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Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira de... 2023The increase in inflammatory markers associated with persistent chronic fibrosing myocarditis, a characteristic of chronic Chagas disease, can result in a reduction in...
The increase in inflammatory markers associated with persistent chronic fibrosing myocarditis, a characteristic of chronic Chagas disease, can result in a reduction in inspiratory muscle strength (IMS) in Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC). However, literature in this field is still scarce. This review aimed to map and summarize the evidence regarding IMS in patients with CC. The inclusion criteria included reports with adult participants with a CC diagnosis, with or without heart failure (HF). The core concept examined was the maximum inspiratory pressure evaluated in the untrained and trained groups in the pre-training period. The context was open, including but not limited to hospitals and health centers. Two authors independently identified eligible studies and extracted the data. Descriptive synthesis was used as the primary strategy for analyzing the results. Nine studies (five clinical trials, three cross-sectional, and one cohort) were included. The CC classification differed among the studies, with no mention of HF in five and no CC staging specification in six. IMS was assessed using a manovacuometer, and only six studies analyzed and interpreted the data concerning the predicted values. The CC population with HF appeared to have impaired IMS. All studies involved only Brazilian volunteers. In conclusion, randomized clinical trials evaluating IMS and the effects of inspiratory muscle training need to be conducted to better understand the prevalence and risk of inspiratory muscle weakness in the CC population, as well as the effects of training. Such studies should be conducted at different stages of CC in different populations and countries.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Chagas Cardiomyopathy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Muscle Strength; Chronic Disease; Brazil; Respiratory Muscles
PubMed: 38088665
DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0389-2023 -
Le Infezioni in Medicina 2023Listeriosis is a known cause of community acquired bacterial meningitis/meningoencephalitis. It occurs more frequently in neonates, older people and immunocompromised...
BACKGROUND
Listeriosis is a known cause of community acquired bacterial meningitis/meningoencephalitis. It occurs more frequently in neonates, older people and immunocompromised hosts. Rarely, brain abscesses can complicate the course of infection, which poses a difficulty in the management and elevates morbidity and mortality. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that often requires immunosuppressive treatment, which increases the risk for invasive infections.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 75-year-old myasthenic patient, treated with prednisone and pyridostigmine, was diagnosed with invasive listeriosis. He presented with muscle weakness, dyspnea, hemiparesis and altered mental status. Brain imaging revealed multiple abscesses and blood cultures were positive for . Despite combination antibiotic therapy, he died 6 weeks after admission.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Ninety-six cases of brain abscesses from 1968 to 2023 were reviewed; the majority of the patients were men, 54 years-old on average, and had at least one risk factor for invasive listeriosis. The mortality exceeded 22%. Blood cultures and CSF/abscess cultures were positive in only 79.2% and 54.6%, respectively. The most common therapeutic approach was a combination regimen that included amoxicillin or ampicillin. Only 8 patients underwent surgery, of which one died.
CONCLUSION
This case highlights the importance of as a cause of brain abscesses in populations at risk, including myasthenic patients. The challenge of diagnosing and treating this condition is aggravated by the paucity of literature and the high mortality rate.
PubMed: 38075415
DOI: 10.53854/liim-3104-16 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare rheumatologic disorder that may affect the neurological system with various presentations. In this study, we present a case and...
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare rheumatologic disorder that may affect the neurological system with various presentations. In this study, we present a case and summarize the clinical characteristics of RP-associated meningoencephalitis.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 48-year-old man presented with first-ever seizures that were well controlled by valproate. Physical examination results were unremarkable, except for binaural deformation. The initial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without contrast and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings were normal. However, the patient subsequently developed recurrent fever, scleritis, headache, lethargy, and left arm paresis. Repeated brain MRI with contrast demonstrated increased enhancement of the pia mater and abnormal diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signals in the bilateral auricles. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed 2 leukocytes/μL, 736.5 mg/L of protein, and no evidence of infectious disease or autoimmune encephalitis. Meningoencephalitis secondary to RP was considered. The patient's condition improved significantly and quickly with the administration of dexamethasone (10 mg per day). Oral methylprednisolone was continued, and the patient remained well without relapse during the 9-month follow-up period.
