Latent Viral infection of the inner ear

由于颞骨内感觉神经节尸检标本数量不足，我们着重研究了以下三个方面：1）突发性耳聋早期唾液VZV DNA检测一例。通过联合抗病毒药物治疗恢复。本文报告一例突发性耳聋患者，用聚合酶链反应（PCR）方法从唾液中检测到VZV DNA，经抗病毒药物治疗后证实有效。69岁，女性，注意到右侧突发性听力损失。我们在第二天从她的唾液中检测到了VZV DNA。她诊断为右侧突发性感觉神经性听力损失，并接受类固醇和抗病毒药物治疗。通过这种治疗策略，她的听力得到了恢复。我们用PCR从她的唾液中检测到VZV DNA，但血清抗VZV抗体滴度没有升高。PCR检测唾液中的病毒DNA，提示抗病毒药物对突发性感觉神经性耳聋有效。2）RT-PCR扩增人颞骨纤维素包埋切片中的病毒RNA。本研究的目的是探讨是否有可能从显微镜下异常的纤维素包埋的胎儿颞骨中检测到病毒RNA。选择具有显微镜异常的切片并切成小片。从组织中提取RNA并纯化。逆转录用于cDNA合成。用巢式PCR扩增DNA，但从包埋的胎颞骨中提取的风疹RNA不能检测到。11例标本中8例（72.8%）检测到α-微管蛋白RNA。3）6例标本中有1例三叉神经节组织中检出HHV-6 DNA。提示HHV-6可能通过再活化引起某些耳科疾病。我们将不得不等待在这一特定领域进行更多的进一步研究。

Because we could not get enough number of autopsy specimen of sensory ganglia within temporal bone, we focused on 3points as follows.1) A case of sudden deafness with early detection of salivary VZV DNA.-Recovery by treatment of combination therapy with anti-viral agent-. We report a case of sudden deafness with detection of VZV DNA from saliva by PCR.Anti-viral drug was considered to be effective for this case. Sixty-nine year-old, female noticed right sudden hearing loss. We detected VZV DNA from her saliva on day-2. She diagnosed right sudden sensory neural hearing loss and treated with steroid and also anti-viral agent. Her hearing recovered by this treatment strategy. We detected VZV DNA from her saliva by PCR, but no rise in titer of serum anti-VZV antibody. It is suggested that anti-viral drug is effective for sudden sensory neural hearing loss in such case with detection of viral DNA from saliva by PCR.2) RT-PCR amplification of viral RNA from celloidin-embedded human temporal bone sections. The aim of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to detect viral RNA from celloidin-embedded fetal temporal bone with microscopic abnormality. Sections with microscopic abnormality were selected and cut into small pieces. RNA was extracted from the tissue and purified. Reverse transcription was utilized for cDNA synthesis. DNA was amplified in nested-PCR.Though We could not detect Rubella RNA extracted from celloidin-embedded fetal temporal bone. Alpha-tubulin RNA was detected 8 out of 11 specimen (72.8%). These results indicate that RNA can be analyzed from archival celloidin-embedded human temporal bone sections.3) We could detect HHV-6 DNA from 1 trigeminal ganglia specimen of 6 specimen. This result may indicate that HHV-6 may cause some otologic diseases by reactivation. We will have to wait for further study in this particular area in increased number.