Brain tumor


A brain tumor (or brain tumour) is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor (defined as anabnormal growth of cells) within the brain or the central spinal canal.
Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal. They are created by an abnormal and uncontrolled cell division, normally either in the brain itself (neurons,glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, myelin-producing Schwann cells),lymphatic tissue, blood vessels), in the cranial nerves, in the brain envelopes (meninges), skull,pituitary and pineal gland, or spread from cancers primarily located in other organs (metastatic tumors).
Any brain tumor is inherently serious and life-threatening because of its invasive and infiltrative character in the limited space of the intracranial cavity. However, brain tumors (even malignant ones) are not invariably fatal. Brain tumors or intracranial neoplasms can be cancerous(malignant) or non-cancerous (benign); however, the definitions of malignant or benign neoplasms differs from those commonly used in other types of cancerous or non-cancerous neoplasms in the body. Its threat level depends on the combination of factors like the type of tumor, its location, its size and its state of development. Because the brain is well protected by the skull, the early detection of a brain tumor only occurs when diagnostic tools are directed at the intracranial cavity. Usually detection occurs in advanced stages when the presence of the tumor has caused unexplained symptoms.
Primary (true) brain tumors are commonly located in the posterior cranial fossa in children and in the anterior two-thirds of the cerebral hemispheres in adults, although they can affect any part of the brain.

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[edit]Taxonomy of brain tumors

[edit]By location and origin of the neoplasm

[edit]Secondary brain tumors

Secondary tumors of the brain are metastatic tumors that invaded the intracranial sphere from cancers originating in other organs. This means that a cancerous neoplasm has developed in another organ elsewhere in the body and that cancer cells have leaked from that primary tumor and then entered the lymphatic system and blood vessels. They then circulate through the bloodstream, and are deposited in the brain. There, these cells continue growing and dividing, becoming another invasive neoplasm of the primary cancer's tissue. Secondary tumors of the brain are very common in the terminal phases of patients with an incurable metastasized cancer; the most common types of cancers that bring about secondary tumors of the brain are lung cancer, breast cancer, malignant melanoma, kidney cancer and colon cancer (in decreasing order of frequency).
Secondary brain tumors are the most common cause of tumors in the intracranial cavity.
The skull bone structure can also be subject to a neoplasm that by its very nature reduces the volume of the intracranial cavity, and can damage the brain.

[edit]By behavior of the neoplasm

Brain tumors or intracranial neoplasms can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). However, the definitions of malignant or benign neoplasms differs from those commonly used in other types of cancerous or non-cancerous neoplasms in the body. In cancers elsewhere in the body, three malignant properties differentiate benign tumors from malignant forms of cancer : benign tumors are self-limited and do not invade or metastasize. The malignant characteristics of tumors are :
  • uncontrolled mitosis (growth by division beyond the normal limits),
  • anaplasia : a term meaning that the cells in the neoplasm have an obviously different form (in size and shape). Anaplastic cells display marked pleomorphism. The cell nuclei are characteristically extremely hyperchromatic (darkly stained) and enlarged; the nucleus might have the same size as the cytoplasm of the cell (nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio may approach 1:1, instead of the normal 1:4 or 1:6 ratio).Giant cells that are considerably larger than their neighbors may be formed and possess either one enormous nucleus or several nuclei (syncytia). Anaplastic nuclei are variable and bizarre in size and shape.
  • invasion or infiltration : in medical literature these terms are used as synonymous equivalents. However for clarity in the articles that follow we will adhere to a convention that they mean slightly different things (so readers should be aware that this convention is not kept outside these articles) :
    • Invasion or invasiveness is the spatial expansion of the tumor through uncontrolled mitosis, in the sense that the neoplasm invades the space occupied by adjacent tissue, thereby pushing the other tissue aside and eventually compressing the tissue. Often these tumors are associated with clearly outlined tumors in imaging.
    • Infiltration is the behavior of the tumor either to grow (microscopic) tentacles that push into the surrounding tissue (often making the outline of the tumor undefined or diffuse) or to have tumor cells "seeded" into the tissue beyond the circumference of the tumorous mass; this doesn't mean that an infiltrative tumor doesn't take up space or doesn't compress the surrounding tissue as it grows, but an infiltrating neoplasm makes it difficult to say where the tumor ends and the healthy tissue starts.
  • metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood).
Of the above malignant characteristics, some elements don't apply to primary neoplasms of the brain  :
  • Primary brain tumors rarely metastasize to other organs; some forms of primary brain tumors can metastasize but will not spread outside the intracranial cavity or the central spinal canal. Due to the blood-brain barrier cancerous cells of a primary neoplasm cannot enter the bloodstream and get carried to another location in the body. (Occasional isolated case reports suggest spread of certain brain tumors outside the central nervous system, e.g. bone metastasis of glioblastoma multiforme.[1])
  • Primary brain tumors generally are invasive (i.e. they will expand spatially and intrude into the space occupied by other brain tissue and compress those brain tissues), however some of the more malignant primary brain tumors will infiltrate the surrounding tissue.
Of numerous grading systems in use for the classification of tumor of the central nervous system, the World Health Organization (WHO) grading system is commonly used for astrocytoma. Established in 1993 in an effort to eliminate confusion regarding diagnoses, the WHO system established a four-tiered histologic grading guideline for astrocytomas that assigns a grade from 1 to 4, with 1 being the least aggressive and 4 being the most aggressive.

[edit]Tumor development according to tissue type

[edit]Basic knowledge of the anatomy of the brain needed for further reading

From the brain-wikipedia article and for the purpose of understanding this article some summary notes about the brain and its different types of organic tissues will be provided.
Corresponding regions of human and shark brain are shown. The shark brain is splayed out, while the human brain is more compact. The shark brain starts with the medulla, which is surrounded by various structures, and ends with the telencephalon. The cross-section of the human brain shows the medulla at the bottom surrounded by the same structures, with the telencephalon thickly coating the top of the brain.
Main anatomical regions of the vertebrate brain
When reading the human brain in the picture on the left, only a few of the areas are really of interest to us. The first type of tissue encountered beneath the skullbone in the intracranial cavity is actually not shown on this picture : the meninges. This is what is inflamed in meningitis.

[edit]Meninges

Human brains are surrounded by a system of connective tissue membranes called meninges that separate the skull from the brain. This three-layered covering is composed of (from the outside in) the dura mater ("hard mother"), arachnoid mater ("spidery mother"), and pia mater ("soft mother"). The arachnoid and pia are physically connected and thus often considered as a single layer, the pia-arachnoid. Below the arachnoid is the subarachnoid space which contains cerebrospinal fluid(CSF also called "liquor" in Latin), which circulates in the narrow spaces between cells and through cavities called ventricles, and serves to nourish, support, and protect the brain tissue.Blood vessels enter the central nervous system through the perivascular space above the pia mater. The cells in the blood vessel walls are joined tightly, forming the blood-brain barrier which protects the brain from toxins that might enter through the blood. Tumors of the meninges aremeningioma and are often benign neoplasms..

[edit]Brain matter

The brains of vertebrates (including humans) are made of very soft tissue, with a texture that has been compared to gelatin. Living brain tissue is pinkish on the outside and mostly white on the inside, with subtle variations in color. Three separate brain areas make up the majority of brain volume:
These areas are composed of two broad classes of cells: neurons and glia. These two types are equally numerous in the brain as a whole, although glial cells outnumber neurons roughly 4 to 1 in the cerebral cortex. Glia come in several types, which perform a number of critical functions, including structural support, metabolic support, insulation, and guidance of development.
Primary tumors of the glial cells are called Glioma and often are malignant by the time they are diagnosed. shark and human

[edit]Spinal cord and other tissues

  • The pink area in picture is called the pons and is a specific region that consists of myelinated axons much like the spinal cord
  • The yellow region is the diencephalon (thalamus and hypothalamus) which consist also of neuron and glial cell tissue with the hypophysis (or pituitary gland) and pineal gland (which is glandular tissue) attached at the bottom; tumors of the pituitary and pineal gland are often benign neoplasms
  • The turquoise region or medulla oblongata is the end of the spinal cord and is composed mainly of neuron tissue enveloped in Schwann cells and meninges tissue. Our spinal cord is made up of bundles of these axons. Glial cells such as Schwann cells in the periphery or, within the cord itself, oligodendrocytes, wrap themselves around the axon, thus promoting faster transmission of electrical signals and also providing for general maintenance of the environment surrounding the cord, in part by shuttling different compounds around, responding to injury, etc.

