Counterfactual thinking in schizophrenia patients

IntroductionCounterfactual thoughts (CFT) are mental representations of alternatives to past events, actions or states. For example, “If only I had studied, I would have passed the exam”).CFT in healthy subjects is associated with learning, behavioral regulation and planning.Damage to the prefrontal brain regions has been related to decreased generation and use of CFT. Due to the fact that frontal deficits are documented in patients with schizophrenia, it is expected that these patients could also present impairments in CFT.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to examine the role of the generation of CFT in schizophrenia patients.MethodsForty subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and 40 healthy control participants were recruited. The two groups were matched in age, education, and handedness.To investigate the generation of CTF we used an adaptation of the task made by Wells, Taylor & Turtle (1987). In this task, we presented to the subjects one history with 4 different scenarios. After the presentation of the history, we asked to the subjects that list alternatives to solve the problem presented in the history.ResultsThe schizophrenic patients generated less responses of CTF that controls. The patients obtained a mean of responses of 1.48 (1 SD). The mean for the controls was 2.08 (.971 SD). The control subjects generated significantly more counterfactual responses than schizophrenic patients ([t (78) = −2.670, p = .269]).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that patients with schizophrenia have impoverished the generation of CFT compared to normal control participants.

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Study of the Immunological Status of Iraqi Vitiligo Patients

Baghdad Science Journal ◽

10.21123/bsj.13.3.454-462 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 454-462

Author(s):

Baghdad Science Journal

Keyword(s):

Potential Role ◽

Immunoglobulin E ◽

Ultraviolet B ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Control Serum ◽

Healthy Control ◽

The Mean ◽

Age Range ◽

Apparently Healthy

Vitiligo is an acquired idiopathic skin disorder characterized by depigmented macules due to loss of cutaneous melanocytes. A potential role of the immune dysfunction has been suggested in vitiligo, so to test this hypothesis, certain cytokines (IL-17A and TNF-?) and immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA and total IgE) were investigated in all participants. The study included: 60 patients with age range between (6-55) year; 30(11 males and 19 females) were untreated and 30(12 males and 18 females) were treated with Narrow Band Ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB) and 30 (14 males and 16 females) apparently healthy control. Serum was separated and cytokines (IL-17A and TNF-?) and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) were detected by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA); while immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG and IgA) were detected by using Single Radial Immunodiffusion (SRID) method. The results showed that the mean levels of serum IL-17A and TNF-? in both untreated and NB-UVB treated vitiligo patients were increased significantly (p ? 0.05) as compared with healthy control. The mean levels of serum IgG and IgA in untreated vitiligo patients showed non significant decreased (P

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Urine CA-2 as a biomarker for diagnosis urinary stone and prediction of its complications

10.21203/rs.3.rs-59394/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yuan-jing Leng ◽

Hai-bin Zhou ◽

Jiang-ling Fu ◽

Wen-juan Wang

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Urinary Stone ◽

Urinary Stones ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Control ◽

The Mean ◽

The Difference ◽

The Relationship

Abstract PURPOSECarbonic anhydrase-2 (CA-2) plays a role in mineralization and calcification in organism. Strong evidence suggests that CA-2 is associated with urolithiasis. However, the relationship between CA-2 and urinary stone remains unclear. The study aimed to assess the association of urine CA-2 (uCA-2) level and the potential risk of urinary stone.METHODSFrom March 2017 to November 2019, a prospective cohort study was conducted on patients with urinary stones and healthy subjects to determine the pretreatment uCA-2 level detection by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The difference of uCA-2 level between patients with urinary stones and healthy subjects was compared. Then comparison between stone patients with complications and without complications was carried out as well as correlation analysis to detect factors associated with biomarker expression.RESULTS118 patients with urinary stones were into urinary stones group and 42 healthy subjects were into healthy control group. The mean pretreatment uCA-2 level was significantly higher in patients with urinary stones group than healthy controls group (P=0.028). Furthermore, The uCA-2 level was positive correlation with urinary stones complications (R=0.379, P=0.000), especially pain complications (R=0.524, P=0.000) and hematuria complications (R=0.374, P=0.000). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis that a uCA-2 level threshold of 10.94 ng/mL had 83.67% sensitivity and 68.12% specificity for predicting urinary stones complications. CONCLUSIONSExcessive uCA-2 excretion is a major risk factor for urinary stone. Our findings suggested that uCA-2 may be used as an unappreciated biomarker for the diagnosis urinary stone in patients and to predict its complications.

