Publications by authors named "Laura A Benjamin"
Article Synopsis
- Minority ethnic groups are often underrepresented in research, which affects the validity of findings; the study aimed to improve recruitment strategies for a study on neurological issues related to COVID-19.
- Involving 807 participants, the research found a good representation of various ethnicities, with specific data showing centers in London attracted more non-White participants.
- The study concluded that it's possible to overcome recruitment barriers for underrepresented ethnic groups using targeted strategies identified in their research.
Article Synopsis
- - The management of stroke patients involves a teamwork approach, incorporating various specialties and healthcare professionals to ensure a unified and coordinated strategy for patient care.
- - The European Society of Cardiology Council on Stroke has initiated a Task Force to develop consensus statements for better integrated care, focusing on both stroke and associated heart conditions.
- - A proposed post-stroke ABC pathway emphasizes three key areas: appropriate antithrombotic therapy, improvement of functional and psychological well-being, and management of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities through lifestyle changes.
Article Synopsis
- SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to various neurological problems, but the mechanisms behind this damage are not well understood.
- This study examined biomarkers in 21 patients with COVID-19 neurological syndromes compared to 23 healthy controls, focusing on signs of neuronal injury, neuroinflammation, and astrocyte activation.
- Findings indicated that patients with neurological syndromes exhibited impaired amyloid processing, increased neuronal injury markers, enhanced inflammation, and reduced astrocyte activation, suggesting a complex interplay affecting brain health in COVID-19 cases.
Article Synopsis
- A nationwide study examined the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related factors in people with HIV compared to those without.
- The study found that individuals with HIV have a significantly higher risk of composite CVD and specific events like stroke and heart disease, along with common risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes.
- These findings highlight the need for regular health screening for CVD and related conditions in people living with HIV to manage their health effectively.
Article Synopsis
- SARS-CoV-2 has been linked to various neurological and psychiatric conditions, but detailed clinical data on recovery factors is limited, hindering effective treatment strategies.
- In a UK study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a multi-disciplinary team collected comprehensive information about demographics, risk factors, and neurological outcomes from 267 cases.
- The findings revealed that cerebrovascular events were the most common issues reported, especially in younger patients, with an increased prevalence of conventional risk factors and poorer clinical outcomes compared to pre-pandemic data.
Background: A high prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies has been reported in case series of patients with neurological manifestations and COVID-19; however, the pathogenicity of antiphospholipid antibodies in COVID-19 neurology remains unclear.
Methods: This single-centre cross-sectional study included 106 adult patients: 30 hospitalised COVID-neurological cases, 47 non-neurological COVID-hospitalised controls, and 29 COVID-non-hospitalised controls, recruited between March and July 2020. We evaluated nine antiphospholipid antibodies: anticardiolipin antibodies [aCL] IgA, IgM, IgG; anti-beta-2 glycoprotein-1 [aβGPI] IgA, IgM, IgG; anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin [aPS/PT] IgM, IgG; and anti-domain I βGPI (aD1β2GPI) IgG.
Article Synopsis
- - Preliminary research indicates that SARS-CoV-2 may harm the nervous system, prompting a study involving serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 34 COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms to determine the extent and nature of this damage.
- - Biomarkers of neuronal damage, particularly neurofilament light, were found at significantly higher levels in the CSF of patients with serious CNS conditions, like encephalitis, compared to other neurological conditions and control groups.
- - Elevated neurofilament light levels were present in hospitalized COVID-19 patients regardless of neurological symptoms, but no significant increases were observed in community cases, suggesting minimal neurological damage in milder cases; astrocytic activation was not linked to neuronal damage in
The aim of this study is to ascertain the burden of pre-clinical atherosclerotic changes in the brains of young adult males with HIV and explore the impact of anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The study design is case-control, cross-sectional. Histological sections from HIV-positive post-mortem brain samples, with no associated opportunistic infection, from the MRC Edinburgh brain bank were evaluated.
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- The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) in a group of African adults and children with low CD4+ cell counts, and its relationship to mortality rates and new cases of cryptococcal disease in the REALITY trial.
- Researchers conducted retrospective testing on plasma samples from participants who were either given enhanced prophylaxis or standard treatment while starting antiretroviral therapy.
- Findings indicated that enhanced prophylaxis led to fewer deaths and new cases of cryptococcal disease regardless of the initial CrAg positivity status, implying that treatment effectiveness was consistent across different baseline conditions.
Article Synopsis
- A study in sub-Saharan Africa explored the link between endothelial dysfunction biomarkers and carotid atherosclerosis, revealing scarce data in this region.
- Involving 66 patients, researchers utilized carotid ultrasound and measured specific biomarkers like ICAM-1 and soluble thrombomodulin through ELISA.