[edit]In pediatrics

A brainstem glioma in four year old. MRIsagittal, without contrast
In the US, about 2000 children and adolescents younger than 20 years of age are diagnosed with malignant brain tumors each year. Higher incidence rates were reported in 1975–83 than in 1985–94. There is some debate as to the reasons; one theory is that the trend is the result of improved diagnosis and reporting, since the jump occurred at the same time that MRIs became available widely, and there was no coincident jump in mortality. The CNS cancer survival rate in children is approximately 60%. The rate varies with the type of cancer and the age of onset: younger patients have higher mortality.[2]
In children under 2, about 70% of brain tumors are medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and low-gradeglioma. Less commonly, and seen usually in infants, are teratoma and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor.[3] Germ cell tumors, including teratoma, make up just 3% of pediatric primary brain tumors, but the worldwide incidence varies significantly.[4]

[edit]Prognosis

The prognosis of brain cancer varies based on the type of cancer. Medulloblastoma has a good prognosis with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical resection while glioblastoma multiforme has a median survival of only 12 months even with aggressive chemoradiotherapy and surgery. Brainstem gliomas have the poorest prognosis of any form of brain cancer, with most patients dying within one year, even with therapy that typically consists of radiation to the tumor along with corticosteroids. However, one type of brainstem glioma, a focal[5] seems open to exceptional prognosis and long-term survival has frequently been reported.

[edit]Glioblastoma multiforme

Main article: Glioblastoma multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme is the deadliest and most common form of malignant brain tumor. Even when aggressive multimodality therapy consisting of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical excision is used, median survival is only 12–17 months. Standard therapy for glioblastoma multiforme consists of maximal surgical resection of the tumor, followed by radiotherapy between two and four weeks after thesurgical procedure to remove the cancer. This is followed by chemotherapy. Most patients with glioblastoma take a corticosteroid, typicallydexamethasone, during their illness to palliate symptoms. Experimental treatments include gamma-knife radiosurgery,[6] boron neutron capture therapy and gene transfer.[7]

[edit]Oligodendrogliomas

Main article: Oligodendroglioma
Oligodendroglioma is an incurable but slowly progressive malignant brain tumor. They can be treated with surgical resection, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. For suspected low-grade oligodendrogliomas in select patients, some neuro-oncologists opt for a course of watchful waiting, with only symptomatic therapy. Tumors with the 1p/19q co-deletion have been found to be especially chemosensitive, and one source reports oligodendrogliomas to be "among the most chemosensitive of human solid malignancies".[8] A median survival of up to 16.7 years has been reported for low grade oligodendrogliomas.[9]

[edit]Schematic overview of tumors

[edit]Characteristics of tumors

Tumors have characteristics that allow pathologists to determine how dangerous a tumor is/was for the patient, how it will evolve and it will allow the medical team to determine the management plan for the patient.
Anaplasia: or dedifferentiation; loss of differentiation of cells and of their orientation to one another and blood vessels, a characteristic of anaplastic tumor tissue. Anaplastic cells have lost total control of their normal functions and many have deteriorated cell structures. Anaplastic cells often have abnormally high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios, and many are multinucleated. Additionally, the nuclei of anaplastic cells are usually unnaturally shaped or oversized nuclei. Cells can become anaplastic in two ways: neoplastic tumor cells can dedifferentiate to become anaplasias (the dedifferentiation causes the cells to lose all of their normal structure/function), or cancer stem cells can increase in their capacity to multiply (i.e., uncontrollable growth due to failure of differentiation).
Atypia: is an indication of abnormality of a cell (which may be indicative for malignancy). Significance of the abnormality is highly dependent on context.
Neoplasia: is the (uncontrolled) division of cells; as such neoplasia is not problematic but its consequences are: the uncontrolled division of cells means that the mass of a neoplasm increases in size, and in a confined space such as the intracranial cavity this quickly becomes problematic because the mass invades the space of the brain pushing it aside, leading to compression of the brain tissue and increased intracranial pressure and destruction of brain parenchyma. Increased Intracranial pressure (ICP) may be attributable to the direct mass effect of the tumor, increased blood volume, or increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume may in turn have secondary symptoms
Necrosis: is the (premature) death of cells, caused by external factors such as infection, toxin or trauma. Necrotic cells send the wrong chemical signals which prevents phagocytes from disposing of the dead cells, leading to a build up of dead tissue, cell debris and toxins at or near the site of the necrotic cells [10]
Arterial and venous hypoxia, or the deprivation of adequate oxygen supply to certain areas of the brain, occurs when a tumor makes use of nearby blood vessels for its supply of blood and the neoplasm enters into competition for nutrients with the surrounding brain tissue.
More generally a neoplasm may cause release of metabolic end products (e.g., free radicals, altered electrolytes, neurotransmitters), and release and recruitment of cellular mediators (e.g., cytokines) that disrupt normal parenchymal function.

[edit]Signs and symptoms

The visibility of signs and symptoms of brain tumors mainly depends on two factors: tumor size (volume) and tumor location. The moment that symptoms will become apparent, either to the person or people around him (symptom onset) is an important milestone in the course of the diagnosis and treatment of the tumor. The symptom onset - in the timeline of the development of the neoplasm - depends in many cases on the nature of the tumor but in many cases is also related to the change of the neoplasm from "benign" (i.e. slow-growing/late symptom onset) to more malignant (fast growing/early symptom onset).
Symptoms of solid neoplasms of the brain (primary brain tumors and secondary tumors alike) can be divided in 3 main categories :
The above symptoms are true for ALL types of neoplasm of the brain (including secondary tumors). It is common that a person carry a primary benign neoplasm for several years and have no visible symptoms at all. Many present some vague and intermittent symptoms like headaches and occasional vomiting or weariness, which can be easily mistaken for gastritis or gastroenteritis. It might seem strange that despite having a mass in his skull exercising pressure on the brain the patient feels no pain, but as anyone who has suffered a concussion can attest, pain is felt on the outside of the skull and not in the brain itself. The brain has no nerve sensors in the meninges (outer surface) with which to feel or transmit pain to the brain's pain center; it cannot signal pain without a sensory input. That is why secondary symptoms like those described above should alert doctors to the possible diagnosis of a neoplasm of the brain.
When a person suffering from a metastasized cancer is diagnosed, a scan of the skull frequently reveals secondary tumors.
In a recent study by the Dutch GP Association,[11] a list of causes of headaches [12] was published, that should alert GP's to take their diagnosis further then to choose for symptomatic treatment of headaches with simple pain medication (note the occurrence of brain tumors as possible cause) :
Alarm SignalsPossible Cause to be investigated
first headache complaint from patient over 50brain tumor, arteriïtis temporalis
first migraine attack in patient over 40brain tumor
headache from patient under 6brain tumor, hydrocephalus
senior patient with pain at templesarteriïtis temporalis
pregnancy with unknown headachepre-eclampsia
increased headaches after traumasub/epidural hematoma
high-pitched headaches with high blood pressuremalign hypertension
acute high pitched headachemeningitis, CVA (Cerebrovascular accident or stroke), subarachnoidal hemorrhage
headache and fever (with reduced consciousness)meningitis
Stiffness of the neck/neurological dysfunctionmeningitis, brain tumor
headache with signs of elevated intracranial pressurebrain tumor
focal neurological dysfunctionbrain tumor
early morning vomiting or vomiting unrelated to headache or other illnessbrain tumor
behavioral changes or rapid decline in school resultsbrain tumor
aura migraine always at one sidebrain tumor

