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The COVID-19 pandemic due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 not only affects political, economic, social, and cultural life, but also has a significant impact on medicine. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global pandemic with a wide spectrum of clinical signs and symptoms. Neurologic manifestations are relatively common, with severe cases often demonstrating striking findings on neuroimaging. Because the neuroradiologic findings may be the first evidence of COVID-19, the emergency radiologist has a critical role to play in not only the detection and management of the disease but also in the safety of other patients and hospital staff. Therefore, radiologists, especially those who specialize in emergency radiology, need to be aware of the neuroradiologic manifestations of COVID-19.

Dear Editor, With interest, we read the article by Ribeiro et al. about a 26-year-old male with COVID-19 who developed right-sided facial palsy eight days after onset of the infection. Facial palsy was interpreted as causally related to the viral infection. We have the following comments and concerns. […] Is unilateral facial palsy truly caused by SARS-CoV-2?

Objectives Though there is increasing evidence for primary cardiac disease in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Parkinsonism (PS), this evidence is hardly included in the general management of these patients. Methods Literature review. Results PD is one of the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Epidemiological studies have shown that PD is accompanied by high rates of premature death compared with the general population. In general, death in PD/PS is usually caused by determinant factors such as pneumonia, cerebrovascular, and cardiovascular disease. There is a significant body of literature demonstrating involvement of the heart in PD/PS. Cardiac involvement in PD/PS includes cardiac autonomic dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, conduction defects, and sudden cardiac death (SCD), and sudden unexpected death in Parkinson’s disease (SUDPAR). Conclusions Cardiac abnormalities found in PD/PS are manifold but the most prominent is cardiac autonomic dysfunction. The frequency of coronary heart disease in PD is a matter of debate. Only rarely reported in PD/PS are cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death, and SUDPAR. It is particularly recommended that PD/PS patients are more intensively investigated cardiologically as soon as the diagnosis is established. Early recognition of cardiac involvement is important for preventing SCD and SUDPAR.

How to cite this article: Finsterer J, Fiorini AC, Scorza CA, Scorza FA. Brain-Heart Interactions are More Diverse than Anticipated. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(10):1003-1004.

Dear Editor,We enjoyed reading the recent article entitled, “Effectiveness of Tai Chi for health promotion for adults with health conditions: a scoping review of meta-analyses” by Easwaran and coll...

This is a Letter to the Editor and does not have an abstract.

MEGDEL syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder, clinically characterized by 3-methylglutaconic aciduria, psychomotor delay, muscle hypotonia, sensorineural deafness, and Leigh-like lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging. MEGDEL syndrome is due to mutations in the serine active site-containing protein 1 (SERAC1) gene. The SERAC1 protein is localized at the interface between the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum in the mitochondrion-associated membrane fraction, which is essential for phospholipid exchange. SERAC1 was identified as a key player in phosphatidylglycerol remodeling, which is essential for both mitochondrial function and intracellular cholesterol trafficking. Since the first description of MEGDEL syndrome in 2006, at least 102 patients have been reported. The phenotypic spectrum of MEGDEL syndrome is much broader than so far anticipated. In addition to the brain, ears, and gastrointestinal tract, the eyes, endocrine organs, heart, peripheral nerves, and the skeletal muscle may be affected. Diagnosing MEGDEL syndrome requires a multidisciplinary approach, including genetic confirmation of a SERAC1 mutation. Treatment is supportive, and the outcome is usually poor with early death, except for the juvenile-onset type.

Heavy metal contamination in aquatic environments plays an important role in the exposure of humans to these toxicants. Among these pollutants, mercury (Hg) is one main concern due to its high neurotoxicity and environmental persistence. Even in low concentrations, Hg bioaccumulation is a major threat to human health, with higher impact on populations whose diet has fish as chief consumption. Mercury compounds have high affinity for neuronal receptors and proteins, which gives Hg its cumulative feature and have the ability to cross cell membranes and blood-brain barrier to show their neurotoxicity. Intoxication with Hg increases levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus depleting faster the resource of antioxidant proteins. To evaluate Hg-induced hippocampal ROS production, synaptic plasticity, anxiety, and memory, a total of 11 male Wistar rats were exposed to HgCl

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (). This novel coronavirus, which was first reported in Wuhan city, China, in late December 2019 and subsequently spreaded rapidly to all provinces of China and then worldwide, has had a devastating effect on global public health (). As SARS-CoV-2 is highly contagious, the number of global infections has continuously increased since the first confirmed case a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The disease is often transmitted to the patient’s [...]

Sudden unexpected death in Parkinson’s disease (SUDPAR): a review of publications since the decade of the brain