Absence and size of massa intermedia in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meltem Ceyhan ◽  
Baki Adapınar ◽  
Gokay Aksaray ◽  
Figen Ozdemir ◽  
Ertugrul Colak
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Gender Difference ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Specific Alteration ◽  
Bipolar Patients

Objective:To evaluate the absence and size of massa intermedia (MI), a midline thalamic structure, and its gender-specific alteration in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.Methods:Thirty-five patients with schizophrenia (17 females and 18 males), 21 patients with bipolar disorder (15 females and 6 males) and 89 healthy controls (50 females and 39 males) were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Thin-slice magnetic resonance images of the brain were evaluated. MI was determined in coronal and sagittal images, and area of the MI was measured on the sagittal plane.Results:Females had a significantly lower incidence of absent MI compared with males in the healthy control group. The absence of MI in schizophrenia and bipolar patients was not higher than the incidence in healthy controls. The size of MI showed a gender difference. The mean MI area size was smaller in female schizophrenia patients than in female controls, while no significant difference was observed between male schizophrenia patients and their controls.Conclusions:The size of MI, a gender difference midline structure, is smaller in females with schizophrenia, and the results of this study support other studies of structural aberration of the thalamus and other midline structures in the brains of patients with schizophrenia.

Abnormal white matter integrity as a structural endophenotype for bipolar disorder

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1547-1558 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sarıçiçek ◽  
N. Zorlu ◽  
N. Yalın ◽  
C. Hıdıroğlu ◽  
B. Çavuşoğlu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Clinical State ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Type I ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Corona Radiata ◽  
Left Posterior ◽  
Axis I ◽  
Bipolar Patients

BackgroundSeveral lines of evidence suggest that bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with white matter (WM) pathology. Investigation of unaffected first-degree relatives of BD patients may help to distinguish structural biomarkers of genetic risk without the confounding effects of burden of illness, medication or clinical state. In the present study, we applied tract-based spatial statistics to study WM changes in patients with BD, unaffected siblings and controls.MethodA total of 27 euthymic patients with BD type I, 20 unaffected siblings of bipolar patients and 29 healthy controls who did not have any current or past diagnosis of Axis I psychiatric disorders were enrolled in the study.ResultsFractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly lower in BD patients than in the control group in the corpus callosum, fornix, bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, posterior thalamic radiation, cingulum, uncinate fasciculus, superior corona radiata, anterior corona radiata and left external capsule. In region-of-interest (ROI) analyses, we found that both unaffected siblings and bipolar patients had significantly reduced FA in the left posterior thalamic radiation, the left sagittal stratum, and the fornix compared with healthy controls. Average FA for unaffected siblings was intermediate between the healthy controls and bipolar patients within these ROIs.ConclusionsDecreased FA in the fornix, left posterior thalamic radiation and left sagittal stratum in both bipolar patients and unaffected siblings may represent a potential structural endophenotype or a trait-based marker for BD.

scholarly journals Use of Dermatoglyphic Parameters as Possible Markers in Bipolar Affective Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 385-393
Author(s):  
Amit Kumar Pal ◽  
Sagarika Ray ◽  
Jishnu Bhattacharya
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Bipolar Affective Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Ridge Count ◽  
Primordial Prevention ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Bipolar Patients

Background: Bipolar affective disorder is an episodic illness characterized by fluctuating mood states. Association of dermatoglyphic traits with bipolar affective disorder has been observed in various studies. This study was undertaken to evaluate epidermal ridge patterns in bipolar patients as compared to healthy controls attending a super speciality district hospital in West Bengal. Context and purpose of study: Establishing dermatoglyphic parameters as biomarkers for early diagnosis and consequently, prompt intervention in bipolar affective disorder will ensure a greater scope of recovery, and thus promote a better quality of life for the individual as well as lower the burden of disease for the society. Methods: Quantitative dermatoglyphic parameters namely, Total Finger Ridge Count (TFRC), Total A-B Ridge Count (TABRC), and ATD Angle of 100 bipolar patients were compared to 100 age and gender matched healthy controls. Results: Statistically significant differences were found on comparing the dermatoglyphic parameters between cases and controls. TFRC was found to be decreased while ATD angle was increased in bipolar cases, as compared to the control group. However, no significant change was observed in TABRC between the two groups. Conclusions: This study found a significant association between dermatoglyphic pattern anomalies and the development of bipolarity. This may offer a scope of primordial prevention of bipolar disorder in future. Key words: Dermatoglyphics, ridge pattern, bipolar disorder, Total Finger Ridge Count (TFRC), Total A-B Ridge Count (TABRC), ATD angle.

