1: Harv Womens Health Watch. 2007 Oct;15(2):8.

By the way, doctor. I'm 67 and had shingles four years ago. Am I immune to it
now? If not, should I get the new shingles vaccine?

Robb-Nicholson C.

PMID: 18240445 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

2: Mayo Clin Health Lett. 2007 Oct;25(10):4.

Vaccine cuts by half the risk of developing shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 18229411 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3: J Pain. 2008 Jan;9(1 Suppl 1):S10-8.

Mechanisms of pain and itch caused by herpes zoster (shingles).

Oaklander AL.

Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard
Medical School, 275 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
aoaklander@partners.org

Study of humans with shingles or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is providing
insights into pain mechanisms. Shingles pain is a combination of normal and
neuropathic pain that reflects acute tissue and neural injury. PHN pain, which
lasts after tissues have healed, is caused by persistent neural injuries.
Spontaneous C-nociceptor activity has been documented in painful polyneuropathies
and probably occurs in shingles as well, although there are no microneurographic 
studies of either shingles or PHN. It is uncertain if this persists in PHN since 
pathological examination of PHN-affected nerves and ganglia show chronic neuronal
loss and quiescent scarring without inflammation. Skin-biopsy study has
correlated the presence of PHN with the severity of persistent distal nociceptive
axon loss, and autopsy has correlated pain persistence with segmental atrophy of 
the spinal cord dorsal horn, highlighting the importance of central responses to 
nerve injury. Pathological studies of tissues from patients with trigeminal
neuralgia suggest that brief lancinating pains reflect ephaptic neurotransmission
between adjacent denuded axons. The mechanisms of chronic spontaneous pain and
mechanical allodynia remain uncertain despite considerable indirect evidence from
animal models. Postherpetic itch is presumably caused by unprovoked firing of the
peripheral and/or central neurons that mediate itch. If it occurs in neurons
innervating skin left severely deafferented from shingles ("numb"), patients can 
give themselves painless injuries from scratching. Further human study, by
electrophysiological recording, by structural and functional imaging, and by
autopsy, should continue to provide much-needed insights. PERSPECTIVE: Many
patients continue to have chronic pain and/or itch after shingles that is
unrelieved by current treatments. Many will gladly volunteer for clinical
studies, including autopsy, to try and improve understanding of these common and 
disabling conditions. Their prevalence makes highly powered studies feasible.
Funding and organization are the current bottlenecks.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 18166461 [PubMed - in process]

4: Swiss Med Wkly. 2008 Jan 26;138(3-4):47-51.

Serology and serum DNA detection in shingles.

Dobec M, Bossart W, Kaeppeli F, Mueller-Schoop J.

Medizinische Laboratorien Dr. F. Kaeppeli, Zürich, Switzerland.
m.dobec@medica-labor.ch

AIM: To investigate the sensitivity of various laboratory approaches in the
diagnosis of herpes zoster from patient serum. METHODS: Paired sera from 53
consecutive adult patients with acute herpes zoster were tested for the presence 
of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibodies. All acute sera were tested
subsequently by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of VZV
DNA. In addition, convalescent sera of patients who tested initially positive for
VZV DNA underwent PCR analysis. RESULTS: VZV IgM antibodies were found by enzyme 
immunoassay (EIA) in 5 acute (9%) and 20 convalescent (38%) zoster sera. VZV DNA 
was detected by PCR in 21 (40%) acute zoster sera and was no longer detectable in
the convalescent samples. A seroconversion or a fourfold or greater titre
increase was found by complement fixation (CF) test in 41 (77%), by IgG indirect 
fluorescent antibody assay (IgG IFA) in 43 (81%) and by CF and IgG IFA combined
in 45 of 53 (85%) paired zoster sera. The combination of all serological methods 
detected 51 (96%) and PCR combined with serology identified 52 (98%) of 53
patients. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal laboratory sensitivity in the diagnosis of herpes 
zoster from serum can be achieved by the combination of PCR and serology of
paired serum samples. Serological methods alone are of limited value for early
diagnosis of zoster when therapy can be initiated, because CF and IgG IFA need
convalescent serum and IgM test sensitivity is insufficient. Early diagnosis of
VZV reactivation is possible from serum by PCR in the first days of illness and
test sensitivity needs further improvement. The findings highlight the need for
future studies into the usefulness of PCR and serology in atypical cases of VZV
reactivation.

PMID: 18224496 [PubMed - in process]

5: Rev Neurol Dis. 2007 Fall;4(4):203-8.

Management of acute shingles (herpes zoster).

Tyler KL, Beckham JD.

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA.

Practical, evidence-based recommendations for the management of acute shingles
(herpes zoster) were published this year in Clinical Infectious Diseases. These
guidelines were the result of a consensus meeting of several groups with an
interest in neuropathic pain and varicella-zoster virus research. This article
summarizes the key findings and recommendations that were generated from this
meeting and reviews some of the research on which these guidelines are based.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 18195672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6: J Ark Med Soc. 2007 Dec;104(6):139.

An unusual case of shingles.

Dildy DW Jr, McLeane LR.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 18092499 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7: Lancet. 2007 Oct 6;370(9594):1240.

How shingles can be beached.

Ludwig RJ, Kaufmann R.

Department of Dermatology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt,
Germany. r.ludwig@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 17920919 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

8: Bull Math Biol. 1999 Nov;61(6):1031-64.

Modeling the effects of varicella vaccination programs on the incidence of
chickenpox and shingles.

Schuette MC, Hethcote HW.

Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City,
IA 52242, USA.

Two possible dangers of an extensive varicella vaccination program are more
varicella (chickenpox) cases in adults, when the complication rates are higher,
and an increase in cases of zoster (shingles). Here an age-structured
epidemiologic-demographic model with vaccination is developed for varicella and
zoster. Parameters are estimated from epidemiological data. This mathematical and
computer simulation model is used to evaluate the effects of varicella
vaccination programs. Although the age distribution of varicella cases does shift
in the simulations, this does not seem to be a danger because many of the adult
cases occur after vaccine-induced immunity wanes, so they are mild varicella
cases with fewer complications. In the simulations, zoster incidence increases in
the first three decades after initiation of a vaccination program, because people
who had varicella in childhood age without boosting, but then it decreases. Thus 
the simulations validate the second danger of more zoster cases.

PMID: 17879870 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9: Harv Health Lett. 2007 Aug;32(10):1-2.

The shingles vaccine. Why hasn't it caught on? The cost and other factors are to 
blame.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 17717891 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

10: JAAPA. 2007 Jul;20(7):56.

Patient information. Should I get the shingles vaccine?

[No authors listed]

PMID: 17695100 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

11: JAAPA. 2007 Jul;20(7):55.

Should I get the shingles vaccine?

Iverson K.

Emergency Treatment Center, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, 
USA.

PMID: 17695099 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

12: Harv Mens Health Watch. 2007 Jul;11(12):8.

On call. Your article on new immunizations for adults was very helpful. I already
got my booster for tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough, but even though I'm
61, my doctor didn't want to give me the shingles because I've already had
shingles. Should I get the vaccine?

Simon HB.

PMID: 17687797 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

13: RN. 2007 Jun;70(6):27-31; quiz 32.

Shingles: what you should know.

Novatnack E, Schweon S.

St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, PA, USA.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 17624059 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

14: Nursing. 2007 Jul;37(7):29.

Myths and facts...about shingles.

Quillen TF.

PMID: 17603352 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

15: Nurse Pract. 2007 Jun;32(6):6-7.

Prevent shingles with Zostavax.

Laustsen G, Neilson T.

Oregon Health and Science University, School of Nursing, La Grande, OR, USA.

PMID: 17557014 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

16: Community Pract. 2007 May;80(5):9.

Shingles.

Wyndham M.

PMID: 17536461 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

17: Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2007 Sep;13(9):1178-9.

Comment on:
    Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Dec;4(12):1483-90.

Nailing down the shingles in IBD.

Kotton CN.

Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street Cox
5, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

Publication Types: 
    Comment

PMID: 17476676 [PubMed]

18: Tex Dent J. 2007 Jan;124(1):132, 136-8.

Oral and maxillofacial pathology case of the month. Herpes zoster (shingles).

Bouquot JE, Horn N, Wan SF.

Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, 
USA.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 17380914 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

19: Mich Med. 2007 Jan-Feb;106(1):12-3.

ACIP recommends vaccine to prevent shingles.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 17375694 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

20: FDA Consum. 2006 Sep-Oct;40(5):38-9.

Vaccine approved for shingles in older people.

[No authors listed]

A new vaccine called Zostavax is available to reduce the risk of shingles (herpes
zoster) in people ages 60 and older.

PMID: 17326312 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

21: Epidemiol Infect. 2007 Aug;135(6):908-13. Epub 2007 Feb 12.

Secular trends in the epidemiology of shingles in Alberta.

Russell ML, Schopflocher DP, Svenson L, Virani SN.

Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 
mlrussel@ucalgary.ca

Varicella vaccine was licensed in Canada in 1998, and a publicly funded
vaccination programme introduced in the province of Alberta in 2001. In theory
the vaccination programme might increase the burden of disease from shingles,
making it important to develop baseline data against which future comparisons can
be made. The study's aim was to describe the epidemiology of non-fatal cases of
shingles for which publicly funded health services were utilized for the period
1986-2002. Shingles cases were identified from the records of Alberta's
universal, publicly funded health-care insurance system for 1986-2002. The
earliest dated health service utilizations for ICD-9-CM codes of 053 or ICD-10-CA
codes of B02 were classified as incident. Diagnostic codes at least 180 days
after the first were classified as recurrent episodes. Denominators for rates
were estimated using mid-year population estimates from the Alberta Health Care
Insurance Plan Registry. Annual age- and sex-specific rates were estimated. We
explored the pattern of rates for sex, age and year effects and their
interactions. Shingles rates increased between 1986 and 2002. There was a sex
effect and evidence of an age-sex interaction. Females had higher rates than
males at every age; however, the difference between females and males was
greatest for the 50-54 years age group and declined for older age groups. The
increased rate of shingles in Alberta began before varicella vaccine was licensed
or publicly funded in Alberta, and thus cannot be attributed to vaccination.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17291380 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

22: Health News. 2006 Nov;12(11):12.

