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Semin Diagn Pathol 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

PRW Laboratories, Charlottesville, VA, United State.

A variety of cutaneous abnormalities can be seen in patients with malignant diseases, some of which are infectious, with others representing direct involvement of the skin by the underlying disorder. Yet another group of lesions can be regarded as associated markers of the malignant process, and, as such, are termed "paraneoplastic." This review considers the latter collection of conditions, grouping them by the generic type of malignancy that is usually linked to the paraneoplasia. Read More

Oncotarget 2019 Jan 1;10(1):17-29. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Background: Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the prostate (NEPCs) are rare tumors with poor prognosis. While platinum and etoposide-based chemotherapy regimens (PE) are commonly applied in first-line for advanced disease, evidence for second-line therapy and beyond is very limited.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients with NEPCs including mixed differentiation with adenocarcinoma component and well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs, carcinoids) at two high-volume oncological centers between 12/2000 and 11/2017. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1941:225-255

Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.

Immune-mediated inflammation of the brain has been recognized for more than 50 years, although the initial descriptions were mainly thought to be secondary to an underlying neoplasm. Some of these paraneoplastic encephalitides express serum antibodies, but these were not thought to be pathogenic but instead have a T-cell-mediated pathophysiology. Over the last two decades, several pathogenic antibodies against neuronal surface antigens have been described in autoimmune encephalitis, which are amenable to immunotherapy. Read More

Curr Opin Neurol 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron.

Purpose Of Review: The current review develops the clinical presentations of nonparaneoplastic autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (ACA) and analyzes the association with autoantibodies.

Recent Findings: Emerging evidence suggests that autoimmunity is involved in a significant proportion of sporadic ataxia cases. Moreover, numerous autoantibodies have recently been described in association with sporadic cerebellar ataxia, improving diagnosis and patient categorization. Read More

Head Neck Pathol 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Université de Montréal Montreal, Centre-ville station, PO Box 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.

Excluding human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven conditions, oral papillary lesions consist of a variety of reactive and neoplastic conditions and, on occasion, can herald internal malignancy or be part of a syndrome. The objectives of this paper are to review the clinical and histopathological features of the most commonly encountered non-HPV papillary conditions of the oral mucosa. These include normal anatomic structures (retrocuspid papillae, lingual tonsils), reactive lesions (hairy tongue, inflammatory papillary hyperplasia), neoplastic lesions (giant cell fibroma), lesions of unknown pathogenesis (verruciform xanthoma, spongiotic gingival hyperplasia) and others associated with syndromes (for instance Cowden syndrome) or representing paraneoplastic conditions (malignant acanthosis nigricans). Read More

Ecancermedicalscience 2018 20;12:882. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Haematology Department, Virgen del Puerto Hospital, Paraje de Valcorchero s/n, 10600 Plasencia, Spain.

Follicular lymphoma does not usually present with associated paraneoplastic syndromes. We describe the case of a patient diagnosed with follicular lymphoma when investigating anaemia of chronic disease/inflammation and who, during her clinical course, developed peliosis hepatis. We have been able to confirm the similarity between the symptoms, the tumour's biology, the anaemia and peliosis, with the behaviour of endothelial growth factor, interleukins and iron metabolism disorders, which were normalised with treatment. Read More

Turk J Urol 2018 Sep 12;45(1):70-72. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Department of Urology, Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey.

Paraneoplastic syndromes are functional clinical disorders caused by the direct effect of the primary tumor or metastasis. The initial presenting symptom of the patients may be associated with paraneoplastic manifestations. Paraneoplastic cholestasis is most frequently defined in association with renal cell carcinoma (Stauffer's syndrome), but it is an extremely rare clinical entity seen in association with prostate cancer. Read More

Nutr Cancer 2019 Jan 19:1-5. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

a Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET, INICSA , Córdoba , Argentina.

Ilex paraguariensis (IP) is widely consumed as tea with high nutritional value. This plant contains several bioactive phenolic compounds, which are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. On the other hand, lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) deleteriously involves neoplastic progression, inflammatory paraneoplastic syndromes, and death. Read More

N Engl J Med 2019 Jan;380(3):e3

University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(2):e14033

Rationale: We report this 1st case because perampanel may be effective against the seizures and abnormal behavior that occur in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis.

Patient Concerns: The patient was a healthy 26-year-old woman who suddenly developed seizures and exhibited abnormal behavior.

Diagnoses: NMDAR encephalitis was diagnosed based on positive NMDAR antibody on cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Read More

J Neurooncol 2019 Jan 3;141(2):431-439. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, 15 York Street, LLCI 9th floor, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.

