Occurrence of new or more severe headaches following COVID-19 is associated with markers of microglial activation and peripheral sensitization: results from a prospective cohort study.

Background: New onset or worsening of a headache disorder substantially contributes to the disease burden of post-COVID-19. Its management poses a suitable means to enhance patients' participation in professional, social, and personal activities. Unfortunately, the pathophysiology of post-COVID-19 headaches is poorly understood.

Increased CX3CL1 in cerebrospinal fluid and ictal serum t-tau elevations in migraine: results from a cross-sectional exploratory case-control study.

Background: To date, migraine is diagnosed exclusively based on clinical criteria, but fluid biomarkers are desirable to gain insight into pathophysiological processes and inform clinical management. We investigated the state-dependent profile of fluid biomarkers for neuroaxonal damage and microglial activation as two potentially relevant aspects in human migraine pathophysiology.

Methods: This exploratory study included serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with migraine during the headache phase (ictally) (n = 23), between attacks (interictally) (n = 16), and age/sex-matched controls (n = 19).

Serum tau protein elevation in migraine: a cross-sectional case-control study.

Background: Migraine is a disorder associated with neuropeptide release, pain and inflammation. Tau protein has recently been linked to inflammatory diseases and can be influenced by neuropeptides such as CGRP, a key neurotransmitter in migraine. Here, we report serum concentrations of total-tau protein in migraine patients and healthy controls.

Effects of body mass index on the immune response within the first days after major stroke in humans.

Introduction: Immunological alterations associated with increased susceptibility to infection are an essential aspect of stroke pathophysiology. Several immunological functions of adipose tissue are altered by obesity and are accompanied by chronic immune activation. The purpose of this study was to examine immune function (monocytes, granulocytes, cytokines) as a function of body mass index (BMI: 1st group: 25; 2nd group: 25 BMI 30; 3rd group: 30) and changes in body weight post stroke.

Association of spermidine blood levels with microstructure of sleep-implications from a population-based study.

Deteriorations in slow wave sleep (SWS) have been linked to brain aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD), possibly due to its key role in clearance of amyloid-beta and tau (Aß/tau), two pathogenic hallmarks of AD. Spermidine administration has been shown to improve sleep quality in animal models. So far, the association between spermidine levels in humans and parameters of SWS physiology are unknown but may be valuable for therapeutic strategies.

Serum Biomarkers of a Pro-Neuroinflammatory State May Define the Pre-Operative Risk for Postoperative Delirium in Spine Surgery.

Advances in spine surgery enable technically safe interventions in older patients with disabling spine disease, yet postoperative delirium (POD) poses a serious risk for postoperative recovery. This study investigates biomarkers of pro-neuroinflammatory states that may help objectively define the pre-operative risk for POD. This study enrolled patients aged ≥60 scheduled for elective spine surgery under general anesthesia.

Modulation of cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from multiple sclerosis patients by coenzyme A and soraphen A.

By applying the acetyl-CoA-carboxylase inhibitors soraphen A (SorA) and coenzyme A (CoA) ex vivo, we aimed to reduce proinflammatory cytokine release by PBMCs and increase anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, thereby demonstrating a possible application of those pathways in future multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy. In a prospective exploratory monocentric study, we analysed cytokine production by PBMCs treated with SorA (10 or 50 nM) and CoA (600 μM). Thirty-one MS patients were compared to 18 healthy age-matched controls.

Duration of Surgery and Intraoperative Blood Pressure Management Are Modifiable Risk Factors for Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders After Spine Surgery: Results of the Prospective CONFESS Study.

Study Design: Prospective quasi-experimental observational study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether duration of surgery is a modifiable risk factor for postoperative delirium (POD) after spine surgery and explore further modifiable risk factors. In addition, we sought to investigate the association between POD and postoperative cognitive dysfunction and persistent neurocognitive disorders.

The Greifswald Post COVID Rehabilitation Study and Research (PoCoRe)-Study Design, Characteristics and Evaluation Tools.

(1) Background: COVID-19 is often associated with significant long-term symptoms and disability, i.e., the long/post-COVID syndrome (PCS).

Preterm ETs Are Significantly Reduced Compared with Adults and Partially Reduced Compared with Term Infants.

The release of DNA by cells during extracellular trap (ET) formation is a defense function of neutrophils and monocytes. Neutrophil ET (NET) formation in term infants is reduced compared to adults. Objective: The aim was to quantify NET and monocyte ET (MET) release and the respective key enzymes myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE) in preterm infants.

Anti-neuronal antibodies against brainstem antigens are associated with COVID-19.

Background: Understanding how SARS-CoV-2 affects respiratory centres in the brainstem may help to preclude assisted ventilation for patients in intensive care setting. Viral invasion appears unlikely, although autoimmunity has been implicated, the responsible antigens remain unknown. We previously predicted the involvement of three epitopes within distinct brainstem proteins: disabled homolog 1 (DAB1), apoptosis-inducing-factor-1 (AIFM1), and surfeit-locus-protein-1 (SURF1).

Predictors of post-stroke delirium incidence and duration: Results of a prospective observational study using high-frequency delirium screening.

Background: Post-stroke delirium (PSD) is a modifiable predictor for worse outcome in stroke. Knowledge of its risk factors would facilitate clinical management of affected patients, but recently updated national guidelines consider available evidence insufficient.

