Article
Cell Biology
Eric Song, Christopher M. Bartley, Ryan D. Chow, Thomas T. Ngo, Ruoyi Jiang, Colin R. Zamecnik, Ravi Dandekar, Rita P. Loudermilk, Yile Dai, Feimei Liu, Sara Sunshine, Jamin Liu, Wesley Wu, Isobel A. Hawes, Bonny D. Alvarenga, Trung Huynh, Lindsay McAlpine, Nur-Taz Rahman, Bertie Geng, Jennifer Chiarella, Benjamin Goldman-Israelow, Chantal B. F. Vogels, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Arnau Casanovas-Massana, Brett S. Phinney, Michelle Salemi, Jessa R. Alexander, Juan A. Gallego, Todd Lencz, Hannah Walsh, Anne E. Wapniarski, Subhasis Mohanty, Carolina Lucas, Jon Klein, Tianyang Mao, Jieun Oh, Aaron Ring, Serena Spudich, Albert Ko, Steven H. Kleinstein, John Pak, Joseph L. DeRisi, Akiko Iwasaki, Samuel J. Pleasure, Michael R. Wilson, Shelli F. Farhadian
Summary: The study revealed compartmentalized immune response in the central nervous system of individuals with COVID-19, suggesting a potential role of autoimmunity in the neurological sequelae of COVID-19.
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Angelika Goertzen, Abdul Kareem Altawashi, Julian Rieck, Ruediger W. Veh
Summary: Autoimmune encephalitis is a rare disease and its true rarity is still unknown. The low incidence and difficulties in diagnosis may hinder neurologists' efforts to identify patients with unclear symptoms as having autoimmune encephalitis. This study aims to obtain a better estimate of autoimmune disorders among 100 inpatients in a neurological department.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Austin R. Morrison, Mathew C. Jones, Charles T. Makowski, Linoj P. Samuel, Ahman R. Ramadan, George J. Alangaden, Susan L. Davis, Rachel M. Kenney
Summary: Diagnostic stewardship interventions can reduce unnecessary antimicrobial therapy and microbiology laboratory costs by addressing inappropriate initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing, which was found to be prevalent in patients with suspected community-acquired meningitis or encephalitis. Inappropriate CSF testing was most common in immunocompromised patients, followed by non-immunocompromised and HIV-infected individuals, with associated laboratory fee costs reaching close to $300,000 per year. Developing a stepwise algorithm to guide CSF test ordering based on CSF parameters and patient characteristics could improve diagnostic stewardship in this patient population.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Hongze Zhang, Xunjia Cheng
Summary: Some members of free-living amoebae genera can cause human encephalitis, with Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., and Balamuthia mandrillaris being the three main culprits. These infections are difficult to diagnose due to the lack of typical symptoms and laboratory findings, leading to significant mortality worldwide.
