encephalitis
Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Immunodiagnosis &
Immunodiagnostics:
January 2003
6020.
Athmanathan
S, Vydehi B V, Sundaram C, Venuganti G K, Murthy J M K. Neuronal apoptosis in
herpes simplex virus – 1 encephalitis (HSE). Indian J med Microbiol 2001;
19(3), 127-31. No abstract.
6021.
Berger
C, Schwarz S, Schaebitz WR, Aschoff A, Schwab S. Serum procalcitonin in cerebral
ventriculitis. Crit Care Med. 2002 Aug;30(8):1778-81.
OBJECTIVES:
The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that serum procalcitonin
is increased in patients with bacterial cerebral ventricular infections after
the insertion of temporary external ventricular drains. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
This open, prospective study included patients requiring temporary external
ventricular drains for various neurologic conditions such as intracerebral
hemorrhage with ventricular hemorrhage or space-occupying lesions in the
posterior fossa (cerebellar infarctions or hemorrhages). Patients experiencing
primary central nervous system infection or sepsis were excluded. Procalcitonin,
C-reactive protein, and white blood cell count were measured daily.
Cerebrospinal fluid was investigated every other day, including cerebrospinal
fluid cell count, lactate, glucose, and cerebrospinal fluid culture. Results
were categorized according to presence of bacterial cerebrospinal fluid
infection as determined by positive cerebrospinal fluid cultures. RESULTS: A
total of 34 consecutive patients were included. Procalcitonin was significantly
higher (4.7 vs. 0.2 ng/mL) in patients with proven bacterial ventriculitis.
Cerebrospinal fluid cell count (456 vs. 478 cells/microL) could not distinguish
bacterial infection from abacterial reactions, mainly because of blood
contamination of the cerebrospinal fluid. CONCLUSION: Cerebrospinal fluid of
patients treated with temporary external ventricular drains is frequently
characterized by blood contamination because of the insertion procedure, the
underlying neurologic disorder such as ventricular hemorrhage, or the presence
of an abacterial chemical ventriculitis. Thus, diagnosis of a bacterial
ventricular infection requiring immediate antibiotic therapy is less certain.
Serum procalcitonin adds to the diagnostic precision in bacterial ventriculitis.
6022.
Chakrabarti
S, Garvie D, RayChaudhuri K, Rao GG. Rationalizing the use of polymerase chain
reaction based tests for diagnosis of common viral infections of the central
nervous system. J Clin Pathol. 2002 Jul;55(7):560. No abstract.
6023.
Garcia-Rivera EJ, Rigau-Perez JG. Encephalitis and dengue. Lancet. 2002 Jul 20;360(9328):261.
No abstract.
6024.
Juceviciene
A, Vapalahti O, Laiskonis A, Ceplikiene J, Leinikki P. Prevalence of
tick-borne-encephalitis virus antibodies in Lithuania. J Clin Virol. 2002
Jul;25(1):23-7.
BACKGROUND:
Clinical infections caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are quite
common in Lithuania and cause significant disease burden not only as acute cases
but as chronic sequealeae as well. In order to evaluate the spread of the
disease and risk factors, a population based seroprevalence study was done.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: about 1488 serum samples collected from healthy people
from different parts of the country during the year 2000 were studied by
hemagglutination inhibition (HI) method. For risk factor analysis detailed
information was collected by a questionnaire. RESULTS: 44 samples (2.96%) were
positive. This indicates that at least 1500 infections occur in the country
annually. Seropositivity did not increase with increasing age. In certain areas,
seropositivity was clearly higher than the average. Other living conditions or
outdoor habits correlated poorly with seropositivity. Certain groups of people
such as farmers, cattle breeders, or those having a summer cottage or spending
time in the nature daily had increased risk. Seropositivity was significantly
linked with meningoencephalitis without laboratory confirmation for TBE in the
anamnesis, and drinking of goat milk. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that TBEV
is prevalent in Lithuania. The data also supports the view that an increase in
the incidence has occurred in the 1990s. The correlation between seropositivity
and presumed risk factors do not seem strong enough to warrant a selective
vaccination policy based on risk factors.
6025.
Mickiene A, Laiskonis A, Gunther G, Vene S, Lundkvist A, Lindquist L.
Tickborne encephalitis in an area of high endemicity in lithuania: disease
severity and long-term prognosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Sep 15;35(6):650-8.
Of
250 consecutively admitted patients with central nervous system (CNS) infections
who were treated during a 1-year period, all 133 patients with tickborne
encephalitis (TBE) were included in a prospective follow-up study. TBE presented
as mild (meningeal) in 43.6% of patients and as moderate or severe
(encephalitic) in 43.6% and 12.8% of patients, respectively. Paralytic disease
was observed in 3.8% of the subjects, and cranial nerve injury was observed in
5.3%. One patient died of TBE. Permanent CNS dysfunction after 1 year was found
in 30.8% of patients; in 8.5% of all TBE cases, severe disabilities required
adjustment of daily activities. Corticosteroid treatment did not seem to improve
outcome. A progressive course of TBE was noted in 2 patients. The risk of
incomplete recovery was significantly higher among patients with the
encephalitic form of TBE (odds ratio, 4.066; 95% confidence interval,
1.848-8.947). In conclusion, TBE is an important pathogen in CNS infection in
the Kaunas region of Lithuania, and it causes long-lasting morbidity in
one-third of cases.
6026.
Raschilas F, Wolff M, Delatour F, Chaffaut C, De Broucker T, Chevret S,
Lebon P, Canton P, Rozenberg F. Outcome of and prognostic factors for herpes
simplex encephalitis in adult patients: results of a multicenter study. Clin
Infect Dis. 2002 Aug 1;35(3):254-60.
Management
of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) has been considerably improved by the
availability of acyclovir therapy and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based
diagnostic assays. Prognostic factors for this rare affliction are, however,
misestimated. We conducted a large retrospective multicenter study that included
93 adult patients in whom HSE was diagnosed by PCR from 1991 through 1998 and
who were treated with intravenous acyclovir. Among the 85 patients assessed at 6
months, 30 (35%) had a poor outcome, which led to death in 13 patients (15%) and
severe disability in 17 (20%). The outcome was favorable for 55 patients (65%).
A multivariate analysis identified 2 factors that were found to be independently
associated with poor outcome: a Simplified Acute Physiology Score II >/=27 at
admission and a delay of >2 days between admission to the hospital and
initiation of acyclovir therapy. Early administration of antiviral therapy is
the only parameter that can be modified to improve the prognosis of patients
with HSE.
6027.
Shinjoh
M, Yoshikawa T, Li Y, Shiraishi K, Ueki H, Nerome K. Prophylaxis and treatment
of influenza encephalitis in an experimental mouse model. J Med Virol. 2002
Jul;67(3):406-17.
A
mouse model study using mouse brain-adapted influenza A virus was performed to
establish the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza encephalitis and
encephalopathy. All mice died after intranasal inoculation of the brain-adapted
influenza A virus (H7N3), and the pathological findings indicated the presence
of significant encephalitis. Viral antigen was also detected in the brain, both
pathologically and virologically. By contrast, infected mice immunized with
inactivated vaccine of the same strain did not lose weight, which is an
indicator of the overall condition of the mice, and all of them survived.
Similarly, antiserum treatment in the early period (0-1 day post-infection)
resulted in 100% survival, and no pathological findings were observed in the
brain. However, mice treated with antiserum 3 days post-infection showed
encephalitis with viral antigens in both glial cells and neurocytes. Although
amantadine treatment for 4 days delayed weight loss, it did not prevent death
from encephalitis. These results show vaccination and early antiserum treatment
to be highly effective, whereas 4-day treatment of amantadine was not very
effective in treating or preventing influenza encephalitis. The life-prolonging
effect of amantadine, however, suggests that use of amantadine together with
other treatments may inhibit the progression of encephalitis. Copyright 2002
Wiley-Liss, Inc.
6028.
Straight
TM, Lazarus AA, Decker CF. Defending against viruses in biowarfare. How to
respond to smallpox, encephalitides, hemorrhagic fevers. Postgrad Med. 2002
Aug;112(2):75-6, 79-80, 85-6. Review.
The
threat of bioterrorism with use of viruses is increasing. Smallpox,
encephalitis, and hemorrhagic fevers are the most likely diseases to result from
viral deployment. It is critical that all healthcare professionals become
familiar with the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and prevention
of these diseases. Awareness and preparedness are instrumental in reducing viral
transmission and improving survival of the victims.
6029.
Wagner BP, Pfenninger J. Dynamic cerebral autoregulatory response to
blood pressure rise measured by near-infrared spectroscopy and intracranial
pressure. Crit Care Med. 2002 Sep;30(9):2014-21.
OBJECTIVES:
Noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) continuously monitors changes in
cerebral hemoglobin saturation (Hb(Diff) ) and content (Hb(Total)). It may allow
visualization of the dynamic cerebral autoregulatory response to rapid blood
pressure increases without relevant contamination of the NIRS signal from
extracerebral hemoglobin. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTINGS:
Multidisciplinary pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Six consecutive
children in coma due to severe encephalopathy (head trauma, five patients; mumps
encephalitis, one patient) requiring artificial ventilation, invasive arterial
blood, and intracranial pressure monitoring. INTERVENTIONS: Frontotemporal
recording of Hb(Diff) and Hb(Total) while rapidly elevating blood pressure by
bolus injection of phenylephrine. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: During an increase
of blood pressure of 13 +/- 1 mm Hg with a "rise time" of 16 +/- 1
secs (mean of a total of 31 injections +/- sem), a significant linear
correlation was found between Hb(Diff) and intracranial pressure signals (mean
coefficient, 0.46 +/- 0.04) but not between Hb(Total) and intracranial pressure.
Three response patterns were observed. First, Hb(Diff) and intracranial pressure
reduction, corresponding with vasoconstriction and normal dynamic autoregulation
(n = 3); second, Hb(Diff) and intracranial pressure increase, corresponding with
persistent vasodilation and abolished autoregulation (n = 11); and third,
transient Hb(Diff) and intracranial pressure increase followed by a decrease at
peak blood pressure elevation, called impaired autoregulation (n = 15). In one
patient with fatal brain swelling, phenylephrine testing showed no effect on
NIRS signals (n = 2). Furthermore, there were significant correlations between
31 pooled interindividual pairs of Hb(Diff) changes with intracranial pressure
changes (values at baseline averaged over 60 secs subtracted from values at peak
blood pressure elevation averaged over 5 secs), with a correlation coefficient
of .82 (p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: NIRS represents a new and promising technique
for bedside determination of dynamic cerebral autoregulation during acutely
induced blood pressure rise. The significant correlations found between NIRS
signals and intracranial pressure excluded relevant extracerebral contamination
of the NIRS signals. In our patients with severe encephalopathy, dynamic
autoregulation was in most instances not fully preserved.
6030.
Yamamoto
A, Nakayama M, Kurosawa Y, Sugo K, Karasawa H, Ogawa T, Takasaki T, Tashiro M,
Kurane I. Development of a particle agglutination assay system for detecting
Japanese encephalitis virus-specific human IgM, using hydroxyapatite-coated
nylon beads. J Virol Methods. 2002 Jul;104(2):195-201.
Japanese
encephalitis virus-specific IgM is a reliable indicator for serodiagnosis of
Japanese encephalitis. A particle agglutination (PA) assay system was developed
to detect anti-Japanese encephalitis virus IgM in human serum samples. The newly
developed PA assay consisted of hydroxyapatite-coated nylon beads and V-bottom
96-well microplates. Hydroxyapatite-coated nylon beads were coated with Japanese
encephalitis virus antigens. Japanese encephalitis virus antigen-coated,
hydroxyapatite-coated nylon beads agglutinated in the IgM-captured wells when
anti-Japanese encephalitis virus IgM-positive serum samples were used. A button
pattern was formed at the bottom of the wells when anti-Japanese encephalitis
virus IgM-negative serum samples were used. Thirty anti-Japanese encephalitis
virus IgM-positive serum samples from Japanese encephalitis-confirmed cases were
tested by the PA assay. All these serum samples were determined to be Japanese
encephalitis virus IgM-positive. IgM titers determined by the PA assay
corresponded to those determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The
titers were consistent in two independent PA assays. These results indicate that
the newly developed PA assay is a reliable method for detecting anti-Japanese
encephalitis virus IgM in human serum samples and that this assay will be a
suitable diagnostic system especially in rural areas of Asia.
Pathogenesis:
6031.
Dietrich JB. The adhesion molecule ICAM-1 and its regulation in relation
with the blood-brain barrier. J Neuroimmunol. 2002 Jul;128(1-2):58-68. Review.
The
blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by high resistance tight junctions within
the capillary endothelium perfusing the vertebrate brain. Normal BBB maintains a
unique microenvironment within the central nervous system (CNS). In
neurodegenerative disorders (for example multiple sclerosis, MS), the BBB
becomes impaired. Perivascular cells (astrocytes, macrophages and microglial
cells) and brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) produce various
inflammatory factors that affect the BBB permeability and the expression of
adhesion molecules. Indeed, cytokines can stimulate the expression of several
adhesion molecules on brain microvascular endothelial cells. Among these
adhesion molecules, the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) binds to its
leukocyte ligands and allows activated leukocytes entry into the CNS.This review
is dealing with the expression and regulation of ICAM-1 in relation with several
properties of the BBB. Particularly, the role of ICAM-1 in the control of the
leukocyte traffic into the CNS, as well as in cerebral malaria and in CNS
infection by viruses, is discussed.
