Global and Specific Cortical Volume Asymmetries in Individuals With Psychosis Risk Syndrome and Schizophrenia: A Mixed Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Perspective

Abstract Cortical volumetric asymmetry (CVA) has been widely observed in individuals with psychosis, and is associated with etiological risk factors (e.g., genetics, neuromaturation) and treatment response. However, it is unclear whether CVA abnormalities emerge before psychotic illness onset. Understanding whether CVA manifests in clinical high-risk (CHR)—compared with healthy controls and schizophrenia patients (SCZ)—over time may inform our understanding of pathogenic factors. A total of 233 individuals: 73 CHR, 112 healthy controls, and 48 SCZ underwent an MRI and clinical interviews. Ninety-four individuals including healthy volunteers (HV) (n = 49) and CHR (n = 45), completed another scan at 12-months. CVA was compared by lobe in a repeated-measure design across groups, then nested by time in a longitudinal model. CHR and SCZ groups showed reduced global CVA compared with the healthy control groups but the CHR and SCZ group did not differ from each other. A group by lobe interaction indicated the presence of lobe specific reductions in frontal and cingulate CVA. Cingulate CVA was reduced in CHR and SCZ groups compared to HC groups but did not differ from each other. Frontal CVA was reduced in the older healthy controls compared with younger-HC and CHR, but did not differ from the similarly aged SZ group. CVA is similarly impacted in SCZ and CHR groups, potentially reflecting pathogenic processes. Longitudinal analyses provided further support for the neurodevelopmental hypothesis as CHR exhibited longitudinal changes in opposite directions from normative neuromaturation in HV, which was related to increasing risk for psychosis in the CHR.

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Low Level of Serum Sclerostin in Adult Patients with Tumor-induced Osteomalacia Comparing with X-linked Hypophosphatemia

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/clinem/dgab579 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaolin Ni ◽

Qi Zhang ◽

Xiang Li ◽

Qianqian Pang ◽

Yiyi Gong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Mass ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Premenopausal Patients ◽

Male Patients ◽

Sclerostin Level ◽

Sclerostin Antibody

Abstract Context Sclerostin is an inhibitor of Wnt-β-catenin signaling to regulate bone formation. Circulating sclerostin levels were reported to be elevated in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), and sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) has been shown to increase bone mass and normalize circulating phosphate levels in Hyp mice. However, circulating sclerostin level in acquired hypophosphatemic patients with tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) remains rare reported. Objectives This study was designed to evaluate serum sclerostin levels in TIO patients comparing them with age-, sex- matched healthy controls and XLH patients, and analyze correlation of circulating sclerostin with BMD and laboratory parameters. Design, Setting and Participants 190 individuals including 83 adult TIO patients, 83 adult healthy controls and 24 adult XLH patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Main outcome measures Serum sclerostin levels were determined in TIO patients, healthy controls and XLH patients. Results TIO patients (43 male and 40 female) aged 44.3 ± 8.7 (mean ± SD) years had lower levels of circulating sclerostin than healthy controls (94.2 ± 45.8 vs 108.4 ± 42.3 pg/mL, p = 0.01) with adjustment for age, gender, BMI and diabetes rate. Sclerostin levels were positively associated with age (r = 0.238, p = 0.030). Male patients had higher sclerostin level than female patients (104.7 ± 47.3 vs 83.0 ± 41.8 pg/mL, p = 0.014) and postmenopausal patients had higher tendency of sclerostin level than premenopausal patients (98.4 ± 48.8 vs 71.6 ± 32.3 ng/ml, p = 0.05). Sclerostin levels were positively associated with BMD of L1-4 (r = 0.255, p = 0.028), femoral neck (r = 0.242, p = 0.039) and serum calcium (r = 0.231, p = 0.043). TIO subgroup patients (n=24, 35.9 ± 7.3 years old) comparing with age-, sex-matched adult XLH patients and healthy controls revealed significant difference of sclerostin levels (XLH, TIO and healthy control were 132.0 ± 68.8, 68.4 ± 31.3 and 98.6 ± 41.1 pg/mL, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions Circulating sclerostin levels were decreased in TIO patients but increased in XLH patients, which might be result of histological abnormality and bone mass.

