Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Mar Drugs 2018 Dec 15;16(12). Epub 2018 Dec 15.

G.P. Somov Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, FEB RAS, Vladivostok 690087, Russia.

The aim of this study was to examine the in vitro antioxidant and antiviral activities of echinochrome A and echinochrome-based antioxidant composition against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The antioxidant composition, which is a mixture of echinochrome A, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol (5:5:1), showed higher antioxidant and antiviral effects than echinochrome A. We suppose that echinochrome A and its composition can both directly affect virus particles and indirectly enhance antioxidant defense mechanisms in the hosting cell. Read More

eNeurologicalSci 2018 Dec 4;13:63-69. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

Hospital Emergencias Pediatricas, Lima, Peru.

Multicenter collaborative networks are essential for advancing research and improving clinical care for a variety of conditions. Research networks are particularly important for central nervous system infections, which remain difficult to study due to their sporadic occurrence and requirement for collection and testing of cerebrospinal fluid. Establishment of long-term research networks in resource-limited areas also facilitates diagnostic capacity building, surveillance for emerging pathogens, and provision of appropriate treatment where needed. Read More

Intervirology 2018 Dec 12:1-11. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University, Saujana Putra Campus, Jenjarum,

Objective: Herpes simplex virus infection through the neuronal route is the most well-studied mode of viral encephalitis that can persists in a human host for a lifetime. However, the involvement of other possible infection mechanisms by the virus remains underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to determine the temporal effects and mechanisms by which the virus breaches the human brain micro-vascular endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2019 Jan;38(1):37-41

bioMérieux, Durham, NC.

Background: Large epidemiologic studies evaluating the etiologies, management decisions and outcomes of infants and children with meningitis and encephalitis in the United States are lacking.

Methods: Children 0-17 years of age with meningitis or encephalitis as assessed by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes available in the Premier Healthcare Database during 2011-2014 were analyzed.

Results: Six thousand six hundred sixty-five patients with meningitis or encephalitis were identified; 3030 (45. Read More

Presse Med 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Hôpital d'instruction des armées Sainte-Anne, service de neurochirurgie, BP600, 83800 Toulon Cedex 09, France.

Infection 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.

Purpose: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis continues to be the most common form of sporadic lethal encephalitis worldwide. The wide spectrum of clinical presentations and laboratory findings often poses a diagnostic challenge for physicians which might delay administration of life-saving therapy with acyclovir. Atypical presentations of HSV encephalitis have become increasingly prevalent with better diagnostic techniques and have not been well studied. Read More

J Pak Med Assoc 2018 Dec;68(12):1833-11835

Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Firat University, Elazig Turkey.

Isotretinoin can have significant adverse reactions on multiple systems. We report a unique case of pseudotumour cerebri and herpes encephalitis resulting due to isotretinoin. A 19-year-old female patient was admitted to our clinic, presenting with headache, nausea, vomiting and fever since three days. Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Neurology, NTT Medical Center Tokyo.

The case is a 64-year-old male who had a past history of herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) two years prior to his admission. He was admitted to our hospital due to severe pneumonia and sepsis. Several days later, he developed HSE again. Read More

J Clin Microbiol 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Instituto de Investigación INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain

Previous studies suggested that Herpes simplex virus (HSV) PCR testing can be safely deferred in patients with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell (WBC) counts and protein levels as long as they are older than two years of age and are not immunocompromised, the so-called Reller criteria. In this multicenter study, we retrospectively assessed the validity of this screening criteria in our setting. A total of 4,404 CSF specimens submitted to the respective microbiology laboratories at the participating hospitals between 2012 and 2018 for HSV PCR testing were included. Read More

Brain Behav 2018 Nov 25:e01177. Epub 2018 Nov 25.

Department of Neurology, Hassan II University Teaching Hospital, Fez, Morocco.

