Cholesterol dependent cytolysins and the brain: Revealing a potential therapeutic avenue for bacterial meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis is a catastrophic nervous system disorder with high mortality and wide range of morbidities. Some of the meningitis-causing bacteria occupy cholesterol dependent cytolysins (CDCs) to increase their pathogenicity and arrange immune-evasion strategy. Studies have observed that the relationship between CDCs and pathogenicity in these meningitides is complex and involves interactions between CDC, blood-brain barrier (BBB), glial cells and neurons.

A large cluster of human infections of in Bali, Indonesia.

A cluster of 18 inpatients and 21 outpatients with a major complaint of meningitis and a history of sharing traditional delicacies of raw pork and pig blood in a village festival led to the suspicion of meningitis in Sibang Kaja Village, Badung, Bali, Indonesia. We conducted an investigation and case finding to prevent human fatalities. Demography and laboratory examinations of the inpatients were recorded.

Case reports of cerebral sinus venous thrombosis in COVID-19 patients.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has started in December 2019 and still ongoing. The disease has been expanding rapidly with a high variety of phenotypes from asymptomatic, mild respiratory tract infection, multiple organ system dysfunction, and death. Neurological manifestations also appear in patients with COVID-19, such as headache, seizures, a decrease of consciousness, and paralysis.

Pathomechanism and Management of Stroke in COVID-19: Review of Immunopathogenesis, Coagulopathy, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Downregulation of ACE2.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can reportedly manifest as an acute stroke, with most cases presenting as large vessel ischemic stroke in patients with or without comorbidities. The exact pathomechanism of stroke in COVID-19 remains ambiguous. The findings of previous studies indicate that the most likely underlying mechanisms are cerebrovascular pathological conditions following viral infection, inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction, and hypercoagulability.

Neurocysticercosis presented as a solitary cystic parenchymal lesion mimicking primary brain tumor: A case report.

Introduction: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is an infection of the central nervous system by the larval stage of pork tapeworm (). Diagnosing NCC can be challenging, particularly among those who reside in areas with rare occurrence of NCC and atypical manifestation such as a solitary parenchymal lesion. We treated a patient whose initially was diagnosed with brain abcess and later, brain tumor, only finally revealed to be an NCC case.

Selecting Potential Neuronal Drug Leads from Conotoxins of Various Venomous Marine Cone Snails in Bali, Indonesia.

Many conotoxins, natural peptides of marine cone snails, have been identified to target neurons. Here, we provide data on pharmacological families of the conotoxins of 11 species of cone snails collected in Bali. The identified definitive pharmacological families possibly targeting neuronal tissues were α (alpha), ι (iota), κ (kappa), and ρ (rho).

Streptococcus suis-Associated Meningitis, Bali, Indonesia, 2014-2017.

Streptococcus suis is an emerging agent of zoonotic bacterial meningitis in Asia. We describe the epidemiology of S. suis cases and clinical signs and microbiological findings in persons with meningitis in Bali, Indonesia, using patient data and bacterial cultures of cerebrospinal fluid collected during 2014-2017.

Misidentification of as a Zoonotic Agent.

Background: is an emerging zoonotic pathogen. This bacterium commonly causes meningitis in human and is often associated with hearing and vestibular dysfunction. tends to be misidentified, leading to under-diagnosis.

Neurocysticercosis cases identified at Sanglah Hospital, Bali, Indonesia from 2014 to 2018.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) was first reported in the province of Bali, Indonesia in 1975. Since this time, sporadic cases have been reported annually. This study reports information on 29 NCC cases (20 males and 9 females) admitted to a referral hospital in Denpasar, Bali from 2014 until 2018.

Central Nervous System Tuberculoma Complicated with Spinal Arachnoiditis in Immunocompetent Patient.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis (TB) can manifest as meningitis, abscess, tuberculoma or other manifestations. CNS TB is a rare TB complication, and its diagnosis remains a challenge since it has clinical and imaging features that resemble other diseases. The antituberculosis treatment has a significant role in determining a patient's outcome and prevent complications and mortality.

Towards a cysticercosis-free tropical resort island: A historical overview of taeniasis/cysticercosis in Bali.

Taeniasis and cysticercosis are known to be endemic in several Indonesian islands, although relatively little recent epidemiological data are available. As most Indonesian people are Muslims, taeniasis/cysticercosis caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, has a restricted presence in non-Muslim societies and is endemic only among some Hindu communities on the island of Bali. Bali has long been known to be endemic for taeniasis/cysticercosis; almost a century ago levels of cysticercosis of 20-30% were described in cattle and 2-3% in pigs.

Phylogenetic analysis and victim contact tracing of rabies virus from humans and dogs in Bali, Indonesia.

The emergence of human and animal rabies in Bali since November 2008 has attracted local, national and international interest. The potential origin and time of introduction of rabies virus to Bali is described. The nucleoprotein (N) gene of rabies virus from dog brain and human clinical specimens was sequenced using an automated DNA sequencer.

Epidemiological and clinical features of human rabies cases in Bali 2008-2010.

Background: Previously thought to be rabies free, Bali experienced an outbreak of animal and human rabies cases in November 2008. We describe the epidemiological and clinical data of human rabies cases occurring in the first two years of the outbreak.

Methods: We analysed the patient records of all rabies cases from the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, and district hospitals in Buleleng and Tabanan.