scholarly journals Clinical Investigation on the Impact of Cannabis Abuse on Thyroid Hormones and Associated Psychiatric Manifestations in the Male Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anum Muzaffar ◽  
Sami Ullah ◽  
Fazal Subhan ◽  
Zahid Nazar ◽  
Syed Mehdi Hussain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Cardiovascular Parameters ◽  
Manic Symptoms ◽  
Cannabis Abuse ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Development Of Tolerance

Cannabis abuse is a common public health issue and may lead to considerable adverse effects. Along with other effects, the dependence on cannabis consumption is a serious problem which has significant consequences on biochemical and clinical symptoms. This study intends to evaluate the harmful effects of the use of cannabis on thyroid hormonal levels, cardiovascular indicators, and psychotic symptoms in the included patients. This prospective multicenter study was conducted on cannabis-dependent patients with psychotic symptoms (n = 40) vs. healthy control subjects (n = 40). All participants were evaluated for psychiatric, biochemical, and cardiovascular physiological effects. Patients were selected through Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV criteria and urine samples, exclusively for the evaluation of cannabis presence. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T3, and T4 levels were measured using the immunoassay technique. Patients were assessed for severity of depressive, schizophrenic, and manic symptoms using international ranking scales. Various quantifiable factors were also measured for the development of tolerance by cannabis. Among the patients of cannabis abuse, 47.5% were found with schizophrenia, 20% with schizoaffective symptoms, 10% with manic symptoms, and 22.5% with both manic and psychotic symptoms. In the group–group and within-group statistical analysis, the results of thyroid hormones and cardiovascular parameters were non-significant. The psychiatric assessment has shown highly significant (p < 0.001) difference of positive, negative, general psychopathology, and total scores [through Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) rating scales] in patients vs. the healthy control subjects. The study revealed that cannabis abuse did not significantly alter thyroid hormones and cardiovascular parameters due to the development of tolerance. However, the cannabis abuse might have a significant contributing role in the positive, negative, and manic symptoms in different psychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals M6. REDUCED READINESS POTENTIAL AS A NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATE OF SELF-DISTURBANCES IN EARLY–COURSE PSYCHOSIS: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FROM A HIGH–DENSITY EEG STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S135-S135
Author(s):  
Francesco Donati ◽  
Claudia Carrara ◽  
Cecilia Casetta ◽  
Renata del Giudice ◽  
Maristella Zalaffi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Maximum Amplitude ◽  
High Density ◽  
Readiness Potential ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Early Course ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Healthy Control

Abstract Background Self-disturbances reflect a core dimension of Schizophrenia that can be identified before disease onset and might underlie the development of typical psychotic symptoms. The Sense of Agency (SoA) can be conceptualized as the pre-reflective sensation of being the one who is causing or generating an action or thought. Passivity phenomena, such as the reported feeling and belief that one’s thoughts or actions are generated and/or controlled by an external agent, are exquisite examples of SoA disturbances observed in Schizophrenia. Despite intensive research, the neurobiological pathogenetic mechanisms underlying such disturbances remain unclear. Among several putative neurophysiological brain abnormalities, a reduction of the Bereitschaftspotential, also called pre-motor or Readiness Potential (RP), was described in chronic, medicated patients with Schizophrenia. Given its anticipation of voluntary movement by 1 – 2 seconds over the motor cortex and supplementary motor area contralateral to the effector, RP has previously been proposed to be a neural signature of volition to initiate movement. Interestingly, higher RPs among healthy subjects have been recently associated with stronger intentional binding, suggesting increased SoA in subjects exhibiting stronger premovement activity. The objective of our work was to study RP abnormalities in patients with a psychotic illness of recent onset and to relate them to self disturbances, in order to clarify the relationship between known neurophysiological and psychopathological abnormalities. Methods We employed high-density electroencephalography (64-channel BrainAmp, Brain Products GmbH, Gilching, Germany) to record scalp potentials during a self-paced movement task in a group of seven early–course psychosis patients (mean age = 24,5, range 20–33) and an equal group of age– and gender– matched (mean age =25,3, range 19 – 36) healthy control subjects. Patients were recruited during an acute stage of their disorder requiring hospitalization and were treated with low–dose atypical antipsychotics. Exclusion criteria included major medical or neurological illness affecting the CNS and any intellectual developmental disorder. Several parameters related to the elicited RP were recorded, including maximum amplitude and slope. The Examination of Anomalous Self Experience (EASE) scale was chosen to assess Self disturbances in the patient group by an experienced clinician who was blind to the neurophysiological outcome. Results RP was found to be reduced in patients, compared to healthy control subjects, in both its amplitude and slope (p < 0,005) despite comparable EMG activity. EASE scores of items ‘EASE-10’ (a comprehensive item that reflect most prototypically the disorders of self-experience) and ‘EASE-2’ (“Self-Awareness”) appeared to increase monotonically with the decrease of RP slope (p < 0,05). Discussion Our preliminary data show that disturbances of RP are present since the early course of psychotic disorders. They also suggest that such abnormalities may reflect the severity of self-disturbances in these patients. If confirmed in a larger, medication-naïve samples, our findings might clarify the underlying neural mechanisms of such abnormalities and provide a solid basis for further investigation of RP disturbances as an early biological marker for Schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