Objectives: Histologically defined as an inflammation-degeneration of limbic structures, limbic encephalitis (LE) is a rare disease and often difficult to diagnose particularly in institutions with limited access to laboratory tests such as antineuronal antibodies or HSV-PCR, and functional imaging. We aimed to describe the demographic, clinical, paraclinical, and etiological features of LE, as well as its medium-term prognosis in Moroccan patients.

Materials And Methods: We collected retrospectively all patients diagnosed with LE in the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital Hassan II of Fez (Morocco) between September 2008 and December 2016. Read More

Brain Res 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.

Cognitive and memory impairment are related to cholinergic dysfunction and are important complication of viral encephalitis, In view of paucity of studies on cholinergic dysfunction in encephalitis, this study has been undertaken. We report AChE and M2 receptor levels in HSE and Japanese encephalitis (JE) patients, and correlate these with cognitive functions and MRI findings. Patients with JE and HSE were evaluated for consciousness, neurological and MRI findings , plasma AChE and M2 receptor levels on admission and after one year Results: Twenty-nine patients with JE and 23 with HSE were included . Read More

J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Neurology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is often caused by infection with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), a neurotropic double-stranded DNA virus. HSE infection always impacts the temporal and frontal lobes or limbic system, leading to edema, hemorrhage, and necrotic changes in the brain parenchyma. Additionally, patients often exhibit severe complications following antiviral treatment, including dementia and epilepsy. Read More

Wiad Lek 2018 ;71(7):1289-1294

Sumy State University, Sumy, Ukraine.

Objective: Introduction: Herpesviruses (HVs) are ubiquitous pathogens that infect humans usually during childhood, followed by a life-long persistence in a latent state in many sites of a body including the nerve cells. After reactivation HVs can affect the Central Nervous System (CNS) becoming a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide as well as long-term neurological sequelae. Despite being an important public health problem very few population-based studies were conducted so far in the world and none in Ukraine. Read More

PLoS One 2018 16;13(11):e0207440. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Central nervous system (CNS) viral infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide but the systematic survey of patients admitted to hospitals with CNS infections in many countries, including Indonesia, is limited. To obtain more information regarding the causes of CNS infections in Indonesia, this study was performed to detect and identify viral agents associated with CNS infections amongst in-patients at a referral hospital in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Adult patients admitted to R. Read More

F1000Res 2018 31;7. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.

Infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 is ubiquitous in the human population. Most commonly, virus replication is limited to the epithelia and establishes latency in enervating sensory neurons, reactivating periodically to produce localized recurrent lesions. However, these viruses can also cause severe disease such as recurrent keratitis leading potentially to blindness, as well as encephalitis, and systemic disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Nov 9;8(1):16662. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.

Acyclovir (ACV) is an effective antiviral agent for treating lytic Herpes Simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1) infections, and it has dramatically reduced the mortality rate of herpes simplex encephalitis. However, HSV-1 resistance to ACV and its derivatives is being increasingly documented, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. The burgeoning drug resistance compels the search for a new generation of more efficacious anti-herpetic drugs. Read More

Front Aging Neurosci 2018 19;10:324. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Strong evidence has emerged recently for the concept that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) is a major risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This concept proposes that latent HSV1 in brain of carriers of the type 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE-ε4) is reactivated intermittently by events such as immunosuppression, peripheral infection, and inflammation, the consequent damage accumulating, and culminating eventually in the development of AD. Population data to investigate this epidemiologically, e. Read More

Neurologist 2018 Nov;23(6):204-208

Infectology, Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research (FLENI).

Objectives: Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) can produce encephalitis (HSE), which requires early detection, typically using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, other neurological conditions not directly caused by HSV may also present with a positive HSV PCR in the CSF (NCNHPCR+). We aimed to analyze the clinical features of both groups of patients (HSE vs. Read More

Neurol Clin 2018 Nov;36(4):725-738

Department of Neurology, Felsenstein Medical Research Institut, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva 49100, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.

