scholarly journals STUDIES ON INFLUENZAL MENINGITIS

1932 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh K. Ward ◽  
Joyce Wright

1. An acute purulent meningitis due to the invasion of the meninges by Pfeiffer's influenza bacillus is not a very uncommon disease ininfants and young children. It has a very high mortality. 2. Complement is entirely absent in the cerebrospinal fluid of these cases, and bactericidal experiments suggest that the injection of a specific antiserum will have but slight lethal effect on the organisms unless complement is injected at the same time. 3. Treatment with a mixture of specific antiserum and complement led in some cases to a definite clinical improvement, coincident with sterilization and clearing of the cerebrospinal fluid. But after some days, the patients relapsed and died. Autopsy showed localized abscesses in the vicinity of the base of the brain, the lesions being definitely walled off from the general subarachnoid space. In one case, the patient recovered. 4. Since the walls of the abscesses apparently present an insuperable mechanical obstacle to the action of the antiserum and complement, the possibility of preventing the formation of abscesses is discussed. Earlier diagnosis and more rapid sterilization are the most obvious measures. Bactericidal experiments indicate that the proportion of antiserum to complement may be an important factor in bringing about a more rapid elimination of the bacilli.

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Sharmistha Mitra ◽  
Robiul Hasan Bhuiyan ◽  
Md Arifuzzaman ◽  
Mohammad Sayedul Islam ◽  
Mahmood A Chowdhury ◽  
...  

Meningitis is referred to as an inflammatory process of the leptomeninges and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the sub-arachnoid space of the brain. We have investigated glucose status in CSF in different types of meningitis together with detailed medical history in children. In addition, we have also carried out the detailed cytological and microbiological examinations. A total of 40 subjects were investigated. We observed that the glucose level was significantly decreased (<20 mg/dl) in 65%, moderately decreased (20-40 mg/dl) in 20% and mildly decreased (40-50mg/dl) in 15% of the patients in our study. Patients with Pyogenic meningitis had tremendously reduced glucose level (9.0 mg/dl) in their CSF whereas in viral meningitis the CSF glucose level is highly variable (10 to 65 mg/dl). Furthermore, 5 (12.5%) patients showed high lymphocyte counts and 34 (85%) patients showed high neutrophil counts. Interestingly, in Pyogenic meningitis, the neutrophil count was very high compared to that in viral meningitis. The present study clearly demonstrates that biochemical parameters such as glucose level in CSF might be a potential tool for detecting meningitis and as well as differentiation of the different types of meningitis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17080 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):41-49, 2011


1980 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 798-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Williams

Discussion of the pathogenesis of syringomyelia involves considering the origin of the fluid and also the forces which cause that fluid to break down the structure of the cord. When cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) appears to be the destructive element, it commonly enters through a patent central canal running from the fourth ventricle to the inside of the syrinx. In both clinical and experimental situations pressure differences may be measured which suck on the hindbrain, particularly the cerebellar tonsils, producing deformities. These pressure differences may also suck fluid into the syrinx. In other cases, even when a communication does not appear to be patent, the hindbrain abnormalities are usually present and suck effect may usually be demonstrated and its correction be accompanied by clinical improvement. Other sources of fluid within a syrinx include liquefaction of haematomata after traumatic paraplegia and transudation of fluid from intrinsic spinal tumours. Once fluid is present within a cord cavity it may pulsate upwards and downwards in response to fluid movements in the subarachnoid space, the most energetic of which result from venous influences. Such movement, ‘slosh’, may cause the cavities to extend at either end giving rise to upward and downward extension from a post-traumatic cord cyst and sometimes to syringobulbia. Cord ischaemia, venous congestion and transport of fluid along perivascular spaces may all play a part in the maintainance of cord cavities or the progression of the clinical disabilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-71
Author(s):  
Ping Zhang ◽  
Chao Pan ◽  
Jiahui Wang ◽  
Yang Ma ◽  
Huaqiu Zhang ◽  
...  