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Incidence of headache after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with history of headache: A cross-sectional study

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/03331024211038654 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 033310242110386

Author(s):

Koji Sekiguchi ◽

Narumi Watanabe ◽

Naoki Miyazaki ◽

Kei Ishizuchi ◽

Chisato Iba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Event ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthy Control ◽

History Of ◽

Baseline Characteristics ◽

Migrainous Headache ◽

Headache Patients

Background Headache is an adverse event of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. Whether patients with history of headache suffer more from vaccination-induced headaches is unknown. We aimed to uncover if headache patients develop more headaches after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination than healthy controls. Methods We performed a questionnaire survey for nursing staff in our hospital from April to May 2021. Based on baseline characteristics, we divided the participants into migraine, non-migrainous headache, and healthy control, and examined the occurrence and features of headache after COVID-19 vaccinations. Results We included 171 participants (15.2% migraine and 24.6% non-migrainous headache). Headache incidence after vaccinations was significantly higher in the migraine (69.2%) and non-migrainous headache (71.4%) groups than in the healthy control (37.9%) group. The incidence of headaches was significantly higher after the second dose compared to the first (45.6% vs. 20.5%). Conclusion Migraineurs and non-migrainous headache participants developed more headaches compared to the healthy controls after COVID-19 vaccination.

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Serum Endoglin Levels in Patients Suffering from Systemic Sclerosis and Elevated Systolic Pulmonary Arterial Pressure

International Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.1155/2010/969383 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Paola Ximena Coral-Alvarado ◽

Maria Fernanda Garces ◽

Jorge Eduardo Caminos ◽

Antonio Iglesias-Gamarra ◽

José Félix Restrepo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Sclerosis ◽

Arterial Pressure ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Systolic Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Pulmonary Arterial

Background. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the main cause of morbimortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Increased Eng expression has been demonstrated in SSc patients.Objective. Ascertaining serum levels of Eng in SSc patients with and without elevated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) and comparing them with that of healthy volunteers.Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out. A commercial ELISA kit was used for measuring serum concentrations of Eng in 60 subjects: 40 patients with SSc with and without elevated sPAP, compared to 20 healthy control subjects. Elevated sPAP was detected by echocardiogram.Results. No association between positive Eng and elevated sPAP was found when compared to the SSc without elevated sPAP group (OR=2.85; 0.65–12.88 95% CI;P=.11); however, an association was found between positive Eng and elevated sPAP compared to healthy controls (OR=23.22; 2.46–1050.33 95% CI;P=.001), and weak association was found between the positive Eng with SSc without elevated sPAP group compared to healthy controls (OR=8.14, 0.8–393.74 95% CI;P=.046).Conclusion. Raised serum levels of Eng in SSc patients compared to healthy controls were found, suggesting a role for Eng in SSc vasculopathy and not just in elevated sPAP. However, prospective studies are needed to verify such observations.

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Hippocampal volume in early psychosis: a 2-year longitudinal study

Translational Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/s41398-020-00985-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Maureen McHugo ◽

Kristan Armstrong ◽

Maxwell J. Roeske ◽

Neil D. Woodward ◽

Jennifer U. Blackford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Stage ◽

Structural Mri ◽

Hippocampal Volume ◽

Early Psychosis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Illness Onset ◽

Cornu Ammonis ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Sectional Analysis