Hippocampal 1H MRS in patients with bipolar disorder taking valproate versus valproate plus quetiapine

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
MURAD ATMACA ◽  
HANEFI YILDIRIM ◽  
HUSEYIN OZDEMIR ◽  
ERKIN OGUR ◽  
ERTAN TEZCAN
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Proton Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Neuroprotective Effect ◽  
Mood Stabilizer ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Drug Free

Background. No study to date has examined the effects of mood stabilizer alone and the combination of mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotic, quetiapine, on hippocampal neurochemical markers of bipolar disordered patients concurrently. We therefore undertook a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) study of drug-free patients with bipolar disorder (drug-free group), patients undergoing valproate treatment (valproate group), patients administered valproate+quetiapine (valprote+quetiapine group) and healthy controls, focusing on the in vivo neuroanatomy of the hippocampus.Method. Thirty patients from the Firat University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and 10 healthy controls gave written informed consent to participate in the study. The patients and controls underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI), and measures of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (CHO), and creatine+phosphocreatine (CRE) in hippocampal regions were obtained.Results. The drug-free patients had significantly lower NAA/CRE and NAA/CHO ratios compared with the valproate and valproate+quetiapine groups and the healthy controls. The lower NAA/CRE and NAA/CHO ratios remained statistically significant even after covarying for age or whole brain volume compared with the valproate and valproate+quetiapine groups and healthy controls. In post hoc comparisons, a significant difference was found between the valproate+quetiapine group and the valproate group only with regard to NAA/CHO.Conclusion. Our findings suggest that valproate has a neuroprotective effect. In post hoc comparisons, a significant difference was found between the valproate+quetiapine and the valproate group with regard to NAA/CHO, indicating that the addition of quetiapine further increases the level of NAA and provides an additional neuroprotective effect.

Brain functional changes in first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder: evidence for default mode network dysfunction

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 2513-2521 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Alonso-Lana ◽  
M. Valentí ◽  
A. Romaguera ◽  
C. Sarri ◽  
S. Sarró ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Default Mode Network ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Whole Brain ◽  
Default Mode ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bipolar Patients

BackgroundRelatively few studies have investigated whether relatives of patients with bipolar disorder show brain functional changes, and these have focused on activation changes. Failure of de-activation during cognitive task performance is also seen in the disorder and may have trait-like characteristics since it has been found in euthymia.MethodA total of 20 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder, 20 of their unaffected siblings and 40 healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during performance of the n-back working memory task. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was fitted to individual whole-brain maps from each set of patient–relative–matched pair of controls. Clusters of significant difference among the groups were used as regions of interest to compare mean activations/de-activations between them.ResultsA single cluster of significant difference among the three groups was found in the whole-brain ANOVA. This was located in the medial prefrontal cortex, a region of task-related de-activation in the healthy controls. Both the patients and their siblings showed significantly reduced de-activation compared with the healthy controls in this region, but the failure was less marked in the relatives.ConclusionsFailure to de-activate the medial prefrontal cortex in both euthymic bipolar patients and their unaffected siblings adds to evidence for default mode network dysfunction in the disorder, and suggests that it may act as a trait marker.

scholarly journals Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Tissue-Tracking and Parametric Mapping in Characterizing Takotsubo Syndrome: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Cau ◽  
Pierpaolo Bassareo ◽  
Valeria Cherchi ◽  
Roberta Montisci ◽  
Martino Deidda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
T2 Mapping ◽  
Myocardial Strain ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Parametric Mapping ◽  
Tissue Tracking ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Aims: The aims of our pilot study were to evaluate the application of cardiac magnetic resonance tissue tracking (CMR-TT) and tissue mapping in characterizing TS.Methods: Two groups were retrospectively enrolled: patients with apical ballooning TS (n=19) and healthy controls (n=10). We assessed global and regional bi-ventricular function, including longitudinal (LS), circumferential (CS), and radial strain (RS) analysis. Tissue characterization by T1, T2 mapping, and LGE was performed as well to detect the possible presence of myocardial injuries. Results: LS was reduced in patients with TS compared to healthy controls. LS dysfunction was detected mainly at mid- and apical cavity (p=0.001 for both). Again, basal RS was higher in TS patients compared to the control group. No other statistically significant differences in myocardial strain were detected. TS patients had higher T1 and T2 values, with greater involvement of the LV apex compared with controls. In a multivariate analysis, there was a statistically significant difference between TS and controls regarding parametric mapping and myocardial strain after controlling for gender and age. T1-native and T2 mapping proved to have an excellent performance in differentiating TS patients from controls (AUCs of 0.94 and 0.96, respectively)Conclusion: Our study suggests that myocardial strain impairment and parametric mappings could help in refining the evaluation of TS patients.

