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Tsapakis EM, Mitkani CA, Fountoulakis KN. Neurological soft signs and schizophrenia. CNS Spectr 2023; 28:657-661. [PMID: 36924179 DOI: 10.1017/s1092852923001189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Neurological soft signs (NSS) are likely to represent abnormal neurodevelopment and aberration in neural maturation and connectivity. They may not be unique to schizophrenia, but they appear to be a trait characteristic in psychosis and therefore could serve as an objective measure for the assessment of serious psychiatric disorder in the prodromal phase, at onset, and along the course of the disease. Evidence so far proposes that NSS are independent of antipsychotic treatment and therefore constitute a trait symptom, independent of the illness stage and medication. Somatomotor and somatosensory regions, spatial orientation, and visual processing areas, cerebellum, and basal ganglia are implicated as possible structural substrates of NSS. Several studies have examined the relationship between NSS and schizophrenia positive, negative symptoms and deficit syndrome; however, results have been so far ambiguous. Neurocognitive symptoms have been moderately related to NSS suggesting that neurocognitive deficits may contribute to the construct of NSS. Regardless of the fact that NSS are not unique to schizophrenia but extend across to the schizotypy continuum, they may help identify individuals at risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Tsapakis
- Agios Charalampos Mental Health Clinic, Heraklion, Greece
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Calypso A Mitkani
- Department of Neurology, Agios Pavlos General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Kalamaria, Greece
| | - Konstantinos N Fountoulakis
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Nathani YL, Faye A, Kirpekar V, Gawande S, Tadke R, Bhave S, Ingole N, Bandre GR. A Study of Neurological Soft Signs and Cognition in Schizophrenia. Cureus 2023; 15:e50925. [PMID: 38249218 PMCID: PMC10800004 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neurological soft signs (NSS) are delicate neurological abnormalities that comprise deficits in motor coordination, problems with the sequencing of complex motor acts, and sensory integration difficulties. These are nonspecific with no specific localization in the brain. NSS are found in many patients with Schizophrenia. Cognitive dysfunctions are also present in more than two-thirds of patients with Schizophrenia. This study aims at assessing the NSS and its association with cognitive impairment in patients with Schizophrenia. METHODS A total of 100 Schizophrenia patients were included in the study. The Heidelberg scale was used for assessing the NSS. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) for cognitive impairment, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for Schizophrenia, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were used to assess the severity. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson's Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon rank tests and Spearman rank correlation along with mean and standard deviation. RESULTS NSS were present in 68% (N=68) of the patients with motor coordination being maximally affected. Cognitive impairment was found in 73% (N=73) of patients with a MoCA score <26. Patients with predominant negative symptoms had higher NSS scores and lower MoCA scores. A "statistically significant" correlation was observed between cognitive impairment and NSS. Most patients with NSS and impaired cognition were in the "markedly ill" category of BPRS. CONCLUSION A significant association was observed between cognitive deficits, negative symptoms, and NSS in Schizophrenia. NSS and cognitive dysfunctions are integral parts of Schizophrenia symptom domains and need to be assessed as the negative symptoms and severity of illness are associated with NSS, especially problems with motor coordination and cognitive dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashika L Nathani
- Psychiatry, Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society Medical College, Vadodara, IND
| | - Abhijeet Faye
- Psychiatry, Datta Meghe Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Nagpur, IND
| | - Vivek Kirpekar
- Psychiatry, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND
| | - Sushil Gawande
- Psychiatry, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND
| | - Rahul Tadke
- Psychiatry, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND
| | - Sudhir Bhave
- Psychiatry, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND
| | - Nishikant Ingole
- Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Gulshan R Bandre
- Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
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Gray LE, Buchanan RW, Keshavan MS, Torous J. Potential Role of Smartphone Technology in Advancing Work on Neurological Soft Signs with a Focus on Schizophrenia. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2023; 31:226-233. [PMID: 37699066 DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