I've had one bout with shingles. Can I get it again? Can I prevent it?

[No authors listed]

PMID: 17228401 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

23: Neurologist. 2007 Jan;13(1):43-4.

Shingles.

Kernich CA.

Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Medical Group, University Hospitals,
Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

PMID: 17215727 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

24: Mayo Clin Health Lett. 2006 Oct;24(10):8.

My granddaughter was recently visiting and she had chickenpox. I've already had
chickenpox, but I'm concerned about getting shingles because I know the two
diseases are related. Can I catch shingles from her?

[No authors listed]

PMID: 17176523 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

25: MMW Fortschr Med. 2006 Sep 28;148(39):48-9.

[Burning pain on one side of the body and blisters filled with clear fluid.
Tentative diagnosis: shingles]

[Article in German]

Möhrenschlager M, Ring J, Hofmann H.

Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie am Biederstein,
Technische Universität München. moehrenschlager@lrz.tum.de

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 17059198 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

26: Mayo Clin Womens Healthsource. 2006 Nov;10(11):3.

FDA approves shingles vaccine for older adults.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 17047564 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

27: Nurs Older People. 2006 Oct;18(9):20-2.

Shingles: relief at last.

Dinsdale P.

PMID: 17042348 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

28: J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2006 Sep-Oct;46(5):647-9.

Shingles prevention: vaccine presents opportunity to pharmacists.

Hayney MS.

School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madsion, USA.
mshayney@pharmacy.wisc.edu

PMID: 17036653 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

29: Pancreas. 2006 Oct;33(3):314-5.

Shingles-associated Pancreatitis.

Famularo G, Minisola G, Nicotra GC.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Letter

PMID: 17003657 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

30: Expert Rev Vaccines. 2006 Aug;5(4):431-43.

Prevention of shingles by varicella zoster virus vaccination.

Holodniy M.

VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave. (132), Palo Alto, CA 94306,
USA. mark.holodniy@va.gov

Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation from previous varicella zoster virus
(VZV) infection, and affects millions of people worldwide. It primarily affects
older adults and those with immune system dysfunction, most likely as a result of
reduced or lost VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity. Complications include
post-herpetic neuralgia, a potentially debilitating and chronic pain syndrome.
Current treatment of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia involves antiviral
agents and analgesics, and is associated with significant economic cost. Results 
from several clinical trials have determined that a live, attenuated VZV vaccine 
using the Oka/Merck strain (Zostavax) is safe, elevates VZV-specific
cell-mediated immunity, and significantly reduces the incidence of herpes zoster 
and post-herpetic neuralgia in people over 60 years of age. Regulatory approval
has recently been obtained and once launched, it is expected that this vaccine
will significantly reduce the morbidity and financial costs associated with
herpes zoster. Durability of vaccine response and possible booster vaccination
will still need to be determined.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 16989624 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

31: Ann Intern Med. 2006 Sep 5;145(5):386-7.

Comment on:
    Ann Intern Med. 2006 Sep 5;145(5):317-25.

Shingles vaccine: effective and costly or cost-effective?

Koplan JP, Harpaz R.

Publication Types: 
    Comment
    Editorial

PMID: 16954362 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

32: Ann Intern Med. 2006 Sep 5;145(5):I14.

Original report in:
    Ann Intern Med. 2006 Sep 5;145(5):317-25.

Summaries for patients. Cost-effectiveness of a vaccine to prevent herpes zoster 
(shingles) in older adults.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Patient Education Handout

PMID: 16954354 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

33: S D Med. 2006 Aug;59(8):349-50.

Shingles vaccine: who should get it?

Johnson AM.

South Dakota State University, VA Medical Center, Sioux Falls, USA.

PMID: 16941852 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

34: Br J Nurs. 2006 Aug 10-Sep 13;15(15):814-8.

Managing pain after shingles: a nursing perspective.

Hawksley H.

Chronic Pain Management Services, Chronic Pain Management Department, Ashford and
St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust, Chertsey, Surrey.

Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the neuropathic pain syndrome that may develop
following an attack of shingles. While for many the symptoms subside, there can
be long-term pain problems for up to 40% of those affected with PHN, and for 3%
of these, symptoms can be severe (Dworkin and Portenoy, 1996). Knowledge and
understanding of the symptoms and various treatments and approaches available is 
important to enable nurses and patients to work together in partnership to
achieve the best outcomes. Realizing that more than one approach may be needed
can allow for treatments which are complementary and for optimization of both
biomedical and self-care approaches.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 16936604 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

35: Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2006 Aug;10(4):463-4.

Rash: is it shingles?

Marrs JA.

Hematology and Oncology Associates, Dayton, Ohio, USA. joycemrn@sbcglobal.net

CASE PRESENTATION: Mrs. Smith, a 56-year-old Caucasian woman, was seen in the
office for complaints of a rash at her waist. She completed three cycles of
dose-dense cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin chemotherapy for stage III breast
cancer. The third cycle was 10 days prior. Grade III neutropenia was the only
complete blood count abnormality.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 16927898 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

36: Health News. 2006 Aug;12(8):2.

Shingles vaccine gets the FDA nod.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 16917965 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

37: MMW Fortschr Med. 2006;Spec no.1:16.

[Two U.S. experts discuss the consequences of the "Shingles Prevention Study". Is
senior vaccination worthwhile in the practice?]

[Article in German]

[No authors listed]

PMID: 16872128 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

38: MMW Fortschr Med. 2006;Spec no.1:1-5; quiz 6.

[Varicella-zoster virus infections. 1: Chickenpox and shingles. Treatment and
prevention]

[Article in German]

Wassilew SW.

Dermatologische Klinik, Klinikum Krefeld.
SWassilew.Dermatologie@klinikum-krefeld.de

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 16872125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

39: Health News. 2006 Jul;12(7):5-6.

Easing the pain of shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 16858750 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

40: JAMA. 2006 Jul 12;296(2):157-8.

FDA approves shingles vaccine: herpes zoster vaccine targets older adults.

Mitka M.

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 16835412 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

41: Explore (NY). 2005 Jan;1(1):74.

Postherpetic neuralgia in the left buttock after a case of shingles.

Nielsen A.

Continuum Center for Health and Healing, Beth Israel, USA.

PMID: 16781505 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

42: Postgrad Med J. 2006 May;82(967):351-2.

Chickenpox, chickenpox vaccination, and shingles.

Welsby PD.

Infectious Diseases Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
P.Welsby@ed.ac.uk

Chickenpox in the United Kingdom, where vaccination is not undertaken, has had a 
stable epidemiology for decades and is a routine childhood illness. Because of
vaccination, chickenpox is now a rarity in the USA. In the UK vaccination is not 
done because introduction of a routine childhood vaccination might drive up the
age at which those who are non-immune get the illness (chickenpox tends to be
more severe the older you are), and the incidence of shingles may increase. The
United Kingdom is waiting to see what happens in countries where vaccination is
routine.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 16679476 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

43: Mayo Clin Womens Healthsource. 2006 Jun;10(6):6.

Shingles. The return of the chickenpox virus.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 16675921 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

44: Nursing. 2006 Apr;36(4):18-9.

Shutting down shingles.

Snow M.

CNA Edicational Services, Kaysville, Utah, USA.

PMID: 16582721 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

45: FDA Consum. 2005 Jul-Aug;39(4):7.

Experimental shingles vaccine proves effective in nationwide study.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 16252393 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

46: Health News. 2005 Sep;11(9):5-6.

Shingles vaccine found effective; could offer relief to millions. Zoster vaccine 
could be available as early as next year to prevent this painful skin and nerve
condition.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 16208806 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

47: Harv Womens Health Watch. 2005 Aug;12(12):5.

Shingles vaccine shows promise in large trial.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 16208771 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

48: Harv Health Lett. 2005 Aug;30(10):4-5.

These shots aren't just kid stuff. Adults may soon be rolling up their sleeves to
get vaccinated for shingles and whooping cough.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 16206387 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

49: Am Fam Physician. 2005 Sep 15;72(6):1082.

Information from your family doctor. Shingles: easing the pain.

American Academy of Family Physicians.

Publication Types: 
    Patient Education Handout

PMID: 16190506 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

50: Health News. 2005 Aug;11(8):2.

Shingles vaccine proves highly effective.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 16184636 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

51: Time. 2005 Jun 13;165(24):67.

A shingles vaccine.

Gorman C.

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 15974024 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

52: Med Monatsschr Pharm. 2005 Jun;28(6):188-92.

[Chickenpox (Varicella) and shingles (Herpes zoster)]

[Article in German]

[No authors listed]

PMID: 15960420 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

53: JAMA. 2005 May 25;293(20):2459-60.

When shingles wanes but pain does not: researchers target chronic postherpetic
neuralgia.

Hampton T.

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 15914732 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

54: Am J Epidemiol. 2005 May 15;161(10):929-38.

History of chickenpox and shingles and prevalence of antibodies to
varicella-zoster virus and three other herpesviruses among adults with glioma and
controls.

Wrensch M, Weinberg A, Wiencke J, Miike R, Sison J, Wiemels J, Barger G,
DeLorenze G, Aldape K, Kelsey K.

Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California,
San Francisco, CA 94102, USA. wrensch@itsa.ucsf.edu

Whether viruses or immunologic factors might cause or prevent human brain cancer 
is of interest. Statistically significant inverse associations of adult glioma
with history of chickenpox and immunoglobulin G antibodies to varicella-zoster
virus have been reported. The authors evaluate associations of immunoglobulin G
antibodies to varicella-zoster virus and three other herpesviruses among 229
adults with glioma and 289 controls in the San Francisco Bay Area Adult Glioma
Study (1997-2000). Cases were less likely than controls to report a history of
chickenpox (for self-reported cases vs. controls: the age-, gender-, and
ethnicity-adjusted odds ratio = 0.59, 95% confidence interval: 0.40, 0.86), and
they also had lower levels of immunoglobulin G to varicella-zoster virus (for
being in the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile: the age-, gender-, and
ethnicity-adjusted odds ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval: 0.24, 0.70). The
inverse association with anti-varicella-zoster virus immunoglobulin G was most
marked for glioblastoma multiforme cases versus controls and was only somewhat
attenuated by excluding subjects taking high-dose steroids and other medications.
Cases and controls did not differ notably for positivity to three other
herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus.
Cohort studies may help to clarify the nature of the association between immunity
to and/or clinical manifestations of varicella-zoster virus and glioblastoma.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
    Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

PMID: 15870157 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

55: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2005 Mar;2(1):113-116.

Mind-Body, Ki (Qi) and the Skin: Commentary on Irwin's 'Shingles Immunity and
Health Functioning in the Elderly: Tai Chi Chih as a Behavioral Treatment'

Kobayashi H, Ishii M.

PMID: 15841287 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

56: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2004 Dec;1(3):223-232. Epub 2004 Dec 1.

Shingles Immunity and Health Functioning in the Elderly: Tai Chi Chih as a
Behavioral Treatment.

Irwin M, Pike J, Oxman M.

Both the incidence and severity of herpes zoster (HZ) or shingles increase
markedly with increasing age in association with a decline in varicella zoster
virus (VZV)-specific immunity. Considerable evidence shows that behavioral
stressors, prevalent in older adults, correlate with impairments of cellular
immunity. Moreover, the presence of depressive symptoms in older adults is
associated with declines in VZV-responder cell frequency (VZV-RCF), an
immunological marker of shingles risk. In this review, we discuss recent findings
that administration of a relaxation response-based intervention, tai chi chih
(TCC), results in improvements in health functioning and immunity to VZV in older
adults as compared with a control group. TCC is a slow moving meditation
consisting of 20 separate standardized movements which can be readily used in
elderly and medically compromised individuals. TCC offers standardized training
and practice schedules, lending an important advantage over prior relaxation
response-based therapies. Focus on older adults at increased risk for HZ and
assay of VZV-specific immunity have implications for understanding the impact of 
behavioral factors and a behavioral intervention on a clinically relevant
end-point and on the response of the immune system to infectious pathogens.

PMID: 15841255 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

57: Eur J Epidemiol. 2004;19(12):1113-8.

The consistency of shingles and its significance for health monitoring.

Fleming DM, Bartelds A, Chapman RS, Cross KW.

Royal College of General Practitioners, Harborne, Birmingham, UK.
dfleming@rcgpbhamresunit.nhs.uk

Accurate estimation of monitored populations is essential for epidemiological
study. Many countries do not have systems of patient registration and routine
disease surveillance is thereby hindered. We studied the incidence of shingles
over time and investigated the hypothesis that the incidence is consistent and
could be used as a proxy for estimating the monitored population. Annual
incidence rates of shingles reported in the Weekly Returns Service (WRS) since
1970 and in the Dutch Sentinel Network (DSN) over the period 1998--2001 were
studied. Gender specific annual rates (1998--2001) were compared after
standardising for age. The population in the DSN was estimated by applying the
WRS incidence rates to the numbers of DSN incident cases. The incidence of
shingles was annually and seasonally consistent. Incidence in males was similar
in both networks and in females approximately 18% greater in the WRS: in age
groups 15-64 years, incidence was similar in both networks, but in children 0-14 
years and in persons 65 years and over, it was higher in the WRS. The total
populations in the DSN estimated from average age/gender specific rates in the
WRS were within 12% of the observed in each of the 4 years surveyed. The
incidence of shingles in the two countries was sufficiently close to estimate the
surveyed population aged 15-64 years from knowledge of incident cases in the
community. Routine monitoring of shingles in sentinel practice networks is
commended as a method of assuring recording quality and as a means of estimating 
the survey population where the registered population is not known.

PMID: 15678791 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

58: Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Dec;78(6):2159-61.

Acute postoperative shingles after thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis.

Massad MG, Navarro RA, Rubeiz H, Kpodonu J, Karol J, Blacha M, Evans A.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of
Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. mmassad@uic.edu

Shingles secondary to reactivation of a previous varicella-zoster virus infection
has been reported to develop within surgical wounds and after trauma. We report
the case of a 17-year-old girl with history of chicken pox in childhood who had
acute postoperative shingles develop along the T3-T4 dermatomes after thoracic
sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis. The possible causes and precipitating factors
are discussed.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 15561060 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

59: MMW Fortschr Med. 2004 Jul 22;146(29-30):60.

[Appearance diagnosis. Facial shingles]

[Article in German]

Mehling P.

Allgemeinmedizin, Höchberg.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 15540566 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

60: Johns Hopkins Med Lett Health After 50. 2004 Sep;17(7):8.

I was diagnosed with shingles several months ago, and although the rash has
healed, I continue to experience pain. How long can this pain persist, is it
treatable, and is it possible I could have another outbreak of shingles?

[No authors listed]

PMID: 15495356 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

61: Health News. 2004 Jul;10(7):9.

Older women face higher risk of post-shingles pain.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 15239158 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

62: Harv Womens Health Watch. 2004 May;11(9):6-7.

Managing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. Reactivation of the chickenpox
virus causes severe pain and rash in older adults.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 15153382 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

63: Postgrad Med. 2004 Apr;115(4):63-5.

Childhood shingles. Herpes zoster can occur in healthy children too.

Brodell RT, Zurakowski JE.

Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, OH, USA.
rtb@neoucom

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 15095537 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

64: Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2004 Mar;5(3):551-9.

Management of herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia.

Johnson RW, Whitton TL.

Pain Management Clinic, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK.
rwjbristol@doctors.org.uk

Herpes zoster (HZ) results from recrudescence of varicella zoster virus latent
since primary infection (varicella). The overall incidence of HZ is approximately
3/1000 of the population per year rising to 10/1000 per year by 80 years of age. 
Approximately 50% of individuals reaching 90 years of age will have had HZ. In
approximately 6%, a second attack may occur (usually several decades after the
first). Patients with HZ can transmit the virus to a non-immune individual
causing varicella. HZ is not contracted from individuals with varicella or HZ.
Reduced cell-mediated immunity to HZ occurs with ageing, explaining the increased
incidence in the elderly and from other causes such as tumours, HIV and
immunosuppressant drugs. Diagnosis is usually clinical from typical unilateral
dermatomal pain and rash. Prodromal symptoms, pain, itching and malaise, are
common. The most common complication of HZ is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN),
defined as significant pain or dysaesthesia present >or= 3 months after HZ. PHN
results from damage and secondary changes within components of the nervous system
subserving pain. Some motor deficit is common; severe and long-lasting paresis
may rarely accompany HZ. More than 5% of elderly patients have PHN at 1 year
after acute HZ. Predictors of PHN are, greater age, acute pain and rash severity,
prodromal pain, the presence of virus in peripheral blood as well as adverse
psychosocial factors. Therapy for acute HZ is intended to reduce acute pain,
hasten rash healing and reduce the risk of PHN and other complications. Antiviral
drugs are close to achieving these aims but do not entirely remove risk of PHN.
Oral steroids show no protective effect against PHN. Adequate analgesia during
the acute phase may require strong opioid drugs. Nerve blocks and tricyclic
antidepressants (TCAs) may reduce the risk of PHN although firm evidence is
lacking. PHN requires thorough evaluation and development of a management
strategy for each individual patient. Initial therapy is with TCAs (e.g.,
nortriptyline) or the anticonvulsant gabapentin. Topical lidocaine patches
frequently reduce allodynia. Strong opioids are sometimes required. Topical
capsaicin cream is beneficial for a small proportion of patients but is poorly
tolerated. NMDA antagonists have not proved beneficial with the exception of
ketamine. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) may be effective in 
some cases. HZ is a common condition. Severe complications such as stroke,
encephalitis and myelitis are relatively rare whereas sight threatening
complications of ophthalmic HZ are more common. PHN is common, distressing and
often intractable. Good management improves outcome.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 15013924 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

65: Epidemiol Infect. 2004 Jan;132(1):1-5.

Gender difference in the incidence of shingles.

Fleming DM, Cross KW, Cobb WA, Chapman RS.

Birmingham Research Unit of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 54
Lordswood Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9DB, UK.

We investigated age- and gender-specific incidence of shingles reported in a
large sentinel practice network monitoring a defined population over the years
1994-2001. In total, 5915 male and 8617 female incident cases were studied. For
each age group, we calculated the relative risk of females to males presenting
with shingles. Incidence rates of chickenpox and herpes simplex were examined
similarly. Shingles incidence was greater in females in each age group (except
for 15-24 years). Relative risks (female to male) were greatest in age groups
45-64 years (1.48) and 0-14 years (1.43). There were no gender differences in the
incidence of chickenpox except in the 15-24 years age group (female excess): for 
herpes simplex there were female excesses in all age groups. Gender-specific
age-standardized incidence rates of shingles were calculated for each year and
showed a consistent female excess in each of the 8 years (average annual excess
28%).

Publication Types: 
    Comparative Study
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 14979582 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

66: Prof Nurse. 2003 Dec;19(4):195-6.

Varicella-zoster virus, shingles and postherpetic neuralgia.

Shuttleworth A.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 14692251 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

67: Mayo Clin Womens Healthsource. 2001 May;5(5):6.

Shingles.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 14639308 [PubMed - in process]

68: Med Hypotheses. 2003 Nov-Dec;61(5-6):533-4.

Varicella inoculation to prevent shingles, and cytomegalovirus inoculation to
prevent cytomegalovirus associated graft failures.

Altschuler EL.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
eric.altschuler@mssm.edu

I suggest varicella virus inoculation be considered to reduce the risk of herpes 
zoster (the shingles), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) inoculation be considered to
reduce the risk of CMV associated transplant graft failure. Such inoculations are
inexpensive and easy to implement, and are simple potential solutions to common
and often severe medical problems with suboptimal current treatments.

