Calprotectin, Biomarker of Depression in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

: Calprotectin is a marker for intestinal inflammation. Recent research suggests a link between inflammation and depression. This study assessed the association between the levels of calprotectin in patients from South-Eastern Europe and the severity of depression, anxiety, and quality of life.

Emergence of nociceptive functionality and opioid signaling in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neurons.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have enabled the generation of various difficult-to-access cell types such as human nociceptors. A key challenge associated with human iPSC-derived nociceptors (hiPSCdNs) is their prolonged functional maturation. While numerous studies have addressed the expression of classic neuronal markers and ion channels in hiPSCdNs, the temporal development of key signaling cascades regulating nociceptor activity has remained largely unexplored.

Variations in Biochemical Values under Stress in Children with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

In the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, children seem to be less affected than adults, but data regarding epidemiologic characteristics and biochemical values are poor and essentially based on limited case series. The aim of our study is to highlight the predictive value of some biochemical markers at hospitalization, for the correct classification of the patient in the form of disease. Methods: We performed an analytical retrospective study on 82 pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the emergency department, with moderate or severe form of disease, and treated in our tertiary hospital.

Anthrax toxins regulate pain signaling and can deliver molecular cargoes into ANTXR2 DRG sensory neurons.

Bacterial products can act on neurons to alter signaling and function. In the present study, we found that dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons are enriched for ANTXR2, the high-affinity receptor for anthrax toxins. Anthrax toxins are composed of protective antigen (PA), which binds to ANTXR2, and the protein cargoes edema factor (EF) and lethal factor (LF).