Background: Given its rare incidence, there are few epidemiological case series on paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNS).

Methods: We present a 10-year series compiled in the Section of Neuro-Oncology, Yale Cancer Center between 2002 and 2012.

Results: Twenty-five cases met the PNS Euro-network criteria for definitive PNS. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2018 Dec 22. Epub 2018 Dec 22.

Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) refers to a central nervous system (CNS) antibody-mediated entity characterized by a rapid onset behavioural and cognitive decline that can be associated with movement disorders, epileptic and dysautonomic features. Interestingly, it is thought to be as common as its infectious disease counterpart and can share some clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings.

Objectives: The aim is to describe the main clinical features of AE caused by antibodies targeting cell-surface neuronal agents and the diagnostic means to identify them. Read More

N Engl J Med 2018 Dec;379(24):e41

University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy

Reumatismo 2018 Dec 20;70(4):199-211. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena.

Paraneoplastic syndromes (PS) are a heterogeneous group of diseases related to a neoplasm, indirectly dependent on it. Diagnosis and the treatment are often a challenge for clinicians, not least because the pathogenetic mechanisms are highly complex and not entirely known. Nonetheless, in most cases, PS precede the diagnosis of malignancies, thus their identification is particularly important in addressing physicians' diagnostic work-up with regard to early cancer diagnosis. Read More

Neth J Med 2018 Dec;76(10):431-436

Harbour Hospital and Institute for Tropical Diseases, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (currently working at Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Rotterdam).

Hypereosinophilia encompasses a broad differential diagnosis of atopy/allergic reactions, drug reactions, parasitic infections and paraneoplastic syndromes. Although mostly of limited clinical significance, hypereosinophilia can also be related to hematological malignancies. One has to be aware of the potential for secondary organ damage for example, in the case of hypereosinophilic syndrome. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Statistical Design and Biometrics, Medicxact SL, Alpedrete, Spain.

Objective: The reason cancer pain remains prevalent and hard to classify may be partially explained by the failure to identify neuropathic mechanisms. The objective of this research was to identify the syndromes of cancer pain that may be particularly hard to manage due to their mixed pathophysiology.

Design: A series of 384 patients who had cancer of any type, at any stage, and suffered from chronic pain (symptom onset > 3 months) were assessed during a routine return visit in Spain. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(50):e13651

Department of Anesthesiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Shinkawa, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, Japan.

Rationale: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is an immune-mediated syndrome caused by the production of antibodies against NMDA receptors. As NMDA receptors are important targets of many anesthetic drugs, the perioperative management of patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is challenging for anesthesiologists.

Patient Concerns: A 31-year-old woman presented with akinesia and aphasia, which worsened despite steroid therapy. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(50):e13625

Department of Emergency, Henan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan.

Rationale: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is an auto-immune and paraneoplastic encephalitis with prominent neuropsychiatric manifestations. The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor is located in the forebrain and hippocampus and plays a role in learning and memory.

Patient Concerns: A 29-year-old female patient with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, was reported and we also reviewed the literature and summarised the characteristics of the cases. Read More

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Oncology, Faculty Hospital Trencin, Legionarska 28, Trencin, Slovak Republic.

Aims: Hypotension can be a symptom of paraneoplastic autonomic neuropathy (PAN). Onconeural antibodies (OA) provide strong evidence for the paraneoplastic origin of neurological syndromes. Our goal was to assess the frequency of PAN among patients with advanced malignancies and hypotension using OA. Read More

Clin Immunol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Medicine A, Tel Hashomer, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Ramat Aviv, Israel; The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Tel-Hashomer, Israel; The Dr. Pinchas Borenstein Talpiot Medical Leadership Program 2013, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. Electronic address:

Background: Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are a group of syndromes that affect the central and peripheral neuromuscular system in association with cancer. Specific antibodies may assist in the diagnosis of PNS. The antibodies tested can be classified into those directed against intracellular neuronal proteins ("well characterized" PNS: Hu, Yo, RI, CV2, amphiphysin, Ma1, Ma2) and those directed against neural surface antigens (autoimmune encephalitis syndromes: NMDA, AMPA, LGI1, CASPR2, GABAR). Read More

Rev Gastroenterol Peru 2018 Jul-Sep;38(3):289-292

Armed Forces Hospital. Brasília-DF, Brazil.

