Brain, behavior, & immunity - health最新文献

{"title":"Plasma profiles of neurology-related proteins in at-risk mental state and first-episode psychosis: Associations with psychotic symptoms and cognitive performance","authors":"Martí Llaurador-Coll ,&nbsp;Itziar Montalvo ,&nbsp;Francesc Estrada ,&nbsp;Vanessa Sánchez-Gistau ,&nbsp;Henrik Zetterberg ,&nbsp;Javier Labad ,&nbsp;Andrea L. Benedet ,&nbsp;Elisabet Vilella","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Early diagnosis of psychosis is crucial, and biomarker detection may provide insights into the pathophysiology of psychosis and the potential for the development of early diagnostic tools. In particular, blood-based proteomic profiling has yielded promising results for psychiatric disorders because of the use of novel high-throughput techniques and the feasibility of performing blood extractions in routine clinical practice.</div></div><div><h3>Study design and methodology</h3><div>Here, we studied 182 participants (33.3 % females, <span><math><mrow><mover><mi>X</mi><mo>‾</mo></mover></mrow></math></span>_age = 24.66 ± 5.05), comprising 50 healthy controls (HCs), 37 patients with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) and 95 patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP). We used a panel of 92 neurology-related proteins in a multiplex immunoassay to identify the plasma protein profiles of each group, their coexpression patterns and biological relevance, and their associations with psychotic symptoms and cognitive performance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>CPA2 was overexpressed in both ARMS participants (β = 0.876, adj. p = 0.009) and FEP participants (β = 0.568, adj. p = 0.011) compared with HCs. In FEP participants, in addition to CPA2, 31 other proteins were overexpressed, with GFRA1 being the most differentially expressed protein (β = 1.159, adj. p &lt; 0.001). Coexpression clusters in FEP patients were involved in several biological processes, such as the regulation of myelination, cell adhesion, multicellular organismal processes and axon guidance. In ARMS patients, THY1 expression was inversely correlated with symptom severity (ρ = −0.640, adj. p = 0.039), and IL12 expression was correlated with cognitive performance (ρ = 0.707, adj. p = 0.007); however, no further correlations were found after the false discovery rate adjustment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings suggest the involvement of CPA2, GFRA1 and IL12, among other neurology-related proteins, in the early phases of psychosis, which, if confirmed, could become promising biomarkers for diagnosis, psychotic symptom development and psychosis-associated cognitive impairment. However, future studies with larger samples, a longitudinal design, and more extensive proteomic panels are needed to validate these biomarkers and refine their clinical applicability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 101134"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145468663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural-cause mortality and C-reactive protein levels in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A prospective total cohort study","authors":"F. Fathian ,&nbsp;I. Divkovic ,&nbsp;M. Fagerbakke Strømme ,&nbsp;A. Mykletun ,&nbsp;R.A. Kroken ,&nbsp;C.A. Bartz-Johannessen ,&nbsp;E. Johnsen","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are associated with an excess mortality risk compared with the general population. The involvement of low-grade inflammation and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels is well established in SSD. However, associations between CRP and mortality risk in SSD are less investigated.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To investigate the association between the baseline CRP level and natural-cause mortality risk in SSD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We included all patients with an SSD diagnosis and baseline CRP measurement from an open cohort study of consecutively admitted patients to a psychiatric acute unit at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway, between May 1, 2005 and June 15, 2014. All patients were followed until the time of death or censoring/study end, up to 18.6 years, and only the assessments at admission were the focus of the present study. A competing risk model was used, adjusting for age and sex.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 1315 individuals, 245 (19 %) died of natural causes; among these patients, 66 (27 %) deaths were related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elevated baseline CRP levels of 1.0 ≤ CRP &lt;3.0 mg/L were significantly associated with increased natural-cause mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.88; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.22–2.88; p-value, 0.004), with a stronger association for CRP ≥3.0 mg/L (AHR, 2.28; 95 % CI, 1.50–3.48; p-value, &lt;0.001), compared with patients with CRP &lt;1.0 mg/L. Moreover, baseline CRP ≥3.0 mg/L was associated with increased CVD-related mortality risk (AHR, 3.12; 95 % CI, 1.16–8.41; p-value, 0.024).