The effect of fampridine on working memory: a randomized controlled trial based on a genome-guided repurposing approach.

Working memory (WM), a key component of cognitive functions, is often impaired in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Through a genome-guided drug repurposing approach, we identified fampridine, a potassium channel blocker used to improve walking in multiple sclerosis, as a candidate for modulating WM. In a subsequent double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in 43 healthy young adults (ClinicalTrials.

Potential role of Vitamin D in immune response in patients with viral hepatitis.

Background: To study the relationship of Vitamin D with innate and adaptive immune response parameters in chronic hepatitis B and C patients.

Methods: The laboratory data between January 1, 2013 and February 1, 2023, for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were extracted. Serum 25-hydroxyl vitamin D, hepatitis B virus serological markers, complements, and subsets of T lymphocytes were determined.

The Impact of Clinical Factors and SARS-CoV-2 Variants on Antibody Production in Vaccinated German Healthcare Professionals Infected Either with the Delta or the Omicron Variant.

Background: The aim of the rapid introduction of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic was a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 transmission and a less frequent occurrence of severe COVID-19 courses. Thus, we evaluated COVID-19 severity in vaccinated individuals to examine variant-specific symptom characteristics and their clinical impact on the serological immune response.

Methods: A total of 185 individuals previously vaccinated against and infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.

Exploring the Synergistic Potential of Radiomics and Laboratory Biomarkers for Enhanced Identification of Vulnerable COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Severe courses and high hospitalization rates were ubiquitous during the first pandemic SARS-CoV-2 waves. Thus, we aimed to examine whether integrative diagnostics may aid in identifying vulnerable patients using crucial data and materials obtained from COVID-19 patients hospitalized between 2020 and 2021 ( = 52). Accordingly, we investigated the potential of laboratory biomarkers, specifically the dynamic cell decay marker cell-free DNA and radiomics features extracted from chest CT.

Heterologous Vector-mRNA Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Strategy Appears Superior to a Homologous Vector-Based Vaccination Scheme in German Healthcare Workers Regarding Humoral SARS-CoV-2 Response Indicating a High Boosting Effect by mRNA Vaccines.

Background: Longitudinal humoral SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2) immunity for up to 15 months due to vaccination, the efficacy of vaccination strategies (homologous, vector-vector versus heterologous, vector-mRNA), the influence of vaccination side effects, and the infection rate in German healthcare workers need to be investigated.

Methods: In this study, 103 individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled to examine their anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-N- and anti-RBD/S1-Ig levels. A total of 415 blood samples in lithium heparin tubes were prospectively obtained, and a structured survey regarding medical history, type of vaccine, and vaccination reactions was conducted.

Humoral SARS-CoV-2 Immune Response in COVID-19 Recovered Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Individuals Related to Post-COVID-Syndrome.

Background: The duration of anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibody detectability up to 12 months was examined in individuals after either single convalescence or convalescence and vaccination. Moreover, variables that might influence an anti-RBD/S1 antibody decline and the existence of a post-COVID-syndrome (PCS) were addressed.

Methods: Forty-nine SARS-CoV-2-qRT-PCR-confirmed participants completed a 12-month examination of anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibody levels and PCS-associated long-term sequelae.

The Iranian Corona Stress Study: Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic in an Iranian Population.

Background: To assess the psychological consequences of changes during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Iranian population.

Methods: We performed an anonymous online survey in the first 3 weeks of March 2020. Individuals older than 14 who could read Persian, and lived in Iran, were eligible for the study.

Booster dose of mRNA vaccine augments waning T cell and antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2.

A gradual decay in humoral and cellular immune responses over time upon SAR1S-CoV-2 vaccination may cause a lack of protective immunity. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of antibodies, T cells, and monocytes in 25 participants vaccinated with mRNA or ChAdOx1-S up to 12 weeks after the 3 (booster) dose with mRNA vaccine. We observed a substantial increase in antibodies and CD8 T cells specific for the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination.

Anosmia Testing as Early Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Positivity; A Prospective Study under Screening Conditions.

Sudden onset of anosmia is a phenomenon often associated with developing COVID-19 disease and has even been described as an initial isolated symptom in individual cases. In this case-control study, we investigated the feasibility of this condition as a suitable screening test in a population at risk. We performed a prospective study with a total of 313 subjects with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Definition of factors associated with negative antibody response after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with hematological diseases.

COVID-19 in patients with hematological diseases is associated with a high mortality. Moreover, preventive vaccination demonstrated reduced efficacy and the knowledge on influencing factors is limited. In this single-center study, antibody levels of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were measured ≥ 2 weeks after 2nd COVID-19 vaccination with a concentration ≥ 0.

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Testing - How to Increase the Positive Predictive Value.

Background: Despite increasing COVID-19 infection rates, low overall prevalence resulting in a poor positive predictive value (PPV) of serological tests requires strategies to increase specificity. We therefore investigated a dual diagnostic strategy and evaluated the correlation between the severity of a SARS-CoV-2 infection and the detectable immune-response.

