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The 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic resulted in an estimated 3,956 deaths and 10,168 survivors in Sierra Leone (1). The use of high quality specialty services by [...]

We describe a case series of 35 Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors during the epidemic in West Africa who had neurologic and accompanying psychiatric sequelae. Survivors meeting neurologic criteria were invited from a cohort of 361 EVD survivors to attend a preliminary clinic. Those whose severe neurologic features were documented in the preliminary clinic were referred for specialist neurologic evaluation, ophthalmologic examination, and psychiatric assessment. Of 35 survivors with neurologic sequelae, 13 had migraine headache, 2 stroke, 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy, and 2 peripheral nerve lesions. Of brain computed tomography scans of 17 patients, 3 showed cerebral and/or cerebellar atrophy and 2 confirmed strokes. Sixteen patients required mental health followup; psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 5. The 10 patients who experienced greatest disability had co-existing physical and mental health conditions. EVD survivors may have ongoing central and peripheral nervous system disorders, including previously unrecognized migraine headaches and stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn(NCO)2·2NH3catalyst has been synthesized,characterized by X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy, and used asa catalyst for the cyclization of urea and ethylene glycol (EG) toethylene carbonate (EC) for the first time. A maximum yield of 40%has been obtained with a urea/EG mole ratio of 1:1.5 and a temperatureof 150 ± 2 °C. An attempt has been made to predict the mechanismof the reaction with the help of density functional theory calculations.Our calculations suggest the reaction to be a consecutive one. Inthe first step, urea decomposes to ammonia and isocyanic acid (HNCO).HNCO reacts with EG to produce 2-hydroxyethyl carbamate (2-HEC). Atthe last step, 2-HEC cyclizes over Zn(NCO)2·2NH3to EC. Calculations suggest the cyclization of 2-HEC to followa charge-controlled intramolecular nucleophilic elimination cyclizationpath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]