Exploring the Hypothesis of a Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Continuum: Biological, Genetic and Pharmacologic Data

: Present time nosology has its roots in Kraepelin’s demarcation of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, accumulating evidence has shed light on several commonalities between the two disorders, and some authors have advocated for the consideration of a disease continuum. Here, we review previous genetic, biological and pharmacological findings that provide the basis for this conceptualization. There is a cross-disease heritability, and they share single-nucleotide polymorphisms in some common genes. EEG and imaging patterns have a number of similarities, namely reduced white matter integrity and abnormal connectivity. Dopamine, serotonin, GABA and glutamate systems have dysfunctional features, some of which are identical among the disorders. Finally, cellular calcium regulation and mitochondrial function are, also, impaired in the two.

The Aging GABAergic System and Its Nutritional Support

Aging is associated with a decline in hormones and an associated decline in GABAergic function and calcium and ion current dysregulation. Neurosteroid hormones act as direct calcium channel blockers, or they can act indirectly on calcium channels through their interaction with GABA receptors. The calcium channel dysfunction associated with hormone loss further leads to an excitatory cell state, which can ultimately lead to cell death. The calcium theory of aging posits that cellular mechanisms, which maintain the homeostasis of cytosol Ca2+ concentration, play a key role in brain aging and that sustained changes in Ca2+ homeostasis provide the final common pathway for age-associated brain changes. There is a link between hormone loss and calcium dysregulation. Loss of calcium regulation associated with aging can lead to an excitatory cell state, primarily in the mitochondria and nerve cells, which can ultimately lead to cell death if not kept in check. A decline in GABAergic function can also be specifically tied to declines in progesterone, allopregnanolone, and DHEA levels associated with aging. This decline in GABAergic function associated with hormone loss ultimately affects GABAergic inhibition or excitement and calcium regulation throughout the body. In addition, declines in GABAergic function can also be tied to vitamin status and to toxic chemicals in the food supply. The decline in GABAergic function associated with aging has an effect on just about every body organ system. Nutritional support of the GABAergic system with supportive foods, vitamins, and GABA or similar GABA receptor ligands may address some of the GABAergic dysfunction associated with aging.

Recommend a simple, sustained and sufficient perioperative calcium regulation therapy and analysis of related factors during perioperative period for secondary hyperparathyroidism

Background: Patients of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) with chronic renal failure treated by long-term dialysis have received surgical treatment. The severe complications, especially severe hypocalcemia, would endanger lives during perioperative treatment. Therefore, this study aims to recommend a simple, sustained and sufficient perioperative calcium regulation scheme, and analysis of preoperative related indicators, the patient's condition for a preliminary assessment, thus guiding the postoperative calcium regulation, to avoid the occurrence of serious complications.Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of 136 patients with chronic renal failure in uremic stage, who received dialysis treatment for a long time and finally diagnosed as SHPT, from Jan 2017 to Dec 2019, were accepted different operations to treat hyperparathyroidism, were given corresponding calcium regulation therapy to avoid serious complications, and were divided into the observation group and the control group according to the mean time of postoperative calcium regulation time.Results: According to the median time of adjusting the pump calcium(7.67 + 2.823)d, the patients were divided into two groups: the observation group (≤7d) and the control group (> 7d). Compared with the control group, the observation group were elder (54.01±9.215, P<0.01), shorter preoperative dialysis time (5.05±2.855, P<0.01), significant difference in operation mode (P=0.026), positive preoperative oral calcium(c2=9.941, P=0.002), higher preoperative calcium value (t=4.795, P<0.001), lower preoperative Parathyroid Hormone(PTH) value (t=6.327, P<0.001), lower preoperative Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) value (t=3.527, P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age, preoperative calcium value, preoperative PTH value and preoperative ALP value were independent risk factors for postoperative calcium regulation therapy. Those factors, Gender, preoperative dialysis mode, complications, preoperative Hemoglobin(HB) value, were not related to postoperative calcium regulation. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: The simple, sustained and sufficient calcium regulation scheme can maintain a stable level of blood calcium in SHPT, and be able to avoid the occurrence of severe hypocalcemia and increase the curate. Especially for the younger, the lower preoperative serum calcium, the higher blood PTH and ALP, should lengthen the calcium pump time appropriately, until the right time and stop the medicine. This is more safe.

A simple, sustained and sufficient calcium regulation scheme during perioperative period for the secondary hyperparathyroidism

Background: Patients of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) with chronic renal failure treated by long-term dialysis have received surgical treatment. The severe complications, especially convulsions caused by severe hypocalcemia, would endanger lives during perioperative treatment. Therefore, this study aims to explore a simple, sustained and sufficient calcium regulation scheme during perioperative period, which could stabilize blood calcium concentration and correct calcium deficiency, greatly reduce the occurrence of the complications.Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of 136 patients with chronic renal failure in uremic stage from Jinzhou Central Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, who received dialysis treatment for a long time and finally diagnosed as secondary hyperparathyroidism, from Jan 2017 to Dec 2019, were accepted different operations to treat hyperparathyroidism, were given corresponding calcium regulation therapy to avoid serious complications were, and were divided into the observation group and the control group according to the postoperative calcium regulation time of ≤7 days and > 7 days, which is defined by the mean time of postoperative calcium regulation, and by the time from the day of operation until the day when the patients have stable blood calcium levels and no obvious discomfort symptoms.Results: Compared with the control group, the observation group were elder (54.01±9.215, P<0.01), shorter preoperative dialysis time (5.05±2.855, P<0.01), significant difference in operation mode (P=0.026), positive preoperative oral calcium(c2=9.941, P=0.002), higher preoperative calcium value (t=4.795, P<0.001), lower preoperative Parathyroid Hormone(PTH) value (t=6.327, P<0.001), lower preoperative Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) value (t=3.527, P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age, preoperative calcium value, preoperative PTH value and preoperative ALP value were independent risk factors for postoperative calcium regulation therapy. Those factors, Gender, preoperative dialysis mode, complications, preoperative Hemoglobin(HB) value, were not related to postoperative calcium regulation. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: The simple, sustained and sufficient calcium regulation scheme can maintain a stable level of blood calcium in the dialytic CKD patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, so as to avoid the occurrence of severe hypocalcemia and increase the curate.