Article
Parasitology
Miguel A. Orrego, Manuela R. Verastegui, Carlos M. Vasquez, Hector H. Garcia, Theodore E. Nash
Summary: The study reveals that the proliferative growth of the bladder wall in racemose neurocysticercosis is associated with the insulin receptor-mediated MAPK signaling pathway. It is found that metformin inhibits this pathway, reducing cell proliferation and parasite growth. This discovery offers a new therapeutic approach for racemose neurocysticercosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Javier A. Bustos, Gianfranco Arroyo, Robert H. Gilman, Percy Soto-Becerra, Isidro Gonzales, Herbert Saavedra, E. Javier Pretell, Theodore E. Nash, Seth E. O'Neal, Oscar H. Del Brutto, Armando E. Gonzalez, Hector H. Garcia
Summary: This study found that approximately 38% of parenchymal cysts in patients with neurocysticercosis calcify after antiparasitic treatment, with factors such as cyst size, baseline edema, and duration of seizures associated with calcification. Some factors associated with calcification are modifiable and may help reduce the risk of seizure relapses.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ryan Ta, Benjamin N. Blond
Summary: Neurocysticercosis is a common cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide and is often associated with pigs as an intermediate host. This review explores its epidemiology and common risk factors in endemic regions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Inadequate regulation of pig farms, poor sanitation, water contamination, and limited resources contribute to the prevalence of the disease. Effective limitation of neurocysticercosis can be achieved by addressing these common risk factors.
JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Han-Yu Zhang, Guo-Xing Wang, Yue-Yan Xing, Miao-Rong Xie
Summary: A 20-year-old female resident of Beijing accidentally ingested pork tapeworm eggs instead of the intended eggs for weight loss, resulting in a severe parasitic infection. After treatment, she fully recovered and remains in good health.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alfredo Maldonado-Barrueco, Cristina Utrilla, Ana Hernandez-Gonzalez, Maria J. Perteguer, Beatriz Diaz-Pollan, Yeray Untoria-Tabares, Marta Diaz-Menendez, Iker Falces-Romero, Almudena Gutierrez-Arroyo, Julio Garcia-Rodriguez, Dolores Montero-Vega
Summary: We present a confirmed case of intraventricular neurocysticercosis in a migrant from Choluteca, Honduras, in Madrid, Spain, based on epidemiological, radiological, and microbiological criteria.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel A. Andrade-Mogrovejo, Eloy Gonzales-Gustavson, Ana C. Ho-Palma, Joaquin M. Prada, Gabrielle Bonnet, Francesco Pizzitutti, Luis A. Gomez-Puerta, Gianfranco Arroyo, Seth E. O'Neal, Hector H. Garcia, Javier Guitian, Armando Gonzalez
Summary: This study systematically reviewed and analyzed pig infection experiments to evaluate the accuracy of dose-response models for Taenia solium cyst development. The exact beta-Poisson model was found to be the best fit for the data, providing important parameters for future experimental infections and transmission simulation models.
Article
Microbiology
L. Toribio, C. Guzman, S. Noazin, A. Zimic-Sheen, M. Zimic, I. Gonzales, H. Saavedra, E. J. Pretell, J. A. Bustos, S. Handali, H. H. Garcia
Summary: Neurocysticercosis is a common helminthic infection of the human central nervous system. We report a new immunoprint assay (MAPIA) that simplifies the detection process, reduces cost, and shows comparable accuracy and specificity to traditional methods.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
P. H. Espino, R. G. Couper, J. G. Burneo
Summary: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a global public health problem and a preventable cause of epilepsy in developing countries. Epileptic seizures are the most common manifestation of NCC and can occur at any stage of the disease. The exact mechanisms underlying NCC-related epilepsy are still poorly understood, with potential explanations including direct causality, initial injury, external factors, and coincidence.