Methods: Participants were systematically categorized into positive and control cohorts and a probability score of COVID-19 was calculated based on clinical symptoms.

Assessing the Quality of Serological Testing in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a European External Quality Assessment (EQA) Scheme for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection.

External quality assessment (EQA) is a key instrument for achieving harmonization, and thus a high quality, of diagnostic procedures. As reliable test results are crucial for accurate assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence, vaccine response, and immunity, and thus for successful management of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Reference Institute for Bioanalytics (RfB) was the first EQA provider to offer an open scheme for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection. The main objectives of this EQA were (i) to gain insights into the current diagnostic landscape and the performance of serological tests in Europe and (ii) to provide recommendations for diagnostic improvements.

Longitudinal assessment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics and clinical features following convalescence from a COVID-19 infection.

Introduction: The longevity of antibody levels against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the duration of immunity are current topics of major scientific interest. Antibody kinetics during the acute phase are well studied, whereas the long-term kinetics are yet to be determined, with contradictory results from the studies to date. Here, we present a longitudinal analysis of the serological responses to a SARS-CoV-2 infection following convalescence and the association with post-COVID syndrome (PCS).

Specificity testing by point prevalence as a simple assessment strategy using the Roche Elecsys® anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay.

Background: The detection of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mandatory for the diagnosis, retrospective assessment of disease progression, and correct evaluation of the current infection situation in the population. Many such assays have been launched by various manufacturers. Unfortunately, the new US Food and Drug Administration emergency use regulations have resulted in a situation where laboratories have to perform their own validation studies but many of these laboratories do not have the biobank needed to conduct the studies.

Inert hydrophilic particles enhance the thermal properties and structural resilience of meat protein gels during heating.

Meat protein gels are present in a variety of foods and are frequently filled with fat particles. This study set out to elucidate the effect of replacing hydrophobic fat-based particles with hydrophilic inert glass particles on thermal and structural properties during heating. Meat protein gels were prepared with different diameters (60 to 90 mm) according to a typical emulsified sausage recipe and fat-based particles as well as inert glass particles were incorporated at concentrations from 10 to 40% and heated to 85 °C, while thermal as well as structural properties were monitored.

Clinical evaluation of commercial automated SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays.

Objective: Numerous immunoassays for detecting antibodies directed against SARS-CoV-2 have been rapidly developed and released. Validations of these have been performed with a limited number of samples. The lack of standardisation might lead to significantly different results.

Results of the first pilot external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for anti-SARS-CoV2-antibody testing.

Objectives Assessment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection prevalence and immunity is cornerstones in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. For pandemic control, reliable assays for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are required. This pilot external quality assessment (EQA) scheme aimed to independently assess the participants' clinical performance of anti-SARS-CoV-2 testing, to identify shortcomings in clinical practice and to evaluate the suitability of the scheme format.

Comparison of test performance of commercial anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays in serum and plasma samples.

Background: For epidemiologic, social and economic reasons, assessment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection prevalence and immunity are important to adapt decisions to current demands. Hence, immunoassays for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are introduced rapidly without requiring FDA emergency use authorization approval. Thus, evaluation of test performance predominantly relies on laboratories.

Expression of ADP receptor P2Y, thromboxane A receptor and C-type lectin-like receptor 2 in cord blood-derived megakaryopoiesis.

The ADP receptor P2Y, the thromboxane A receptor (TXAR) and the C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) mediate platelet activation by different mechanisms. Only little is known about the expression of the receptors in human megakaryopoiesis. Our study aimed to establish a flow cytometry (FC) method for the measurement of P2Y, TXAR, and CLEC-2 on platelets of healthy donors and to monitor receptor expression in megakaryopoiesis.

Amplitude modulation detection and temporal modulation cutoff frequency in normal hearing infants.

The goal of this study was to determine if temporal modulation cutoff frequency was mature in three-month-old infants. Normal-hearing infants and young adults were tested in a single-interval forced-choice observer-based psychoacoustic procedure. Two parameters of the temporal modulation transfer function (TMTF) were estimated to separate temporal resolution from amplitude modulation sensitivity.

A methodological approach for the on-site quantification of food losses in primary production: Austrian and German case studies using the example of potato harvest.

In the last decade, in many European Countries more and more measures have been initiated aiming at the prevention of food losses and wastes along the entire value chain. In order to evaluate or monitor such important measures it is crucial to obtain quantitative information on generated food waste amounts, subsequently enabling the quantitative evaluation of the measure's outcomes and efficiency. Currently there is a paucity of quantitative information, particularly on food losses that are directly generated during harvesting processes.

Romberg extrapolation for Euler summation-based cubature on regular regions.

Romberg extrapolation is a long-known method to improve the convergence rate of the trapezoidal rule on intervals. For simple regions such as the cube [Formula: see text] it is directly transferable to cubature in dimensions. In this paper, we formulate Romberg extrapolation for Euler summation-based cubature on arbitrary -dimensional regular regions [Formula: see text] and derive an explicit representation for the remainder term.