Effects of vaccination on COVID-19 infection symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients

Parisa Sharifi, Nasim Rezaeimanesh, Amir Moradi, Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi

• Article 100511
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100511
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• Abstract

  Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at higher risk of having infections due to receiving disease modifying therapies. The current study was conducted among Iranian MS patients who had experienced at least one episode of COVID-19 infection in order to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on symptoms of their infection. Data on demographic information, MS characteristics, COVID-19 infection details, and vaccination status were collected. Statistical analyses, were performed to evaluate the association between vaccination and symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

  This cross-sectional study was conducted on confirmed MS patients. Demographic data and COVID-19 related symptoms were gathered via an online questionnaire. Confirmation of patients' who declared to be vaccinated was checked by their COVID-19 vaccination card.

Is endocrine surveillance important in the care of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? Results from a national survey to patients and families on endocrine complications

Despoina Galetaki, Vivian Szymczuk, Melody Shi, Nadia Merchant

• Article 100513
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100513
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• Abstract

  Glucocorticoids are standard of care for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Although prolonged exposure is associated with multiple endocrine side effects, current guidelines related to monitoring and management of endocrinopathies are suboptimal.

  We aim to explore community perceptions of endocrine related complications in patients with DMD, assess current level of understanding, and desire for further education.

Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage in a referral health Centre in Central Africa

Daniel Gams Massi, Mikael Doufiene Pazeu, Mathieu Motah, Annick Melanie Magnerou, ... Njankouo Yacouba Mapoure

• Article 100518
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100518
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• Abstract

  Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (sSAH) is a medicosurgical emergency with high morbidity and mortality. The aimed of this study was to describe the clinical features and outcome of sSAH in Cameroon.

  We reviewed medical records of patients aged ≥15 years old, admitted for sSAH from Januray 2011 to December 2020 in the Douala General Hospital. The diagnosis of sSAH was confirmed by neuroimaging (CT scan or MRI). Clinical and radiological severities were assessed by the WFNS score and the modified Fisher score respectively. Factors associated to in-hospital mortality was identified using cross-table (RR and 95%CI).

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with Huntington's disease and care-givers: A French survey

Sara Meoni, Elena Moro

• Article 100517
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100517
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• Abstract

  Although the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with several neurological diseases has been largely investigated, little is available concerning people with Huntington's disease (HD).

  The main objective of the study was to interview people with HD and their caregivers in the Auvergne-Rhone Alpes region, France.

  The interview consisted of 16 items concerning general and medical information, and the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on the medical care of people with HD and on their caregivers. The questionnaire was made available as online survey from October 1st, 2020 until November 15th, 2020.

  Fifty-two subjects participated (13 men, 39 women, mean age of 47.3 ± 15.5 years). Almost half participants (48%) experienced a worsening of pre-existing symptoms, with new-onset symptoms in the 44% of cases. The most frequent worsening was reported in gait and balance issues (67%), fatigue (58%), anxiety (50%), and depression (50%). The 70.8% of participants reported an inappropriate overall care of HD due to long delays to access medical care (30%) and other health care teams (60%). More than half of the participants (54.2%) reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on their caregiver/family.

  Our findings emphasize the negative impact of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare of HD population and their caregivers. Not only some symptoms were aggravated, but new symptoms appeared during the pandemic. In the future, health policies should be considered to improve the care of patients with rare diseases such as HD.

Acute Motor Conduction Block Neuropathy After Initiation of Omalizumab: Case Report and Literature Review for Possible Causality

Hosna S. Elshony, Abdulaziz Al-Ghamdi

• Article 100512
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100512
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• Abstract

  Omalizumab is an established therapy for allergic conditions, yet its neurological effects remain underexplored compared to other biological agents.

  A 45-year-old male with asthma developed acute quadriparesis one week after receiving the first dose of omalizumab. Electrophysiological studies have shown partial motor conduction block in multiple nerves, with reduced CMAP amplitudes and absent F-waves in others. CSF showed cyto-albuminous dissociation. The diagnosis was a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Despite intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy, the patient experienced persistent neuropathic symptoms.

Successful use of intra venous tenecteplase for acute ischemic stroke in pregnancy

Balamurugan Namasivayam, Chitra Sengodan, Lavanya Mohanasundaram, Sathya Chinna Gounder, Madunisha Sivakumar

• Article 100510
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100510
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• Abstract

  Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with tenecteplase or alteplase is the standard of care in, patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) presenting within 3–4.5 h. However here, are no established guidelines for such treatment during pregnancy. We report a case, of AIS in third trimester of pregnancy successfully treated with Tenecteplase. To the, best of our knowledge, this is the first and only case of acute ischemic stroke in, pregnancy treated with Tenecteplase.

