Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel A. Ortega, Cielo Garcia-Montero, Oscar Fraile-Martinez, Diego De Leon-Oliva, Diego Liviu Boaru, Coral Bravo, Juan A. De Leon-Luis, Miguel A. Saez, Angel Asunsolo, Ignacio Romero-Gerechter, Alejandro Sanz-Giancola, Raul Diaz-Pedrero, Laura Lopez-Gonzalez, Luis G. Guijarro, Silvestra Barrena-Blazquez, Julia Bujan, Natalio Garcia-Honduvilla, Melchor Alvarez-Mon, Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon, Guillermo Lahera
Summary: Psychosis is a mental health condition characterized by a loss of touch with reality. A first-episode psychosis during pregnancy can have adverse effects on both the mother and newborn. This study aimed to analyze the gene and protein expression of oxytocin (OXT), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), vasopressin (AVP), and vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1a) in the placental tissue of pregnant women after a first-episode psychosis. The results showed increased gene and protein expression of OXT, AVP, OXTR, and AVPR1A in the placental tissue of these women. This suggests that an abnormal paracrine/endocrine activity of the placenta may be associated with a first-episode psychosis during pregnancy, negatively impacting the well-being of both the mother and fetus.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Lauren J. Rice, Josephine Agu, C. Sue Carter, James C. Harris, Hans P. Nazarloo, Habiba Naanai, Stewart L. Einfeld
Summary: Plasma vasopressin levels are lower in individuals with PWS, while saliva oxytocin levels are higher. Females and individuals with the mUPD genetic subtype have higher saliva oxytocin levels. Oxytocin and vasopressin levels are associated with different PWS behaviors.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia Czarniak, Joanna Kaminska, Joanna Matowicka-Karna, Olga Martyna Koper-Lenkiewicz
Summary: Cerebrospinal fluid plays a crucial role in protecting the central nervous system by providing support, absorbing shocks, and transporting nutrients and waste products. This review provides an overview of cerebrospinal fluid history, production, circulation, main components, and the roles of blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier in maintaining homeostasis. The utility of Albumin Quotient evaluation in the diagnosis of CNS diseases is discussed. The importance of research on cerebrospinal fluid for improving disease management and discovering new treatment options is highlighted.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Qianmin Chen, Jingwen Zhuang, Ronghua Zuo, Huiwen Zheng, Jingjing Dang, Zhiping Wang
Summary: This study aimed to explore the association between postpartum depression (PPD) and oxytocin (OXT) levels, as well as assess the interaction between peripheral secretion and central release of OXT. The results showed that OXT concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), plasma, and saliva were negatively correlated with PPD and could be valuable predictors of PPD. Additionally, OXT concentrations in plasma and saliva were positively correlated with CSF OXT concentrations.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ozge Oztan, Catherine F. Talbot, Emanuela Argilli, Alyssa C. Maness, Sierra M. Simmons, Noreen Mohsin, Laura A. Del Rosso, Joseph P. Garner, Elliott H. Sherr, John P. Capitanio, Karen J. Parker
Summary: The study found a correlation between social traits and biological measurements in rhesus monkeys, with cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin concentration being able to predict individual scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale. This suggests that variations in social traits may be influenced by biological factors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuzhe Yang, Yuan Yuan, Guo Zhang, Hao Wang, Ying-Cong Chen, Yingcheng Liu, Christopher G. Tarolli, Daniel Crepeau, Jan Bukartyk, Mithri R. Junna, Aleksandar Videnovic, Terry D. Ellis, Melissa C. Lipford, Ray Dorsey, Dina Katabi
Summary: Parkinson's disease can be diagnosed and monitored based on breathing patterns during sleep using a neural network model. The model shows high accuracy in detecting PD and can also estimate severity and progression.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yazmin Hernandez-Diaz, Thelma Beatriz Gonzalez-Castro, Carlos Alfonso Tovilla-Zarate, Maria Lilia Lopez-Narvaez, Alma Delia Genis-Mendoza, Rosa Giannina Castillo-Avila, Miguel Angel Ramos-Mendez, Isela Esther Juarez-Rojop
Summary: The study found that serum oxytocin levels were significantly lower in individuals with schizophrenia compared to the control group, while levels in cerebrospinal fluid were significantly higher. This suggests that dysregulation of the oxytocin system may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
METABOLIC BRAIN DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xiao-E Cai, Jiao Le, Xiao-Jing Shou, Gao-Wa Wu-Yun, Xiao-Xi Wang, Song-Ping Han, Ji-Sheng Han, Keith M. Kendrick, Rong Zhang
Summary: Children with autism exhibit reduced attention to social paired with nonsocial stimuli compared to typically developing children. Using eye-tracking we show this difference is due to typically developing rather than autistic boys being more influenced by how interesting competing nonsocial objects are. On the other hand, reduced time looking at the eyes in autistic relative to typically developing boys is unaffected by nonsocial object salience. Time spent viewing social stimuli is associated with cognitive development and blood levels of oxytocin.