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Schizoaffective disorder and life events

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1672 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s845-s845

Author(s):

B. walid ◽

I. Marrag ◽

F. Ellouze ◽

A. Dekhil ◽

M. Nasr

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Schizoaffective Disorder ◽

Age At Onset ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

The Mean ◽

Competing Interest ◽

New Perspective ◽

Emotional Events ◽

Psychiatric Department

IntroductionThe schizoaffective disorder is multifactorial. Several factors almost unquestioned, even indisputable, participate in the episodes’ decompensation and affect various fields: biological, pharmacological or neurobiochemical.ObjectivesDraw up the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients treated for schizoaffective disorder and determine the role of life events in the onset of the disorder.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of 52 patients hospitalized in the psychiatric department of Mahdia diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-IV-TR during the period from January 2014 until June 2014. The information was collected using a preset sheet with 35 items.ResultsA total of 52 records was gathered. The average age was 38 years. The sample was predominantly male, of rural origin in 61.5% of cases. The level of education was low in 59.6% of cases. More than half were without profession and single in 46.2% of cases. The mean age at onset of the disorder was 25.2 years. The presence of life events preceding the onset of the disorder was noted in 22 patients, that to say, 42.3% of the sample. Family and emotional events were most frequently encountered with respective rates of 48.2 and 24.7%, followed by the professional events (20%) and social ones (6%).ConclusionLife events are due to chance but also to the environment. The complexity of the “event” concept was again underlined in a new perspective, breaking social rhythms.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Acute plasma glucose increase, but not early insulin response, regulates plasma ghrelin

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje.0.1490403 ◽

2003 ◽

pp. 403-406 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

L Briatore ◽

G Andraghetti ◽

R Cordera

Keyword(s):

Plasma Glucose ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Insulin Response ◽

Glucose Levels ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Early Insulin Response ◽

Effect Of Glucose ◽

Type 2 Diabetic

OBJECTIVE: The independent role of glucose and insulin in ghrelin regulation is still controversial; this is also because in healthy subjects it is difficult to isolate the increase of glucose from that of insulin. The aim of this study was to discriminate the effect of glucose increase alone and early insulin response on plasma ghrelin, comparing ghrelin variation after i.v. glucose between healthy subjects and type 2 diabetic (T2DM) subjects, in whom the early insulin response to i.v. glucose is abolished. METHODS: Plasma glucose, insulin and ghrelin levels were measured 0, 3, 5, 10, 30, 45 and 60 min after a 5 g glucose i.v. bolus in seven healthy control subjects and eight T2DM subjects. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in body mass index, basal insulin and basal ghrelin between T2DM and healthy subjects. Basal glucose levels were higher in T2DM subjects than in controls. After i.v. glucose administration, plasma glucose increased significantly in both groups and the glucose peak was higher in T2DM subjects than in controls (9.67+/-1.25 (s.d.) vs 6.88+/-1.00 mmol/l, P<0.01). Insulin increased rapidly in controls, while in T2DM subjects, plasma insulin did not rise in the first 10 min. After the glucose bolus, plasma ghrelin showed a significant reduction both in controls and in T2DM subjects after 5 min. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that a low-dose i.v. glucose bolus reduces ghrelin both in controls and in T2DM subjects and therefore that early insulin response does not affect plasma ghrelin.

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An analysis of complex sentence structures in patients with schizophrenia

Global Journal of Foreign Language Teaching ◽

10.18844/gjflt.v6i4.1675 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 228-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aysegul Ozcan ◽

Gulmira Kuruoglu ◽

Koksal Alptekin ◽

Sumru Ozsoy

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Language Disorder ◽

Sentence Structure ◽

Complex Sentence ◽

Complex Sentences ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Simple Sentences ◽

And Control ◽

Cognitive Problems

Patients with schizophrenia often display unusual language impairments and these abnormalities in language are among the most extreme and obvious symptoms in Schizophrenia Disorder. In this context, this research attempts to analyze and compare the schizophrenic patients’ and control group’s speech in terms of complex sentence structures. Fifty patients with schizophrenia diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria have been includedd in the study and compared to fifty healthy subjects matched for age, sex and education level with the patients. The subjects’ speech has been evaluated in four stages. These are narration, story picture sequencing, semi-structured speech and free speech. The data consists of 8-10 minute recorded interviews. The recordings have been transcribed based on DuBois’ Discourse Transcription Symbols. The statistical and linguistic analyses have shown significant differences between complex sentence types’ of patients with schizophrenia and healthy subjects’. The findings have demonstrated that due to the possible cognitive problems the speech produced by schizophrenia patients is syntactically less complex than that of controls. Additionally, patients with schizophrenia use shorter and simple sentences instead of complex sentences compared to healthy subjects.Keywords: schizophrenia, sentence structure, complex sentence, language disorder, thought disorder.