This case study describes a 71-year-old man with signet-ring cell gastric adenocarcinoma and malignant sigmoidal polyp; and typical features of Saint's triad and Heyde syndrome. He had digestive bleeding, two types of hernia, diverticulosis, arterial hypertension, malignant polyp, and antecedent of smoking, lung tuberculosis, and surgical correction of aortic valve stenosis. There is a hypothetical inverse relationship between herniosis and development of malignancy; however, the patient herein described presented gastric and sigmoidal cancers. Read More

Med Ultrason 2018 Dec;20(4):541-542

2nd Medical Clinic, UMF Iuliu Hatieganu University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

We present the case of a 60-year-old male patient, with refractory ulcers in the groin. Ultrasoundand CT showed a large vascularized tumor of the kidney with cystic parts and inhomogeneous dynamic behaviour. Histology demonstrated Pyoderma gangrenosum (ulcer) and well differentiated adenocarcinoma (kidney). Read More

Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2018 Oct-Dec;21(4):311-314

Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Neurosciences/Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, India.

Paraneoplastic syndromes are a rare heterogeneous group of disorders that are indicators of the underlying occult malignancy. Subacute cerebellar ataxia in a patient with a known cancer is often due to metastatic invasion or other complications of the cancer, such as infection, coagulopathy, metabolic and nutritional deficits, or side effects of treatment. When tumor- and treatment-related causes have been excluded, the patient is considered to suffer from paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(48):e13223

IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo," Messina.

Rationale: Limbic encephalitis is a parenchymal inflammation caused by viral, bacterial, or other microbial and postinfectious agents, which is usually expressed by multifocal neurological signs and cognitive impairment.

Patient Concerns: A 50-year-old female was admitted in postacute phase, at our rehabilitative Center, to undertake neuro-motor treatment for a period of 4 months.

Diagnoses: The patient was affected by limbic encephalitis. Read More

J Neurol 2019 Feb 29;266(2):398-410. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

French Reference Center of Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Lyon, France.

Objective: To present clinical, radiological, and pathological features of a cohort of patients with motor neuron involvement in association with anti-Ma2 antibodies (Ma2-Ab).

Methods: Retrospective case-series of patients with definite paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) and Ma2-Ab, and cases identified from a review of the literature.

Results: Among 33 Ma2-Ab patients referred between 2002 and 2016, we retrospectively identified three patients (9. Read More

Case Rep Oncol Med 2018 18;2018:4038397. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Department of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA, USA.

We present a case of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) in which serum sodium gradually normalized with the onset of hypertension, refractory hypokalemia, and chloride-resistant metabolic alkalosis due to ectopic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) secretion (EAS). In this case report, we discuss the diagnostic challenges of dual paraneoplastic syndromes with SIADH and EAS, management of SCLC with paraneoplastic endocrinopathies, and their prognostic impact on SCLC. In addition, we discuss neuroendocrine differentiation and ectopic hormone production in relation to intratumoral heterogeneity in SCLC and propose tumor microenvironment and hormonal and metabolic dependence as important determinants of tumor growth and survival. Read More

Seizure 2019 Jan 22;64:1-5. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, H-7623, Rét u. 2., Pécs, Hungary; PTE-MTA Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, H-7623, Rét u. 2, Hungary. Electronic address:

Purpose: To comprehensively analyze ictal piloerection (IP) in a large number of subjects.

Methods: We performed a systematic review on case report studies of patients diagnosed with IP (1929-2017) with additional cases included from the Department of Neurology of University of Pécs, the National Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, and Odense University Hospital. Each included case was characterized regarding patient history, IP seizure characteristics, diagnostic work-up, and therapy. Read More

Rev Neurol 2018 Dec;67(11):441-452

Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina, 28040 Madrid, Espana.

Introduction: Genitourinary cancers constitute a heterogeneous and increasingly frequent group of malignant tumors that have the potential to derive directly, or indirectly from the treatment applied, in a series of neurological complications that negatively impact on the quality of life of the patients who suffer them.

Aims: To report the most relevant data on the main neurological complications of genitourinary cancers.

Development: We conducted a PubMed search for articles, latest books, leading clinical practice guidelines, and scientific societies, regarding the appearance of such complications. Read More

Praxis (Bern 1994) 2018 Nov;107(24):1309-1315

1 Innere Medizin/Endokrinologie und Diabetologie, Luzerner Kantonsspital.

CME: Paraneoplastic Endocrine Syndromes Abstract. Paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes are caused by ectopic hormone production by malignant tumor cells. Knowledge of paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes may allow a timely diagnosis of the underlying cancer at a treatable stage and, on the other hand, appropriate treatment of the endocrine manifestations reduces morbidity and mortality of the affected patients. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2018 Oct-Nov;97(10-11):E15-E18

Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

We report a case of a middle-aged woman with a diffuse, nonenhancing, progressively atrophic T2-hyperintense lesion involving the left frontotemporal lobes and insula found to be synchronous high-grade sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) after initial endonasal resection. In 2014, a 47-year old woman underwent resection of a left-sided high-grade ethmoidal neuroendocrine carcinoma after presentation with weight gain and increased levels of serum and urine cortisol. Concurrent with the initial presentation, she was noted to have a nonenhancing, hyperintense signal change on T2-weighted images on the left frontotemporal lobes and insula thought to be paraneoplastic. Read More

J Neurol 2019 Jan 20;266(1):195-206. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Neuro-Oncologie, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69677, Bron Cedex, France.