6032.
Graham PL, Ampofo K, Saiman L. Linezolid treatment of vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus faecium ventriculitis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2002
Aug;21(8):798-800.
The
successful treatment of a 7-month-old infant with shunt-associated ventriculitis
caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium is presented. Linezolid was
administered intravenously every 8 h; children have a greater volume of
distribution and total body clearance than adults and therefore require more
frequent dosing. The patient tolerated the therapy without adverse effects.
6033.
Johnson JJ, Roberts CW, Pope C, Roberts F, Kirisits MJ, Estes R, Mui E,
Krieger T, Brown CR, Forman J, McLeod R. In vitro correlates of Ld-restricted
resistance to toxoplasmic encephalitis and their critical dependence on parasite
strain. J Immunol. 2002 Jul 15;169(2):966-73.
Resistance
to murine toxoplasmic encephalitis has been precisely and definitively mapped to
the L(d) class I gene. Consistent with this, CD8(+) T cells can adoptively
transfer resistance to toxoplasmic encephalitis. However, cytotoxic CD8(+) T
cells, capable of killing class I-matched, infected target cells, are generated
during the course of Toxoplasma gondii infection even in mice lacking the L(d)
gene. L(d)-restricted killing could not be demonstrated, and the functional
correlate of the L(d) gene has therefore remained elusive. Herein, L(d)-restricted
killing of T. gondii-infected target cells is demonstrated for the first time.
L(d)-restricted killing is critically dependent on the strain of T. gondii and
is observed with all the derivatives of type II strains tested, but not with a
type I strain. These results have important implications for vaccine
development.
6034.
Malakoff
D. Infectious disease. Bird advocates fear that West Nile virus could silence
the spring. Science. 2002 Sep 20;297(5589):1989. No abstract.
6035.
Nath
SK, Kelly JA, Reid J, Lam T, Gray-McGuire C, Namjou B, Aston CE, Harley JB.
SLEB3 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is strongly related to SLE families
ascertained through neuropsychiatric manifestations. Hum Genet. 2002
Jul;111(1):54-8.
Seizures
and psychosis are neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations of a large number of
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Since NP manifestations were part
of the SLE phenotype for some, but not all SLE affecteds, we hypothesized that
those SLE patient families with NP manifestations might be more genetically
homogeneous at loci important to NP-related SLE, and hence have increased power
to detect linkage. We identified 23 families of European-American (EA) origin
and 20 families of African-American (AA) origin, in which at least one SLE
patient in each family was diagnosed with the presence of NP manifestations. A
total of 318 microsatellite markers at an average marker density of 11 cM were
genotyped. Uncertainty of the genetic model led us to perform the initial genome
scan by a multipoint non-parametric allele sharing linkage method. Once the
evidence of linkage was suggestive, we then performed parametric model-based
linkage by maximizing the relevant parameters to define a parsimonious genetic
model. We found the maximum multipoint parametric LOD score was 5.19 and the
non-parametric linkage score (Zlr) was 3.12 ( P=9x10(-4)) for EA NP pedigrees at
4p16, previously identified as SLEB3. The segregation behavior of this linked
locus suggests a dominant mode of inheritance with an almost 100% homogeneous
genetic effect in these pedigrees. The results demonstrated a significant
increase of LOD score to detect SLEB3 when the families were further ascertained
through NP, compared with the analysis of all EA SLE families together.
6036.
Schuster
FL. Cultivation of pathogenic and opportunistic free-living amebas. Clin
Microbiol Rev. 2002 Jul;15(3):342-54. Review.
Free-living
amebas are widely distributed in soil and water, particularly members of the
genera Acanthamoeba and NAEGLERIA: Since the early 1960s, they have been
recognized as opportunistic human pathogens, capable of causing infections of
the central nervous system (CNS) in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised
hosts. Naegleria is the causal agent of a fulminant CNS condition, primary
amebic meningoencephalitis; Acanthamoeba is responsible for a more chronic and
insidious infection of the CNS termed granulomatous amebic encephalitis, as well
as amebic keratitis. Balamuthia sp. has been recognized in the past decade as
another ameba implicated in CNS infections. Cultivation of these organisms in
vitro provides the basis for a better understanding of the biology of these
amebas, as well as an important means of isolating and identifying them from
clinical samples. Naegleria and Acanthamoeba can be cultured axenically in
cell-free media or on tissue culture cells as feeder layers and in cultures with
bacteria as a food source. Balamuthia, which has yet to be isolated from the
environment, will not grow on bacteria. Instead, it requires tissue culture
cells as feeder layers or an enriched cell-free medium. The recent
identification of another ameba, Sappinia diploidea, suggests that other
free-living forms may also be involved as causal agents of human infections.
6037.
Tanaka
M, Maruyama Y, Sugie M, Motizuki H, Kamakura K, Tanaka K. Cytotoxic T cell
activity against peptides of Hu protein in anti-Hu syndrome. J Neurol Sci. 2002
Sep 15;201(1-2):9-12.
Half
of all patients with limbic encephalitis and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC)
have anti-Hu antibodies that react with all of central and peripheral nervous
system neuronal nuclei in immunohistochemical studies and 35- to 40-kDa reactive
bands on western blots of extracts from isolated central nervous system neurons.
The roles of anti-Hu antibodies in neuronal damage, however, have yet to be
shown. Evidence of infiltration of CD8-positive T cells to tumors and affected
nervous tissues and limited use of the T cell receptor repertoire in the central
nervous system suggests that CD8-positive cytotoxic T cells (CTL) cause neuronal
loss. We found the HLA B7 supertype in all of seven Japanese patients with anti-Hu
syndrome. We identified HLA class I-restricted, CD 8-positive cytotoxic T cell
activity in peripheral blood from three patients with anti-Hu syndrome for five
peptides with binding motifs for the HLA B7 supertype in the amino acid sequence
of the Hu protein. This study support the involvement of CD8-positive cytotoxic
T cells in the development of paraneoplastic neurological syndrome with anti-Hu
antibodies.
6038.
Vojdani A, Campbell AW, Anyanwu E, Kashanian A, Bock K, Vojdani E.
Antibodies to neuron-specific antigens in children with autism: possible
cross-reaction with encephalitogenic proteins from milk, Chlamydia pneumoniae
and Streptococcus group A. J Neuroimmunol. 2002 Aug;129(1-2):168-77.
We
measured autoantibodies against nine different neuron-specific antigens and
three cross-reactive peptides in the sera of autistic subjects and healthy
controls by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing. The
antigens were myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG),
ganglioside (GM1), sulfatide (SULF), chondroitin sulfate (CONSO4), myelin
oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), alpha,beta-crystallin (alpha,beta-CRYS),
neurofilament proteins (NAFP), tubulin and three cross-reactive peptides,
Chlamydia pneumoniae (CPP), streptococcal M protein (STM6P) and milk
butyrophilin (BTN). Autistic children showed the highest levels of IgG, IgM and
IgA antibodies against all neurologic antigens as well as the three
cross-reactive peptides. These antibodies are specific because immune absorption
demonstrated that only neuron-specific antigens or their cross-reactive epitopes
could significantly reduce antibody levels. These antibodies may have been
synthesized as a result of an alteration in the blood-brain barrier. This
barrier promotes access of preexisting T-cells and central nervous system
antigens to immunocompetent cells, which may start a vicious cycle. These
results suggest a mechanism by which bacterial infections and milk antigens may
modulate autoimmune responses in autism.
Vaccines:
6039.
Shlim
DR, Solomon T. Japanese encephalitis vaccine for travelers: exploring the limits
of risk. Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Jul 15;35(2):183-8. Review.
The
prevention of Japanese encephalitis in travelers presents the juxtaposition of 4
factors: a disease that is widespread throughout Asia, a disease with a low
incidence in travelers, a vaccine about which there are safety concerns, and a
clinical course that can result in death or permanent disability in two-thirds
of symptomatic cases. Travel medicine practitioners often seem to be polarized
into 2 groups: a group that gives more weight to the severity of the disease
(and therefore often recommend vaccination) and another group that is more
persuaded by the low occurrence of cases in travelers (and therefore rarely
recommend vaccination). This review assesses the known risks of contracting
Japanese encephalitis and the risks associated with the vaccine and tries to
develop an appropriate way to recommend this vaccine to travelers who may be at
significant risk.
Therapy:
6040.
Acosta MT, Montanez P, Leon-Sarmiento
FE. Half brain but not half function. Lancet. 2002 Aug 24;360(9333):643.
No abstract.
6041. Gupta SK; Verma VK; Parihar A. Department of Medicine, GMC, Jammu, Srinagar. India Herpes simplex encephalitis JK Practitioner. 2002 Jan-Mar; 9(1): 53-4
ABSTRACT: Herpes simplex encephalitis is the commonest and the gravest form of acute encephalitis, seen sporadically throughout the year & in patients of all ages and in all parts of the world. It carries a mortality rate of 30-70 percent and those who survive are left with serious neurologic abnormalities. It is due almost always to Herpes Simplex Virus-I (HSV-I) which is also the cause of the common herpetic lesions of the oral mucosa. Rarely, however, do the oral and encephalitic lesions coincide. We report here a case of Herpes simplex encephalitis who presented with behaviour disturbances followed by seizures and coma and this patient had full recovery following acyclovir therapy.
6042.
Mayo DR, Beckwith WH 3rd. Inactivation of West Nile virus during
serologic testing and transport. J Clin Microbiol. 2002 Aug;40(8):3044-6.
Inactivation
of West Nile virus (WNV) in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) wash
buffer at 37 degrees C was studied, as well as inactivation of WNV in cell
culture medium over several days at an ambient temperature (28 degrees C).
Aliquots of WNV were removed from the 37 degrees C ELISA wash buffer at 5, 15,
30, and 60 min for the former experiment, while daily aliquots of medium were
sampled for the latter experiment. No virus was detected in the wash buffer at
30 and 60 min, while virus was readily detected from cell culture medium over
this time. In addition, titers of WNV consistently dropped over a 7-day period
at 28 degrees C compared to control suspensions of virus held at 4
degrees C. These observations indicate that WNV is readily inactivated in the
presence of detergent-containing buffers. Furthermore, the viability loss at
ambient temperature suggests that WNV is easily inactivated during routine
transportation and testing of human body fluids such as serum and cerebrospinal
fluid.
6043. Singh N; Syed Sadiq A; Singh V; Singh A National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research S.A.S. Nagar Punjab Adaptogens anti stress agents a study focusing Indian plants Antiseptic. 2002 Jun; 99(6): 198-201.
ABSTRACT: This article has been presented with a view to acquaint the readers about plant adaptogens/antistress agent. Although relation of stress has been recognized in genesis of diseases long back, a scientific database is still missing. The pharmaco-clinical studies carried out in this regard are a new venture in Stress-Pharmacology. It is meant to provide new research awareness in the field regarding the fact about stress, Stress-disease and their prevention and treatment. This is more important in view of the fact that there are no drugs for such stress-related diseases in the armamentarium of modern drug therapy. Simple animal models like swimming endurance, immobilization induced gastric ulcers, adrenal function during stress, CCI4 hepatotoxicity, anoxia tolerance test, brain neurotransmitters and enzyme and CNS receptors levels of neurohumorals after swimming immobilization and gravitational stress, milk induced leucocytosis, lipid peroxidase assessment for prevention of cell damage through anti-oxidant activity were carried out to evaluate the adaptogenic activity of these plants in rats and mice. Clinical trial in diseases related to stress like bronchial asthma, hypertension, cellular immunity, viral encephalitis, chronic fatigue syndrome were carried out in man.
April 2003
6651.
Bell JE, Arango JC, Robertson R, Brettle RP, Leen C, Simmonds P.
HIV and drug misuse in the Edinburgh cohort. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr.
2002 Oct 1;31 Suppl 2:S35-42.
The
Edinburgh cohort of intravenous drug users (IVDUs) became infected with HIV
between 1983 and 1984. Before the era of effective therapy, many of these
infected IVDUs displayed cognitive impairments on progressing to AIDS and were
found to have HIV encephalitis (HIVE). Full autopsies were conducted on these
patients, providing an opportunity to study the intersecting pathology of pure
HIVE and drug use. High proviral load in the brain correlated well with the
presence of giant cells and HIV p24 positivity. In presymptomatic HIV infection,
IVDUs were found to have a lymphocytic infiltrate in the central nervous system
(CNS). Apart from the expected microglial activation in the presence of HIV
infection of the CNS, drug use in its own right was found to be associated with
microglial activation. Examination of HIV-negative IVDUs revealed a number of
neuropathologic features, including microglial activation, which may underpin
HIV-related pathology in the CNS. HIV isolated from different regions of the
brain was exclusively of R5-tropic type throughout the course of infection.
Detailed studies of p17 and V3 sequences suggest that viral sequestration occurs
in the CNS before the onset of AIDS and that increasing diversity of HIV
variants within the brain is associated with increasing severity of HIVE.
Because brain isolates have proved to be different from those in lymphoid tissue
(and blood), it is likely that selective neuroadaptive pressures operate before
HIVE supervenes. Drug abuse may be synergistic in this process through
activation of microglia, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, and direct
neurotoxicity. Collections of clinically well-characterized HIV-infected tissues
such as those in the Edinburgh Brain Bank are a vital resource to support
ongoing studies of viral pathogenesis in the CNS and interactions with drug
abuse.
6652.
