COVID-19, the Brain, and the Future: Is Infection by the Novel Coronavirus a Harbinger of Neurodegeneration?

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adejoke Onaolapo ◽  
Olakunle Onaolapo
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Central Nervous System Involvement ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

: The possible impact of viral infections on the development or pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders remains largely unknown. However, there have been reports associating the influenza virus pandemic and long-term infection with the Japanese encephalitis virus with the development of post-encephalitic Parkinsonism or von Economo encephalitis. In the last one year plus, there has been a worldwide pandemic arising from infection with the novel coronavirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 which causes a severe acute respiratory syndrome that has become associated with central nervous system symptoms or complications. Its possible central nervous system involvement is in line with emerging scientific evidence which shows that the human respiratory coronaviruses can enter the brain, infect neural cells, persist in the brain, and cause activation of myelin-reactive T cells. Currently, there is a dearth of scientific information on the acute or possible long-term impact of infection with SARS-CoV-2 on the development of dementias and/or neurodegenerative diseases. This is not unrelated to the fact that the virus is ‘new’, and its effects on humans are still being studied. This narrative review examines extant literature for the impact of corona virus infections on the brain; as it considers the possibility that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could increase the risk for the development of neurodegenerative diseases or hasten their progression.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Vaccination: From Interesting Agent to the Patient

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 120
Author(s):  
Anis Daou
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Lead Compound ◽  
Fda Approval ◽  
The World ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The vaccination for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is undergoing its final stages of analysis and testing. It is an impressive feat under the circumstances that we are on the verge of a potential breakthrough vaccination. This will help reduce the stress for millions of people around the globe, helping to restore worldwide normalcy. In this review, the analysis looks into how the new branch of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) came into the forefront of the world like a pandemic. This review will break down the details of what COVID-19 is, the viral family it belongs to and its background of how this family of viruses alters bodily functions by attacking vital human respiratory organs, the circulatory system, the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. This review also looks at the process a new drug analogue undergoes, from (i) being a promising lead compound to (ii) being released into the market, from the drug development and discovery stage right through to FDA approval and aftermarket research. This review also addresses viable reasoning as to why the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may have taken much less time than normal in order for it to be released for use.

scholarly journals Respiratory Care in Corona

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 613-620
Author(s):  
Mustafa Amdani, Dr. Swaroopa Chakole
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Human Life ◽  
The Body ◽  
Respiratory Care ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Specific Therapy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The expanse of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 is huge. The impact is multispectral and affected almost all aspects of human life. SUMMARY Respiratory impact of the COVID-19 is the most felt and widely reported impact. As the novel coronavirus maintained its history of affecting lungs as seen previously in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. Ventilators and oxygen support system are required mostly in comorbid patients particularly amongpatientsbearing illnesses like asthma, bronchial impairment and so on. CONCLUSION More study needs to be done in order to assess the impact on the respiratory functioning of the body. Respiratory care must be including proper instruments so that more efficient result can be obtained. Research is needed to promote the invention of specific therapy for targeted action for respiratory functioning improvement.

scholarly journals The Role of Dietary Antioxidants in the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Their Impact on Cerebral Oxidoreductive Balance

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Winiarska-Mieczan ◽  
Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik ◽  
Małgorzata Kwiecień ◽  
Eugeniusz R. Grela ◽  
Dominik Szwajgier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Functional Disorders ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Diet Supplements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain ◽  
All Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive diseases of the nervous system that lead to neuron loss or functional disorders. Neurodegenerative diseases require long-term, sometimes life-long pharmacological treatment, which increases the risk of adverse effects and a negative impact of pharmaceuticals on the patients’ general condition. One of the main problems related to the treatment of this type of condition is the limited ability to deliver drugs to the brain due to their poor solubility, low bioavailability, and the effects of the blood-brain barrier. Given the above, one of the main objectives of contemporary scientific research focuses on the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. As disorders related to the competence of the antioxidative system are a marker in all diseases of this type, the primary prophylactics should entail the use of exogenous antioxidants, particularly ones that can be used over extended periods, regardless of the patient’s age, and that are easily available, e.g., as part of a diet or as diet supplements. The paper analyzes the significance of the oxidoreductive balance in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Based on information published globally in the last 10 years, an analysis is also provided with regard to the impact of exogenous antioxidants on brain functions with respect to the prevention of this type of diseases.

