Blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker changes in patients with HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment treated with lithium: analysis from a randomised placebo-controlled trial
AbstractHIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) persist in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Thus, ART does not completely halt or reverse the pathological processes behind HAND. Adjuvant mitigating treatments are, therefore, prudent. Lithium treatment is known to promote neuronal brain –derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF). Lithium is also an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3-β). We analyzed biomarkers obtained from participants in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of lithium in ART-treated individuals with moderate or severe HAND. We assayed markers at bas eline and 24 weeks across ...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - February 15, 2023 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Additive cortical gray matter deficits in people living with HIV who use cocaine
AbstractCocaine use, which is disproportionately common in people living with HIV (PWH), is known to have neurotoxic effects that may exacerbate HIV neuropathogenesis. While both cocaine use and HIV disease are independently associated with deficits in gray matter (GM) volume, the additive effect of cocaine use to HIV disease on GM volume has not been explored. Here, we investigated subcortical and cortical brain volume differences between four groups of individuals with and without HIV disease and/or cocaine use. Participants also completed a comprehensive neuropsychological testing battery, and HIV disease characteristic...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - February 14, 2023 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Rapid-progressing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in two patients newly diagnosed with HIV: case series and review of literature
AbstractThe JC Polyomavirus (JCPyV) is a virus of global distribution and is usually kept under control by the immune system. In patients with AIDS, a latent JCPyV infection can reactivate and develop into progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Around half of the patients with PML die within 2 years since the diagnosis, yet in rare cases, the disease advances significantly quicker and seems to be insusceptible to any medical actions. In our clinic, we observed two cases of such course in HIV-positive patients in the AIDS stage. On admission, both patients had mild neurological symptoms such as dizziness, visio...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - February 11, 2023 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Effect of coinfections on neurocognitive functioning among people with clade C HIV infection in Zambia
In conclusion, treated TB coinfection in PWH was associated with worse NC performance compared to both those with antibodies against other coinfections and without. PWH with antibodies for other coinfections (HIV + /CI +) showed somewhat better NC performance compared to those witho ut (HIV + /CI −), which was not expected, although comparisons with the HIV + /CI + group are limited by its lack of specificity regarding type of coinfection being represented. (Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - February 2, 2023 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Undetectable JC virus CSF PCR in patients with JC virus-induced progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
AbstractThe diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is based on a combination of clinical, radiographic, and laboratory findings. However, negative JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) PCR in CSF does not always rule out JCPyV-related PML. In this narrative review, we sought to examine the characteristic of biopsy-proven PML in patients with undetectable JCPyV CSF PCR and provide alternative approaches in this scenario. (Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - February 1, 2023 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Coronavirus infection in chemosensory cells
AbstractClinical manifestations of human coronavirus (HCoV)-related diseases are mostly related to the respiratory system, although secondary complications such as headache, anosmia, ageusia, and myalgia have been reported. HCoV infection and replication in chemosensory cells associated with ageusia and anosmia is poorly understood. Here, we characterized HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2 infection in two types of chemosensory cells, olfactory and taste cells, with their unique molecular and histological characteristics. We first assessed HCoV-OC43 infection in in vitro cultured human olfactory epithelial cells (hOECs) and fungifor...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - January 31, 2023 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Brain damage serum biomarkers induced by COVID-19 in patients from northeast Brazil
AbstractNeurological symptoms have been often reported in COVID-19 disease. In the present study, we evaluated brain damage associated with the increase of serum levels of neurological biomarkers S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection, in a population from Northeastern Brazil. Thirty-six healthy control (G1) individuals and 141 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Positive-COVID-19 patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of illness by the National Institute of Health (NIH) criteria, 76 patients with mild symptoms for COVID-19 and (G2) and 65 ...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - January 31, 2023 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Monkeypox virus replication underlying circadian rhythm networks
This article discusses the importance of the host circadian clock during monkeypox infection and immune system interactions. (Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - January 31, 2023 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Neuropsychological profile of patients with infectious disease: characterization and comparison of patients with HIV, HTLV, and HCV