scholarly journals The Impact of Copy Number Deletions on General Cognitive Ability and Ventricle Size in Patients with Schizophrenia and Healthy Control Subjects

2013 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 540-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald A. Yeo ◽  
Steven W. Gangestad ◽  
Jingyu Liu ◽  
Stefan Ehrlich ◽  
Robert J. Thoma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Ventricle Size ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals The Impact of Cannabis Abuse on Psychotic Symptoms and Their Severity among Cannabis Associated Psychosis Subjects: An Indian Experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Ramchandra Lamba ◽  
Sona Budaniya ◽  
Rajendera Kumar Acharya ◽  
Ram Kumar Solanki ◽  
Ashok Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Early Onset ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cannabis Abuse ◽  
The Impact

Use of cannabis for recreational, religious and cultures has been prevalent since ancient times. It is one of the commonest used illicit substance. While not all cannabis users develop psychiatric problems, heavy cannabis use may increase the risk of cognitive abnormalities, psychotic illness and mood disorders. This research aimed to evaluate severity of various psychotic symptoms in relation to variables of cannabis abuse. A cross sectional study of 30 male patients admitted at tertiary care psychiatric center with diagnosis of cannabis-associated psychosis was carried out. Cannabis abuse variables along with psychotic symptoms severity on BPRS scale were obtained. Correlation between variables of cannabis abuse and psychotic symptoms and total BPRS score were derived using Pearson correlation 2- tailed test. Hostility (83%) and excitement (77%) were most prevalent symptoms with increased severity followed by elevated mood, grandiosity, suspiciousness and motor hyperactivity. Patients with long duration and early onset of cannabis abuse presented with more severe form of psychosis. Frequency of cannabis use was not significantly correlated with total BPRS score, although amount spent over cannabis was significantly associated with total BPRS score. Family history of cannabis abuse predicted early onset of cannabis abuse. 

scholarly journals Decreased Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Patients With PTSD

