Characteristics and outcomes of cerebral venous thrombosis associated with COVID-19.

Introduction: Previous reports and meta-analyses derived from small case series reported a mortality rate of up to 40% in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 associated cerebral venous thrombosis (COVID-CVT). We assessed the clinical characteristics and outcomes in an international cohort of patients with COVID-CVT.

Patients And Methods: This was a registry study of consecutive COVID-CVT patients diagnosed between March 2020 and March 2023.

RE-OPEN: Randomised trial of biosimilar TNK versus TPA during endovascular therapy for acute ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusions.

Rationale: Rapid and timely treatment with intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and large vessel occlusion (LVO) significantly improves patient outcomes. Bridging therapy is the current standard of care in these patients. However, an incompletely answered question is whether one thrombolytic agent is better than another during bridging therapy.

Opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome, ovarian teratoma and anti-NMDAR antibody: an 'unresolved' mystery.

Background: Opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome (OMAS) is characterised by the combination of opsoclonus and arrhythmic action myoclonus with axial ataxia and dysarthria. In adults, a majority are paraneoplastic secondary to solid organ tumours and could harbour antibodies against intracellular epitopes; however, certain proportions have detectable antibodies to various neuronal cell surface antigens. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDAR) antibodies and ovarian teratomas have been implicated in OMAS.

Pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus: Clinical profile and outcomes.

Background: India is endemic for Tuberculosis (TB), contributing to the world's highest number of active cases. Diabetes (DM), with its increasing burden in India, could contribute to adverse outcomes among patients with TB.

Methods: Consecutive patients with sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis were included in the study.

Rituximab therapy for neuro - inflammatory disorders - Real world experience from South India.

Background And Objectives: To determine the real-world data regarding the use of Rituximab (RTX) in neuroinflammatory disorders (NIDS) and assess the outcomes following RTX treatment.

Methods: A cohort of consecutive patients with NIDS started on RTX (2018-2020) was included. The outcomes assessed were the proportion with favourable clinical response (FCR) as defined by clinical remission/ improvement using disease specific disability scores, comparative efficacy based on timing of initiation and B cell kinetics.

Emergence of Meropenem Resistance Among Cefotaxime Non-susceptible : Evidence and Challenges.

The principal causative agent of acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in children and the elderly is , with a widespread increase in penicillin resistance. Resistance is due to non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) that alter the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), the targets for all β-lactam drugs. Hence, resistance against one β-lactam antibiotic may positively select another.

Utility of positron emission tomography-computed tomography in the evaluation of fever of unknown origin in a resource-limited tropical nation.

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) has been used as an imaging modality in workup of fever of unknown origin (FUO). The aim of our study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility of PET-CT in FUO workup in a resource-limited setting. We also looked at laboratory parameters as predictors of contributory PET-CT scans and propose an algorithm for evaluation of FUO in resource-limited tropical regions.

Infection-Associated Peripheral Nerve Hyperexcitability: An Under-Recognized Entity.

Background: Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (PNH) and neuromyotonia have been mainly attributed to antibodies against voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKC). Concurrent autoimmune disorders, malignancies, and heavy metal toxicity have also been implicated. There is scarce mention about infection as a triggering factor for PNH.

Epstein-Barr virus infection in a woman with aquaporin-4 seropositive neuromyelitis optica.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are characterised by pathological antibodies to aquaporin-4 water channels of astrocytes, resulting in severe brain and spinal cord injury. Serological evidence suggests that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation may contribute to their pathogenesis. We describe an unusual case of a woman with fever, rash and headache preceding an Aquaporin-4 antibody positive longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis.

Role of cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein in tuberculous meningitis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is still a significant health problem worldwide. Central nervous system TB amounts to 10% of all cases of TB. Despite advances in the pharmacological management of TB, the overall outcomes remain poor with significant mortality and morbidity.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of Patients with Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Secondary to Bacterial Infections.

Background: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) secondary to infectious aetiology has become rare in the antibiotic era, but is still encountered in clinical practice occasionally. In this study, we describe the clinical profile, diagnosis, and management of patients with CVT secondary to an infectious aetiology.

Methods: This retrospective study included all adult patients over 15 years (1 January 2002 to 1 January 2017).

Slow parasite clearance, absent K13-propeller gene polymorphisms and adequate artesunate levels among patients with malaria: A pilot study from southern India.

Background: Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is widely used in India and many generic preparations are available. Delayed response has been reported, suggesting inadequate response to artesunate (AS) or genotypic resistance. We designed a prospective observational study to assess the therapeutic response, elaborate pharmacokinetics of AS and identify Plasmodium falciparum kelch 13 (pfk13) propeller gene polymorphisms among hospitalized Indian patients with severe malaria.

A case of septicaemic melioidosis: Utility of therapeutic drug monitoring and high-dose meropenem in successful management.

Melioidosis is an emerging infectious disease of major public health importance. We describe a patient who presented with septicaemic melioidosis with multi-organ dysfunction. He had only marginal response on standard doses of meropenem.

Septicemic listeriosis: An emerging food-borne illness in India?

Listeriosis is a food borne illness of significant public health concern, caused by consumption of food contaminated by gram negative bacilli, Listeria monocytogenes. Clinical listeriosis is relatively rare and it has varying spectrum of presentation, ranging from severe sepsis in immune-compromised individuals, febrile gastroenteritis and meningo-encephalitis in infants and adults. This disease is under reported in developing nations due to the lack of awareness and inadequate laboratory facilities to promptly isolate and identify the organism.

endarteritis with infective spondylodiscitis in an adult patient with patent ductus arteriosus.

Endarteritis is a major complication in patients with patent ductus arteriosus, causing significant morbidity and mortality. We report an adult patient with asymptomatic patent ductus arteriosus and endarteritis involving the main pulmonary artery and secondary infective spondylodiscitis at the L5-S1 intervertebral disc caused by , commonly referred to as nutritionally variant streptococci, cannot be identified easily by conventional blood culture techniques from clinical specimens. Its isolation was confirmed by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing.

A prospective study from south India to compare the severity of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum and dual infection.

Background & Objectives: Traditionally, Plasmodium falciparum has been attributed to cause severe malaria, whereas P. vivax is considered to cause "benign" tertian malaria. Recently, there has been an increasing body of evidence challenging this conviction.