Bosma GP, Middelkoop HA, Rood MJ, Bollen EL, Huizinga TW, van Buchem MA.
Association of global brain damage and clinical functioning in neuropsychiatric
systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Oct;46(10):2665-72.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the relationship between quantitative estimates of global brain
damage based on magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) and cerebral functioning,
as measured by neurologic, psychiatric, and cognitive assessments, as well as
disease duration in patients with a history of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus
erythematosus (NPSLE). METHODS: In a clinically heterogeneous group of 24 female
patients (age range 19-65 years, mean age 35 years) with a history of NPSLE, the
correlation values of several volumetric MTI measures and an estimate of
cerebral atrophy, neurologic functioning (Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status
Scale [EDSS]), psychiatric functioning (the Hospital Anxiety and Depression
Scale [HADS]), and cognitive functioning (cognitive impairment score [CIS]
derived from the revised Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), as well as several
measures of disease duration were assessed using Pearson's correlation
coefficient.
RESULTS:
Quantitative volumetric estimates of global brain damage based on MTI and a
measure of global brain atrophy correlated significantly with the EDSS, HADS,
and CIS scores. No significant correlation was found between the quantitative
estimates of global brain damage and the measures of disease duration.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that volumetric MTI parameters
and cerebral atrophy reflect functionally relevant brain damage in patients with
NPSLE. Furthermore, the absence of a linear relationship between disease
duration and results of volumetric MTI measures and atrophy suggests a
complicated pattern of accumulating brain damage in patients with NPSLE.
6653.
Bsibsi M, Ravid R, Gveric D, van Noort JM. Broad expression of Toll-like
receptors in the human central nervous system. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2002
Nov;61(11):1013-21.
The
family of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) plays a key role in controlling innate
immune responses to a wide variety of pathogen-associated molecules. In this
study we investigated expression of TLRs in vitro by purified human microglia,
astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, and in vivo by immunohistochemical examination
of brain and spinal cord sections. Cultured primary microglia were found to
express mRNA encoding a wide range of different TLR family members while
astrocytes and oligodendrocytes primarily express TLR2 and TLR3. Comparisons
between microglia derived from a series of control subjects and
neurodegenerative cases indicate distinct differences in levels of mRNA encoding
the different TLRs indifferent microglia samples. Interestingly, expression of
TLR proteins in cultured microglia as revealed by immunocytochemistry was
restricted to intracellular vesicles, whereas in astrocytes they were
exclusively localized on the cell surface. Finally, in vivo expression of TLR3
and TLR4 was examined by immunohistochemical analysis of brain and spinal cord
sections from both control and multiple sclerosis brains, revealing enhanced
expression of either TLR in inflamed CNS tissues. Together, our data reveal
broad and regulated expression of TLRs both in vitro and in vivo by human glia
cells.
6654.
Burudi EM, Marcondes MC, Watry DD, Zandonatti M, Taffe MA, Fox HS.
Regulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression in simian immunodeficiency
virus-infected monkey brains. J Virol. 2002 Dec;76(23):12233-41.
The
human immunodeficiency virus type 1-associated cognitive-motor disorder,
including the AIDS dementia complex, is characterized by brain functional
abnormalities that are associated with injury initiated by viral infection of
the brain. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the first and rate-limiting enzyme
in tryptophan catabolism in extrahepatic tissues, can lead to neurotoxicity
through the generation of quinolinic acid and immunosuppression and can alter
brain chemistry via depletion of tryptophan. Using the simian immunodeficiency
virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaque model of AIDS, we demonstrate that cells of
the macrophage lineage are the main source for expression of IDO in the SIV-infected
monkey brain. Animals with SIV encephalitis have the highest levels of IDO mRNA,
and the level of IDO correlates with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and viral load
levels. In vitro studies on mouse microglia reveal that IFN-gamma
is
the primary inducer of IDO expression. These findings demonstrate the link
between IDO expression, IFN-gamma levels, and brain pathology signs observed in
neuro-AIDS.
6655.
Gain P, Chiquet C, Thuret G, Drouet E, Antoine JC. Herpes simplex virus
type 1 encephalitis associated with acute retinal necrosis syndrome in an
immunocompetent patient. Acta Ophthalmol Scand. 2002 Oct;80(5):546-9.
PURPOSE:
The onset of acute retinal necrosis secondary to herpes simplex encephalitis is
exceptional. We report such an association in an immunocompetent patient, in
whom the genome of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was identified
successively at both sites of infection. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
assay of HSV-1 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and aqueous humour. RESULTS: An
immunocompetent patient aged 40 years presented with HSV-1 encephalitis, which
was confirmed by imaging, viral serology and identification of the HSV-1 genome
in the CSF. The subject's immunological profile was normal. The patient was
treated with foscavir. Six weeks after clinical recovery and negative PCR, the
patient presented with a unilateral acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Polymerase
chain reaction of the aqueous humour was positive, while
serology
and PCR of the CSF remained negative. CONCLUSION: Identification of the HSV-1
genome at the two successive sites of infection stresses the possibility of
brain-to-eye transmission of HSV-1.
6656.
Hadden PW, Barry CJ.
Images in clinical medicine. Herpetic encephalitis and acute retinal necrosis. N
Engl J Med. 2002 Dec 12;347(24):1932. No abstract.
6657.
Hill D, Dubey JP. Toxoplasma gondii: transmission, diagnosis and
prevention. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2002 Oct;8(10):634-40.
Toxoplasmosis,
caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common
parasitic infections of man and other warm-blooded animals. It has been found
world-wide from Alaska to Australia. Nearly one-third of humanity has been
exposed to this parasite. In most adults it does not cause serious illness, but
it can cause blindness and mental retardation in congenitally infected children
and devastating disease in immunocompromised individuals.
6658.
Horie T, Shen Y, Kajino K, Gaubin M, Bonomi G, Mani JC, Berezov
A,Piatier-Tonneau D, Guardiola J, Hillard B, Rostami A, Greene M, Murali R.
Study of disabling T-cell activation and inhibiting T-cell-mediated
immunopathology reveals a possible inverse agonist activity of CD4
peptidomimetics. Exp Mol Pathol. 2002 Oct;73(2):93-103.
We
designed a new class of aromatically modified exocyclic peptides based on the
structure of CD4 by engineering one of the cysteine residues in a peptidomimetic
derived from the CDR3 region of the CD4 molecule. All three species mediate
inhibition of T-cell proliferation at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100
microM. The mimetics CD4-Cys and CD4-Met bind to sCD4 with affinities ranging
from 1 to 2 microM, while CD4-Ser shows poor binding in radioisotope assay.
Though these mimetics have similar structures, they exhibit different
biochemical and biological functions. Activation of T-cells as measured by
thymidine incorporation or IL-2 production revealed that CD4-Cys and CD4-Ser
mimetics behave as classical antagonists. On the other hand, the CD4-Met species
inhibited T-cell proliferation with an IC(50) of 30 microM but unexpectedly
increased IL-2 secretion modestly at a less than 3 microM concentration. In
experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), CD4-Ser and CD4-Cys mimetics reduced
the severity of EAE symptoms while the CD4-Met mimetic exacerbated the
conditions. We propose that CD4-Cys and CD4-Ser are classical antagonists, but
CD4-Met may possess properties of an inverse agonist. The structure-activity
relationship of mimetics reveals that a minor change in the net hydropathic
value is enough to alter the dynamic nature of the receptor-ligand complex.
6659.
Lee KH, McKie VC, Sekul EA, Adams RJ, Nichols FT. Unusual encephalopathy
after acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease: acute necrotizing
encephalitis. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2002 Oct;24(7):585-8.
Stroke
is the most common neurologic complication of sickle cell disease. Acute chest
syndrome (ACS) is a known risk factor for stroke in this population. Two
patients (a 12-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl) developed acute change of
mental status and focal neurologic signs during episodes of ACS. The clinical
and radiologic findings were compatible with acute necrotizing encephalitis, a
variant of acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis. Patients with acute neurologic
deterioration in conjunction with ACS should be evaluated thoroughly for other
causes of central nervous system disease including infectious/parainfectious
processes as well as stroke.
6660.
Ljungman P. Beta-herpesvirus challenges in the transplant recipient. J
Infect Dis. 2002 Oct 15;186 Suppl 1:S99-S109.
Cytomegalovirus
(CMV) has major consequences after allogeneic stem cell and solid organ
transplantation. CMV may cause significant morbidity and mortality, and
monitoring to detect reactivation to reduce disease or management of end organ
disease is associated with increased resource utilization. Two other members of
the beta-herpesvirus family, human herpesvirus (HHV) type 6 and HHV-7, are
increasingly recognized as important pathogens in transplant recipients, either
by direct infection (e.g., encephalitis, hepatitis, or pneumonitis) or via
interaction with CMV. In addition to direct effects of CMV infection, such
indirect effects as an increased risk for bacterial and fungal infections or
impaired graft acceptance and function are important research topics. Diagnosis
and treatment of CMV infection is currently more advanced than for HHV-6 and
HHV-7.
6661.
Mantegazza R, Bernasconi P, Baggi F, Spreafico R, Ragona F, Antozzi C,
Bernardi G, Granata T. Antibodies against GluR3 peptides are not specific for
Rasmussen's encephalitis but are also present in epilepsy patients with severe,
early onset disease and intractable seizures. J Neuroimmunol. 2002
Oct;131(1-2):179-85.
Rasmussen's
encephalitis (RE) is a rare condition characterized by drug-resistant seizures,
recurrent status epilepticus and progressive lateralized neurological
deterioration. There is evidence of autoimmune involvement in the pathogenesis.
We investigated the presence of anti-GluR3 antibodies against peptides A and B
in patients with RE (n=11), partial and generalized epilepsy (n=85) and other
neurological diseases (n=30). The antibodies were specific for epilepsy and are
thus not a marker of RE, while particularly high antibody titers characterized a
subgroup of non-RE patients with "catastrophic" epilepsy. Antibodies
against GluR3B peptide were significantly associated with frequent seizures
compared to occasional or drug-controlled seizures.
6662.
Martin K, Franco-Paredes C. Herpes encephalitis. Lancet. 2002 Oct
26;360(9342):1286. No abstract.
Pathogenesis:
6663.
Baum S. West Nile virus: time for prevention, not panic. As the virus
spreads, the risk of severe illness remains low. Health News. 2002 Oct;8(10):3.
No abstract.
6664.
Chase P. Ethical concerns with organ donation. S C Nurse. 2002
Oct-Dec;9(4):23. No abstract.
6665.
Colangelo V, Schurr J, Ball MJ, Pelaez RP, Bazan NG, Lukiw WJ. Gene
expression profiling of 12633 genes in Alzheimer hippocampal CA1: transcription
and neurotrophic factor down-regulation and up-regulation of apoptotic and
pro-inflammatory signaling. J Neurosci Res. 2002 Nov 1;70(3):462-73.
Alterations
in transcription, RNA editing, translation, protein processing, and clearance
are a consistent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. To extend our
initial study (Alzheimer Reports [2000] 3:161-167), RNA samples isolated from
control and AD hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) were analyzed for 12633 gene
and expressed sequence tag (EST) expression levels using DNA microarrays
(HG-U95Av2 Genechips; Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). Hippocampal CA1 tissues were
carefully selected from several hundred potential specimens obtained from
domestic and international brain banks. To minimize the effects of individual
differences in gene expression, RNA of high spectral quality (A(260/280) >
or= 1.9) was pooled from CA1 of six control or six AD subjects. Results were
compared as a group; individual gene expression patterns for the most-changed
RNA message levels were also profiled. There were no significant differences in
age, postmortem interval (mean < or = 2.1 hr) nor tissue pH (range 6.6-6.9)
between
the two brain groups. AD tissues were derived from subjects clinically
classified as CDR 2-3 (CERAD/NIA). Expression data were analyzed using
GeneSpring (Silicon Genetics, Redwood City, CA) and Microarray Data Mining Tool
(Affymetrix) software. Compared to controls and 354 background/alignment
markers, AD brain showed a generalized depression in brain gene transcription,
including decreases in RNA encoding transcription factors (TFs), neurotrophic
factors, signaling elements involved in synaptic plasticity such as
synaptophysin, metallothionein III, and metal regulatory factor-1. Three- or
morefold increases in RNAs encoding DAXX, cPLA(2), CDP5, NF-kappaBp52/p100, FAS,
betaAPP, DPP1, NFIL6, IL precursor, B94, HB15, COX-2, and CEX-1 signals were
strikingly apparent. These data support the hypothesis of widespread
transcriptional alterations, misregulation of RNAs involved in metal ion homeostasis, TF signaling deficits, decreases in neurotrophic support and activated apoptotic and neuroinflammatory signaling in moderately affected AD hippocampal CA1. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
6666.
Gnann JW Jr. Varicella-zoster virus: atypical presentations and unusual
complications. J Infect Dis. 2002 Oct 15;186 Suppl 1:S91-8. Review.
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of varicella (primary infection) and herpes zoster (reactivation of latent infection). Although varicella is most often a relatively benign and self-limited childhood illness, the disease can be associated with a variety of serious and potentially lethal complications in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. One complication of varicella that appears to be increasing in frequency is serious bacterial soft tissue infections caused by group A streptococci. Issues related to management of varicella become especially complex when varicella involves pregnant women or susceptible neonates. Herpes zoster can be associated with a variety of neurologic complications, including a syndrome of delayed contralateral hemiparesis. Neurologic complications of herpes zoster, including chronic encephalitis, occur with increased frequency in AIDS patients. VZV retinitis is a potentially sight-threatening complication that occurs in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. Current knowledge regarding pathogenesis and antiviral therapy is reviewed.
