Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

PLoS One 2019 20;14(2):e0211404. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Centre for Medical Decision Making, Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) pose specific challenges in rare and heterogeneous neurological diseases due to the small numbers of patients and heterogeneity in disease course. Two analytical approaches have been proposed to optimally handle these issues in RCTs: covariate adjustment and ordinal analysis. We investigated the potential gain in efficiency of these approaches in rare and heterogeneous neurological diseases, using Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as an example. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 Feb 19;19(1):28. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Neurology, Harrison International Peace Hospital, 2 Renmin Zhong Road, Taocheng District, Hengshui, 050000, Hebei, China.

Background: Periodic alternating ping-pong gaze (PPG) is a rare disease with few reports. To our knowledge, there was no report on anti GQ1b antibody syndrome accompanied by PPG. This paper reported a case of anti GQ1b antibody syndrome with Bickerstaff's Encephalitis (BBE) overlapping classic Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) after aortic valve replacement, accompanied by an excessive PPG in the course of diagnosis and treatment, this was indeed rarely. Read More

Viruses 2019 Feb 16;11(2). Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infections have caused a wide spectrum of neurological diseases, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, myelitis, meningoencephalitis, and congenital microcephaly. No effective therapies currently exist for treating patients infected with ZIKV. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small RNAs involved in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular and physiological processes. Read More

J Virol Methods 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Institute for Experimental Immunology, Euroimmun AG, Seekamp 31, D-23560, Lübeck, Germany.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus posing a public health threat due to its association with neurological complications in newborns and adults. In flavivirus-endemic areas, coming mosquito seasons will require the differentiation of primary versus secondary and acute versus past ZIKV/flavivirus infections. This is complicated by two major difficulties: [i] secondary infections often present with low or undetectable titres of specific IgM and early-positive IgG, [ii] previous flavivirus infection(s) or vaccinations cause elevated cross-reactivities. Read More

Clin J Gastroenterol 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757, Aasahimachi-Dori, Chuo-Ku, Niigata, Niigata, 9518510, Japan.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease involving the intestine, and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is rapid-onset muscle weakness caused by the immune system damaging the peripheral nervous system. UC and GBS can be caused by immune system abnormalities and can co-exist. To date, there are 7 reported cases of GBS in patients with UC. Read More

Orphanet J Rare Dis 2019 Feb 18;14(1):49. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Background: The burden of rare diseases on society and patients' families has increased in Korea. However, because of the infrequency of rare diseases, there is a lack of resources and information to address these cases and inadequate funding for the management of these patients. We investigated the average annual cumulative incidence of rare diseases and the trends in annual cumulative incidence from 2011 to 2015 in Korea by using nationwide administrative data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database for patients registered with the co-payment assistance policy for rare and incurable diseases. Read More

J Neuroimmunol 2019 Feb 10;330:23-27. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster 48149, Germany; Institute of Experimental Immunology, Department of Neuroinflammation, University of Zurich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Patients with acute and chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies exhibit elevated serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of terminal complement activation products and therapeutic inhibition of complement activation is currently tested for its safety and efficacy in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Here, we determined serum levels of the complement activation products C3a, C5a and the soluble terminal complement complex (sTCC) in 39 individuals with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) who participated in one of the largest ever conducted clinical trial in patients with CIDP (ICE trial) and received Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) or placebo (albumin) in 3 week intervals for up to 24 weeks. In placebo-treated patients with spontaneous disease remission, serum sTCC levels moderately decreased over time. Read More

Antiviral Res 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Microbiology and Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address:

The recent emergence of Zika virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, in the Americas has shed light on the severe neurological diseases associated with infection, notably congenital microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Despite the recent focus on Zika virus, there are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral therapies available to treat or prevent infection. In this study we established a competitive amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (ALPHAscreen) to identify small molecule inhibitors targeting the envelope protein of Zika virus (Zika E). Read More

Viruses 2019 Feb 14;11(2). Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) was first isolated in Africa in 1947. It was shown to be a mild virus that had limited threat to humans. However, the resurgence of the ZIKV in the most recent Brazil outbreak surprised us because it causes severe human congenital and neurologic disorders including microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Read More

Curr Infect Dis Rep 2019 Feb 15;21(1). Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

ZIKV-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome presents with an accelerated clinical course compared to classic post-infectious Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clinicians should anticipate and screen patients with ZIKV infection for neurologic complications bearing in mind that these may manifest during the acute viremic phase or during early convalescence. Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Institute of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.

Zika virus infections in immunocompetent adults typically are asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms, but have also been associated with neurological complications including Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Zika virusassociated non-neurological fatalities in adults are rare. Herein, we describe a decedent with multiple commodities who developed an acute febrile illness with rash days prior to death. Read More

Neurol Sci 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and University Hospital, Via Olgettina 48, 20132, Milan, Italy.