Abstract Cross-sectional studies suggest that hippocampal volume declines across stages of psychosis. In contrast, longitudinal studies indicate that hippocampal volume is stable in the critical period following illness onset. How can these seemingly disparate sets of findings be resolved? In the present study, we examine two previously unexplored reasons for this discrepancy. First, only specific subregions of the hippocampus may change during the early stage of psychosis. Second, there is diagnostic heterogeneity in the early stage of psychosis and cross-sectional analysis does not permit examination of illness trajectory. Some early stage individuals will have persistent illness leading to a diagnosis of schizophrenia, whereas in others, psychosis will remit. Hippocampal volume may be reduced only in individuals who will ultimately be diagnosed with schizophrenia. We acquired longitudinal structural MRI data from 63 early psychosis and 63 healthy control participants, with up to 4 time points per participant collected over 2 years. Subfield volumes were measured in the anterior and posterior hippocampus using automated segmentation specialized for longitudinal analysis. We observed a volume deficit in early psychosis participants compared to healthy controls that was most pronounced in the anterior hippocampus, but this deficit did not change over 2 years. Importantly, we found that anterior cornu ammonis volume is smaller at baseline in individuals who were diagnosed with schizophrenia at follow-up, but normal in those who maintained a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder over 2 years. Smaller hippocampal volume is not diagnostic of psychosis, but is instead prognostic of clinical outcome.

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Perceived stress, life events, fatigue and temperament in patients with psoriasis

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/0300060519862658 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (9) ◽

pp. 4284-4291 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Esra Pancar Yuksel ◽

Dilek Durmus ◽

Gokhan Sarisoy

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Stress Scale ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Healthy Control ◽

The Relationship

Objective To evaluate the perceived stress, life events, fatigue and temperament profile in patients with psoriasis and to investigate the relationship between these factors. Methods This cross-sectional study included patients with psoriasis and healthy control subjects. The two groups were compared regarding the number of life events, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scores. The Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire was used to evaluate the personality traits among the two groups. Results A total of 75 patients with psoriasis (mean ± SD age, 44.94 ± 13.62 years) and 75 healthy controls (mean ± SD age, 41.10 ± 8.89 years) were included in the study. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of the presence of life events, PSS score, fatigue and temperament profiles. Patients with psoriasis with depressive, cyclothymic and anxious temperament profiles were found to have higher PSS scores. In the psoriasis group, the PSS scores were positively correlated with the number of life events. Conclusions Stress and life events were found to be correlated with psoriasis. In the patients with psoriasis, depressive, cyclothymic and anxious temperament profiles seemed to be associated with higher perceived stress.

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Sarcopenia in diabetic nephropathy: a cross-sectional study

Romanian Journal of Internal Medicine ◽

10.2478/rjim-2018-0003 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 102-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Meral Çeliker ◽

Mustafa Yavuz Selçuk ◽

Serdar Olt

Keyword(s):

Diabetic Nephropathy ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Diabetes Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hand Grip ◽

European Working ◽

Healthy Control

Abstract Objective. To investigate the relationship between sarcopenia and diabetic nephropathy. Methods. 56 diabetic patients without complications, 50 diabetic patients with nephropathy, 53 healthy controls included in this present study. Demographic characteristics such as sex, age, anthropometric measurements such as weight, body mass index [BMI], hip circumference, waist circumference and upper arm circumference were measured. Sarcopenia diagnosis was based on European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People [EWGSOP] criteria which consist of hand grip strength, 6-meter walking test and muscle mass. Results. The frequency of sarcopenia increased gradually from 15.1% in healthy control group to 21.4% in the diabetes group, and 34% in diabetic nephropathy group (X2 for trend, p = 0.029). The frequency of sarcopenia was similar in diabetes and diabetic nephropathy group. However, the frequency of sarcopenia was higher in diabetic nephropathy than healthy controls (OR = 2.89, CI [1.11-7.51] in logistic regression). Conclusion: In the present study, the prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared to healthy controls.