Objective: To report the clinical features and long-term outcome of 22 newly diagnosed paraneoplastic patients with GABA receptor antibodies (GABAR-Abs).

Methods: Retrospective clinical study of CSF-confirmed cases of GABAR-Abs encephalitis.

Results: We identified 22 patients (4 female) with GABAR-Abs, with a median age of 64 years (range 55-85). Read More

Melanoma Manag 2018 Dec 26;5(4):MMT10. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.

Due to the unique side-effect profile of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), groups of patients deemed to be at high risk of complications were excluded from trials that proved the efficacy and safety of these agents in patients with various malignancies. Among these excluded patients were those with prior solid organ transplantation, chronic viral infections and pre-existing autoimmune diseases including paraneoplastic syndromes. We present follow-up on a patient from a previously published case report with an orthotopic heart transplantation who was treated with both cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 and PD-1 inhibition safely, without organ rejection. Read More

BMC Pulm Med 2018 Nov 14;18(1):169. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, California, USA.

Background: Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is one of the deadliest forms of lung cancer due to its poor prognosis upon diagnosis, rapid doubling time, and affinity for metastasis. As 60-70% of patients with SCLC have disseminated disease upon presentation, it is imperative to determine the extent of disease burden for treatment. As a neuroendocrine carcinoma, clinicians must pay close attention to abnormal findings in a smoker that could lead to earlier diagnosis and better prognostication. Read More

Pathol Int 2018 Dec 14;68(12):677-684. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a rare but occasionally fatal limbic encephalitis that may be accompanied by ovarian teratoma. Since the neuroglial tissue within the teratoma may be involved in the pathogenesis of this encephalitis, we attempted morphological and immunohistochemical characterization of the neuroglial tissue in four cases of ovarian teratoma associated with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and 12 control cases, i.e. Read More

Curr Oncol Rep 2018 Nov 10;20(11):92. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Neurology Division, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The disorders of the central nervous system associated with cancer by remote immune-mediated mechanisms are a heterogeneous group. These disorders encompass the classic paraneoplastic disorders and the recently recognized autoimmune encephalitis associated with antibodies against neuronal cell surface or synaptic proteins that occur with or without cancer association. In the last decade, the new surge of interest in neuronal diseases associated with anti-neuronal antibodies led to the rapid discovery of new forms of disease that have different manifestations and were not previously suspected to be immune mediated. Read More

BMC Neurol 2018 Nov 10;18(1):189. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Department of Neurology, Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital, 2-1-1 Higashi-Tsukurimichi, Aomori, 030-8551, Japan.

Background: Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are rare disorders associated with cancer and are believed to be immune mediated. Patients with autonomic PNS suffer from variable combinations of parasympathetic and sympathetic failure. Autonomic PNS are usually associated with other PNS, such as encephalomyelitis and sensory neuropathy; however, autonomic symptoms may rarely manifest as PNS symptoms. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(45):e13188

Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.

Rationale: Spontaneous hemothorax is a subcategory of hemothorax which can be life threatening. The etiology of spontaneous hemothorax can be various, and in some rare cases the causes remained unknown. Hence, it is quite difficult to establish the diagnosis. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2019 Jan;44(1):e36-e39

From the Departments of Nuclear Medicine.

Primary lymph node gastrinoma has been defined as gastrin-producing tumor present in lymph nodes and predominantly found in well-defined anatomical region known as gastrinoma triangle. They are usually localized preoperatively with imaging, and their surgical resection results in long-term relief. The authors report a case of unresectable primary lymph nodal gastrinoma with liver metastases in a 14-year-old adolescent boy with proven histopathology detected on Ga-DOTANOC whole-body PET/CT scan followed by preoperative multiple Lu-DOTATATE cycles for cytoreduction. Read More

Lupus 2018 Dec 4;27(14):2292-2295. Epub 2018 Nov 4.

1 Department of Neurology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INNSZ), Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: Nontraumatic acute transverse myelitis (ATM) can occur in response to infectious, inflammatory and vascular triggers; 1% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop ATM, but the mechanism remains unknown.

Objective: The objective of this case report is to describe a case of intrathecal formation of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) during SLE-related ATM.