[edit]Diagnosis

Although there is no specific or singular clinical symptom or sign for any brain tumors, the presence of a combination of symptoms and the lack of corresponding clinical indications of infections or other causes can be an indicator to redirect diagnostic investigation towards the possibility of an intracranial neoplasm.
The diagnosis will often start with an interrogation of the patient to get a clear view of his medical antecedents, and his current symptoms. Clinical and laboratory investigations will serve to exclude infections as the cause of the symptoms. Examinations in this stage may includeophtamological, otolaryngological (or ENT) and/or electrophysiological exams. The use of electroencephalography (EEG) often plays a role in the diagnosis of brain tumors.
Swelling, or obstruction of the passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain may cause (early) signs of increased intracranial pressurewhich translates clinically into headaches, vomiting, or an altered state of consciousness, and in children changes to the diameter of theskull and bulging of the fontanelles. More complex symptoms such as endocrine dysfunctions should alarm doctors not to exclude brain tumors.
A bilateral temporal visual field defect (due to compression of the optic chiasm) or dilatation of the pupil, and the occurrence of either slowly evolving or the sudden onset of focal neurologic symptoms, such as cognitive and behavioral impairment (including impaired judgment, memory loss, lack of recognition, spatial orientation disorders), personality or emotional changes, hemiparesis, hypoesthesia, aphasia,ataxia, visual field impairment, impaired sense of smell, impaired hearing, facial paralysis, double vision, or more severe symptoms such astremors, paralysis on one side of the body hemiplegia, or (epileptic) seizures in a patient with a negative history for epilepsy, should raise the possibility of a brain tumor.
Micrograph of an oligodendroglioma, a type ofbrain cancer. Brain biopsy. H&E stain.
Imaging plays a central role in the diagnosis of brain tumors. Early imaging methods —invasive and sometimes dangerous— such as pneumoencephalography and cerebralangiography, have been abandoned in recent times in favor of non-invasive, high-resolution techniques, such as computed tomography (CT)-scans and especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Neoplasms will often show as differently colored masses (also referred to as processes) in CT or MRI results.
  • Benign brain tumors often show up as hypodense (darker than brain tissue) mass lesions on cranial CT-scans. On MRI, they appear either hypo- (darker than brain tissue) or isointense (same intensity as brain tissue) on T1-weighted scans, or hyperintense (brighter than brain tissue) on T2-weighted MRI, although the appearance is variable.
  • Contrast agent uptake, sometimes in characteristic patterns, can be demonstrated on either CT or MRI-scans in most malignant primary and metastatic brain tumors.
  • Perifocal edema , or pressure-areas, or where the brain tissue has been compressed by an invasive process also appears hyperintense on T2-weighted MRI, they might indicate the presence a diffuse neoplasm (unclear outline)
This is because these tumors disrupt the normal functioning of the blood-brain barrier and lead to an increase in its permeability. However it is not possible to diagnose high versus low grade gliomas based on enhancement pattern alone.
Glioblastoma multiforme and anaplastic astrocytoma have been associated[who?] with the genetic acute hepatic porphyrias (PCT, AIP, HCPand VP), including positive testing associated with drug refractory seizures. Unexplained complications associated with drug treatments with these tumors should alert physicians to an undiagnosed neurological porphyria.
The definitive diagnosis of brain tumor can only be confirmed by histological examination of tumor tissue samples obtained either by means of brain biopsy or open surgery. The histological examination is essential for determining the appropriate treatment and the correct prognosis. This examination, performed by a pathologist, typically has three stages: interoperative examination of fresh tissue, preliminary microscopic examination of prepared tissues, and followup examination of prepared tissues after immunohistochemical staining or genetic analysis.

[edit]Treatment

When a brain tumor is diagnosed, a medical team will be formed to assess the treatment options presented by the leading surgeon to the patient and his/her family. Given the location of primary solid neoplasms of the brain in most cases a "do-nothing" option is usually not presented. Neurosurgeons take the time to observe the evolution of the neoplasm before proposing a management plan to the patient and his/her relatives. These various types of treatment are available depending on neoplasm type and location and may be combined to give the best chances of survival:
  • surgery: complete or partial ressection of the tumor with the objective of removing as many tumor cells as possible
  • radiotherapy
  • chemotherapy, with the aim of killing as many as possible of cancerous cells left behind after surgery and of putting remaining tumor cells into a nondividing, sleeping state for as long as possible
  • A variety of experimental therapies are available through clinical trials [13]
Survival rates in primary brain tumors depend on the type of tumor, age, functional status of the patient, the extent of surgical tumor removal and other factors specific to each case.[14]

[edit]Surgery

The primary and most desired course of action described in medical literature is surgical removal (resection) via craniotomy. Minimally invasive techniques are being studied but are far from being common practice. The prime remediating objective of surgery is to remove as many tumor cells as possible, with complete removal being the best outcome and cytoreduction ("debulking") of the tumor otherwise. In some cases access to the tumor is impossible and impedes or prohibits surgery.
Many meningiomas, with the exception of some tumors located at the skull base, can be successfully removed surgically. Most pituitary adenomas can be removed surgically, often using a minimally invasive approach through the nasal cavity and skull base (trans-nasal, trans-sphenoidal approach). Large pituitary adenomas require a craniotomy (opening of the skull) for their removal. Radiotherapy, includingstereotactic approaches, is reserved for inoperable cases.
Several current research studies aim to improve the surgical removal of brain tumors by labeling tumor cells with a chemical (5-aminolevulinic acid) that causes them to fluoresce.[15] Postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are integral parts of the therapeutic standard for malignant tumors. Radiotherapy may also be administered in cases of "low-grade" gliomas, when a significant tumor burden reduction could not be achieved surgically.
Any person undergoing brain surgery may suffer from epileptic seizures. Seizures can vary from absences to severe tonic-clonic attacks. Medication is prescribed and administered to minimize or eliminate the occurrence of seizures.
Multiple metastatic tumors are generally treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy rather than surgery. the prognosis in such cases is determined by the primary tumor, but is generally poor.

[edit]Radiation therapy

The goal of radiation therapy is to selectively kill tumor cells while leaving normal brain tissue unharmed. In standard external beam radiation therapy, multiple treatments of standard-dose "fractions" of radiation are applied to the brain. This process is repeated for a total of 10 to 30 treatments, depending on the type of tumor. This additional treatment provides some patients with improved outcomes and longer survival rates.
Radiosurgery is a treatment method that uses computerized calculations to focus radiation at the site of the tumor while minimizing the radiation dose to the surrounding brain. Radiosurgery may be an adjunct to other treatments, or it may represent the primary treatment technique for some tumors.
Radiotherapy may be used following, or in some cases in place of, resection of the tumor. Forms of radiotherapy used for brain cancer include external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and in more difficult cases, stereotactic radiosurgery, such as Gamma knife,Cyberknife or Novalis Tx radiosurgery.[16]
Radiotherapy is the most common treatment for secondary brain tumors. The amount of radiotherapy depends on the size of the area of the brain affected by cancer. Conventional external beam 'whole brain radiotherapy treatment' (WBRT) or 'whole brain irradiation' may be suggested if there is a risk that other secondary tumors will develop in the future.[17] Stereotactic radiotherapy is usually recommended in cases involving fewer than three small secondary brain tumors.
In 2008 a study published by the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center indicated that cancer patients who receive stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors have more than twice the risk of developing learning and memory problems than those treated with SRS alone.[18][19]

[edit]Chemotherapy

Patients undergoing chemotherapy are administered drugs designed to kill tumor cells. Although chemotherapy may improve overall survival in patients with the most malignant primary brain tumors, it does so in only about 20 percent of patients. Chemotherapy is often used in young children instead of radiation, as radiation may have negative effects on the developing brain. The decision to prescribe this treatment is based on a patient’s overall health, type of tumor, and extent of the cancer. The toxicity and many side effects of the drugs, and the uncertain outcome of chemotherapy in brain tumors puts this treatment further down the line of treatment options with surgery and radiation therapy preferred.
UCLA Neuro-Oncology publishes real-time survival data for patients with a diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme. They are the only institution in the United States that displays how brain tumor patients are performing on current therapies. They also show a listing of chemotherapy agents used to treat high grade glioma tumors.