Diagnostic uncertainty of steroid-modified Marburg's variant of multiple sclerosis even at autopsy: A case suggesting lymphoma and related myelin loss

Akira Hanazono, Keita Yasuda, Hinako Shimada, Yoshiko Takahashi, ... Masashiro Sugawara

• Article 100515
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100515
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• Abstract

  MS (multiple sclerosis) has specific criteria to avoid misdiagnosis. However, the Marburg variant of MS is so fulminant that initial axonal damage and other atypical observations have been allowed in past reports. We present a 74-year-old autopsy case with a vanishing tumor after steroids and radiation therapy, which was pathologically diagnosed as a Marburg variant with initial axonal loss.

  The case displayed radiological lymphoma-like observations: mass effects protruding to the lateral ventricle, fused extension from the choroid plexus to white matter with C opening sign, a growing lesion from the skull dura mater, high in diffusion-weighted imaging and low in apparent diffusion coefficient on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggesting high cell density lymphoma. In addition, clinical manifestations were atypical for MS: upper limb monoplegia without ipsilateral lower limb involvement, pleocytosis over 50 cells/μL, and class 3 cytological abnormality in cerebrospinal fluid. However, at autopsy following steroids and radiation therapy, there were no lymphoma-like lesions, such as mass effects, fused extensive lesions, masses on the skull dura mater, or high cell density lesions. Instead, there were only myelin losses corresponding to the MRI lesions, highlighting the potential for contamination by other diseases in steroid-modified Marburg's variant of multiple sclerosis, possibly due to lymphoma, even at autopsy.

Candida dubliniensis meningitis in an immunocompetent patient: A case report and review of the literature

Denis Babici, Ali A. Mohamed, Olivia Mattner, Jessica Canosa, ... Pooja Patel

• Article 100519
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100519
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• Abstract

  We present the fifth case of candida dubliniensis meningitis in a young immunocompetent host and suggest extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a potential risk factor for colonization.

  A 22-year-old immunocompetent female presented with a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Two years prior, she received ECMO for Covid-19 pneumonia complicated by viral myocarditis & Takutsobo cardiomyopathy. Following discharge, she reported headaches of increasing intensity, all refractory to treatments. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was inconclusive. Two weeks prior to her presentation, she was admitted for worsening headaches with cranial nerve VI palsy. Lumbar puncture (LP) revealed white blood cell count (WBC) of 166 cells/μL with neutrophilic predominance and her symptoms progressed, despite 5 days of treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics. All cultures returned negative.

Sertraline treatment for paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia comorbid with anxiety and depression

Munetsugu Hara, Toyojiro Matsuishi, Satoru Takahashi, Yushiro Yamashita

• Article 100520
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100520
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• Abstract

  Familial paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia, which is a major form of paroxysmal dyskinesias, is characterized by intermittent attacks that include one side, subsequently spreading to the other side, involving the limbs and face, and is triggered by caffeine, alcohol, emotional stress, fatigue, and sleep deprivation, but not by sudden movement. A 26-year-old man had experienced dystonic movements and a choreiform right arm spreading to his arms, legs, and face since the age of one year. Oral dyskinesias and, rarely, dysarthria were also observed. Attacks lasting approximately five minutes occurred several times per day. Over three generations, his family members inherited a c.26C > T (p. Ala9Val) missense mutation in exon 1 of PNKD/MR-1 in an autosomal dominant manner and reported similar symptoms with clinical manifestations ranging from mild to severe. His scores on the Self-Rating Depression Scale, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Profile of Mood States were high. This suggests that the patient also had comorbidities of anxiety and depression. The patient's attacks decreased from two times per week to once every two months, and his State–Trait Anxiety Inventory score decreased by 5–10 points on treatment with clonazepam and sertraline, allowing his condition to become stable enough that he was able to participate in society. Drug therapy with clonazepam and sertraline is the preferred treatment for reducing attacks in PNKD patients with strong anxiety and depression.

Epileptic seizures revealing tuberous sclerosis in a tropical environment: A study of 12 case series

Souleymane M'Bara Diallo, Mamadou Diallo, I.S. Barry, M.L. Touré, ... A. Cissé

• Article 100516
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensci.2024.100516
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• Abstract

  Epilepsy remains a significant public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where diverse etiological factors contribute to its prevalence. Among these factors are conditions originating from the neuroectoderm, such as tuberous sclerosis. Insufficient medical attention and a lack of comprehensive multidisciplinary care contribute to its under-recognition.

  We conducted a retrospective descriptive study, involving 12 patients admitted to the neurology and pediatric departments of the University Hospital Ignace Deen between 2010 and 2022 due to recurring epileptic seizures. Subsequently, these patients were diagnosed with Tuberous sclerosis using the Schwartz 2007 criteria. The aim of this study is to reassess this condition from a clinical and paraclinical point of view in a tropical environment.