Background And Objective: In previous studies, data deriving from Google Trends showed promising correlation with disease incidence trends assessed with public health control systems. The aim of this work is to use search engine query data to investigate seasonal dynamics in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in the USA.

Methods: Average Google monthly search volumes for GBS from 2008 to 2017 were analysed for the USA overall and on regional base with generalized estimating equation models. Read More

FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Dept. Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cádiz, Cádiz (Spain).

Zika virus (Zikv) infection implies a significant public health issue due to the different syndromes associated. It is related to several central nervous system problems, such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. In this way, the first document about the relation of Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Zika indexed in Web of Science was published in 2014. Read More

Neurotherapeutics 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Center of Neurology, Tübingen University Hospital, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.

Differentiation of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and acute-onset chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuritis (CIDP) might be intricate in early stages. We compared electrodiagnostics (EDx) and nerve ultrasound (NUS) as tools for early distinction and follow-up. NUS and EDx have been performed at first visitation and after 6 months. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Division of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.

Concerns about vaccine safety can lead to decreased acceptance of vaccines and resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. We summarize the key evidence on some of the main current vaccine safety controversies in the United States, including: 1) MMR vaccine and autism; 2) thimerosal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative, and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders; 3) vaccine-induced Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS); 4) vaccine-induced autoimmune diseases; 5) safety of HPV vaccine; 6) aluminum adjuvant-induced autoimmune diseases and other disorders; and 7) too many vaccines given early in life predisposing children to health and developmental problems. A possible small increased risk of GBS following influenza vaccination has been identified, but the magnitude of the increase is less than the risk of GBS following influenza infection. Read More

Acta Neurol Belg 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.

Anti-GQ1b antibodies can be detected in the serum of patients with Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) and its incomplete forms such as acute ophthalmoparesis (AO), acute ptosis, acute mydriasis, acute oropharyngeal palsy and acute ataxic neuropathy (AAN), as well as in pharyngeal-cervical-brachial weakness, Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE) and in overlap syndromes with Guillain-Barré syndrome (MFS-GBS, BBE-GBS). We searched the laboratory medicine database at University Hospitals Leuven between 2002 and 2017 for serum samples with anti-GQ1b IgG antibodies. We identified eight patients with anti-GQ1b antibodies: 4 MFS, 2 AO, 1 MFS-GBS and 1 AAN. Read More

Semin Neurol 2019 Feb 11;39(1):115-124. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Neuromuscular emergencies may be defined as disorders or exacerbation of diseases of the peripheral nervous system that are rapidly progressive and potentially life-threatening. Such disorders can affect any level of the peripheral nervous system, from the muscle to the anterior horn cell. While their clinical manifestations may vary, severe morbidity and mortality is most frequently the result of neuromuscular respiratory failure. Read More

J Vis Exp 2019 Jan 18(143). Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laborator, Boston University School of Medicine;

The recent emergence of the flavivirus Zika and neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly in infants, has brought serious public safety concerns. Among the risk factors, antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) poses the most significant threat, as the recent re-emergence of the Zika virus (ZIKV) is primarily in areas where the population has been exposed and is in a state of pre-immunity to other closely related flaviviruses, especially dengue virus (DENV). Here, we describe a protocol for quantifying the effect of human serum antibodies against DENV on ZIKV infection in primary human cells or cell lines. Read More

Neurol Res 2019 Feb 7:1-6. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

d Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry , Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University , Ankara , Turkey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate dynamic thiol-disulphide homeostasis as a novel oxidative stress parameter in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

Methods: A total of 130 participants were included in this study, 70 of whom were diagnosed with GBS. Total thiol (-SH+-S-S-) and native thiol (-SH) levels in serum were measured in all patients and healthy individuals. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Feb 4;13(2):e0007071. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Arthropod-Borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.

The emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the New World has led to more than 200,000 human infections. Perinatal infection can cause severe neurological complications, including fetal and neonatal microcephaly, and in adults there is an association with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). ZIKV is transmitted to humans by Aedes sp. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 31;9(1):1077. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

The Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Program, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute fatal progressive disease caused by autoimmune mechanism mainly affecting peripheral nervous system. Although the syndrome is clinically sub-classified into several variants, specific biomarker and exact pathomechanism of each subtypes are not well elucidated yet. In current study, integrative metabolomic and lipidomic profiles were acquisitioned from cerebrospinal fluid samples of 86 GBS from three variants and 20 disease controls. Read More