LEARNING OBJECTIVE AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THIS CME ACTIVITY, THE PSYCHIATRIST SHOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO • Outline and Identify potential benefits of using neurological soft signs (NSS) as biomarkers of schizophrenia. ABSTRACT Since the late 1960s, NSS have been a focus of study across psychiatric illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia in particular. Utilizing these subtle neurological impairments as biomarkers of illness has numerous benefits; NSS offer a direct connection between clinical presentation and neurological functioning, and assessments are cost-effective. However, incongruent measurement scales, confounding variables, and rating system subjectivity have hindered the advancement and scalability of NSS research and clinical implementation. This article provides a brief overview of the literature on NSS as related to schizophrenia, and proposes utilizing smartphone sensing technology to create standardized NSS assessments with objective scoring. Incorporating digital phenotyping into NSS assessment offers the potential to make measurement more scalable, accessible, and directly comparable across locations, cultures, and demographics. We conducted a narrative search in PubMed and APA PsycInfo using the following keywords: neurological soft signs, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and psychotic illnesses. No date limitations were used. There is no other direct work on NSS and new smartphone methods like digital phenotyping; though, there is related work in neurology. Harnessing advances in smartphone technology could provide greater insight into and further our understanding of specific aspects of the NSS field. For instance, it could help us distinguish trait vs. state markers and better understand how distinct groups of signs may reflect different aspects of psychiatric illness and neurological impairment. In addition, such technology can help advance research on the capabilities of NSS as an effective diagnostic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy E Gray
- From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Ms. Gray, and Drs. Keshavan and Torous); Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Dr. Buchanan); Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston, MA (Drs. Keshavan and Torous)
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Samson GD, Lahti AC, Kraguljac NV. The neural substrates of neurological soft signs in schizophrenia: a systematic review. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 8:42. [PMID: 35853869 PMCID: PMC9261110 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00245-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Neurological soft signs (NSS) are common in patients with schizophrenia. However, the neural substrates of NSS remain poorly understood. Using legacy PubMed, we performed a systematic review and included studies that assessed NSS and obtained neuroimaging data in patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder published up to June 2020. We systematically reviewed 35 relevant articles. Studies consistently implicate the basal ganglia and cerebellum as structural substrates of NSS and suggest that somatomotor and somatosensory regions as well as areas involved in visual processing and spatial orientation may underlie NSS in psychosis spectrum disorders. Additionally, dysfunction of frontoparietal and cerebellar networks has been implicated in the pathophysiology of NSS. The current literature outlines several structural and functional brain signatures that are relevant for NSS in schizophrenia spectrum disorder. The majority of studies assessed gray matter structure, but only a few studies leveraged other imaging methods such as diffusion weighted imaging, or molecular imaging. Due to this, it remains unclear if white matter integrity deficits or neurometabolic alterations contribute to NSS in the illness. While a substantial portion of the literature has been conducted in patients in the early illness stages, mitigating confounds of illness chronicity, few studies have been conducted in antipsychotic medication-naïve patients, which is a clear limitation. Furthermore, only little is known about the temporal evolution of NSS and associated brain signatures. Future studies addressing these pivotal gaps in our mechanistic understanding of NSS will be important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genelle D Samson
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Adrienne C Lahti
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Nina V Kraguljac