6667.
Rodriguez JJ, Parisien JP, Horvath CM.
Nipah virus V protein evades alpha and gamma interferons by preventing
STAT1 and STAT2 activation and nuclear accumulation. J Virol. 2002
Nov;76(22):11476-83.
Characterization
of recent outbreaks of fatal encephalitis in southeast Asia identified the
causative agent to be a previously unrecognized enveloped negative-strand RNA
virus of the Paramyxoviridae family, Nipah virus. One feature linking Nipah
virus to this family is a conserved cysteine-rich domain that is the hallmark of
paramyxovirus V proteins. The V proteins of other paramyxovirus species have
been linked with evasion of host cell interferon (IFN) signal transduction and
subsequent antiviral responses by inducing proteasomal degradation of the IFN-responsive
transcription factors, STAT1 or STAT2. Here we demonstrate that Nipah virus V
protein escapes IFN by a distinct mechanism involving direct inhibition of STAT
protein function. Nipah virus V protein differs from other paramyxovirus V
proteins in its subcellular distribution but not in its ability to inhibit
cellular IFN responses. Nipah virus V protein does not induce STAT degradation
but instead inhibits IFN responses by forming high-molecular-weight complexes
with both STAT1 and STAT2. We demonstrate that Nipah virus V protein accumulates
in the cytoplasm by a Crm1-dependent mechanism, alters the STAT protein
subcellular distribution in the steady state, and prevents IFN-stimulated STAT
redistribution. Consistent with the formation of complexes, STAT protein
tyrosine phosphorylation is inhibited in cells expressing the Nipah virus V
protein. As a result, Nipah virus V protein efficiently prevents STAT1 and STAT2
nuclear translocation in response to IFN, inhibiting cellular responses to both
IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma.
Vaccines:
6668.
Harrington PR, Lindesmith L, Yount B, Moe CL, Baric RS. Binding of
Norwalk virus-like particles to ABH histo-blood group antigens is blocked by
antisera from infected human volunteers or experimentally vaccinated mice. J
Virol 2002 Dec;76(23):12335-43
Attachment
of Norwalk (NV), Snow Mountain (SMV), and Hawaii (HV) virus-like particles (VLPs)
to specific ABH histo-blood group antigens was investigated by using human
saliva and synthetic biotinylated carbohydrates. The three distinct Norwalk-like
viruses (NLVs) have various capacities for binding ABH histo-blood group
antigens, suggesting that different mechanisms for NLV attachment likely exist.
Importantly, antisera from NV-infected human volunteers, as well as from mice
inoculated with packaged Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicons
expressing NV VLPs, blocked the ability of NV VLPs to bind synthetic H type 1,
Le(b), and H type 3, suggesting a potential mechanism for antibody-mediated
neutralization of NV.
Therapy:
6669.
Gupta SK; Verma VK; Parihar A. Herpes simplex encephalitis JK Practitioner. 2002 Jan-Mar; 9(1): 53-4
ABSTRACT: Herpes simplex encephalitis is the commonest and the gravest form of acute encephalitis, seen sporadically throughout the year & in patients of all ages and in all parts of the world. It carries a mortality rate of 30-70 percent and those who survive are left with serious neurologic abnormalities. It is due almost always to Herpes Simplex Virus-I (HSV-I) which is also the cause of the common herpetic lesions of the oral mucosa. Rarely, however, do the oral and encephalitic lesions coincide. We report here a case of Herpes simplex encephalitis who presented with behaviour disturbances followed by seizures and coma and this patient had full recovery following acyclovir therapy.
6670.
Quirk M. First treatment trial for West Nile infection begins. Lancet
Infect Dis. 2002 Oct;2(10):589. No abstract.
6671.
Singh N; Syed Sadiq A; Singh V; Singh A Adaptogens anti stress agents a
study focusing Indian plants. Antiseptic. 2002 Jun; 99(6): 198-201
ABSTRACT: This article has been presented with a view to acquaint the readers about plant adaptogens/antistress agent. Although relation of stress has been recognized in genesis of diseases long back, a scientific database is still missing. The pharmaco-clinical studies carried out in this regard are a new venture in Stress-Pharmacology. It is meant to provide new research awareness in the field regarding the fact about stress, Stress-disease and their prevention and treatment. This is more important in view of the fact that there are no drugs for such stress-related diseases in the armamentarium of modern drug therapy. Simple animal models like swimming endurance, immobilization induced gastric ulcers, adrenal function during stress, CCI4 hepatotoxicity, anoxia tolerance test, brain neurotransmitters and enzyme and CNS receptors levels of neurohumorals after swimming immobilization and gravitational stress, milk induced leucocytosis, lipid peroxidase assessment for prevention of cell damage through anti-oxidant activity were carried out to evaluate the adaptogenic activity of these plants in rats and mice. Clinical trial in diseases related to stress like bronchial asthma, hypertension, cellular immunity, viral encephalitis, chronic fatigue syndrome were carried out in man.
July 2003
7167.
Aboul-Enein F, Rauschka H, Kornek B, Stadelmann C, Stefferl A, Bruck W,
Lucchinetti C, Schmidbauer M, Jellinger K, Lassmann H.
Preferential loss of myelin-associated glycoprotein reflects hypoxia-like
white matter damage in stroke and inflammatory brain diseases. J Neuropathol Exp
Neurol. 2003 Jan;62(1):25-33.
Destruction
of myelin and oligodendrocytes leading to the formation of large demyelinated
plaques is the hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. In a subset of MS patients termed pattern III, actively
demyelinating lesions show preferential loss of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG)
and apoptotic-like oligodendrocyte destruction, whereas other myelin proteins
remain well preserved. MAG is located in the most distal periaxonal
oligodendrocyte processes and primary "dying back"
oligodendrogliopathy may be the initial step of myelin degeneration in pattern
III lesions. In the present study, various human white matter pathologies,
including acute and chronic white matter stroke, virus encephalitis, metabolic
encephalopathy, and MS were studied. In addition to a subset of MS cases, a
similar pattern of demyelination was found in some cases of virus encephalitis
as well as in all lesions of acute white matter stroke. Brain white matter
lesions presenting with MAG loss and apoptotic-like oligodendrocyte destruction,
irrespective of their primary disease cause, revealed a prominent nuclear
expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha in various cell types, including
oligodendrocytes. Our data suggest that a hypoxia-like tissue injury may play a
pathogenetic role in a subset of inflammatory demyelinating brain lesions.
7168.
Azad R, Gupta RK, Kumar S, Pandey CM, Prasad KN, Husain N, Husain M.
Is neurocysticercosis a risk factor in coexistent intracranial disease?
An MRI based study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003 Mar;74(3):359-61.
BACKGROUND:
Previous reports have suggested that neurocysticercosis is associated with
glioma and Japanese encephalitis, and that it is a risk factor for stroke.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if neurocysticercosis has a significant association
with, or is a risk factor for, coexistent pathologies such as Japanese
encephalitis, glioma, abscess, tuberculoma, or infarction. SUBJECTS: 10 350
patients from the hospital population who underwent 1.5 T cranial magnetic
resonance imaging during the previous 12 years were evaluated for the presence
of neurocysticercosis and coexisting pathology. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort
analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of neurocysticercosis in cases with dual
pathology was significantly less than in a control group (1.1% v 8.3%; z =
11.05; p < 0.001, power of test = 1). Neurocysticercosis lesions were less
common (p < 0.05) in the different subgroups of coexistent pathology than in
the control group except in the case of Japanese encephalitis, where the
difference was non-significant (z = 0.69, p = 0.49). The relative risk was less
than 1 in all subgroups except Japanese encephalitis, where it was 1.23. The
location of neurocysticercosis lesions and the presence of perilesional oedema
did not affect coexistent lesion location or severity on a particular side (p =
0.413 and 0.623 for location and
perilesional oedema, respectively). When the above factors were analysed
separately in patients with Japanese encephalitis, they also did not affect
coexistent lesion location or severity (p = 0.659 and 0.548, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: The coexistence of neurocysticercosis and other lesions may be an
incidental observation in a few patients referred from areas of high prevalence
and endemicity. It appears unlikely that neurocysticercosis is a risk factor for
other intracerebral pathology. The location of neurocysticercosis lesions and
whether or not there is surrounding perilesional oedema do not appear to affect
the location or severity of coexisting lesions.
7169.
Behzad-Behbahani A, Klapper PE, Vallely PJ, Cleator GM. BK virus DNA in
CSF of immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Arch Dis Child
2003 Feb;88(2):174-5
AIM:
To investigate the possible aetiological role of BK and JC viruses in
immunocompetent and immunocompromised children with suspected encephalitis and
meningoencephalitis. METHODS: The polymerase chain reaction and microplate
hybridisation method was employed for the detection of polyomavirus DNA in 266
CSF specimens collected from immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.
RESULTS: BK virus DNA was detected in three (2.1%) CSF samples taken from
patients aged 2-5 years; two were patients with acute lymphocytic leukaemia
without overt neurological symptoms, the other was a patient with suspected
encephalitis. BK virus DNA was also detected in two (1.6%) CSF samples taken
from older children in the age range 10-16 years; both children had suspected
encephalitis. JC virus DNA was not found in any CSF sample from either age
group. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of BK virus in the CSF of immunocompromised and
immunocompetent patients with suspected neurological disease suggests that this
virus may have had a pathogenic role in the aetiology of this condition
7170.
Bernal F, Shams'ili S, Rojas I, Sanchez-Valle R, Saiz A, Dalmau J,
Honnorat J, Sillevis Smitt P, Graus F. Anti-Tr
antibodies as markers of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and Hodgkin's
disease. Neurology. 2003 Jan 28;60(2):230-4.
BACKGROUND:
Preliminary studies suggested that anti-Tr antibodies identify patients with
paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) and Hodgkin disease (HD).
OBJECTIVE: To extend the clinical-immunologic analysis to 28 patients with anti-Tr
antibodies. METHODS: Anti-Tr antibodies were detected by immunohistochemistry. A
competitive inhibition assay was used to ascertain if anti-Tr antibodies of
different sera identify common epitopes. Anti-Tr immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass
distribution was determined by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies
against human IgG isotypes. Tr immunoreactivity was analyzed in tumor sections
using biotinylated anti-Tr IgG. RESULTS: Median age of the 28 patients was 61
years (range 14 to 75 years) and 22 were male. A cerebellar syndrome was present
in 27 patients and a possible limbic encephalitis in one. HD was diagnosed in 25
patients. No tumor was found in three patients; the autopsy of one of them
disclosed severe loss of Purkinje cells without inflammatory infiltrates. Anti-Tr
antibodies spontaneously disappeared in all patients without tumor and in 10/10
patients after successful HD treatment. Anti-Tr antibodies were absent in the
serum but positive in the CSF of two patients. All positive anti-Tr sera
inhibited the immunoreactivity of biotinylated anti-Tr IgG. The predominant
isotypes of anti-Tr were IgG1 and IgG3. Only 1 out of the 15 HD samples studied
presented anti-Tr positivity that was localized in some Reed-Sternberg cells.
CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the strong association between anti-Tr
antibodies and PCD associated with HD. Anti-Tr antibodies from different
patients recognize similar epitopes. Unlike other antineuronal antibodies, anti-Tr
antibodies can be detected in the CSF but not in the serum and may spontaneously
disappear during the follow-up, and Tr immunoreactivity is usually lacking in
the tumor.
7171.
Dong M, Zhang PF, Grieder F, Lee J, Krishnamurthy G, VanCott T, Broder C,
Polonis VR, Yu XF, Shao Y, Faix D, Valente P, Quinnan GV Jr. Induction of primary virus-cross-reactive human
immunodeficiency virus type 1-neutralizing antibodies in small animals by using
an alphavirus-derived in vivo expression system. J Virol. 2003
Mar;77(5):3119-30.
We
have studied the induction of neutralizing antibodies by in vivo expression of
the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope by using a Venezuelan
equine encephalitis virus (VEE) replicon system with mice and rabbits. The HIV-1
envelope, clone R2, has broad sensitivity to cross-reactive neutralization and
was obtained from a donor with broadly cross-reactive, primary
virus-neutralizing antibodies (donor of reference serum, HIV-1-neutralizing
serum 2 [HNS2]). It was expressed as gp160, as secreted gp140, and as
gp160deltaCT with the cytoplasmic tail deleted. gp140 was expressed in vitro at
a high level and was predominantly uncleaved oligomer. gp160deltaCT was released
by cells in the form of membrane-bound vesicles. gp160deltaCT induced stronger
neutralizing responses than the other forms. Use of a helper plasmid for
replicon particle packaging, in which the VEE envelope gene comprised a
wild-type rather than a host range-adapted sequence, also enhanced
immunogenicity. Neutralizing activity fractionated with immunoglobulin G. This
activity was cross-reactive among a panel of five nonhomologous primary clade B
strains and a Chinese clade C strain and minimally reactive against a Chinese
clade E (circulating recombinant form 1) strain. The comparative neutralization
of these strains by immune mouse sera was similar to the relative neutralizing
effects of HNS2, and responses induced in rabbits were similar to those induced
in mice. Together, these results demonstrate that neutralizing antibody
responses can be induced in mice within 2 to 3 months that are similar in
potency and cross-reactivity to those found in the chronically infected,
long-term nonprogressive donor of HNS2. These findings support the expectation
that induction of highly cross-reactive HIV-1 primary virus-neutralizing
activity by vaccination may be realized.