CONCLUSION
RP-associated meningoencephalitis is rare but fatal. Although symptoms vary, red or deformed ears remain the most common and suggestive features. Non-specific parenchymal changes and/or meningeal enhancement can be observed on brain MRI scans. CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis with mild protein elevation was observed in most patients.
PubMed: 38033767
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1265345 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023To investigate the effects of vestibular rehabilitation training (VRT) combined with anti-vertigo drugs on vertigo and balance function in patients with vestibular... (Review)
Review
Effects of vestibular rehabilitation training combined with anti-vertigo drugs on vertigo and balance function in patients with vestibular neuronitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of vestibular rehabilitation training (VRT) combined with anti-vertigo drugs on vertigo and balance function in patients with vestibular neuronitis (VN).
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wan Fang Data, VIP, and CBM were searched until July 13, 2023.
PARTICIPANTS
Patients with vestibular neuronitis participated in the study.
RESULTS
Twenty one studies including 1,415 patients were included in this review for meta-analysis. According to the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) quality assessment, four studies received high quality (≥seven scores) and 17 studies received moderate quality (six scores). The meta-analysis showed that VRT combined with anti-vertigo drugs significantly reduced the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) score, the Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living Scale (VADL) score and the Canal Paresis (CP) score, and improved the overall efficiency and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, promoting vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) returned to normal in VN compared to simple anti-vertigo drugs or VRT alone.
CONCLUSION
The results of this meta-analysis demonstrate the efficacy and safety of VRT combined with anti-vertigo drugs in patients with VN. Combined therapy can alleviate vestibular dysfunction such as vertigo and vomiting in patients, improve daily activity ability and balance ability, in addition to VRT has fewer adverse reactions, so it is extremely safe. However, there are shortcomings such as lack of long-term follow-up and different frequency and duration of treatment. Therefore, future randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with larger sample sizes and longer-term observations are needed to verify the effectiveness of VRT in combination with anti-vertigo drugs for VN.: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.
PubMed: 38020604
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1278307 -
PloS One 2023Persistent symptoms are reported in patients who survive the initial stage of COVID-19, often referred to as "long COVID" or "post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Persistent symptoms are reported in patients who survive the initial stage of COVID-19, often referred to as "long COVID" or "post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection" (PASC); however, evidence on their incidence is still lacking, and symptoms relevant to pain are yet to be assessed.
METHODS
A literature search was performed using the electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and CHINAL and preprint servers MedRχiv and BioRχiv through January 15, 2021. The primary outcome was pain-related symptoms such as headache or myalgia. Secondary outcomes were symptoms relevant to pain (depression or muscle weakness) and symptoms frequently reported (anosmia and dyspnea). Incidence rates of symptoms were pooled using inverse variance methods with a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. The source of heterogeneity was explored using meta-regression, with follow-up period, age and sex as covariates.
RESULTS
In total, 38 studies including 19,460 patients were eligible. Eight pain-related symptoms and 26 other symptoms were identified. The highest pooled incidence among pain-related symptoms was chest pain (17%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 11%-24%), followed by headache (16%, 95% CI, 9%-27%), arthralgia (13%, 95% CI, 7%-24%), neuralgia (12%, 95% CI, 3%-38%) and abdominal pain (11%, 95% CI, 7%-16%). The highest pooled incidence among other symptoms was fatigue (44%, 95% CI, 32%-57%), followed by insomnia (27%, 95% CI, 10%-55%), dyspnea (26%, 95% CI, 17%-38%), weakness (25%, 95% CI, 8%-56%) and anosmia (19%, 95% CI, 13%-27%). Substantial heterogeneity was identified (I2, 50-100%). Meta-regression analyses partially accounted for the source of heterogeneity, and yet, 53% of the symptoms remained unexplained.