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The Long and the Short of It: Influence of Interstimulus Interval on Auditory P300 Abnormalities in Schizophrenia

Clinical Electroencephalography ◽

10.1177/155005940203300309 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 125-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Daniel H. Mathalon ◽

Judith M. Ford

Keyword(s):

Interstimulus Interval ◽

The Other ◽

P300 Amplitude ◽

Cognitive Significance ◽

Brain Potentials ◽

Auditory Oddball ◽

Auditory P300 ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Dsm Iv

Event-related brain potentials were recorded from 10 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia (9 men) and 10 healthy control subjects (9 men) during the performance of two auditory oddball tasks, one using a 1.5 second interstimulus interval (ISI), the other using an 8 second ISI. P300 amplitude to target tones (.20 probability) and standard tones (.80 probability) were measured from midline electrodes Fz, Cz, and Pz. Results showed different effects of ISI in the two groups. Controls showed a slight decrease in P300 amplitude to targets but a marked increase in P300 to standards with the increase in ISI. In contrast, schizophrenic patients showed no change in the P300 to targets and a relatively small increase in P300 to standards with the ISI increase. Moreover, relative to the controls, P300 amplitude to targets was reduced in the schizophrenic patients at the short but not the long ISI. Implications for the cognitive significance of the P300 and its reduction in schizophrenia are discussed.

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Importance of the FcγRIIa-Arg/His-131 Polymorphism in Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia Diagnosis

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1614938 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 79 (03) ◽

pp. 523-528 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Raphaël Saffroy ◽

Dominique Lasne ◽

Gilles Chatellier ◽

Martine Aiach ◽

Francine Rendu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Release ◽

Positive Answer ◽

Control Group ◽

Normal Donor ◽

Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia ◽

Weak Association ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Release Assay ◽

The Mean

SummaryHeparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) involves heparin-dependent antibodies which induce platelet activation. In the present study, we searched for a relationship between the polymorphism of the Fc receptor (FcγRIIa) and the development of HIT. In this purpose, all the donors were genotyped for their FcγRIIA and HIT patients were selected on the basis of at least one positive answer by 14C-serotonin release assay (SRA). The frequency distribution of the FcγRIIa polymorphism in the HIT patient group was similar to that observed in the healthy control group. Moreover, a statistical analysis taking into account our results and those of 3 previously published studies, suggested at most only a weak association between HIT and the FcγRIIa-131 polymorphism.Laboratory tests used to diagnose HIT rely on the activation of normal donor platelets but fail to detect every HIT positive patient. We determined the role of FcγRIIa-131 polymorphism on the reactivity of control platelets to HIT plasmas. When control platelet FcγRIIa-131 was of Arg/Arg form, only 47% of the HIT plasmas were positive by SRA, compared to 81% and 74% for His/His or His/Arg forms, respectively. We also compared the level of anti PF4/heparin antibodies in the HIT plasmas with the response obtained by SRA. The mean anti PF4/heparin antibodies level in HIT plasma was significantly lower in negative SRA than in positive tests when using control platelets from FcγRIIa-Arg/Arg131 and heterozygous donors. Thus, the variability of control platelets to respond to HIT plasmas in the SRA test is related to both the FcγRIIa-131 polymorphism, and to the amount of anti PF4/heparin antibodies.

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Apolipoprotein D Concentration in Human Plasma during Aging and in Parkinson’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Parkinson s Disease ◽

10.1155/2018/3751516 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Andreas Waldner ◽

Sarah Dassati ◽

Bernhard Redl ◽

Nicola Smania ◽

Marialuisa Gandolfi

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Neurological Impairment ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Apolipoprotein D ◽

The Relationship ◽

Small Hydrophobic

Apolipoprotein D (ApoD), a lipocalin transporter of small hydrophobic molecules, plays an important role in several neurodegenerative diseases. ApoD is expressed in and secreted from a variety of peripheral and brain tissues. Increments of ApoD have been reported in relation with oxidative stress conditions, aging, and degeneration in the nervous system. Preliminary findings support the role of ApoD in neuroprotection. However, its role in PD remains unclear. To date, no studies have been performed on the relationship between ApoD in the blood and PD, as neurodegenerative pathology related to oxidative damage. We investigated the concentration of ApoD in the blood of healthy control subjects and PD patients with mild-to-moderate neurological impairment. ApoD plasma levels were measured using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in 90 healthy subjects (aging-analysis cohort) and in 66 PD patients at different stages compared with 19 age-matched healthy subjects. Significant age-related increase of ApoD was detected in subjects older than 65 years of age (p<0.002). In PD patients, a significant increase in ApoD plasma concentration was found compared with healthy subjects of the same age (p<0.05). ApoD and PD stage are significantly correlated (p<0.05). ApoD might be a valid marker for the progression of PD.

