scholarly journals Serum Cortisol and DHEA-S Levels in Schizophrenic Patients with Different Response to Antipsychotic Therapy: Association with Psychopathology / Серумски Концентрации На Кортизол И DHEA-S Кал Пациенти Со Шизофренша Со Различен Одговор На Антипсихотичната Терапша Асоци.1Аци.1А Со Психопатологшата

PRILOZI ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoja Babinkostova ◽  
Branislav Stefanovski ◽  
Danijela Janicevic-Ivanovska ◽  
Valentina Samardziska ◽  
Lila Stojanovska
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Symptom Scale ◽  
Antipsychotic Therapy ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Different Response ◽  
Age And Sex

Abstract Background: Previous studies suggested that alterations in serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Imbalance in serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may be related to responsivity to antipsychotic treatment. Aim: To compare serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls and to evaluate their association with psychopathology in schizophrenic patients with different response to antipsychotic treatment. Material and Methods: This clinical prospective study included 60 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy age and sex matched controls. All patients experienced an acute exacerbation of the illness (PANSS: P1 and P3 ≥ 4). Clinical evaluation of patients was performed using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale. A questionnaire for socio-demographic and clinical data collection was used. For the purposes of the study, the examined group was divided in two subgroups: responders and nonresponders. Serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels were measuredat baseline in all participants and after 3 and 6 weeks of the antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia. Results: Patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels comparedwith control group. Responders had significantly higher serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels compared with nonresponders. Responders group had significant correlation between serum cortisol and PANSS positive scale score as well as between hostility and serum DHEA-S. Conclusion: Elevated serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Serum cortisol and DHEA-S are associated with psychopathology in schizophrenic patients with different response to antipsychotic therapy.

scholarly journals Increased Homotopic Connectivity in the Prefrontal Cortex Modulated by Olanzapine Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy in Patients with Schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Xiaoxiao Shan ◽  
Rongyuan Liao ◽  
Yangpan Ou ◽  
Yudan Ding ◽  
Feng Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Individual Treatment ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Individual Response ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Antipsychotic Therapy ◽  
Olanzapine Treatment ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

Background. Previous studies have revealed the abnormalities in homotopic connectivity in schizophrenia. However, the relationship of these deficits to antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia remains unclear. This study explored the effects of antipsychotic therapy on brain homotopic connectivity and whether the homotopic connectivity of these regions might predict individual treatment response in schizophrenic patients. Methods. A total of 21 schizophrenic patients and 20 healthy controls were scanned by the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The patients received olanzapine treatment and were scanned at two time points. Voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and pattern classification techniques were applied to analyze the imaging data. Results. Schizophrenic patients presented significantly decreased VMHC in the temporal and inferior frontal gyri, medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), and motor and low-level sensory processing regions (including the fusiform gyrus and cerebellum lobule VI) relative to healthy controls. The VMHC in the superior/middle MPFC was significantly increased in the patients after eight weeks of treatment. Support vector regression (SVR) analyses revealed that VMHC in the superior/middle MPFC at baseline can predict the symptomatic improvement of the positive and negative syndrome scale after eight weeks of treatment. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that olanzapine treatment may normalize decreased homotopic connectivity in the superior/middle MPFC in schizophrenic patients. The VMHC in the superior/middle MPFC may predict individual response for antipsychotic therapy. The findings of this study conduce to the comprehension of the therapy effects of antipsychotic medications on homotopic connectivity in schizophrenia.

INECO Frontal Screening: an Instrument to assess Executive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tânia Silva ◽  
Luís Monteiro ◽  
Emanuela Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Sorting Test ◽  
Experimental Group