CONCLUSIONS
The current meta-analysis may provide a complete picture of incidence in PASC. It remains unclear, however, whether post-COVID symptoms progress or regress over time or to what extent PASC are associated with age or sex.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Incidence; Anosmia; SARS-CoV-2; Headache; Dyspnea
PubMed: 38019841
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250909 -
Journal of Intensive Care Medicine Jun 2024Femoral cannulated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been associated with neurologic complications in the lower extremity ipsilateral to the cannulation.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Femoral cannulated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been associated with neurologic complications in the lower extremity ipsilateral to the cannulation. There is uncertainty about the prevalence of these complications and their mechanisms of development.
OBJECTIVE
Aim of this systematic review was to investigate the prevalence of neurological complications after ECMO and to describe possible underlying mechanisms.
METHOD
A systematic literature search was performed in Medline-Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PEDro until April 2021 for clinical trials in English or German language which quantified neurologic complications in the lower extremity ipsilateral to the ECMO cannulation of adults. The complications had to be delimitable to intensive care unit-acquired weakness. Methodological quality was assessed by 2 independent investigators using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
RESULTS
Eight observational studies were included in the synthesis. Study quality was good to fair in 88% of the papers. Overall, 47 of 202 patients (23.3%; ranging from 3% to 48% across studies) with femoral ECMO cannulation showed neurologic complications of the lower extremity ipsilateral to the cannulation. Peripheral ischemia and compression of nerves by the ECMO cannula are discussed as mechanisms of injury.
CONCLUSION
The occurrence of neurological complications after ECMO was common and can lead to long-term impairment. The mechanisms are largely unknown but currently there is no sufficient evidence for the involvement of ECMO. Standardized assessments are needed to systematically screen for neurological complications early after ECMO, to enable countermeasures and prevent further complications.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Lower Extremity; Nervous System Diseases; Observational Studies as Topic; Prevalence
PubMed: 38018080
DOI: 10.1177/08850666231217679 -
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis &... Feb 2024Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease associated with upper and lower motor neuron degeneration and necrosis, characterized by... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease associated with upper and lower motor neuron degeneration and necrosis, characterized by progressive muscle weakness, atrophy, and paralysis. The mutation-associated ALS has been classified as ALS6. We reported a case of ALS6 with de novo mutation and investigated retrospectively the characteristics of cases with mutation.
METHODS
We reported a male patient with a new heterozygous variant of the gene and comprehensively reviewed 173 ALS cases with mutation. The literature was reviewed from the PubMed MEDLINE electronic database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) using "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and mutation" or " mutation" as key words from 1 January 2009 to 1 January 2022.
RESULTS
We report a case of ALS6 with a new mutation point (c.1225-1227delGGA) and comprehensively review 173 ALS cases with mutation. Though ALS6 is all with mutation, it is still a highly heterogenous subtype. The average onset age of ALS6 is 35.2 ± 1.3 years, which is much lower than the average onset age of ALS (60 years old). Juvenile FUS mutations have an aggressive progression of disease, with an average time from onset to death or tracheostomy of 18.2 ± 0.5 months. gene has the characteristics of early onset, faster progress, and shorter survival, especially in deletion mutation p.G504Wfs *12 and missense mutation of p.P525L.
CONCLUSIONS
ALS6 is a highly heterogenous subtype. Our study could allow clinicians to better understand the non-ALS typical symptoms, phenotypes, and pathophysiology of ALS6.