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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Maes M, Kanchanatawan B. In (deficit) schizophrenia, a general cognitive decline partly mediates the effects of neuro-immune and neuro-oxidative toxicity on the symptomatome and quality of life. CNS Spectr 2021:1-10. [PMID: 33843548 DOI: 10.1017/s1092852921000419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia and deficit schizophrenia are accompanied by neurocognitive impairments. The aim of this study was to examine whether a general factor underpins impairments in key Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) probes, verbal fluency test (VFT), world list memory (WLM), True Recall, and mini mental state examination (MMSE). METHODS We recruited 80 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy controls. All patients were assessed using CANTAB tests, namely paired-association learning, rapid visual information processing, spatial working memory, one touch stockings of Cambridge, intra/extradimensional set-shifting (IED), and emotional recognition test. RESULTS We found that a general factor, which is essentially unidimensional, underlies those CANTAB, VFT, WLM, True Recall, and MMSE scores. This common factor shows excellent psychometric properties and fits a reflective model and, therefore, reflects a general cognitive decline (G-CoDe) comprising deficits in semantic and episodic memory, recall, executive functions, strategy use, rule acquisition, visual sustained attention, attentional set-shifting, and emotional recognition. Partial least squares analysis showed that 40.5% of the variance in G-CoDe is explained by C-C motif ligand 11, IgA to tryptophan catabolites, and increased oxidative toxicity, and that G-CoDe explains 44.8% of the variance in a general factor extracted from psychosis, hostility, excitation, mannerism, negative symptoms, formal thought disorders, and psychomotor retardation, and 40.9% in quality-of-life scores. The G-CoDe is significantly greater in deficit than in nondeficit schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS A common core shared by a multitude of neurocognitive impairments (G-CoDe) mediates the effects of neurotoxic pathways on the phenome of (deficit) schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- IMPACT Strategic Research Center, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Buranee Kanchanatawan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Hall MH, Holton KM, Öngür D, Montrose D, Keshavan MS. Longitudinal trajectory of early functional recovery in patients with first episode psychosis. Schizophr Res 2019; 209:234-244. [PMID: 30826261 PMCID: PMC7003957 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a large variability in the recovery trajectory and outcome of first episode of psychosis [FEP] patients. To date, individuals' outcome trajectories at early stage of illness and potential risk factors associated with a poor outcome trajectory are largely unknown. This study aims to apply three separate predictors (positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and soft neurological signs) to identify homogeneous function outcome trajectories in patients with FEP using objective data-driven methods, and to explore the potential risk /protective factors associated with each trajectory. METHODS A total of 369 first episode patients (93% antipsychotic naive) were included in the baseline assessments and followed-up at 4-8 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. K means cluster modeling for longitudinal data (kml3d) was used to identify distinct, homogeneous clusters of functional outcome trajectories. Patients with at least 3 assessments were included in the trajectory analyses (N = 129). The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), and Neurological examination abnormalities (NEA) were used as predictors against Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). RESULTS In each of the three predictor models, four distinct functional outcome trajectories emerged: "Poor", "Intermediate", High" and "Catch-up". Individuals with male gender; ethnic minority status; low premorbid adjustment; low executive function/IQ, low SES, personality disorder, substance use history may be risk factors for poor recovery. CONCLUSIONS Functioning recovery in individuals with FEP is heterogeneous, although distinct recovery profiles are apparent. Data-driven trajectory analysis can facilitate better characterization of individual longitudinal patterns of functioning recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Hua Hall
- Psychotic Disorders Division, McLean Hospital HMS, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | | - Dost Öngür
- Psychotic Disorders Division, McLean Hospital HMS, Boston, MA
| | - Debra Montrose
- Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Matcheri S. Keshavan
- Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA,,Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts Mental Health Center, HMS, Boston, MA
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Herold CJ, Duval CZ, Lässer MM, Schröder J. Neurological soft signs (NSS) and cognitive impairment in chronic schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH-COGNITION 2018; 16:17-24. [PMID: 30671351 PMCID: PMC6305804 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies indicate that neurological soft signs (NSS) in schizophrenia are associated with generalized cognitive impairments rather than changes in specific neuropsychological domains. However, the majority of studies solely included first-episode patients or patients with a remitting course and did not consider age, course, education or severity of global cognitive deficits as potential confounding variables. Therefore, we examined NSS with respect to cognitive deficits in chronic schizophrenia, i.e. patients who are particularly vulnerable to both, NSS and cognitive