PMID: 14592783 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

69: Harv Health Lett. 2003 Sep;28(11):4-5.

Shingles: When a slumbering virus stirs.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 14505966 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

70: Postgrad Med. 2003 Jun;113(6):87-8.

Patient notes: shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Patient Education Handout

PMID: 12838806 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

71: Vaccine. 2003 Jun 2;21(19-20):2541-7.

The incidence of shingles and its implications for vaccination policy.

Chapman RS, Cross KW, Fleming DM.

Birmingham Research Unit of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Lordswood
House, 54 Lordswood Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9DB, UK.

A vaccine is now available to prevent varicella-zoster infection, but its place
in routine preventive care is not yet determined. The age specific incidence of
shingles was examined separately by gender and age groups (15-24, 25-44, 45-64,
65-74 and 75 years and more) over the years 1994-2001. These incidence data were 
applied to national available data for the UK on current life expectancy to
calculate the risk of shingles infections at varying ages.The potential benefit
of an effective vaccine was estimated using three models of vaccine efficacy
applied separately to males and females at ages 50, 60 and 65 years and assuming 
vaccination at a single age. Similar calculations were made using a two dose
strategy at age 45 and 65 years and at age 50 and 70 years. The cost per case
saved was estimated from a vaccination cost of pound 40 per dose.The probability 
of having had an attack of shingles before age 45 years is 8.6% for males and
10.5% for females, The risk of acquiring shingles over an expected lifetime
(assuming no preventive vaccination) for males aged 45 years is 22% and for
females 32%. Whichever vaccine efficacy model was chosen, a single vaccination
policy at age 65 years was the most favourable option in both males and females. 
A two age vaccination policy was estimated to increase the cost per case saved by
30% over a single age policy but administration at age 50 and 70 years
substantially increased the number of cases saved as compared with a single age
policy and was potentially better than vaccination at 45 and 65 years.

PMID: 12744889 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

72: Nurs Times. 2003 Mar 18-24;99(11):28.

What you need to know about... herpes zoster (shingles).

[No authors listed]

PMID: 12683041 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

73: J Med Virol. 2003;70 Suppl 1:S24-30.

A study of shingles and the development of postherpetic neuralgia in East London.

Scott FT, Leedham-Green ME, Barrett-Muir WY, Hawrami K, Gallagher WJ, Johnson R, 
Breuer J.

Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical and Dental School, Queen Mary
College, 25-29 Ashfield Street, London E1 1BB, England, UK.

The incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia following shingles and the factors that 
are known to predict it were examined in a prospective observational community
study of patients with acute shingles presenting to their family doctors. The
detection of viral DNA in the blood at presentation as a prognostic indicator for
pain was also evaluated. Patients were followed for one year and the persistence 
of pain following rash assessed. Among 165 patients who had completed 6 months,
and 139 one-year follow-up, the prevalence of post herpetic neuralgia was 30% at 
6 weeks 27% at 12 weeks, 15.9% at 6 months, and 9% at one year. Age and severity 
of pain were significantly associated with the persistence of pain beyond 3
months. Viremia at presentation was detected in 66% of patients and was
significantly associated with the presence of pain at six months or beyond.
Antiviral agents were administered to only 50% of those at highest risk of
post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) mainly because of presentation longer than 72 hours
after the onset of rash. Few patients were prescribed the more potent prodrugs,
Valaciclovir and Famciclovir. In conclusion, treatment of acute shingles in this 
observational community-based study was suboptimal in 50% of cases. More accurate
prediction of which subset of elderly patients are most at risk of PHN may enable
targeted prescribing of the most potent drugs to those most likely to benefit.
Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 12627483 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

74: Arch Dermatol Res. 2003 Mar;294(12):529-35. Epub 2002 Dec 13.

Number of Langerhans immune cells in painful and non-painful human skin after
shingles.

Oaklander AL, Stocks EA, Mouton PR.

Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD,
USA.

During injury or inflammation, paracrine sensitization of peripheral sensory
neurons by immune cells contributes to the sensation of pain. It is less clear
whether this neural sensitization contributes to neuropathic pain after neural
injury as well. Shingles (herpes zoster) is a common disease that leaves some
patients with prolonged neuropathic pain known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Sensitization of cutaneous neurons has been hypothesized to contribute to PHN.
Langerhans cells (LC), the Ia(+) macrophages of the skin, contact epidermal
neurites and, when activated, synthesize molecules with the ability to sensitize 
axons. For these reasons, we examined morphological evidence for activation of LC
in subjects with established PHN. We also evaluated the relationship between
numbers of LC and nociceptive epidermal nerve endings; these are markedly reduced
in PHN. We used design-based stereology to estimate the number of CD1a(+) LC in
biopsies of painful and non-painful skin from ten adults with or without PHN
after shingles on the torso. There were no differences in the number of LC in
previously shingles-affected and normal-control skin biopsies. The number of LC
also remained at normal levels in biopsies with near-loss of innervation from
shingles. LC numbers were unrelated to the presence or severity of pain. These
data suggest that neuropathic pain in established PHN is not associated with
increased numbers of cutaneous macrophages, and that the number of cutaneous
macrophages in skin from the human torso is independent of the number of
epidermal nerve endings.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

PMID: 12624778 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

75: Ann Rheum Dis. 2002 Jul;61(7):661.

Shingles following infliximab infusion.

Baumgart DC, Dignass AU.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Letter

PMID: 12079920 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

76: Mayo Clin Health Lett. 2002 Jun;20(6):7.

Shingles. Seek early treatment.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 12066808 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

77: Br J Community Nurs. 2002 Jun;7(6):286-7, 290-1.

Life after shingles: the management of postherpetic neuralgia.

Williams H.

Chronic Pain Management, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Chronic pain may have devastating effects on the physical and psychological well 
being of many patients (Harden, 1999). Most community nurses are in contact with 
a number of patients with chronic pain and will be asked for advice and
recommendations with regards to its management. Chronic neuropathic pain is a
complex and sometimes intractable condition that patients will seek help for,
from either GPs or from the community nursing teams. This article will examine
one neuropathic pain syndrome - post-herpetic neuralgia - and review the evidence
base in relation to treatment strategies, in an attempt to support community
staff in the management of this difficult to treat pain syndrome.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 12066061 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

78: Obstet Gynecol. 2002 Apr;99(4):625-8.

Postherpetic neuralgia after shingles: an under-recognized cause of chronic
vulvar pain.

Oaklander AL, Rissmiller JG.

Neuropathic Pain Study Group, Departments of Anesthesiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

BACKGROUND: Vulvar shingles, an uncommon presentation of a common disease,
probably affects 1.5 million American women during their lifetime and leaves
about 150,000 with postherpetic neuralgia, a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment can minimize pain severity and duration. CASES:
The case of an 88-year-old woman with sacral shingles is described. Complications
led to her demise. A 35-year-old with a 6-year history of disabling vulvar pain
and many diagnostic procedures was ultimately diagnosed with postherpetic
neuralgia. CONCLUSION: Shingles needs to be included in the differential
diagnosis of vulvar rashes because it is a modifiable risk factor for chronic
vulvar pain. The possibility of postherpetic neuralgia must be considered in
women with unexplained vulvar dysesthesia.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 12039124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

79: J Clin Pathol. 2002 May;55(5):399; author reply 399.

Comment on:
    J Clin Pathol. 2001 Oct;54(10):743-7.

Vaccination to prevent varicella and shingles.

Katona SJ.

Publication Types: 
    Comment
    Letter

PMID: 11986353 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

80: JAMA. 2002 May 1;287(17):2211; author reply 2211-2.

Comment on:
    JAMA. 2002 Feb 6;287(5):606-11.

Varicella vaccine and shingles.

Brisson M, Edmunds WJ, Gay NJ, Miller E.

Publication Types: 
    Comment
    Letter

PMID: 11980518 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

81: Ostomy Wound Manage. 2002 Mar;48(3):24-7.

Healing shingles with moist occlusive dressings.

Lee SK.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 11968892 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

82: Nurs Times. 2000 Dec 14-2001 Jan 3;96(50):36-7.

Shingles: diagnosis and treatment.

Scott F.

Virology Department, Barts and The London NHS Trust.

PMID: 11965804 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

83: Pain. 2002 Mar;96(1-2):9-12.

Intractable postherpetic itch and cutaneous deafferentation after facial
shingles.

Oaklander AL, Cohen SP, Raju SV.

Neuropathic Pain Study Group, Department of Anesthesiology, Massachusetts General
Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. aoaklander@partners.org

Some patients develop chronic itch from neurological injuries, and shingles may
be a common cause. Neuropathic itch can lead to self-injury from scratching
desensate skin. A 39-year-old woman experienced severe postherpetic itch, but no 
postherpetic neuralgia, after ophthalmic zoster. Within 1 year, she had
painlessly scratched through her frontal skull into her brain. Sensory testing
and skin biopsies were performed on itchy and normal scalp to generate
preliminary hypotheses about mechanisms of neuropathic itch. Quantitation of
epidermal neurites in PGP9.5-immunolabeled skin biopsies demonstrated loss of 96%
of epidermal innervation in the itchy area. Quantitative sensory testing
indicated severe damage to most sensory modalities except itch. These data
indicate that in this patient, severe postherpetic itch was associated with loss 
of peripheral sensory neurons. Possible mechanisms include electrical
hyperactivity of hypo-afferented central itch-specific neurons, selective
preservation of peripheral itch-fibers from neighboring unaffected dermatomes,
and/or imbalance between excitation and inhibition of second-order sensory
neurons.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 11932056 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

84: Dermatol Nurs. 2001 Feb;13(1):51, 54-5.

Shingles update: common questions in caring for a patient with shingles.

Madison LK.

Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a herpes virus that can cause two distinct
clinical diseases, chickenpox and shingles. Primary infection of varicella, often
called chickenpox, results in a generalized eruption of a vesicular exanthematous
rash which is usually seen in children and is highly contagious. This virus (VZV)
can then become latent and later reactivate causing herpes zoster, commonly known
as shingles. Shingles is usually a localized phenomenon often seen in adults and 
is usually less contagious. The following is a discussion of infection control
questions most commonly asked regarding the care of a patient with shingles.