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Elevated CRP levels were associated with increased natural-cause mortality and, specifically, with CVD-related mortality risk. The CRP level may thus be considered a predictive factor in mortality risk scoring algorithms in SSD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 101133"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145468667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Baicalein alleviates long-term cognitive impairments induced by repeated neonatal sevoflurane exposure via inhibition of cortical microglial TLR4/NF-kB signaling","authors":"Yingqiao Niu ,&nbsp;Qiuting Zeng ,&nbsp;Yan Yang ,&nbsp;Wenbo Liu ,&nbsp;Hui Zhang ,&nbsp;Shuyu Chen ,&nbsp;Xiaomin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101126","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101126","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sevoflurane, a widely used pediatric anesthetic, has been associated with long-term cognitive impairments following repeated neonatal exposure. Baicalein, a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, exhibits neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluated whether baicalein can mitigate sevoflurane-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits in developing rats. Neonatal rats were exposed to sevoflurane (3 %, 2 h/day) from postnatal day (P) 6 to P8. In the intervention group, baicalein (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally from P6 to P8 and orally via drinking water from P21 to P35. Cognitive performance was assessed between P35 and P40 using the open field test, novel object recognition, and fear conditioning paradigms. Brain tissues were collected for Western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence analyses. Baicalein treatment significantly attenuated sevoflurane-induced deficits in memory and learning, particularly in the novel object recognition and fear conditioning tasks. Mechanistically, baicalein inhibited microglial activation, reduced cortical expression of TLR4 and phosphorylated NF-κB p65, and decreased pro-inflammatory mediators including iNOS, IL-1β, and IL-6 at P8. These findings indicate that repeated neonatal sevoflurane exposure impairs cognitive function via microglial-mediated neuroinflammation, and that baicalein's neuroprotective effect is at least partly attributable to modulation of cortical microglial activity via TLR4/NF-κB signaling. This study highlights baicalein as a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent long-term neurodevelopmental deficits in neonates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 101126"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145468666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Induction of endogenous IL-10 promotes resolution and tolerance of nitric oxide in microglia” [Brain Behav. Immun. Health 49 (2025) 101094]","authors":"Hsing-Chun Kuo ,&nbsp;Jia-Shing Chen ,&nbsp;Chun-Nun Chao ,&nbsp;Kam-Fai Lee ,&nbsp;Yi-Te Huang ,&nbsp;Pin-Cheng Mao ,&nbsp;Tzu-Chia Lin ,&nbsp;Shu-Chen Chiu ,&nbsp;Ya-Ling Huang ,&nbsp;Chun-Hsien Chu","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101116","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101116"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Internalized weight stigma, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation in postmenopausal women with obesity","authors":"Rebecca L. Pearl ,&nbsp;Stephen D. Anton ,&nbsp;Danielle Saunders ,&nbsp;Marian Hernandez ,&nbsp;Laurie C. Groshon ,&nbsp;Miriam Sheynblyum ,&nbsp;Dakota L. Leget ,&nbsp;Christian McLaren ,&nbsp;Sarah Vial ,&nbsp;Lecsy Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Kevin Wu ,&nbsp;Gayane Barsamyan ,&nbsp;Thomas A. Wadden","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101129","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101129","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To determine the relationship of internalized weight stigma with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and markers of inflammation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Postmenopausal women with obesity (<em>N</em> = 101) with high or low scores on the Weight Bias Internalization Scale completed a single assessment visit. MetS components (waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and glucose) were measured, along with body mass index (BMI). Blood samples were drawn to analyze C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and myeloperoxidase. Participants completed a second measure of internalized weight stigma (Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire; WSSQ) and reported medications, demographics, depression symptoms, smoking status, and perceived stress (included as covariates).