impairments. Eighty patients with chronic schizophrenia (43.36 ± 15a) and 60 healthy controls (47.52 ± 14.8a) matched for age, sex and years of education were examined on the Heidelberg NSS scale and a broad neuropsychological battery including short term, working, logical and autobiographic memory (AM), theory of mind (ToM), psychomotor speed and cognitive flexibility. When contrasted with the controls, patients showed significantly higher NSS scores and impairments in all neuropsychological domains but short-term memory. NSS were significantly associated with all neuropsychological domains considered but short-term memory and semantic AM. Except for episodic AM (which was significantly correlated with NSS in patients only) these correlations applied to both groups and were confirmed when age, years of education and severity of global cognitive deficits (Mini Mental State Examination) were controlled for. Results demonstrate that NSS reflect a rather wide range of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia, which also involves episodic AM and ToM. These associations were not accounted for by age, education or severity of global cognitive deficits and facilitate the clinical usage of NSS as a screening instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina J Herold
- Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of General Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Céline Z Duval
- Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of General Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marc M Lässer
- Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of General Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Schröder
- Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of General Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Ojagbemi A, Chiliza B, Bello T, Asmal L, Esan O, Emsley R, Gureje O. The expression of neurological soft signs in two African populations with first-episode schizophrenia. Transcult Psychiatry 2018; 55:669-688. [PMID: 30044188 DOI: 10.1177/1363461518786167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Information about patterns of expression of neurological soft signs (NSS) in schizophrenia among individuals belonging to the same genetic ancestry may provide new insight for the understanding of the disease's genetic functions. This study aimed to investigate whether patterns of NSS expression in first episode schizophrenia are comparable in populations with dissimilar genetic ancestry. A sample of 207 patients with first episode schizophrenia were examined using the Neurological Evaluation Scale before they were exposed to anti-psychotics. They were allocated to two African ancestry groups: Black (81 Yoruba Nigerians, and 18 Xhosa South Africans), and non-Black (98 Coloured, and 10 White South Africans). Assessments were carried out using validated measures of clinical characteristics of schizophrenia. We determined the frequency, severity, factor structure, and association of NSS with clinical characteristics. Factor derived categories were compared using the Pearson's ( r) and Tucker's congruence methods. The associations between factor derived categories and clinical characteristics of schizophrenia were determined using Pearson's correlations and multiple regression analyses. Neurological soft signs were more frequent and more severe in the Black African ancestry group. Also, the factor structure and presentation of NSS in the two ancestry groups were significantly different. Neurological soft signs, especially motor sequencing and cognitive-perceptual abnormalities, were independently associated with disorganization psychopathologies in all the participant groups. Differences in the profile of NSS in Black compared with non-Black African ancestry patients with first episode schizophrenia may suggest differing patterns of expression of NSS in schizophrenia according to genetic ancestry.
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Abtahi A, Samaei NM, Gholipour N, Moradi N. No association between the SNP rs1625579 in miR-137 gene and schizophrenia in Iranian population. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmhg.2017.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
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Changes in Tryptophan Catabolite (TRYCAT) Pathway Patterning Are Associated with Mild Impairments in Declarative Memory in Schizophrenia and Deficits in Semantic and Episodic Memory Coupled with Increased False-Memory Creation in Deficit Schizophrenia. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:5184-5201. [PMID: 28875464 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0751-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Evidence indicates that schizophrenia and in particular negative symptoms and deficit schizophrenia are accompanied by neurocognitive impairments and changes in the patterning of the tryptophan catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway. This cross-sectional study was carried out to examine the associations between cognitive functions (as measured with Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD)) and TRYCAT pathway patterning in patients with (n = 40) and without (n = 40) deficit schizophrenia and normal controls (n = 40). Cognitive measures were assessed with the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Boston Naming Test (BNT), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Word List Memory (WLM), Constructional Praxis, Word List Recall (WLRecall), and Word List Recognition (WLRecognition), while TRYCAT measurements assessed the IgA/IgM responses to noxious TRYCATs, namely quinolinic acid (QA), 3-OH-kynurenine (3HK), picolinic acid (PA), and xanthurenic (XA) acid, and more protective (PRO) TRYCATs, including kynurenic acid (KA) and anthranilic acid (AA). IgA NOX/PRO, IgM KA/3HK, and IgA/IgM NOX/PRO ratios were computed. Schizophrenia was accompanied by lower VFT and WLM, while BNT (dysnomia) and MMSE are significantly lower in multiple- than first-episode schizophrenia. Deficit schizophrenia is strongly associated with worse outcomes on VFT, MMSE, WLM, WLRecall, WLRecognition, and delayed recall savings and increased false memories. Around 40-50% of the variance in negative symptoms' scores was explained by VFT, WLM, WLRecall, and MMSE. Increases in IgA NOX/PRO, IgM KA/3HK, and/or IgA/IgM NOX/PRO ratios were associated with impairments in VFT, BNT, MMSE, WLM, WLRecall, WLRecognition, and false-memory creation. In conclusion, nondeficit schizophrenia is accompanied by mild memory impairments, while disease progression is accompanied by broader cognitive impairments. Deficit schizophrenia and negative symptoms are strongly associated with deficits in working memory, delayed recall and recognition, and increased false-memory creation. These cognitive impairments and memory deficits are in part explained by increased production and/or attenuated regulation of TRYCATs with neurotoxic, excitotoxic, immune-inflammatory, oxidative, and nitrosative potential, which may contribute to neuroprogression.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The time required in completing the 26 items of neurological examinations in the standard Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES) may limit its utility in pragmatic clinical situations. We propose the Short Neurological Evaluation Scale (S-NES) for use in busy clinical settings, and in research. METHODS Using confirmatory factor analyses, we identified 12 items of neurological examination showing significant overlap with previously reported theoretical and empirical categories of neurological soft signs (NSS) in schizophrenia. This provided justification for the development of a shorter version of the NES based on the empirically identified NSS. In the present study, we relied on existing data to present an initial validation of the S-NES against the referent standard 26-item NES. We determined sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios. Posterior-test probability was estimated using a Bayesian nomogram plot. RESULTS Using data derived from 84 unmedicated or minimally treated patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 12 empirically determined items of neurological examinations showed high agreement with the 26 items in the standard NES battery (sensitivity=96.3%, specificity=100%, and posterior-test probability=100%). CONCLUSIONS Within limitations of validity estimates derived from existing data, the present results suggest that the design of the S-NES based on empirically identified 12 items of neurological examination is a logical step. If successful, the S-NES will be useful for rapid screening of NSS in busy clinical settings, and also in research.
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Psychiatric symptoms mediate the effects of neurological soft signs on functional outcomes in patients with chronic schizophrenia: A longitudinal path-analytic study. Psychiatry Res 2017; 249:152-158. [PMID: 28095336 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurological soft signs (NSS) in motor coordination and sequencing occur in schizophrenia patients and are an intrinsic sign of the underlying neural dysfunctions. The present longitudinal study explored the relationships among NSS, psychiatric symptoms, and functional outcomes in 151 Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia across a 6-month period. The participants completed neurological assessments at baseline (Time 1), psychiatric interviews at Time 1 and 3-month follow-up (Time 2), and self-report measures on daily functioning at 6-month follow-up (Time 3). Two possible (combined and cascading) path models were examined on predicting the functional outcomes. Direct and indirect effects of Time 1 NSS on Time 3 functional outcomes via Time 2 psychiatric symptoms were evaluated using path analysis under bootstrapping. Motor coordination and sequencing NSS did not have significant direct effects on functional outcomes. Motor coordination NSS exerted significant and negative indirect effects on functional outcomes via psychiatric symptoms. These results contribute to a better understanding of the determinants of functional outcomes by showing significant indirect pathways from motor coordination NSS to functional outcomes via psychiatric symptoms. That motor sequencing NSS did not affect functional outcomes either directly or indirectly may be explained by their trait marking features.
