Publications by authors named "Franc Casanova"
Introduction: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients display weak seroconversion and neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination and remain at risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While B-cell memory is the hallmark of serological immunity, its role in driving successful vaccine responses and providing immune protection in SOT patients remains unclear.
Methods: We investigated the function and interplay of SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B cells (mBc), different cytokineproducing T cells, and cross-reactive NAb in driving seroconversion and protection against COVID-19 in two cohorts.
Article Synopsis
- Cirrhotic patients often face changes in their peripheral nervous system which can affect their sensory perception and lead to cognitive and motor impairments associated with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), affecting around 40% of these patients.
- A study of 58 cirrhotic patients (20 with MHE, 38 without MHE) and 39 controls revealed that those with MHE had heightened thresholds for detecting cold and heat pain, which were linked to attention deficits and longer reaction times.
- The research indicates that MHE is characterized by diminished cognitive and sensory functions early on, specifically affecting small autonomic nerve fibers and thermal sensitivity, making quantitative sensory testing a potential marker for diagnosing MHE.