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Logistic regression showed no significant relationship between either measure of internalized weight stigma and MetS when controlling for BMI, depression, and demographics. A small, significant, positive association emerged between WSSQ scores and MetS when adding the covariate of anti-depressant medication (OR = 1.07, <em>p</em> = 0.040). WSSQ scores were associated with significantly greater odds of having high blood pressure (OR = 1.10, <em>p</em> = 0.003) and low HDL cholesterol (OR = 1.06, <em>p</em> = 0.030). Both measures of internalized weight stigma were associated with greater continuous blood pressure values. Inflammatory markers were not associated with internalized weight stigma in most analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Some significant associations were found between internalized weight stigma and MetS components, but more research is needed to clarify these relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 101129"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145468083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"E.coli-derived CsgA-peptides stimulate cytokine production in microglia and lead to transient changes in neocortical Aβ-levels in pre-plaque APPSWE/PS1ΔE9 and wild type mice","authors":"Leda Mygind ,&nbsp;Gabriel Jensen ,&nbsp;Victoria Neesgaard ,&nbsp;Katrine Tækker Krohn ,&nbsp;Serges Torres Puig ,&nbsp;Anders Boysen ,&nbsp;Sussanne Petersen ,&nbsp;Kate Lykke Lambertsen ,&nbsp;Athanasios Metaxas ,&nbsp;Michael Kemp ,&nbsp;Jakob Møller-Jensen ,&nbsp;Bente Finsen","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Epidemiological and pre-clinical data propose that infections can accelerate the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. The implication of infectious agents, and especially the role of <em>E.coli</em> and other amyloid-peptide producing bacteria, on the development and progression of cerebral amyloidosis and neuroinflammation, both key neuropathological characteristics of AD, has only been studied to a limited extent.</div><div>In this study, recombinant bacterial amyloid surface protein CsgA was injected intracisternally in pre-plaque 8-11-week-old <em>APP</em>_<em>SWE</em><em>/PS1</em>_{<em>ΔE9</em>} mice and age-matched <em>wild type</em> (<em>WT</em>) mice. Although less potent than bacterial lipopolysaccharide, CsgA significantly increased the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor, in the neocortex of both <em>APP</em>_<em>SWE</em><em>/PS1</em>_{<em>ΔE9</em>} and <em>WT</em> mice, and in cultured microglia. CsgA exposure also induced transient changes in neocortical amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide levels, increasing the highly fibrillogenic Aβ₄₂ in the guanidine-fraction in <em>APP</em>_<em>SWE</em><em>/PS1</em>_{<em>ΔE9</em>} mice and decreasing Aβ₄₀ in the PBS-fraction in <em>WT</em> mice. The changes in Aβ levels had dissipated 24 h post-injection. In line with the only transient changes in Aβ levels and inflammatory gene expression, CsgA did not impact on long term spatial memory in pre-plaque <em>APP</em>_<em>SWE</em><em>/PS1</em>_{<em>ΔE9</em>} mice.</div><div>Our findings highlight a contribution of bacterial amyloid proteins on neuroinflammation and a possible contribution in influencing Aβ-homeostasis during infections. However, findings need to be further elaborated in older <em>APP</em>_<em>SWE</em><em>/PS1</em>_{<em>ΔE9</em>} mice in which Aβ plaques are abundant and an inflammatory response already established. Also, the impact of CsgA and other bacterial amyloids should be examined after repeated and/or continuous administration and at different concentrations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 101128"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145428835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preventing effect of plant extracts and omega-3 on age-related cognitive decline in male mice","authors":"Marie Martin ,&nbsp;Adrien Peltier ,&nbsp;Heena Vanmalibhai Lad ,&nbsp;Aline Foury ,&nbsp;Charlotte Madore-Delpech ,&nbsp;Line Pourtau ,&nbsp;David Gaudout ,&nbsp;Sophie Layé ,&nbsp;Véronique Pallet ,&nbsp;Anne-Laure Dinel ,&nbsp;Corinne Joffre","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101127","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101127","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Aging is associated with cognitive decline, accompanied by neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, impaired synaptic plasticity, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Nutritional interventions, specifically those rich in polyphenols, carotenoids, and omega-3 (om-3) fatty acids, have demonstrated potential benefits in preventing age-related cognitive decline. This study investigates the combined effects of plant extracts (PE) including polyphenols and carotenoids, and fish oil containing om-3 on cognitive function and underlying biological processes in aged mice.