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de Leede-Smith S, Roodenrys S, Horsley L, Matrini S, Mison E, Barkus E. Neurological soft signs: Effects of trait schizotypy, psychological distress and auditory hallucination predisposition. SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH-COGNITION 2016; 7:1-7. [PMID: 28740822 PMCID: PMC5514310 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Schizotypy is regarded as a trait vulnerability for psychotic disorders, yet alone is insufficient for development of a diagnosable disorder. Additional symptoms and psychological distress are necessary for help seeking and transition from an at risk mental state to a clinical diagnosis. The present study investigated the interaction between trait schizotypy, state auditory verbal hallucination (AVH) predisposition, distress and handedness for the expression of neurological soft signs (NSS), a neurodevelopmental vulnerability factor for psychosis. Cluster analysis formed schizotypy groups statistically across the dimensions captured by the SPQ. It was hypothesized that schizotypy and AVH predisposition would interact, resulting in significantly greater NSS. Psychological distress and handedness were hypothesized to be significant covariates, accounting for some variance in the expression of NSS between the groups. A sample of University students (n = 327) completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale, General Health Questionnaire and the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES). Cluster Analysis revealed four schizotypy groups. Distress was not a significant covariate in any analysis. As expected, those with high overall schizotypy and high AVH predisposition expressed significantly greater Motor-Coordination NSS compared to those with high schizotypy and low AVH predisposition. Within the Mixed Interpersonal and Cognitive-Perceptual Schizotypy cluster, those with low AVH predisposition expressed significantly more Motor-Coordination NSS than those with high AVH predisposition. These findings suggest motor coordination NSS are detectable in schizotypy, and AVH predisposition appears to interact with these traits. This study highlights the importance of considering both trait and subclinical state risk factors when investigating risk for psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia de Leede-Smith
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Steven Roodenrys
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Lauren Horsley
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Shannen Matrini
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Erin Mison
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Emma Barkus
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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Ojagbemi A, Emsley R, Gureje O. Exploratory factor structure of the neurological evaluation scale in black africans with first episode schizophrenia. Data Brief 2016; 6:471-5. [PMID: 26900592 PMCID: PMC4716457 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2015.12.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 12/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
While the organization of neurological soft signs (NSS) in schizophrenia into Sensory integration, Motor coordination, and Motor sequencing, is functionally ‘meaningful’, it has not been confirmed by empirical methods such as factor analysis. Data on the exploratory factor analysis of the Neurological Evaluation scale in Black Africans with first episode schizophrenia are presented in this report. Data on the confirmatory factor structure of NSS in this population as well as their interpretation can be found in the work by Ojagbemi et al. (2015) [7].
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Ojagbemi
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Robin Emsley
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Heath Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
| | - Oye Gureje
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
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Chin-Lun Hung G, Hahn J, Alamiri B, Buka SL, Goldstein JM, Laird N, Nelson CA, Smoller JW, Gilman SE. Socioeconomic disadvantage and neural development from infancy through early childhood. Int J Epidemiol 2015; 44:1889-99. [PMID: 26675752 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyv303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early social experiences are believed to shape neurodevelopment, with potentially lifelong consequences. Yet minimal evidence exists regarding the role of the social environment on children's neural functioning, a core domain of neurodevelopment. METHODS We analysed data from 36 443 participants in the United States Collaborative Perinatal Project, a socioeconomically diverse pregnancy cohort conducted between 1959 and 1974. Study outcomes included: physician (neurologist or paediatrician)-rated neurological abnormality neonatally and thereafter at 4 months and 1 and 7 years; indicators of neurological hard signs and soft signs; and indicators of autonomic nervous system function. RESULTS Children born to socioeconomically disadvantaged parents were more likely to exhibit neurological abnormalities at 4 months [odds ratio (OR) = 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06, 1.37], 1 year (OR = 1.35; CI = 1.17, 1.56), and 7 years (OR = 1.67; CI = 1.48, 1.89), and more likely to exhibit neurological hard signs (OR = 1.39; CI = 1.10, 1.76), soft signs (OR = 1.26; CI = 1.09, 1.45) and autonomic nervous system dysfunctions at 7 years. Pregnancy and delivery complications, themselves associated with socioeconomic disadvantage, did not account for the higher risks of neurological abnormalities among disadvantaged children. CONCLUSIONS Parental socioeconomic disadvantage was, independently from pregnancy and delivery complications, associated with abnormal child neural development during the first 7 years of life. These findings reinforce the importance of the early environment for neurodevelopment generally, and expand knowledge regarding the domains of neurodevelopment affected by environmental conditions. Further work is needed to determine the mechanisms linking socioeconomic disadvantage with children's neural functioning, the timing of such mechanisms and their potential reversibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galen Chin-Lun Hung
