ABSTRACT
Animal therapy and ownership have been studied as a nonpharmacologic treatment option for cardiovascular and psychological disorders. Animal companionship is less studied in neurological disorders such as stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, and acute brain injury. This review examines the effects that emotional support dogs, dog therapy, or dog ownership has on these specific neurological disorders. It may serve as a nonpharmaceutical option to improve patient symptoms, quality of life, or the disease course itself. Articles were gathered which studied the effect of animal-assisted therapy, pet therapy, dog ownership, and physical activity on neurological disorders. Studies relating to the topic were then assessed for the impact on neurological disorders which ranged from cognition, mobility, quality of life, mood, and improvement of disease course. Dog therapy and ownership were found to improve mood, quality of life, and disease symptoms across multiple neurological disorders. It also encouraged physical activity which was shown to help many diseases studied, even ones associated with skeletal muscle apoptosis, such as Huntington's disease. Dog therapy and ownership are a safe and effective nonpharmaceutical approach to treating chronic and progressive neurological disorders.
ABSTRACT
Sudden-onset anomic aphasia is a unique symptom that is suggestive of an acute etiology. This case presents a sudden-onset focal neurological deficit with an underlying brain tumor. A 68-year-old female awoke with sudden-onset anomic aphasia, with mild hypertension as her only medical history. After an initial stroke workup was unremarkable, magnetic resonance imaging found a focal lesion on the left temporal lobe. An electroencephalogram showed lateralized periodic discharge and a focal area of increased epileptic potential in the left temporal lobe. Brain biopsy revealed World Health Organization grade IV glioblastoma, followed by resection. This case is an important reminder that chronic etiologies may present with acute symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Background. Coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly around the world and has been declared a pandemic by World Health Organization. Neurological manifestations are being reported in patients with COVID-19 but clinical guidelines and effective treatments remain unclear. Objective: In this brief review, the authors examine the latest available evidence to date regarding the neurological implications of COVID-19 and how the novel coronavirus might possibly impact patients with pre-existing neurological conditions. COVID-19-specific recommendations from the American Academy of Neurology and and other neurologic disease-specific organizations are summarized. Results: Current retrospective case series and cohort studies from Wuhan, China, are indicating that almost one-third of the patients with COVID-19 have shown neurological manifestations; older age and comorbid conditions are associated worsened outcomes. Abnormal laboratory findings are being reported in acute cases of patients with COVID-19. Summary: Understanding the spectrum of neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on patients with underlying neurological conditions might help to improve outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Background: In spite of the fact that the standard test for nitrate reductase activity is negative for Mycobacterium avium, it can grow in a defined minimal medium with either nitrate (NO3) or nitrite (NO2) as sole nitrogen sources. Methods: NO3-and NO2-reductase activities were measured in soluble and membrane fractions of aerobically grown cells of M. avium and those grown aerobically and shifted to anaerobiosis. Results: NO3- and NO2-reductase activities were only detected in the membrane fractions and the two enzyme activities were significantly reduced if cells were grown aerobically in the presence of ammonia (NH4). The NO2-reductase activity of membrane fractions was 2-fold higher than that of NO3-reductase consistent with the fact that NO3-reductase activity of M. avium cannot be detected if measured by nitrite formation. Membrane fractions of M. avium cells grown 1 week aerobically and then 2 weeks under anaerobic conditions had NO3-and NO2-reductase activities. Conclusion: The results are consistent with the presence of assimilatory NO3-and NO2-reductase activities in cells of M. avium grown under aerobic conditions. Further, the data suggest that a shift to anaerobic conditions results in the appearance of ammonium-insensitive NO3-and NO2-reductase activities; quite possibly that function in a dissimilatory role (redox balancing).