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To assess the impact of PE and om-3, alone and in combination, on age-related cognitive decline, especially on memory outcomes and to highlight mechanisms involved in these effects.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>17-month-old male C57BL/6 J mice were divided into control and supplemented groups (PE, om-3, and PE + om-3). A group of young mice was used for positive control. Behavioral assessments, including the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) for anxiety-like behavior, the Object Location Test (OLT) for short-term memory and the Morris Water Maze (MWM) for long-term memory, were conducted. RNA sequencing, fatty acid and oxylipin concentrations analysis and gut microbiota analysis were used to explore molecular changes and microbial diversity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All supplementations significantly improved short-term memory in the OLT, while only PE and PE + om-3 prevented long-term memory deficits in the MWM. All supplementations modulated gene expression, reducing inflammation, apoptosis or oxidative stress markers in the hippocampus. PE + om-3 further enhanced synaptic plasticity pathways and improved microbiota composition by decreasing harmful bacteria associated with cognitive decline.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Combined PE and om-3 supplementation could provide a complementary approach to combat age-related cognitive decline, highlighting its potential in promoting long-term neuroprotection through modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress and gut microbiota.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101127"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145363583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Altered immune and inflammatory gene expression in prefrontal cortex of antipsychotic-free schizophrenia subjects","authors":"Sergi Mas ,&nbsp;Xabier Elcoroaristizabal-Martín ,&nbsp;Carlos Cortijo Bringas ,&nbsp;Benito Morentin ,&nbsp;Luis F. Callado ,&nbsp;J. Javier Meana ,&nbsp;Guadalupe Rivero","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101125","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101125","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gene expression studies in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of subjects with schizophrenia have repeatedly reported alterations in immune and inflammatory responses as well as neuronal and mitochondrial processes. Whether the findings are due to schizophrenia and/or to the effect of antipsychotic (AP) drug exposure is particularly intriguing.</div><div>In the present study, we performed a transcriptomic study in DLPFC of 16 schizophrenia subjects with no detectable AP blood levels at the time of death. Each schizophrenia subject was matched to a control subject for sex, age, postmortem interval and storage time of the samples. Weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of transcriptomic data identified 33 modules of co-expressed genes. One of these modules was significantly associated with schizophrenia diagnosis. Protein-protein interaction networks were built within the genes in the module and submitted to gene set enrichment analysis on biological processes. Results revealed the implication of immune and inflammatory responses, cytoskeleton regulation, neurotrophic factors and protein post-translational modifications. Analysis of the promoter regions of the clustered genes predicted the enrichment of 6 transcription factors, including SP1, previously associated with schizophrenia.</div><div>Present results in DLPFC of AP-free schizophrenia subjects indicate that the identified biological processes, especially immune and inflammatory response alterations are representative of schizophrenia disorder and not a mere effect of acute AP exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101125"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145363584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional olfactory impairment and fatigue in post-COVID-19 syndrome including ME/CFS – a longitudinal prospective observational study","authors":"Lil Meyer-Arndt ,&nbsp;Greta Pierchalla ,&nbsp;Lukas Mödl ,&nbsp;Felix Wohlrab ,&nbsp;Franziska Legler ,&nbsp;Uta Hoppmann ,&nbsp;Claudia Kedor ,&nbsp;Kirsten Wittke ,&nbsp;Helma Freitag ,&nbsp;Frank Konietschke ,&nbsp;Heidi Olze ,&nbsp;Friedemann Paul ,&nbsp;Carmen Scheibenbogen ,&nbsp;Judith Bellmann-Strobl ,&nbsp;Ulrike Förster-Ruhrmann","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101124","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101124","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) affects a significant proportion of individuals, with olfactory impairment and fatigue as prominent long-term symptoms. A subset of PCS patients with pronounced fatigue meets the diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), here referred to as PCS-ME/CFS. This study explores the relationship between PCS, fatigue, and olfactory function, and investigates the potential of olfactory impairment as a diagnostic and prognostic marker.