Review
Physiology
Bojana Savic, David Murphy, Nina Japundzic-Zigon
Summary: The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a crucial structure in the hypothalamus that plays a key role in regulating cardiovascular and osmotic balance. It is divided into neuroendocrine and autonomic compartments, both equally important for hormone production and autonomous regulation. Additionally, the PVN interacts with other regions to modulate blood pressure and its variability.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Qian Zhuang, Xiaoxiao Zheng, Benjamin Becker, Wei Lei, Xiaolei Xu, Keith M. Kendrick
Summary: The roles of the neuropeptides arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) in social cognition and for therapeutic intervention in autism spectrum disorder are still not fully understood. This study found that AVP increased error rates for social stimuli but reduced error rates for non-social stimuli, and both peptides had an anxiolytic effect after the task.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Weixiang Wu, Xiaolin Ruan, Chunming Gu, Dan Luo, Jinfeng Ye, Fuqiang Diao, Lihong Wu, Mingyong Luo
Summary: Concerns about the adverse effects of metal/metalloids exposure on brain development and neurological disorders among children are increasing. This study investigated the transport patterns of 16 metals/metalloids across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) in children, and found that certain biomedical parameters could influence the transformation of metals/metalloids from serum to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), highlighting their potential neurotoxicity.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karen J. Parker
Summary: By studying naturally low-social rhesus monkeys, we identified a neurochemical marker that can serve as a model for human social impairment in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We also developed a novel medication that improves social abilities in children with ASD. This translational research approach advances our understanding of ASD and has potential applications in studying other human brain disorders.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hiroshi Arima, Timothy Cheetham, Mirjam Christ-Crain, Deborah Cooper, Juliana Drummond, Mark Gurnell, Miles Levy, Ann McCormack, John Newell-Price, Joseph G. Verbalis, John Wass, John Wass
Summary: Recent data suggests that patients with diabetes insipidus (DI) are being harmed. The authors propose renaming central and nephrogenic DI as arginine vasopressin deficiency and resistance, respectively.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Biology
Rebecca Polk, Marilyn Horta, Tian Lin, Eric Porges, Marite Ojeda, Hans P. Nazarloo, C. Sue Carter, Natalie C. Ebner
Summary: This study investigated the associations between plasma oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin levels and dynamic emotion identification accuracy in older men. The results showed that higher plasma oxytocin levels were associated with lower accuracy, and this relationship was fully mediated by cognition. In contrast, plasma arginine-vasopressin levels did not show any association with dynamic emotion identification accuracy.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benjamin A. Tabak, Gareth Leng, Angela Szeto, Karen J. Parker, Joseph G. Verbalis, Toni E. Ziegler, Mary R. Lee, Inga D. Neumann, Armando J. Mendez
Summary: Oxytocin, a neuropeptide known for its role in reproduction and socioemotional processes, may have therapeutic potential in treating social impairments, but the precise way to manipulate this system for clinical benefit is still unknown. The inconsistent use of standardized and validated oxytocin measurement methods, including the design and study of hormone secretion and biochemical assays, presents unresolved challenges.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Michael Behnes, Shqipdona Lahu, Gjin Ndrepepa, Maurizio Menichelli, Katharina Mayer, Jochen Woehrle, Isabell Bernlochner, Senta Gewalt, Bernhard Witzenbichler, Willibald Hochholzer, Dirk Sibbing, Salvatore Cassese, Dominick J. Angiolillo, Rayyan Hemetsberger, Christian Valina, Arne Mueller, Sebastian Kufner, Christian W. Hamm, Erion Xhepa, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Hendrik B. Sager, Michael Joner, Massimiliano Fusaro, Gert Richardt, Karl-Ludwig Laugwitz, Franz-Josef Neumann, Heribert Schunkert, Stefanie Schupke, Adnan Kastrati, Ibrahim Akin
Summary: This analysis compared the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor and prasugrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presenting during different time periods.
