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Copyright of Česká a Slovenská Neurologie a Neurochirurgie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Česká a Slovenská Neurologie a Neurochirurgie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Parkinson's dis-ease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative dis-ease. It is characterized by the progres-sive deterioration of motor as well as non-motor symp-toms, includ--ing cognitive dysfunction, disorders of mood and sleep and gastrointenstinal symp-toms. Physical activity is a modifiable wel-l-established risk factor for PD and clinical intervention studies with regular exercise undoubtedly point to the beneficial ef-fects of aerobic as well as strength exercise train--ing in patients with PD. Physical train--ing improves 1. motor state, balance and functional capacity of skeletal muscles, thus reduc--ing the risk of fal-ls; 2. physical fitness and general functional capacity of the patient; and 3. energy metabolism, reduc--ing the risk of type 2 diabetes, which often accelerates progres-sion of PD. Moreover, physical activity and physical train--ing improve quality of life by ameliorat--ing both motor and non-motor symp-toms, thus slow--ing down dis-ease progres-sion. Regular physical activity and exercise, based on individualized prescription and performed under the supervision of an experienced physician or exercise physiologist, are recom-mended as an integral part in the management of a patient with PD. Autoři deklarují, že v souvislosti s předmětem studie nemají žádné komerční zájmy. The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. Redakční rada potvrzuje, že rukopis práce splnil ICMJE kritéria pro publikace zasílané do biomedicínských časopisů. The Editorial Board declares that the manu-script met the ICMJE "uniform requirements" for biomedical papers. M. Schön1,2, I. Straka3, M. Sedliak4, J. Ukropec1, P. Valkovič3,5, B. Ukropcová1,2,4 1 Biomedicínske centrum, Slovenská akadémia vied, Bratislava, Slovensko 2 Ústav patologickej fyziológie, LF UK v Bratislave, Slovensko 3 II. neurologická klinika LF UK a UNB, Bratislava, Slovensko 4 Katedra športovej kinantropológie, Fakulta telesnej výchovy a športu UK v Bratislave, Slovensko 5 Ústav normálnej a patologickej fyziológie, Centrum experimentálnej medicíny, Slovenská akadémia vied, Bratislava, Slovensko doc. MUDr. Barbara Ukropcová, Ph.D. Biomedicínske centrumÚstav experimentálnej endokrinológie Slovenská akadémia vied Dúbravská cesta 9 845 05 Bratislava Slovensko e-mail: barbara.ukropcova@savba.sk Přijato k recenzi: 4. 3. 2019 Přijato do tisku: 2. 9. 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Česká a Slovenská Neurologie a Neurochirurgie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Headache is a prevalent and disabling non-respiratory symptom of COVID-19, posing a persistent challenge in post-COVID syndrome. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, phenotypes, risk factors and biomarkers associated with COVID-related headaches. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 634 hospitalized COVID-19 patients was conducted, with 295 participants being followed up 12-15 months post-discharge via telephone call. Initial laboratory workups, including complete blood count and various biochemical parameters, were compared between headache and non-headache groups. Results: One-third of hospitalized patients experienced headaches, predominantly younger individuals ( p < 0.001) and women ( p = 0.002). Non-dominant headaches were characterized as dull (56.9%) and holocranial (26.5%), while dominant headaches were unilateral (31.3%) with photophobia (34.3%) and nausea (56.3%). Persistent headaches were unilateral (40%) and pulsating (38%) with phonophobia (74%). Decreased CD4 T cells independently predicted COVID-associated headaches, with elevated IL-6 levels noted in the dominant-headache group ( p = 0.040). Remarkably, 50% of patients reported persistent headaches 12-15 months post-infection. Dexamethasone administration significantly reduced the likelihood of long-COVID headaches (52% vs. 73%, p = 0.029). Conclusions: Headache was present in one-third of patients with heterogenous phenotypes: tension headache in the non-dominant group, and migraine in the dominant and persistent headache groups. Persistent headache remains a challenge, with dexamethasone showing potential in reducing its incidence, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches in managing long-COVID headaches.

Introduction: Bradykinesia is an essential diagnostic criterion for Parkinson's disease (PD) but is frequently observed in many non-parkinsonian movement disorders, complicating differential diagnosis, particularly in disorders featuring tremors. The presence of bradykinetic features in the subset of dystonic tremors (DT), either "pure" dystonic tremors or tremors associated with dystonia, remains currently unexplored. The aim of the current study was to evaluate upper limb bradykinesia in DT patients, comparing them with healthy controls (HC) and patients with PD by observing repetitive finger tapping (FT)., Methods: The protocol consisted of two main parts. Initially, the kinematic recording of repetitive FT was performed using optical hand tracking system (Leap Motion Controller). The values of amplitude, amplitude decrement, frequency, frequency decrement, speed, acceleration and number of halts of FT were calculated. Subsequently, three independent movement disorder specialists from different movement disorders centres, blinded to the diagnosis, rated the presence of FT bradykinesia based on video recordings., Results: Thirty-six subjects participated in the study (12 DT, 12 HC and 12 early-stage PD). Kinematic analysis revealed no significant difference in the selected parameters of FT bradykinesia between DT patients and HC. In comparisons between DT and PD patients, PD patients exhibited bigger amplitude decrement and slower FT performance. In the blinded clinical assessment, bradykinesia was rated, on average, as being present in 41.6% of DT patients, 27.7% of HC, and 91.7% of PD patients. While overall inter-rater agreement was moderate, weak agreement was noted within the DT group., Discussion: Clinical ratings indicated signs of bradykinesia in almost half of DT patients. The objective kinematic analysis confirmed comparable parameters between DT and HC individuals, with more pronounced abnormalities in PD across various kinematic parameters. Interpretation of bradykinesia signs in tremor patients with DT should be approached cautiously and objective motion analysis might complement the diagnostic process and serve as a decision support system in the choice of clinical entities., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Matejicka, Kajan, Goga, Straka, Balaz, Janovic, Minar, Valkovic, Hajduk and Kosutzka.)