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Urine protein, urine protein to creatinine ratio and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase index in cats with idiopathic cystitis vs healthy control cats

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.1177/1098612x16663593 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 869-875 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Isadee Panboon ◽

Sariya Asawakarn ◽

Rosama Pusoonthornthum

Keyword(s):

Protein Concentration ◽

Colorimetric Method ◽

Creatinine Ratio ◽

Urine Protein ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Clinically Normal ◽

Urine Creatinine ◽

Healthy Control ◽

The Mean

Objectives The objective was to compare urine protein, urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) index between cats with idiopathic cystitis and clinically normal cats. Methods Urine and blood samples were collected from 19 clinically normal cats and 19 cats with idiopathic cystitis without azotaemia at the time of first presentation. Urine protein, urine creatinine and UPC were measured. Additionally, the urinary NAG concentration was measured using the colorimetric method, and the NAG index was calculated by dividing the urinary NAG concentration by the urine creatinine ratio. Results Urine protein concentration (mean ± SEM) was four times higher in cats with idiopathic cystitis (218.29 ± 58.95) than in clinically normal cats (56.13 ± 9.95) (P <0.05). The UPC (mean ± SEM) of cats with idiopathic cystitis (0.70 ± 0.19) was also five times higher than that of clinically normal cats (0.14 ± 0.02) (P <0.05). The mean ± SEM NAG index in cats with idiopathic cystitis (4.79 ± 1.53 U/g) was two times higher than that in clinically normal cats (2.14 ± 0.48 U/g). The log UPC was positively correlated with the log NAG index in cats with idiopathic cystitis at moderate levels (r2 = 0.512; P <0.05). Conclusions and relevance Cats with idiopathic cystitis had increased amounts of urine protein and an increased UPC. Further study is needed to address the role of urinary NAG and its relationship with glycosaminoglycan levels in cats with idiopathic cystitis.

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Effects of Oral Supplementation of Vitamin E on Fragility of RBC in Hemolytic Anemic Patients with G6PD Deficiency

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal ◽

10.3329/bsmmuj.v1i1.3688 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 6

Author(s):

Nayma Sultana ◽

Noorzahan Begum ◽

Shelina Begum ◽

Sultana Ferdousi ◽

Taskina Ali

Keyword(s):

Vitamin E ◽

Cell Membrane ◽

G6pd Deficiency ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Osmotic Fragility ◽

Red Cell ◽

Red Cell Membrane ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Vitamin E Supplementation

Background: Vitamin E has role in maintaining the integrity of red cell membrane by preventing oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and thereby protects cells from oxidative stress- induced lysis in G6PD deficiency, which can be reflected by changes in osmotic fragility of RBC and some absolute values like MCV, MCH & MCHC. Objective: To observe the effects of vitamin E supplementation on fragility of RBC in order to evaluate role of this antioxidant vitamin in reducing chronic hemolysis in G6PD deficient patients. Methods: For this, a total number of 102 subjects with age ranged from 5 to 40 years of both sexes were included in the study. Among them 68 were G6PD enzyme deficient patients, of whom 34 were in supplemented group (study group) and 34 were in non-supplemented group (control group). The supplemented group received vitamin E supplementation for 60 consecutive days at a dose of 800 IU/day for adult and 400 IU/day for children < 12 years (in a divided dose i,e. 4 times daily). Age and sex matched 34 apparently healthy subjects with normal blood G6PD level were taken to observe the base line data (healthy control) and also for comparison. All the G6PD deficient patients were selected from Out Patient Department (OPD) of Hematology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of July 2005 to June 2006 and all the healthy subjects were selected from personal contact. Blood G6PD level, osmotic fragility of RBC were measured by standard techniques and MCV, MCH, and MCHC were obtained by calculation. All the parameters were measured on day 1 (one) of their first visit and also were on day 60 in deficient group. Data were compared among the deficient groups, also in supplemented group just before and after supplementation. Analysis of data was done by appropriate statistical method. Results: Mean starting and completing points of osmotic fragility of RBC were significantly higher but MCV, MCH, MCHC were significantly lower in patients suffering from hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency in comparison to those of the healthy control. After supplementation with vitamin E starting and completing points of osmotic fragility of RBC were significantly decreased whereas, MCV, MCH, MCHC were significantly increased towards those of healthy control in supplemented group of patients in comparison to those of their pre-supplemented (day-1) and non-supplemented groups both on day 1 and day 60. Conclusion: From this study it may be concluded that, disturbances of some of the hematological parameter like higher osmotic fragility of RBC and lower MCV, MCH, MCHC occur in G6PD deficient hemolytic anemic patients, which returned towards normal after supplementation of vitamin E, which clearly indicates the role of this anti-oxidant vitamin in maintaining red cell membrane integrity and thereby decreases the rate of hemolysis in this group of patients. So, vitamin E can be supplemented along with other drugs for better management of the patients. Key words: Osmotic fragility, G6PD, hemolytic anemia, vitamin E.DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v1i1.3688 BSMMU J 2008; 1(1): 6-10

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