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Association of Polymorphism −174G/C Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Schizophrenia in Bataknese Population

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2021.6320 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (T3) ◽

pp. 56-59

Author(s):

Munawir Saragih ◽

Mustafa Mahmud Amin ◽

Elmeida Effendy

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Interleukin 6 ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Philosophy Of Life ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium ◽

Marriage Laws

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by positive symptoms, negative, and cognitive deficits. Polymorphism of −174G/C interleukin-6 position of the promoter has been described as one of polymorphism that believes have association with schizophrenia and Batak people have a philosophy of life, principles, and at the same time as a structure and system in society called Dalihan na Tolu. This Dalihan na Tolu has a role in the Batak customary marriage laws that cannot be separated during a customary marriage ceremony according to the traditions of the Batak people. This system causes most Batak people to marry each other so that the purity of the population is maintained and can be applied according to Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. AIM: Hence, we looked for association in the polymorphism of −174G/C interleukin-6 between people with schizophrenia of the Bataknese population and healthy controls. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study that included 75 people with schizophrenia in the Bataknese population and 75 healthy controls with the same ethnic group. The alleles and genotypes polymorphisms were compared between people with schizophrenia in the Bataknese population and healthy controls and were tested statistically using Chi-square. RESULTS: Frequency of appearance of allele and genotype of −174G/C polymorphism found that there were significant differences in both alleles and genotypes between groups of people with schizophrenia and healthy control groups (p < 0.001) and −174G/C polymorphisms were risk factors for schizophrenia statistically in the Bataknese population (Odds Ratio >1). CONCLUSIONS: We report an association of −174G/C polymorphism and schizophrenia in Bataknese population and polymorphism of −174G/C may be one of the risk factors for schizophrenia in the Bataknese population.

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S79. REINFORCEMENT LEARNING ABNORMALITIES IN INDIVIDUALS AT CLINICAL HIGH RISK AND IN THE FIRST EPISODE OF PSYCHOSIS

Schizophrenia Bulletin ◽

10.1093/schbul/sbaa031.145 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S64-S64

Author(s):

Raktima Datta ◽

Gregory Strauss ◽

Nina Kraguljac ◽

Sydney Howie ◽

Adrienne Lahti

Keyword(s):

Reinforcement Learning ◽

High Risk ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Chronic Schizophrenia ◽

First Episode ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Clinical High Risk ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Learning Deficits ◽

Illness Onset

Abstract Background Prior studies indicate that chronic schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with a specific profile of reinforcement learning abnormalities. These impairments are characterized by: 1) reductions in learning rate, and 2) impaired Go learning and intact NoGo learning. Furthermore, each of these deficits are associated with greater severity of negative symptoms, consistent with theoretical perspectives positing that avolition and anhedonia are associated with deficits in generating, updating, and maintaining mental representations of reward value hat are needed to guide decision-making. However, it is unclear whether these deficits extend to earlier phases of psychotic illness and when individuals are unmedicated. Methods Two studies were conducted to examine reinforcement learning deficits in earlier phases of psychosis. In study 1, participants included 35 participants with first episode psychosis (FEP) and 25 healthy controls (HC). Study 2 included 17 antipsychotic naïve individuals who met criteria for attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS) (i.e., those with a prodromal syndrome) and 18 matched healthy controls (HC). In both studies, participants completed the Temporal Utility Integration Task, a measure of probabilistic reinforcement learning that contained Go and NoGo learning blocks. Participants in the clinical groups also completed neuropsychological testing and standard clinical interviews designed to determine symptom severity and diagnosis. Results FEP displayed impaired Go learning and intact NoGo learning. In contrast, APS did not display impairments in Go or NoGo learning at the group level. Negative symptoms were not significantly associated with reinforcement learning in APS participants. However, greater impairments in Go learning were associated with increased cross-sectional risk for conversion on the NAPLS risk calculator score in the APS group. Discussion Findings provide new evidence for areas of spared and impaired reinforcement learning in early phases of psychosis. Similar to chronic SZ, FEP was associated with impaired Go learning, and intact NoGo learning. Reinforcement learning is more spared in those at clinical high-risk, except those at greatest risk for conversion, where Go learning deficits are more pronounced. These findings suggest that reinforcement learning deficits may emerge early among those who are at clinical high risk for developing psychosis and that they are already pronounced by illness onset in the first episode. Importantly, these reinforcement learning deficits do not appear to be a byproduct of illness chronicity or antipsychotic medication use, but rather a consequence of the illness itself.