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Carmassi ◽  
Donatella Marazziti ◽  
Federico Mucci ◽  
Alessandra Della Vecchia ◽  
Filippo Maria Barberi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionAlthough the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is still unclear, growing preclinical evidences suggest that oxytocin (OT), a pleiotropic hormone, is possibly involved. However, direct studies on OT levels or clinical trials with this exogenous hormone in patients with PTSD led to inconsistent findings. Therefore, the aim of the present study was at exploring and comparing the plasma OT levels in a group of patients with PTSD and matched healthy subjects as the control group.Materials and MethodsTwenty-six outpatients (13 men, 13 women, mean age: 40.3 ± 11.5 years) suffering from PTSD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), and 26 healthy subjects (13 men, 13 women, mean age: 43.8 ± 12.7 years) were included. The patients were assessed through the structured clinical interview for DSM-5 research version, patient edition (SCID-I/P), and the Impact for Event Scale revised (IES-R). All fasting subjects underwent three venous blood samples for the subsequent oxytocin radioimmunoassay. We used unpaired Student’s t-test to assess OT levels and the intergroup difference of demographic characteristics, while anxiety, avoidance, and hyperarousal scores were compared among groups adjusting for the effect of gender and age by means of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The correlations between different variables were investigated by Pearson’s method.ResultsThe most common traumatic events of patients with PTSD were the following: severe car accident, physical violence, sexual violence, sudden death of a loved one, and natural disaster. The IES total score was 55 ± 15. Student’s t-test revealed that the patients showed significantly lower OT levels (mean ± SD, pg/ml) than healthy control subjects (4.37 ± 1.61 vs 5.64 ± 2.17, p < 0.001). We detected no correlation between the IES total score, subscales, or single items and OT plasma levels. Again, no difference between men and women was detected in the patients’ group, while healthy control women showed higher OT levels than men.DiscussionOur study, while reporting the presence of decreased plasma OT levels in outpatients with PTSD of both sexes, as compared with healthy control subjects, would support the possible involvement of OT in the pathophysiology of PTSD. However, given the complexity of the clinical picture, future investigations are necessary to better deepen the role and level of OT in PTSD.

Childbirth and Posttraumatic Stress Responses

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eelco Olde ◽  
Rolf J. Kleber ◽  
Onno van der Hart ◽  
Victor J.M. Pop
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Self Rating ◽  
The Impact

Childbirth has been identified as a possible traumatic experience, leading to traumatic stress responses and even to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study investigated the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) in a group of women who recently gave birth (N = 435). In addition, a comparison was made between the original IES and the IES-R. The scale showed high internal consistency (α = 0.88). Using confirmatory factor analysis no support was found for a three-factor structure of an intrusion, an avoidance, and a hyperarousal factor. Goodness of fit was only reasonable, even after fitting one intrusion item on the hyperarousal scale. The IES-R correlated significantly with scores on depression and anxiety self-rating scales, as well as with scores on a self-rating scale of posttraumatic stress disorder. Although the IES-R can be used for studying posttraumatic stress reactions in women who recently gave birth, the original IES proved to be a better instrument compared to the IES-R. It is concluded that adding the hyperarousal scale to the IES-R did not make the scale stronger.

Enhancement of Platelet Sensitivity to ADP-Aggregation by Isometric Exercise in Arteriosclerotic Patients and its Prevention

1977 ◽  
Vol 37 (02) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadahiro Sano ◽  
Takeshi Motomiya ◽  
Hiroh Yamazaki ◽  
Takio Shimamoto
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Mechanical Stress ◽  
Optical Density ◽  
Platelet Function ◽  
Isometric Exercise ◽  
Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor ◽  
New Method ◽  
Platelet Aggregability ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Healthy Control

SummaryA new method for assessment of platelet sensitivity to ADP-aggregation was devised. Its reproducibility and the correlations between the values obtained by this method, the optical density (O. D.) method, and the screen filtration pressure (SFP) method were assessed. In summary, this method may be said to have three main points:1. It can be performed without centrifugation, avoiding mechanical stress to platelets, using only 0.8 ml. of blood and inexpensive equipment.2. It may reflect different aspects of platelet function from the O. D. method and the SFP method, despite the positive significant correlations between the values obtained by these three methods.3. It was proved to be highly reproducible and is thought to be useful clinically.By using this method, the effect of sustained isometric exercise by handgripping on platelet aggregability was assessed in coronary sclerotic and cerebral arteriosclerotic patients on placebo and EG-626, a newly synthesized cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor. On placebo, an enhancement of platelet sensitivity was observed after isometric exercise in coronary and cerebral arteriosclerotic patients but not in healthy control subjects. The enhancement was prevented by pretreatment of EG-626, administered orally 1.5 hours prior to exercise.