Aims: The study aimed to establish risk factors for PSD incidence and duration using high-frequency screening.

Gastrointestinal Hormones in Healthy Adults: Reliability of Repeated Assessments and Interrelations with Eating Habits and Physical Activity.

Gastrointestinal hormones (GIHs) are crucial for the regulation of a variety of physiological functions and have been linked to hunger, satiety, and appetite control. Thus, they might constitute meaningful biomarkers in longitudinal and interventional studies on eating behavior and body weight control. However, little is known about the physiological levels of GIHs, their intra-individual stability over time, and their interaction with other metabolic and lifestyle-related parameters.

Neurotrophin-3 attenuates human peripheral blood T cell and monocyte activation status and cytokine production post stroke.

Background And Purpose: Stroke therapy still lacks successful measures to improve post stroke recovery. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is one promising candidate which has proven therapeutic benefit in motor recovery in acute experimental stroke. Post stroke, the immune system has opposing pathophysiological roles: pro-inflammatory cascades and immune cell infiltration into the brain exacerbate cell death while the peripheral immune response has only limited capabilities to fight infections during the acute and subacute phase.

Anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies causing VITT do not cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a severe adverse effect of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 COVID-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria) and Janssen Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 vaccine, and it is associated with unusual thrombosis.

Central Nervous System-Infiltrating T Lymphocytes in Stroke Are Activated via Their TCR (T-Cell Receptor) but Lack CD25 Expression.

Background And Purpose: T lymphocytes contribute to secondary brain damage after stroke. It has not been fully investigated whether this contribution is caused by antigen-specific or antigen-nonspecific activation of T lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from Nur77GFP transgenic mice express a fluorescent protein upon activation via the TCR (T-cell receptor), allowing the differentiation of activation mode in a natural repertoire of immune cells and antigens.

The neuroendocrine effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and 17β-estradiol in the preterm hyperoxia infant model.

Preterm birth causes neurological deficits. Previously, we demonstrated that fetal zone steroids reduce hyperoxia-mediated cell death . In immature oligodendrocytes (OLN-93 cells), dehydroepiandrosterone + 17β-estradiol co-treatment had synergistic beneficial effects while signals were transduced through different receptors.

Stroke-Induced Modulation of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) and IL-10-Producing Regulatory Monocytes.

Stroke patients are at risk of acquiring secondary infections due to stroke-induced immune suppression (SIIS). Immunosuppressive cells comprise myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and immunosuppressive interleukin 10 (IL-10)-producing monocytes. MDSCs represent a small but heterogeneous population of monocytic, polymorphonuclear (or granulocytic), and early progenitor cells ("early" MDSC), which can expand extensively in pathophysiological conditions.

Corrigendum: Clinical Improvement Following Stroke Promptly Reverses Post-stroke Cellular Immune Alterations.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.

Spermine and spermidine modulate T-cell function in older adults with and without cognitive decline ex vivo.

The global increase in neurodegenerative disorders is one of the most crucial public health issues. Oral polyamine intake was shown to improve memory performance which is thought to be mediated at least in part via increased autophagy induced in brain cells. In Alzheimer's Disease, T-cells were identified as important mediators of disease pathology.

Immune Alterations Following Neurological Disorders: A Comparison of Stroke and Seizures.

Granulocytes and monocytes are the first cells to invade the brain post stroke and are also being discussed as important cells in early neuroinflammation after seizures. We aimed at understanding disease specific and common pathways of brain-immune-endocrine-interactions and compared immune alterations induced by stroke and seizures. Therefore, we compared granulocytic and monocytic subtypes between diseases and investigated inflammatory mediators.

Immunoadsorption for Treatment of Patients with Suspected Alzheimer Dementia and Agonistic Autoantibodies against Alpha1a-Adrenoceptor-Rationale and Design of the IMAD Pilot Study.

Background: agonistic autoantibodies (agAABs) against G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) have been linked to cardiovascular disease. In dementia patients, GPCR-agAABs against the α1- and ß2-adrenoceptors (α1AR- and ß2AR) were found at a prevalence of 50%. Elimination of agAABs by immunoadsorption (IA) was successfully applied in cardiovascular disease.

Correction: Evaluating Mechanisms of Postoperative Delirium and Cognitive Dysfunction Following Elective Spine Surgery in Elderly Patients (CONFESS): Protocol for a Prospective Observational Trial.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/15488.].

Evaluating Mechanisms of Postoperative Delirium and Cognitive Dysfunction Following Elective Spine Surgery in Elderly Patients (CONFESS): Protocol for a Prospective Observational Trial.

Background: Elderly people are at particular high risk for postoperative delirium (POD) following spine surgery, which is associated with longer hospital stays, higher costs, risk for delayed complications, long-term care dependency, and cognitive dysfunction (POCD). It is insufficiently understood which mechanisms and risk factors contribute to the development of POD and POCD following these major but plannable surgeries.

Objective: This study aims to identify modifiable risk factors in spine surgery.

Functional analysis of granulocyte and monocyte subpopulations in neonates.

Background: Neonate immune cell functions lack full protection against pathogens. This could be either defect or protective mechanism against overshooting proinflammatory immune responses. We here analysed the function of classical, pro- and anti-inflammatory monocytes and granulocytes from neonates in comparison with adults to investigate if suppressed functions of subpopulations are causative for the unique neonatal immune status.