FRONTIERS OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Cherie Tsz-Yiu Law, Thirapa Nivesvivat, Qing Xiong, Kasem Kulkeaw, Ling Shi, Pichet Ruenchit, Detchvijitr Suwanpakdee, Piradee Suwanpakdee, Nongnat Tongkrajang, Patsharaporn T. Sarasombath, Stephen Kwok-Wing Tsui
Summary: In this study, the mitochondrial genome of B. mandrillaris strain KM-20 was investigated, revealing diversity in the genome and a highly variable and high-copy region in the ribosomal protein S3. This region can be used as a clinical genotyping marker for B. mandrillaris.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Xiang-Ting Chen, Qian Zhang, Si-Yuan Wen, Fei-Fei Chen, Chang-Qing Zhou
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review of free-living amoeba encephalitis in China and found differences in exposure location, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis among three types of amoeba encephalitis.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Dominique Endres, Luciana Hannibal, Benjamin Zaltenbach, Miriam A. Schiele, Kimon Runge, Kathrin Nickel, Benjamin Berger, Katharina Domschke, Nils Venhoff, Harald Pruess, Ludger Tebartz van Elst
Summary: This article presents a rare case of postpartum autoimmune obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). MRI revealed multiple juxtacortical hyperintensities that may have resulted from post-inflammatory processes. Tissue-based assays showed the presence of novel anti-nucleoli autoantibodies in cerebellar Purkinje cells and cortical neurons in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF concentrations of dopamine and glutamate were dysregulated. The clinical course and diagnostic findings are consistent with a potential autoimmune etiology for postpartum OCD.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Robert Hertzsch, Angelika Richter
Summary: Bacterial meningitis in dogs and cats is a rare disease with high mortality rate. No veterinary medicinal product is approved for its treatment in Europe. This study collected pharmacokinetic data of approved antibiotics in dogs and cats and analyzed their potential effectiveness for treating bacterial meningitis. The results suggest that ampicillin, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and cefoxitin may have potential effectiveness against bacteria commonly associated with bacterial meningitis in dogs and cats.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Shota Hirakata, Yusuke Sakiyama, Akiko Yoshimura, Mei Ikeda, Katsunori Takahata, Yuichi Tashiro, Michiyoshi Yoshimura, Hitoshi Arata, Hajime Yonezawa, Mari Kirishima, Michiyo Higashi, Miho Hatanaka, Takuro Kanekura, Kenji Yagita, Eiji Matsuura, Hiroshi Takashima
Summary: Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis is a rare and fatal infectious disease, making clinical prognosis difficult. However, techniques such as amoeba-specific polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining can aid in diagnosis and treatment.
Article
Virology
Jialu Xu, Zeyu Sun, Wei Li, Lifang Liu, Feng Gao, Dongli Pan
Summary: This study investigated the epidemiology and pathology of Enterovirus (EV) encephalitis in children in Hangzhou, China, revealing higher positivity rates in boys, peaks in cases from June to August, and elevated levels of 28 cytokines and chemokines in EV-positive samples. Age, sex, and seasonal preferences were identified, providing insights into the characteristics of EV encephalitis in children.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Limei Peng, Quan Zhou, Yu Wu, Xiaoli Cao, Zili Lv, Minghua Su, Yachun Yu, Wen Huang
Summary: This case report describes a patient with confirmed B. mandrillaris encephalitis by NGS, who underwent two surgeries and responded well to a combination of surgeries and medications.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Travis J. J. Atchley, Barbara Vukic, Miroslav Vukic, Beverly C. C. Walters
Summary: This article reviews modern theories of CSF dynamics and calls for reform in medical education.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hafsah D. Tootla, Brian S. Eley, Johannes M. N. Enslin, John A. Frean, Carol Hlela, Tracy N. Kilborn, Bhavani Moodley, Shazia Peer, Shivani Singh, James J. C. Nuttall
Summary: This article reports the first confirmed case of Balamuthia mandrillaris granulomatous amoebic encephalitis acquired in Africa. The case highlights the initial nonspecific dermatological symptoms, delays in confirming the diagnosis, difficulties in accessing recommended medication, and uncertainty about the optimal treatment for a disease with a frequently fatal outcome.
JOURNAL OF THE PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Manfred Wick, Catharina C. Gross, Hayrettin Tumani, Brigitte Wildemann, Martin Stangel
Summary: Despite technical improvements, automated devices for analyzing cerebrospinal fluid cells still have limitations and require manual confirmation and microscopic cytology for clinical decisions.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Jun Liu, Wenjun Zhang, Shanlian Wu, Tianxiang Zeng, Fei Luo, Qiuhua Jiang, Ruijin Yang
Summary: This paper presents clinical data from a patient with Balamuthia GAE to enhance physicians' understanding of the disease and improve diagnostic accuracy of imaging to reduce misdiagnosis. The case involved a space-occupying lesion in the right frontal lobe, initially diagnosed as a high-grade astrocytoma. The final pathological diagnosis confirmed Balamuthia GAE.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