PMID: 11917300 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

85: Rev Med Virol. 2002 Jan-Feb;12(1):5-11.

Studies on shingles, is the virus ordinary chickenpox virus?

Breuer J.

Publication Types: 
    Biography
    Classical Article
    Historical Article

Personal Name as Subject: 
    Simpson RE

PMID: 11787080 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

86: J Clin Pathol. 2001 Oct;54(10):743-7.

Comment in:
    J Clin Pathol. 2002 May;55(5):399; author reply 399.

Vaccination to prevent varicella and shingles.

Breuer J.

Department of Virology, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine 
and Dentistry, Queen Mary and Westfield College, 37 Ashfield Street, London E1
1BB, UK. j.breuer@mds.qmw.ac.uk

Vaccination of healthy children against varicella using the live attenuated Oka
vaccine has been available in Japan and south Korea for several years. In 1996, a
programme of universal vaccination of children to prevent varicella was
introduced in the USA and other countries, including Canada, Germany, and Sweden,
have licensed the vaccine for use in healthy children. This article reviews the
origin of the Oka vaccine and the evidence for vaccine safety and efficacy in
children and adults. Universal vaccination of children and targeted vaccination
of groups at risk of severe varicella are discussed. The possible use of the Oka 
vaccine to prevent zoster is reviewed, and initiatives to develop new varicella
zoster virus vaccines are outlined.

PMID: 11577118 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

87: Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2001 Sep;3(5):401-411.

Shingles (Herpes Zoster) and Post-herpetic Neuralgia.

Davis LE, King MK.

Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, and Microbiology, New Mexico VA Health
Care System, 1501 San Pedro Drive, SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA.
LEDavis@UNM.edu

During childhood chickenpox, varicella-zoster virus becomes latent in neurons of 
the dorsal root or trigeminal ganglia. Shingles results years to decades later
from a breakdown of viral latency within a ganglion and subsequent virus spread
to the skin producing a unilateral dermatomal vesicular rash accompanied by
segmental pain. Treatment with famciclovir, valacyclovir, and high dose acyclovir
is beneficial if started within the first 3 days of the rash. All three drugs can
be given orally, are equally effective, shorten the duration of viral shedding
and time to healing of the rash by 1 to 2 days, and lessen the intensity and
duration of the acute neuritic pain. Famciclovir and valacyclovir have more
convenient dosing schedules (three times daily) compared to acyclovir (five times
daily). Mild cases of shingles in younger healthy individuals often do not
require any antiviral treatment. Pain in shingles may have burning, lancinating, 
or allodynic qualities, ranges in intensity from mild to unbearable, and lasts 2 
to 8 weeks. Pain treatment varies on the type and intensity of pain experienced. 
In a few patients, post-herpetic neuralgia develops and the dermatomal pain
persists for months to years. Effective treatment of post-herpetic pain is often 
difficult.

PMID: 11487454 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

88: FDA Consum. 2001 May-Jun;35(3):21-5.

Shingles.

Zamula E.

PMID: 11458545 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

89: Ann Rheum Dis. 2001 Jul;60(7):719.

A case of shingles mimicking carpal tunnel syndrome.

Wilson H, Hamilton J, Madhok R.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Letter

PMID: 11436859 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

90: Mayo Clin Health Lett. 2001 May;19(5):4.

Steroid shots may help pain after shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 11349633 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

91: Pain. 2001 May;92(1-2):139-45.

Erratum in:
    Pain 2001 Dec;94(3):325.

The density of remaining nerve endings in human skin with and without
postherpetic neuralgia after shingles.

Oaklander AL.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Boston,
MA, USA. aoaklander@partners.org

The mechanisms of chronic neuropathic pain are not well understood. Postherpetic 
neuralgia (PHN), which occurs in some patients after shingles (herpes zoster),
was used to investigate the neural determinants of chronic pain. Skin biopsies
were obtained from 38 adults with or without PHN at least 3 months after healing 
of shingles on the torso. Vertical sections were immunolabeled against PGP9.5, a 
pan-axonal marker, to measure the density of remaining nerve endings in skin
previously affected by shingles. All axons that end in the epidermis are
nociceptors, neurons that transmit pain messages. The densities ranged between 2 
and 3976 neurites/mm2 skin surface, but the overlap between subjects and without 
PHN was small. Of 19 subjects without PHN, 17 had more than 670 neurites/mm2 skin
surface area (mean +/- SEM = 1569 +/- 230), and 18 of 19 subjects with PHN had
640 or fewer neurites/mm2 (mean +/- SEM = 367 +/- 92). PHN may be a
'phantom-skin' pain associated with loss of nociceptors. This threshold of
approximately 650 neurites/mm2 skin surface was not detected in previous studies 
that used summary statistics. It implies that the absence of pain after shingles 
may require the preservation of a minimum density of primary nociceptive neurons,
and that the density of epidermal innervation may provide an objective correlate 
for the presence or absence of PHN pain.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 11323135 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

92: Orthop Nurs. 2000 Jan-Feb;19(1):59-62.

Shingles update: common questions in caring for a patient with shingles.

Madison LK.

Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a herpes virus that can cause two distinct
clinical diseases, chickenpox and shingles. Primary infection of varicella, often
called chickenpox, results in a generalized eruption of a vesicular exanthematous
rash which is usually seen in children and is highly contagious. This virus (VZV)
can then become latent and later reactivate causing herpes zoster, commonly known
as shingles. Shingles is usually a localized phenomenon often seen in adults and 
is usually less contagious. The following is a discussion of infection control
questions most commonly asked regarding the care of a patient with shingles.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 11062626 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

93: Health News. 2000 Jan;6(1):6.

Blocking shingles pain.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 11019661 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

94: Harv Womens Health Watch. 2000 Sep;8(1):5.

Shingles vaccine trial underway.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 10966601 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

95: Am J Ind Med. 2000 Jul;38(1):108-11.

A study of post-traumatic shingles as a work related injury.

Foye PM, Stitik TP, Nadler SF, Chen B.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UMDNJ: New Jersey Medical School, Newark,
New Jersey 07103-2499, USA. foyepm@umdnj.edu

BACKGROUND: After chicken pox, the herpes varicella-zoster (HVZ) virus may remain
dormant in the dorsal root ganglion until later reactivation causes shingles,
characterized by painful dysesthesias and cutaneous vesicular eruptions along a
unilateral dermatome. Shingles as a work-related injury has not been previously
addressed in the medical literature. Case History We present a 50-year old female
hospital employee who, while working, sustained an acute, traumatic
hyperextension injury to her right wrist, hand, and fingers. Although she
initially responded to treatment for flexor tendinitis, she suddenly developed
shingles in the right C5-C6 dermatomes. She was treated with famcyclovir and her 
skin lesions resolved, but post-herpetic neuralgia persisted. CONCLUSIONS: It was
felt that her shingles was causally related to her occupational injury since
trauma (previously reported to precipitate shingles) was her only risk factor and
the timing and location of the lesions corresponded closely to the occupational
injury. In addition to appropriately diagnosing and treating their patients,
workers' compensation physicians often must determine if a particular condition
was caused by the original work-related incident. Clinicians who treat trauma
patients and injured workers should be aware of post-traumatic shingles and
understand the causal relationship of this uncommon but clinically important
phenomenon. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 10861772 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

96: Am Fam Physician. 2000 Apr 15;61(8):2437-44, 2447-8.

Management of herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia.

Stankus SJ, Dlugopolski M, Packer D.

Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia 30905, USA.

Herpes zoster (commonly referred to as "shingles") and postherpetic neuralgia
result from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus acquired during the
primary varicella infection, or chickenpox. Whereas varicella is generally a
disease of childhood, herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia become more
common with increasing age. Factors that decrease immune function, such as human 
immunodeficiency virus infection, chemotherapy, malignancies and chronic
corticosteroid use, may also increase the risk of developing herpes zoster.
Reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus from dorsal root ganglia is
responsible for the classic dermatomal rash and pain that occur with herpes
zoster. Burning pain typically precedes the rash by several days and can persist 
for several months after the rash resolves. With postherpetic neuralgia, a
complication of herpes zoster, pain may persist well after resolution of the rash
and can be highly debilitating. Herpes zoster is usually treated with orally
administered acyclovir. Other antiviral medications include famciclovir and
valacyclovir. The antiviral medications are most effective when started within 72
hours after the onset of the rash. The addition of an orally administered
corticosteroid can provide modest benefits in reducing the pain of herpes zoster 
and the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia. Ocular involvement in herpes zoster 
can lead to rare but serious complications and generally merits referral to an
ophthalmologist. Patients with postherpetic neuralgia may require narcotics for
adequate pain control. Tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants, often given 
in low dosages, may help to control neuropathic pain. Capsaicin, lidocaine
patches and nerve blocks can also be used in selected patients.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 10794584 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

97: J Neurol. 2000 Mar;247(3):218-9.

Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis associated with shingles.

Tagawa Y, Yuki N.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Letter
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 10787119 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

98: Mayo Clin Health Lett. 2000 Jan;18(1):4.

New skin patch calms pain following shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 10646332 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

99: Contrib Microbiol. 1999;3:111-27.

Shingles (zoster).

Lilie HM, Wassilew SW.

Dermatologische Klinik, Klinikum Krefeld, Deutschland. lilie@klinikum-krefeld.de

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 10599525 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

100: Arch Neurol. 1999 Oct;56(10):1292-4.

The pathology of shingles: Head and Campbell's 1900 monograph.

Oaklander AL.

Department of Anesthesiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, Boston 02114, USA.

