ABSTRACT
A 14-year-old girl diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus encephalitis with generalized status epilepticus and cardiac arrest. The pathogenic role of Epstein-Barr Virus was identified by a polymerase chain reaction analysis of the patient's cerebrospinal fluid. Cranial computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no abnormalities. After being admitted to the intensive care unit, the patient exhibited progressive improvement until complete recovery from the disease. Despite the severity of the disease, the patient did not experience long-term sequelae
Subject(s)
Encephalitis , Epstein-Barr Virus Infections , Status EpilepticusABSTRACT
Traumatic injury/hemorrhagic shock (T/HS) elicits an acute inflammatory response that may result in death. Inflammation describes a coordinated series of molecular; cellular; tissue; organ; and systemic responses that drive the pathology of various diseases including T/HS and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Inflammation is a finely tuned; dynamic; highly-regulated process that is not inherently detrimental; but rather required for immune surveillance; optimal post-injury tissue repair; and regeneration. The inflammatory response is driven by cytokines and chemokines and is partially propagated by damaged tissue-derived products (Damage-associated Molecular Patterns; DAMP's). DAMPs perpetuate inflammation through the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines; but may also inhibit anti-inflammatory cytokines. Various animal models of T/HS in mice; rats; pigs; dogs; and non-human primates have been utilized in an attempt to move from bench to bedside. Novel approaches; including those from the field of systems biology; may yield therapeutic breakthroughs in T/HS and TBI in the near future. Key words: Trauma; Hemorrhagic Shock; Taumatic Brain Injury; Inflammation; Systems Biology