Pathogenic variants in LRRK2 are one of the most common genetic risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, the lesser-known p.L1795F variant was proposed as a strong genetic risk factor for PD, however, further families are currently lacking in literature. A multicentre young onset and familial PD cohort (n = 220) from 9 movement disorder centres across Central Europe within the CEGEMOD consortium was screened for rare LRRK2 variants using whole exome sequencing data. We identified 4 PD cases with heterozygous p.L1795F variant. All 4 cases were characterised by akinetic-rigid PD phenotype with early onset of severe motor fluctuations, 2 receiving LCIG therapy and 2 implanted with STN DBS; all 4 cases showed unsatisfactory effect of advanced therapies on motor fluctuations. Our data also suggest that p.L1795F may represent the most common currently known pathogenic LRRK2 variant in Central Europe compared to the more studied p.G2019S, being present in 1.81% of PD cases within the Central European cohort and 3.23% of familial PD cases. Together with the ongoing clinical trials for LRRK2 inhibitors, this finding emphasises the urgent need for more ethnic diversity in PD genetic research., Competing Interests: Confiict of Interest The authors declare no confiicts of interest.

Background: The long-term sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) significantly affects quality of life (QoL) in disease survivors. Delayed development of the adaptive immune response is associated with more severe disease and a worse prognosis in COVID-19. The effects of delayed immune response on COVID-19 sequelae and QoL are unknown. Methods: We conducted a prospective study to assess the relationship between the delayed antibody response in the acute phase of infection in naïve unvaccinated patients suffering from severe or critical COVID-19 and their QoL 12 months after hospital discharge. The 12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12) questionnaire was used for assessment of QoL. The SF-12 evaluates both mental and physical components of QoL, incorporating a mental component score (MCS-12) and a physical component score (PCS-12). A delayed antibody response was defined as testing negative for anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the time of hospital admission. Results: The study included 274 patients (154 men and 120 women). Of the enrolled patients, 144 had a delayed immune response. These patients had a significantly lower MCS-12 ( p = 0.002), but PCS-12 ( p = 0.397) was not significantly different at the 12-month follow-up compared to patients with positive anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The MCS-12 at the time of follow-up was negatively associated with delayed antibody response irrespective of possible confounders ( p = 0.006; B = 3.609; ηp2 = 0.035; 95% CI = 1.069-6.150). An MSC-12 below 50 points at the time of follow-up was positively associated with delayed antibody response ( p = 0.001; B = 1.092; OR = 2.979; 95% CI = 1.554-5.711). Conclusions: This study confirmed that, in patients with severe and critical COVID-19, a negative result for anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the time of hospital admission is associated with a lower mental component of QoL in unvaccinated patients naïve to COVID-19 one year after hospital discharge.

Objective: Strong evidence supports the benefits of exercise for healthy ageing, including reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies suggested interorgan crosstalk as a key element of systemic adaptive response, however, the role of specific molecules in mediating exercise effects on the human brain are not fully understood. In the present study, we explored the exercise-related regulation of Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood., Methods: The samples of serum, plasma and CSF were obtained before and 60min after acute exercise (90min run) from twenty healthy young individuals. Additional serum and plasma samples were collected immediately after run. GDF11 protein content (immunoblotting), body composition (bioelectrical impedance), physical fitness (VO 2 max, cycle spiroergometry) and cognitive functions (standardized computerized tests, Cogstate) were evaluated., Results: Running decreased GDF11 protein content in CSF (-20.6%. p=0.046), while GDF11 in plasma and serum were not regulated. Two GDF11-specific antibodies of different origin were used to corroborate this result. Individuals with higher physical fitness displayed greater exercise-induced decrease of GDF11 in CSF than those with lower physical fitness (p=0.025). VO 2 max correlated positively with GDF11 in serum (r=0.63, p=0.020) as well as with the exercise-induced change in GDF11 levels in CSF (r=0.59, p=0.042). Indirect measure of blood-brain barrier permeability (i.e. CSF/serum albumin ratio) tended to positively correlate with CSF/serum GDF11 ratio (p=0.060). CSF levels of GDF11 correlated positively with cognitive functions, including working memory, both before and after run (p<0.05)., Conclusion: Running-induced down-regulation of the GDF11 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy young individuals indicates the potential role of GDF11 in the exercise-induced cross-talk between periphery and the brain., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Schön, Marček Malenovská, Nemec, Alchus Laiferová, Straka, Košutzká, Matejička, Valkovič, Ukropec and Ukropcová.)