The importance of thinking about Guillain-Barr é syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case with pure dysautonomic presentation
We report the case of a 79-year-old man with multiple comorbidities, including diabetes, who was affected by SARS-CoV-2 interstitial pneumonia and developed dysautonomic symptoms after 10 days of hospitalizat ion. A neurological evaluation was performed, and GBS was considered as a possible cause of the clinical manifestations. This hypothesis was confirmed by electrophysiological study and further supported,ex-juvantibus, by the satisfactory response to immunoglobulin treatment. In our opinion, this case of pure dysautonomic presentation of GBS in a SARS-CoV-2 positive patient is relevant because it suggests to consider ...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - August 2, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Improvement in depressive symptoms after antiretroviral therapy initiation in people with HIV in Rakai, Uganda
AbstractDepression is common following HIV infection and often improves after ART initiation. We aimed to identify distinct dimensions of depression that change following ART initiation in persons with HIV (PWH) with minimal comorbidities (e.g., illicit substance use) and no psychiatric medication use. We expected that dimensional changes in improvements in depression would differ across PWH. In an observational cohort in Rakai, Uganda, 312 PWH (51% male; mean age = 35.6 years) completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression (CES-D) scale before and up to 2 years after ART initiation. Twenty-two percent we...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - July 31, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Rates of cognitive impairment in a South African cohort of people with HIV: variation by definitional criteria and lack of association with neuroimaging biomarkers
AbstractThere is wide variation in the reported prevalence of cognitive impairment in people with HIV (PWH). Part of this variation may be attributable to different studies using different methods of combining neuropsychological test scores to classify participants as either cognitively impaired or unimpaired. Our aim was to determine, in a South African cohort of PWH (N = 148), (a) how much variation in reported rates was due to method used to define cognitive impairment and (b) which method correlated best with MRI biomarkers of HIV-related brain pathology. Participants completed detailed neuropsychological assessmen...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - July 9, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging patterns of extensive Chikungunya virus –associated myelitis
We present three cases of Chikungunya fever complicated with extensive myelitis. The spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern is characterized by multiple dotted-like and longitudinal hyperintense lesions, with contrast enhancement, mostly distributed in the peripheral regions of the spinal cord. It seems that these lesions are mostly located in the perivascular spaces (PVS), related or not to virus attack. Involvement of brain PVS can also be demonstrated, as shown in two of the cases described. Considering the MRI pattern, ex tensive spinal cord lesion should include Chikungunya as a differential diagnosis, e...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - July 5, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants
In this study, we report two Chinese infants who suffered from RSV-related MERS. Both infants manifested as fever, seizure, and altered states of consciousness with confirmed detections of RSV-RNA in the specimens from throat swab. Clinical symptoms/signs such as apnea and shallow breathing were also noted in these two infants. Furthermore, brain MRI images indicated reversible isolated lesions with transiently reduced diffusion in the SCC. Fortunately, both of these two infants recovered completely following treatment within a month. Our study suggests that RSV may serve as a novel causative agent for MERS in infants. Cli...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - July 5, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Nanoparticles and nanoformulated drugs as promising delivery system in treatment of microbial-induced CNS infection: a systematic review of literature
AbstractCentral nervous system (CNS) infection is a global health problem with high rate of mortality and associated morbidities. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa parasites are the main cause of CNS infection. Various medications are currently used for treatment of brain infections, but most of them do not have enough efficiency because the majority of conventional drugs cannot pass the blood –brain barrier (BBB) to combat the pathogens. Nanotechnology has provided promising approaches to solve this issue, since nanoparticles (NPs) can facilitate the drugs entrance through the BBB. Herein, we systematically reviewe...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - July 5, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Psychometric utility of the international HIV dementia scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment in HIV-associated asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment
We examined between-group differences for MoCA-T and IHDS total scores, and scale subcomponents. We also conducted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses to determine the ability of the MoCA-T and IHDS to discriminate between CN and ANI groups, and compared their area under the curve (AUC) values. Results revealed lower MoCA-T total score, as well as the Visuospatial/Executive and Delayed Recall subtask scores, in the ANI relative to CN group. Groups did not differ on the IHDS. For ROC analyses, the MoCA-T, but not the IHDS, significantly differentiated the ANI from CN group, and there was a significant differenc...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 29, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Neurological disease caused by Oropouche virus in northern Brazil: should it be included in the scope of clinical neurological diseases?
