Axonal dysfunction is associated with interferon-γ levels in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a multivoxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Objective: Axonal/neuronal damage has been shown to be a pathological finding that precedes neuropsychiatric manifestations in SLE. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of axonal dysfunction in childhood-onset SLE patients (cSLE) and to determine clinical, immunological and treatment features associated with its occurrence.

Methods: We included 86 consecutive cSLE patients [median age 17 (range 5-28) years] and 71 controls [median age 18 (5-28) years].

A framework for quality control of corpus callosum segmentation in large-scale studies.

Background: The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest white matter structure in the brain, responsible for the interconnection of the brain hemispheres. Its segmentation is a required preliminary step for any posterior analysis, such as parcellation, registration, and feature extraction. In this context, the quality control (QC) of CC segmentation allows studies on large datasets with no human interaction, and the proper usage of available automated and semi-automated algorithms.

Mimickers of neuropsychiatric manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), presenting with new onset or worsening neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms, is a challenge in clinical practice. Mimickers such as infections, drug-induced side effects, metabolic abnormalities, malignancies, and alcohol-related disorders have to be excluded, before attributing the manifestations to disease activity. Proper diagnosis is essential to guide adequate management and reduce morbidity and mortality.

Olfactory function in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. A longitudinal study and review of the literature.

Background/purpose: To evaluate olfactory function in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy controls over a 2-year period, and to determine the association of olfactory dysfunction with age, disease activity, disease damage, treatment, anxiety and depression symptoms and limbic structures volumes.

Methods: Consecutive SLE and SSc patients were enrolled in this study. Clinical, laboratory disease activity and damage were assessed according to diseases specific guidelines.

Brain diffusion tensor MRI in systematic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) maps the brain's microstructure by measuring fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). This systematic review describes brain diffusion tensor Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).The literature was reviewed following the PRISMA guidelines and using the terms "lupus", "systemic lupus erythematosus", "SLE", "diffusion tensor imaging", "DTI", "white matter" (WM), "microstructural damage", "tractography", and "fractional anisotropy"; the search included articles published in English from January 2007 to April 2017.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Is Associated With Asymptomatic Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of asymptomatic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to determine the association between SNHL and demographic, clinical, and laboratory features and cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including consecutive female SLE patients. We performed audiometry and clinical and laboratory evaluation and determined cardiovascular risk factors in all patients.

Depressive symptoms are associated with tumor necrosis factor alpha in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is deeply related to pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders, especially depression. The aim of this study was to explore potential relationships between sera TNF-α levels and mood and anxiety disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods: We included 153 consecutive SLE patients (women 148; median age 30; range 10-62) and 40 (women 37; mean age 28.

Neurologic involvement in scleroderma: a systematic review.

Objectives: To perform a systematic review of neurologic involvement in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Localized Scleroderma (LS), describing clinical features, neuroimaging, and treatment.

Methods: We performed a literature search in PubMed using the following MeSH terms, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, localized scleroderma, localized scleroderma "en coup de sabre", Parry-Romberg syndrome, cognitive impairment, memory, seizures, epilepsy, headache, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), SF-36, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), neuropsychiatric, psychosis, neurologic involvement, neuropathy, peripheral nerves, cranial nerves, carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar entrapment, tarsal tunnel syndrome, mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, radiculopathy, myelopathy, autonomic nervous system, nervous system, electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Patients with other connective tissue disease knowingly responsible for nervous system involvement were excluded from the analyses.

Neurologic involvement in scleroderma en coup de sabre.

Localized scleroderma is a rare disease, characterized by sclerotic lesions. A variety of presentations have been described, with different clinical characteristics and specific prognosis. In scleroderma en coup de sabre (LScs) the atrophic lesion in frontoparietal area is the disease hallmark.

Cognitive impairment in antiphospholipid syndrome: evidence from animal models.

Although antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a multisystem prothrombotic condition, its inflammatory nature has been increasingly recognized in recent years. Stroke and transitory ischemic attacks are the neurological manifestations included in APS criteria, however many other neurological involvements have been attributed to antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), such as seizures, transverse myelitis, and cognitive impairment. In this article we will review evidence from animal model that explain the role of aPL in cognition.

Cognitive dysfunction and antiphospholipid antibodies.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a multisystem prothrombotic condition, however, in recent years, its inflammatory nature has been studied extensively. Cerebral involvement is commonly observed in APS and results in different clinical manifestations. However, most of the studies include secondary APS.

Schistosoma mansoni infection: an immune complex disease presenting with polyarthritis.

Schistosomiasis or bilharzia is a parasitic disease found in tropical countries. Most infections are subclinical but may progress to chronic form characterized most frequently by the presence of liver involvement and portal hypertension. We report a patient that presented chronic polyarthritis with positive rheumatoid factor.