</div><div>We assessed olfactory function up to 28 months post-COVID-19 in 45 PCS patients (22 PCS, 23 PCS-ME/CFS) using the extended Sniffin’ Sticks test, which evaluates odor threshold, discrimination, and identification, providing a composite score. Fatigue severity and health-related quality of life were assessed using validated questionnaires, a standardized test measured cognitive function, and handgrip strength indicated physical fatiguability.</div><div>Both PCS and PCS-ME/CFS patients showed significant improvement in olfactory function, with all patients returning to normosmia after 20 months, regardless of diagnosis. While odor threshold was the most affected olfactory measure in Sniffin’ Sticks testing, odor identification was the only measure that remained impaired over time. Olfactory impairment correlated with cognitive, physical, and mental performance, with stronger correlations in the PCS group, particularly linking better odor discrimination at baseline to improved daily functioning and health-related quality of life after 20 months.</div><div>Our findings suggest that odor identification assessed in standardized testing may remain impaired the longest in patients with persisting symptoms after COVID-19, reflecting persisting central processing difficulties. Correlations between olfactory performance, cognitive function, and physical ability point to shared underlying mechanisms. Early olfactory improvements may be linked to better long-term cognitive outcomes, highlighting a possible prognostic role of olfactory function in these patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 101124"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145428836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined effects of calorie restriction and chronic stress on systemic inflammation and gut microbiota in rats exposed to Leptospira interrogans lipopolysaccharide","authors":"Pavlo Petakh ,&nbsp;Yaroslav Stravskyy ,&nbsp;Iryna Halabitska ,&nbsp;Alina Pavliuk ,&nbsp;Oleksandr Kamyshnyi","doi":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Calorie restriction (CR) is widely studied for its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, under conditions of chronic stress—such as those experienced during war, displacement, or famine—its impact on immune function remains poorly understood. In such contexts, combined nutritional and psychosocial stress may exacerbate inflammation and compromise host defences against pathogens.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate how the combination of moderate calorie restriction and chronic social stress affects systemic immune responses and gut microbiota composition following exposure to <em>Leptospira interrogans</em> lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Male Wistar rats were assigned to either <em>ad libitum</em> feeding (control) (n = 6), calorie restriction (CR, 30 % reduction) (n = 12), or CR combined with chronic overcrowding stress for 14 days (n = 12). All animals were subsequently challenged with <em>Leptospira</em> LPS. Immune gene expression was analyzed in peripheral blood using RT-qPCR arrays. Culture-based quantification of fecal microbiota was performed to assess compositional changes. Correlations between microbiota and cytokine gene expression were evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared with the control group, CR increased <em>Il10</em> expression and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as <em>Lactobacillus</em> and <em>Bifidobacterium</em>, suggesting an anti-inflammatory and microbiota-supportive effect. In contrast, relative to the CR-only group, rats exposed to CR combined with chronic social stress showed marked upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes (<em>Il1b</em>, <em>Il6</em>, <em>Tnf</em>) and a shift toward gut dysbiosis, characterized by increased abundance of <em>Klebsiella</em> spp., <em>Escherichia coli</em>, and <em>Enterococcus</em> species.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>A combination of chronic stress and calorie restriction can promote inflammation and cause gut dysbiosis, which may lead to a more severe form of leptospirosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72454,"journal":{"name":"Brain, behavior, & immunity - health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101121"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}