7172.
Hamprecht K, Eckle T, Prix L, Faul C, Einsele H, Jahn G. Ganciclovir-resistant
cytomegalovirus disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: pitfalls of
phenotypic diagnosis by in vitro selection of an UL97 mutant strain. J Infect
Dis. 2003 Jan 1;187(1):139-43.
A
9-month posttransplantation course of an allogeneic stem-cell transplant
recipient (human cytomegalovirus [HCMV] serostatus, donor positive/recipient
negative), in whom ganciclovir (GCV) resistance developed (UL97 mutations M460V,
L595S, and C603W) on day 164 after transplantation and who developed HCMV
retinitis and fatal HCMV encephalitis is presented. Virus strains isolated from
secondary cultures were analyzed by UL97 restriction assays and sequencing and
were compared with primary DNA extracts of the same specimens, which resulted in
molecular proof of an initial HCMV strain-specific in vitro selection of the in
vivo nondominant UL97 L595S-C603 mutant strain from 3 viral variants present in
vivo. In addition, compartmentalization of virus present in blood and
cerebrospinal fluid was found. The influence of rapidly increasing plasma virus
load (to >10(6) copies/mL) and oral administration of GCV on the emergence of
GCV resistance is shown. These findings have strong implications for the
diagnosis of HCMV drug resistance.
7173.
Hertzig T, Weber M, Greiffenberg L, Holthausen BS, Goebel W, Kim KS, Kuhn
M. Antibodies present in normal
human serum inhibit invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells by
Listeria monocytogenes. Infect Immun. 2003 Jan;71(1):95-100.
Listeria
monocytogenes causes meningitis and encephalitis in humans and crosses the
blood-brain barrier by yet unknown mechanisms. The interaction of the bacteria
with different types of endothelial cells was recently analyzed, and it was
shown that invasion into, but not adhesion to, human brain microvascular
endothelial cells (HBMEC) depends on the product of the inlB gene, the surface
molecule InlB, which is a member of the internalin multigene family. In the
present study we analyzed the role of the medium composition in the interaction
of L. monocytogenes with HBMEC, and we show that invasion of HBMEC is strongly
inhibited in the presence of adult human serum. The strong inhibitory activity,
which is not present in fetal calf serum, does not inhibit uptake by
macrophage-like J774 cells but does also inhibit invasion of Caco-2 epithelial
cells. The inhibitory component of human serum was identified as being
associated with L. monocytogenes-specific antibodies present in the human serum.
Human newborn serum (cord serum) shows only a weak inhibitory activity on the
invasion of HBMEC by L. monocytogenes.
7174.
Hurley RA, Ernst T, Khalili K, Del Valle L, Simone IL, Taber KH.
Identification of HIV-associated progressive multifocal
leukoencephalopathy: magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. J
Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2003 Winter;15(1):1-6. No abstract available.
7175.
Kossmann T, Morganti-Kossmann MC, Orenstein JM, Britt WJ, Wahl SM, Smith
PD. Cytomegalovirus production by
infected astrocytes correlates with transforming
growth factor-beta release. J Infect Dis. 2003 Feb 15;187(4):534-41.
Cytomegalovirus
(CMV) encephalitis is well documented in immunosuppressed persons, but its
pathogenesis has received little investigative attention. The examination of
brain tissue from 2 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who had CMV
encephalitis showed colocalization of CMV inclusions and transforming growth
factor (TGF)-beta in cells that contained astrocyte-specific glial filaments. To
investigate the relationship between CMV and TGF-beta in the brain, an ex vivo
murine model of CMV-infected astrocytes was established. Cultures of primary
murine (strain FVB/N) astrocytes inoculated with murine (Smith strain) CMV
expressed, over time, increasing amounts of infectious CMV in parallel with
increasing levels of TGF-beta mRNA and peptide. Astrocyte release of CMV
declined in the presence of antibody to TGF-beta and increased substantially
after the addition of exogenous TGF-beta. These findings suggest that CMV
infection of astrocytes induces the production of TGF-beta, which in turn
enhances productive CMV expression.
7176.
Lin TY, Hsia SH, Huang YC, Wu CT, Chang LY.
Proinflammatory cytokine reactions in enterovirus 71 infections of the
central nervous system. Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Feb 1;36(3):269-74.
Enterovirus
71 (EV71) infection can lead to devastating clinical outcomes. An
appreciation of the scientific relationship between cytokine response and
patient mortality may help limit the risks posed by this deadly illness. We
present the results of a study that compared the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and
serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in 24
patients with EV71 infection. Cases in this study involved diverse
manifestations or complications, including encephalitis, poliomyelitis-like
syndrome, meningitis, and pulmonary edema. CSF levels of IL-6 in study patients
were found to be consistently higher during the first 2 days of central nervous
system (CNS) involvement than afterward. Compared with patients who did not have
pulmonary edema, patients who experienced pulmonary edema had dramatically
varied blood values, including IL-6, white blood cell counts, and glucose
levels. Our findings suggest that the combination of CNS and systemic
inflammatory response may trigger EV71-related cardiopulmonary collapse.
7177.
Mishra OP, Batra P, Ali Z, Anupurba S, Das BK.
Cerebrospinal fluid lysozyme level for the diagnosis of tuberculous
meningitis in children. J Trop Pediatr. 2003 Feb;49(1):13-6.
Lysozyme
activity was assayed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 32 tuberculous
meningitis (TBM), 17 bacterial meningitis, 10 partially treated bacterial
meningitis, 18 encephalitis and 18 control subjects. The mean CSF lysozyme
activity was significantly raised (p < 0.001) in TBM patients compared with
other study groups. A cut-off CSF lysozyme level of > or = 26 U/l had a
sensitivity and specificity of 93.7 and 84.1 per cent, respectively for the
diagnosis of TBM. Overall, it was found to be a better test than any other
single test and thus can be used for rapid and early diagnosis of TBM in
children.
7178.
Potula R, Badrinath S, Srinivasan S.
Japanese encephalitis in and around Pondicherry, South India: a clinical
appraisal and prognostic indicators for the outcome. J Trop Pediatr. 2003
Feb;49(1):48-53.
Japanese
encephalitis (JE) is numerically one of the most important causes of viral
encephalitis worldwide, with an estimated 50,000 cases and 15,000 deaths
annually. About one-third of patients die and half of the survivors have severe
neuropsychiatric sequelae. Three hundred patients clinically suspected of JE
were tested in the present study. Laboratory confirmation of JE was on the basis
of detection of antigen or presence of JE-specific IgM antibody and/or
neutralizing antibody in a single CSF sample. The risk factors that were
associated with fatal outcome were determined. Japanese encephalitis infection
was confirmed in 70.7 per cent (212/300) of the patients. All patients were from
rural areas and with low socioeconomic background. Prominent clinical findings
were: fever in 100 per cent (212/212) patients, altered sensorium in 87.73 per
cent (186/212), convulsion in 85.84 per cent (182/212), headache in 50 per cent
(106/212), and vomiting in 47.64 per cent (101/212). The final clinical outcome
was available for only 68.39 per cent (145/212) of patients, as children were
taken home against medical advice. Of these, 35.86 per cent (52) died while
63.44 per cent (92) of patients survived. Correlations of investigative findings
with the final outcome revealed that absence of virus-specific IgM and
neutralizing antibodies in CSF were associated with fatal outcome. In patients
diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis the presence of a virus-specific immune
response is associated with a favourable outcome and an important parameter in
recovery from illness.
7179.
Schauble B, Castillo PR, Boeve BF, Westmoreland BF.
EEG findings in steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with
autoimmune thyroiditis. Clin Neurophysiol. 2003 Jan;114(1):32-7.
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the electroencephalogram (EEG) findings of patients with
steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune (Hashimoto)
thyroiditis. METHODS: We reviewed 51 EEGs and the clinical records of 17
patients (5 men and 12 women, 27-84 years old). RESULTS: All patients had mild
to severe generalized slowing on the EEG which corresponded to the clinical
severity of the underlying encephalopathy. Other findings included triphasic
waves, epileptiform abnormalities, photomyogenic response, and photoparoxysmal
response. Follow-up EEGs of 13 patients showed slowing in 7 and a return to
normal in 6. Myoclonic jerks were recorded during the EEG study of 8 patients
but did not have an EEG correlate. The EEG and clinical condition improved after
treatment with corticosteroids. When encephalopathy recurred, the EEG showed
corresponding abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: EEG findings in steroid-responsive
encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis consist mainly of slow
wave abnormalities that reflect the degree of severity of the underlying
encephalopathy. The EEG findings often paralleled the course of the disease,
showing improvement with improvement in the clinical condition and worsening
with recurrence of symptoms. SIGNIFICANCE: The EEG is helpful in evaluating and
following patients with steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with
autoimmune thyroiditis in reflecting the degree of central nervous system (CNS)
involvement, in determining whether their condition is better or worse, and in
ruling out other causes of encephalopathy.
7180.
Sibbald B. Canada will check
donor blood for West Nile virus if test available. CMAJ. 2003 Jan 21;168(2):207.
No abstract available.
7181.
Singhal AB, Newstein MC, Budzik R, Cha JH, Rordorf G, Buonanno FS,
Panzara MA. Diffusion-weighted
magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in Bartonella encephalopathy. J
Neuroimaging. 2003 Jan;13(1):79-82.
The
authors describe 2 patients with new-onset, refractory status epilepticus and
serological evidence for Bartonella infection. Brain magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) in patient 1 showed transient diffusion abnormalities in the posterior (pulvinar)
thalami. In patient 2, brain MRI showed several enhancing cortical lesions, of
which one lesion was bright on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). In patients
with unexplained, refractory seizures, the presence of DWI abnormalities
warrants a search for unusual infectious or inflammatory disorders, like
Bartonella encephalitis.
7182.
Thomas P, Zifkin B, Ghetau G, Delalande O.
Persistence of ictal activity after functional hemispherectomy in
Rasmussen syndrome. Neurology. 2003 Jan 14;60(1):140-2.
A
15-year-old girl with a 3-year history of Rasmussen syndrome (RS) underwent left
functional hemispherectomy by central disconnection. Clinical seizures then
ceased. Five months postoperatively, ictal EEG discharges were associated with
focal hyperperfusion on SPECT within the disconnected hypoperfused left
hemisphere, suggesting that the basic mechanisms of RS may continue, only to
remit later. EEG and SPECT may complement studies of these in seizure-free
surgically treated patients in whom clinical follow-up may be unrevealing.
7183.
Turchan J, Pocernich CB, Gairola C, Chauhan A, Schifitto G, Butterfield
DA, Buch S, Narayan O, Sinai A, Geiger J, Berger JR, Elford H, Nath A.
Oxidative stress in HIV demented patients and protection ex vivo with
novel antioxidants. Neurology. 2003 Jan 28;60(2):307-14.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the role of oxidative stress in mediating HIV dementia and to
identify novel therapeutic compounds that may block this oxidative stress.
METHODS: Brain tissue from patients with HIV encephalitis and macaques with
simian immune deficiency virus encephalitis was immunostained for lipid
peroxidation. Oxidized proteins in CSF of patients with various stages of HIV
dementia were quantitated and we determined whether CSF from these patients
could alter mitochondrial function. Several novel compounds with antioxidant
effects were screened to determine their relative efficacy in protecting against
CSF-induced neurotoxicity. RESULTS: Evidence for oxidative stress was present
both in brain and in CSF. The presence of oxidized proteins in the CSF and CSF-induced
progressive decrease in mitochondrial activity correlated with the severity of
cognitive impairment, but only the group of patients with moderate to severe
dementia reached statistical significance. L-deprenyl, didox, imidate, diosgenin,
and ebselen blocked the CSF-induced toxicity. No effect of trimidox, ruthenium
red, or Quercetin was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Increased oxidative stress is present
in brain and CSF of HIV-infected patients. There is also an accumulation of
toxic substances in the CSF that are capable of inducing oxidative stress. The
authors have identified several novel compounds that are capable of blocking the
CSF-induced toxicity, the therapeutic potential of which is worthy of further
exploration.
7184.
Warnatz K, Peter HH, Schumacher M, Wiese L, Prasse A, Petschner F, Vaith
P, Volk B, Weiner SM. Infectious
CNS disease as a differential diagnosis in systemic rheumatic diseases: three
case reports and a review of the literature. Ann Rheum Dis. 2003 Jan;62(1):50-7.
BACKGROUND:
Immunosuppressive treatment of rheumatic diseases may be associated with several
opportunistic infections of the brain. The differentiation between primary
central nervous system (CNS) involvement and CNS infection may be difficult,
leading to delayed diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To differentiate between CNS
involvement and CNS infection in systemic rheumatic diseases. Methods and
results: Three patients with either longstanding or suspected systemic rheumatic
diseases (systemic lupus erythematodes, Wegener's granulomatosis, and cerebral
vasculitis) who presented with various neuropsychiatric symptoms are described.
All three patients were pretreated with different immunosuppressive drugs (leflunomide,
methotrexate, cyclophosphamide) in combination with corticosteroids. Magnetic
resonance imaging of the brain was suggestive of infectious disease, which was
confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid analysis or stereotactic brain biopsy
(progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) in two and nocardiosis in one
patient). DISCUSSION: More than 20 cases of PML or cerebral nocardiosis in
patients receiving corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs for rheumatic disease
have been reported. The clinical aspects of opportunistic CNS infections and the
role of brain imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and stereotactic brain
biopsy in the differential diagnosis are reviewed.