AbstractAlthough several brief sensitive screening tools are available to detect executive dysfunction, few have been developed to quickly assess executive functioning. The INECO Frontal Screening (IFS) is a brief tool which has proved be useful for the assessment of the executive functions in patients with dementia. The aim of this study was to explore whether the IFS is as sensitive and specific as the BADS, a battery designed to assess the dysexecutive syndrome, in schizophrenia. Our sample comprised a group of 34 schizophrenic patients (Mean age = 39.59, DP = 10.697) and 31 healthy controls (Mean age = 35.52, DP = 10.211). To all groups were administered the BADS, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and IFS. The results suggest that schizophrenic patients performed significantly worse than the control group in all tests (p < .05). The IFS total score was 13.29 for the experimental group and 26.21 for the control group (p < .001). Considering a cut-off of 14 points, the IFS sensitivity was 100% and specificity 56% in detection of executive dysfunction in schizophrenia, compared with the BADS, that if we consider a cut-off of 11 points, was a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 50%. Thus, IFS is a brief, sensitive and specific tool for the detection of executive dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Post-mortem Study of Chronic Schizophrenic Brains

1987 ◽  
Vol 151 (6) ◽  
pp. 744-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bente Pakkenberg
Keyword(s):  
Grey Matter ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Stereological Method ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenic ◽  
Central Grey Matter ◽  
Volume Measurements ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Age And Sex

Volume measurements were carried out on 29 brains from institutionalised, chronic schizophrenic patients and 30 age and sex-matched controls using a stereological method. The volumes of the total fixated brain, the hemispheres, the cortex, and the central grey matter of the schizophrenic brains were significantly reduced while the volumes of the ventricles were significantly enlarged compared with the control group. The patients had been diagnosed by a psychiatrist on the basis of their case records as having either a Type I or Type II syndrome according to the symptoms they presented in the first years of their disease. The Type II patients were found to have significantly enlarged ventricles compared with the Type I patients.

scholarly journals Clinicopathological features of colorectal polyps and risk of colorectal cancer in acromegaly

2020 ◽  
Vol 182 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yorinari Ochiai ◽  
Naoko Inoshita ◽  
Toshiro Iizuka ◽  
Hiroshi Nishioka ◽  
Shozo Yamada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
General Population ◽  
Colorectal Polyps ◽  
Clinicopathological Features ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Histopathological Features ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Age And Sex

Objective Patients with acromegaly are at increased risk of colorectal polyps. However, their risk of colorectal cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the histopathological features of colorectal polyps in patients with acromegaly and compare their risk of colorectal cancer with that in healthy controls. Methods The study participants were 178 patients who underwent Hardy’s operation and perioperative colonoscopy at our hospital between April 2008 and September 2016. For the control group, we randomly selected 356 age- and sex-matched patients who underwent colonoscopy at our hospital during the same period. The incidence, size, location, and histology of the colorectal polyps detected were compared between the groups. Results Colorectal polyps were detected in 66.8% of the acromegaly group and 24.2% of the control group (P < 0.001). The average number and size of the polyps were 2.44 and 4.74 mm, respectively, in the acromegaly group and 1.77 and 3.89 mm in the control group (P = 0.001). Polyps in the acromegaly group were more likely to be in the rectosigmoid region (P = 0.006). In the acromegaly group, the frequency of polyps ≥5 mm was 34.3% and that for polyps ≥10 mm was 15.2%; the respective values were 7.6% and 2.2% in the control group (P < 0.001). We found no evidence of between-group histopathological differences in the polyp specimens resected by endoscopy. ConclusionsPatients with acromegaly are at an increased risk of colorectal polyps, especially in the rectosigmoid region. However, there is no pathological evidence that they are at greater risk of colorectal cancer than the general population.

Non-invasive Quantitative MRI assessment of brain iron overload in patients with BThalassemia and Sickle cell disease

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghada Samir Ibrahim ◽  
Fatma Soliman Elsayed Ebeid ◽  
Hend Galal Eldeen Mohammed Ahmed Samir Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Chelation Therapy ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Brain Iron ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Mri Study ◽  
Age And Sex