To date, only a few cases of intracranial infection related to severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) were reported. Here we describe a case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) that was comorbid with purulent meningitis. A 62‐year‐old male patient was diagnosed with moderate COVID‐19 and had no fever or cough after treatment. However, he suffered from a head injury and experienced headache and fever immediately after the accident. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain showed bilateral frontal lobe contusion, subdural hematoma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. In the following days, the patient suffered from recurrent fever, although chest CT did not show evidence of worsening of infection. Several lumbar punctures were made, confirming increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and karyocyte count. SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleic acid was not detected in CSF but revealed the presence of Escherichia coli. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with purulent meningitis, presumably caused by brain trauma or the immunologic dysfunction caused by COVID‐19, which was supported by the significant reduction of all kinds of immune cells. Since immunologic dysfunction is commonly presented in COVID‐19 patients, comorbidity with meningitis should be considered when a COVID‐19 patient presents with headache and fever. Lumbar punctures and CSF cultures may help in the diagnosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 69-70
Author(s):  
DN Borakhatariya ◽  
Rupesh J Raval ◽  
Karsan B Vala ◽  
Bakti P Chavda ◽  
Sanny G Prajapati

There are several types of fetal dropsy (fetal ascites, fetal anasarca, fetal hydrocephalus), which have obstetrical importance preventing normal easy delivery of calf. Hydrocephalus is one of the fetal causes of dystocia. It is characterized by an accumulation of fluid which may be in the ventricular system or between the brain and the subarachnoid space. The swelling or enlargement of cranium occurs as a result of an imbalance between formation and drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (Arthur et al., 2001). This congenital dropsical condition is associated with an autosomal recessive gene, whereas some cases are due to BVD-MD or bluetongue virus infection in bovine (Roberts, 1986). Though this dropsical condition is rare in Gir cattle, it is reported in many other species (Dhami et al., 2007; Kumar et al., 2010; Parmar et al., 2018). The present case report depicts an unusual instance of hydrocephalic monster in an indigenous Gir calf, causing dystocia, which was successfully managed by per vaginum.


Author(s):  
Joel A. Lefever ◽  
José Jaime García ◽  
Joshua H. Smith

In a healthy brain, a continuous flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced in the choroid plexus, located in the lateral ventricles. Most of the CSF drains via the Sylvius aqueduct into the subarachnoid space around the brain, but a small amount flows directly through the cerebrum into the subarachnoid space inside the skull. Non-communicating hydrocephalus occurs when an obstruction blocks the Sylvius aqueduct. Because the cerebrum has only limited capacity for CSF to flow through it, CSF accumulates in the ventricles, yielding a significant increase in ventricular volume and deformation of the cerebrum, which may lead to tissue damage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Brady ◽  
Akib Rahman ◽  
Abigail Combs ◽  
Chethana Venkatraman ◽  
R. Tristan Kasper ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Continuous circulation and drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are essential for the elimination of CSF-borne metabolic products and neuronal function. While multiple CSF drainage pathways have been identified, the significance of each to normal drainage and whether there are differential changes at CSF outflow regions in the aging brain are unclear. Methods Dynamic in vivo imaging of near infrared fluorescently-labeled albumin was used to simultaneously visualize the flow of CSF at outflow regions on the dorsal side (transcranial and -spinal) of the central nervous system. This was followed by kinetic analysis, which included the elimination rate constants for these regions. In addition, tracer distribution in ex vivo tissues were assessed, including the nasal/cribriform region, dorsal and ventral surfaces of the brain, spinal cord, cranial dura, skull base, optic and trigeminal nerves and cervical lymph nodes. Results Based on the in vivo data, there was evidence of CSF elimination, as determined by the rate of clearance, from the nasal route across the cribriform plate and spinal subarachnoid space, but not from the dorsal dural regions. Using ex vivo tissue samples, the presence of tracer was confirmed in the cribriform area and olfactory regions, around pial blood vessels, spinal subarachnoid space, spinal cord and cervical lymph nodes but not for the dorsal dura, skull base or the other cranial nerves. Also, ex vivo tissues showed retention of tracer along brain fissures and regions associated with cisterns on the brain surfaces, but not in the brain parenchyma. Aging reduced CSF elimination across the cribriform plate but not that from the spinal SAS nor retention on the brain surfaces. Conclusions Collectively, these data show that the main CSF outflow sites were the nasal region across the cribriform plate and from the spinal regions in mice. In young adult mice, the contribution of the nasal and cribriform route to outflow was much higher than from the spinal regions. In older mice, the contribution of the nasal route to CSF outflow was reduced significantly but not for the spinal routes. This kinetic approach may have significance in determining early changes in CSF drainage in neurological disorder, age-related cognitive decline and brain diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naser Amini ◽  
Nasim Vousooghi ◽  
Akram Alizade ◽  
Sara Ramezani ◽  
Mohammad T. Joghataei ◽  
...  

