Neurology Scientific Advisory Board Newsletter

The Henry Ford Department of Neurology Scientific Advisory Board meets regularly to cultivate and share knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic. Please read our Updates newsletter to find out the latest findings related to COVID-19 and its repercussion on the nervous system.

Latest Issue

May 27

In this issue, read about the potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk. Importantly, a new study of lung autopsies hones in on the pathological changes that dominate respiratory failure in patients with COVID-19. Also, new evidence of COVID-19-linked movement disorders is emerging! Finally, get the latest updates on the multinational hydroxychloroquine registry that led to much debate in the news and around the world.

Past Issues

May 20

In this issue, we report a number of new cases of seizures, strokes, psychiatric manifestations and neuromuscular complications in COVID-19. Read about loss of smell and taste and a proposed approach to assessment and management of post-infectious olfactory dysfunction. Finally, get the latest updates on hydroychloroquine/azithromycin, tocilizumab and convalescent plasma.

May 14

Welcome to the 10th issue of the newsletter! Ever heard of endotheliitis? Read more about this interesting phenomenon in COVID-19. Learn about how COVID-19 has been affecting children worldwide. And get updated with the latest on combination antiviral therapies and immune modulatory treatments.

May 6

In this issue, learn about the use of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients at Henry Ford. Get the latest updates on PCR and serological testing. And familiarize yourself with a brand new section on the implications of the virus on patients with headache disorders.

April 29

In this issue, learn about the results of the latest published trial on the antiviral drug, remdesevir. Using a creative design, a study looks into the efficacy of standard personal protective equipment during endotracheal intubation. You will also get a glimpse into our own homegrown COVID-19 trials such as the WHIP-COVID trial, as well as our current testing capabilities.

April 23

In this issue, find the latest on antibody testing for COVID-19. Could saliva sampling be better than nasopharyngeal swabbing? Learn more about new peripheral neurological manifestations of the disease and get your updates on treatments. Hydroxychloroquine may not be as safe and effective as previously thought.

April 15

In this issue, learn about the most recent data on the compassionate use of the antiviral, remdesevir, as well as the additional data on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine and methylprednisolone. Read also about how a hospital in Italy triaged their stroke patients with a mobile stroke unit located outside the emergency room.

April 8

In this issue we provide an update on the current state of the pandemic in the state of Michigan, USA and worldwide, more insights on pathophysiology of complications of COVID-19 infection including cytokine storm, and summary of emerging data from clinical trials on therapeutics including hydroxychloroqine, favipiravir, oseltamivir, arbidol and convalescent plasma.

April 4

In this issue, we provide an overview of COVID-19 infection with special emphasis on the neurological manifestations and management of neurological syndromes in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic plus an update on the current state of the pandemic in the state of Michigan, USA and worldwide, in addition to a brief summary of the available data on pathogenesis, best exposure prevention strategies as well as available and proposed treatment.

March 31

In this issue of the newsletter, read about the new rapid Point-of-Care PCR which can detect SARS-CoV-2 in "as little as 5 min". Can web-based apps help with contact tracing and fever mapping? A commercialized "smart thermometer" may be doing just that! Read about the first reported case of COVID-related acute necrotizing encephalopathy published by our HFH Radiology group. And, as promised, you will find the latest on the new therapies being trialed around the world.

March 27

In this issue, learn about the cytokine storm, a central component in the inflammatory response of the body to SARS-CoV-2. Read about an interesting case of possible vertical transmission of the virus from a pregnant woman to her fetus in-utero. We also present you with an explosion of antivirals and immune modulatory agents targeting the virus and the immune response.

March 24

The Neurology Scientific Advisory Board's first edition of its newsletter is out! COVID-19 yields an unprecedented health crisis in our lifetime. Our goal: spread the most current scientific knowledge on a novel disease with far-reaching impacts. Our team of dedicated editors is committed to providing you the latest on statistics, prevention methods, testing capabilities, pathophysiology, neurological syndromes, implications for our neurological patient populations and emerging therapies. We hope you find this newsletter to be helpful. Tune in for our weekly updates!