This study reiterates the necessity of developing protocols for diagnosing infections and training medical personnel to recognize the pathogenicity of Oropouche virus in neurological infections. (Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 11, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
MRI negative myelopathy post mild SARS-CoV-2 infection: vasculopathy or inflammatory myelitis?
AbstractSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been rare reports of spinal cord pathology diagnosed as inflammatory myelopathy and suspected spinal cord ischemia after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Herein, we report five cases of clinical myelopathy and myeloradiculopathy in the setting of post-COVID-19 disease, which were all radiographically negative. Unlike prior reports which typically characterized hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 disease and critical illness, these patients typically had asymptomatic or mild-moderate COVID-19 disease and lacked radiologic evidence of structural spinal cord abnormality...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 8, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Infectious causes of Alice in Wonderland syndrome
This article reviews current understanding regarding the association between infection and development of AIWS. (Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 8, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
COVID-19 leukoencephalopathy with subacute magnetic resonance imaging findings of vasculitis and demyelination
We describe two patients who had novel subacute MRI findings in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) leukoencephalopathy, which we hypothesize could implicate a potent small-vessel vasculitis, ischemic demyelination and the presence of prolonged ischemia. Recent evidence of the direct neuroinvasiness of SARS-CoV-2 leading to ischemia and vascular damage supports this hypothesis. (Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 8, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and domain-specific neurocognitive performance in adults with HIV
AbstractNeurocognitive (NC) impairment (NCI) is an important cause of morbidity in persons with HIV (PWH). In the high-energy environment of the central nervous system, mitochondria contribute to neuroinflammation and aging, which may ultimately drive the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups are associated with health outcomes in PWH. For example, we previously observed less global NCI in Hispanic ancestry PWH having mtDNA haplogroup B. Another study reported increased NCI among PWH having African subhaplogroup L2a. We therefore analyzed NC domains in relation to these haplogrou...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 8, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Guillain-Barr é syndrome associated with COVID-19: a case report study
AbstractAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading around the world. Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) typically present fever, cough, and respiratory illnesses. It has been revealed that the comorbidities can turn it into severe types, and the managements meet unpredicted complications. Here, we report a case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) coincidence with confirmed acute Guillain-Barr é syndrome (GBS). Ten days after admission and therapeutic process, the patient developed autonomic dysfunction. Despite respirator...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - May 27, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Chronic SSRI treatment reverses HIV-1 protein-mediated synaptodendritic damage
AbstractHIV-1 infection affects approximately 37 million individuals, and approximately 50% of seropositive individuals will develop symptoms of clinical depression and/or apathy. Dysfunctions of both serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission have been implicated in the pathogenesis of motivational alterations. The present study evaluated the efficacy of a SSRI (escitalopram) in the HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rat. Behavioral, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical outcomes with respect to HIV-1 and sex were evaluated to determine the efficacy of chronic escitalopram treatment. Escitalopram treatment restored function in each ...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - May 18, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Hypoactivation in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex during ambiguous decision making in individuals with HIV
AbstractPeople with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often have neurocognitive impairment. People with HIV make riskier decisions when the outcome probabilities are known, and have abnormal neural architecture underlying risky decision making. However, ambiguous decision making, when the outcome probabilities are unknown, is more common in daily life, but the neural architecture underlying ambiguous decision making in people with HIV is unknown. Eighteen people with HIV and 20 controls completed a decision making task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Participants chose between a certain re...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - May 13, 2021 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