Nat Rev Urol 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Laboratory of Clinical Cytology and Semen Analysis, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging mosquito-transmitted flavivirus associated with congenital abnormalities in newborns and with Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. The virus can also be sexually transmitted and can persist in the male genital tract. Studies evaluating the kinetics of ZIKV in seminal shedding of men who have been infected, as well as in animal and cellular models of infection, have shown that, in addition to the testis and epididymis, the prostate and seminal vesicles could also be involved in persistent ZIKV infection. Read More

J Child Neurol 2019 Jan 29:883073819826225. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

4 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hacettepe University İhsan Doğramacı Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Objective:: Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange are proven treatments for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Despite these treatments, the prognosis for severe Guillain-Barré syndrome is still not satisfactory. This article seeks for a logical timing for plasma exchange-intravenous immunoglobulin synergy, which may improve outcome in severe Guillain-Barré syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation. Read More

Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2019 Jan-Mar;22(1):123-124

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been a mainstay of treatment for advanced prostate cancer (PCa), but limited studies have been performed to investigate the association between ADT and autoimmune diseases.

Methods: We conducted a population-based nationwide cohort study of 17,168 patients newly diagnosed with PCa between 1996 and 2013 using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. Cox proportional hazards models with 1:1 propensity score-matched analysis were used to investigate the association between ADT use and the risk of autoimmune diseases. Read More

J Bacteriol 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.

and are the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. Ganglioside mimicry by lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is the triggering factor of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an acute polyneuropathy. Sialyltransferases from the glycosyltransferase (GT) family 42 are essential for the expression of ganglioside mimics in Recently, two novel GT-42 genes, and , have been identified in Despite being present in ∼11% of currently available genomes, the biological role of and is unknown. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 01 25;13(1):e0007060. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Viral Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America.

Zika virus (ZIKV) recently caused a pandemic complicated by Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and birth defects. ZIKV is structurally similar to the dengue viruses (DENV) and in vitro studies suggest antibody dependent enhancement occurs in ZIKV infections preceded by DENV; however, the clinical significance of this remains unclear. We undertook a PRISMA-adherent systematic review of all current human and non-human primate (NHP) data to determine if prior infection with DENV, compared to DENV-naïve hosts, is associated with a greater risk of ZIKV clinical complications or greater ZIKV peak viremia in vivo. Read More

J Child Neurol 2019 Jan 23:883073818825213. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

2 Institute of Child Neurology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis in children. During the acute phase, the disorder can be life-threatening by involving the respiratory muscles and the autonomic nervous system. Nevertheless, the prognosis is good, and most children achieve full recovery. Read More

Case Rep Surg 2018 20;2018:8413206. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.

Surgeries carry a risk of complications. Polyneuropathies, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), are potential complications of bariatric surgery. The incidence of these conditions is expected to increase as these surgeries become increasingly popular. Read More

Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Paediatric Neurosciences, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, UK; Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) was increasingly detected in recent years, coinciding with upsurges of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections. We reviewed the evidence for a causal relationship between both. Based on reported cases, we provide case definitions for AFM caused by EV-D68 infections to enable a standard procedure for affected patients. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 4;9:1139. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Department of Neurology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.

Thrombin and its protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) are potentially important in peripheral nerve inflammatory diseases. We studied the role of thrombin and PAR1 in rat experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), a model of the human Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). EAN was induced by bovine peripheral myelin with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Read More

J Ayurveda Integr Med 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Kayachikita, Shri BMK Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, A Constitunet Unit of KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, India.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a severe acute paralytic neuropathy with rapid progression usually occurring post infections. Inspite of the active medications it is associated with severe weakness, incomplete recovery and pain. Long disease course can cause autonomic dysfunction or deterioration in general health and life threatening complications like respiratory failures. Read More

Therapie 2019 Jan 1. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Département de pharmacologie-toxicologie, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie de Rabat, université Mohammed V, 10100 Rabat, Maroc.

Indian J Pediatr 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Pediatrics, KAHER's University's J N Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.

Brain Res Bull 2019 Feb 15;145:2-17. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Neuroscience, USUHS, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA. Electronic address:

Viral infections are a major cause of human central nervous system infection, and may be associated with significant mortality, and long-term sequelae. In Africa, the lack of effective therapies, limited diagnostic and human resource facilities are especially in dire need. Most viruses that affect the central nervous system are opportunistic or accidental pathogens. Read More

Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2019 Jan 27;6(1):129-143. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Immunology Erasmus MC University Medical Center Dr. Molewaterplein 40 3015 GD Rotterdam The Netherlands.

