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Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have suffered from long-term health system deficiencies, worsened by poor living conditions, lack of sanitation, a restricted access to health facilities and running water, overcrowding, and overpopulation. These factors favor human displacement and deepen marginalization; consequently, their population endures a high burden of infectious diseases. In this context, the current epidemiological landscape and its impact on health and economic development are not promissory, despite the commitment by the international community to eradicate neglected tropical infections - especially tuberculosis and malaria, by 2030. Neglected and (re)-emerging infectious diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are a major public health concern in these countries, as they cause a great morbidity and mortality; furthermore, survivors often suffer from severe neurological disabilities. Herein, we present a retrospective review focused on some neglected and (re)-emerging infectious diseases, including neurocysticercosis, malaria, rabies, West Nile virus encephalitis, tuberculosis, neuroborreliosis, and SARS-CoV-2 in LMIC. A retrospective review of studies on selected neglected and (re)-emerging infectious diseases in LMIC was performed, including reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) published within the last five years. Data on infection by SARS-CoV-2 were provided by the John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. CNS neglected and (re)-emerging infectious diseases remain as important causes of disease in LMIC. An alarming increase in the prevalence of malaria, tuberculosis, and cysticercosis is observed in the region, compounded by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO is currently supporting programs/efforts to cope with these diseases. Herein, we highlight the epidemiological burden of some CNS infections in LMIC, and their clinical and neuroimaging features, to facilitate an accurate diagnosis, considering that most of these diseases will not be eradicated in the short term; instead, their incidence will likely increase along with poverty, inequality, and related socioeconomic problems.

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Resumen: El trastorno del desarrollo sexual (TDS) testicular XX es una patología que se presenta en un individuo con cariotipo 46,XX con un fenotipo anatómico de genitales externos masculinos, que pueden variar desde la normalidad hasta la ambigüedad genital. Clínicamente se han descrito dos subgrupos de hombres 46,XX con SRY-negativos y SRY-positivos, dependiendo de la presencia o no del gen SRY que normalmente se encuentra en el cromosoma Y participando en la determinación testicular. En este artículo se describen los antecedentes personales y los hallazgos clínicos de un infante con anomalías del meato urinario en el cual se identificó un complemento cromosómico 46,XX. También, se realizó hibridación in situ fluorescente en linfocitos de sangre periférica que demostró la ausencia del gen SRY y confirmó la presencia de dos cromosomas X.

Abstract XX testicular disorder of sex development (DSD) is a pathology that occurs in an individual with a 46,XX karyotype and an anatomical phenotype of male external genitalia, which may vary from normal to ambiguous. Clinically, two subgroups of SRY-negative and SRY-positive, 46, XX men have been described, depending on the presence of the SRY gene that is normally found on the Y chromosome participating in testicular determination. This article describes the personal history and clinical findings of an infant with urethral meatus abnormalities in whom a 46,XX chromosome set was identified. Also, fluorescent in situ hybridization was performed in peripheral blood lymphocytes which demonstrated the absence of the SRY gene and confirmed the presence of two X chromosomes.

Resumo: O transtorno do desenvolvimento sexual (TDS) testicular XX é uma patologia apresentada em um indivíduo com cariótipo 46,XX com um fenótipo anatômico de genitais externos masculinos, que podem variar da normalidade à ambiguidade genital. Clinicamente, são descritos dois subgrupos de homens 46,XX com SRY-negativos e SRY-positivos, dependendo da presença ou não do gene SRY que normalmente se encontra em Y cromossomo participando da determinação testicular. Neste artigo, são descritos os antecedentes pessoais e os achados clínicos de uma criança com anomalias de meato urinário em que foi identificado um complemento cromossômico 46,XX. Além disso, foi rea -lizada hibridação in situ fluorescente em linfócitos de sangue periférico que demonstrou a ausência do gene SRY e confirmou a presença de dois cromossomos X.

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Neurocysticercosis (NCC) has been associated with hippocampal atrophy, but the prevalence and pathogenic mechanisms implicated in this relationship are unknown. Using a population-based, case-control study design, residents in a rural village (Atahualpa) aged ≥ 40 years with calcified NCC were identified as cases and paired to NCC-free individuals (control subjects) matched by age, sex, and level of education. Cases and control subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging for hippocampal rating according to the Scheltens' scale for medial temporal atrophy and were interviewed to identify those with a clinical seizure disorder. The prevalence of hippocampal atrophy was compared between cases and control subjects by the use of the McNemar's test for correlated proportions. Seventy-five individuals with calcified NCC and their matched control subjects were included in the analysis. Hippocampal atrophy was noted in 26 (34.7%) cases and nine (12%) control subjects (odds ratio: 4.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-14.9, P < 0.0021). Stratification of pairs according to tertiles of age revealed an age-related trend in this association, which became significant only in those aged ≥ 68 years (P = 0.027). Only five cases and one control had recurrent seizures (P = 0.221); three of these five cases had hippocampal atrophy, and the single control subject had normal hippocampi. This study confirms an association between NCC and hippocampal atrophy, and shows that this association is stronger in older age groups. This suggests that NCC-related hippocampal atrophy takes a long time to develop.

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Calcified neurocysticercosis has been associated with hippocampal atrophy in patients with refractory epilepsy, but the relevance of this association in the population at large is unknown. We assessed calcified cysticerci and its association with hippocampal atrophy in elderly persons living in Atahualpa, an Ecuadorian village endemic for neurocysticercosis. All Atahualpa residents ≥ 60 years of age were invited to undergo computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging for neurocysticercosis detection. Twenty-eight (11%) out of 248 enrolled persons had calcified cysticerci (case-patients) and were matched 1:1 by age, sex, and years of education to individuals without neurocysticercosis on computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (controls). Four case-patients and none of the controls had epilepsy (P = 0.134). Cognitive performance was similar across both groups. The Scheltens' medial temporal atrophy scale was used for hippocampal rating in case-patients and matched controls without neurocysticercosis. Mean score in the Scheltens' scale was higher in case-patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Atrophic hippocampi were noticed in 19 case-patients and five controls (P = 0.003). Atrophy was bilateral in 11 case-patients and unilateral in eight. All case-patients with unilateral hippocampal atrophy had at least one ipsilateral calcification. This study shows an association between calcified cysticerci and hippocampal atrophy and raises the possibility of an inflammation-mediated hippocampal damage as the responsible mechanism for these findings.

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Exposure to hypobaric hypoxia causes oxidative damage to male rat reproductive function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of a blueberry extract (BB-4) in testis of rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia. Morphometric analysis, cellular DNA fragmentation, glutathione reductase (GR), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were evaluated. Our results showed that supplementation of BB-4 reduced lipid peroxidation, decreased apoptosis, and increased GR and SOD activities in rat testis under hypobaric hypoxia conditions (P < 0.05). Therefore, this study demonstrates that blueberry extract significantly reduced the harmful effects of oxidative stress caused by hypobaric hypoxia in rat testis by affecting glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase activities.

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Se informa historia de un paciente adulto con un teratoma supraselar , que es el primero estudiado con Resonancia Magnética (RM) y Tomografía Computada (TC). El estudio histopatologíco de la pieza confirmó el diagnóstico quirúrgico.

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