Emerging therapies for herpes viral infections (types 1 – 8)

Osteonecrosis of the Jaws Associated with Herpes Zoster Infection: A Systematic Review and a Rare Case Report

The investigation's goal was to obtain further knowledge about the connection between Herpes Zoster infection and dentistry therapy for the osteonecrosis of the jaws, combining the review with a case report relevant to the purpose. It is important to study this association because it is a possible additional factor to be considered in the causes of the osteonecrosis of the jaws. We limited our search to English-language papers published between 1 January 2004 and 7 June 2024 in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science that were relevant to our topic. In the search approach, the Boolean keywords "Herpes Zoster AND osteonecros*" were used. Results: This study analyzed 148 papers from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, resulting in 95 articles after removing duplicates. Of these, 49 were removed because they were off topic, and 46 were confirmed. This study includes a qualitative analysis of the final 12 articles, removing 34 articles that were off topic. The literature highlights severe oral complications from Herpes Zoster reactivation, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis, comprehensive management, and multidisciplinary care. Treatment strategies include antiviral therapy, pain management, surgical debridement, and antibiotics. Immunocompromised individuals require vigilant monitoring and balanced immunosuppressive therapy. Further research is needed to enhance therapeutic approaches.

Recommendations for the selection of nucleoside analogues as antihuman herpesvirus drugs: a real-world analysis of reported cases from the FDA adverse event reporting system

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to provide guidance for refining medication protocols, developing alternative strategies, and enhancing protection against herpesvirus infections in personalized clinical settings.

METHODS

Adverse drug events (ADEs) data for anti-herpesvirus from the first quarter of 2004 to the fourth quarter of 2022 were collected from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Disproportionality analysis was performed using Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), and Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN) methods for data mining.

RESULTS

A total of 18,591, 24,206, 6,150, and 419 reports of ADEs associated with acyclovir (ACV), valacyclovir (VACV), ganciclovir (GCV), and famciclovir (FCV) were screened and extracted from the FAERS. In this study, the report summarized the high frequency and strong correlation of ADEs for the four drugs at the Preferred Term (PT) level. Additionally, the analysis also identified the relationship between ADEs and factors such as age, gender, and severity of outcome at the System Organ Class (SOC) level.

CONCLUSION

The safety reports for the four-nucleoside analogue anti-herpesvirus drugs are diverse and interconnected. Dosing for patients with herpesvirus infections should be tailored to their specific conditions and the potential risk of disease.

The effect of emodin, an anthraquinone derivative extracted from the roots of Rheum tanguticum, against herpes simplex virus in vitro and in vivo

AIM OF THE STUDY

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and -2) are important pathogens for humans and the discovery of novel anti-HSV drugs with low toxicity deserves great efforts. Rhubarb is one of the oldest and best-known traditional Chinese medicines. We initiated this study to test if emodin is the active ingredients from Rheum tanguticum (R. tanguticum, one of the Chinese Rhubarb) against HSV infection and to investigate its antiviral activity on HSV infection in tissue culture cells and in a mouse model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Emodin (3-methyl-1,6,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone) was extracted and purified from R. tanguticum (cultivated at high mountainous area in Qinghai) and the purity was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The antiviral experiments of emodin against HSV infection were performed in vitro and in vivo. In vivo, the HSV-infected mice were orally administered with emodin beginning at 24 h post-HSV exposures with dosages of 3.3 g/kg/day, 6.7 g/kg/day, and 11.3 g/kg/day, respectively, for 7 days.

RESULTS

Emodin was found to inhibit the replication of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in cell culture at the concentration of 50 μg/ml with antiviral index of 2.07 and 3.53, respectively. The emodin treatment increased the survival rate of HSV-infected mice, prolonged survival time and showed higher efficacy of HSV elimination from brain, heart, liver and ganglion, compared to the viral controls. In addition, the antiviral activity of emodin was found to be equivalent to that of acyclovir in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that emodin has the anti-HSV activity in vitro and in vivo and is thus a promising agent in the clinical therapy of HSV infection.

Human herpes simplex virus infections: epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptomatology, diagnosis, and management

Eight of the more than 80 known herpesviruses are human pathogens. Human herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a contagious infection with a large reservoir in the general population. It has a potential for significant complications in the immunocompromised host. In addition, psychological distress caused by the negative stigma associated with genital herpes and visible facial lesions in those experiencing frequent outbreaks renders it a challenging clinical dilemma. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic features of HSV infections, providing the clinician with an up-to-date understanding of the available management strategies for mucocutaneous HSV-induced disease.