Shingles (herpes zoster) and postherpetic neuralgia, a chronic neuropathic pain
syndrome that can persist after the shingles lesions heal, were studied by
eminent neurologists of the 19th century. Autopsy studies were used to establish 
sensory neural pathways in the peripheral and central nervous systems. More
recently, zoster and postherpetic neuralgia have served as models for the study
of the pathogenesis and treatment of neuropathic pain. Postherpetic neuralgia has
the cardinal clinical features of all neuropathic pain syndromes, including
sensory abnormalities, ongoing pain, and allodynia (touch-induced pain). Unlike
most other neuropathic pain syndromes, such as trigeminal neuralgia or nerve root
compressions, shingles has a well-defined pathogenesis and onset, as well as
visible lesions, and is therefore uniquely suitable for study.

Publication Types: 
    Historical Article
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 10520948 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

101: J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 Aug;41(2 Pt 2):309-11.

Shingles developing within recent surgical scars.

Nikkels AF, Piérard GE.

Department of Dermatopatholgy, University Medical Center of Liège, Belgium.

Occurrence of varicella and recurrence of herpes simplex on traumatized sites of 
the skin are well-described events. By contrast, herpes zoster occurring
specifically at the site of previously injured skin has not yet been reported.
Two patients are presented who developed shingles limited to skin on and around
recent surgical scars. Varicella zoster virus was identified using
immunohistochemistry on skin biopsy specimens and Tzanck smears. We suspect that 
the occurrence of herpes zoster involving surgical scars is usually misdiagnosed 
and therefore unrecognized. Whether shingles adjacent to scars represents a
coincidental event or is specifically triggered by local injury is unknown.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 10426916 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

102: Am J Gastroenterol. 1999 Feb;94(2):424-6.

Shingles during the course of treatment with 6-mercaptopurine for inflammatory
bowel disease.

Korelitz BI, Fuller SR, Warman JI, Goldberg MD.

Department of Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, and The NYU School of Medicine, New 
York, New York 10021, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to study the frequency, severity, and outcome of patients 
with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis treated with 6-mercaptopurine (6MP)
who developed shingles during treatment, and to recommend management. While
varicella can be severe in young people immunocompromised by steroids, the
incidence of herpes zoster in older people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 
and whether its severity is influenced by 6MP and azathioprine are unknown.
METHODS: Data were collected from our IBD Center on 550 patients with IBD to
identify those who developed shingles while on 6MP, its severity, the dose and
duration of 6MP, and the management of the 6MP. RESULTS: Twelve of 550 patients
with IBD treated with 6MP developed shingles. In two with herpes zoster
ophthalmicus the pain was prolonged, and one patient developed encephalitis which
was brief and uncomplicated; in nine patients the course was benign. Acyclovir
should be the treatment of choice even though it was available in only three
cases. CONCLUSIONS: Shingles occurs more often in IBD patients treated with 6MP
than in those who are not, but the course is usually benign and there has been no
mortality. The 6MP should be stopped temporarily until severity is established
but if the underlying disease warrants further treatment the 6MP should be
restarted.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 10022640 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

103: Health News. 1999 Jan 5;5(1):1-2.

Pain after shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 9932537 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

104: Hosp Med. 1998 Oct;59(10):770-6.

Shingles: a review of diagnosis and management.

Morgan R, King D.

Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Wirral NHS Trust Hospital, Merseyside.

Herpes zoster or shingles results from reactivation of varicella zoster virus
previously dormant in cells of the dorsal root ganglion. The incidence of
shingles increases with age and immunosuppression. Guidelines for managing
shingles are now available and implementation, with the emphasis on early
treatment, may reduce the severity of a shingles attack and reduce the incidence 
of complications.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 9850292 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

105: Ugeskr Laeger. 1998 Nov 23;160(48):6943.

[Treatment of chickenpox and shingles]

[Article in Danish]

Gerstoft J.

Publication Types: 
    Editorial

PMID: 9846086 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

106: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1998 Aug;65(2):208.

Pontine inflammatory lesion due to shingles.

Kidd D, Duncan JS, Thompson EJ.

Department of Clinical Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and
Neurosurgery, London, UK.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 9703172 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

107: Johns Hopkins Med Lett Health After 50. 1998 Jul;10(5):3.

Taking the sting out of shingles.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 9650524 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

108: RN. 1998 May;61(5):80.

Managing the aftermath of shingles.

Scholz MJ.

Northwest Neuroscience Institute, USA.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 9626020 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

109: Postgrad Med J. 1998 Feb;74(868):101-3.

Characteristics of patients with shingles admitted to a district general
hospital.

Morgan R, King D.

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, Merseyside, UK.

Little is known about why some patients with shingles are admitted to hospital.
We reviewed 72 case notes from a list of 80 patients admitted to hospital with
shingles over a six-year period. Pain was the main complaint of the patients
admitted, most of whom were elderly and lived alone. The commonest site of
involvement in hospital admissions was the eye (herpes zoster ophthalmicus).
Diagnosis of shingles was made after admission in 12 patients, eight of whom had 
originally been diagnosed as having an acute medical or surgical condition. We
conclude that the prodromal phase of shingles may lead to misdiagnosis.

PMID: 9616491 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

110: Lakartidningen. 1998 Mar 25;95(13):1384-5.

[Are famciclovir and valaciclovir truly effective in the treatment of shingles?]

[Article in Swedish]

Liedholm H, Linné AB.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 9560964 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

111: Lakartidningen. 1997 Dec 17;94(51-52):4881-4.

[Antiviral therapy in herpes zoster. Famciclovir and valaciclovir are two good
agents against shingles]

[Article in Swedish]

Sköldenberg B.

Infektionskliniken, Danderyds sjukhus.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 9454005 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

112: AIDS Patient Care STDS. 1997 Jun;11(3):198.

Famciclovir safe and effective for management of shingles.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 11361804 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

113: Practitioner. 1996 Sep;240(1566):552.

Shingles.

Wyndham M.

British Society for the Study of Infection.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 8984465 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

114: J Antimicrob Chemother. 1996 Mar;37(3):583-97.

Multiple dose netivudine, a potent anti-varicella zoster virus agent, in healthy 
elderly volunteers and patients with shingles.

Peck RW, Crome P, Wood MJ, McKendrick MW, Bannister B, Mandal BK, Crooks RJ.

Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent, UK.

Netivudine is a nucleoside analogue with potent anti-varicella zoster virus
activity. We now report two open studies of the pharmacokinetics and tolerability
of netivudine in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg twice daily. In one study, healthy
volunteers received an initial, single dose followed, a week later, by repeat
dosing for 9 1/2 days; in the other, patients with shingles were treated for 8
days and data were also recorded for rash resolution and pain duration and
intensity. Netivudine was well tolerated in both studies. Plasma concentrations
were similar in patients and healthy volunteers and increased in proportion to
dose. Steady state concentrations were 15-25% lower than expected from single
dose data, probably because of slightly decreased netivudine absorption after
food. Elimination half-life was l4-20 h. Plasma concentrations of
5-propynyluracil (5-PU), the main metabolite of netivudine, did not increase in
proportion to the netivudine dose and tended to be higher in patients than
volunteers. 5-PU concentrations remained elevated for up to 72 h after the last
netivudine dose, suggesting continued but slow release from unabsorbed netivudine
in the gut lumen. New lesion formation ceased and vesicles crusted most quickly
in the 200 mg group; zoster-associated pain intensity, was reduced in a
dose-related manner.

Publication Types: 
    Clinical Trial

PMID: 9182115 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

115: Arch Fam Med. 1996 Jan;5(1):42-6.

Shingles in one family practice.

Richards P.

One hundred twenty-four patients presented with herpes zoster in a small-town,
solo practice between 1983 and 1992. This article reviews the clinical features
and natural history of herpes zoster, followed by a description of the cases seen
in the study practice. This common disease, easily diagnosed and treated by the
family physician, usually responds well to treatment with acyclovir.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 8542053 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

116: Aust Fam Physician. 1995 Sep;24(9):1747; quiz 1747-8.

Shingles in a 63 year old woman.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 7487662 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

117: Aust Fam Physician. 1995 Jun;24(6):1167-8.

Cold sores and shingles.

Holley WC.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 7625954 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

118: J Infect. 1995 May;30(3):193-200.

Guidelines for the management of shingles. report of a working group of the
British Society for the Study of Infection (BSSI).

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Guideline
    Practice Guideline
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 7673741 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

119: Nurse Pract. 1995 Jan;20(1):80.

Famciclovir approved for shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 7898796 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

120: Am J Epidemiol. 1994 Oct 1;140(7):632-42.

Shingles, allergies, family medical history, oral contraceptives, and other
potential risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Strom BL, Reidenberg MM, West S, Snyder ES, Freundlich B, Stolley PD.

Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-6095.

The authors undertook a case-control study to explore the many factors that have 
been postulated to be related to the etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus. A 
total of 195 cases of systemic lupus diagnosed in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
metropolitan area between 1985 and 1987 were compared with 143 controls, friends 
of the cases matched to them according to age (+/- 5 years) and sex. Through
personal interviews and chart reviews, data were collected on demographic
factors, personal and familial medical history, reproductive history, medication 
history, and environmental exposures. Associations were found between systemic
lupus erythematosus and having a family history of autoimmune disease (age-,
sex-, and race-adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI)
1.2-4.6), a history of shingles (adjusted OR = 6.4, 95% CI 1.4-28.0), a history
of hives (adjusted OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0), and a history of medication
allergies (adjusted OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.5-4.5). No association was present between
systemic lupus erythematosus and either any use or recent use of oral
contraceptives (e.g., OR = 0.6 (95% CI 0.2-1.4) for use in the 3 years prior to
diagnosis), family history of multiple other diseases, or a history of numerous
other infections or various other types of allergies. Thus, these data indicate
that systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with a family history of
autoimmune diseases, a history of shingles, and a history of allergies. In
contrast, if the development of systemic lupus is affected by use of oral
contraceptives, this effect must be extremely modest. These findings may help
clarify the possible pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, and they
provide clues as to when the presence of systemic lupus should be suspected.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

PMID: 7942763 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

121: Am J Hosp Pharm. 1994 Oct 1;51(19):2326.

Famciclovir released for shingles treatment.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Comparative Study
    News

PMID: 7847396 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

122: Drugs. 1994 Oct;48(4):528-48.

Recognition and treatment of shingles.

Nikkels AF, Piérard GE.

Department of Dermatopathology, University of Liège, Belgium.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is responsible for a primary infection (varicella)
followed by a latency, eventually resulting in herpes zoster (shingles). The
replication cycle of VZV is normally interrupted after varicella. Consequently,
VZV remains dormant in the organism. Reactivation occurs after viraemia, and the 
development of tissue alterations (skin and viscera) depends on the immunological
status of the patient. Diagnosis of herpes zoster relies on clinical recognition 
and cytological and histological evaluations combined with immunohistochemistry
and molecular biology techniques. Treatment of herpes zoster primarily relies
upon antiviral drugs and incidentally on immunomodulating agents, specific
immunoglobulins, antimicrobial agents, antiviral enzymes and corticosteroids.
Drugs with a clinically relevant activity against varicella zoster virus
infections include aciclovir, adenosine monophosphate, bromodeoxyuridine,
desciclovir, fiacitabine, idoxuridine, interferon-alpha and vidarabine. Among
them, aciclovir appears to be a first-line agent. Its efficacy has been well
established by many clinical studies. Promising drugs for the future include
famciclovir, penciclovir, valaciclovir and other molecules currently under
investigation. Recent and promising improvements in antiviral drug development
may increase patient compliance, cost-benefit ratios and therapeutic efficacy.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 7528128 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

123: J Can Dent Assoc. 1994 May;60(5):439-40.

Dr. Helene Shingles: a life dedicated to geriatric dentistry.

Crawford PR.

Publication Types: 
    Biography
    Historical Article

Personal Name as Subject: 
    Shingles H

PMID: 8004521 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

124: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994 Jan;15(1):61-2.

Valaciclovir more effective than acyclovir in reducing pain from shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    News

PMID: 8133011 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

125: Elder Care. 1993 Nov-Dec;5(6):33.

Surviving shingles.

Hutt A.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 8298601 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

126: Elder Care. 1993 Sep-Oct;5(5):41-4; quiz 45-6.

Herpes zoster (shingles).

Garrett G.

PMID: 8401445 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

127: JAMA. 1993 Apr 14;269(14):1836-9.

Comment in:
    JAMA. 1993 Aug 11;270(6):710.

Shingles. Sorrows, salves, and solutions.

Straus SE.

Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. 20892.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Clinical Conference

PMID: 8459517 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

128: Rom J Virol. 1993 Jan-Jun;44(1-2):17-20.

[Moroxidine, an antiviral agent used for the treatment of shingles (herpes
zoster)]

[Article in French]

Athanasiu P, Petrescu A, Vulcan V.

Institut de Virologie Stefan S. Nicolau, Bucarest, Roumanie.

Treatment with moroxidine, Romanian preparation with virustatic effects, was
applied in 350 patients with different localisation herpes zoster lesions.
Treatment had good effects, especially when it was applied early.

Publication Types: 
    English Abstract

PMID: 9702246 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

129: J R Soc Med. 1991 Mar;84(3):184.

Comment on:
    J R Soc Med. 1990 Oct;83(10):617-9.

Epidemiology of shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Comment
    Letter

PMID: 2013914 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

130: J R Soc Med. 1990 Oct;83(10):617-9.

Comment in:
    J R Soc Med. 1991 Mar;84(3):184.

Epidemiology of shingles.

Glynn C, Crockford G, Gavaghan D, Cardno P, Price D, Miller J.

Oxford Regional Pain Relief Unit, Abingdon Hospital, Leeds.

One thousand and nineteen patients with acute varicella zoster viral infection
were referred to the physiotherapy department for treatment between 1978 and
1986. Sixty per cent were women and 40% were men with a mean age of 58 years
(range 9-96 years). The prevalence varied between 1.3 and 1.6 per 1000 per annum.
The left side was affected in 52% while the right was affected in 48%. The
thoracic dermatomes were the most commonly affected (56%) followed by cervical
(17%), lumbar (10%), sacral (5%), and the trigeminal nerve was infected in 12%.
There was a significant seasonal (P less than 0.001) variation in the prevalence 
of acute varicella zoster virus infection, most common in the summer and least
common in the spring. There was no clustering in time and space so that it is
unlikely that the varicella zoster virus is infective or that re-exposure to the 
virus causes reactivation of the latent virus.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 1962821 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

131: Ulster Med J. 1990 Apr;59(1):77-81.

Cerebral vasculitis associated with shingles.

Edgar JD, Crosbie JJ, Hawkins SA.

Department of Medicine, Queen's University of Belfast.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 2349753 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

132: Med J Aust. 1989 Sep 18;151(6):360.

Treatment of prodromal shingles.

Petersons VV.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 2593954 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

133: BMJ. 1989 Sep 16;299(6701):740-1.

Treatment of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 2508905 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

134: BMJ. 1989 Aug 5;299(6695):392-3.

Comment on:
    BMJ. 1989 Jun 10;298(6687):1537-8.

Treatment of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Comment
    Letter

PMID: 2506989 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

135: BMJ. 1989 Jul 1;299(6690):55.

Comment on:
    BMJ. 1989 Jun 10;298(6687):1537-8.

Treatment of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia.

Schieff C.

Publication Types: 
    Comment
    Letter

PMID: 2503218 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

136: Med J Aust. 1989 Jun 19;150(12):727.

Treatment of prodromal shingles.

Bateman PP.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Letter

PMID: 2733628 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

137: BMJ. 1989 Jun 10;298(6687):1537-8.

Comment in:
    BMJ. 1989 Aug 26;299(6698):568.    BMJ. 1989 Aug 5;299(6695):392-3.    BMJ. 1989 Jul 1;299(6690):55.

Treatment of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia.

Jolleys JV.

Publication Types: 
    Review

PMID: 2503110 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

138: Practitioner. 1989 Mar 22;233(1465):398-403.

Shingles in general practice.

Peto T.

Patients over 50 with simple shingles should be offered topical idoxuridine or
intravenous acyclovir to reduce the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia. For younger 
patients, specific treatment with high dose intravenous acyclovir is needed only 
for complications or in immunosuppressed patients.

PMID: 2594625 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

139: Med J Aust. 1989 Feb 20;150(4):227-8.

Treatment of prodromal shingles.

Kowal L.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Letter

PMID: 2785634 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

140: N Z Med J. 1988 Jul 13;101(849):461.

A new shingles therapy.

Acland RH.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 3399188 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

141: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1987 Oct 10;295(6603):926-7.

Acyclovir for shingles.

Chase AO.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 3119110 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

142: Chemioterapia. 1987 Jun;6(2 Suppl):671-3.

Recent developments in the management of herpes zoster (shingles).

Wood MJ, McKendrick M, McGill JI.

Department of Communicable & Tropical Diseases, Birmingham Hospital, England.

Publication Types: 
    Clinical Trial
    Comparative Study
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 3334658 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

143: Med Monatsschr Pharm. 1987 Apr;10(4):100-2.

[Herpes zoster (shingles)]

[Article in German]

Cremer H.

PMID: 3587110 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

144: Br Dent J. 1986 Mar 22;160(6):189.

Bilateral shingles.

Cousin GC, Ferguson MM.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Letter

PMID: 3456780 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

145: Lancet. 1986 Mar 22;1(8482):682.

Unusual shingles and chickenpox.

Dawson TA, Scott KW.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 2869372 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

146: J Hand Surg [Br]. 1986 Feb;11(1):115-6.

Shingles following axillary nerve block. A case report.

Percival NJ.

Axillary nerve blocks are now frequently used for emergency and elective upper
limb surgery. The method gives reliable anaesthesia with few complications. A
case is described in which a patient developed Herpes Zoster following an
Axillary Nerve Block, a hitherto unreported complication.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 3958530 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

147: Lancet. 1986 Feb 1;1(8475):273-4.

Shingles clusters.

Palmer SR, Tillett H.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 2868283 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

148: Lancet. 1985 Dec 21-28;2(8469-70):1433-4.

Clusters of shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 2867432 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

149: Lancet. 1985 Nov 16;2(8464):1108-11.

An outbreak of shingles?

Palmer SR, Caul EO, Donald DE, Kwantes W, Tillett H.

7 of 101 staff within one department of a large office complex had shingles, as
diagnosed by a general practitioner, within a three-month period. This incidence 
was significantly greater than that in the remaining workforce.
Varicella-zoster-specific IgM antibody was detected in all 4 cases from whom
early convalescent serum samples were obtained but in none of 22 controls. Within
the index department there was evidence of clustering in time and by work area. A
case/control study showed that a recent preceeding illness might have been a risk
factor for shingles in the outbreak cases, but not for sporadic cases in other
departments of the same office complex. This outbreak suggests that shingles can 
be provoked by reexposure to varicella-zoster virus.

PMID: 2865576 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

150: Lancet. 1985 Nov 16;2(8464):1105-6.

Outbreaks of shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Editorial

PMID: 2865573 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

151: J Gen Virol. 1985 Aug;66 ( Pt 8):1785-93.

Antibody response to varicella-zoster virus surface glycoproteins in chickenpox
and shingles.

Larkin M, Heckels JE, Ogilvie MM.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-infected cell surface proteins were investigated
using extrinsic radiolabelling of the cell surface, immunoprecipitation of
detergent-solubilized extract of the same cell surface and fractionation of the
immunoprecipitates using SDS-PAGE. Glycosylated proteins were identified by their
affinity for Ricinus communis lectin. Six glycoproteins with apparent mol. wt. of
170K, 105K, 93K, 81K, 53K and 45K were identified. The 170K glycoprotein was
shown to be disulphide-linked since under reducing conditions for SDS-PAGE it was
cleaved to a protein of 63K mol. wt. The IgG responses to these glycoproteins
during various clinical circumstances are described. In acute sera from all
chickenpox patients and in the majority of acute shingles sera, antibodies
reactive with glycoproteins could not be detected. In chickenpox convalescence,
antibodies reactive with glycoproteins of mol. wt. 170K, 105K, 53K and 45K were
identified, whilst during zoster convalescence antibodies to all six were
prominent. Antibodies to the disulphide-linked glycoprotein persisted for many
years following both the primary disease and its reactivation. Disseminated
zoster was associated with significantly low levels of antibodies to these
surface glycoproteins.