CLINICAL RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ana Klein, Toni Christoph Berger, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Matthias Schaffert, William Matuja, Erich Schmutzhard, Andrea S. Winkler
Summary: The presence of a neurologist in epilepsy clinics in Tanzania can significantly reduce the number of seizures experienced by patients per month but may also increase the occurrence of side effects of medication. Specialist training and relevant infrastructure should be encouraged in low-income and middle-income countries.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Theresa Hiltner, Noemi Szoerenyi, Meike Kohlruss, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Anna-Lina Herz, Julia Slotta-Huspenina, Moritz Jesinghaus, Alexander Novotny, Sebastian Lange, Katja Ott, Wilko Weichert, Gisela Keller
Summary: This study analyzed the allelic imbalance (AI) of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes in patients with gastric/gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma and its association with clinical outcome. The results showed that AI was significantly associated with response or survival, particularly AI at markers of the HLA region was associated with decreased survival in responding patients. These findings highlight the importance of intact neoantigen presentation specifically for responding patients and may help explain the poor survival despite tumor regression after neoadjuvant CTx.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Alp Aytekin, J. J. Coughlan, Gjin Ndrepepa, Salvatore Cassese, Shqipdona Lahu, Sebastian Kufner, Katharina Mayer, Erion Xhepa, Senta Gewalt, Michael Joner, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Dominick J. Angiolillo, Maurizio Menichelli, Gert Richardt, Franz J. Neumann, Heribert Schunkert, Adnan Kastrati
Summary: This study analyzed the treatment effect of a prasugrel vs. a ticagrelor based strategy on total ischaemic and bleeding events in patients with ACS. The results showed that prasugrel was associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction compared to ticagrelor, but the risk of bleeding events was similar between the two groups. Confirmation of these findings through future studies is important.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
A. Zhylka, N. Sollmann, F. Kofler, A. Radwan, A. De Luca, J. Gempt, B. Wiestler, B. Menze, A. Schroeder, C. Zimmer, J. S. Kirschke, S. Sunaert, A. Leemans, S. M. Krieg, J. Pluim
Summary: This study compared multilevel fiber tractography with functional motor cortex mapping and conventional deterministic tractography algorithms. The results showed that multilevel fiber tractography improved the coverage of the motor cortex by corticospinal tract fibers and provided a more detailed and complete visualization of the fiber trajectories.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Alexander Hapfelmeier, Roman Hornung, Bernhard Haller
Summary: Hypothesis testing of variable importance measures (VIMPs) is an ongoing research topic. Different approaches have been proposed to address the computational costs associated with these tests, including heuristic approaches, formal tests, and non-parametric permutation tests. The use of sequential permutation tests and sequential p-value estimation can significantly reduce the computational costs of conventional permutation tests. Simulation studies and application studies confirm the theoretical properties and numerical stability of these methods.
COMPUTATIONAL STATISTICS & DATA ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Antonius Schneider, Laura Huber, Jorg Lohse, Klaus Linde, Anna Greissel, Heribert Sattel, Peter Henningsen, Alexander Hapfelmeier
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association of possible somatic symptom disorder (SSD), depression, anxiety, and participant-reported symptoms with daily life impairment (DLI). The results showed a strong association between DLI and self-reported fatigue, dyspnea, impaired concentration, SSD-12, and PHQ-2. This suggests that PCS is a complex clinical picture in which SSD may play an important role when DLI is present.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOMATIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Aida Anetsberger, Isabell Bernlochner, Bettina Jungwirth, Manfred Blobner, Bernhard Meyer, Eberhard F. Kochs, Dario Bongiovanni, Sebastian Schmid, Clemens Langgartner, Lea Baumgart, Jens Gempt
Summary: This study is the first to show a relationship between immature platelets and therapy-relevant complications in neurosurgical patients. It could be a pilot trial for varied scientific questions including risk stratification of neurosurgical patients. Immature platelets are associated with relevant complications in neurosurgical patients.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Johanna Haertl, Martin Renz, Silke Wunderlich, Bernhard Hemmer, Benedikt Hofauer, Jens Gempt, Michael Kallmayer, Tobias Boeckh-Behrens, Jan S. Kirschke, Benno David Ikenberg
Summary: Bone or cartilage anomalies can cause ischemic stroke, which is referred to as bony stroke. There is no standardized diagnostic and therapeutic approach for bony strokes due to their rarity. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the diagnostic and therapeutic workup of patients with bony strokes at our center between January 2017 and March 2022.