CLINICAL NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jason Labuschagne, John Frean, Kaajal Parbhoo, Denis Mutyaba, Tanyia Pillay, Shareen Boughan, Hlezikuhle Nkala
Summary: This case report presents the first documented case of disseminated subarachnoid coenurosis caused by T. serialis, a tapeworm species not typically associated with central nervous system infection. The patient initially presented with acute hydrocephalus and underwent emergency surgery. Despite prolonged treatment, the patient's condition continued to deteriorate and ultimately led to death. The case highlights the importance of accurate identification and understanding of coenurosis for proper diagnosis and management.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yesenia Castillo, Luz M. M. Toribio, Carolina Guzman, Gianfranco Arroyo, Cindy Espinoza, Herbert Saavedra, Javier A. A. Bustos, Pierre Dorny, Seth E. E. O'Neal, Hector H. H. Garcia
Summary: This study compared the performance of two antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques for the detection of neurocysticercosis (NCC). The results showed that both ELISA techniques were able to detect antigen levels across different types of NCC and demonstrated high concordance. The B158/B60 antigen ELISA performed better in parenchymal and calcified NCC, while the TsW8/TsW5 antigen ELISA showed better detection in subarachnoid NCC.
Review
Microbiology
Oscar H. Del Brutto
Summary: Human cysticercosis is the most common helminthic infection of the CNS caused by Taenia solium. Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the infection of the CNS and meninges by the larval stage of Taenia solium. It can cause various manifestations such as seizures, headache, focal deficits, intracranial hypertension, or cognitive decline. Accurate diagnosis can be made by interpreting clinical data, neuroimaging studies, and immunological tests. Cysticidal drugs have improved the prognosis of NCC patients. Controlling all stages of the T. solium life cycle is essential for eradicating the disease.
Article
Neurosciences
Laura E. Baquedano, Edson G. Bernal, Daniel J. Carrion, Ana D. Delgado, Cesar M. Gavidia, Daniela E. Kirwan, Robert H. Gilman, Manuela R. Verastegui
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of neurocysticercosis on spatial working memory and its correlation with hippocampal neuronal density in a rat model. The results showed a significant decline in spatial working memory over a 1-year period in NCC-infected rats, along with a decrease in hippocampal neuronal density. This rat model provides valuable support for the relationship between neurocysticercosis and cognitive impairment.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel A. Orrego, Carlos M. Vasquez, Kayla Togneri, Juan P. Laclette, Hector H. Garcia, Theodore E. Nash
Summary: Iron deposits were detected in the bladder wall of racemose cysts but not in univesicular cysts, and the genes for iron-binding proteins and ribonucleotide reductase were significantly overexpressed in racemose cysts compared to univesicular cysts.
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Chenlong Yang, Tie Liu, Jian Wu, Jingcheng Xie, Tao Yu, Wenqing Jia, Jun Yang, Yulun Xu
Summary: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical manifestations, radiological features, treatment, and outcomes of seven patients with spinal cysticercosis. Spinal cysticercosis is an extremely rare cause of myelopathy, and characteristic MRI features can aid in preoperative diagnosis.
Article
Clinical Neurology
J. Bustos, I Gonzales, H. Saavedra, S. Handali, H. H. Garcia
Summary: Neurocysticercosis is endemic in most parts of the world and accounts for approximately 30% of epilepsy cases in endemic areas. Proper diagnosis and management require understanding the diverse presentations of the disease, which vary in clinical manifestations, sensitivity of diagnostic tests, and therapeutic approaches. This review aims to familiarize tropical neurology practitioners with the different types of neurocysticercosis and appropriate management strategies for each.
JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
S. Garfias, B. Tamaya Dominguez, A. Toledo Rojas, M. Arroyo, U. Rodriguez, C. Boll, A. L. Sosa, E. Sciutto, L. Adalid-Peralta, Y. Martinez Lopez, G. Fragoso, A. Fleury
Summary: This study evaluated the characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with AD and PD, and their association with the diseases and their progression. The findings indicate that the phenotypes of lymphocytes in AD and PD patients change and are associated with the severity of the diseases.
Article
Clinical Neurology
J. L. Guerrero Camacho, T. Corona Vazquez, J. J. Flores Rivera, A. Ochoa Morales, L. Martinez Ruanoa, I. Torres Ramirez de Arellano, D. J. Davila Ortiz de Montellano, A. Jara Prado
Summary: This study aimed to determine the association between the ABCB1 gene variants (C1236T, G2677T/A, and C3435T) and demyelinating disease. The study found that the GG2677/CC3435 genotype combination was associated with demyelinating disease, particularly in men. This study revealed the significant role of the ABCB1 gene in demyelinating disease.
