scholarly journals Update on Eosinophilic Meningoencephalitis and Its Clinical Relevance

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Graeff-Teixeira ◽  
Ana Cristina Arámburu da Silva ◽  
Kentaro Yoshimura
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Concomitant Administration ◽  
Definitive Diagnosis ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Neoplastic Disease ◽  
Helminthic Infections ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
New Compounds ◽  
Eosinophilic Meningoencephalitis ◽  
Etiologic Diagnosis

SUMMARY Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis is caused by a variety of helminthic infections. These worm-specific infections are named after the causative worm genera, the most common being angiostrongyliasis, gnathostomiasis, toxocariasis, cysticercosis, schistosomiasis, baylisascariasis, and paragonimiasis. Worm parasites enter an organism through ingestion of contaminated water or an intermediate host and can eventually affect the central nervous system (CNS). These infections are potentially serious events leading to sequelae or death, and diagnosis depends on currently limited molecular methods. Identification of parasites in fluids and tissues is rarely possible, while images and clinical examinations do not lead to a definitive diagnosis. Treatment usually requires the concomitant administration of corticoids and anthelminthic drugs, yet new compounds and their extensive and detailed clinical evaluation are much needed. Eosinophilia in fluids may be detected in other infectious and noninfectious conditions, such as neoplastic disease, drug use, and prosthesis reactions. Thus, distinctive identification of eosinophils in fluids is a necessary component in the etiologic diagnosis of CNS infections.

scholarly journals Dying to Fall Asleep

2019 ◽  
pp. 724-742
Author(s):  
Jessica Vensel Rundo ◽  
Hillor Mehta ◽  
Reena Mehra
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Genetic Disease ◽  
Prion Proteins ◽  
Amyloid Plaques ◽  
Definitive Diagnosis ◽  
Common Features ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Autonomic Hyperactivity

Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease characterized by progressive insomnia, autonomic hyperactivity, memory deficits, hallucinations, and myoclonus. Unlike its name, insomnia is not the most common initial presentation in patients with FFI. More common features like autonomic hyperactivity (hypertension and tachycardia) are often missed, delaying the diagnosis of FFI. Genetic analysis of FFI shows a D178N-129M mutation that results in generation of insoluble proteins (prion proteins) that aggregate to form amyloid plaques, leading to deterioration of the central nervous system, particularly in the hypothalamus. This case illustrates the difficulty in determining a definitive diagnosis in patients with FFI. Unfortunately, no treatment or cure is available for FFI. The disease is fatal in all the patients.

Neuropeptides and anxiety: focus on cholecystokinin

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
R B Lydiard
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Cck Receptors ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Therapeutic Uses ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
New Compounds

Abstract Cholecystokinin (CCK), a gastrin-like neuropeptide, exists in the central nervous system in several forms. The octapeptide (CCK-8) occurs in predominantly sulfated form (CCK-8S), and the tetrapeptide (CCK-4) occurs in smaller but significant quantities. This review highlights recent developments in preclinical and clinical research into the potential role for CCK in mediating anxiety states. Relevant animal and human studies of administration of CCK agonists are discussed, as well as recent data regarding the concentration of CCK-8S in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with panic disorder, bulimia nervosa, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Finally, the development of agents that specifically antagonize CCK receptors will be described, as will potential therapeutic uses for these new compounds.

scholarly journals Modulation of the Complement System by Neoplastic Disease of the Central Nervous System

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven K. Yarmoska ◽  
Ali M. Alawieh ◽  
Stephen Tomlinson ◽  
Kimberly B. Hoang
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Adaptive Immunity ◽  
Complement System ◽  
Neoplastic Disease ◽  
Innate And Adaptive Immunity ◽  
Neoplastic Diseases ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Complement System

The complement system is a highly conserved component of innate immunity that is involved in recognizing and responding to pathogens. The system serves as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity, and modulation of the complement system can affect the entire host immune response to a foreign insult. Neoplastic diseases have been shown to engage the complement system in order to evade the immune system, gain a selective growth advantage, and co-opt the surrounding environment for tumor proliferation. Historically, the central nervous system has been considered to be an immune-privileged environment, but it is now clear that there are active roles for both innate and adaptive immunity within the central nervous system. Much of the research on the role of immunological modulation of neoplastic disease within the central nervous system has focused on adaptive immunity, even though innate immunity still plays a critical role in the natural history of central nervous system neoplasms. Here, we review the modulation of the complement system by a variety of neoplastic diseases of the central nervous system. We also discuss gaps in the current body of knowledge and comment on future directions for investigation.