Article
Economics
Johannes Wendl, Andreas Simon, Martin Kistler, Jana Hapfelmeier, Antonius Schneider, Alexander Hapfelmeier
Summary: This study aims to overcome methodological limitations in current research on medication adherence and its relationship to healthcare costs. Using different modeling approaches, the study found a positive association between medication adherence and total costs, a weak association with outpatient costs, positive association with pharmacy costs, and frequently negative association with inpatient costs. The study highlights the importance of avoiding concurrent measurement and considering the presence of a non-linear relationship.
APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Silvia Wuerstle, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Siranush Karapetyan, Fabian Studen, Andriana Isaakidou, Tillman Schneider, Roland M. Schmid, Stefan von Delius, Felix Gundling, Rainer Burgkart, Andreas Obermeier, Ulrich Mayr, Marc Ringelhan, Sebastian Rasch, Tobias Lahmer, Fabian Geisler, Paul E. Turner, Benjamin K. Chan, Christoph D. Spinner, Jochen Schneider
Summary: Ascitic fluid infection is a serious complication of liver cirrhosis, and it is crucial to distinguish between spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and secondary peritonitis in these patients due to different treatment approaches. This study analyzed 532 SBP episodes and 37 secondary peritonitis episodes to identify key differentiation criteria. Microbiological characteristics, severity of illness, and clinicopathological parameters were identified as the most important predictors to distinguish between SBP and secondary peritonitis. A point-score model with ten discriminatory features was established, and two cut-off scores were defined to divide patients into low-risk and high-risk groups for secondary peritonitis based on a sensitivity of 95% to rule out or rule in SBP episodes. Overall, the discrimination between secondary peritonitis and SBP remains challenging, but the findings of this study may help clinicians with the crucial differentiation.
Letter
Oncology
Sylvia C. Kurz, Anja Stammberger, Steffen K. Rosahl, Lauren E. Abrey, Nathalie L. Albert, Louisa von Baumgarten, Jens Gempt, Anca-L Grosu, Verena Leidgens, Anna McLean, Mirjam Renovanz, Julia Schwarzenberger, Lisa Sevenich, Tadeja Urbanic Purkart, Stephanie E. Combs, Ghazaleh Tabatabai, Monika Hegi, Martha Nowosielski
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Benjamin Brunn, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Rudolf A. Jorres, Konrad Schultz, Antonius Schneider
Summary: By combining FeNO with clinical signs and symptoms, the diagnostic value of nitric oxide in ruling-in and ruling-out asthma can be increased. A new model has been developed for this purpose.
RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alexander Hapfelmeier, Begum Irmak On, Mark Muehlau, Jan S. Kirschke, Achim Berthele, Christiane Gasperi, Ulrich Mansmann, Alexander Wuschek, Matthias Bussas, Martin Boeker, Antonios Bayas, Makbule Senel, Joachim Havla, Markus C. Kowarik, Klaus Kuhn, Ingrid Gatz, Helmut Spengler, Benedikt Wiestler, Lioba Grundl, Dominik Sepp, Bernhard Hemmer
Summary: The study aims to support treatment decision-making for patients with early RRMS and CIS by using an algorithm to create a treatment decision score (MS-TDS). By integrating multiple data sources, the MS-TDS predicts the probability of new or enlarging lesions in cerebral MRIs between 6 and 24 months after the initial MRI. The results show that the MS-TDS can estimate individualized treatment success probabilities and identify patients who benefit from early platform medication.
THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Anna-Lena Blaschke, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Hannah P. K. Rubisch, Pascal O. Berberat, Martin Gartmeier
Summary: Bedside teaching is a crucial element in medical education, and our study investigated the influence of teacher and structural characteristics on its perceived quality. We found that the intrinsic motivation of the teachers was positively correlated with quality, while experience had a weaker correlation. Among the structural characteristics, the number of patients and the proportion of time spent on clinical examination were significantly associated with the quality dimension of clinical teaching.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Andreia Biolchi Mayer, Henrique de Oliveira Amaral, Danilo Gustavo R. de Oliveira, Gabriel Avohay Alves Campos, Priscilla Galante Ribeiro, Solange Cristina Rego Fernandes, Adolfo Carlos Barros de Souza, Raffael Hinio Araijo de Castro, Anamelia Lorenzetti Bocca, Marcia Renata Mortari
Summary: This study synthesized three bioinspired peptides based on fraternine and tested their effects in a Parkinson's disease model. The peptides fra-10 and fra-14 improved motor coordination, but most of the peptides were toxic at the applied doses. All three peptides reduced the intensity of lesion-induced rotations. The peptide fra-24 increased the number of TH+ neurons in the substantia nigra and reduced the concentration of the cytokine TNF-alpha, suggesting it has neuroprotective effects in Parkinson's disease.