Magnetic resonance evaluation of ventrolateral medullary compression in essential hypertension

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary P. Colón ◽  
Douglas J. Quint ◽  
Lawrence D. Dickinson ◽  
James A. Brunberg ◽  
Kenneth A. Jamerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Hypertension ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Mr Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Neurogenic Hypertension ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Thin Slice ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The authors designed a blinded prospective study comparing patients with essential hypertension to patients without hypertension in which magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to evaluate the role of lateral medullary compression by adjacent vascular structures as a cause of neurogenic hypertension. Methods. Patients with documented essential hypertension were recruited to undergo thin-slice axial brainstem MR imaging evaluation. Nonhypertensive (control) patients scheduled to undergo MR imaging for other reasons also underwent thin-slice MR imaging to form a basis for comparison. Magnetic resonance images obtained in patients from the hypertensive (30 patients) and the control (45 patients) groups were then compared by four independent reviewers (two neuroradiologists and two neurosurgeons) who were blinded to the patients' diagnosis and hypertensive status. Images were reviewed with regard to left versus right vertebral artery (VA) dominance, compression of the medulla on the left and/or right side, and brainstem rotation. Medullary compression was graded as either vessel contact without associated brainstem deformity or vessel contact with associated brainstem deformity. Conclusions. There was a tendency toward left VA dominance in the hypertensive group compared with the control group, although a significant difference was shown by only one of the four reviewers. There were no differences in brainstem compression or rotation between the hypertensive and nonhypertensive groups. These results are contrary to those of recently published studies in which MR imaging and/or MR angiography revealed lateral brainstem vascular compression in hypertensive patients but not in nonhypertensive (control) patients. Reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. On the basis of their own experience and that of others, the authors believe that neurogenic hypertension does exist. However, thin-slice MR imaging may not be a reliable method for detecting neurovascularly induced essential hypertension and the prevalence of neurovascular compression as the source of hypertension may be overestimated when using current imaging techniques.

scholarly journals Psychological symptoms during and after Austrian first lockdown in individuals with bipolar disorder? A follow-up control-group investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Dalkner ◽  
Jolana Wagner-Skacel ◽  
Michaela Ratzenhofer ◽  
Frederike Fellendorf ◽  
Melanie Lenger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Bipolar Patients

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a global health crisis, has resulted in widespread socioeconomic restrictions including lockdown, social distancing, and self-isolation. To date, little is known about the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on patients with bipolar disorder as a particularly vulnerable group. Methods An online survey was conducted in Austria at two points of measurement (T1 April 2020 during the first lockdown vs. T2 May 2020 at post-lockdown). The sample comprises 20 patients with bipolar disorder (mean age = 49.4 ± 15.6 years) and 20 healthy controls (mean age = 32.7 ± 9.6 years). A 2 × 2 factorial design to compare two time points (T1 vs. T2) and two groups (patients vs. healthy controls) was used. Main outcome measures included the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) and a (non-validated and non-standardized) assessment to determine COVID-19 fears and emotional distress due to social distancing. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the longitudinal association of COVID-19 fears/emotional distress due to social distancing during lockdown (T1) and psychological symptoms after lockdown (T2). Results At T1, results demonstrated higher scores in BSI-18 subscales depression, anxiety and global severity index as well as emotional distress due to social distancing in bipolar patients compared to controls. There was a significant time x group interaction in the BSI-18 subscale somatization showing a decreasing trend in patients with BD compared to controls. No time effects in BSI-18 subscales or COVID-19 fears/emotional distress due to social distancing were observed. Regression analyses showed that COVID-19 fears during lockdown predicted somatization, only in patients. Conclusions There was a connection between the lockdown measures and somatization symptoms observed in patients. When the first steps of easing the social restrictions in May 2020 took place, somatization decreased only in the bipolar compared to the control group. Higher COVID-19 fears during lockdown predicted later symptoms at post-lockdown. Long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic need further investigations to improve current therapeutic approaches and prevent fears and distress during lockdown in individuals with bipolar disorder in times of crisis.

scholarly journals Creatine kinase levels in patients with bipolar disorder: depressive, manic, and euthymic phases

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Feier ◽  
Samira S. Valvassori ◽  
Gislaine T. Rezin ◽  
Márcio Búrigo ◽  
Emilio L. Streck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Creatine Kinase ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Serum Creatine Kinase ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Young Mania ◽  
Potential Marker ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bipolar Patients