- Department of General Psychiatry, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jill Hahn
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bibi Alamiri
- Section of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen L Buka
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jill M Goldstein
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nan Laird
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jordan W Smoller
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit Department of Psychiatry Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen E Gilman
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA Department of Psychiatry Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Rockville, MD, USA
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16
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Yu M, Tang X, Wang X, Zhang X, Zhang X, Sha W, Yao S, Shu N, Zhang X, Zhang Z. Neurocognitive Impairments in Deficit and Non-Deficit Schizophrenia and Their Relationships with Symptom Dimensions and Other Clinical Variables. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138357. [PMID: 26381645 PMCID: PMC4575183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Deficit schizophrenia (DS) has been proposed as a pathophysiologically distinct subgroup within schizophrenia. Earlier studies focusing on neurocognitive function of DS patients have yielded inconsistent findings ranging from substantial deficits to no significant difference relative to non-deficit schizophrenia patients (NDS). The present study investigated the severity and characteristic patterns of neurocognitive impairments in DS and NDS patients and their relationships with clinical variables. Methods Attention, ideation fluency, cognitive flexibility and visuospatial memory function were assessed in 40 DS patients, 57 NDS patients, and 52 healthy controls by a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Results Both schizophrenia subgroups had overall more severe cognitive impairments than controls while DS performed worse on every neuropsychological measure except the Stroop interference than the NDS patients with age and education as the covariates. Profile analysis found significantly different patterns of cognitive profiles between two patients group mainly due to their differences in attention and cognitive flexibility functions. Age, education, illness duration and negative symptoms were found to have the correlations with cognitive impairments in the NDS group, while only age and the negative symptoms were correlated with the cognitive impairments in the DS group. Multiple regression analyses revealed that sustained attention and cognitive flexibility were the core impaired cognitive domains mediating other cognitive functions in DS and NDS patients respectively. Conclusions DS patients exemplified worse in almost all cognitive domains than NDS patients. Sustained attention and cognitive flexibility might be the key impaired cognitive domains for DS and NDS patients respectively. The present study suggested the DS as a specific subgroup of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Yu
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - XiaoWei Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wutaishan Hospital of Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Medical Psychological Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - XiangRong Zhang
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- * E-mail: (XRZ); (ZJZ)
| | - XiaoBin Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wutaishan Hospital of Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - WeiWei Sha
- Department of Psychiatry, Wutaishan Hospital of Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - ShuQiao Yao
- Medical Psychological Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ni Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - XiangYang Zhang
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - ZhiJun Zhang
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- * E-mail: (XRZ); (ZJZ)
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17
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The confirmatory factor structure of neurological soft signs in Nigerians with first episode schizophrenia. Neurosci Lett 2015; 589:110-4. [PMID: 25603475 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Revised: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We describe empirically derived categories of NSS in first episode schizophrenia among indigenous Africans. A total of 84 Nigerian patients with the disease were assessed using the neurological evaluation scale. An exploratory factor analysis with orthogonal varimax rotation was first conducted and the factors derived based on a priori criteria were subjected to confirmatory analyses using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0. We tested four different competing models to identify the structure with the best fit to the data. The relationship of the derived NSS structure with the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia was then explored using the Pearson correlation method. The overall clinical status was assessed using the positive and negative syndrome scale and clinical global impression. Additional assessments included the pre-morbid adjustment scale and calgary depression scale for schizophrenia. A three factor structure in which stereognosis is prescribed to load into a 'perceptual and motor sequencing' category (audio-visual integration, fist-edge palm, rhythm tapping, extinction, right-left confusion) provided the best fit to the data (chi-square goodness of fit test=1.25; comparative fit index=0.95; root square means error of approximation <0.05). The other two factors were: 'eye movement' (synkinesis, convergence, gaze impersistence) and 'motor co-ordination and graphaesthesia' (Tandem walk, adventitious flow, graphaesthesia). The signs were associated with severe negative (r=0.456, p<0.001), and disorganization (r=0.559, p<0.001) psychopathologies. NSS in this sample are heterogeneous, but aggregates into three correlated categories with significant overlap with previously described classifications.