Article
Dermatology
Carlos Daniel Sanchez-Cardenas, Diana Carolina Vega-Sanchez, Tania Rosalia Gonzalez-Suarez, Jose Flores-Rivera, Roberto G. Arenas, Teresa Corona
Summary: This is the first case of onychomycosis caused by Kloeckera apiculata in a woman with multiple sclerosis. Video-dermoscopic examination revealed a spiked pattern and distal irregular aspect, while colonies on Sabouraud agar were white, creamy, and smooth. Microscopic examination showed blastoconidia and MALDI-TOF confirmed Kloeckera apiculata as the causal agent.
SKIN APPENDAGE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Roberto Rodriguez-Rivas, Ana Flisser, Luiz Fernando Norcia, Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho, D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana, Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales, Arturo Carpio, Matthew L. Romo, Agnes Fleury
Summary: The study assessed the trends in hospitalization rates and mortality of neurocysticercosis in Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico. It found a decrease in hospitalization rates in Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico, an increase in the age of patients with recent infections in Mexico, and an increase in hospitalization rates in Colombia.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Jose Alberto Carlos-Escalante, Sonia Iliana Mejia-Perez, Ernesto Soto-Reyes, Lissania Guerra-Calderas, Bernardo Cacho-Diaz, Karla Torres-Arciga, Michel Montalvo-Casimiro, Rodrigo Gonzalez-Barrios, Nancy Reynoso-Noveron, Miguel Ruiz-de la Cruz, Clara Estela Diaz-Velasquez, Silvia Vidal-Millan, Rosa Maria Alvarez-Gomez, Thalia Estefania Sanchez-Correa, Claudio Hiram Pech-Cervantes, Jose Antonio Soria-Lucio, Areli Perez-Castillo, Ana Maria Salazar, Cristian Arriaga-Canon, Felipe Vaca-Paniagua, Aliesha Gonzalez-Arenas, Patricia Ostrosky-Wegman, Alejandro Mohar-Betancourt, Luis A. Herrera, Teresa Corona, Talia Wegman-Ostrosky
Summary: This study investigates the molecular characteristics of astrocytomas in Mexican patients, focusing on AGT, MGMT, and TP53 somatic variants. The presence of AGT and MGMT variants, as well as MGMT promoter methylation, is associated with improved survival and response to chemotherapy. Notably, AGT variants are found exclusively in women, revealing molecular differences between genders in astrocytoma. Further research is needed to validate these findings.
JOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yaneth Rodriguez-Agudelo, Jaqueline Nava-Adan, Francisco Paz-Rodriguez, Arturo Abundes-Corona, Jose Flores-Rivera, Teresa Corona
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health and quality of life of people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). This study found that the unemployment rate increased during the pandemic, and limitations in daily activities had a predominant effect on quality of life. Additionally, the majority of PwMS reported experiencing at least one neuropsychiatric symptom.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Graciela Cardenas, Raul J. Bobes, Gladis Fragoso, Nicolas I. Perez-Osorio, Marisela Hernandez, Alejandro Espinosa, Agnes Fleury, Jose Flores, Juan Pedro Laclette, Edda Sciutto, Helgi Jung-Cook
Summary: Dexamethasone and methylprednisolone are effective glucocorticoids for controlling inflammation. Intranasal administration bypasses the blood-brain barrier and allows direct access to the central nervous system. This study found that intranasal delivery of DXM and MEP has high bioavailability and is comparable to intravenous administration, suggesting it can be a non-invasive alternative for systemic drug delivery.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alfredo Cruz-Gregorio, Ana Karina Aranda-Rivera, Omar Emiliano Aparicio-Trejo, Omar Noel Medina-Campos, Edda Sciutto, Gladis Fragoso, Jose Pedraza-Chaverri
Summary: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. The mortality rate has decreased due to early diagnosis and more effective treatments, but HER2 and TNBC still have poor prognoses. The immunomodulatory peptide GK-1 is being proposed as a new alternative for immunotherapy of these aggressive tumors. GK-1 has shown promising results in reducing tumor growth and lung metastasis in experimental models.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho, Roberto Rodriguez-Rivas, Agnes Fleury
Summary: This scoping review discusses the treatment options and indications for neurocysticercosis, a neglected tropical disease. Despite improvements in therapeutic management, the morbidity and mortality of this disease remain high.