OBJECTIVE: Bipolar disorder is a severe, recurrent, and often chronic psychiatric illness associated with significant functional impairment, morbidity, and mortality. Creatine kinase is an important enzyme, particularly for cells with high and fluctuating energy requirements, such as neurons, and is a potential marker of brain injury. The aim of the present study was to compare serum creatine kinase levels between bipolar disorder patients, in the various phases (depressive, manic, and euthymic), and healthy volunteers. METHOD: Forty-eight bipolar patients were recruited: 18 in the euthymic phase; 17 in the manic phase; and 13 in the depressive phase. The control group comprised 41 healthy volunteers. The phases of bipolar disorder were defined as follows: euthymic-not meeting the DSM-IV criteria for a mood episode and scoring < 8 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS); manic-scoring < 7 on the HDRS and > 7 on the YMRS; depressive-scoring > 7 on the HDRS and < 7 on the YMRS. Patients in mixed phases were excluded. Blood samples were collected from all participants. RESULTS: Creatine kinase levels were higher in the manic patients than in the controls. However, we observed no significant difference between euthymic and depressive patients in terms of the creatine kinase level. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the clinical differences among the depressive, manic, and euthymic phases of bipolar disorder are paralleled by contrasting levels of creatine kinase. However, further studies are needed in order to understand the state-dependent differences observed in serum creatine kinase activity.

scholarly journals Dopamine adjusts the circadian gene expression of Per2 and Per3 in human dermal fibroblasts from ADHD patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Faltraco ◽  
Denise Palm ◽  
Adriana Uzoni ◽  
Lena Borchert ◽  
Frederick Simon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dermal Fibroblast ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Adhd Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Circadian Gene ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Circadian Preference

AbstractA link between dopamine levels, circadian gene expression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has already been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of these relationships by measuring circadian gene expression in primary human-derived dermal fibroblast cultures (HDF) after dopamine exposure. We analyzed circadian preference, behavioral circadian and sleep parameters as well as the circadian gene expression in a cohort of healthy controls and participants with ADHD. Circadian preference was evaluated with German Morningness-Eveningness-Questionnaire (D-MEQ) and rhythms of sleep/wake behavior were assessed via actigraphy. After ex vivo exposure to different dopamine concentrations in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cultures, the rhythmicity of circadian gene expression (Clock, Bmal1, Per1-3, Cry1) was analyzed via qRT-PCR. We found no statistical significant effect in the actigraphy of both groups (healthy controls, ADHD group) for mid-sleep on weekend days, mid-sleep on weekdays, social jetlag, wake after sleep onset, and total number of wake bouts. D-MEQ scores indicated that healthy controls had no evening preference, whereas subjects with ADHD displayed both definitive and moderate evening preferences. Dopamine has no effect on Per3 expression in healthy controls, but produces a significant difference in the ADHD group at ZT24 and ZT28. In the ADHD group, incubation with dopamine, either 1 µM or 10 µM, resulted in an adjustment of Per3 expression to control levels. A similar effect also was found in the expression of Per2. Statistical significant differences in the expression of Per2 (ZT4) in the control group compared to the ADHD group were found, following incubation with dopamine. The present study illustrates that dopamine impacts on circadian function. The results lead to the suggestion that dopamine may improve the sleep quality as well as ADHD symptoms by adjustment of the circadian gene expression, especially for Per2 and Per3.

scholarly journals Response Processes to Looming Appetitive and Aversive Cues in Euthymic Bipolar Patients and Their First-Degree Relatives: An Exploratory Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 025371762097528
Author(s):  
Velprashanth Venkatesan ◽  
Christoday R J Khess ◽  
Umesh Shreekantiah ◽  
Nishant Goyal ◽  
K. K. Kshitiz
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Sensitivity To Reward ◽  
Bipolar Group ◽  
First Degree Relatives ◽  
Vulnerability Model ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Appetitive Cues ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Bipolar Patients

Background: Patients with bipolar disorder demonstrate increased sensitivity to appetitive/rewarding stimuli even during euthymia. On presentation of arousing pictures, they show a peculiar response, suggesting heightened vigilance. While responding to looming arousing cues, studies show subjects with anxiety spectrum disorders exhibit increased reaction time (RT), explained by the “looming-vulnerability model.” This study aimed to investigate the responses to looming arousing cues in euthymic bipolar patients and their first-degree relatives, as compared to healthy controls. Method: A looming appetitive and aversive cue paradigm was designed for assessing the RT of patients to process appetitive and aversive cues. The behavioral inhibition/activation and sensitivity to reward/punishment amongst the groups were also assessed. Results: The bipolar group showed significantly longer RT to process appetitive cues irrespective of the looming condition. Aversive cues elicited significantly longer RT in both the bipolar group and in first-degree relatives, but only when presented with the looming condition. Significant looming bias was elicited in the bipolar group which suggested a particular cognitive style to looming cues. A composite measure of RT along with sensitivity to reward/punishment distinguishes the bipolar group and their first-degree relatives from the healthy controls. Conclusion: The looming vulnerability model may provide important insights for future exploration of cognitive endophenotypes in bipolar disorder.

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