Query fever (Q fever) is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). Its neurological complications are rarely reported. But they may lead to severe consequences. It needs a rapid and accurate detective method to diagnose acute Q fever with neurological presentations in non-epidemic areas urgently. Here, we report an acute Q fever case with aseptic meningitis. The male patient, without any contact history in the epidemic area or with animals, was indicated to exhibit fever and headache symptoms. The cultures of blood, stool, urine, and sputum were all negative. But C. burnetii was repeatedly detected in blood by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). He received Doxycycline therapy and quickly returned to normal. Therefore, for the diagnosis and identification of Q fever in non-reporting regions, mNGS has comparative advantages. Secondly, aseptic meningitis may be a direct infection of C. burnetii to central nervous system (CNS) or inflammatory reactions to systemic infection, we recommend detecting mNGS both in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Background: Late-onset multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LO-MADD) describes a curable autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by ETFDH mutations that result in defects in ETF-ubiquinone oxidoreductase. Almost all patients are responsive to riboflavin. This study describes the clinical presentations and genetic characteristics of five LO-MADD patients.Methods: From 2018 to 2021, we collected clinical and genetic data on five patients diagnosed with LO-MADD at our hospital and retrospectively analyzed their clinical characteristics, laboratory examination, electromyography, muscle biopsy, genetic analysis, and outcome data.Results: This study included three males and two females with mean onset age of 37.8 years. Fluctuating exercise intolerance was the most common presentation. Serum creatine kinase (CK) levels were significantly elevated in all patients, and plasma acylcarnitine profiles revealed an increase in long-chain acylcarnitine species in three cases. The urinary organic acid study revealed a high level of hydroxyglutaric acid in all patients. Electrophysiology demonstrated myogenic impairment. Muscle biopsies revealed lipid storage myopathy. Molecular analysis identified nine mutations (three novels and six reported) in ETFDH. Exercise intolerance and muscle weakness were dramatically improved in all patients treated with riboflavin (100 mg) daily following diagnosis.Conclusions: LO-MADD is caused by ETFDH variants and responds well to riboflavin. Three novel ETFDH pathogenic variants were identified, expanding their spectrum in the Chinese population and facilitating future interpretation and analysis of ETFDH mutations.

Background: HINT1 mutations cause an autosomal recessive axonal neuropathy with neuromyotonia. This is a first case report of coexistence of myasthenia gravis (MG) and HINT1-related motor axonal neuropathy without neuromyotonia. Case presentation: A 32-year-old woman presented with recurrent ptosis for 8 years, diplopia for 2 years and limb weakness for 1 year and a half. Neostigmine test, elevated AChR antibody level and positive repetitive nerve stimulation supported the diagnosis of MG. Electroneurography (ENG) and electromyography (EMG) examinations revealed a motor axonal neuropathy without neuromyotonic or myokymic discharges. Next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify the gene responsible for suspected hereditary neuropathy. Genetic testing for a HINT1 mutation was performed and revealed a homozygous mutation at c.278G>T (p. G93V). The patient was treated with pyridostigmine, oral prednisolone and azathioprine. Her ptosis and diplopia have significantly improved at 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: Concurrence of MG and hereditary motor axonal neuropathy without neuromyotonia is quite rare. Detection of ptosis with or without ophthalmoplegia, distribution of limb weakness, and reflex can help in recognizing the combination of MG and peripheral neuropathy. Early diagnosis is important for initial treatment and prognosis. The novel homozygous variant c.278G>T(p.G93V) contributes to the pathogenic variants spectrum of the HINT1 gene.

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare X-linked genetic metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) within the adrenal glands, as well as the central and peripheral nervous systems. Adult-onset ALD is particularly uncommon and easily misdiagnosed. The objective of this study is to facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of adult-onset ALD. Seven adult-onset ALD patients of Chinese descent were enrolled in the study. Detailed clinical characteristics, laboratory results, imaging findings and genetic testing of the patients were collected and analyzed. All seven patients diagnosed with adult-onset ALD were male, including two with adult cerebral ALD (ACALD), one with adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), and four presenting with the spinocerebellar variant. The primary clinical manifestations of the two ACALD patients were progressive cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric symptoms. The AMN patient showed chronic progressive spastic paraplegia and displayed non-specific thoracic spinal cord atrophy on MRI. Symptoms observed in the four patients with spinocerebellar variant included cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, spastic paraplegia, peripheral neuropathy, sphincter dysfunction, and alopecia. These four patients all demonstrated symmetrical white matter hyperintensity (WMH) in the cerebellum on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Additionally, two of these patients exhibited abnormal MRI signals in the pyramidal tract. All the patients had an elevation of VLCFAs, which is diagnostic for ALD. One patient exhibited elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and decreased cortisol levels, while six patients displayed slightly elevated ACTH levels and normal cortisol levels without any clinical signs of adrenal insufficiency. Genetic testing identified four known ABCD1 pathogenic variants as well as two novel pathogenic variants. Progressive cognitive impairment and behavioral abnormalities are common clinical manifestations of ACALD. AMN and the spinocerebellar variant are prevalent phenotypes of adult-onset ALD. Patients with adult-onset ALD may present with isolated WMH in the cerebellum on brain MRI. Routine screening for ALD should be conducted in male patients diagnosed with Addison’s disease. Subclinical adrenal cortex insufficiency is a common finding in adult-onset ALD. Elevated levels of VLCFA function as a reliable clinical biomarker for ALD. The identification of novel pathogenic variants in ABCD1 broadens the genetic spectrum of ALD.