Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is an important cause of meningitis and meningoencephalitis. As testing for HHV-6 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is more readily available using the FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis panel (FA-ME; BioFire Diagnostics, Salt Lake City, UT), we aimed to determine the clinical significance of detecting HHV-6 in order to identify true infections and to ensure appropriate antiviral initiation. Chart review on 25 patients positive for HHV-6 by FA-ME was performed to determine clinical presentation, comorbidity, treatment, and outcome. The presence of chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (ciHHV-6) DNA was also investigated. Of 1,005 children tested by FA-ME, HHV-6 was detected in 25 (2.5%). Five patients were diagnosed with either HHV-6 meningitis or meningoencephalitis based on HHV-6 detection in CSF, clinical presentation, and radiographic findings. Detection of HHV-6 by FA-ME led to discontinuation of acyclovir within 12.0 h in all 12 patients empirically treated with acyclovir. Six of the 12 patients were started on ganciclovir therapy within 6.8 h; 4 of these were treated specifically for HHV-6 infection, whereas therapy was discontinued in the remaining 2 patients. CSF parameters were not generally predictive of HHV-6 positivity. The presence of ciHHV-6 was confirmed in 3 of 18 patients who could be tested. Five of the 25 patients included in the study were diagnosed with HHV-6 meningitis/meningoencephalitis. FA-ME results led to discontinuation of empirical antiviral treatment in 12 patients and appropriate initiation of ganciclovir in 4 patients. In our institution, detection of HHV-6 using FA-ME led to faster establishment of disease etiology and optimization of antimicrobial therapy.

The incidence of abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics in children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors before intraventricular therapy has not been described. Methods: We performed a single-institution, retrospective review of patients with primary or metastatic CNS tumors treated between 2003 and 2018 (15 y). Patients underwent ¹¹¹In-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid injection into the CSF intraventricular space followed by nuclear medicine imaging at 90 min, 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h (if required). CSF flow was classified as normal, delayed, asymmetric, or obstructed. Results: In total, 278 CSF flow studies were performed on 224 patients, 202 of whom (90%) were less than 18 y old. Of these, 116 patients (52%) had metastatic CNS neuroblastoma, 57 (25%) had medulloblastoma, and 51 (23%) had other histologic types of CNS tumors. Of the 278 studies, 237 (85%) were normal, 9 (3%) required neurosurgical intervention, 25 (9%) were delayed, and 7 (3%) were asymmetric. Conclusion: Abnormal CSF flow and the necessity for neurosurgical intervention must be considered when attempting to ensure appropriate intraventricular therapy in the pediatric population.

body fluidsCSF

Obtaining blood and cerebrospinal fluid is generally less invasive than standard tumor biopsy, and are increasingly used to develop surrogate biomarkers. Leptomeningeal disease, a devastating complication of cancer, represents a unique opportunity for using liquid biopsies for diagnosis, treatment, and to elucidate underlying mechanisms of resistance to therapy.

See related article by Smalley et al., p. 2163

Robots made of 3D-printed muscle and rat spines could help us understand conditions like motor neurone disease and the technique may eventually be used to build prosthetic devices

This week, new claims about the accuracy of the Garden of Eden story emerged online and in tabloid magazines. Professor Tom Meyer, a scripture expert known as the Bible Memory Man, argues that there are two artifacts—a 4,000-year-old seal and roughly 3,600-year-old stone—that provide evidence both for the location of the Garden of Eden and the Adam and Eve story. But do his claims add up? (Spoiler alert: No)

In a story, reported this week in the Daily Express, Meyer, who teaches at his alma mater Shasta Bible College and University, refers first to a Sumerian king list, an inscribed Middle Bronze aged stone prism currently housed at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The prism dates to between 2100 B.C. and 1650 B.C. and was discovered in 1922 by Herbert Weld-Blundell during his excavations in Kish, the ancient capital of Sumer, in Mesopotamia. It was purchased by the Ashmolean shortly thereafter.

Meyer said, “In addition to enumerating the long reigns of pre-flood rulers, this prism lists Eridu—an ancient site in southern Iraq—as the first city ever built.” This is significant, he says, because “The ancient site of the Garden of Eden… is thought by some to be located at Eridu under a cluster of tels” (Tels are artificial hills).