[edit]Other Treatments

A shunt is used not as a cure but to relieve symptoms by reducing hydrocephalus caused by blockage of cerebrospinal fluid. [20]
Researchers are presently investigating a number of promising new treatments including gene therapy, highly focused radiation therapy, immunotherapy and novel chemotherapies. A variety of new treatments are being made available on an investigational basis at centers specializing in brain tumor therapies.

[edit]Research and treatment with the vesicular stomatitis virus

In 2000, researchers at the University of Ottawa, led by John Bell PhD., discovered that the vesicular stomatitis virus, or VSV, can infect and kill cancer cells, without affecting healthy cells if coadministered with interferon.[21]
The initial discovery of the virus' oncolytic properties were limited to only a few types of cancer. Several independent studies have identified many more types susceptible to the virus, including glioblastoma multiforme cancer cells, which account for the majority of brain tumors.
In 2008, researchers artificially engineered strains of VSV that were less cytotoxic to normal cells. This advance allows administration of the virus without coadministration with interferon. Consequently administration of the virus can be given intravenously or through the olfactory nerve. In the research, a human brain tumor was implanted into mice brains.
Research on virus treatment like this has been conducted for some years, but no other viruses have been shown to be as efficient or specific as the VSV mutant strains. Future research will focus on the risks of this treatment, before it can be applied to humans.[22]

[edit]Research into the use of Retroviral Replicating Vectors (RRV) for treating brain cancer

Led by Prof. Nori Kasahara, researchers from USC, who are now at UCLA, reported in 2001 the first successful example of applying the use of retroviral replicating vectors towards transducing cell lines derived from solid tumors.[23] Building on this initial work, the researchers applied the technology to in vivo models of cancer and in 2005 reported a long-term survival benefit in an experimental brain tumor animal model.[24] Subsequently, in preparation for human clinical trials, this technology was further developed by Tocagen, Inc.[25] and is currently under clinical investigation in a Phase I/II trial for the potential treatment of recurrent high grade glioma including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and anaplastic astrocytoma.[26]

[edit]Occurrence of Brain Tumors

The incidence of low-grade astrocytoma has not been shown to vary significantly with nationality. However, studies examining the incidence of malignant CNS tumors have shown some variation with national origin. Since some of these high-grade lesions arise from low-grade tumors, these trends are worth mentioning. Specifically, the incidence of CNS tumors in the United States, Israel, and the Nordic countries is relatively high, while Japan and Asian countries have a lower incidence. These differences probably reflect some biological differences as well as differences in pathologic diagnosis and reporting.[27]

Worldwide data on incidence of cancer can be found at the WHO (world health organisation) and is handled by the AIRC (Agency for Interanctional Research on Cancer) located in France.[28]
Figures for incidences of cancers of the brain show a significant difference between more and less developed countries (i.e. the lesser developed countries have less incidences of tumors of the brain) this could be explained by undiagnosed tumor-related deaths (patient in extreme poor situations don't get diagnosed simply because they don't have access to the modern diagnostic facilities required to diagnose a brain tumor) and by deaths caused by other poverty related causes that preempt a patients life before tumors develop or tumors become life threatening. Nevertheless studies have been made that certain forms of primary brain tumors are more prevalent among certain groups of the population.

[edit]National figures

From the British national statistics data about new diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of the brain for the year 2007 (in absolute figures and in rates per 100.000)
ICD-10 code : C71 Description : Malignant neoplasm of brain
MeasuresGenderDASRAll agesUnder 11-45-910-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-8485+
Absolute figuresM2.1373439313733486187100116.114224226425823719312873
F1.5987423937282537504273879914019116616915811197
Rates per 100.000 inhabitantsM7,78,52,12,82,72,02,11,92,83,74,65,16,69,315,718,624,025,826,726,621,2
F5,36,22,23,62,82,51,71,52,23,02,23,74,96,38,812,914,316,217,115,112,8
CBTRUS (Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States), In the United States in the year 2005, it was estimated there were 43,800 new cases of brain tumors (Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Primary Brain Tumors in the United States, Statistical Report, 2005–2006),[29] which accounted for 1.4 percent of all cancers, 2.4 percent of all cancer deaths,[30] and 20–25 percent of pediatric cancers.[30][31] Ultimately, it is estimated there are 13,000 deaths per year in the United States alone as a result of brain tumors.[29]

[edit]See also

[edit]References

  1. ^ Frappaz D, Mornex F, Saint-Pierre G, Ranchere-Vince D, Jouvet A, Chassagne-Clement C, Thiesse P, Mere P, Deruty R. (1999). "Bone metastasis of glioblastoma multiforme confirmed by fine needle biopsy". Acta neurochirurgica (Wien) 141 (5): 551–552.doi:10.1007/s007010050342. PMID 10392217.
  2. ^ Gurney, James G; Smith, Malcolm A; Bunin, Greta R. "CNS and Miscellaneous Intracranial and Instraspinal Neoplasms" (PDF).SEER Pediatric Monograph. National Cancer Institute. pp. 51–52 (incidence); pp. 56–57 (trends); p. 57 (survival). Retrieved 4 December 2008. "[re incidence] In the US, approximately 2,200 children and adolescents younger than 20 years of age are diagnosed with malignant central nervous system tumors each year. More than 90 percent of primary CNS malignancies in children are located within the brain."
  3. ^ Infantile Brain Tumors by Brian Rood for The Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation (accessed July 2007)
  4. ^ Echevarría ME, Fangusaro J, Goldman S (June 2008). "Pediatric central nervous system germ cell tumors: a review". Oncologist 13(6): 690–9. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2008-0037.PMID 18586924.
  5. ^ http://www.childhoodbraintumor.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57:brain-stem-gliomas-in-childhood&catid=34:brain-tumor-types-and-imaging&Itemid=53
  6. ^ http://brain.mgh.harvard.edu/patientguide.htm
  7. ^http://www.nhhs.net/ourpages/auto/2009/3/25/49144229/Ram_s%20second%20paper.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/66/2/247
  9. ^ http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/7/1442
  10. ^ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002266.htm
  11. ^ http://nhg.artsennet.nl
  12. ^ http://www.gezondheid.be/INDEX.cfm?fuseaction=art&art_id=2663
  13. ^ http://www.virtualtrials.com/serchfrm.cfm
  14. ^ Nicolato A, Gerosa MA, Fina P, Iuzzolino P, Giorgiutti F, Bricolo A (Sep 1995). "Prognostic factors in low-grade supratentorial astrocytomas: a uni-multivariate statistical analysis in 76 surgically treated adult patients". Surg Neurol 44 (3): 208–21; discussion 221–3. doi:10.1016/0090-3019(95)00184-0. PMID 8545771.
  15. ^ Clinical trials in brain tumors.. Accessed June 2000.
  16. ^ Radiosurgery treatment comparisons - Cyberknife, Gamma knife, Novalis Tx
  17. ^ Treating secondary brain tumours with WBRT
  18. ^ Whole Brain Radiation increases risk of learning and memory problems in cancer patients with brain metastases
  19. ^ IRSA - International RadioSurgery Association - Metastatic brain tumors
  20. ^http://www.emedicinehealth.com/normal_pressure_hydrocephalus/page9_em.htm
  21. ^ Researchers Find Cancer-Killing Virus; July 24, 2000.
  22. ^ Yale Lab Engineers Virus That Can Kill Deadly Brain Tumors; February 21, 2008.
  23. ^ [1]; Christopher R. Logg, Chien-Kuo Tai, Aki Logg, W. French Anderson, Noriyuki Kasahara. Human Gene Therapy. May 2001, A Uniquely Stable Replication-Competent Retrovirus Vector Achieves Efficient Gene Delivery in Vitro and in Solid Tumors" 12(8): 921-932"
  24. ^ [2]; Chien-Kuo Tai1, Wei Jun Wang, Thomas C. Chen and Noriyuki Kasahara, Molecular Therapy (2005) "Single-Shot, Multicycle Suicide Gene Therapy by Replication-Competent Retrovirus Vectors Achieves Long-Term Survival Benefit in Experimental Glioma" 12, 842–851
  25. ^ http://www.tocagen.com
  26. ^ [3]; Clinical Trials.gov (January 2011) "A Study of a Replication Competent Retrovirus Administered to Subjects With Recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM)"
  27. ^ George I Jallo, MD, & Ethan A Benardete, MD, PhD (January 2010). Low-Grade Astrocytoma.
  28. ^ http://www-dep.iarc.fr
  29. ^ a b Greenlee RT, Murray T, Bolden S, Wingo PA (2000). "Cancer statistics, 2000". CA Cancer J Clin 50 (1): 7–33.doi:10.3322/canjclin.50.1.7. PMID 10735013.
  30. ^ a b American Cancer Society. Accessed June 2000.
  31. ^ Chamberlain MC, Kormanik PA (Feb 1998). "Practical guidelines for the treatment of malignant gliomas". West J Med. 168 (2): 114–20. PMC 1304839. PMID 9499745.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For other uses, see Dengue fever (disambiguation). Dengue fever Classification and external resources The typical rash seen in dengue fever ICD-10 A90. ICD-9 061 DiseasesDB 3564 MedlinePlus 001374 eMedicine med/528 MeSH C02.782.417.214 Dengue fever (UK: /ˈdɛŋɡeɪ/, US: /ˈdɛŋɡiː/), also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic morbilliform skin rash. In a small proportion of cases the disease develops to the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage) and dengue shock syndrome (circulatory failure). Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the Aedes genus, principally A. aegypti. The virus has four different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type is believed to increase the risk of severe complications. As there is no vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases. The incidence of dengue fever has increased dramatically over the last 50 years, with around 50–100 million people infected yearly. Dengue is currently endemic in more than 110 countries. Early descriptions of the condition date from 1779, and its viral cause and the transmission were elucidated in the early 20th century. Dengue has become a worldwide problem since the Second World War. Contents [hide] 1 Signs and symptoms 1.1 Clinical course 1.2 Associated problems 2 Cause 2.1 Virology 2.2 Transmission 2.3 Predisposition 3 Mechanism 3.1 Viral reproduction 3.2 Severe disease 4 Diagnosis 4.1 General 4.2 Classification 4.3 Virology and serology 5 Prevention 6 Management 7 Epidemiology 8 History 8.1 Etymology 8.2 Discovery 9 Research 10 Notes 11 References 12 External links Signs and symptoms Schematic depiction of the symptoms of dengue fever People infected with dengue virus are commonly asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms such as an uncomplicated fever.[1][2] Others have more severe illness, and in a small proportion it is life-threatening.[1] The incubation period (time between exposure and onset of symptoms) ranges from 3–14 days, but most often it is 4–7 days.[3] This means that travellers returning from endemic areas are unlikely to have dengue if fever or other symptoms start more than 14 days after arriving home.[4] Children often experience symptoms similar to those of the common cold and gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea),[5] but are more susceptible to the severe complications.[4] Clinical course The characteristic symptoms of dengue are: a sudden-onset fever, headache (typically behind the eyes), muscle and joint pains, and a rash. The alternative name for dengue, "break-bone fever", comes from the associated muscle and joints pains.[1][6] The course of infection is divided into three phases: febrile, critical, and recovery.[7] The febrile phase involves high fevers, frequently over 40 °C (104 °F) and is associated with generalized pain and a headache; this usually lasts two to seven days.[6][7] Flushed skin and some small red spots called petechiae, which are caused by broken capillaries, may occur at this point,[7] as may some mild bleeding from mucous membranes of the mouth and nose.[4][6] The critical phase, if it occurs, follows the resolution of the high fever and typically lasts one to two days.[7] During this phase there may be significant fluid accumulation in the chest and abdominal cavity due to increased capillary permeability and leakage. This leads to depletion of fluid from the circulation and decreased blood supply to vital organs.[7] During this phase, organ dysfunction and severe bleeding (typically from the gastrointestinal tract) may occur.[4][7] Shock and hemorrhage occur in less than 5% of all cases of dengue,[4] however those who have previously been infected with other serotypes of dengue virus ("secondary infection") have an increased risk.[4][8] The recovery phase occurs next, with resorption of the leaked fluid into the bloodstream.[7] This usually lasts two to three days.[4] The improvement is often striking, but there may be severe itching and a slow heart rate.[4][7] It is during this stage that a fluid overload state may occur, which if it affects the brain may reduce the level of consciousness or cause seizures.[4] Associated problems Dengue may occasionally affect several other body systems.[7] This may be either in isolation or along with the classic dengue symptoms.[5] A decreased level of consciousness occurs in 0.5–6% of severe cases. This may be caused by infection of the brain by the virus or indirectly due to impairment of vital organs, for example, the liver.[5][9] Other neurological disorders have been reported in the context of dengue, such as transverse myelitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome.[5] Infection of the heart and acute liver failure are among the rarer complications of dengue.[4][7] Cause Virology Main article: Dengue virus A TEM micrograph showing dengue virus virions (the cluster of dark dots near the center) Dengue fever virus (DENV) is an RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae; genus Flavivirus. Other members of the same family include yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Kyasanur forest disease virus, and Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus.[9] Most are transmitted by arthropods (mosquitoes or ticks), and are therefore also referred to as arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses).[9] The dengue virus genome (genetic material) contains about 11,000 nucleotide bases, which code for the three different types of protein molecules that form the virus particle (C, prM and E) and seven other types of protein molecules (NS1, NS2a, NS2b, NS3, NS4a, NS4b, NS5) that are only found in infected host cells and are required for replication of the virus.[8][10] There are four strains of the virus, which are called serotypes, and these are referred to as DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4.