1/6. Virus-like particles in a case of acute hepatitis with human GB virus-C viraemia.BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is still controversial whether the human GB virus-C can cause liver injury, as in situ demonstration of the virus is still inconclusive. methods: Here we describe the case report of a patient with two episodes of severe acute hepatitis, who had a meticulous clinical, immunological and microbiological work-up, including human GB virus-C rna detection by in situ hybridization and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Human GB virus-C viraemia was found as the only potential cause of hepatitis in this patient. Furthermore, virus-like particles could be demonstrated in the cytoplasm of single hepatocytes by electron microscopy and human GB virus-C rna was detected in the liver by in situ hybridization. CONCLUSION: The presence of human GB virus-C rna in serum together with the demonstration of human GB virus-C rna in the liver, favour acute human GB virus-C infection as the cause of liver injury in this patient. Thus virus-like particles and hepatic human GB virus-C rna should be specifically looked for by electron microscopy and in situ hybridization, especially during the diagnostic work-up of patients with unexplained hepatitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/6. adult-onset herpes simplex virus hepatitis with diffuse myofibroblastic transformation of hepatic stellate cells (Ito cells) in non-necrotic areas.The myofibroblastic transformation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC; also known as Ito cells) usually occurs following necrosis of adjacent liver cells. No report has previously found that such a transformation occurs in herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis. We present an autopsy case of HSV hepatitis with myofibroblastic transformation of HSC that is different from the usual transformation of HSC. The patient was a 66-year-old woman who had received various therapies for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. An autopsy revealed submassive hepatic necrosis with hemorrhage due to HSV hepatitis. HSV infection was confirmed by dna in situ hybridization in liver tissue. Immunohistochemical staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin (ASMA) showed a strong positive reaction in almost all of the HSC in non-necrotic areas. However, in necrotic areas, the HSC were completely negative for ASMA. These findings indicate that not only liver cells but also HSC can become necrotic in HSV hepatitis. In contrast, in non-necrotic areas, almost all of the HSC showed active transformation to myofibroblasts.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/6. cytomegalovirus hepatitis confirmed by in situ hybridization in 3 immunocompetent infants.We present 3 cases of immunocompetent infants with CMV infection who showed prolonged liver dysfunction. In all cases the CMV genome was detectable in hepatocytes using the in situ hybridization method. Combination therapy with ganciclovir (GCV) and hyperimmune gammaglobulin (HGG) was instituted in 2 cases and successfully suppressed the replication of CMV, with sustained improvement in liver function. In 1 of these cases, signals for CMV dna were undetectable in the liver 12 months after termination of combination therapy. These results help to confirm the etiology of CMV for persistent hepatitis in immunocompetent infants using the in situ hybridization method and also show the efficacy of combination therapy with a virostatic agent, GCV, and an immune-modulating agent, HGG.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/6. herpes simplex hepatitis before and after acyclovir treatment. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization study.A healthy 20-year-old woman developed herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis. The diagnosis was made by needle biopsy of the liver, and the patient was intravenously treated with acyclovir for 15 consecutive days (total dose, 21 g). The liver biopsy specimen and liver tissue obtained at autopsy were processed for immunoperoxidase staining with rabbit anti-HSV and for dna-dna in situ hybridization. The liver biopsy tissue revealed massive necrosis of hepatocytes, which were strongly positive for HSV with both immunoperoxidase and in situ hybridization methods. The liver tissue obtained at autopsy showed regenerative nodules of hepatocytes, surrounded by connective tissue stroma. Within the connective tissue there were completely necrotic hepatocytes, which were positive for HSV with the immunoperoxidase method but almost completely negative with the in situ hybridization method, except for a very few HSV dna-positive hepatocytic nuclei. It was concluded that immunoperoxidase staining with anti-HSV is a sensitive method with which to detect ongoing and previous HSV infection, whereas the in situ hybridization method is specific for HSV-dna from viable HSV.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.6666666666667keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/6. Chronic hepatitis in an infant, in association with human herpesvirus-6 infection.A 20-month-old boy was investigated for persistent liver dysfunction. liver histologic findings showed chronic hepatitis. The presence of human herpesvirus-6 dna in liver tissue was demonstrated both by in situ hybridization and by polymerase chain reaction. Human herpesvirus-6 may be a causative agent of chronic hepatitis in this case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/6. A case of syncytial giant cell hepatitis with features of a paramyxoviral infection.adult syncytial giant cell hepatitis (GCH) is an uncommon and often fulminant form of hepatitis that may be caused by infection with a novel paramyxo-like virus. We present the case of a 69-yr-old man who presented with acute, community-acquired hepatitis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A liver biopsy showed the typical findings of panlobular syncytial giant cell hepatitis. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated abundant nucleocapsid-like protein material in the cytoplasm and nuclei of affected hepatocytes. These structures were similar to, but distinct from, those of known paramyxoviridae, suggesting infection with a novel, related virus. in situ hybridization studies with a probe directed against the measles fusion protein gene gave a positive signal with a hepatocyte distribution. No signal was obtained with the measles nucleocapsid protein probe, suggesting that the disease agent was genetically distinct from, but related to, the measles virus. Subsequent liver biopsies were characterized by the gradual disappearance of the giant cell changes and by the concomitant development of cirrhosis. This is a case of adult GCH that resolved spontaneously and led to cirrhosis, thus implicating GCH as a potential cause of "cryptogenic" liver disease. Our findings provide further support for the existence of a distinct, as yet unidentified viral species as a cause of this disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |