Drought restrictions had side benefit: Lowering risk of mosquito-borne disease
Shallow pools of water on lawns are ideal breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus, the most common mosquito-borne disease in the United States.A new study by scientists from UCLA and three other universities found that reducing shallow pools of water where the insects lay their eggs is key to preventing the spread of the virus.The study, funded by a grant from the UC Office of the President and published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, found that California ’s water-use restrictions during the statewide drought from 2012 to 2016 led to a decrease in the number of mosquitoes ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - February 16, 2021 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

Researchers Are Tracking Covid-19 ’s Long-Term Effects On Brain Health
The role, either direct or indirect, of the influenza virus in encephalitis lethargica is still up for debate, but scientists have linked other respiratory viruses, like SARS-CoV-2, to neurological symptoms. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - January 29, 2021 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Jackie Rocheleau, Contributor Tags: Healthcare /healthcare Innovation /innovation Editors' Pick editors-pick Coronavirus Source Type: news

Medical oddity reveals unheard-of 'immunity gene' mutations and new way to screen them
(Hiroshima University) Researchers baffled by an infant's rare encephalitis case unusual in children found unheard-of mutations and a new way to examine the 'immunity gene.' (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - December 20, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Valneva initiates Phase 1/2 clinical study of inactivated, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Valneva SE, a specialty vaccine company focused on prevention against diseases with major unmet needs, today announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical study for its inactivated, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001. VLA2001 leverages the manufacturing platform of Valneva's licensed Japanese encephalitis vaccine, IXIARO® and is the first publicly announced inactivated vaccine against COVID-19 to commence clinical development in Europe. (Source: World Pharma News)
Source: World Pharma News - December 16, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Featured Business Business and Industry Source Type: news

COVID-19 may also invade the central nervous system, cause neurological illnesses
(Cleveland Clinic) COVID-19 is known primarily as a respiratory disease, with symptoms that include cough, shortness of breath, and, in severe cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia. Now, Cleveland Clinic researchers note in a recent review that infection with the coronavirus may also affect the central nervous system and cause corresponding neurological disorders, including ischemic stroke, encephalitis, encephalopathy and epileptic seizures.According to the review published in Cells, the symptoms of COVID-19-related neurological manifestations include dizziness, headache, a loss of consciousness and ata...
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - December 10, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Development of a new method for decoding viral genes
(The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo) A research team led by Professor Yasushi Kawaguchi of the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, developed a new decoding method for viral genes that can easily and quickly obtain even non-canonical genetic information. Using this new decoding method, they identified nine novel proteins encoded by herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) and found that one of them, piUL49, is a pathogenic factor that specifically controls the onset of herpes encephalitis . (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - December 7, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

Lethal brain infections in mice thwarted by decoy molecule
(Washington University School of Medicine) Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a molecule that protects mice from brain infections caused by Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), a mosquito-borne virus notorious for causing fast-spreading, deadly outbreaks in Mexico, Central America and northern South America. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - November 18, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Screening for autoimmune encephalitis cost effective in first psychosis?
(Source: PharmacoEconomics and Outcomes News)
Source: PharmacoEconomics and Outcomes News - November 1, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Unravelling the origins of autoimmune psychosis
(University of Barcelona) Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is an autoimmune brain illness that is often mistaken by a psychiatric disorder since it causes psychoses and other behaviour alterations. Despite having these similarities, the illness does not respond to common antipsychotic treatments. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - October 29, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

What Are the Symptoms of Herpes Simplex Keratitis?
Discussion Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are common with an estimated 50% of the US population being infected by age 30, and with latent infection harboring in the trigeminal nerve in 100% of people by age 60 years. HSV infections can cause a vesicular or pustular skin rash that is painful, burning or pruritic and also flu-like symptoms with fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. HSV can also be asymptomatic. To laymen, herpes simplex viruses cause “cold sores,” but to health care personnel, herpes causes many systemic infections including eczema herpeticum, folliculitis, herpes gladiatorum, whitlow, e...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - October 5, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news

Succination inactivates gasdermin D and blocks pyroptosis
Activated macrophages undergo a metabolic switch to aerobic glycolysis, accumulating Krebs’ cycle intermediates that alter transcription of immune response genes. We extended these observations by defining fumarate as an inhibitor of pyroptotic cell death. We found that dimethyl fumarate (DMF) delivered to cells or endogenous fumarate reacts with gasdermin D (GSDMD) at critical cysteine residues to form S-(2-succinyl)-cysteine. GSDMD succination prevents its interaction with caspases, limiting its processing, oligomerization, and capacity to induce cell death. In mice, the administration of DMF protects against lipop...
Source: ScienceNOW - September 23, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Humphries, F., Shmuel-Galia, L., Ketelut-Carneiro, N., Li, S., Wang, B., Nemmara, V. V., Wilson, R., Jiang, Z., Khalighinejad, F., Muneeruddin, K., Shaffer, S. A., Dutta, R., Ionete, C., Pesiridis, S., Yang, S., Thompson, P. R., Fitzgerald, K. A. Tags: Biochemistry, Immunology reports Source Type: news

Michigan reports suspected case of deadly mosquito-borne EEE virus
Michigan health officials suspect a resident has contracted the rare and life-threatening disease Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) after being bitten by a mosquito, they announced Tuesday. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - September 17, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Researchers identify key role of immune cells in brain infection
(University of Liverpool) Researchers at the University of Liverpool have identified the specific type of immune cell that induces brain inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. Crucially, they have also determined the signalling protein that calls this immune cell into the brain from the bloodstream. The findings, published in Cell Reports, could aid the development of targeted treatments for the brain infection, which is the most common cause of viral encephalitis worldwide. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - September 15, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

Atezolizumab-associated Encephalitis in Metastatic Lung Cancer Atezolizumab-associated Encephalitis in Metastatic Lung Cancer
This case demonstrates encephalitis as an rare but potentially serious adverse event associated with the immune checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab.Journal of Medical Case Reports (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - September 7, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Family Medicine/Primary Care Journal Article Source Type: news

First Human Death from Eastern Equine Encephalitis Reported in Chippewa County
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Chippewa County Health Department today announced that laboratory testing has confirmed a case ofeastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus infection in a woman in her 60 ’s who had been living in Chippewa County. This is the second human case of EEE in state so far this year, and the first resulting in a death. “We are very sad to report that one of our fellow Wisconsinites has contracted EEE and has passed...(see release) (Source: Wisconsin DHFS Press Releases)
Source: Wisconsin DHFS Press Releases - September 4, 2020 Category: Hospital Management Authors: millejcodn Source Type: news