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Every day on Pluto, nitrogen puffs out the icy world’s heart-shaped plain into the atmosphere, and every night it refreezes, creating winds unlike any we’ve seen before

In physics, thermalization, or the trend of sub-systems within a whole to gain a common temperature, is typically the norm. There are situations, however, where thermalization is slowed down or virtually suppressed; examples are when considering the dynamics of electron and nuclear spins in solids. Understanding why this happens and how it can be controlled is presently at the center of a broad effort, particularly for applications in the emerging field of quantum information technologies.

Siemens has secured a 3 billion euro ($3.25 billion) loan that will be transferred to the group's Energy unit, which is scheduled to be spun off at the end of September, Chief Executive Joe Kaeser told Bloomberg TV on Friday.

Follow our live Covid-19 updates HERE Coronavirus: The symptoms

A six-year-old boy with Spina Bifida has raised more than £200,000 for NHS charities by walking 10 metres every day in his walking frame.

Kids, if you've ever wondered why it's a bad idea to have sex at your picturesque lakeside summer camp, look no further. While it didn't invent the idea of punishing teenagers...

In the apocalyptic drama series, Reedus plays the popular character Daryl Dixon

'Overlook' is reported to be a 10-part series

Aniston also took a moment to mark America's National Nurses Day.

Kids, if you've ever wondered why it's a bad idea to have sex at your picturesque lakeside summer camp, look no further. While it didn't invent the idea of punishing teenagers...

In physics, thermalization, or the trend of sub-systems within a whole to gain a common temperature, is typically the norm. There are situations, however, where thermalization is slowed down or virtually suppressed; examples are when considering the dynamics of electron and nuclear spins in solids. Understanding why this happens and how it can be controlled is presently at the center of a broad effort, particularly for applications in the emerging field of quantum information technologies.

Get clean, fresh romaine, arugula, or spring mix without wilting or a puddle of water at the bottom of your bowl.

Kids, if you've ever wondered why it's a bad idea to have sex at your picturesque lakeside summer camp, look no further. While it didn't invent the idea of punishing teenagers...

Reports claim General Electric is selling off key digital assets, which likely include its Predix platform. What are the implications for IoT?

Keep on reading: GE’s Digital Spinoff: What Does It Mean for the Internet of Things?

Cerevel Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to treating neurological diseases, has appointed renowned biotechnology leader Tony Coles as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

read more

Omni Surgical L.P., doing business as Spine 360, a manufacturer of devices used in spinal surgery, and Dr. Jamie Gottlieb, an Indiana spinal surgeon, have agreed to pay $2.6 million to the United States to settle allegations that Spine 360 paid illegal kickbacks to Gottlieb to induce him to use the company’s products.

The United States has filed two complaints under the False Claims Act against Michigan neurosurgeon Dr. Aria Sabit, spinal implant company Reliance Medical Systems, two Reliance distributorships—Apex Medical Technologies and Kronos Spinal Technologies—and the companies’ owners, Brett Berry, John Hoffman and Adam Pike.

Temple University researchers discovered that boosting levels of a protein called Lin28 in injured spinal cords of mice prompts the regrowth of axons and repairs communication between the brain and body. They believe the discovery could be used to develop new treatments for both spinal cord and optic nerve injuries.

The sharing economy comes to architecture as the rich and the very rich share views and height.

One woman shows us how easy it is to make useful yarn from her cat's long fur.

This gives the "spin cycle" a whole new meaning.

Value of Fossil Fuel Exports By Fuel, 1949-2010

An under-utilized element becomes a bench, a place to eat, nap and store things in this redesigned scheme.

From South Korean design studio DesignJoo comes the Giro One, the piece that lets you put your own spin on your shelves, lighting, and side tables. The concept is simple: shelves can be added and their height adjusted by spinning them

Who needs concrete when this foundation design will take the load?

Spinach extract for losing weight?

spin4 crohn’s & colitis cures

Buy Clotilde's latest book, The French Market Cookbook!

This post is sponsored by Revol, a French manufacturer of top-quality ceramic cookware. Thank you for supporting the brands that […]

The post 30-Minute Spinach and Chicken Coconut Curry Recipe appeared first on Chocolate & Zucchini.

Buy Clotilde's latest book, The French Market Cookbook!

Among the French dishes traditional served at Easter, you’ll find tourte pascale* and pâté de Pâques, French Easter pies enclosed […]

The post French Easter Pie with Spinach and Goat Cheese Recipe appeared first on Chocolate & Zucchini.