Pathogenesis:
7185.
Booton GC, Carmichael JR, Visvesvara GS, Byers TJ, Fuerst PA.
Genotyping of Balamuthia mandrillaris based on nuclear 18S and
mitochondrial 16S rRNA genes.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003 Jan;68(1):65-9.
Balamuthia mandrillaris is an opportunistically pathogenic ameba that causes fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) in vertebrates. Previous phylogenetic analyses that included the sequence of a single nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (18S or ssu rDNA) from this ameba suggested that Balamuthia is closely related to Acanthamoeba, another opportunistically pathogenic amebic genus, which includes multiple ssu rDNA genotypes. We tested whether this also is true for Balamuthia. The nuclear ssu rDNA from 4 isolates and the mitochondrial ssu rDNA from 7 isolates of B. mandrillaris have been sequenced. No variation in the nuclear rDNA sequences and low levels of variation in the mitochondrial rDNA were found. Both gene sequences were consistent with a single genotype for B. mandrillaris. The mitochondrial sequences of B. mandrillaris are unique and should be useful for development of genus-specific diagnostic probes for use with clinical, environmental, and archived specimens.
7186.
Cucchiara BL, Forman MS, McGarvey ML, Kasner SE, King D.
Fatal subacute cytomegalovirus encephalitis associated with
hypogammaglobulinemia and thymoma. Mayo Clin Proc. 2003 Feb;78(2):223-7.
Parathymic
syndromes are systemic disorders that occur in association with thymoma. One
such parathymic syndrome, hypogammaglobulinemia, was initially identified by
Good in 1954 and has been referred to as Good syndrome. Patients with this
syndrome develop a variety of recurrent infections due to the associated
immunodeficiency. We describe a patient with cytomegalovirus encephalitis
associated with Good syndrome and discuss the pathologic findings present on
autopsy. The possibility of a cytomegalovirus infection should be considered
early in the evaluation of patients with Good syndrome if appropriate clinical
symptoms are present.
7187.
Gritsun TS, Frolova TV, Zhankov AI, Armesto M, Turner SL, Frolova MP,
Pogodina VV, Lashkevich VA, Gould EA. Characterization
of a siberian virus isolated from a patient with progressive chronic tick-borne
encephalitis. J Virol. 2003 Jan;77(1):25-36.
A
strain of Tick-borne encephalitis virus designated Zausaev (Za) was isolated in
Siberia from a patient who died of a progressive (2-year) form of tick-borne
encephalitis 10 years after being bitten by a tick. The complete genomic
sequence of this virus was determined, and an attempt was made to correlate the
sequence with the biological characteristics of the virus. Phylogenetic analysis
demonstrated that this virus belongs to the Siberian subtype of Tick-borne
encephalitis virus. Comparison of Za virus with two related viruses, a Far
Eastern isolate, Sofjin, and a Siberian isolate, Vasilchenko, revealed
differences among the three viruses in pathogenicity for Syrian hamsters,
cytopathogenicity for PS cells, plaque morphology, and the electrophoretic
profiles of virus-specific nonstructural proteins. Comparative amino acid
alignments revealed 10 individual amino acid substitutions in the Za virus
polyprotein sequence that were different from those of other tick-borne
flaviviruses. Notably, the dimeric form of the Za virus NS1 protein migrated in
polyacrylamide gels as a heterogeneous group of molecules with a significantly
higher electrophoretic mobility than those of the Sofjin and Vasilchenko
viruses. Two amino acid substitutions, T(277)-->V and E(279)-->G, within
the NS1 dimerization domain are probably responsible for the altered
oligomerization of Za virus NS1. These studies suggest that the patient from
whom Za virus was isolated died due to increased pathogenicity of the latent
virus following spontaneous mutagenesis.
7188.
Kathula SK, Kamana M, Mall S. Rectal
carcinoma with dementia. Psychosomatics. 2003 Jan-Feb;44(1):82-3. No abstract
available.
7189.
Kumar S. Inadequate research
facilities fail to tackle mystery disease. BMJ. 2003 Jan 4;326(7379):12. No
abstract available.
7190.
Pola R, Flex A, Gaetani E, Santoliquido A, Serricchio M, Pola P, Bernabei
R. Intercellular adhesion
molecule-1 K469E gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging.
2003 Mar-Apr;24(2):385-7.
Inflammatory
processes are considered important in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease
(AD). Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is an important mediator of
inflammatory response and immune cell activation, is expressed on
cerebrovascular endothelium and neuritic plaques in brain of AD patients, and
seems to be implicated in the process of neuro-degeneration. A common
polymorphism of the ICAM-1 gene (K469E) has been recently reported. In this
case-control study, we evaluated the distribution of E/K alleles and genotypes
of the ICAM-1 gene in 98 patients affected by sporadic AD and 115 age- and
sex-matched controls. The frequency of the EE genotype was significantly higher
in AD patients (P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the
presence of EE genotype significantly increased the risk of AD (odds ratio 3.01
[1.1-8.0], P<0.05). This study shows for the first time an association
between ICAM-1 E/K gene polymorphism and AD, suggesting that polymorphisms of
the ICAM-1 gene may be clinically important and confirming that inflammatory
mechanisms may be crucial in the pathophysiology of neuro-degenerative diseases.
7191.
Ryan J, Dave K, Emmerich E, Fernandez B, Turell M, Johnson J, Gottfried
K, Burkhalter K, Kerst A, Hunt A, Wirtz R, Nasci R.
Wicking assays for the rapid detection of West Nile and St. Louis
encephalitis viral antigens in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol.
2003 Jan;40(1):95-9.
The
recent outbreaks of West Nile (WN) encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE)
in the United States have highlighted the need for rapid and specific methods of
detecting arboviral antigens in mosquitoes. We evaluated rapid, field-usable
assays for detecting and differentiating WN and SLE viruses in mosquito pools,
based on a patent-pending, immunochromatographic technology (VecTest) formatted
on a dipstick. The device provides results in less than 20 min and can be used
in laboratories with adequate containment facilities. In laboratory assessments,
both the SLE and WN virus tests demonstrated sensitivity comparable with that of
an antigen capture ELISA, but less than can be achieved with Vero cell plaque or
reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays. There was no evidence of
cross-reaction when tested with high concentrations of heterologous flavivirus
antigens or with Eastern equine encephalitis or Western equine encephalitis
viruses. Both the WN and SLE dipstick tests delivered a clear positive result
with a single positive specimen in a pool of 50 mosquitoes. This virus assay
technology reduces the time required to obtain test results and will allow rapid
medical threat assessment and effective targeting of vector control measures.
7192.
Teunissen CE, van Boxtel MP, Bosma H, Bosmans E, Delanghe J, De Bruijn C,
Wauters A, Maes M, Jolles J, Steinbusch HW, de Vente J.
Inflammation markers in relation to cognition in a healthy aging
population. J Neuroimmunol. 2003 Jan;134(1-2):142-50.
The
relation between serum inflammatory protein levels and cognitive performance was
investigated in a healthy population.Individuals were tested during 6 years of
follow-up. Serum concentrations of 10 inflammatory proteins were correlated to
cognitive speed (Letter-Digit Coding Test, LDCT), attention and information
processing (Stroop) and memory (Word Learning). Haptoglobin levels at baseline
correlated negatively with cognitive performance on the Stroop and Word Learning
Recall test over the 6 years follow-up period. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels
at baseline correlated negatively with performance on the Word Learning tests
over the 6 years follow-up period. Thus, relatively high concentrations of
haptoglobin and C-reactive protein may be indicative for impaired cognitive
performance.
7193.
Twiddy SS, Holmes EC. The
extent of homologous recombination in members of the genus Flavivirus. J Gen
Virol. 2003 Feb;84(Pt 2):429-40.
The
family Flaviviridae includes important human pathogens, such as dengue (DEN)
virus, yellow fever (YF) virus and hepatitis C virus, many of which have emerged
or re-emerged in recent years. Until recently, flavivirus evolution was thought
to proceed in a clonal manner, with diversity generated mainly through the
accumulation of mutational changes. However, this assumption has now been shown
to be invalid, with homologous recombination demonstrated in all three genera of
the FLAVIVIRIDAE: Since recombination has important implications for the study
of virus evolution, a survey of recombination in the viruses of the genus
Flavivirus was carried out. Using envelope gene sequence data and a combination
of graphical and phylogenetic analyses, hitherto unreported recombination in
Japanese encephalitis virus and St Louis encephalitis virus was detected, as
well as further recombinants in DEN virus. However, no evidence for
recombination was found in West Nile or YF viruses, or in the tick-borne
flavivirus group. It is proposed that the difference between the mosquito- and
tick-borne viruses can be accounted for by their differing modes of
transmission, whilst the variation among the mosquito-borne flaviviruses
reflects both the ecology of the particular host and vector species and also
bias in the sampling process.
7194.
Xiong H, Boyle J, Winkelbauer M, Gorantla S, Zheng J, Ghorpade A,
Persidsky Y, Carlson KA, Gendelman HE.
Inhibition of long-term potentiation by interleukin-8: implications for
human immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia. J Neurosci Res. 2003 Feb
15;71(4):600-7.
Human
immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected mononuclear phagocytes (MP; brain
macrophages and microglia) secrete a number of toxic factors that affect the
pathogenesis of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD). The identification and relative
role of each MP toxin for neuronal dysfunction during HAD are not well
understood. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a CXC chemokine involved in leukocyte
activation and chemotaxis, is constitutively produced by MP, and elevated levels
of IL-8 mRNA were detected in the brains of patients with HIV-1 encephalitis
(HIVE) by both ribonuclease protection assays and real-time PCR. To determine
the role that IL-8 might play in the neuronal dysfunction in HAD, we studied its
effect on synaptic transmission and plasticity in the CA1 region of hippocampus,
the seat of learning and memory. Bath application of IL-8 (50 ng/ml) to rat
hippocampal slices had no effect on basal synaptic transmission. However, IL-8
was shown to inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP) in a concentration-dependent
manner. In control and IL-8-treated slices, the LTP magnitudes were 167.8% +/-
11.9% (mean +/- SE; n = 17) and 122.2% +/- 16.2% of basal levels (n = 13),
respectively. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Preincubation of hippocampal slices with a monoclonal CXCR2 antibody (2 microg/ml)
but not control IgG (2 microg/ml) blocked IL-8-induced inhibition of LTP. The
expression of CXCR2 receptors in the CA1 region was shown by Western blot
assays. The induction of IL-8 in HAD, its inhibition of LTP, and the expression
of its receptor, CXCR2, in the hippocampus all suggest that it plays a role in
the cognitive dysfunction associated with HAD. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Vaccines:
7195.
Kleymann G.Novel agents and strategies to treat herpes simplex virus
infections. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2003
Feb;12(2):165-83.
The
quiet pandemic of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection has plagued humanity
since ancient times, causing mucocutaneous infection, such as herpes labialis
and herpes genitalis. Disease symptoms often interfere with everyday activities
and occasionally HSV infections are the cause of life-threatening or
sight-impairing disease, especially in neonates and the immunocompromised
patient population. After primary or initial infection the virus persists for
life in a latent form in neurons of the host, periodically reactivating and
often resulting in significant psychosocial distress for the patient. Currently,
no cure is available. In the mid-1950s the first antiviral, idoxuridine, was
developed for topical treatment of herpes disease and, in 1978, vidarabine was
licensed for systemic use to treat HSV encephalitis. Acyclovir (Zovirax), a
potent, specific and tolerable nucleosidic inhibitor of the herpes DNA
polymerase, was a milestone in the development of antiviral drugs in the late
1970s. In the mid-1990s, when acyclovir became a generic drug, valacyclovir (Valtrex)
and famciclovir (Famvir), prodrugs of the gold standard and penciclovir (Denavir),
Vectavir), a close analogue, were launched. Though numerous approaches and
strategies were tested and considerable effort was expended in the search of the
next generation of an antiherpetic therapy, it proved difficult to outperform
acyclovir. Notable in this regard was the award of a Nobel Prize in 1988 for the
elucidation of mechanistic principles which resulted in the development of new
drugs such as acyclovir. Vaccines, interleukins, interferons, therapeutic
proteins, antibodies, immunomodulators and small-molecule drugs with specific or
nonspecific modes of action lacked either efficacy or the required safety
profile to replace the nucleosidic drugs acyclovir, valacyclovir, penciclovir
and famciclovir as the first choice of treatment. Recently though, new
inhibitors of the HSV helicase-primase with potent in vitro antiherpes activity,
novel mechanisms of action, low resistance rates and superior efficacy against
HSV in animal models have been discovered. This review summarises the current
therapeutic options, discusses the potential of preclinical or investigational
drugs and provides an up-to-date interpretation of the challenge to establish
novel treatments for herpes simplex disease.
7196.
