Correlation between Interleukin-6 Levels and Total PANSS Scores in Batak People with Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is an illness characterized by distorted thoughts, hallucinations, and reduced ability to feel normal emotions, and this has been linked to immunity, environment, and heredity factors. The particular interest in this context is the stimulating effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on dopamine, noradrenaline synthesis, and release. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between interleukin (IL)-6 levels and total PANSS scores in people with schizophrenia from the Batak tribe. METHODS: This study was a numeric-numeric correlation analytic study. The research subjects were 47 inpatients (n = 47) at Prof. M. Ildrem Mental Hospital Medan, Indonesia, who were diagnosed based on the criteria of the international classification of disease-10 in the acute phase of treatment aged 15–45 years. IL-6 levels were obtained from blood serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis used the statistical package for the social science software. RESULTS: The study found that there was a positive correlation between IL-6 levels and total PANSS scores in Batak people with schizophrenia (p = 0.001; r = 0.657); IL-6 levels and positive symptom (p = 0.001; r = 0.696); and IL-6 levels and negative symptom (p = 0.001; r = 0.532). However, there was no correlation between IL-6 levels and general psychopathological scores in Batak people with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: There was a correlation between IL-6 levels and the total PANSS score, positive symptom scores, and negative symptom scores in people with schizophrenia from the Batak tribe.

Expression of classical mediators in hearts of rats with hepatic dysfunction

Liver cirrhosis is associated with impairment of cardiovascular function including alterations of the heart innervation, humoral and nervous dysregulation, changes in systemic circulation and electrophysiological abnormalities. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), enzyme forming acetylcholine, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH), enzymes participating in noradrenaline synthesis, are responsible for the production of classical neurotransmitters, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is produced by cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of experimentally induced hepatic dysfunction on the expression of proANP, ChAT, TH, and DBH in the heart. Hepatic dysfunction was induced by application of thioacetamide (TAA) or by ligation of bile duct. Biochemical parameters of hepatic injury and levels of peroxidation in the liver and heart were measured. Liver enzymes measured in the plasma were significantly elevated. Cardiac level of peroxidation was increased in operated but not TAA group animals. In the left atrium of operated rats, the expression of TH and DBH was lower, while expression of ChAT remained unchanged. In TAA group, no significant differences in the expression of the genes compared to controls were observed. Liver injury induced by ligation leads to an imbalance in the intracardiac innervation, which might impair nervous control of the heart.