Brain, behavior, and immunity
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Brain Behav. Immun. · Aug 2021
ReviewThe current second wave and COVID-19 vaccination status in India.
Recently, India is at risk due to the exponential rising of COVID-19 infection, which generated a second wave. This infection rise may affect the vaccination program in India, and it can also affect vaccine production. In this manuscript, we have discussed the psychosocial and political factors that have driven the current wave of India. We have also tried to depict the psychosocial and political obstacles that are impairing the vaccination program.
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Brain Behav. Immun. · Jul 2021
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and thrombocytopenia after COVID-19 vaccination - a report of two UK cases.
Recent reports have highlighted rare, and sometimes fatal, cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and thrombocytopenia following the Vaxzevria vaccine. An underlying immunological mechanism similar to that of spontaneous heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is suspected, with the identification of antibodies to platelet factor-4 (PF4), but without previous heparin exposure. This unusual mechanism has significant implications for the management approach used, which differs from usual treatment of CVST. ⋯ However, some cases have proved fatal. Itis critical that clinicians arealerted to the emergence of such eventstofacilitate appropriate management. Patients presenting with CVST features and thrombocytopenia post-vaccination should undergo PF4 antibody testing and be managed in a similar fashion to HIT, in particular avoiding heparin and platelet transfusions.
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Brain Behav. Immun. · May 2021
IL-6 signaling mediates the germinal center response, IgM production and nociceptive sensitization in male mice after tibia fracture.
Up-regulated interleukin 6 (IL-6) signaling, immune system activation, and pronociceptive autoantibodies are characteristic of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). IL-6 is known to promote B cell differentiation, thus we hypothesized that IL-6 signaling plays a crucial role in the development of adaptive immune responses and nociceptive sensitization in a murine tibia fracture model of CRPS. ⋯ Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that IL-6 signaling in the fracture limb of mice is required for germinal center formation, IgM autoantibody production and nociceptive sensitization. Anti-IL-6 therapies might, therefore, reduce pain after limb fracture or in the setting of CRPS.
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Brain Behav. Immun. · May 2021
Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK household longitudinal study.
Vaccine hesitancy could undermine efforts to control COVID-19. We investigated the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK and identified vaccine hesitant subgroups. The 'Understanding Society' COVID-19 survey asked participants (n = 12,035) their likelihood of vaccine uptake and reason for hesitancy. ⋯ Vaccine hesitancy was high in Black (71.8%) and Pakistani/Bangladeshi (42.3%) ethnic groups. Odds ratios for vaccine hesitancy were 13.42 (95% CI:6.86, 26.24) in Black and 2.54 (95% CI:1.19, 5.44) in Pakistani/Bangladeshi groups (compared to White British/Irish) and 3.54 (95% CI:2.06, 6.09) for people with no qualifications versus degree. Urgent action to address hesitancy is needed for some but not all ethnic minority groups.
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Brain Behav. Immun. · Mar 2021
Nasal administration of mesenchymal stem cells reverses chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most frequently reported adverse effects of cancer treatment. CIPN often persists long after treatment completion and has detrimental effects on patient's quality of life. There are no efficacious FDA-approved drugs for CIPN. ⋯ Moreover, WT MSC do not reverse CIPN in mice lacking IL-10 receptors on peripheral sensory neurons. In conclusion, only two nasal administrations of MSC fully reverse CIPN and the associated mitochondrial abnormalities via an IL-10 dependent pathway. Since MSC are already applied clinically, we propose that nasal MSC treatment could become a powerful treatment for the large group of patients suffering from neurotoxicities of cancer treatment.