Abstract Background B-Thalassemia, sickle cell disease (SCD) and other inherited hemoglobin disorders are considered the most prevalent monogenic diseases worldwide. Secondary iron overload is one of the major complications in such groups of patients affecting many organs (e.g. liver, heart and endocrinal glands). Objective The current study will assess brain iron content ( using R2* values ) in the caudate and thalamic regions through quantitative brain MRI study in B-Thalassemia and SCD patients in comparison to age and sex-matched healthy controls. Also evaluation of the association with LIC (liver iron concentrations) and MIC (myocardial iron concentrations) was done. Methods A case control study on 30 patients (15 with B-thalassemia major and 15 with SCD) and 11 age and sex-matched healthy controls was carried out in the period between August 2018 till August 2019. Brain MRI study using multiecho fast gradient echo sequence was done for all the patients and controls. Brain R2* values of both caudate and thalamic regions (right and left sides) were calculated. Also brain R2* values were correlated with the LIC and HIC in B-thalassemia and SCD groups. Results 15 transfusion dependent B-thalassemia (mean-age: 19.40 ± 4.31 years, 53.3% females), 15 SCD patients (SCD; mean-age: 16.93 ± 3.41 years, 40.6% females) and 11 age and sex matched healthy controls (HC; mean age: 18.73 ± 4.84 years, 54.5% females) were enrolled in the study. No statistically significant differences were found between SCD and control group in all regions of interests No statistically significant differences were found between the three subgroups (p &gt; 0.05) in right thalamus, left and right caudate regions. However, in B-thalassemia subgroup, patients had moderately significantly higher R2* values compared to the controls and SCD patients as regards the left thalamic region with mean R2* values (16.69 ± 1.34) Hz compared to (15.65 ± 1.10) Hz in the control group (p = 0.021) and (15.79 ± 0.77) Hz in the SCD group (p = 0.029). There were no significant correlations between LIC and HIC with brain R2* values of all regions of interests in both B-thalassemia and SCD subgroups. Conclusion MRI is a valuable, reliable, safe and noninvasive method for quantifying iron concentration (in cases of iron overload) in many organs as the liver and heart and it is now used internationally for regular follow up of LIC and HIC for monitoring of the chelation therapy in B-thalassemia and SCD patients. The results of our study showed that even in cases of iron overload which affects vital organs as the liver, cardiac and brain iron overload don't occur. This may be explained by heavy chelation therapy regimens given to our patients due to their poor compliance so as to keep the pre-transfusion hemoglobin level above 10mg/dl to prevent detrimental cardiac affection as cardiac siderosis, arrhythmias including heart block, or even heart failure.

High prevalence of prediabetes and metabolic abnormalities in overweight or obese schizophrenia patients treated with clozapine or olanzapine

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (04) ◽  
pp. 441-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie R. Larsen ◽  
Camilla K. Svensson ◽  
Louise Vedtofte ◽  
Mathilde Lund Jakobsen ◽  
Hans Søe Jespersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Metabolic Abnormalities ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Cross Sectional

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of prediabetes and metabolic abnormalities among overweight or obese clozapine- or olanzapine-treated schizophrenia patients, and to identify characteristics of the schizophrenia group with prediabetes.MethodsA cross-sectional study assessing the presence of prediabetes and metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenia clozapine- or olanzapine-treated patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥27 kg/m2. Procedures were part of the screening process for a randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating liraglutide vs placebo for improving glucose tolerance. For comparison, an age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy control group without psychiatric illness and prediabetes was included. Prediabetes was defined as elevated fasting plasma glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance and/or elevated glycated hemoglobin A1c.ResultsAmong 145 schizophrenia patients (age = 42.1 years; males = 59.3%) on clozapine or olanzapine (clozapine/olanzapine/both: 73.8%/24.1%/2.1%), prediabetes was present in 69.7% (101 out of 145). While schizophrenia patients with and without prediabetes did not differ regarding demographic, illness, or antipsychotic treatment variables, metabolic abnormalities (waist circumference: 116.7±13.7 vs 110.1±13.6 cm, P = 0.007; triglycerides: 2.3±1.4 vs 1.6±0.9 mmol/L, P = 0.0004) and metabolic syndrome (76.2% vs 40.9%, P&lt;0.0001) were significantly more pronounced in schizophrenia patients with vs without prediabetes. The age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy controls had significantly better glucose tolerance compared to both groups of patients with schizophrenia. The healthy controls also had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein compared to patients with schizophrenia and prediabetes.ConclusionPrediabetes and metabolic abnormalities were highly prevalent among the clozapine- and olanzapine-treated patients with schizophrenia, putting these patients at great risk for later type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These results stress the importance of identifying and adequately treating prediabetes and metabolic abnormalities among clozapine- and olanzapine-treated patients with schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Corneal Epithelial Damage and Impaired Tear Functions in Patients with Inflamed Pinguecula