Objective: The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, immune-mediated disease of peripheral nerves. Plasmablasts and plasma cells play a central role in GBS by producing neurotoxic antibodies. The standard treatment for GBS is high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg), however the working mechanism is unknown and the response to treatment is highly variable. Read More

Antiviral Res 2019 Mar 14;163:29-33. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Antiviral Research, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano Turin, Italy. Electronic address:

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging infectious viral pathogen associated with severe fetal cerebral anomalies and the paralytic Guillain-Barrè syndrome in adults. It was the cause of a recent global health crisis following its entrance into a naïve population in the Americas. Nowadays, no vaccine or specific antiviral against ZIKV is available. Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2019 Jan 16:1-4. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

b Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York , NY , United States.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019 Jan 14;116(5):1591-1596. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907;

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a major human pathogen and member of the genus in the Flaviviridae family. In contrast to most other insect-transmitted flaviviruses, ZIKV also can be transmitted sexually and from mother to fetus in humans. During recent outbreaks, ZIKV infections have been linked to microcephaly, congenital disease, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Jan 14;12(1). Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

A 45-year-old man with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus presented with progressive weakness and areflexia. Electromyogram revealed reduced motor and sensory amplitudes without demyelinating features. He was clinically diagnosed with the acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Read More

J Neuroimmunol 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute, Busan, South Korea. Electronic address:

Anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome encompasses Miller Fisher syndrome and its related disorders. We retrospectively identified 11 pediatric patients (5.4-18 years old) with anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome. Read More

Neuromuscul Disord 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Neurology Division of Critical Care Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Life-threatening neuromuscular disorders affect a small, but growing group of patients in the intensive care unit who present special management problems, as well as great therapeutic opportunities. In inflammatory conditions, a cure is often possible, and for chronic, genetic or degenerative conditions, achieving the previous level of function is the target. Neuromuscular experts and intensivists need to cooperate closely to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read More

Neuromuscul Disord 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3471 Fifth Ave #810, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. Electronic address:

Cancer immunotherapy has transformed the field of oncology and enabled more effective management of previously refractory neoplasms by activation of the immune response. Upregulation of the immune response may also trigger autoimmune adverse events, including neuromuscular complications. We performed a systematic review of autoimmune neuromuscular complications following immune checkpoint blockade. Read More

Indian J Pediatr 2019 Jan 12. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

Pediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.

Objectives: To compare the clinical profile and short-term outcome of children with axonal and demyelinating subtypes of childhood Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS).

Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. Consecutive children with Guillain Barré syndrome were recruited to compare the clinical profile and short term outcome among the subtypes. Read More

F1000Res 2018 15;7:196. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in the Americas has caused international concern due to neurological sequelae linked to the infection, such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The World Health Organization stated that there is "sufficient evidence to conclude that Zika virus is a cause of congenital abnormalities and is a trigger of GBS". This conclusion was based on a systematic review of the evidence published until 30. Read More

PeerJ 2018 18;6:e6136. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Roy J. Carver Department of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.

In addition to encoding RNA primary structures, genomes also encode RNA secondary and tertiary structures that play roles in gene regulation and, in the case of RNA viruses, genome replication. Methods for the identification of functional RNA structures in genomes typically rely on scanning analysis windows, where multiple partially-overlapping windows are used to predict RNA structures and folding metrics to deduce regions likely to form functional structure. Separate structural models are produced for each window, where the step size can greatly affect the returned model. Read More

Viruses 2019 Jan 6;11(1). Epub 2019 Jan 6.

Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, DK 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.

The worldwide attention that the Zika virus (ZIKV) attracted, following its declaration as a Public Health Emergency of International concern by WHO in 2016, has led to a large collective effort by the international scientific community to understand its biology. Despite the mild symptoms caused by ZIKV in most infected people, the virus displays a number of worrying features, such as its ability to cause transplacental infection, fetal abnormalities and vector independent transmission through body fluids. In addition, the virus has been associated with the induction of Guillain-Barre syndrome in a number of infected individuals. Read More

Neurol Sci 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Biomedical and Specialty-Surgical Sciences, Section of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124, Cona, Ferrara, Italy.

Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute/subacute autoimmune inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy. Previous epidemiological studies carried out in the province of Ferrara, Italy, from 1981 to 2002 indicated that GBS incidence had tendency of increase in the period considered.

Objectives: We aimed at updating the epidemiology of GBS in the years 2003-2017 and carrying on the work started in the 1980s. Read More

Clin Genitourin Cancer 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019 Jan 4;67(5152):1415-1418. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

During September 29-October 6, 2017, the County of San Diego Public Health Services (COSD) was notified of two patients with suspected wound botulism and a history of using black tar heroin. On October 9, COSD, which had reported an average of one wound botulism case per year during 2001-2016, sent a health alert through the California Health Alert Network, notifying Southern California providers of these two patients, including their signs and symptoms and black tar heroin exposure. In collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, COSD conducted an investigation to identify additional cases, determine risk factors for illness, estimate cost of medical care, and develop recommendations to prevent further illness. Read More