Case 25

2020 ◽  
pp. 163-170
Author(s):  
Andrew Woodhouse
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Clinical Context ◽  
Symptomatic Infection ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Tract Disease ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Great Burden

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic trematode infection. Depending on the species of fluke, gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract disease develops with occasional involvement of other organs including the central nervous system. The great burden of chronic disease is in endemic countries but travellers can become infected through exposure to contaminated water in lakes and rivers. An acute symptomatic infection is sometimes seen and needs to be considered in the appropriate clinical context in travellers returning from the tropics.

Synergism of intraventricular NaCl infusion and subpressor angiotensins in rats

1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (1) ◽  
pp. H1-H8 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Katahira ◽  
H. Mikami ◽  
T. Ogihara ◽  
K. Kohara ◽  
A. Otsuka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Intravenous Infusion ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Concomitant Administration ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Intracerebroventricular Infusion ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
The Central Nervous System

The effect of selective salt infusion to the central nervous system on the blood pressure (BP) regulation was examined in male Wistar rats. Hypertonic NaCl (0.8 M, 1 microliter/h) was infused into the lateral ventricle concomitantly with intravenous infusion of a subpressor dose (5.4 pmol.kg-1.min-1) of angiotensin II (ANG II) or its analogues for 7 days using osmotic minipumps. The BP was not increased by intracerebroventricular infusion of NaCl alone at this dose but was significantly and consistently increased by concomitant intravenous infusion of ANG II or its analogues. The increases in the BP over the base-line values on day 7 in groups on infusions of ANG II, ANG III, and pentasarcosyl-ANG II [(Sar)5ANG II] were 29 +/- 5 mmHg (n = 9, P less than 0.05), 8 +/- 2 mmHg (n = 8, P less than 0.05), and 19 +/- 3 mmHg (n = 6, P less than 0.05), respectively. The responses to hexamethonium, prazosin, and antagonists of arginine vasopressin and ANG II were examined in separate sets of conscious and unrestrained animals that had received intracerebroventricular infusion of NaCl and intravenous infusion of ANG II for the preceding 6 days. These animals showed significantly greater depressor responses only to hexamethonium and prazosin than control. These results indicate that the pressor effect of continuous and concomitant administration of intracerebroventricular NaCl and intravenous ANG II is mainly due to activation of the sympathetic nerve function. Synergism of the effects of selective central sodium administration and a subpressor dose of ANG II in the central nervous system is suggested.

scholarly journals Intracranial actinomycosis: case report and review of literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-252
Author(s):  
Alfonso Pacheco-Hernandez ◽  
Jorque Aquino-Matus ◽  
Willem Guillermo Calderon-Miranda ◽  
Jean Carlos Pinto-Angarita ◽  
Ronsangela Ramirez-Barranco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Definitive Diagnosis ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Infection Treatment ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Actinomyces Infection ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Actinomycosis infection is a slow progressing disease, in which involvment of the central nervous system by Actinomyces israelii is uncommon (less than 5%). Clinical picture is non-specific and is often misdiagnosed with neoplasia; some clinical clues my arise suspicion. The case of a 59 year-old female is reported who presented headache and focal neurologic signs and in whom a out-of the hospital diagnosis of a neuroepitelial dysembryoplastic tumor was made; nonetheless after careful interview and physical exploration, a spectroscopy magnetic resonance of the brain and hystopathological description of the lesion was made and yielded the definitive diagnosis of intracranial actinomyces infection. Treatment and progression were uneventful.

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