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erkut Küçük ◽  
Uğur Yılmaz ◽  
Kürsad Ramazan Zor
Keyword(s):  
Matched Control ◽  
Tear Film ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Epithelial Defect ◽  
Epithelial Integrity ◽  
Corneal Epithelial ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Age And Sex ◽  
Fellow Eyes

Purpose. In this study, we evaluated corneal epithelial integrity and tear film parameters in patients with inflamed pinguecula and compared these findings with their fellow eyes and with healthy controls. Methods. We evaluated the fluorescein staining properties and performed the tear break-up time (TBUT) test and Schirmer 2 test (ST2) measurements of 32 patients who had symptomatic unilateral inflamed pinguecula and compared the results with their fellow eyes and also with an age- and sex-matched control group. Results. Twenty-three eyes (72%) in the inflamed pinguecula group and 1 eye (3.1%) in the fellow eyes group had punctate epithelial staining (PES) or epithelial defect on the nasal cornea (p<0.001). There was no PES or epithelial defect in the control group. Eyes with inflamed pinguecula (n = 32) had lower TBUT and ST2 values compared to the control group (n = 32) (p<0.001 for both). Fellow eyes (n = 32) also had lower TBUT and ST2 values compared to the control group (p=0.003 for both). There was no difference in the TBUT and ST2 results between the eyes with inflamed pinguecula and fellow eyes (p=0.286 and p=0.951, respectively). Conclusion. A high percentage of eyes with inflamed pinguecula had nasal corneal epithelial staining or epithelial defect. We also found lower TBUT and ST2 results in eyes with inflamed pinguecula and the fellow eyes compared to the control group. These findings may be important in pathogenesis of pinguecula and pterygium and also in uncovering their relation.

A Controlled Study of Education About Drug Treatment in Schizophrenia

1996 ◽  
Vol 168 (6) ◽  
pp. 709-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Macpherson ◽  
Bill Jerrom ◽  
Anthony Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Strong Association ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Educational Programme ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Knowledge Gain ◽  
Standard Education ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Negative Syndrome

BackgroundVarious problems are associated with schizophrenia which may theoretically lead to impaired educability about treatment.MethodThe Understanding of Medication Questionnaire, designed to measure knowledge about treatment in schizophrenia, is described and presented. An educational programme based on a specially designed information booklet was developed. Sixty-four patients with DSM–III–R diagnosis schizophrenia were randomly allocated to groups receiving none (control), one session or three sessions of education.ResultsPre-intervention low levels of knowledge about illness and treatment increased significantly immediately after a standard education session. Three education sessions led to significantly greater knowledge gain than one session. There was no significant change in the control group. Only the PANSS negative syndrome score independently and consistently explained a significant proportion of the education effect. The influence on educability of attitudes to education, impaired insight, cognitive impairment and other variables were considered. Three sessions of education led to significantly increased insight, but no change in compliance.ConclusionsTechniques appropriate for educating schizophrenic patients were discussed, and the value of involving patients in education emphasised. A series of patient education sessions is needed to consolidate learning, rather than a single informing process. The strong association between impaired learning and more severe negative schizophrenic syndrome emphasises the need for responsible prescribing of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Criminal Behaviour among Schizophrenics

1987 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry T. Chuang ◽  
Richard Williams ◽  
J. Thomas Dalby
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Dependent Measure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Criminal Behaviour ◽  
Medical Patients ◽  
Violent Offense ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Criminal Charges ◽  
Antisocial Personality Traits ◽  
Age And Sex

This study compared the criminal behaviour of schizophrenic patients with a group of hospitalized medical patients who were matched on the basis of age and sex. In addition to the typically employed dependent measure of offense conviction, this study also examined antisocial personality traits, undetected criminal behaviours, criminal charges, and incarceration. No significant differences between the groups were found across offense type (against property, against persons, victimless and motor vehicle violations). Schizophrenic patients, however, were found to be at greater risk for being victims of a violent offense when compared to the control group which seemed to be at a greater risk for becoming victims of non-violent crime.

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