- Results showed that 39.4% of participants had carotid atherosclerosis, with significant associations to age over 45, hypertension, and elevated soluble thrombomodulin levels, suggesting a need for further research in larger African populations.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to investigate the range of neurological complications associated with COVID-19 in the UK, as existing research was limited and mostly based on small samples.
- An online network of UK neuroscience organizations was created to report and classify various neurological symptoms linked to COVID-19, such as cerebrovascular events and altered mental status, allowing for both prospective and retrospective case reporting.
- The data collected will help to better understand how COVID-19 affects brain health, enabling more informed decisions on potential therapies and treatment strategies.
Article Synopsis
- * Sub-Saharan Africa has a younger demographic, higher blood pressure rates, and lower smoking and cholesterol levels compared to Western countries, leading to different cardiovascular disease profiles between low and high-income regions.
- * Future studies should prioritize integrating HIV and cardiovascular disease care, focusing on epidemiology in women, improving tobacco cessation efforts for people with HIV, and adapting guidelines to address both traditional and non-traditional risk factors in various geographical contexts.
Article Synopsis
- - The study focuses on using neurovascular ultrasound as a cost-effective alternative to traditional imaging techniques for assessing cerebral atherosclerosis in Malawian adults experiencing stroke-like symptoms, addressing a lack of epidemiological data in sub-Saharan Africa.
- - Out of 66 enrolled patients, the study found a 39.4% occurrence of extracranial atherosclerosis, along with notable rates of abnormal carotid intima media thickness and carotid plaques, indicating a significant burden of vascular disease.
- - The findings suggest that while neurovascular ultrasound is feasible for evaluating cervical arteries in this population, challenges like high failure rates in transcranial imaging highlight the need for improved techniques or agents to enhance imaging success.
We report a case of a previously healthy man returning to the United Kingdom from Lithuania who developed rhombencephalitis and myeloradiculitis due to tick-borne encephalitis. These findings add to sparse data on tick-borne encephalitis virus phylogeny and associated neurologic syndromes and underscore the importance of vaccinating people traveling to endemic regions.
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- The study investigates the rising rates of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases (CBD/CVD) in Sub-Saharan Africa among an aging HIV-infected population on antiretroviral therapy (ART), examining the potential additive risks associated with HIV infection and immune dysfunction.
- A prospective cohort study will be conducted over 36 months with 800 HIV-infected patients and 190 HIV-uninfected controls in Malawi, focusing on various indicators of vascular health and factors related to CBD/CVD risk.
- The research has received ethical approval from relevant committees, aiming to deepen understanding of CBD/CVD pathogenesis in HIV patients, ultimately contributing to future clinical intervention strategies.
Article Synopsis
- The widespread use of early and effective antiretroviral therapy has changed HIV from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition, but it comes with increased risks of chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
- People living with HIV experience significantly higher rates of heart-related issues, such as heart attacks and strokes, compared to those who are not infected, even when their HIV is well-controlled.
- This document aims to review existing evidence on HIV-related CVD and offers practical recommendations for prevention and treatment, recognizing the limitations of current research in this area.
Article Synopsis
- Studies show a potential link between Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and negative heart health outcomes, particularly in HIV-infected individuals, prompting investigation in Malawian adults.
- Researchers measured anti-CMV IgG levels and analyzed data from 139 HIV-positive individuals to explore the relationship between high anti-CMV IgG concentrations and ischaemic stroke, considering other cardiovascular risk factors.
- Results indicated that while high anti-CMV IgG initially appeared linked to ischaemic stroke, this association disappeared after adjusting for factors like CD4+ count and antiretroviral therapy duration, highlighting the need for more extensive research on this topic.
Background: Cryptococcal meningitis remains the leading cause of adult meningitis in Sub-Saharan Africa. Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS) following anti-retroviral therapy (ART) initiation is an important complication. Here we report the first documented case of a IRIS reaction presenting as an ischemic stroke.
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- * Examination revealed signs of frontal lobe dysfunction, and while initial tests were normal, a CT scan showed a giant olfactory groove meningioma.
- * Prompt surgery to remove the meningioma reversed her symptoms, highlighting the importance of investigating treatable conditions and the need for early brain imaging in cases of dementia.*
Article Synopsis
- A 19-year-old man exhibited symptoms including headaches, weakness, memory loss, and speech difficulties, which worsened over time, leading to a diagnosis of large ischemic strokes as revealed by a CT scan.
- Despite treatment for a suspected central nervous system vasculitis, the patient unfortunately died a few weeks later, highlighting the complexities of managing strokes in settings with limited resources.
- The case also emphasizes the need for improved stroke management strategies and collaboration between institutions like University College London and others to enhance response and care in similar scenarios.