Some Cytokines Levels (IL-6 and IL-10) in Sera Patients with Cutaneous Leismanasis in Nassiriya Province

2020 ◽  
pp. 4-6
Keyword(s):  
Serum Level ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
Pure Science ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Healthy Control

The present study was carried out in the Labs of collage of education for pure science, during period from January 2017 to endDecember of the same year. The immune status investigates for CLpatients by measuring the levels of cytokines (IL6and IL10) in sera using a technique enzyme-linked immune Sorbent adsorptive (ELISA). The study included 120 subjects with (60 CLpatientsL.majar and 60 CLpatients L. tropica with and (30) were healthy control. Increased mean Serum level of IL6 was in the observed in the total patients as compared to control Subjects (224.53pg/ml,70.70pg/ml), the result indicate there was significant difference at (p<0.05) ,such observation was consistent in the patient infected with L.majar and L. tropica (104 .90 pg/ml and 112.78 pg/ml) respectively. The results of the IL10 showed significant difference at (p<0.05)increased of mean Serum level in the total CL patients as compared to control Subjects(226.90 pg/ml 46.77pg/ml,).Ahighly significant difference at (p<0.05) increased observed in patients group infected with L.majar and followed by patients group infected L. tropica (112.78pg/ml and 114.12pg/ml) respectively.These results revealed that the excessive presence of cytokines might play a role in CL patients.

scholarly journals Recurrent Indoor Environmental Pollution and Its Impact on Health and Oxidative Stress of the Textile Workers in Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863022093839
Author(s):  
Tania Rahman ◽  
Ar-Rafi Md. Faisal ◽  
Tahura Khanam ◽  
Hossain Uddin Shekhar
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Control Area ◽  
Textile Workers ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Oxidative Stresses ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Textile Industries

Perennial indoor environmental pollution in the textile industrial area is a potential health hazard for workers engaged in this line of work, resulting in mental aberration to severe health risks. This study was designed to investigate the indoor environmental quality of textile industries and correlate its effect on the occupational health and well-being of the textile workers by measuring plasma oxidative stress status in textile workers and healthy control subjects. Environmental samples were collected from 15 textile industries located in Dhaka division, and 30 volunteer textile workers and 30 volunteer office workers (control) aged 18 to 57 years participated in the study. The concentration of plasma ascorbic acid (P-ASC), plasma malondialdehyde (P-MDA), and plasma conjugated diene (P-CD) was measured in both groups. The noise level (78.0 ± 0.68 dB) and the formaldehyde level (141.80 ± 4.47 µg/m3) were found to be significantly higher in the indoor environmental area compared with those in the control area (70.17 ± 0.25 dB and 108.0 ± 0.76 µg/m3, respectively). Furthermore, the daily average concentration of suspended particulate matters (PMs), that is, PM2.5 (322.2 ± 13.46 µg/m3) and PM10 (411.0 ± 17.57 µg/m3), was also found to be significantly higher in the indoor environmental air compared with that in the control area (78.59 ± 1.66 and 174.0 ± 2.33 µg/m3, respectively). The levels of P-MDA (0.37 ± 0.03 nmol/L) and P-CD (14.74 ± 0.61 nmol/L) were significantly increased, whereas the level of P-ASC level (0.46 ± 0.04 mg/dL) was markedly decreased in the textile workers compared with the healthy control subjects (0.18 ± 0.01 nmol/L of P-MDA, 10.04 ± 0.44 nmol/L of P-CD, and 1.29 ± 0.06 mg/dL of P-ASC). The textile plants were found to have significantly elevated levels of indoor environmental pollutants compared with those in the control area, and the textile workers were significantly exposed to oxidative stresses compared with the control subjects. The use of noise pads and high-efficiency air filters is perhaps highly instrumental to put an end to this prevailing situation. Moreover, to overcome the oxidative stresses among workers, supplementation of antioxidant vitamins (ie, ascorbic acid and/or vitamin E) may be beneficial. In addition, to prevent serious health-related issues, proper precautions should be taken to protect the occupational health of the textile workers.

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