Symptomatic central nervous system tuberculoma, a case report in the United States and literature review

Intracranial tuberculoma is one of the rare central nervous system manifestations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), seen in only 1% of tuberculosis patients. It can manifest as single or multiple lesions, most commonly located in the frontal and parietal lobes. Clinical features are similar to any space-occupying lesion in the brain and can present in the absence of MTB symptoms in other parts of the body. In this article, a 69-year-old immunocompetent man, with history of treated latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) was reported. He presented with multiple joint arthralgias, weight loss, odd behavior, forgetfulness, intermittent fevers and syncope. Brain imaging revealed numerous enhancing intra-parenchymal lesions in cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Patient was successfully treated with anti-tuberculosis medications and corticosteroids, with clinical improvement on future follow ups. High clinical suspicion for tuberculoma as a differential diagnosis of any brain lesion, even in immunocompetent patients in low MTB prevalence countries, can result in early diagnosis and successful clinical outcomes

Energy Conditions in a Generalized Second-Order Scalar-Tensor Gravity

The study of energy conditions has many significant applications in general relativistic and cosmological contexts. This paper explores the energy conditions in the framework of the most general scalar-tensor theory with field equations involving second-order derivatives. For this purpose, we use flat FRW universe model with perfect fluid matter contents. By taking power law ansatz for scalar field, we discuss the strong, weak, null and dominant energy conditions in terms of deceleration, jerk and snap parameters. Some particular cases of this theory like k-essence model and modified gravity theories etc. are analyzed with the help of the derived energy conditions and the possible constraints on the free parameters of the presented models are determined.Comment: 28 pages, 5 figure

Anisotropic Universe Models in Brans-Dicke Theory

This paper is devoted to study Bianchi type I cosmological model in Brans-Dicke theory with self-interacting potential by using perfect, anisotropic and magnetized anisotropic fluids. We assume that the expansion scalar is proportional to the shear scalar and also take power law ansatz for scalar field. The physical behavior of the resulting models are discussed through different parameters. We conclude that in contrary to the universe model, the anisotropic fluid approaches to isotropy at later times in all cases which is consistent with observational data.Comment: 25 pages, 20 figure