Lin CW, Wu SC. A functional epitope determinant on domain III of the
Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein interacted with
neutralizing-antibody combining sites. J Virol
2003 Feb;77(4):2600-6.
The
envelope (E) protein of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is associated with
viral binding to cellular receptors, membrane fusion, and the induction of
protective neutralizing-antibody responses in hosts. Most previous studies have
not provided detailed molecular information about the spatial configuration of
the functional epitopes on domain III of the E protein. Here site-directed
mutagenesis was performed to demonstrate that the functional epitope
determinants at Ser331 and Asp332 on domain III of the JEV E protein interacted
with neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) E3.3. Bacterial expression of the
recombinant Fab E3.3 confirmed the molecular interactions of Arg94 in
complementary determining region H3 with Ser331 and Asp332 on domain III. This
study elucidates the detailed molecular structures of the neutralizing epitope
determinants on JEV domain III, which can provide useful information for
designing new vaccines.
Therapy:
7197.
Atwood CS, Perry G, Smith MA. Cerebral
hemorrhage and amyloid-beta. Science. 2003 Feb 14;299(5609):1014. No abstract
available.
October 2003
7915.
Aronica
E, Troost D, Rozemuller AJ, Yankaya B, Jansen GH, Isom LL, Gorter JA.
Expression and regulation of voltage-gated sodium channel beta1 subunit
protein in human gliosis-associated pathologies. Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 2003
May;105(5):515-23. Epub 2003 Feb 20.
Auxiliary
beta1 subunits of voltage-gated sodium channels (NaChs) critically regulate
channel activity and may also act as cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). In a recent
study we have shown that the expression of beta1 NaCh protein is increased in
reactive astrocytes in a rat epilepsy model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
The present study was undertaken to examine whether changes of NaCh beta1
subunit protein expression are also associated with structural changes occurring
in human reactive astrocytes under different pathological conditions in vivo, as
well as in response to changing environmental conditions in vitro. Strong beta1
astroglial immunoreactivity was present in human brain tissue from patients with
astrogliosis. The over-expression of beta1 protein in reactive glia was observed
in both epilepsy-associated brain pathologies (temporal lobe epilepsy, cortical
dysplasia), as well as non-epileptic (cerebral infarction, multiple sclerosis,
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, meningo-encephalitis) disorders. The
up-regulation of beta1 subunit protein in astrocytes can be reproduced in vitro.
beta1 protein is highly expressed in human astrocytes cultured in the presence
of trophic factors, under conditions in which they show morphology similar to
the morphology of cells undergoing reactive gliosis. The growth factor-induced
overexpression of beta1 protein was abrogated by PD98059, which inhibits the
mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. These findings demonstrate that the
expression of NaCh beta1 subunit protein in astrocytes is plastic, and indicate
a novel mechanism for modulation of glial function in gliosis-associated
pathologies.
7916.
Berenguer
J, Miralles P, Arrizabalaga J, Ribera E, Dronda F, Baraia-Etxaburu J, Domingo P,
Marquez M, Rodriguez-Arrondo FJ, Laguna F, Rubio R, Lacruz Rodrigo J, Mallolas
J, de Miguel V; GESIDA 11/99 Study Group. Clinical course and prognostic factors of progressive
multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients treated with highly active
antiretroviral therapy. Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Apr 15;36(8):1047-52. Epub 2003
Apr 02.
We
analyzed survival rates, neurologic function, and prognostic factors for 118
consecutive patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated
progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) treated with highly active
antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 11 hospitals throughout Spain. Seventy-five
patients (63.6%) remained alive for a median of 114 weeks (2.2 years) after
diagnosis of PML. Neurologic function of the survivors was categorized as cure
or improvement in 33, stabilization or worsening in 40, and unknown in 2. The
baseline CD4+ cell count was the only variable found with prognostic
significance. The odds ratio of death was 2.71 (95% confidence interval,
1.19-6.15) for patients with CD4+ cell counts of <100 cells/microL, compared
with patients who had CD4+ cell counts of > or =100 cells/microL. One-third
of patients with PML died despite receipt of HAART; neurologic function improved
in approximately one-half of the survivors. A CD4+ cell count of <100 cells/microL
was associated with higher mortality.
7917.
De
Tiege X, Heron B, Lebon P, Ponsot G, Rozenberg F. Limits of early diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis in
children: a retrospective study of 38 cases. Clin Infect Dis. 2003 May
15;36(10):1335-9. Epub 2003 May 01.
The
prognosis of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) depends on the early and
appropriate administration of specific antiviral therapy. We retrospectively
reviewed 38 cases of children with proven HSE, to evaluate the reliability of
polymerase chain reaction results, according to the time of cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) sampling. Initial negative results were observed in 8 of 33 CSF samples
drawn before day 3 of the disease and were significantly associated with a low
level of protein and <10 leukocytes/mm3 in the CSF.
7918.
Dunand
AC, Jallon P. EEG-mediated
diagnosis of an unusual presentation of SSPE. Clin Neurophysiol. 2003
Apr;114(4):737-9.
OBJECTIVE:
To highlight the role of EEG in the diagnosis of SSPE. METHODS: EEG was
performed in an 18 month old girl who had a 1 week history of repeated episodes
of sudden flexion of the head and trunk and frequent falls. RESULTS: EEG
abnormalities consisted of stereotyped, generalized and synchronous high
amplitude periodic complexes. These abnormalities correlated with brief episodes
of axial and upper limb atonia on electromyogram examination. They persisted
during sleep although abnormal movements disappeared. Biological results and
cerebral MRI confirmed the diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
CONCLUSIONS: This case is exceptional because of the age of the patient, the
clinical presentation and the mode of contamination and it highlights the role
of EEG in this diagnosis.
7919.
Heneka
MT, Gavrilyuk V, Landreth GE, O'Banion MK, Weinberg G, Feinstein DL.
Noradrenergic depletion increases inflammatory responses in brain:
effects on IkappaB and HSP70 expression. J Neurochem. 2003 Apr;85(2):387-98.
The
inflammatory responses in many cell types are reduced by noradrenaline (NA)
binding to beta-adrenergic receptors. We previously demonstrated that cortical
inflammatory responses to aggregated amyloid beta (Abeta) are increased if NA
levels were first depleted by lesioning locus ceruleus (LC) noradrenergic
neurons, which replicates the loss of LC occurring in Alzheimer's disease. To
examine the molecular basis for increased responses, we used the selective
neurotoxin DSP4 to lesion the LC, and then examined levels of putative
anti-inflammatory molecules. Inflammatory responses were achieved by injection
of aggregated Abeta1-42 peptide and IL-1beta into frontal cortex, which induced
neuronal inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and microglial IL-1beta
expression. DSP4-treatment reduced basal levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB)
inhibitory IkappaB proteins, and of heat shock protein (HSP)70. Inflammatory
responses were prevented by co-injection (ibuprofen or ciglitzaone) or oral
administration (pioglitazone) of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
gamma (PPARgamma) agonists. Treatment with PPARgamma agonists restored
IkappaBalpha, IkappaBbeta, and HSP70 levels to values equal or above those
observed in control animals, and reduced activation of cortical NF-kappaB. These
results suggest that noradrenergic depletion reduces levels of anti-inflammatory
molecules which normally limit cortical responses to Abeta, and that PPARgamma
agonists can reverse that effect. These findings suggest one mechanism by which
PPARgamma agonists could provide benefit in neurological diseases having an
inflammatory component.
7920.
Jorgensen
GE, Hammarin AL, Bratt G, Grandien M, Flaegstad T, Johnsen JI.
Identification of a unique BK virus variant in the CNS of a patient with
AIDS. J Med Virol. 2003 May;70(1):14-9.
Human
polyomavirus BK (BKV; GenBank or EMBL or DDBJ accession no. NC001538) is often
reactivated in immunosuppressed patients. Reactivation has been associated
primarily with excretion of the virus in the urine, and there have been few
reports of renal and/or neurological disease caused by BKV in patients with
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Polymerase chain reaction, Southern
blotting, and sequencing were used to detect and identify the noncoding control
region (NCCR) of BKV in different tissues in an AIDS patient with
meningoencephalitis, retinitis, and nephritis. An undescribed reorganized NCCR
variant of the virus, completely different from the variants detected in
peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and urine, was identified in the
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and CNS tissues. These results suggest that
rearrangements in the NCCR of the virus have resulted in a BKV variant, which is
better adapted to the host cell machinery of the cells in CNS tissue. The
rearranged variant (BKV CNS) might have been involved in the initiation and/or
development of the pathological lesions observed in the CNS-related tissues of
this patient. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
7921.
Lassmann
H, Reindl M, Rauschka H, Berger J, Aboul-Enein F, Berger T,Zurbriggen A,
Lutterotti A, Bruck W, Weber JR, Ullrich R, Schmidbauer M, Jellinger K,
Vandevelde M. A new
paraclinical CSF marker for hypoxia-like tissue damage in multiple sclerosis
lesions. Brain. 2003 Jun;126(Pt 6):1347-57.
Recent
studies on the immunopathology of multiple sclerosis revealed a heterogeneity in
the patterns of demyelination, suggesting interindividual differences in the
mechanism responsible for myelin destruction. One of these patterns of
demyelination, characterized by oligodendrocyte dystrophy and apoptosis, closely
mimics myelin destruction in acute white matter ischaemia. In the course of a
systematic screening for virus antigen expression in multiple sclerosis brains,
we identified a monoclonal antibody against canine distemper virus, which
detects a cross-reactive endogenous brain epitope, highly expressed in this
specific subtype of actively demyelinating multiple sclerosis lesions with
little or no immunoreactivity in other active multiple sclerosis cases. The
respective epitope, which is a phosphorylation-dependent sequence of one or more
proteins of 50, 70 and 115 kDa, is also expressed in a subset of active lesions
of different virus-induced inflammatory brain diseases, but is present most
prominently and consistently in acute lesions of white matter ischaemia. Its
presence is significantly associated with nuclear expression of
hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha within the lesions of both inflammatory and
ischaemic brain diseases. The respective epitope is liberated into the CSF and,
thus, may become a useful diagnostic tool to identify clinically a defined
multiple sclerosis subtype.
7922.
Lednicky
JA, Vilchez RA, Keitel WA, Visnegarwala F, White ZS, Kozinetz CA, Lewis DE,
Butel JS. Polyomavirus JCV
excretion and genotype analysis in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active
antiretroviral therapy. AIDS. 2003 Apr 11;17(6):801-7.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the frequency of shedding of polyomavirus JC virus (JCV) genotypes in
urine of HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
METHODS: Single samples of urine and blood were collected prospectively from 70
adult HIV-infected patients and 68 uninfected volunteers. Inclusion criteria for
HIV-infected patients included an HIV RNA viral load < 1000 copies, CD4 cell
count of 200-700 x 106 cells/l, and stable HAART regimen. PCR assays and
sequence analysis were carried out using JCV-specific primers against different
regions of the virus genome. RESULTS: JCV excretion in urine was more common in
HIV-positive patients but not significantly different from that of the
HIV-negative group [22/70 (31%) versus 13/68 (19%); P = 0.09]. HIV-positive
patients lost the age-related pattern of JCV shedding (P = 0.13) displayed by
uninfected subjects (P = 0.01). Among HIV-infected patients significant
differences in JCV shedding were related to CD4 cell counts (P = 0.03). Sequence
analysis of the JCV regulatory region from both HIV-infected patients and
uninfected volunteers revealed all to be JCV archetypal strains. JCV genotypes 1
(36%) and 4 (36%) were the most common among HIV-infected patients, whereas type
2 (77%) was the most frequently detected among HIV-uninfected volunteers.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that JCV
shedding is
enhanced by modest depressions in immune function during HIV infection. JCV
shedding occurred in younger HIV-positive persons than in the healthy controls.
As the common types of JCV excreted varied among ethnic groups, JCV genotypes
associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy may reflect
demographics of those infected patient populations.
7923.
Mani
J, Reddy BC, Borgohain R, Sitajayalakshmi S, Sundaram C, Mohandas S.
Magnetic resonance imaging in rabies. Postgrad Med J. 2003
Jun;79(932):352-4.
Rabies
encephalitis has a classical clinical presentation and its diagnosis is
unmistakable. In about a fifth of cases rabies occurs as its paralytic form,
which lacks the classic symptoms and may mimic other diseases, especially acute
disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain
in rabies shows a distinct abnormal pattern that differentiates it from ADEM.
Hence it may be a useful tool in diagnosis of paralytic rabies. Failure to
administer post-exposure rabies immunoglobulin along with the rabies vaccine may
result in vaccine failure.
7924.
Martin
WJ. Complex intracellular
inclusions in the brain of a child with a stealth virus encephalopathy. Exp Mol
Pathol. 2003 Jun;74(3):197-209.
Unusual
pigmented intracellular inclusions are commonly seen in cultures
-obtained
from patients infected with stealth viruses. Some of these structures may
potentially provide a source of chemical energy for the infected cells to help
compensate for the apparent damage to the cells' mitochondria. They have
accordingly been termed alternative cellular energy pigments (ACE pigments). In
keeping with this suggestion, the present paper illustrates the diversity of
extraneous materials present in vacuolated, mitochondria-damaged cells seen in
the brain biopsy of a child with a stealth-virus-associated encephalopathy. Many
of the intracellular inclusions show highly ordered structuring, while others
have a more amorphous appearance. These structures may provide a target for
energy-based therapeutic intervention in stealth-virus-infected patients.
7925.
Overholser ED, Coleman GD, Bennett JL, Casaday RJ, Zink MC, Barber SA,
Clements JE. Expression of simian
immunodeficiency virus (SIV) nef in astrocytes during acute and terminal
infection and requirement of nef for optimal replication of neurovirulent SIV in
vitro. J Virol. 2003 Jun;77(12):6855-66.
