Subclinical psychosis and depression: co-occurring phenomena that do not predict each other over time

BACKGROUND

The path from subclinical psychotic experiences to clinical disorder is thought to be mediated by the persistence of subclinical psychotic experiences. One of the factors that is likely associated with this persistence is depression. Although commonly viewed as interrelated concepts, the exact relationship between subclinical psychosis and depression is not clear.

METHODS

Cross-lagged path modeling was used to explore the relationship between subclinical psychosis and depression across and over time in an adolescent population seeking assistance for non-psychotic disorders (N=138), measured at four occasions over a two-year period.

RESULTS

Subclinical psychosis and depression were related to each other at every cross-sectional measurement, but did not predict each other over time. Subclinical psychotic experiences and depressive symptom levels were highest at baseline, when participants presented to the clinical service for help. In addition, the relationship between them was also strongest at baseline and decreased significantly over time.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that psychosis and depression are interrelated phenomena that strongly co-occur in time, but longitudinally, one does not predict change in the other. Both psychopathological dimensions should be addressed when treatment is provided to adolescent help-seekers.

Clinical relevance and functional implications for human leucocyte antigen-g expression in non-small-cell lung cancer

HLA-G has been documented both in establishment of anti-tumour immune responses and in tumour evasion. To investigate the clinical relevance of HLA-G in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), expression status and potential significance of HLA-G in NSCLC were analysed. In this study, HLA-G expression in 101 NSCLC primary lesions and plasma soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) from 91 patients were analysed with immunohistochemistry and ELISA, respectively. Correlations between HLA-G status and various clinical parameters including survival time were evaluated. Meanwhile, functional analysis of transfected cell surface HLA-G expression and plasma sHLA-G form NSCLC patients on natural killer (NK) cell cytolysis were performed. Data revealed that HLA-G was expressed in 41.6% (42/101) NSCLC primary lesions, while undetectable in adjacent normal lung tissues. HLA-G expression in NSCLC lesions was strongly correlated to disease stages (P= 0.002). Plasma sHLA-G from NSCLC patients was markedly higher than that in normal controls (P= 0.004), which was significantly associated with the disease stages (I versus IV, P= 0.025; II versus IV, P= 0.029). Patient plasma sHLA-G level (≥median, 32.0 U/ml) had a significantly shorter survival time (P= 0.044); however, no similar significance was observed for the lesion HLA-G expression. In vitro data showed that both cell surface HLA-G and patient plasma sHLA-G could dramatically decrease the NK cell cytolysis. Our findings indicated that both lesion HLA-G expression and plasma sHLA-G in NSCLC is related to the disease stage and can exert immunosuppression to the NK cell cytolysis, indicating that HLA-G could be a potential therapeutic target. Moreover, plasma sHLA-G in NSCLC patients could be used as a prognosis factor for NSCLC.

VNTR polymorphism of human IL1RN in Chinese Han and She ethnic populations

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is an important anti-inflammatory molecule encoded by the IL1RN gene. The polymorphism of IL1RN characterized by variable numbers of an 86 bp tandem repeat (VNTR) sequence in intron 2 has been described. Moreover, frequencies of the IL1RN alleles vary among different ethnics. In the present study, we analysed the IL1RN polymorphism in intron 2 in 256 Chinese Han and 252 Chinese She individuals. Four alleles including IL1RN*1, *2, *3 and IL1RN*4 were identified in this study. Data revealed that the distribution of the IL-1RN genotypes and allele was significantly different between the two Chinese populations (P < 0.001). Among them, 66.8% (171/256) and 86.5% (218/252) were homozygous for the allele IL-1RN*1 in Chinese Han and She individuals respectively. Homozygosity for allele IL-1RN*2 was only observed in Chinese Han with the percentage of 0.8% (2/256). Heterozygosity for IL-1RN*1/2, IL1RN*1/3 and IL1RN*1/4 was 30.9% (79/256), 0.4% (1/256) and 1.2% (3/256) in Chinese Han, whereas only heterozygosity for IL-1RN*1/2 was found in Chinese She (13.5%, 34/252). Frequencies of the most common allele IL-1RN*1 and IL-1RN*2 were 83.0% and 16.2% for Chinese Han and 93.3% and 6.7% for Chinese She respectively. The rare allele IL-1RN*3 and IL-1RN*4 was only observed in the Chinese Han population with the frequency of 0.2% and 0.6% respectively. Our findings suggested that the ethnic background plays an important role in IL-1Ra gene variation in different populations.

