Association of Epstein-Barr virus in epithelioid angiomatosis of AIDS patients

Herpesvirus Infection of Endothelial Cells as a Systemic Pathological Axis in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Understanding the pathophysiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is critical for advancing treatment options. This review explores the novel hypothesis that a herpesvirus infection of endothelial cells (ECs) may underlie ME/CFS symptomatology. We review evidence linking herpesviruses to persistent EC infection and the implications for endothelial dysfunction, encompassing blood flow regulation, coagulation, and cognitive impairment-symptoms consistent with ME/CFS and Long COVID. This paper provides a synthesis of current research on herpesvirus latency and reactivation, detailing the impact on ECs and subsequent systemic complications, including latent modulation and long-term maladaptation. We suggest that the chronicity of ME/CFS symptoms and the multisystemic nature of the disease may be partly attributable to herpesvirus-induced endothelial maladaptation. Our conclusions underscore the necessity for further investigation into the prevalence and load of herpesvirus infection within the ECs of ME/CFS patients. This review offers conceptual advances by proposing an endothelial infection model as a systemic mechanism contributing to ME/CFS, steering future research toward potentially unexplored avenues in understanding and treating this complex syndrome.

Exuberant granulation tissue mimicking vascular tumours associated with burns

A case of simultaneous development of multiple vascular neoplasms in a patient with a previous history of burns and lymphoblastic lymphoma is reported. Microscopic examination revealed angiomatosis made up of diffuse capillary proliferation. We speculate that endogenous factors could have played an important role in the development of these neoplasms. We discuss the clinical and histological differential diagnosis of the case presented: a disseminated variant of lobular capillary haemangioma, Kaposi's sarcoma, bacillary angiomatosis and hyperplastic granulation tissue.

Histological and ultrastructural study of one case of oral bacillary angiomatosis in HIV disease and review of the literature

Bacillary angiomatosis (BA) is a new clinicopathological entity defined as a pseudo-neoplastic capillary proliferation secondary to an opportunistic infection by one of two Rochalimaea sp.: R. quintana or R. henselae. Although BA is a recently recognised entity, numerous cases have been reported. Most of the patients affected are reported to have low absolute CD4 lymphocyte counts associated with AIDS. Yet, very few oral cases associated or not with cutaneous lesions have been reported or simply identified. Histopathological and ultrastructural features of one case of oral BA with gingival and palatal lesions are presented. Clinical aspects of oral BA do not hold pathognomonic features and the lesions may resemble either a reactive lesion of the gingiva, pyogenic granuloma or Kaposi's sarcoma. The lesion is characteristically composed of circumscribed lobular capillary proliferations and the presence of granular amphophilic material on haematoxylin and eosin sections surrounded by neutrophils and neutrophilic debris is a clue to diagnosis. Demonstration of bacilli in the interstitium by the Warthin-Starry silver method or, better, by electron microscopy is diagnostic. BA may contribute to the death of the patient but erythromycin has proved to be very effective treatment.

Epstein-Barr virus and gastric cancer: data and unanswered questions

Sixty-five unselected cases of gastric cancer have been analysed for EBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for CD21 antigen expression. Four cases were found EBV-positive by PCR, while ISH yielded positive results in 3 of these cases, demonstrating EBV in the nuclei of cancerous cells. CD21 antigen was expressed in cancerous cells in all 3 ISH-positive cases. All the EBV-positive cancers of the present series were poorly to moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas with prominent lymphoid infiltration. These results are discussed also on the basis of the literature.