepatitis B, lymph node volume showed a significant correlation with serum AST (r=0.66), ALT (r=0.63), gammaGT (r=0.53), total score of histologic activity index (r=0.59), and necroinflammatory score (r=0.59, p<0.05 for all); but not with fibrosis score and serum hepatitis B viremia. CONCLUSION: Enlarged perihepatic lymph nodes reflects histologic and biochemical inflammatory activity of the liver in chronic hepatitis B.
Fibrosis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Liver* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Ultrasonography ; Viremia

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate accuracy of newly developed HCV Ab test kits by Korea Green Cross Co.(Yongin, Kyunggi), namely GenediaTM HCV ELISA 3.0 (ELISA) for routine test, GenediaTM HCV Rapid (RAPID) for quick screening. and GenediaTM HCV Confirm 4.0 (CONFIRM) for confirmation. METHODS: Performance of ELISA was compared with that of Ortho HCV 3.0 ELISA (Neckargemund, Germany; ORTHO ELISA) using 990 patients' sera. Accuracy of RAPID was evaluated by testing on 114 HCV Ab negative and 86 positive specimens by ELISA. Discrepant results obtained by RAPID were confirmed by Chiron RIBA HCV 3.0 Strip Immunoblot Assay (Ca, USA; RIBA) and HCV Blot 3.0 (Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore; BLOT). Accuracy of CONFIRM test was compared between RIBA and BLOT using 78 ELISA positive sera. To elucidate prevalence of viremia, RT-PCR was performed on 165 serum samples and results were compared with that of ELISA and RAPID. RESULTS: Agreement of test results between ELISA and ORTHO ELISA was 99.6% (986/990). On HCV Ab negative specimens 99.1% (113/114) agreed among RAPID, ELISA and ORTHO ELISA. However, on seropositive specimens 91.7% (79/86) agreed between RAPID and ELISA. Agreement between CONFIRM and RIBA was 83.3% (65/78). Core antigen showed the highest reactivity and NS5 antigen showed the lowest reactivity with CONFIRM. HCV RNA was detected in 58.3% (28/48) of ELISA positive specimens, however, it was not detected in ELISA negative specimens. There was no correlation between prevalence of HCV RNA and 5 antigens used in ELISA test. CONCLUSIONS: Newly developed Korea Green Cross GenediaTM HCV ELISA 3.0, Rapid and HCV Confirm were considered to be clinically accurate routine, quick screening and confirmatory test for detecting HCV Ab in serum samples.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Germany ; Hepatitis C Antibodies* ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; RNA ; Singapore ; Viremia

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) continues to have a tremendous impact in solid organ transplantation despite remarkable advances in its diagnosis, prevention and treatment. It can affect allograft function and increase patient morbidity and mortality through a number of direct and indirect effects. Patients may develop asymptomatic viremia, CMV syndrome or tissue-invasive disease. Late-onset CMV disease continues to be a major problem in high-risk patients after completion of antiviral prophylaxis. Emerging data suggests that immunologic monitoring may be useful in predicting the risk of late onset CMV disease. There is now increasing interest in the development of an effective vaccine for prevention. Novel antiviral drugs with unique mechanisms of action and lesser toxicity are being developed. Viral load quantification is now undergoing standardization, and this will permit the generation of clinically relevant viral thresholds for the management of patients. This article provides a brief overview of the contemporary epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of CMV infection in solid organ transplant recipients.
Antiviral Agents ; Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Humans ; Monitoring, Immunologic ; Organ Transplantation ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants ; Viral Load ; Viremia