Haptoglobin and hemoglobin in subarachnoid hemorrhage: A tale of 2 globins

Although the incidence is declining, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) continues to exact a substantial toll on society, with an estimated 20,000 aneurysmal SAHs (aSAHs) a year in the United States.¹ Outcomes have improved, but the mortality remains 35%, and half of the survivors cannot return to their previous level of functioning.² The most important prognostic factors for outcome are the neurologic condition of the patient on admission to hospital, the patient’s age, and preexisting hypertension.³ aSAH has a unique biphasic course, with initial or early brain injury (reflected in the neurologic condition) and a delayed phase of brain injury called delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Subarachnoid blood and specifically the erythrocytes and their main content, hemoglobin, appear to mediate DCI in humans. Extravascular free hemoglobin and iron released from it, whether into the CSF or the brain, are highly inflammatory and cytotoxic oxidants.⁴ The body has developed ways to mitigate this, including synthesis of haptoglobin, which binds free hemoglobin, abrogating its toxicity. Therefore, clearing away the hemoglobin more quickly or preventing its deleterious effects by binding hemoglobin may decrease brain injury and improve patient outcomes from SAH.

from Neurology recent issues http://bit.ly/2Y12dhh

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Menopause Symptoms Reduced by Cold Water Swimming

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UPI: Kids with psych disorders most likely to take dangerous viral challenges

The “choking game” — and other clearly ill-advised and dangerous internet challenges — leave many parents wondering what drives teens to take the bait and participate. Now, a new study suggests that an underlying psychological disorder may be one reason why some kids jump at online dares such as the “Bird Box” challenge, where people walk around blindfolded, and the Tide Pod challenge, daring people to eat laundry detergent. (January 28, 2019) Read the full article here from Brain Health Daily http://bit.ly/2DIWHbD

The emerging influential role of microglia in neurology

In her most catchily titled book, The Angel and the Assassin , Donna Jackson Nakazawa highlighed nerve cells which have hitherto been very little acknowledged – microglia . Long ignored as bit players in the big league of the nervous system, Nakazawa colourfully illustrated what many neuroscientists are beginning to realise: the small size of microglia belies their huge influence ; m icroglia are, after all, the defence force of the nervous system, protecting the brain from microbial invaders . In keeping with their small size, their role is to surreptitiously present the antigens of invading bugs to T cells , the toffs who actually carry out the final hatchet job . It is therefore not surprising that any dysfunction of microglia will come with significant clinical consequences . By GerryShaw – Own work , CC BY-SA 3.0 , Link The most important clinical fallout of dysfunctional microglia appears to be the emergence of dementia. It is indeed spec...

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