Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID.

Objective: This study investigates persistent physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Long COVID, focusing on their severity and assessing risk/resilience factors, including conscientiousness and neuroticism. The study utilizes a mediation model to explore the potential role of psychological distress in mediating its impact on cognitive decline.

Methods: In an online survey, 114 participants diagnosed with Long COVID completed assessments, including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) for psychological distress, Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) questionnaire for cognitive decline, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep disorders, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) with "BIG-5 inventory" subscales for risk/resilience factors.

Nociplastic Pain: A Critical Paradigm for Multidisciplinary Recognition and Management.

Our understanding of chronic pain has evolved significantly, shifting from a focus on peripheral damage to recognizing the central mechanisms underlying pain perception. This perspective article explores the concept of nociplastic pain, a term introduced by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) in 2017, which describes pain arising from altered pain modulation within the central nervous system, without clear evidence of tissue damage or inflammation. The historical progression from fibrositis to fibromyalgia, and now to nociplastic pain, underscores the complexity of chronic pain syndromes and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to management.

Mitochondrial structural alterations in fibromyalgia: a pilot electron microscopy study.

Objectives: The pathogenesis of fibromyalgia (FM), characterised by chronic widespread pain and fatigue, remains notoriously elusive, hampering attempts to develop disease modifying treatments. Mitochondria are the headquarters of cellular energy metabolism, and their malfunction has been proposed to contribute to both FM and chronic fatigue. Thus, the aim of the current pilot study, was to detect structural changes in mitochondria of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of FM patients, using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Long COVID-19 Enigma: Unmasking the Role of Distinctive Personality Profiles as Risk Factors.

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has prompted extensive research into lingering effects, especially in 'Long COVID' patients. Despite exploration, contributing factors remain elusive; This study explores the potential link between distinctive personality profiles, particularly type D personality, and an increased risk of Long COVID; A retrospective cross-sectional study at Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center's Post-COVID clinic analyzed data from 373 Long COVID patients through comprehensive questionnaires covering Long COVID syndrome, Fibromyalgia criteria, personality assessments, social support, and subjective evaluations of cognitive decline, health and life quality. In total, 116 out of 373 patients completed the questionnaire, yielding a 31% participation rate; Cluster analysis revealed two groups, with Cluster 1 (N = 58) exhibiting Type D personality traits while Cluster 2 (N = 56) not meeting criteria for Type D personality.

TMS in combination with a pain directed intervention for the treatment of fibromyalgia - A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.

Background: Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a highly prevalent condition, that causes chronic pain and severe reduction in quality of life and productivity, as well as social isolation. Despite the significant morbidity and economic burden of FMS, current treatments are scarce.

Objective: To investigate whether stimulation of ACC -mPFC activity by dTMS enhances a pain-directed psychotherapeutic intervention.

Dual anti-viral treatment for persistent COVID-19 in immunocompromised hemato-oncological patients is associated with a favorable prognosis and minor side effects.

In hemato-oncological patients, COVID-19 can present as a persistent infection with ongoing symptoms and viral replication over a prolonged period of time. Data are scarce on the preferred treatment options for these patients. We describe our experience with a five-day course of dual anti-viral treatment with remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for hemato-oncological immunocompromised patients with persistent COVID-19.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio trend at admission predicts adverse outcome in hospitalized respiratory syncytial virus patients.

Background And Aims: Severe cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection are relatively rare but may lead to serious clinical outcomes, including respiratory failure and death. These infections were shown to be accompanied by immune dysregulation. We aimed to test whether the admission neutrophil-to-leukocyte ratio, a marker of an aberrant immune response, can predict adverse outcome.

Neurophysiological and psychosocial mechanisms of fibromyalgia: A comprehensive review and call for an integrative model.

Research into the neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms involved in fibromyalgia has progressed remarkably in recent years. Despite this, current accounts of fibromyalgia fail to capture the complex, dynamic, and mutual crosstalk between neurophysiological and psychosocial domains. We conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature in order to: a) synthesize current knowledge on fibromyalgia; b) explore and highlight multi-level links and pathways between different systems; and c) build bridges connecting disparate perspectives.

The Liver Can Deliver: Utility of Hepatic Function Tests as Predictors of Outcome in COVID-19, Influenza and RSV Infections.

Background: liver test abnormalities have been described in patients with Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), and hepatic involvement may correlate with disease severity. With the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions, seasonal respiratory viruses now circulate alongside SARS-CoV-2.

Aims: we aimed to compare patterns of abnormal liver function tests in patients suffering from COVID-19 infection and seasonal respiratory viruses: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (A and B).

Risk factors, clinical characteristics and prognostic value of acute kidney injury in COVID-19 compared with influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus.

Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) complicates a substantial part of patients with COVID-19. Direct viral penetration of renal cells through the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 receptor, and indirect damage by the aberrant inflammatory response characteristic of COVID-19 are likely mechanisms. Nevertheless, other common respiratory viruses such as Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are also associated with AKI.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy compared to pharmacological intervention in fibromyalgia patients following traumatic brain injury: A randomized, controlled trial.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome with unsatisfactory response to current treatments. Physical trauma, including traumatic brain Injury (TBI) is among the etiological triggers. Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an intervention that combines 100% oxygen with elevated atmospheric pressure.

Emotion regulation and the salience network: a hypothetical integrative model of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances and other symptoms, and has a substantial socioeconomic impact. Current biomedical and psychosocial treatments are unsatisfactory for many patients, and treatment progress has been hindered by the lack of a clear understanding of the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. We present here a model of fibromyalgia that integrates current psychosocial and neurophysiological observations.

Elevated Serum Amyloid A Levels Contribute to Increased Platelet Adhesion in COVID-19 Patients.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients are prone to thrombotic complications that may increase morbidity and mortality. These complications are thought to be driven by endothelial activation and tissue damage promoted by the systemic hyperinflammation associated with COVID-19. However, the exact mechanisms contributing to these complications are still unknown.

The economic burden of fibromyalgia: A systematic literature review.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common disorder characterised by heterogeneous symptoms often leading to decreased functioning, work productivity and quality of life. Although a multimodal approach is used to treat FM, a significant proportion of patients show low satisfaction with perceived care, potentially resulting in an inefficient use of health care resources. The aim of the present review is to summarize the available evidence about the economic impact of FM and the specific cost drivers of health care expenditure for the syndrome.

Fibromyalgia: one year in review 2022.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a chronic widespread pain syndrome characterised by fatigue, sleep disturbances and many idiopathic pain symptoms. The aim of this review is to describe and summarise the most recent findings concerning the diagnosis, aetiopathogenesis and treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome published between January 2021 and January 2022 and appearing on PubMed database. In particular, last year's literature focused on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on FM patients, on new aetiopathogenetic horizons and the last conclusions about pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MoCA) as a screening tool for cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia.

Objectives: Cognitive dysfunction is one of the criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FM) and is typically based on self-report questionnaires such as the Symptom Severity Scale. However, recent studies have shown that there is no correlation between these subjective measures of cognitive dysfunction and more lengthy objective measures of cognitive functioning. This points to the need for a briefer valid evaluation tool for cognitive dysfunction in FM.