RESEARCH AND REPORTS IN TROPICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
D. Stelzle, C. Makasi, V. Schmidt, C. Trevisan, I. Van Damme, C. Ruether, P. Dorny, P. Magnussen, G. Zulu, K. E. Mwape, E. Bottieau, C. Prazeres da Costa, U. F. Prodjinotho, H. Carabin, E. Jackson, A. Fleury, S. Gabriel, B. J. Ngowi, A. S. Winkler
Summary: A prospective cohort study conducted in Tanzania found that the efficacy of albendazole monotherapy for neurocysticercosis was unsatisfactory, but the combination therapy of albendazole and praziquantel resulted in a high rate of cyst resolution.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nicoline Schiess, Violet Kulo, Pria Anand, David R. Bearden, Aaron L. Berkowitz, Gretchen L. Birbeck, Anna Cervantes-Arslanian, Phillip Chan, Lorraine Chishimba Chishimba, Felicia C. Chow, Isabel Elicer, Agnes Fleury, Aarti Kinikar, Michelle Kvalsund, Farrah J. Mateen, Amir A. Mbonde, Ana-Claire L. Meyer, Cumara B. O'Carroll, Adesola Ogunniyi, Archana A. Patel, Michael Rubenstein, Omar K. Siddiqi, Serena Spudich, Sean A. Tackett, Kiran T. Thakur, Nirali Vora, Joseph Zunt, Deanna R. Saylor
Summary: This study used a modified Delphi approach to develop a framework of 47 competencies for global neurology training. These competencies cover eight domains, including cultural context, medical knowledge, team-based practice, and healthcare systems. The findings of this study can be used to establish global neurology training programs and evaluate trainees in this field.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lya Cruz, Edgar Pacheco, Walter Soto, Roberto Cong, Roberto Suastegui, Sergio Moreno-Jimenez, Agnes Fleury
Summary: Hydrocephalus is a common complication of EP-NC, and VPS is the main treatment. Previous studies have shown poor prognosis associated with VPS, but current information is lacking.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Matthew L. L. Romo, Rocio Osorio, Andrea Toledo, Roger Carrillo-Mezo, Ricardo Valdez, Marta C. C. Romano, Edda Sciutto, Gladis Fragoso, Agnes Fleury
Summary: The study examined the relationship between host immune and endocrine systems and treatment response in patients with extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis (EP-NC). The findings showed that prior to treatment, EP-NC patients had a weak specific immune response and a regulatory response, which may explain the lack of peripheral immunological changes during and after treatment. This weak specific peripheral response may contribute to the chronicity of the infection and the poor treatment response.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Andrea Toledo, Gladis Fragoso, Roger Carrillo-Mezo, Matthew L. Romo, Edda Sciutto, Agnes Fleury
Summary: The presence of soluble forms of PD-1 and PD-L1 in plasma of patients with EP-NC was found to be associated with treatment response. Higher levels of these markers before treatment were correlated with poor treatment response, and the ratio of sPD-1/sPD-L1 showed high sensitivity and specificity in predicting treatment response.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Amin Cervantes-Arriaga, Cynthia Sarabia-Tapia, Oscar Esquivel-Zapata, Susana Lopez-Alamillo, Etienne Resendiz-Henriquez, Teresa Corona, Mayela Rodriguez-Violante
Summary: This study conducted a cross-sectional study to identify the factors contributing to diagnostic delay in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. The results showed that both the individuals with PD and the physicians play important roles in the diagnosis process. Improving disease awareness and medical education on PD could lead to timely diagnosis.
REVISTA MEXICANA DE NEUROCIENCIA
(2022)