Methods: A single patient analysis was conducted. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2018 Nov 3;18(1):285. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Department of Ophthalmology, National Referral Center for rare Ocular Diseases, Hôpital Cochin, APHP, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.

Background: The early diagnosis of cancer is of crucial importance and a key prognostic factor. Cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) can be symptomatic prior to other manifestations directly related to malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to show that, in selected cases, ophthalmic findings are consistent enough with the diagnosis of CAR to trigger investigations aimed at detecting a previously unknown malignancy. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2018 Oct;45(10):1510-1512

Dept. of Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery, Fukushima Medical University.

A case complicated with colorectal and prostate cancers in paraneoplastic(subacute)cerebellar degeneration(PCD)is extremely rare. We report a retrospective case of rectal carcinoma with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. A 79-year-old man with Parkinson's disease was unable to walk because of paralysis. Read More

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018 Oct 29;113(11):e170538. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Instituto Evandro Chagas, Seção de Arbovirologia e Febres Hemorrágicas, Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.

This study showed that laboratory markers of recent infection by dengue, Zika or chikungunya arboviruses were detected in the biological samples of approximately one-third of patients with encephalitis, myelitis, encephalomyelitis or Guillain-Barré syndrome, in a surveillance programme in Piauí state, Brazil, between 2015-2016. Fever and myalgia had been associated with these cases. Since in non-tropical countries most infections or parainfectious diseases associated with the nervous system are attributed to herpesviruses, enteroviruses, and Campylobacter jejuni, the present findings indicate that in tropical countries, arboviruses may now play a more important role and reinforce the need for their surveillance and systematic investigation in the tropics. Read More

BMC Neurol 2018 Oct 30;18(1):179. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Neuroinfection and Neuroimmunology Center, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 6 TiantanXili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China.

Objective: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a severe complication in longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) patients. It may interfere with LETM treatment and delay the recovery of the spinal dysfunction. However, there is less data about the prevalence and risk factors of DVT in patients with LETM. Read More

J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2019 Feb 29;126(2):149-158. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a critical step in paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) development. Several cytokines have been implicated in BBB breakdown. However, the exact step-by-step mechanism in which PNS develops is unknown, and the relationship between a systemic neoplasm and BBB is multilevel. Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2018 Nov 27;58(11):677-681. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Neurology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital.

The case is a 75-year-old female. She had dysesthesia in the distal extremities and truncal ataxia, and they had progressed in two months. Neurological examination revealed the findings of segmental dysesthesia in the distal extremities, impaired deep sensations in the trunk and four limbs, and painful legs and moving toes (PLMT). Read More

Seizure 2018 11 10;62:124-126. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Protestant Hospital Alsterdorf, Epilepsy Center Hamburg, Elisabeth-Flügge-Str. 1, 22337 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Z Rheumatol 2018 Dec;77(10):907-922

Abt. für Rheumatologie, Immunologie und Rehabilitation, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Schweiz.

Eosinophilic granulocytes form peripheral effector cells controlled by Th2 lymphocytes, which cause local cell, tissue, and functional disorders of infiltrated organs via the release of cytotoxic basic proteins and oxygen radicals. Diseases associated with eosinophilia include systemic and organ-related forms. The lungs are involved in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome), acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, as well as in an organ manifestation in hypereosinophilic syndrome and certain parasitic diseases. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 10;9:841. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

This review provides an overview on different antibody test methods that can be applied in cases of suspected paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) and anti-neuronal autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) in order to explain their diagnostic value, describe potential pitfalls and limitations, and discuss novel approaches aimed at discovering further autoantibodies. Onconeuronal antibodies are well-established biomarkers for PNS and may serve as specific tumor markers. The recommended procedure to detect onconeuronal antibodies is a combination of indirect immunohistochemistry on fixed rodent cerebellum and confirmation of the specificity by line assays. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2018 Oct;20(5):451-456

Mater Advanced Epilepsy Unit, Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland.

We report a case of medically refractory anti-GAD encephalitis which was treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) after seizure termination was achieved using cortical stimulation during stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) evaluation. The patient underwent bilateral SEEG implantation and cortical stimulation. Upon stimulation, mimicking the intrinsic seizures (at 1 Hz), it was possible to induce seizures with typical semiology, on multiple attempts. Read More

Eur Neurol 2018 19;80(1-2):78-81. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is the key manifestation of autonomic dysfunction with many causes. Systemic neurological causes such as paraneoplastic syndrome are usually ignored.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and examination data of 2 patients who were hospitalized, with onset symptom of OH and who were diagnosed as paraneoplastic syndrome. Read More