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Lyme Neuroborreliosis in Children
Kozak S, Kaminiów K, Kozak K, Paprocka J. Lyme Neuroborreliosis in Children. Brain Sci. 2021 Jun 7;11(6):758. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11060758. PMID: 34200467; PMCID: PMC8226969.
  • Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) occurs when Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria from a tick bite spread to the nervous system.
  • It affects both children and adults but presents differently.
  • Adults often experience radicular pain and muscle weakness.
  • Children are more likely to develop facial nerve palsy or subacute meningitis.
  • Other possible symptoms include fatigue, appetite loss, and mood changes.
  • Recognizing these varied symptoms in children is key to early diagnosis and treatment.
Elevated levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin among OCD patients: an exploratory study

Raposo-Lima, C., Pereira, I.M., Marques, F. et al. Elevated levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin among OCD patients: an exploratory study. BMC Psychiatry 21, 272 (2021). DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03289-w

“Although PANDAS might be of relevance for only a minor proportion of OCD cases, this immune/inflammation hypothesis may be significant given the prevalence of OCS among patients with autoimmune diseases [9]…. In conclusion, we herein report differences in NGAL levels among OCD patients compared to healthy controls. We offer additional evidence to the immune dysregulation hypothesis of OCD by reporting elevated levels of NGAL among OCD patients versus healthy controls, with higher differences being found among women”

Metabolomic Characterization of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS)

F Murgia, A Gagliana, MG Tanca, N Or-Geva, A Hendren, S Carucci, M Pintor, F Cera, F Cossu, S Sotgiu, L Atzori, A Zuddas. Metabolomic Characterization of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). Frontiers in Neuroscience. Vol 15. 2021. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.645267  

  • Found unique plasma metabolic profile in PANS patients that is significantly different from healthy children
  • Suggests involvement of specific patterns of neurotransmission (tryptophan, glycine, histamine/histidine)
  • Suggests a general state of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress (glutamine, 2-Hydroxybutyrate, and tryptophan-kynurenine pathway) in the disorder.
  • Offers new insights into biological mechanisms underpinning the disorder and supports research of other potential biomarkers implicated in PANS.