Background: Cell therapy is an important strategy for the treatment of incurable diseases including those that occur in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Among different strategies, the method of delivering or transplantation of cells into the brain has shown significant effects on regeneration. In this study, a new protocol has been developed for the transplantation of adipose tissuederived stem cells into the brain through Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in rat models. Methods: For this purpose, a wide range of ages (7-30 days old) of male neonates of Wistar rats was used. Moreover, human adipose tissue was obtained from a superficial layer of abdomen through liposuction surgery. The size of the inserted part of needle to access middle cranial fossa and subarachnoid space in animals with an average weight of 10-80 g was determined. In addition, to confirm the entrance of needle into the subarachnoid space, CSF was aspirated slowly and then injection was done within two minutes. Results: The findings showed the presence of transplanted human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (hADSC) in the cerebellum and basal ganglia following three days and also after two months that confirmed the entrance of transplanted cells into the cerebrospinal fluid and migration of them into the brain tissue. All the animals survived after the transplantation process, with the lowest side effects compared to the available conventional methods. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the cells could be efficiently transplanted into CSF through subarachnoid space by injection via superior orbital fissure with a minimally invasive technique.


2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (22) ◽  
pp. 2745-2752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard Dobson ◽  
Matthew MacGregor Sharp ◽  
Richard Cumpsty ◽  
Theodore P. Criswell ◽  
Tyler Wellman ◽  
...  

Although there are no conventional lymphatic vessels in the brain, fluid and solutes drain along basement membranes (BMs) of cerebral capillaries and arteries towards the subarachnoid space and cervical lymph nodes. Convective influx/glymphatic entry of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the brain parenchyma occurs along the pial-glial BMs of arteries. This project tested the hypotheses that pial-glial BM of arteries are thicker in the midbrain, allowing more glymphatic entry of CSF. The in vivo MRI and PET images were obtained from a 4.2-year-old dog, whereas the post-mortem electron microscopy was performed in a 12-year-old dog. We demonstrated a significant increase in the thickness of the pial-glial BM in the midbrain compared with the same BM in different regions of the brain and an increase in the convective influx of fluid from the subarachnoid space. These results are highly significant for the intrathecal drug delivery into the brain, indicating that the midbrain is better equipped for convective influx/glymphatic entry of the CSF.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeki Yamada ◽  
Masatsune Ishikawa ◽  
Makoto Yamaguchi ◽  
Kazuo Yamamoto

AbstractThe present study aimed to examine time-dependent change in cerebrospinal fluid distribution and various radiological indices for evaluating shunt effectiveness in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). This study included 54 patients with iNPH who underwent MRI before and after ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. The volume of the total ventricles and subarachnoid spaces decreased within 1 month after shunting. However, more than 1 year after shunting, the volume of the total ventricles decreased, whereas that of the total subarachnoid spaces increased. Although cerebrospinal fluid distribution changed considerably throughout the follow-up period, the brain parenchyma expanded only 2% from the baseline brain volume within 1 month after shunting and remained unchanged thereafter. The volume of the convexity subarachnoid space markedly increased. The changing rate of convexity subarachnoid space per ventricle ratio (CVR) was greater than that of any two-dimensional index. The brain per ventricle ratio (BVR), callosal angle and z-Evans index continued gradually changing, whereas Evans index did not change throughout the follow-up period. Both decreased ventricular volume and increased convexity subarachnoid space volume were important for evaluating shunt effectiveness. Therefore, we recommend CVR and BVR as useful indices for the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment response in patients with iNPH.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 732
Author(s):  
Matthew Dankner ◽  
Stephanie Lam ◽  
Theresa Degenhard ◽  
Livia Garzia ◽  
Marie-Christine Guiot ◽  
...  

Metastasis to the central nervous system occurs in approximately 20% of patients with advanced solid cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. While central nervous system metastases most commonly form in the brain parenchyma, metastatic cancer cells may also reside in the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain and spinal cord to form tumors called leptomeningeal metastases. Leptomeningeal metastasis involves cancer cells that reach the subarachnoid space and proliferate in the cerebrospinal fluid compartment within the leptomeninges, a sequela associated with a myriad of symptoms and poor prognosis. Cancer cells exposed to cerebrospinal fluid in the leptomeninges must contend with a unique microenvironment from those that establish within the brain or other organs. Leptomeningeal lesions provide a formidable clinical challenge due to their often-diffuse infiltration within the subarachnoid space. The molecular mechanisms that promote the establishment of leptomeningeal metastases have begun to be elucidated, demonstrating that it is a biological entity distinct from parenchymal brain metastases and is associated with specific molecular drivers. In this review, we outline the current state of knowledge pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment, and molecular underpinnings of leptomeningeal metastasis.


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