The 3 neurotropic human herpes viruses, herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are capable of establishment of latent viral infection in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. HSV-1, and more rarely HSV-2, carries the potential to cause meningoencephalitis, with devastating clinical consequences. Immediate diagnosis, based on clinical presentation, MRI imaging, and molecular diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction, and initiation of therapy are mandatory to reduce mortality and neurologic permanent sequelae. Read More

Neurol Clin 2018 Nov 20;36(4):705-724. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Division of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Diseases, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.

Viruses are a frequent cause of encephalitis. Common or important viruses causing encephalitis include herpesviruses, arboviruses, enteroviruses, parechoviruses, mumps, measles, rabies, Ebola, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and henipaviruses. Other viruses may cause an encephalopathy. Read More

BMC Neurol 2018 Oct 23;18(1):176. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.

Background: Herpes simplex encephalitis is the most common type of sporadic encephalitis worldwide. Frank intracerebral hemorrhage complicating the disease course in herpes simplex encephalitis patients is rare, especially cases where surgical decompression is necessary. Here, we report a previously healthy female with herpes simplex encephalitis who underwent surgical decompression due to temporal lobe hemorrhage. Read More

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2018 8;14:2593-2598. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Department of Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA,

This case discusses the course of a woman with a history of epilepsy, alcohol use disorder, herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis, and Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) who presented with altered mental status following approximately 48 hours of vomiting. After experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure in the emergency department, she developed a fluent aphasia. Aphasias are ordinarily attributed to structural changes in the brain parenchyma, often from stroke, neoplasm, or infection. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2018 Dec 9;175:47-49. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Departmenf of Neurology, Hospital de Galdakao-Usansolo, 48960 Galdacano, Vizcaya, Spain. Electronic address:

Cell Mol Life Sci 2018 Oct 16. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1855 W. Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous pathogen that infects a large majority of the human population worldwide. It is also a leading cause of infection-related blindness in the developed world. HSV-1 infection of the cornea begins with viral entry into resident cells via a multistep process that involves interaction of viral glycoproteins and host cell surface receptors. Read More

Med J Aust 2018 Nov 15;209(10):449-454. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Western Diagnostic Pathology, Perth, WA

Meningitis and encephalitis are medical emergencies. Patients need prompt evaluation and immediate empiric therapy to reduce the likelihood of fatal outcomes and chronic neurological sequelae. Conjugate bacterial vaccines have significantly reduced the incidence of bacterial meningitis, especially in children. Read More

Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2018 Oct;79(10):556-559

Consultant Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, Preston.

This article explains the approach to managing a patient with herpes simplex virus encephalitis. Acute encephalopathy is a common and often intimidating presentation in an acute general medical setting. Application of key principles will enable the generalist to take life-saving action before obtaining any specialist input. Read More

Case Rep Neurol 2018 May-Aug;10(2):217-222. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.

An 88-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of altered mental status and seizures. His electrographic and imaging findings were suggestive of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), for which he was empirically treated with acyclovir. He underwent two lumbar punctures 3 days apart; both cerebrospinal fluid analyses tested negative for herpes simplex virus (HSV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2018 Oct;24(5, Neuroinfectious Disease):1349-1369

Purpose Of Review: This article reviews the spectrum of neurologic disease associated with human herpesvirus infections.

Recent Findings: As more patients are becoming therapeutically immunosuppressed, human herpesvirus infections are increasingly common. Historically, infections with human herpesviruses were described as temporal lobe encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2. Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2018 Sep 26:956462418797873. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

1 Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Israel.

A previously healthy 35-year-old man suffering from behavioral and mental deterioration for three months was referred to our facility. On admission, the patient was dysphasic and had tonic-clonic seizures. Neurological examination showed mental confusion, euphoric mood, mania, paranoia, and mild motor dysphasia. Read More

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2018 Sep 11;26:68-70. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region, Department of Neurosciences, DNS, University Hospital of Padua, Padua Italy. Electronic address:

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is approved as first line therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In some (3%) patients, DMF induces a marked lymphopenia. Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) may occur in lymphopenic subjects under treatment with immune-suppressive drugs. Read More

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2018 Nov 13;39(11):E120. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Department of Neurology Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany.

