Geographic characteristics of HTLV-1 molecular subgroups and genetic substitutions in East Asia: Insights from complete genome sequencing of HTLV-1 strains isolated in Taiwan and Japan.

Background: Although Japan is a major endemic area for human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and the virus has been well-studied in this region, there is limited research on HTLV-1 in surrounding regions. In this study, we determined the complete genome sequences of HTLV-1 strains isolated from Taiwan and Japan and investigated the geographic characteristics of molecular subgroups and substitution mutations to understand the spread of HTLV-1 and its correlation with human migration.

Methodology/principal Findings: The complete genome sequences of 26 HTLV-1 isolates from Taiwan were determined using next-generation sequencing and were compared with those of 211 isolates from Japan in terms of subgroup and genetic mutations.

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraplegia with sporadic late-onset nemaline myopathy: a case report.

Background: Sporadic late onset nemaline myopathy (SLONM) is a muscle disorder characterized by the presence of nemaline rods in muscle fibers. SLONM has no known genetic cause but has been associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) is a known causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraplegia (HAM/TSP), a chronic inflammatory neurological disease.

Iliopsoas Muscle Weakness as a Key Diagnostic Marker in HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP).

Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a slowly progressive neurological disease that arises from HTLV-1 infection. Pathologically, the condition is characterized by diffuse myelitis, which is most evident in the thoracic spinal cord. Clinical manifestations of the infectious disease, HAM/TSP, are empirically known to include weakness of the proximal muscles of the lower extremities and atrophy of the paraspinal muscles, which is characteristic of the distribution of disturbed muscles usually seen in muscular diseases, except that the upper extremities are almost normal.

Anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibodies in functional neurological symptom disorder/conversion disorder.

Objective: Autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) is a rare disorder characterized by autonomic failure associated with the presence of anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) antibodies; however, several studies have reported that individuals with anti-gAChR antibodies present with central nervous system (CNS) symptoms such as impaired consciousness and seizures. In the present study, we investigated whether the presence of serum anti-gAChR antibodies correlated with autonomic symptoms in patients with functional neurological symptom disorder/conversion disorder (FNSD/CD).

Methods: Clinical data were collected for 59 patients presenting with neurologically unexplained motor and sensory symptoms at the Department of Neurology and Geriatrics between January 2013 and October 2017 and who were ultimately diagnosed with FNSD/CD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition.

Cryptococcus Meningitis Can Co-occur with Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis.

We herein report a 50-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis who developed loss of consciousness and tremor of the upper limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were suggestive of limbic encephalitis with bilateral hippocampal damage, and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination confirmed anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and anti-glutamate receptor antibodies. Despite initial corticosteroid therapy, meningeal irritation symptoms appeared, owing to the development of cryptococcal meningitis (CM), diagnosed by the detection of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen in the follow-up CSF analysis.