AbstractUnderstanding the effect of the HIV, HTLV-1, and HCV viruses on cognitive aspects can help in the better characterization of dementia, as well as the best conducts to be suitable for rehabilitation. Thus, the present study aimed to characterize and compare the neuropsychological profile of 3 groups of patients with infectious diseases: HIV, HTLV, and HCV. The results of neuropsychological assessments and depression assessment of 325 people treated at a referral hospital for infectious diseases were analyzed, being 120 HIV carriers (74 (61.7%) men) with an average age of 47.5 years (SD = 10.3), 65 patients wit...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - December 17, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
HIV-associated multiple intracranial aneurysms and stroke in an adult patient: successful treatment with a combination of glucocorticoid and antiviral agents
AbstractA 35-year-old Iranian man with an 18-year history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection developed sudden left-sided hemiparesis and mild dysarthria. Based on laboratory results, brain and neck computerized tomography angiography (CTA), echocardiography, hypercoagulability tests, and vasculitis tests, the patient was diagnosed with a stroke with multiple intracranial aneurysms secondary to HIV. Cerebral aneurysms and stroke are uncommon in HIV-infected patients, and the aneurysms ’ exact cause and risk factors are unknown. There is currently no effective regimen or definitive treatment for HIV-associated...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - December 13, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Low incidence of advanced neurological burden but high incidence of age-related conditions that are dementia risk factors in aging people living with HIV: a data-linkage 10-year follow-up study
AbstractAlthough increasing research is focusing on age-related comorbidities (ARC) among people living with HIV (PLHIV), no studies have concomitantly assessed non-HIV age-related neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer ’s dementia). A total of 254 PLHIV and 69 HIV-negative controls completed baseline medical history and cognitive testing. ARC data were collected from medical records over the subsequent 9-10 years and included all types of strokes, all types of dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's dis ease, motor neuron disease (grouped into a non-HIV age-related neurological category), cardiovascular diseas...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - December 12, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Circulating endothelial and angiogenic cells predict hippocampal volume as a function of HIV status
AbstractCirculating endothelial cells (CECs) and myeloid angiogenic cells (MACs) have the capacity to stabilize human blood vessels in vivo. Evidence suggests that these cells are depleted in dementia and in persons living with HIV (PWH), who have a higher prevalence of dementia and other cognitive deficits associated with aging. However, the associations of CECs and MACs with MRI-based measures of aging brain health, such as hippocampal gray matter volume, have not been previously demonstrated. The present study examined differences in these associations in 51 postmenopausal women with and without HIV infection. Gray matt...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - November 23, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Seropositivity and reactivations of HSV-1, but not of HSV-2 nor VZV, associate with altered blood –brain barrier, beta amyloid, and tau proteins in people living with HIV
AbstractAmong 128 adult people living with HIV and no neurological conditions confounding the cerebrospinal fluid results, the presence of HSV-1 chronic infection (detected either by serology or PCR), but not of HSV-2 and VZV, independently associated with higher odds of blood–brain barrier impairment, abnormally increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of tau and phosphorylated-181 tau, and decreased concentrations of fragments 1–42 of beta amyloid compared to the seronegative counterpart. These associations were even stronger for seropositive participants with a positive history of at least one symptomatic reactivation...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - November 9, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Neuroimaging and immunological features of neurocognitive function related to substance use in people with HIV
This study sought to identify neuroimaging and immunological factors associated with substance use and that contribute to neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in people with HIV (PWH). We performed cross-sectional immunological phenotyping, neuroimaging, and neurocognitive testing on virally suppressed PWH in four substance groups: cocaine only users (COC), marijuana only users (MJ), dual users (Dual), and Non-users. Participants completed substance use assessments, multimodal MRI brain scan, neuropsychological testing, and blood and CSF sampling. We employed a two-stage analysis of 305 possible biomarkers of cognitive function...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - November 8, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, advanced ductal breast carcinoma, systemic sclerosis, and checkpoint inhibitors: a therapeutic dilemma
We report a case of a patient under treatment for advanced ductal breast carcinoma and systemic sclerosis, who developed PML. The therapeutic approach included withdrawal of drugs with possible immunosuppressive effect and treatment with pembrolizumab. In the absence of reliable markers to predict CPIs response and a concern for an autoimmune worsening, immunotherapy was administered late in the course of the disease. Finally, she did not experience an autoimmune disease flare-up; however, pembrolizumab could not prevent disease progression. We believe that potential autoimmune complications should not delay treatment init...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - November 8, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