-As the most
numerous cells in the brain, astrocytes play a critical role in maintaining
central nervous system homeostasis, and therefore, infection of astrocytes by
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in
vivo could have important consequences for the development of HIV encephalitis.
In this study, we establish that astrocytes are infected in macaques during
acute SIV infection (10 days postinoculation) and during terminal infection when
there is evidence of SIV-induced encephalitis. Additionally, with primary adult
rhesus macaque astrocytes in vitro, we demonstrate that the macrophage-tropic,
neurovirulent viruses SIV/17E-Br and SIV/17E-Fr replicate efficiently in
astrocytes, while the lymphocyte-tropic, nonneurovirulent virus SIV(mac)239
open-nef does not establish productive infection. Furthermore,
aminoxypentane-RANTES abolishes virus replication, suggesting that these SIV
strains utilize the chemokine receptor CCR5 for entry into astrocytes.
Importantly, we show that SIV Nef is required for optimal replication in primary
rhesus macaque astrocytes and that normalizing input virus by particle number
rather than by infectivity reveals a disparity between the ability of a Nef-deficient
virus and a virus encoding a nonmyristoylated form of Nef to replicate in these
central nervous system cells. Since the myristoylated form of Nef has been
implicated in functions such as CD4 and major histocompatibility complex I
downregulation, kinase association, and enhancement of virion infectivity, these
data suggest that an as yet unidentified function of Nef may exist to facilitate
SIV replication in astrocytes that may have important implications for in vivo
pathogenesis.
7926.
Trillo-Pazos
G, Diamanturos A, Rislove L, Menza T, Chao W, Belem P, Sadiq S, Morgello S,
Sharer L, Volsky DJ. Detection of
HIV-1 DNA in microglia/macrophages, astrocytes and neurons isolated from brain
tissue with HIV-1 encephalitis by laser capture microdissection. Brain Pathol.
2003 Apr;13(2):144-54.
In
HIV-1 encephalitis, HIV-1 replicates predominantly in macrophages and
-
microglia. Astrocytes also carry HIV-1, but the infection of oligodendrocytes
and neurons is debated. In this study we examined the presence of HIV-1 DNA in
different brain cell types in 6 paraffin embedded, archival post-mortem
pediatric and adult brain tissues with HIV-1 encephalitis by Laser Capture
Microdissection (LCM). Sections from frontal cortex and basal ganglia were
stained by immunohistochemistry for CD68 (microglia), GFAP (astrocytes), MAP2
(neurons), and p24 (HIV-1 positive cells) and different cell types were
microdissected by LCM. Individual cells or pools of same type of cells were
lysed, the cell lysates were subjected to PCR using HIV-1 gag SK38/SK39 primers,
and presence of HIV-1 DNA was confirmed by Southern blotting. HIV-1 gag DNA was
consistently detected by this procedure in the frontal cortex and basal ganglia
in 1 to 20 p24 HIV-1 capsid positive cells, and in pools of 50 to 100 microglia/macrophage
cells, 100 to 200 astrocytes, and 100 to 200 neurons in HIV-1 positive cases but
not in HIV-1 negative controls. These findings suggest that in addition to
microglia, the infection of astrocytes and neurons by HIV-1 may contribute to
the development of HIV-1 disease in the brain.
7927.
Vallat-Decouvelaere
AV, Chretien F, Gras G, Le Pavec G, Dormont D, Gray F.
Expression of excitatory amino acid transporter-1 in brain macrophages
and microglia of HIV-infected patients. A neuroprotective role for activated
microglia? J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2003 May;62(5):475-85.
Recent
experimental studies showed that activated macrophages/microglia (AMM) express
excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), suggesting that, in addition to
their neurotoxic properties, they also have a neuroprotective role by clearing
extracellular glutamate and producing antioxidant glutathione. To test this
hypothesis in human, the brain of 12 HIV-positive patients and 3 controls were
immunostained for EAAT-1. EAAT-1 was expressed by AMM in all HIV-infected cases
but not in HIV-negative controls. Expression varied according to the disease
stage. In 5 cases with active HIV-encephalitis (HIVE), AMM strongly expressed
EAAT-1 in the white matter and basal ganglia, analogous to HLA-DR and CD68
expression. There was weaker expression in the cortex and perineuronal
microglial cells were not involved. In a case with "burnt out" HIVE
following highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), EAAT-1 expression was
mild, identical to that of HLA-DR and CD68 in the white matter and cortex and
involved perineuronal microglial cells. In 3 AIDS patients without HIVE and in 3
pre-AIDS cases, EAAT-1 expression in the white matter was weaker than HLA-DR and
CD68 expression; there was stronger correlation in the gray matter where
perineuronal microglial cells were stained predominantly. Our findings in humans
tend to confirm that AMM, particularly perineuronal microglial cells, play a
neuroprotective role in the early stages of HIV infection and, possibly,
following treatment. This is in keeping with the early microglial activation
seen in pre-AIDS cases, and the late occurrence of neuronal loss. It may also
explain the reversible cognitive disorders following treatment in some cases.
Pathogenesis
7928.
Oku K, Atsumi T, Furukawa S, Horita T, Sakai Y, Jodo S, Amasaki Y,
Ichikawa K, Amengual O, Koike T. Cerebral
imaging by magnetic resonance imaging and single photon emission computed
tomography in systemic lupus erythematosus with central nervous system
involvement. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2003 Jun;42(6):773-7. Epub 2003 Mar 31.
7929.
Ortega-Aznar A, Romero-Vidal FJ, Castellvi J, Ferrer JM, Codina A. Adult-onset subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: clinico-pathological
findings in 2 new cases. Clin Neuropathol. 2003 May-Jun;22(3):110-8.
7930.
Pretorius PM, Quaghebeur G. The
role of MRI in the diagnosis of MS. Clin Radiol. 2003 Jun;58(6):434-48.
7931.
Soragna D, Tupler R, Ratti MT, Montalbetti L, Papi L, Sestini R.
An Italian family affected by Nasu-Hakola disease with a novel genetic
mutation in the TREM2 gene. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003 Jun;74(6):825-6.
No abstract
Vaccines:
7932.
Gangolli SS, Vasilakis N, Kovacs GR, Zamb TJ, Kowalski J. A method of alphavirus replicon particle titration based on
expression of functional replicase/transcriptase. J Virol Methods. 2003
May;109(2):133-8.
Alphavirus
replicon particles are being exploited for a variety of purposes both in vitro
as gene expression vectors, and in vivo as vaccines or gene therapy vectors.
There is a need for a simple and universal method of titration of replicon
particles that is independent of expression of the foreign protein. We devised a
method that uses modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) as an indicator virus, to
deliver a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) defective helper RNA
encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). Co-infection of cells with the MVA-based
indicator and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles (VRP)
results in expression of the GFP gene. VRP titer is readily determined by
counting fluorescent cells.
7933.
Nel LH, Niezgoda M, Hanlon CA, Morril PA, Yager PA, Rupprecht CE.
A comparison of DNA vaccines for the rabies-related virus, Mokola.
Vaccine. 2003 Jun 2;21(19-20):2598-606.
Mokola
virus, a rabies-related virus, has been reported to date from the African
continent only. Like rabies virus, it is highly pathogenic, causes acute
encephalitis, and zoonotic events have been documented. Although believed to be
rare, there has been an unexplained increase in the number of isolations of the
virus in South Africa in recent years. We have cloned and sequenced the
glycoprotein (G) and nucleoprotein (N) genes from a South African Mokola virus,
and used these in the construction of different DNA vaccines for immunization
against Mokola virus. Four vaccines, utilizing different promoters and DNA
backbone compositions, were generated and compared for efficacy in protection
against Mokola virus. In one of these, both the Mokola virus G and N genes were
co-expressed. Two of the single G-expressing DNA vaccines (based on pSG5 and pCI-neo,
respectively) protected laboratory mice against lethal challenge, despite major
differences in their promoters. However, neither vaccine was fully protective in
a single immunization only. Serological assays confirmed titers of
virus-neutralizing antibodies after immunization, which increased upon booster
vaccine administration. A third construct (based on pBudCE4) was less effective
in inducing a protective immune response, despite employing a strong CMV
enhancer/promoter also used in the pCI-neo plasmid. Dual expression of Mokola
virus G and N genes in pBudCE4 did not enhance its efficacy, under the
conditions described. In addition, no significant utility could be demonstrated
for a combined prime-boost approach, as no cross-protective immunity was
observed against rabies or Mokola viruses from the use of pSG5-mokG or vaccinia-rabies
glycoprotein recombinant virus vaccines, respectively, even though both vaccines
provided 60-100% protection against homologous virus challenge.
7934.
Theophilides CN, Ahearn SC, Grady S, Merlino M.
Identifying West Nile virus risk areas: the Dynamic Continuous-Area
Space-Time system. Am J Epidemiol. 2003 May 1;157(9):843-54.
The
Dynamic Continuous-Area Space-Time (DYCAST) system was developed to identify and
prospectively monitor high-risk areas for West Nile virus in New York, New York
(New York City). The system is based on a geographic model that uses a localized
Knox test to capture the nonrandom space-time interaction of dead birds, as an
indicator of an intense West Nile virus amplification cycle, within a 1.5-mile
(2.41-km) buffer area and 21-day moving window. The Knox analysis is implemented
as an interpolation function to create a surface of probabilities over a grid of
1,400 cells overlaying New York City. The model's parameters were calibrated
using year 2000 data and information on the vector-host transmission cycle. The
DYCAST system was implemented in a geographic information system and used
operationally in year 2001. It successfully identified areas of high risk for
human West Nile virus infection in areas where five of seven human cases
resided, at least 13 days prior to the onset of illness, and proved that it can
be used as an effective tool for targeting remediation and control efforts.
Therapy:
7935.
Barker CM, Reisen WK, Kramer VL. California
state Mosquito-Borne Virus Surveillance and Response Plan: a retrospective
evaluation using conditional simulations. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003
May;68(5):508-18.
The
California Mosquito-Borne Virus Surveillance and Response Plan recently was
developed to provide a semi-quantitative means for assessing risk for western
equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) or St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) viruses and to
provide intervention guidelines for mosquito control and public health agencies
during periods of heightened risk for human infection. West Nile virus recently
has arrived in California, and the response plan also will provide a baseline
for assessing the risk for human and equine infection with this virus. In the
response plan, overall risk is calculated by averaging risk due to
1)environmental conditions, 2) adult mosquito vector abundance, 3) vector
infection rates, 4) sentinel chicken seroconversion rates, 5) equine cases (for
WEE), 6) human cases, and 7) the proximity of virus activity to populated areas.
Overall risk is categorized into three levels: normal season, emergency
planning, or epidemic conditions. We evaluated this response plan using
historical data from years with no, enzootic, and epidemic activity of WEE and
SLE in several areas of California to determine whether calculated risk levels
approximated actual conditions. Multiple methods of risk calculation were
considered for both viruses. Assessed risk based on cumulative temperature,
rainfall, and runoff levels over the entire season provided more or equally
accurate
assessments than biweekly assessments based solely on the previous
half-month.
For WEE, during years with enzootic activity or early-season periods of years
with WEE epidemic activity, combining horse and human cases as a single risk
factor improved the model's ability to forecast pending WEE activity, but
separating the two factors allowed a better indication of WEE activity during
epidemics and periods with no activity. For SLE, assignment of higher risk to
drier conditions as measured by rainfall and runoff yielded the most accurate
representation of actual virus activity during all recent study periods.
7936.
Langford TD, Letendre SL, Larrea GJ, Masliah E.
Changing patterns in the neuropathogenesis of HIV during the HAART era.
Brain Pathol. 2003 Apr;13(2):195-210.
Rapid
progress in the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy has changed
the observed patterns in HIV encephalitis and AIDS-related CNS opportunistic
infections. Early in the AIDS epidemic, autopsy studies pointed to a high
prevalence of these conditions. With the advent of nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors, the prevalence at autopsy of opportunistic infections,
such as toxoplasmosis and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, declined
while that of HIV encephalitis increased. After the introduction of protease
inhibitors, a decline in both HIV encephalitis and CNS opportunistic infections
was observed. However, with the increasing resistance of HIV strains to
antiretrovirals, there has been a resurgence in the frequency of HIV
encephalitis and HIV leukoencephalopathy. HIV leukoencephalopathy in AIDS
patients failing highly active antiretroviral therapy is characterized by
massive infiltration of HIV infected monocytes/macrophages into the brain and
extensive white matter destruction. This condition may be attributable to
interactions of anti-retrovirals with cerebrovascular endothelium, astroglial
cells and white matter of the brain. These interactions may lead to cerebral
ischemia, increased blood-brain barrier permeability and demyelination.
Potential mechanisms of such interactions include alterations in host cell
signaling that may result in trophic factor dysregulation and mitochondrial
injury. We conclude that despite the initial success of combined anti-retroviral
therapy, more severe forms of HIV encephalitis appear to be emerging as the
epidemic matures. Factors that may contribute to this worsening include the
prolonged survival of HIV-infected patients, thereby prolonging the brain's
exposure to HIV virions and proteins, the use of increasingly toxic combinations
of poorly penetrating drugs in highly antiretroviral-experienced AIDS patients,
and selection of more virulent HIV strains with higher replication rates and
greater virulence in neural tissues.
7937.
Mitka M.
As West Nile virus season heats up, blood safety testing lags behind.
JAMA. 2003 May 14;289(18):2341-2. No
abstract.