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S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) is a protein primarily known as a biomarker for central nervous system (CNS) injuries, reflecting blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability and dysfunction. Recently, S100B has also been implicated in cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure (HF). Thus, we investigated serum levels of S100B in 146 chronic HF patients from the Cognition.Matters-HF study and their association with cardiac and cognitive dysfunction. The median S100B level was 33 pg/mL (IQR: 22–47 pg/mL). Higher S100B levels were linked to longer HF duration (p = 0.014) and increased left atrial volume index (p = 0.041), but also with a higher prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (p = 0.023) and lower visual/verbal memory scores (p = 0.006). In a multivariable model, NT-proBNP levels independently predicted S100B (T-value = 2.27, p = 0.026). S100B did not impact mortality (univariable HR (95% CI) 1.00 (0.99–1.01); p = 0.517; multivariable HR (95% CI) 1.01 (1.00–1.03); p = 0.142), likely due to its reflection of acute injury rather than long-term outcomes and the mild HF phenotype in our cohort. These findings underscore S100B's value in comprehensive disease assessment, reflecting both cardiac dysfunction and potentially related BBB disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sleep modulates the immune response, and sleep loss can reduce vaccine immunogenicity; vice versa, immune responses impact sleep. We aimed to investigate the influence of mental health and sleep quality on the immunogenicity of COVID‐19 vaccinations and, conversely, of COVID‐19 vaccinations on sleep quality. The prospective CoVacSer study monitored mental health, sleep quality and Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐Spike IgG titres in a cohort of 1082 healthcare workers from 29 September 2021 to 19 December 2022. Questionnaires and blood samples were collected before, 14 days, and 3 months after the third COVID‐19 vaccination, as well as in 154 participants before and 14 days after the fourth COVID‐19 vaccination. Healthcare workers with psychiatric disorders had slightly lower Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐Spike IgG levels before the third COVID‐19 vaccination. However, this effect was mediated by higher median age and body mass index in this subgroup. Antibody titres following the third and fourth COVID‐19 vaccinations ("booster vaccinations") were not significantly different between subgroups with and without psychiatric disorders. Sleep quality did not affect the humoral immunogenicity of the COVID‐19 vaccinations. Moreover, the COVID‐19 vaccinations did not impact self‐reported sleep quality. Our data suggest that in a working population neither mental health nor sleep quality relevantly impact the immunogenicity of COVID‐19 vaccinations, and that COVID‐19 vaccinations do not cause a sustained deterioration of sleep, suggesting that they are not a precipitating factor for insomnia. The findings from this large‐scale real‐life cohort study will inform clinical practice regarding the recommendation of COVID‐19 booster vaccinations for individuals with mental health and sleep problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factor XIII is a transglutaminase enzyme that plays a crucial role in hemostasis and wound healing. It crosslinks fibrin strands, stabilizing clots and promoting clot resistance to fibrinolysis. Additionally, Factor XIII has been found to have multiple other functions that extend beyond coagulation, including the regulation of inflammation and tissue repair processes. Emerging evidence suggests that Factor XIII may also have differential roles in acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, two common cardiovascular events with significant morbidity and mortality. In acute myocardial infarction, Factor XIII has been implicated in promoting clot stability and reducing the risk of re-occlusion. In ischemic stroke, Factor XIII may also contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia by promoting clot formation and exacerbating neuronal damage. Several studies have investigated the association between Factor XIII and these cardiovascular events, using various approaches such as genetic polymorphism analysis, animal models, and clinical data analysis. These studies have provided important insights into the role of Factor XIII in acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for interventions aimed at improving outcomes in these conditions. In this review, we will summarize the current understanding of Factor XIII's role in acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personality disorders (PDs) are associated with interpersonal dysfunction, loneliness, and reduced social embeddedness. This study investigates loneliness and social network size in association with self- and clinician-rated personality functioning regarding the DSM-5's Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD). Eighty psychiatric inpatients including participants with and without PDs completed the Semi-structured Interview for Personality Functioning, the Level of Personality Functioning Scale - Brief Form, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Social Network Index. Patients with PDs reported more loneliness and personality dysfunctioning than patients without PDs. Social network size did not differ between patient groups and showed lower correlations with personality functioning compared to loneliness. Loneliness was further associated with deficits in personality functioning. Deficits in distinct AMPD domains and loneliness may constitute transdiagnostically relevant factors that are related and mutually reinforcing. This could be important for identifying patients beyond PD diagnoses who are at risk of poor psychosocial functioning and require tailored psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]