PMID: 2991441 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

152: Med Sestra. 1985 Mar;44(3):39-43.

[Herpes zoster (shingles)]

[Article in Russian]

Malkova EV, Malkov GF.

PMID: 3846735 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

153: Emerg Med Serv. 1985 Mar-Apr;14(2):48.

Chickenpox, shingles and EMS.

West KH.

PMID: 10269642 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

154: Gastrointest Endosc. 1984 Feb;30(1):26-7.

Shingles esophagitis: endoscopic diagnosis in two patients.

Gill RA, Gebhard RL, Dozeman RL, Sumner HW.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 6706086 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

155: Lancet. 1984 Jan 14;1(8368):103-4.

Shingles in seven homosexuals.

Rowland Payne CM, Farthing C, Byrom N, Staughton RC.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 6140400 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

156: Lancet. 1983 Nov 26;2(8361):1223-5.

DNA mapping of paired varicella-zoster virus isolates from patients with
shingles.

Pichini B, Ecker JR, Grose C, Hyman RW.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was isolated from two separate sites in each of
three patients with shingles (herpes zoster). The DNAs of the six VZV isolates
were compared by high-resolution restriction endonuclease analysis with HindIII, 
KpnI, and HpaI. DNA cleavage patterns for each pair of VZV isolates were
indistinguishable. These studies suggest that clinical shingles is the
manifestation of a single VZV strain that becomes reactivated and causes both a
viraemia and a dermatomal exanthem.

Publication Types: 
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

PMID: 6139571 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

157: J Assoc Physicians India. 1983 Oct;31(10):617-8.

Interesting new findings regarding the age old shingles.

Sainani GS, Deshpande DV.

Publication Types: 
    Editorial

PMID: 6671929 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

158: J Antimicrob Chemother. 1983 Sep;12 Suppl B:123-7.

Acyclovir in shingles.

Bean B, Aeppli D, Balfour HH Jr.

Acyclovir given intravenously in either low dose (5 mg/kg every 8 h) or high dose
(500 mg/m2 every 8 h) significantly reduced pain and accelerated skin healing in 
acute herpes zoster occurring in otherwise healthy adults. The higher dose also
significantly reduced the duration of viral shedding. No significant effect on
post-herpetic neuralgia could be demonstrated, although the higher dose showed a 
promising trend. No adverse effects were associated with the lower dose, but
acyclovir at 500 mg/m2 resulted in nausea, vomiting and transiently elevated
serum creatinine in a substantial number of patients.

Publication Types: 
    Clinical Trial
    Randomized Controlled Trial
    Review

PMID: 6355047 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

159: N C Med J. 1983 Aug;44(8):500-1.

Shingles.

Heald PW, Burton CS, Callaway JL.

PMID: 6579360 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

160: Aust Fam Physician. 1983 Jul;12(7):500.

Herpes zoster (shingles).

Murtagh JE.

PMID: 6639484 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

161: J La State Med Soc. 1983 Jan;135(1):34-7.

Just another case of "shingles"?

Morse RH.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 6405001 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

162: J La State Med Soc. 1982 Dec;134(9):30-2, 34.

Chronic pain review. A surprising case of "shingles".

Morse RH.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 7175341 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

163: Vet Rec. 1982 Oct 2;111(14):330.

Canine 'shingles'.

Gravestock JD.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    Letter

PMID: 7147650 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

164: Hosp Pract (Off Ed). 1982 Oct;17(10):166, 171, 174 passim.

Shingles, dyspnea, and wild irrational behavior.

Kandel G, Aberman A.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 6811401 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

165: Practitioner. 1982 Mar;226(1365):531-2.

Shingles in diabetes mellitus.

McCulloch DK, Fraser DM, Duncan LP.

PMID: 7088846 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

166: J Med Assoc State Ala. 1982 Mar;51(9):43-9.

Shingles, herpes, sex and mononucleosis.

Clemmons LH.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 7069308 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

167: Feldsher Akush. 1981;46(10):55-7.

[Shingles: herpes zoster]

[Article in Russian]

Sagalov GM.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 6913509 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

168: Nursing (Lond). 1979 Jun;(3):115, 125.

Photo test: shingles.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 317145 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

169: Br Med J. 1979 Mar 24;1(6166):818.

Shingles: a belt of roses from Hell.

Schreuder M, Fothergill WT.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 435807 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

170: Br Med J. 1979 Mar 24;1(6166):818.

Shingles: a belt of roses from Hell.

Juel-Jensen B.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 435806 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

171: Br Med J. 1979 Feb 17;1(6161):490.

Shingles: a belt of roses from hell.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 427427 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

172: Br Med J. 1979 Feb 3;1(6159):346.

Shingles: a belt of roses from Hell.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 421119 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

173: Br Med J. 1979 Jan 6;1(6155):5.

Shingles: a belt of roses from Hell.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types: 
    Editorial

PMID: 216456 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

174: N Engl J Med. 1977 Apr 7;296(14):824.

Real vs. pseudo-shingles.

Siegel AJ.

Publication Types: 
    Letter

PMID: 840294 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

175: Vestn Dermatol Venerol. 1976 Aug;(8):71-4.

[Shingles as a provoking factor in psoriasis]

[Article in Russian]

Lipets ME, Gavrikov VV, Shibaeva LN.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports
    English Abstract

PMID: 983286 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

176: Clin Exp Immunol. 1973 Jun;14(2):181-5.

Cell-mediated immunity to Varicella-Zoster antigen in acute Herpes zoster
(shingles).

Russell AS, Maini RA, Bailey M, Dumonde DC.

PMID: 4352254 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

177: Lancet. 1973 Mar 3;1(7801):481.

The windmills of shingles.

Macrae AD.

PMID: 4120386 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

178: Lancet. 1973 Feb 17;1(7799):369.

"Catching" shingles?

Slack PM, Taylor-Robinson D.

PMID: 4121953 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

179: Lancet. 1973 Feb 3;1(7797):267-8.

Dermal transmission of virus as a cause of shingles.

Smith JH.

PMID: 4119415 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

180: Sygeplejersken. 1972 Aug 24;72(33):8-10.

[Treatment of shingles (herpes zoster) with sympathetic blocking]

[Article in Danish]

Colding A.

PMID: 4488937 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

181: Lancet. 1972 Jan 29;1(7744):263.

Causation of shingles.

Thomas M, Robertson WJ.

PMID: 4109722 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

182: Lancet. 1972 Jan 15;1(7742):151.

Exogenous or endogenous causation of shingles.

Taylor-Robinson D, Slack PM.

PMID: 4109010 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

183: Lancet. 1971 Dec 18;2(7738):1349-50.

Dermal transmission of virus as a cause of shingles.

Thomas M, Robertson WJ.

PMID: 4108266 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

184: J R Coll Gen Pract. 1970 Dec;20(101):323-7.

The natural history of shingles. Events associated with reactivation of
varicella-zoster virus.

Juel-Jensen BE.

PMID: 5533234 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

185: Appl Microbiol. 1970 May;19(5):872-4.

Fungal disfigurement of paper, and soft rot of cedar shingles.

Eveleigh DE.

Disfiguration of paper by Cladosporium cladosporioides is described, and the
association between "soft rot" fungi and the greying of cedar shingles in marine 
locations is reported.

PMID: 5463581 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

186: Z Haut Geschlechtskr. 1970 Mar 15;45(6):Suppl:29-36.

[Virus diseases of the external female genitalia. 2. Zoster (Gürtelrose, zona,
shingles)]

[Article in German]

Grimmer H.

PMID: 5513210 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

187: Br Med J. 1970 Feb 14;1(5693):382-3.

Paralysed hemidiaphragm and shingles.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 5434652 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

188: Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 1969;69(4):525-9.

[A study of the therapeutic effect of deoxyribonuclease in shingles (herpes
zoster)]

[Article in Russian]

Boldyrev LP, Salganik RI.

PMID: 5796670 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

189: Nurs Times. 1968 Nov 1;64(44):1478-9.

Shingles (herpes zoster).

Geddes AM.

PMID: 5685340 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

190: Lancet. 1968 Jul 20;2(7560):170-1.

Shingles.

Elliott FA.

PMID: 4173290 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

191: Lancet. 1968 Jun 29;1(7557):1427.

Shingles.

Phillips R.

PMID: 4173011 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

192: Lancet. 1968 Jun 22;1(7556):1370.

Shingles.

Wigglesworth R.

PMID: 4172670 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

193: Lancet. 1968 Jun 8;1(7554):1242.

Shingles.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 4172788 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

194: Arch Gesamte Virusforsch. 1968;25(1):52-7.

Simultaneous rise in complement-fixing antibodies against herpesvirus hominis and
varicella-zostervirus in patients with chickenpox and shingles.

Schaap GJ, Huisman J.

PMID: 4306835 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

195: Rocky Mt Med J. 1966 Dec;63(12):37-9.

Shingles and chickenpox.

Ratcliff RG.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 5981133 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

196: Dis Chest. 1965 Apr;47(4):451.

A renewed plea for the isolation of shingles. Report of a case.

Weingarten CM.

Publication Types: 
    Case Reports

PMID: 5836927 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

197: Med World. 1961 May;94:421-3.

B12 peptide in shingles and chickenpox.

JOLLES KE.

PMID: 13790421 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

198: Lancet. 1954 Dec 25;267(6852):1299-302.

Studies on shingles: is the virus ordinary chickenpox virus?

SIMPSON RE.

PMID: 13222825 [PubMed - OLDMEDLINE]

199: Nurs Mirror Midwives J. 1950 Oct 27;92(Emergency News Letter):3-4.

Cause, treatment, prognosis of shingles.

ROBERTS A.

PMID: 14807124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]