Cytomegalovirus Infections Overview

Methods for identifying Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in a lab setting. Methods include looking for characteristic cellular changes (inclusion bodies), detecting CMV antibodies, isolating the virus, and using molecular assays for CMV DNA.

Characteristic structures within infected cells that are visible under a microscope.

Tests to detect antibodies against CMV. These can show if someone has a current or past infection.

An antibody that quickly appears in the body after CMV infection, suggesting a recent infection.

An antibody that appears later than IgM, showing a past or current CMV infection. Usually persists life long.

Ganciclovir is the primary drug used to treat severe CMV infections.

CMV infection in newborns. It has several causes including infection during pregnancy or after birth. Often diagnosed using lab tests.

Strategies aimed at preventing CMV infection, often used for immunocompromised individuals.

A spoon-shaped deformity of the fingernails, often associated with iron deficiency anemia.

The provisional diagnosis is Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). It is a common condition in pregnancy due to increased iron requirements for the growing fetus.

The peripheral smear in IDA shows hypochromic microcytic red blood cells, with possible anisocytosis (variation in size) and poikilocytosis (variation in shape) of red blood cells.

The bone marrow in IDA shows erythroid hyperplasia (increased red blood cell production) with a predominance of immature red blood cells. Iron stores are depleted.

A rapid response to tissue injury characterized by vascular changes, cellular infiltration, and chemical mediator release, aiming to eliminate the injurious agent and initiate tissue repair.

Acute inflammation helps to isolate and eliminate the injurious agent (e.g., bacteria, toxins) and prepare the site for tissue repair.

During acute inflammation, blood vessels dilate (vasodilation) to increase blood flow and become more permeable to allow fluid and cells to move into the injured tissue.

During acute inflammation, neutrophils are the first cells to migrate to the site of injury, followed by macrophages. They eliminate the injurious agent, release inflammatory mediators, and prepare for tissue repair.

The most common karyotype in Turner syndrome is 45, X, meaning a single X chromosome and the absence of a second sex chromosome. This leads to short stature, wide-spread nipples, and primary amenorrhea.

When immunohistochemical staining reveals cytoplasmic positivity for cytokeratin, it strongly suggests the tumor is a carcinoma, a type of cancer originating from epithelial cells.

Overexpression of the bcl-2 gene leads to cellular proliferation. This is because bcl-2 is an anti-apoptotic protein, preventing cells from undergoing programmed cell death, which is essential for controlled growth.

Metaplasia, a change in cell type, is associated with an increased risk of cancer. This is because metaplasia can involve changes in cell function and structure that may make the cells more susceptible to becoming cancerous.

Malignant tumors can metastasize, meaning they spread to other parts of the body. This is because malignant cells lack cohesion, allowing them to break off and invade surrounding tissues and spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Lepromatous leprosy, a severe form of the disease, does not typically show granuloma formation. This is due to the patient's compromised immune system, which prevents the usual inflammatory response that leads to granuloma formation.

Tumor cells in diffuse gastric carcinoma exhibit dyscohesion, meaning they are poorly connected and can invade surrounding tissues more easily. This is often linked to mutations in the beta-catenin gene, which plays a role in cell adhesion.

Amyloidosis is a condition where amyloid protein deposits build up in tissues. Different types of amyloid proteins are associated with specific conditions: Multiple myeloma - light chain, chronic inflammation - AA, cardiac - ATTR, and neural - beta-2 microglobulin.