Aberrant human leucocyte antigen-G expression and its clinical relevance in hepatocellular carcinoma

The clinical relevance of human leucocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) has been postulated in malignancies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major contributor to cancer incidence and mortality worldwide; however, potential roles of HLA-G in HCC remain unknown. In the current study, HLA-G expression in 219 primary HCC lesions and their adjacent non-tumourous samples was analysed with immunohistochemistry. Correlations among HLA-G expression and various clinical parameters were evaluated. Meanwhile, functional analysis of transfected cell surface HLA-G expression on NK cell cytolysis was performed in vitro. HLA-G expression was observed in 50.2% (110/219) of primary HCC lesions, and undetectable in corresponding adjacent normal liver tissues. HLA-G expression was found in 37.8%, 41.9% and 71.4% of stage I, II and III HCC lesions, respectively. Data revealed that HLA-G expression in HCC was strongly correlated to advanced disease stage (I versus II, P= 0.882; I versus III, P= 0.020; II versus III, P= 0.037). HLA-G expression was also more frequently observed in elder patients (≥median 52 years, 57.5%versus 43.4%, P= 0.004). Meanwhile, plasma soluble HLA-G in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls (median, 92.49U/ml versus 9.29U/ml, P= 0.000). Functional assay showed that HLA-G expression in transfected cells could dramatically decrease the NK cell cytolysis (P= 0.036), which could be markedly restored by the blockade of HLA-G (P= 0.004) and its receptor ILT2 (P= 0.019). Our finding indicated that HLA-G expression was strongly correlated to advanced disease stage, and more frequently observed in elder patients. Its relevance to HCC progression might be result from the inhibition of NK cell cytolysis.

Acrylamide in Asian foods in Hong Kong

About 400 food samples, mainly Asian foods available in Hong Kong, were tested for acrylamide by an LC-MS/MS method using [1, 2, 3-(13)C(3)]-acrylamide as surrogate. The acrylamide levels in the more commonly consumed food items in the food groups such as rice and rice products, noodles, bakery and batter-based products, were generally less than 60 microg kg(-1). Higher levels were found in the food groups such as biscuit-related products and crisps. The highest levels were detected in potato crisps (1500-1700 microg kg(-1)). Lower levels were found in rye flour-based crisps (440 microg kg(-1)), followed by corn-based (65 to 230 microg kg(-1)) and wheat flour-based crisps (61-200 microg kg(-1)), and then rice flour-based crisps (15-42 microg kg(-1)). The acrylamide formation during deep frying of a wheat flour-based product, Chinese fried fritter, was studied. Deep-frying at 170 degrees C resulted in gentle but steady rise in acrylamide content. A steep rise for frying at 210 degrees C was recorded. The moisture content of the product decreased with frying time, but the fat content increased. It is proposed that the reaction for the formation of acrylamide was initiated on the surface and then penetrated into the interior of the food matrix by heat transfer via radiation/conduction and diffusion of hot oil.

A pilot trial of non-invasive home ventilation after acidotic respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who survive an episode of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) after treatment with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) have a high risk of recurrent AHRF. We hypothesised that continuation of NIV at home in these patients would reduce the likelihood of recurrent AHRF.

METHODS

A pilot prospective randomised controlled study was designed to compare continuation of active home NIV and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) 5 cm H(2)O (controls) in COPD patients who had survived an episode of AHRF treated with acute NIV. Patients with significant obstructive sleep apnoea, non-COPD causes of AHRF, adverse psychosocial circumstances and serious comorbidities were excluded. The primary end-point was recurrent AHRF requiring acute NIV, intubation or resulting in death in the first year.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients were randomised to receive home NIV and 24 received CPAP. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the two study groups. The proportion of patients developing recurrent AHRF in the NIV and the CPAP groups was 38.5% vs. 60.2% at 1 year (P = 0.039). Four and eight patients, respectively, were withdrawn from the CPAP and NIV groups before the end of the pre-defined study duration.

CONCLUSIONS

In selected COPD patients with AHRF treated with acute NIV, continuation with home NIV is associated with a lower risk of recurrent severe COPD exacerbation with AHRF when compared with CPAP.

Sensitive and rapid detection of Clonorchis sinensis infection in fish by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)

The fish-borne clonorchiasis caused by the oriental liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis is endemic in a number of countries with over 35 million people being infected globally. Rapid and accurate detection of C. sinensis in its intermediate host fish is important for the control and prevention of clonorchiasis in areas where the disease is endemic. In the present study, we established a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) approach for the sensitive and rapid detection of C. sinensis metacercariae in fish. The specificity and sensitivity of primers designed from the C. sinensis cathepsins B3 gene were evaluated, and specific amplification products were obtained with C. sinensis, while no amplification products were detected with DNA of related trematodes, demonstrating the specificity of the assay. The LAMP assay was proved to be 100 times more sensitive than a conventional polymerase chain reaction for detection of C. sinensis. The established LAMP assay provides a useful tool for the rapid and sensitive detection of C. sinensis in fish, which has important implications for the effective control of human clonorchiasis.