scholarly journals Prion propagation in mice lacking central nervous system NF-κB signalling

2008 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 1545-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Julius ◽  
M. Heikenwalder ◽  
P. Schwarz ◽  
A. Marcel ◽  
M. Karin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Histopathological Changes ◽  
Prion Infection ◽  
Prion Propagation ◽  
Proliferation Regulation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Prions induce highly typical histopathological changes including cell death, spongiosis and activation of glia, yet the molecular pathways leading to neurodegeneration remain elusive. Following prion infection, enhanced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in the brain parallels the first pathological changes. The NF-κB pathway is essential for proliferation, regulation of apoptosis and immune responses involving induction of inflammation. The IκB kinase (IKK) signalosome is crucial for NF-κB signalling, consisting of the catalytic IKKα/IKKβ subunits and the regulatory IKKγ subunit. This study investigated the impact of NF-κB signalling on prion disease in mouse models with a central nervous system (CNS)-restricted elimination of IKKβ or IKKγ in nearly all neuroectodermal cells, including neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and in mice containing a non-phosphorylatable IKKα subunit (IKKα AA/AA). In contrast to previously published data, the observed results showed no evidence supporting the hypothesis that impaired NF-κB signalling in the CNS impacts on prion pathogenesis.

Intensification of Chemotherapeutic Regimens and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Are Responsible for Improved Overall Survival in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Single Center Over the Last Forty Years

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4227-4227
Author(s):  
Estrella Carrillo ◽  
Nancy Rodriguez ◽  
Juan Francisco Dominguez ◽  
Jose Gonzalez ◽  
Jose Francisco Falantes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Central Nervous System Involvement ◽  
Male Gender ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
System Involvement ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Abstract 4227 Background Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) of adults is an infrequent and heterogeneous disease according to presentation pattern, prognosis and treatment. It is widely assumed that age above 30 years, leukocytosis >25 ×109/L, central nervous system involvement and specific cytogenetic disorders such as t(9;22) or MLL rearrangement entail bad prognosis. There are controversial studies on the impact of intensification chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on survival of these high-risk groups. Aims To identify biological, clinical and prognostic characteristics in adult ALL patients diagnosed and followed in a single center throughout 40 years as long as the impact on clinical outcome of different consecutive therapeutic approaches, including HSCT, in different periods. Patients and methods Throughout 1970 to 2011, 230 patients were prospectively registered and retrospectively analyzed. Most patients accomplishing pre-determined criteria received treatment according to PETHEMA or locally developed therapeutic protocols (including HSCT in relapse high-risk patients, since 1978). Critical variables at diagnosis such as age, gender, phenotype (from 1978), cytogenetic (from 1999), white blood cells count (WBC) and central nervous system involvement, were analyzed. Response to induction chemotherapy, relapse rate (RR) and 5 year overall survival (OS) were analyzed in the whole cohort and separately by decade when treatment protocols were different. The clinical impact of HSCT was analyzed on a subgroup of patients homogeneously treated since 1994. Statistical analysis was performed by mean of Chi-square and Kaplan Meier tests, as appropriate. Outcome Table 1 summarizes the presentation pattern and its prognostic value. At diagnosis features such male gender, age above 30 years, central nervous system involvement, leukocytosis >10×109/L, MLL rearrangement, t(9:22) and complex karyotype entailed a worse prognosis. For the whole cohort the 5 years OS was 30%. CR was achieved in 73% and the RR was 38%. 5 years OS has improved by decades: 11% in the 70s, 24% in the 80s, 30% in the 90s, and 41% in XXI century (p<0,01). Patients selected for intensive chemotherapeutic protocols achieved a similar CR rate in each decade (nearly 80%) while the RR decreased through the years (70s: 68%, 80s: 44%, 90: 42%, 00–11: 25%; p<0,01). Patients treated with chemotherapy plus HSCT achieved in 5 years (from 1994) an OS of 69% in comparison with the 30% obtained in those patients who only received chemotherapy (p<0,01). Conclusion Male gender, age above 30, WBC >10×10e9/L, t(9;22), MLL-rearrangement, complex karyotype and CNS involvement conferred poor prognosis in adult ALL. Intensification of chemotherapeutic regimens produced a progressive decrease in relapse rate, leading to an improvement in overall survival over the years. HSCT seems to partially overcome the poor prognosis related to high risk factors. Disclosures: Perez-Simón: Janssen-Cilag: Patents & Royalties.