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Neck and Shoulder Motor Function following Neck Dissection: A Comparison with Healthy Control Subjects

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599818821885 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 160 (6) ◽

pp. 1009-1018 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Elise M. Gane ◽

Steven M. McPhail ◽

Anna L. Hatton ◽

Benedict J. Panizza ◽

Shaun P. O’Leary

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Healthy Volunteers ◽

Neck Dissection ◽

Body Mass ◽

Motor Function ◽

Nerve Sparing ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Healthy Control

Objective To compare the neck and shoulder motor function of patients following neck dissection, including comparison with a group of healthy volunteers. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Two tertiary hospitals in Brisbane, Australia. Subjects and Methods Participants included patients 0.5 to 5 years after unilateral nerve-sparing neck dissection and healthy control subjects. Demographic and clinical information was collected with cervical and shoulder motor function measures (scapular resting position, active range of motion, and isometric muscle strength). Differences between groups were examined via regression analyses that included statistical adjustment for the potential effect of age, sex, body mass index, and other disease-related variables. Results The 57 patients (68%, men; median age, 62 years) were typically older than the 34 healthy controls (47%, men; median age, 46 years). There were no differences between types of nerve-preserving neck dissection for any of the motor function measures. When adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, healthy volunteers (vs patients) had significantly greater cervical range (eg, extension coefficient [95% CI]: 11.04° [4.41°-17.67°]), greater affected shoulder range (eg, abduction: 16.64° [1.19°-31.36°]), and greater isometric strength of the cervical flexors (eg, men: 4.24 kgf [1.56-6.93]) and shoulder flexors (eg, men: 8.00 kgf [1.62-14.38]). Conclusions Strength and flexibility of the neck and shoulder are impaired following neck dissection in comparison with healthy controls. Clinicians and researchers are encouraged to consider the neck—and the neck dissection as a whole—as a source of motor impairment for these patients and not just the status of the accessory nerve.

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Thalamic dysconnectivity in the psychosis risk syndrome and early illness schizophrenia

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291720004882 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Susanna L. Fryer ◽

Jamie M. Ferri ◽

Brian J. Roach ◽

Rachel L. Loewy ◽

Barbara K. Stuart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronically Ill ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

Positive Symptom ◽

Imaging Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Middle Temporal ◽

Illness Onset ◽

Psychosis Risk ◽

Left And Right ◽

Bilateral Thalamus

Abstract Background Schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with thalamic dysconnectivity. Compared to healthy controls (HCs), individuals with SZ have hyperconnectivity with sensory regions, and hypoconnectivity with cerebellar, thalamic, and prefrontal regions. Despite replication of this pattern in chronically ill individuals, less is known about when these abnormalities emerge in the illness course and if they are present prior to illness onset. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from psychosis risk syndrome (PRS) youth (n = 45), early illness SZ (ESZ) (n = 74) patients, and HCs (n = 85). Age-adjusted functional connectivity, seeded from the thalamus, was compared among the groups. Results Significant effects of group were observed in left and right middle temporal regions, left and right superior temporal regions, left cerebellum, and bilateral thalamus. Compared to HCs, ESZ demonstrated hyperconnectivity to all temporal lobe regions and reduced connectivity with cerebellar, anterior cingulate, and thalamic regions. Compared to HCs, PRS demonstrated hyperconnectivity with the left and right middle temporal regions, and hypoconnectivity with the cerebellar and other thalamic regions. Compared to PRS participants, ESZ participants were hyperconnected to temporal regions, but did not differ from PRS in hypoconnectivity with cerebellar and thalamic regions. Thalamic dysconnectivity was unrelated to positive symptom severity in ESZ or PRS groups. Conclusions PRS individuals demonstrated an intermediate level of thalamic dysconnectivity, whereas ESZ showed a pattern consistent with prior observations in chronic samples. These cross-sectional findings suggest that thalamic dysconnectivity may occur prior to illness onset and become more pronounced in early illness stages.

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