Nat Immunol 2018 Oct 10;19(10):1071-1082. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

TLR3 is a sensor of double-stranded RNA that is indispensable for defense against infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in the brain. We found here that TLR3 was required for innate immune responses to HSV-1 in neurons and astrocytes. During infection with HSV-1, TLR3 recruited the metabolic checkpoint kinase complex mTORC2, which led to the induction of chemokines and trafficking of TLR3 to the cell periphery. Read More

Biomedica 2018 06 15;38(2):216-223. Epub 2018 Jun 15.

Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México.

Introduction: Viral encephalitis is a well-known inflammatory process associated with neurological dysfunction that might derive into severe brain damage or a fatal outcome. In México there is no epidemiological data that describes the prevalence of viral agents responsible for acute encephalitis. Objective: To identify the main viral agents by real time PCR involved in acute encephalitis in Mexico. Read More

J Clin Virol 2018 Oct 18;107:29-37. Epub 2018 Aug 18.

LeBonheur Children's Hospital, 848 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN, 38103, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 50 North Dunlap, Room 461R, Memphis, TN, 38103, United States; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, G01 Molecular Science Bldg, Memphis, TN, 38163, United States; Children's Foundation Research Institute, 50 North Dunlap, Room 401, Memphis, TN, 38105, United States. Electronic address:

Background: Herpes Simplex Virus encephalitis (HSVE) is a devastating disease of all ages. Rigorous studies correlating viral load with neuroradiological and clinical severity have not been performed, particularly in neonates. Understanding these relationships may improve therapies. Read More

Mamm Genome 2018 08 23;29(7-8):425-445. Epub 2018 Aug 23.

Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

A majority of the world population is infected with herpes simplex viruses (HSV; human herpesvirus types 1 and 2). These viruses, perhaps best known for their manifestation in the genital or oral mucosa, can also cause herpes simplex encephalitis, a severe and often fatal disease of the central nervous system. Antiviral therapies for HSV are only partially effective since the virus can establish latent infections in neurons, and severe pathological sequelae in the brain are common. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 09 28;115(37):E8775-E8782. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065;

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis (HSE) is the most common sporadic viral encephalitis in Western countries. Some HSE children carry inborn errors of the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-dependent IFN-α/β- and -λ-inducing pathway. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical neurons with TLR3 pathway mutations are highly susceptible to HSV-1, due to impairment of cell-intrinsic TLR3-IFN immunity. Read More

J Neurovirol 2018 Dec 9;24(6):761-768. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Research Center in Infectious Diseases of the CHU of Quebec and Laval University, 2705 Boul. Laurier, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada.

The impact of a deficiency in interferon regulatory factor (IRF)3 and IRF7 was evaluated in an herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) model. Compared to wild type (WT), the mortality rates of infected IRF3 and IRF7 mice were higher and associated with increased brain viral titers. At a critical time post-infection, IRF7 mice exhibited a deficit in IFN-β production. Read More

J Neurovirol 2018 Dec 9;24(6):702-711. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 420, S-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a common cause of viral encephalitis (HSV-1) characterised by pronounced inflammation and elevated intracranial pressure. We have shown in a rat model that HSV-1 infection causes an interaction between complement factors and proteasomes, leading to formation of proteasome/complement complexes (compleasomes). Exposure of the proteasome regulatory subunit antisecretory factor 1 (AF1) leads to a decrease in intracranial pressure. Read More

N Engl J Med 2018 Aug;379(6):557-566

From the Departments of Neurology, Medicine, and Immunology-Microbiology and the Section on Neuroinfectious Disease, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora.

Results Probl Cell Differ 2018 ;65:439-475

Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.