scholarly journals Diagnosing Ring-Enhancing Lesions in the Brain of a Patient With AIDS Without Brain Biopsy: A Case of Central Nervous System Histoplasmoma

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Beekman ◽  
Jessica M. Hu ◽  
Steven I. Aronin ◽  
Maricar F. Malinis
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Histoplasma Capsulatum ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Central Nervous System Involvement ◽  
Brain Biopsy ◽  
Empiric Therapy ◽  
Fluid Analysis ◽  
The Brain

We report a case of a Puerto Rican male with advanced AIDS who presented with multiple falls and pancytopenia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, as initial workup, revealed 2 ring-enhancing brain lesions. Initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed minimal cells, mildly elevated protein, and no organism seen on gram stain. Due to prohibitive thrombocytopenia, brain biopsy was deferred. He had neither clinical nor radiographic improvement despite empiric therapy for both toxoplasmosis and bacterial abscesses. Indicated by pancytopenia, bone marrow (BM) aspiration was performed. Culture of BM aspirate grew Histoplasma capsulatum. Urine histoplasma antigen was markedly elevated. He was treated with liposomal amphotericin B (LamB) for progressive disseminated histoplasmosis with probable central nervous system involvement. Cerebrospinal fluid histoplasma antigen obtained after 2 months of LamB was detected. After prolonged course of LamB, he took itraconazole. Brain MRI at 7-month follow-up revealed significant improvement from baseline study.

scholarly journals Long COVID neuropsychological deficits after severe, moderate or mild infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Voruz ◽  
G. Allali ◽  
L. Benzakour ◽  
A. Nuber-Champier ◽  
M. Thomasson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
Neuropsychological Deficits ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
The Central Nervous System

ABSTRACTBackgroundThere is growing awareness that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can include long-term neuropsychological deficits, even in its mild or moderate respiratory forms.MethodsStandardized neuropsychological, psychiatric, neurological and olfactory tests were administered to 45 patients (categorized according to the severity of their respiratory symptoms during the acute phase) 236.51 ± 22.54 days post-discharge following SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsDeficits were found in all the domains of cognition and the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms was also high in the three groups. The severe performed more poorly on long-term episodic memory and exhibited greater anosognosia. The moderate had poorer emotion recognition, which was positively correlated with persistent olfactory dysfunction. The mild were more stressed, anxious and depressed.ConclusionThe data support the hypothesis that the virus targets the central nervous system (and notably the limbic system), and support the notion of different neuropsychological phenotypes.

scholarly journals Neuropathogenesis caused by Trypanosoma brucei, still an enigma to be unveiled

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 73-76
Author(s):  
Katherine Figarella
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Trypanosoma brucei is one of the protozoa parasites that can enter the brain and cause injury associated with toxic effects of parasite-derived molecules or with immune responses against infection. Other protozoa parasites with brain tropism include Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Amoeba, and, eventually, other Trypano-somatids such as T. cruzi and Leishmania. Together, these parasites affect billions of people worldwide and are responsible for more than 500.000 deaths annually. Factors determining brain tropism, mechanisms of in-vasion as well as processes ongoing inside the brain are not well understood. But, they depend on the par-asite involved. The pathogenesis caused by T. brucei initiates locally in the area of parasite inoculation, soon trypanosomes rich the blood, and the disease enters in the so-called early stage. The pathomecha-nisms in this phase have been described, even mole-cules used to combat the disease are effective during this period. Later, the disease evolves towards a late-stage, characterized by the presence of parasites in the central nervous system (CNS), the so-called meningo-encephalitic stage. This phase of the disease has not been sufficiently examined and remains a matter of investigation. Here, I stress the importance of delve into the study of the neuropathogenesis caused by T. brucei, which will enable the identification of path-ways that may be targeted to overcome parasites that reached the CNS. Finally, I highlight the impact that the application of tools developed in the last years in the field of neuroscience will have on the study of neglect-ed tropical diseases.

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