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18
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Correlation of neurological soft signs and neurocognitive performance in first episode psychosis. Psychiatry Res 2014; 220:81-8. [PMID: 25110310 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2013] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Neurological soft signs and neurocognitive impairments are commonly observed in first episode psychosis but the correlation of these factors remains controversial. Here, we evaluated 30 patients with remitted first episode psychosis and 30 healthy controls for the presence and severity of neurological soft signs (using the Neurological Evaluation Scale--NES) and for neurocognitive impairments (using seven subtests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery--CANTAB). NES score was higher in patients compared to controls. Neurocognitive impairment was evident in patients in the following domains: working memory, spatial recognition memory, attention set shifting, planning and inhibition. The NES revealed significant correlations with spatial working memory performance and Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shifting (as a component of executive function). These correlations were observed both in patients and in controls. Planning and inhibition showed correlation with the total NES score and the sequencing of complex motor acts in both groups. In addition, spatial span and spatial recognition memory showed significant correlation with total NES score and the sequencing of complex motor acts in controls. The correlation between sequencing of complex motor acts and specific domains of neurocognitive tasks suggests that similar neuroanatomical substrates might be implicated in these processes.
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Association of a miRNA-137 polymorphism with schizophrenia in a Southern Chinese Han population. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:751267. [PMID: 25250332 PMCID: PMC4163463 DOI: 10.1155/2014/751267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Both genome wide association study (GWAS) and biochemical studies of Caucasian populations indicate a robust association between the miR-137 genetic variant rs1625579 and schizophrenia, but inconsistent results have been reported. To assay the association between this variant and schizophrenia, we genotyped 611 schizophrenic patients from Southern Chinese Han population for the risk single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1625579 using the SNaPshot technique and compared the clinical profiles of different genotypes. Additionally, a meta-analysis was performed using the combined sample groups from five case-control publications and the present study. Both the genotype and allele distributions of the rs1625579 SNP were significantly different between patients and controls (P = 0.036 and 0.026, SNP). TT genotype carriers showed slightly lower Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia- (BACS-) derived working memory performance than G carriers (15.58 ± 9.56 versus 19.71 ± 8.18, P = 0.045). In the meta-analysis, we observed a significant association between rs1625579 and schizophrenia under different genetic models (all P < 0.05). The results of our study and meta-analysis provide convincing evidence that rs1625579 is significantly associated with schizophrenia. Furthermore, the miR-137 polymorphism influences the working memory performance of schizophrenic patients in a Chinese Han population.
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20
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Yin J, Lin J, Luo X, Chen Y, Li Z, Ma G, Li K. miR-137: a new player in schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:3262-71. [PMID: 24566148 PMCID: PMC3958910 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15023262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex genetic disease and characterized by affective, cognitive, neuromorphological, and molecular abnormalities that may have a neurodevelopmental origin. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical to neurodevelopment and adult neuronal processes by modulating the activity of multiple genes within biological networks. MiR-137 as a brain-enriched microRNA, plays important roles in regulating embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) fate determination, neuronal proliferation and differentiation, and synaptic maturation. Its dysregulation causes changes in the gene expression regulation network of the nervous system, thus inducing mental disorders. Recently, miR-137 has been confirmed as a gene related to schizophrenia susceptibility. In the following review, we summarize the expression pattern, epigenetic regulation and functions of miR-137. A more complete picture of the miR-137, which is dysregulated in psychiatric illness, may improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Yin
- Institute of Neurology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
| | - Juda Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
| | - Xudong Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Institute of Neurology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
| | - Zheng Li
- Unit on Synapse Development and Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Guoda Ma
- Institute of Neurology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
| | - Keshen Li
- Institute of Neurology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
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21
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Wright C, Turner JA, Calhoun VD, Perrone-Bizzozero N. Potential Impact of miR-137 and Its Targets in Schizophrenia. Front Genet 2013; 4:58. [PMID: 23637704 PMCID: PMC3636510 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2012] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The significant impact of microRNAs (miRNAs) on disease pathology is becoming increasingly evident. These small non-coding RNAs have the ability to post-transcriptionally silence the expression of thousands of genes. Therefore, dysregulation of even a single miRNA could confer a large polygenic effect. Schizophrenia is a genetically complex illness thought to involve multiple genes each contributing a small risk. