scholarly journals Neurocysticercosis: A five-year experience

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 523-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radoslava Doder ◽  
Nadezda Madle-Samardzija ◽  
Grozdana Canak ◽  
Jovan Vukadinov ◽  
Vesna Turkulov ◽  
...  

Introduction Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic disease with wide distribution which is caused by larval forms of Taenia Solium. Our aim was to: show the most common clinical manifestations of patients with NCC and their importance in diagnosing this disease; examine the value of serologic diagnostic methods in blood and cerebrospinal fluid; to emphasize the value of radiological diagnostic methods ? CT and MRI of the brain, in relation to the applied protocol of therapy, as well as the impact of anti-parasitic therapy on the outcome of this disease. Material, methods and results 13 patients with NCC (from 35 to 63 years of age, median age 49; 61,5% male and 38,5% female) were treated at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases in Novi Sad during a five-year period. Two patients had a positive epidemic data of parasitic diseases of the intestinal tract in childhood. The most common clinical manifestation was headache in 61,5% of patients, and generalized convulsions and hemiparesis in 46,2%. Meningeal inflammation was present in 27,3% of patients. Two of five patients had positive ELISA test for cysticercosis in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. CT and MRI findings confirmed parenchimal form of NCC in 30,8% of patients, while calcifications were found in 69,2% of patients. All patients were treated with Albendazole, 800 mg a day, in two doses. 30,76% of patients had a favorable outcome of the disease, 53,7% of patients were discharged with complications, and one patient died. Conclusion The most common manifestation of NCC in our patients was headache, followed by general convulsions and hemiparesis. Radiological diagnostic methods ? CT and MRI ? proved to be most valuable both in diagnostics and follow-up of lesions. All our patients were treated with Albendazole; Dexamethasone was applied in patients with severe inflammatory reaction, and anti-convulsive drugs in patients with convulsions.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Guadalupe Sosa-Gutierrez ◽  
Maria Teresa Quintero Martinez ◽  
Soila Maribel Gaxiola Camacho ◽  
Silvia Cota Guajardo ◽  
Maria D. Esteve-Gassent ◽  
...  

Ehrlichia canis is a rickettsial intracellular obligate bacterial pathogen and agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. The prevalence of this disease in veterinary medicine can vary depending on the diagnostic method used and the geographic location. One hundred and fifty-two canine blood samples from six veterinary clinics and two shelters from Sinaloa State (Mexico) were analyzed in this study. All animals were suspected of having Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME). The diagnostic methods used were the ELISA (Snap4Dx, IDEXX) together with blood smear and platelet count. From all dogs blood samples analyzed, 74.3% were positive to E. canis by ELISA and 40.1% were positive by blood smear. The sensitivity and specificity observed in the ELISA test were 78.8% and 86.7%. In addition, thrombocytopenia was presented in 87.6% of positive dogs. The predominant clinical manifestations observed were fever, anorexia, depression, lethargy, and petechiae. Consequently, this is the first report in which the morulae were visualized in the blood samples, and E. canis-specific antibodies were detected in dogs from Sinaloa, Northwest of Mexico.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Armandi ◽  
Chiara Rosso ◽  
Gian Paolo Caviglia ◽  
Davide Giuseppe Ribaldone ◽  
Elisabetta Bugianesi

Sarcopenia is a common muscular affection among elderly individuals. More recently, it has been recognized as the skeletal muscle (SM) expression of the metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of sarcopenia is increasing along with visceral obesity, to which it is tightly associated. Nonetheless, it is a still underreported entity by clinicians, despite the worsening in disease burden and reduced patient quality of life. Recognition of sarcopenia is clinically challenging, and variability in study populations and diagnostic methods across the clinical studies makes it hard to reach a strong evidence. Impaired insulin activity in SM is responsible for the altered molecular pathways and clinical manifestations of sarcopenia, which is morphologically expressed by myosteatosis. Lipotoxicity, oxidative stress and adipose tissue-derived inflammation lead to both alterations in glucose disposal and protein synthesis in SM, with raising insulin resistance (IR) and SM atrophy. In particular, hyperleptinemia and leptin resistance interfere directly with SM activity, but also with the release of Growth Hormone from the hypohysis, leading to a lack in its anabolic effect on SM. Moreover, sarcopenia is independently associated to liver fibrosis in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which in turn worsens SM functionality through the secretion of proinflammatory heptokines. The cross-talk between the liver and SM in the IR setting is of crucial relevance, given the high prevalence of NAFLD and the reciprocal impact of insulin-sensitive tissues on the overall disease burden. Along with the efforts of non-invasive diagnostic approaches, irisin and myostatin are two myokines currently evaluated as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognostication. Decreased irisin levels seem to be potentially associated to sarcopenia, whereas increased myostatin has shown to negatively impact on sarcopenia in pre-clinical studies. Gene variants in irisin have been explored with regard to the impact on the liver disease phenotype, with conflicting results. The gut-muscle axis has gain relevance with the evidence that insulin resistance-derived gut dysbiosis is responsible for increased endotoxemia and reduction in short-chain free fatty acids, directly affecting and predisposing to sarcopenia. Based on the current evidence, more efforts are needed to increase awareness and improve the management of sarcopenic patients.


Case reports ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-155
Author(s):  
Laura Estefanía Arenas-Vargas ◽  
Ruben Darío Arenas-Diaz ◽  
Enrique Hernandez-Rojas ◽  
Fabián Riaño-Montañez

Introduction: Seizures related to metabolic disorders are common phenomena in many clinical contexts. However, clinical manifestations and neuroimaging findings in the context of a hyperglycemic crisis are less frequent phenomena with unclear pathophysiology.Case report: A 68-year-old man presented focal seizures and right homonymous hemianopsia after a non-ketotic hyperglycemic crisis. Brain MRI showed cortical diffusion restriction and subcortical T2 / FLAIR hypointensity in left occipital, temporal (mesial) and parietal lobes. Spectroscopy was performed showing a nonspecific pattern, cerebrospinal fluid was normal and there was improvement with glycemic control. MRI findings were considered secondary to the hyperglycemic crisis.Conclusion: Non-ketotic hyperglycemic states can manifest with several rare neurological alterations and recognizing them early is of vital importance given their potential reversibility. As in other metabolic disorders, epileptic seizures in this context can have focal-type characteristics. Although pathophysiological mechanisms are not clearly elucidated yet, multiple neuroimaging techniques promise to establish patterns that allow accurate and timely diagnosis.


1993 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Mo Goo ◽  
Seung Hyup Kim ◽  
Man Chung Han

1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
Ik Soo Kim ◽  
Myung Soon Kim ◽  
Chang Man Lee

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sairish Ashraf ◽  
Shayaq Ul Abeer Rasool ◽  
Mudasar Nabi ◽  
Mohd Ashraf Ganie ◽  
Shariq R. Masoodi ◽  
...  

AbstractPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive endocrine disorder in pre-menopausal women having complex pathophysiology. Several candidate genes have been shown to have association with PCOS. CYP19 gene encodes a key steroidogenic enzyme involved in conversion of androgens into estrogens. Previous studies have reported contradictory results with regard to association of SNP rs2414096 in CYP19 gene with PCOS and hyperandrogenism in different ethnic populations. Present study was aimed to investigate the impact of SNP rs2414096 polymorphism of CYP19 gene on susceptibility of PCOS and hyperandrogenism in Kashmiri women. Further we also studied the genotypic-phenotypic association for various clinical and biochemical parameters of this polymorphism. Case control study. 394 PCOS cases diagnosed on the basis of Rotterdam criteria and age matched 306 healthy women. We found a significant differences in genotypic frequency (χ2 = 18.91, p < 0.05) as well as allele frequency (OR 0.63, CI 0.51–0.78, χ2 = 17.66, p < 0.05) between PCOS women and controls. The genotype–phenotype correlation analysis showed a significant difference in FG score (p = 0.047) and alopecia (p = 0.045) between the three genotypes. Also, the androgen excess markers like DHEAS (p < 0.001), Androstenedione (p < 0.001), Testosterone (p < 0.001) and FAI (p = 0.005) were significantly elevated in GG genotype and showed a significant difference in additive model in PCOS women. rs2414096 polymorphism of CYP19 gene is associated with the risk of PCOS as well as with clinical and biochemical markers of hyperandrogenism, hence suggesting its role in clinical manifestations of PCOS in Kashmiri women.


Author(s):  
Jacqueline A Darrow ◽  
Amanda Calabro ◽  
Sara Gannon ◽  
Amanze Orusakwe ◽  
Rianne Esquivel ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are increasingly used to confirm the accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia due to Alzheimer disease (AD). Recent evidence suggests that fully automated assays reduce the impact of some preanalytical factors on the variability of these measures. This study evaluated the effect of several preanalytical variables common in clinical settings on the variability of CSF β-amyloid 1–42 (Aβ1–42) concentrations. Methods Aβ1–42 concentrations were measured using the LUMIPULSE G1200 from both freshly collected and frozen CSF samples. Preanalytic variables examined were: (1) patient fasting prior to CSF collection, (2) blood contamination of specimens, and (3) aliquoting specimens sequentially over the course of collection (i.e., CSF gradients). Results Patient fasting did not significantly affect CSF Aβ1–42 levels. While assessing gradient effects, Aβ1–42 concentrations remained stable within the first 5 1-mL aliquots. However, there is evidence of a gradient effect toward higher concentrations over successive aliquots. Aβ1–42 levels were stable when fresh CSF samples were spiked with up to 2.5% of blood. However, in frozen CSF samples, even 0.25% blood contamination significantly decreased Aβ1–42 concentrations. Conclusions The preanalytical variables examined here do not have significant effects on Aβ1–42 concentrations if fresh samples are processed within 2 h. However, a gradient effect can be observed on Aβ1–42 concentrations after the first 5 mL of collection and blood contamination has a significant impact on Aβ1–42 concentrations once specimens have been frozen.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 509
Author(s):  
Lydia Kossiva ◽  
Athanasios Thirios ◽  
Eleni Panagouli ◽  
Alexandros Panos ◽  
Stavroula Lampidi ◽  
...  

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been numerous reports and reviews on the complications caused by the disease, analyzing the acute and chronic consequences. The main symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 are dry cough, fever, and fatigue. COVID-19 appears to affect all systems, including renal, cardiovascular, circulatory, and respiratory systems, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We report on a 14-year-old male adolescent, who presented with thrombocytopenia (platelet count 92 × 109 /L) and leukopenia (white blood count 4.2 × 103 /μL) that was observed two months ago. Ten days before the first blood test, a viral infection with nasal congestion and runny nose was reported, without other accompanying symptoms. Viral antibodies screening revealed positivity for all the three specific COVID-19 antibodies. Further haematological evaluation with bone marrow aspiration revealed non-specific dysplastic features of the red cell and megakaryocyte progenitors. Although haematological alterations due to COVID-19 infection are available from adult patients’ reports, the effect of COVID-19 infection in the pediatric population is underestimated and this is the first case with such haematological involvement. Noteworthy, in the current case, the impact of the COVID-19 infection was not related to the severity of the disease, as the symptoms were mild. In similar cases, bone marrow aspiration would not be performed as a part of routine work-up. Thus, it is important when evaluating pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection to search and report those alterations in order to better understand the impact and the spectrum of clinical manifestations of the specific viral infection in children and adolescents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1073
Author(s):  
Patricia Martínez-Botía ◽  
Ángel Bernardo ◽  
Andrea Acebes-Huerta ◽  
Alberto Caro ◽  
Blanca Leoz ◽  
...  

The most severe clinical manifestations of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), are due to an unbalanced immune response and a pro-thrombotic hemostatic disturbance, with arterial hypertension or diabetes as acknowledged risk factors. While waiting for a specific treatment, the clinical management of hospitalized patients is still a matter of debate, and the effectiveness of treatments to manage clinical manifestations and comorbidities has been questioned. In this study, we aim to assess the impact of the clinical management of arterial hypertension, inflammation and thrombosis on the survival of COVID-19 patients. The Spanish cohorts included in this observational retrospective study are from HM Hospitales (2035 patients) and from Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (72 patients). Kaplan Meier survival curves, Cox regression and propensity score matching analyses were employed, considering demographic variables, comorbidities and treatment arms (when opportune) as covariates. The management of arterial hypertension with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers is not detrimental, as was initially reported, and neither was the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). On the contrary, our analysis shows that the use on itself of corticosteroids is not beneficial. Importantly, the management of COVID-19 patients with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) as an anticoagulant significantly improves the survival of hospitalized patients. These results delineate the current treatment options under debate, supporting the effectiveness of thrombosis prophylaxis on COVID-19 patients as a first-line treatment without the need for compromising the treatment of comorbidities, while suggesting cautiousness when administering corticosteroids.


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