Topics: Humans; Male; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Mutation; Mutation, Missense; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Retrospective Studies; RNA-Binding Protein FUS
PubMed: 37926865
DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2272170 -
Nutrients Oct 2023Vitamin D deficiency, prevalent worldwide, is linked to muscle weakness, sarcopenia, and falls. Muscle regeneration is a vital process that allows for skeletal muscle... (Review)
Review
Vitamin D deficiency, prevalent worldwide, is linked to muscle weakness, sarcopenia, and falls. Muscle regeneration is a vital process that allows for skeletal muscle tissue maintenance and repair after injury. PubMed and Web of Science were used to search for studies published prior to May 2023. We assessed eligible studies that discussed the relationship between vitamin D, muscle regeneration in this review. Overall, the literature reports strong associations between vitamin D and skeletal myocyte size, and muscle regeneration. In vitro studies in skeletal muscle cells derived from mice and humans showed vitamin D played a role in regulating myoblast growth, size, and gene expression. Animal studies, primarily in mice, demonstrate vitamin D's positive effects on skeletal muscle function, such as improved grip strength and endurance. These studies encompass vitamin D diet research, genetically modified models, and disease-related mouse models. Relatively few studies looked at muscle function after injury, but these also support a role for vitamin D in muscle recovery. The human studies have also reported that vitamin D deficiency decreases muscle grip strength and gait speed, especially in the elderly population. Finally, human studies reported the benefits of vitamin D supplementation and achieving optimal serum vitamin D levels in muscle recovery after eccentric exercise and surgery. However, there were no benefits in rotator cuff injury studies, suggesting that repair mechanisms for muscle/ligament tears may be less reliant on vitamin D. In summary, vitamin D plays a crucial role in skeletal muscle function, structural integrity, and regeneration, potentially offering therapeutic benefits to patients with musculoskeletal diseases and in post-operative recovery.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Animals; Mice; Vitamin D; Muscle, Skeletal; Vitamins; Vitamin D Deficiency; Muscular Diseases; Models, Animal; Regeneration
PubMed: 37892452
DOI: 10.3390/nu15204377 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023Conservative therapy for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is an option for patients who express no, or only mild symptoms, thereby preventing surgery in some. Because it...
BACKGROUND
Conservative therapy for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is an option for patients who express no, or only mild symptoms, thereby preventing surgery in some. Because it is not clear for whom conservative therapy is successful, we aimed to estimate the success rate of conservative therapy and to identify which factors might influence success.
METHODS
We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify all available publications reporting outcome of conservative therapy for cSDH patients. Studies containing >10 patients were included. The primary outcome was the success rate of conservative therapy, defined as "no crossover to surgery" during follow-up. In addition, factors possibly associated with success of conservative therapy were explored. Bias assessment was performed with the Newcastle Ottowa Scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. We calculated pooled incidence and mean estimates, along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using OpenMeta[Analyst] software.
RESULTS
The search yielded 1,570 articles, of which 11 were included in this study, describing 1,019 conservatively treated patients. The pooled success rate of conservative therapy was 66% (95% CI: 50-82%). One study ( = 98) reported smaller hematoma volume to be associated with success, whilst another study ( = 53) reported low hematoma density and absence of paresis at diagnosis to be associated with success.
CONCLUSION
Conservative therapy is reported to be successful in the majority of cSDH patients who have either no, or only mild symptoms. Hematoma volume, low hematoma density and absence of paresis could be factors associated with success. However, further research is warranted in order to establish factors consistently associated with a successful conservative therapy.
OTHER
No funding was acquired for this study. The study was not registered nor was a study protocol prepared.
PubMed: 37780712
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1249332 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023This study aims to assess the association between sodium-glucose cotransporter type-2 inhibitor (SGLT-2i) treatment and muscle atrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AIM
This study aims to assess the association between sodium-glucose cotransporter type-2 inhibitor (SGLT-2i) treatment and muscle atrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
METHODS
We searched six databases from 1 January 2012 to 1 May 2023, without language restrictions. The primary outcome was muscle. Secondary outcomes were weight loss, weakness, malaise, or fatigue. Subgroup analyses were performed according to different definitions of muscle, treatment duration, and measurement methods. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane tool. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool.
RESULTS
Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,482 participants were included. Compared with the control group, a meta-analysis showed that T2DM participants in the group treated with SGLT-2i demonstrated statistically significant reductions in lean body mass of 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI), -1.05 to -0.27; = 0.0009) and skeletal muscle mass of 0.35 (95% CI, -0.66 to -0.04; = 0.03). No deaths or serious adverse events were reported. The quality of evidence in the included trials was low.
CONCLUSIONS
SGLT-2i may lead to a reduction in muscle strength in the treatment of T2DM compared to the control group. However, there is still a lack of high-quality evidence to evaluate muscle atrophy caused by SGLT-2i.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-12-0061/, identifier 2022120061.
Topics: Humans; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Hypoglycemic Agents; Muscular Atrophy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors
PubMed: 37780608
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1220516