[2] All four serotypes can cause the full spectrum of disease.[8] Infection with one serotype is believed to produce lifelong immunity to that serotype but only short term protection against the others.[2][6] The severe complications on secondary infection seem to occur particularly if someone previously exposed to serotype DENV-1 then contracts serotype DENV-2 or serotype DENV-3, or if someone previously exposed to type DENV-3 then acquires DENV-2.[10] Transmission The mosquito Aedes aegypti feeding off a human host Dengue virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, particularly A. aegypti.[2] These mosquitoes usually live between the latitudes of 35° North and 35° South below an elevation of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).[2] They bite primarily during the day.[11] Other mosquito species—Aedes albopictus, A. polynesiensis and several A. scutellaris—may also transmit the disease.[2] Humans are the primary host of the virus,[2][9] but it may also circulate in nonhuman primates.[12] An infection may be acquired via a single bite.[13] A mosquito that takes a blood meal from a person infected with dengue fever becomes itself infected with the virus in the cells lining its gut. About 8–10 days later, the virus spreads to other tissues including the mosquito's salivary glands and is subsequently released into its saliva. The virus seems to have no detrimental effect on the mosquito, which remains infected for life. Aedes aegypti prefers to lay its eggs in artificial water containers and tends to live in close proximity to humans, and prefers to feed off people rather than other vertebrates.[14] Dengue may also be transmitted via infected blood products and through organ donation.[15][16] In countries such as Singapore, where dengue is endemic, the risk is estimated to be between 1.6 and 6 per 10,000 transfusions.[17] Vertical transmission (from mother to child) during pregnancy or at birth has been observed.[13] Other person-to-person modes of transmission have been reported, but are very unusual.[6] Predisposition Severe disease is more common in babies and young children, and in contrast to many other infections it is more common in children that are relatively well nourished.[4] Women are more at risk than men.[10] Dengue may be life-threatening in people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma.[10] It is thought that polymorphisms (normal variations) in particular genes may increase the risk of severe dengue complications. Examples include the genes coding for the proteins known as TNFα, mannan-binding lectin,[1] CTLA4, TGFβ,[8] DC-SIGN, and particular forms of human leukocyte antigen.[10] A common genetic abnormality in Africans, known as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, appears to increase the risk.[18] Polymorphisms in the genes for the vitamin D receptor and FcγR seem to offer protection.[10] Mechanism When a mosquito carrying DENV bites a person, the virus enters the skin together with the mosquito's saliva. It binds to and enters white blood cells, and reproduces inside the cells while they move throughout the body. The white blood cells respond by producing a number of signalling proteins (such as interferon) that are responsible for many of the symptoms, such as the fever, the flu-like symptoms and the severe pains. In severe infection, the virus production inside the body is greatly increased, and many more organs (such as the liver and the bone marrow) can be affected, and fluid from the bloodstream leaks through the wall of small blood vessels into body cavities. As a result, less blood circulates in the blood vessels, and the blood pressure becomes so low that it cannot supply sufficient blood to vital organs. Furthermore, dysfunction of the bone marrow leads to reduced numbers of platelets, which are necessary for effective blood clotting; this increases the risk of bleeding, the other major complication of dengue.[18] Viral reproduction After entering the skin, DENV binds to Langerhans cells (a population of dendritic cells in the skin that identifies pathogens).[18] The virus enters the cells through binding between viral proteins and membrane proteins on the Langerhans cell, specifically the C-type lectins called DC-SIGN, mannose receptor and CLEC5A.[8] DC-SIGN, a non-specific receptor for foreign material on dendritic cells, seems to be the main one.[10] The dendritic cell moves to the nearest lymph node. Meanwhile, the virus genome is replicated in membrane-bound vesicles on the cell's endoplasmic reticulum, where the cell's protein synthesis apparatus produces new viral proteins, and the viral RNA is copied. Immature virus particles are transported to the Golgi apparatus, the part of the cell where the some of the proteins receive necessary sugar chains (glycoproteins). The now mature new viruses bud on the surface of the infected cell and are released by exocytosis. They are then able enter other white blood cells (such as monocytes and macrophages).[8] The initial reaction of infected cells is to produce the interferon, a cytokine that raises a number of defenses against viral infection through the innate immune system by augmenting the production of a large group of proteins (mediated by the JAK-STAT pathway). Some serotypes of DENV appear to have mechanisms to slow down this process. Interferon also activates the adaptive immune system, which leads to the generation of antibodies against the virus as well as T cells that directly attack any cell infected with the virus.[8] Various antibodies are generated; some bind closely to the viral proteins and target them for phagocytosis (ingestion by specialized cells) and destruction, but some bind the virus less well and appear instead to deliver the virus into a part of the phagocytes where it is not destroyed but is able to replicate further.[8] Severe disease Further information: Antibody-dependent enhancement It is not entirely clear why secondary infection with a different strain of DENV places people at risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. The most widely accepted hypothesis is that of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). The exact mechanism behind ADE is unclear. It may be caused by poor binding of non-neutralizing antibodies and delivery into the wrong compartment of white blood cells that have ingested the virus for destruction.[8][10] There is a suspicion that ADE is not the only mechanism underlying severe dengue-related complications,[1] and various lines of research have implied a role for T cells and soluble factors (such as cytokines and the complement system).[18] Severe disease is marked by two problems: dysfunction of endothelium (the cells that line blood vessels) and disordered blood clotting.[5] Endothelial dysfunction leads to the leakage of fluid from the blood vessels into the chest and abdominal cavities, while coagulation disorder is responsible for the bleeding complications. Higher levels of virus in the blood and involvement of other organs (such as the bone marrow and the liver) are associated with more severe disease. Cells in the affected organs die, leading to the release of cytokines and activation of both coagulation and fibrinolysis (the opposing systems of blood clotting and clot degradation). These alterations together lead to both endothelial dysfunction and coagulation disorder.[18] Diagnosis General Warning signs[19] Abdominal pain Ongoing vomiting Liver enlargement Mucosal bleeding High hematocrit with low platelets Lethargy The diagnosis of dengue is typically made clinically, on the basis of reported symptoms and physical examination; this applies especially in endemic areas.[1] Early disease can however be difficult to differentiate from other viral infections.[4] A probable diagnosis is based on the findings of fever plus two of the following: nausea and vomiting, rash, generalized pains, low white blood cell count, positive tourniquet test, or any warning sign (see table) in someone who lives in an endemic area.[19] Warning signs typically occur before the onset of severe dengue.[7] The tourniquet test, which is particularly useful in settings where no laboratory investigations are readily available, involves the application of a blood pressure cuff for five minutes, followed by the counting of any petechial hemorrhages; a higher number makes a diagnosis of dengue more likely.[7] It may be difficult to distinguish dengue fever and chikungunya, a similar viral infection that shares many symptoms and occurs in similar parts of the world to dengue.[6] Often, investigations are performed to exclude other conditions that cause similar symptoms, such as malaria, leptospirosis, typhoid fever, and meningococcal disease.[4] The earliest change detectable on laboratory investigations is a low white blood cell count, which may then be followed by low platelets and metabolic acidosis.[4] In severe disease, plasma leakage may result in hemoconcentration (as indicated by a rising hematocrit) and hypoalbuminemia.[4] Pleural effusions or ascites may be detected by physical examination when large,[4] but the demonstration of fluid on ultrasound may assist in the early identification of dengue shock syndrome.[1][4] The use of ultrasound is limited by lack of availability in many settings.[1] Classification The World Health Organization's 2009 classification divides dengue fever into two groups: uncomplicated and severe.[1][19] This replaces the 1997 WHO classification, which needed to be simplified as it had been found to be too restrictive, but the older classification is still widely used.[19] The 1997 classification divided dengue into undifferentiated fever, dengue fever, and dengue hemorrhagic fever.