HIV-related drivers of sexual compulsivity and sexuality in sexual minority men who use methamphetamine
We examined whether a detectable viral load and dysregulated metabolism of amino acid precursors for neurotransmitters predicted subsequent levels of sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking. This 15-month longitudinal study enrolled 110 sexual minority men (SMM) living with HIV who had biologically confirmed meth use (i.e., reactive urine or hair toxicology results). Peripheral venous blood samples collected at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 15 months were used to measure a detectable viral load (> 40 copies/mL), the kynurenine/tryptophan (K/T) ratio, and the phenylalanine/tyrosine (P/T) ratio. The K...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - July 12, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
A fulminant case of Epstein-Barr Virus encephalitis with multiorgan dysfunction
We present a case of fulminant Epstein-Barr Virus encephalitis who developed multiorgan dysfunction on second day and succumbed within 52 h of symptom onset. (Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - July 7, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Altered white matter microstructure and neurocognitive function of HIV-infected patients with low nadir CD4
AbstractAltered white matter microstructure has been reported repeatedly using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. However, the associations between neurocognitive deficits and impaired white matter remains obscure due to frequent physical and psychiatric comorbidities in the patients. Severe immune suppression, reflected by low nadir CD4 T-cell counts, is reported to be associated with the neurocognitive deficits in the patients. In the present study, we examined white matter integrity using DTI and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), and neurocognitive functions using a battery o...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - July 1, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Difference in the neurocognitive functions of WLWH and MLWH in an Italian cohort of people living with HIV
In conclusion, the global cognitive performance of WLWH is lower than that of MLWH. However, other demographic and clinical factors besides sex might help explain differences in their neurocognitive functions and make it possible for us to monitor them and identify those patients most in need. (Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 19, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Dengue fever presenting as acute cerebellar ataxia: Case report and literature review
AbstractDengue fever has been associated with several neurological complications, cerebellar involvement being among the rarest of them. Here, we describe the case of a 70-year-old female who presented a cerebellar syndrome during the first day of an arboviral infection, posteriorly confirmed as dengue fever. Among the seven other cases in which the relationship between dengue virus and ataxia was reported, only in one cerebellar presentation occurred as early. Onset, course, and prognosis, as well as the adequate investigation and management of these patients, are discussed. While the disease pattern is not better charact...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 9, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Higher cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neuronal injury in HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment
AbstractWe evaluated whether biomarkers of age-related neuronal injury and amyloid metabolism are associated with neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in people with and without HIV (PWH, PWoH). This was a cross-sectional study of virally suppressed PWH and PWoH. NCI was assessed using a validated test battery; global deficit scores (GDS) quantified overall performance. Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were quantified by immunoassay: neurofilament light (NFL), total Tau (tTau), phosphorylated Tau 181 (pTau181), amyloid beta (A β)42, and Aβ40. Factor analysis was used to reduce biomarker dimensionality. Participants wer...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 8, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Response to “a fatal case of Guillain-Barré syndrome after infection with COVID-19”
(Source: Journal of NeuroVirology)
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - June 8, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Using plasma proteomics to investigate viral infections of the central nervous system including patients with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders
AbstractState-of-the-art liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based proteomic technologies, using microliter amounts of patient plasma, can detect and quantify several hundred plasma proteins in a high throughput fashion, allowing for the discovery of clinically relevant protein biomarkers and insights into the underlying pathobiological processes. Using such an in-house developed high throughput plasma proteomics allowed us to identify and quantify > 400 plasmas proteins in 15 min per sample, i.e., a throughput of 100 samples/day. We demonstrated the clinical applicability of our method in this pilot ...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - May 31, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Cognitive dysfunction following COVID-19 infection
AbstractThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is still evolving, causing hundreds of millions of infections around the world. The long-term sequelae of COVID-19 and neurologic syndromes post COVID remain poorly understood. The present study aims to characterize cognitive performance in patients experiencing cognitive symptoms post-COVID infection. Patients evaluated at a post COVID clinic in Northern Israel who endorsed cognitive symptoms were referred for neurologic consultation. The neurologic work-up included detailed medical history, symptom inventory, neurological examination, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA),...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - May 26, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Atypical anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis associated with varicella zoster virus infection
In this report, we describe a case of a 57-year-old man presented with atypical clinical presentation of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with gait ataxia, complete ophtalmoplegia, and abolished reflexes followed by drowsiness and confusion. Initial diagnosis of Bickerstaff’s brainstem encephalitis was s uspected. Few days later, the patient developed herpes zoster in a localized right T1-T2 dermatome. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for VZV was negative. CSF anti-NMDA antibodies were proved positive. A diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with concomitant VZV skin reactiva tion was retained. Favorable o...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - May 23, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
T-lymphocyte activation markers in patients with HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder
The objective of this study is to quantify activation markers (CD25, CD38, CD69, and HLA-DR) in the blood of patients with chronic HIV-1 infection and relate to HAND and premature senescence. The level of activation markers was quantified in the blood of 10 HIV-positive patients with HAND, 10 cases without HAND undergoing regular follow-up at the Secondary Immunodeficiency Clinic (ADEE3002) at the Hospital of Clinics of the Medical School of S ão Paulo, and 10 healthy seronegative volunteers using the flow cytometry method. Subsequently, the analysis was performed using the FlowJo™ v10.6.1 program and GraphPad Prism 8.3...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - May 8, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
Herpes zoster preceding neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: casual or causal relationship? A systematic literature review
AbstractNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severe, inflammatory, immune-mediated astrocytopathy of the central nervous system, characterized by recurrent inflammatory events primarily involving optic nerves and the spinal cord. Recently, a triggering role of infectious events in the development of NMOSD has been suggested. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the agent most involved, although the linkage with anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies is so far unknown. A review of the literature on the association between NMOSD and VZV infection was carried out by searching PUBMED and EMBASE from 1975 to July 2020. A total o...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - April 24, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
HIV-1 subtype C Tat exon-1 amino acid residue 24K is a signature for neurocognitive impairment
AbstractVariation and differential selection pressures on Tat genes have been shown to alter the biological function of the protein, resulting in pathological consequences in a number of organs including the brain. We evaluated the impact of genetic variation and selection pressure on 147 HIV-1 subtype C Tat exon 1 sequences from monocyte-depleted peripheral lymphocytes on clinical diagnosis of neurocognitive impairment. Genetic analyses identified two signature amino acid residues, lysine at codon 24 (24K) with a frequency of 43.4% and arginine at codon 29 (29R) with a frequency of 34.0% in individuals with HIV-associated...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - April 8, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
SARS-CoV-2-associated haemorrhagic encephalitis mimicking Herpes encephalitis
AbstractAlthough acute encephalopathy is quite commonly seen in patients of SARS-CoV-2 infection, encephalitis characterised by brain inflammation is relatively rare. Encephalitis caused by Herpes simplex type 1 is the most common cause of identified sporadic encephalitis, and early diagnosis and prompt treatment can prevent the devastating outcome. In this brief communication, we report a case of SARS-CoV-2 associated haemorrhagic encephalitis mimicking herpes encephalitis. In today ’s pandemic era, it is especially important to distinguish herpes encephalitis from SARS-CoV-2-associated encephalitis as treatment and pro...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - April 8, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
The association between benzodiazepine use and greater risk of neurocognitive impairment is moderated by medical burden in people with HIV
AbstractBenzodiazepine use is linked to neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in the general population and people with HIV (PWH); however, this relationship may depend on age-related factors such as medical comorbidities, which occur at an elevated rate and manifest earlier in PWH. We retrospectively examined whether chronological age or medical burden, a clinical marker for aging, moderated the relationship between benzodiazepine use and NCI in PWH. Participants were 435 PWH on antiretroviral therapy who underwent neurocognitive and medical evaluations, including self-reported current benzodiazepine use. A medical burden index...
Source: Journal of NeuroVirology - April 7, 2022 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