There remains today a critical need for new antiviral agents, particularly in view of the alarming increase in drug resistance and associated issues. The marine environment has been a prolific contributor towards the identification of novel therapeutic agents in the recent few decades. Added to this, glycans (or carbohydrate- or sugar-based compounds) have in very recent decades made outstanding contributions to the development of novel therapeutics. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2018 17;5:176. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

In an interesting investigation by Khoury-Hanold et al. (1), genital infection of mice with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) were reported to cause multiple pelvic organ involvement and obstruction. A small subset of mice succumbed after the first week of HSV1 infection. Read More

Case Rep Med 2018 10;2018:3764930. Epub 2018 Jun 10.

Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.

We present a case of herpes simplex virus-1 encephalitis (HSVE) and discuss the difficulty of early diagnosis and the possibility of a wrong or delayed diagnosis and treatment of this encephalitis. We show the importance of considering HSVE to pursue every case of suspicious medical liability. Read More

Lancet Neurol 2018 Sep 23;17(9):760-772. Epub 2018 Jul 23.

Neuroimmunology Program, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Service of Neurology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Herpes simplex encephalitis can trigger autoimmune encephalitis that leads to neurological worsening. We aimed to assess the frequency, symptoms, risk factors, and outcomes of this complication.

Methods: We did a prospective observational study and retrospective analysis. Read More

Lancet Neurol 2018 Sep 23;17(9):733-735. Epub 2018 Jul 23.

Weill Institute for Neurosciences, MS and Neuroinflammation Clinic, University of California, 94158, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Pract Neurol 2018 Oct 24;18(5):359-368. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.

'The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page'.Augustine of Hippo - Latin philosopher and theologian.Neurological presentations are seen in about 1. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2018 Jul 13;19:825-828. Epub 2018 Jul 13.

Department of Radiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Cheras, Malaysia.

BACKGROUND Dermal fillers are increasingly used for medical and aesthetic purposes in clinical practice. Common complications following filler injections include bruising, itching, infections, allergic reactions, and tissue necrosis. This case is the first report of Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis as a possible complication of dermal filler injection. Read More

J Neurovirol 2018 Oct 9;24(5):649-651. Epub 2018 Jul 9.

Department of Neurology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.

The cardiovascular system is regulated by a central autonomic network (CAN) consisting of the insular cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus, and amygdala. Because the insular cortex often tends to be damaged in patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis, the autonomic instability observed in these patients was suggested to be moderated by an insular cortex lesion. Here, we report the case of a 51-year-old Japanese male who was hospitalized following a collapse 5 days earlier; he was diagnosed as herpes encephalitis. Read More

Viruses 2018 07 6;10(7). Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Department of Natural Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého třída 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes numerous mild-to-serious human diseases, including mucocutaneous herpes infections and life-threatening herpes encephalitis. Moreover, herpes viral lesions can be complicated by inflammation and secondary bacterial infections. The development of resistance to antiviral drugs along with the undesirable side effects of these drugs are relevant argue for the development of new anti-HSV drugs with diverse mechanisms of action. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2018 Jun 16;5(6):ofy114. Epub 2018 May 16.

Zhejiang-California International Nanosystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Background: Metagenomic sequencing has shown tremendous promise in solving difficult infectious diseases cases. In this study, we utilized this technology to help guide the care of a critically ill patient with severe pneumonia, fever of unknown origin, and subsequent encephalitis in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on the patient's blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and cerebral spinal fluid by using an Illumina MiniSeq sequencer. Read More

Epilepsy Behav Case Rep 2018 13;10:29-31. Epub 2018 Mar 13.

Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Herein, we describe a case report of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis characterized by a single generalized tonic-clonic seizure and predominantly psychiatric symptoms, persisting long after EEG abnormalities had resolved. We discuss common presentations of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and advocate for the inclusion of this disease entity in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with one generalized tonic-clonic seizure and prominent psychiatric symptoms. Read More