[4][20] Dengue hemorrhagic fever was subdivided further into four grades (grade I–IV). Grade I is the presence only of easy bruising or a positive "tourniquet test" (see below) in someone with fever, grade II is the presence of spontaneous bleeding into the skin and elsewhere, grade III is the clinical evidence of shock, and grade IV is shock so severe that blood pressure and pulse cannot be detected.[20] Grades III and IV are referred to as "dengue shock syndrome".[19][20] Virology and serology Dengue fever may also be diagnosed by microbiological laboratory testing.[19] This can be done by virus isolation in cell cultures, nucleic acid detection by PCR, viral antigen detection or specific antibodies (serology).[10][21] Virus isolation and nucleic acid detection are more accurate than antigen detection, but these tests are not widely available due to their greater cost.[21] All tests may be negative in the early stages of the disease.[4][10] Apart from serology, laboratory tests are only of diagnostic value during the acute phase of the illness. Tests for dengue virus-specific antibodies, types IgG and IgM, can be useful in confirming a diagnosis in the later stages of the infection. Both IgG and IgM are produced after 5–7 days. The highest levels (titres) of IgM are detected following a primary infection, but IgM is also produced in secondary and tertiary infections. The IgM becomes undetectable 30–90 days after a primary infection, but earlier following re-infections. IgG, by contrast, remains detectable for over 60 years and, in the absence of symptoms, is a useful indicator of past infection. After a primary infection the IgG reaches peak levels in the blood after 14–21 days. In subsequent re-infections, levels peak earlier and the titres are usually higher. Both IgG and IgM provide protective immunity to the infecting serotype of the virus. In the laboratory test the IgG and the IgM antibodies can cross-react with other flaviviruses, such as yellow fever virus, which can make the interpretation of the serology difficult.[6][10][22] The detection of IgG alone is not considered diagnostic unless blood samples are collected 14 days apart and a greater than fourfold increase in levels of specific IgG is detected. In a person with symptoms, the detection of IgM is considered diagnostic.[22] Prevention A 1920s photograph of efforts to disperse standing water and thus decrease mosquito populations There are currently no approved vaccines for the dengue virus.[1] Prevention thus depends on control of and protection from the bites of the mosquito that transmits it.[11][23] The World Health Organization recommends an Integrated Vector Control program consisting of five elements: (1) Advocacy, social mobilization and legislation to ensure that public health bodies and communities are strengthened, (2) collaboration between the health and other sectors (public and private), (3) an integrated approach to disease control to maximize use of resources, (4) evidence-based decision making to ensure any interventions are targeted appropriately and (5) capacity-building to ensure an adequate response to the local situation.[11] The primary method of controlling A. aegypti is by eliminating its habitats.[11] This may be done by emptying containers of water or by adding insecticides or biological control agents to these areas.[11] Reducing open collections of water through environmental modification is the preferred method of control, given the concerns of negative health effect from insecticides and greater logistical difficulties with control agents.[11] People may prevent mosquito bites by wearing clothing that fully covers the skin and/or the application of insect repellent (DEET being the most effective).[13] Management There are no specific treatments for the dengue fever virus.[1] Treatment depends on the symptoms, varying from oral rehydration therapy at home with close follow-up, to hospital admission with administration of intravenous fluids and/or blood transfusion.[24] A decision for hospital admission is typically based on the presence of the "warning signs" listed in the table above, especially in those with preexisting health conditions.[4] Intravenous hydration is usually only needed for one or two days.[24] The rate of fluid administration is titrated to a urinary output of 0.5–1 mL/kg/hr, stable vital signs and normalization of hematocrit.[4] Invasive medical procedures such as nasogastric intubation, intramuscular injections and arterial punctures are avoided, in view of the bleeding risk.[4] Acetaminophen may be used for fever and discomfort while NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin are avoided as they might aggravate the risk of bleeding.[24] Blood transfusion is initiated early in patients presenting with unstable vital signs in the face of a decreasing hematocrit, rather than waiting for the hemoglobin concentration to decrease to some predetermined "transfusion trigger" level.[25] Packed red blood cells or whole blood are recommended, while platelets and fresh frozen plasma are usually not.[25] During the recovery phase intravenous fluids are discontinued to prevent a state of fluid overload.[4] If fluid overload occurs and vital signs are stable, stopping further fluid may be all that is needed.[25] If a person is outside of the critical phase, a loop diuretic such as furosemide may be used to eliminate excess fluid from the circulation.[25] Epidemiology See also: Dengue fever outbreaks Dengue distribution in 2006. Red: Epidemic dengue and Ae. aegypti Aqua: Just Ae. aegypti. Most people with dengue recover without any ongoing problems.[19] The mortality is 1–5% without treatment,[4] and less than 1% with adequate treatment.[19] Severe disease carries a mortality of 26%.[4] Dengue is believed to infect 50 to 100 million people worldwide a year with half a million life-threatening infections requiring hospitalization,[1] resulting in approximately 12,500–25,000 deaths.[5][26] The burden of disease from dengue is estimated to be similar to other childhood and tropical diseases, such as tuberculosis, at 1600 disability-adjusted life years per million population.[10] It is the most common viral disease transmitted by arthropods.[8] As a tropical disease it is deemed only second in importance to malaria.[4] It is endemic in more than 110 countries.[4] The World Health Organization counts dengue as one of sixteen neglected tropical diseases.[27] The incidence of dengue increased 30 fold between 1960 and 2010.[28] This increase is believed to be due to a combination of urbanization, population growth, increased international travel, and global warming.[1] The geographical distribution is around the equator with 70% of the total 2.5 billion people living in endemic areas from Asia and the Pacific.[28] In the United States, the rate of dengue infection among those who return from an endemic area with a fever is 2.9–8.0%,[13] and it is the second most common infection after malaria to be diagnosed in this group.[6] Until 2003, dengue was classified as a potential bioterrorism agent, but subsequent reports removed this classification as it was deemed too difficult to transfer and only caused hemorrhagic fever in a relatively small proportion of people.[29] History Etymology The origins of the word "dengue" are not clear, but one theory is that it is derived from the Swahili phrase Ka-dinga pepo, which describes the disease as being caused by an evil spirit.[30] The Swahili word dinga may possibly have its origin in the Spanish word dengue, meaning fastidious or careful, which would describe the gait of a person suffering the bone pain of dengue fever.[31] However, it is possible that the use of the Spanish word derived from the similar-sounding Swahili.[30] Slaves in the West Indies having contracted dengue were said to have the posture and gait of a dandy, and the disease was known as "dandy fever".[32][33] The term "break-bone fever" was first applied by physician and Founding Father Benjamin Rush, in a 1789 report of the 1780 epidemic in Philadelphia. In the report he uses primarily the more formal term "bilious remitting fever".[29][34] The term dengue fever came into general use only after 1828.[33] Other historical terms include "breakheart fever" and "la dengue".[33] Terms for severe disease include "infectious thrombocytopenic purpura" and "Philippine", "Thai", or "Singapore hemorrhagic fever".[33] Discovery The first record of a case of probable dengue fever is in a Chinese medical encyclopedia from the Jin Dynasty (265–420 AD) which referred to a "water poison" associated with flying insects.[30][35] There have been descriptions of epidemics in the 17th century, but the most plausible early reports of dengue epidemics are from 1779 and 1780, when an epidemic swept Asia, Africa and North America.[35] From that time until 1940, epidemics were infrequent.[35] In 1906, transmission by the Aedes mosquitoes was confirmed, and in 1907 dengue was the second disease (after yellow fever) that was shown to be caused by a virus.[36] Further investigations by John Burton Cleland and Joseph Franklin Siler completed the basic understanding of dengue transmission.[36] The marked rise of spread of dengue during and after the Second World War has been attributed to ecologic disruption. The same trends also led to the spread of different serotypes of the disease to different areas, and the emergence of dengue hemorrhagic fever, which was first reported in the Philippines in 1953. In the 1970s, it became a major cause of child mortality. Around the same time it emerged in the Pacific and the Americas.[35] Dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome were first noted in Middle and Southern America in 1981, as DENV-2 was contracted by people who had previously been infected with DENV-1 several years earlier.[9] Research Current research efforts to prevent and treat dengue have included different means of vector control,[37] vaccine development, and antiviral drugs.[23] With regards to vector control, a number of novel methods have been used to reduce mosquito numbers with some success including the placement of the fish Poecilia reticulata or copepods in standing water to eat the mosquito larva.[37] There are ongoing programs working on a dengue vaccine to cover all four serotypes.[23] One of the concerns is that a vaccine may increase the risk of severe disease through antibody-dependent enhancement.[38] The ideal vaccine is safe, effective after one or two injections, covers all serotypes, does not contribute to ADE, is easily transported and stored, and is both affordable and cost-effective.[38] A number of vaccines are currently undergoing testing.[10][29][38] It is hoped that the first products will be commercially available by 2015.[23] Apart from attempts to control the spread of the Aedes mosquito and work to develop a vaccine against dengue, there are ongoing efforts to develop antiviral drugs that might be used to treat attacks of dengue fever and prevent severe complications.[39][40] Discovery of the structure of the viral proteins may aid the development of effective drugs.[40] There are several plausible targets. The first approach is inhibition of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (coded by NS5), which copies the viral genetic material, with nucleoside analogs. Secondly, it may be possible to develop specific inhibitors of the viral protease (coded by NS3), which splices viral proteins.[41] Finally, it may be possible to develop entry inhibitors, which stop the virus entering cells, or inhibitors of the 5' capping process, which is required for viral replication.[39] Notes ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Whitehorn J, Farrar J (2010). "Dengue". Br. Med. Bull. 95: 161–73. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldq019. PMID 20616106. ^ a b c d e f g WHO (2009), pp. 14–16 ^ Gubler (2010), p. 379 ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Ranjit S, Kissoon N (July 2010). "Dengue hemorrhagic fever and shock syndromes". Pediatr. Crit. Care Med. 12 (1): 90–100. doi:10.1097/PCC.0b013e3181e911a7. PMID 20639791. ^ a b c d e f Varatharaj A (2010). "Encephalitis in the clinical spectrum of dengue infection". Neurol. India 58 (4): 585–91. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.68655. PMID 20739797. ^ a b c d e f g h Chen LH, Wilson ME (October 2010). "Dengue and chikungunya infections in travelers". Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. 23 (5): 438–44. doi:10.1097/QCO.0b013e32833c1d16. PMID 20581669. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l WHO (2009), pp. 25–27 ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rodenhuis-Zybert IA, Wilschut J, Smit JM (August 2010). "Dengue virus life cycle: viral and host factors modulating infectivity". Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 67 (16): 2773–86. doi:10.1007/s00018-010-0357-z. PMID 20372965. ^ a b c d e Gould EA, Solomon T (February 2008). "Pathogenic flaviviruses". The Lancet 371 (9611): 500–9. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60238-X. PMID 18262042. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Guzman MG, Halstead SB, Artsob H, et al. (December 2010). "Dengue: a continuing global threat". Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 8 (12 Suppl): S7–S16. doi:10.1038/nrmicro2460. PMID 21079655. ^ a b c d e f WHO (2009), pp. 59–60 ^ "Vector-Borne Viral Infections". World Health Organization. Retrieved 17 January 2011. ^ a b c d Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "Chapter 5 – Dengue Fever (DF) and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF)". 2010 Yellow Book. Retrieved 2010-12-23. ^ Gubler (2010), pp. 377–78 ^ Wilder-Smith A, Chen LH, Massad E, Wilson ME (January 2009). "Threat of dengue to blood safety in dengue-endemic countries". Emerg. Infect. Dis. 15 (1): 8–11. doi:10.3201/eid1501.071097. PMC 2660677. PMID 19116042. ^ Stramer SL, Hollinger FB, Katz LM, et al. (August 2009). "Emerging infectious disease agents and their potential threat to transfusion safety". Transfusion 49 Suppl 2: 1S–29S. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2009.02279.x. PMID 19686562. ^ Teo D, Ng LC, Lam S (April 2009). "Is dengue a threat to the blood supply?". Transfus Med 19 (2): 66–77. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3148.2009.00916.x. PMC 2713854. PMID 19392949. ^ a b c d e Martina BE, Koraka P, Osterhaus AD (October 2009). "Dengue virus pathogenesis: an integrated view". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 22 (4): 564–81. doi:10.1128/CMR.00035-09. PMC 2772360. PMID 19822889. ^ a b c d e f g h WHO (2009), pp. 10–11 ^ a b c WHO (1997). "Chapter 2: clinical diagnosis". Dengue haemorrhagic fever: diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control (2nd ed.). Geneva: World Health Organization.. pp. 12–23. ISBN 9241545003. ^ a b WHO (2009), pp. 90–95 ^ a b Gubler (2010), p. 380 ^ a b c d WHO (2009), p. 137 ^ a b c WHO (2009), pp. 32–37 ^ a b c d WHO (2009), pp. 40–43 ^ WHO media centre (March 2009). "Dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever". World Health Organization. Retrieved 2010-12-27. ^ Neglected Tropical Diseases. "Diseases covered by NTD Department". World Health Organization. Retrieved 2010-12-27. ^ a b WHO (2009), p. 3 ^ a b c Barrett AD, Stanberry LR (2009). Vaccines for biodefense and emerging and neglected diseases. San Diego: Academic. pp. 287–323. ISBN 0-12-369408-6. ^ a b c Anonymous (2006). "Etymologia: dengue". Emerg. Infec. Dis. 12 (6): 893. ^ Harper D (2001). "Etymology: dengue". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2008-10-05. ^ Anonymous (1998-06-15). "Definition of Dandy fever". MedicineNet.com. Retrieved 2010-12-25. ^ a b c d Halstead SB (2008). Dengue (Tropical Medicine: Science and Practice). River Edge, N.J: Imperial College Press. pp. 1–10. ISBN 1-84816-228-6. ^ Rush AB (1789). "An account of the bilious remitting fever, as it appeared in Philadelphia in the summer and autumn of the year 1780". Medical enquiries and observations. Philadelphia, Pa.: Prichard and Hall. pp. 104–117. ^ a b c d Gubler DJ (July 1998). "Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 11 (3): 480–96. PMC 88892. PMID 9665979. ^ a b Henchal EA, Putnak JR (October 1990). "The dengue viruses". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 3 (4): 376–96. PMC 358169. PMID 2224837. ^ a b WHO (2009), p. 71 ^ a b c Webster DP, Farrar J, Rowland-Jones S (November 2009). "Progress towards a dengue vaccine". Lancet Infect Dis 9 (11): 678–87. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(09)70254-3. PMID 19850226. ^ a b Sampath A, Padmanabhan R (January 2009). "Molecular targets for flavivirus drug discovery". Antiviral Res. 81 (1): 6–15. doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2008.08.004. PMC 2647018. PMID 18796313. ^ a b Noble CG, Chen YL, Dong H, et al. (March 2010). "Strategies for development of Dengue virus inhibitors". Antiviral Res. 85 (3): 450–62. doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.12.011. PMID 20060421. ^ Tomlinson SM, Malmstrom RD, Watowich SJ (June 2009). "New approaches to structure-based discovery of dengue protease inhibitors". Infectious Disorders Drug Targets 9 (3): 327–43. PMID 19519486. References Gubler DJ (2010). "Dengue viruses". In Mahy BWJ, Van Regenmortel MHV. Desk Encyclopedia of Human and Medical Virology. Boston: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-375147-0. WHO (2009). Dengue Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Control. World Health Organization. ISBN 9241547871. External links Find more about Dengue fever on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Images and media from Commons Learning resources from Wikiversity News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Dengue fever at the Open Directory Project "Dengue". WHO. Retrieved 2010-12-24. "Dengue". US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2010-12-24. "Dengue fever". UK Health Protection Agency. Retrieved 2010-12-24. [hide]v · d · eZoonotic viral diseases (A80–B34, 042–079) Arthropod/ (arbovirus) Mosquito Bunyaviridae Arbovirus encephalitis: La Crosse encephalitis (LCV) · California encephalitis (CEV) Viral hemorrhagic fever: Rift Valley fever (RVFV) Flaviviridae Arbovirus encephalitis: Japanese encephalitis (JEV) · Australian encephalitis (MVEV, KUNV) · St. Louis encephalitis (SLEV) · West Nile fever (WNV) Viral hemorrhagic fever: Dengue fever (DV) other: Yellow fever (YFV) · Zika fever Togaviridae Arbovirus encephalitis: Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEEV) · Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEEV) · Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEEV) other: Chikungunya (CV) · O'Nyong-nyong fever (OV) · Ross River fever (RRV) Tick Bunyaviridae Viral hemorrhagic fever: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHFV) Flaviviridae Arbovirus encephalitis: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBEV) · Powassan encephalitis (PV) · Deer tick virus encephalitis (DTV) Viral hemorrhagic fever: Omsk hemorrhagic fever (OHFV) · Kyasanur forest disease (KFDV/Alkhurma virus)) · Langat virus (LGTV) Reoviridae Colorado tick fever (CTFV) Mammal Rodent (Robovirus) Arenaviridae Viral hemorrhagic fever: Lassa fever (LV) · Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (Guanarito virus) · Argentine hemorrhagic fever (Junin virus) · Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (Machupo virus) · Lujo virus Bunyaviridae Puumala virus · Andes virus · Sin Nombre virus · Hantavirus (HV) Bat Filoviridae VHF: Ebola hemorrhagic fever · Marburg hemorrhagic fever Rhabdoviridae Australian bat lyssavirus · Mokola virus · Duvenhage virus · Lagos bat virus · Chandipura virus(sandfly) Bornaviridae Menangle · Henipavirus · Borna disease (Borna disease virus) Multiple Rhabdoviridae Rabies (RV) M: VIR virs(prot)/clss cutn/syst (hppv/hiva, infl/zost/zoon)/epon drugJ(dnaa, rnaa, rtva, vacc) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever"

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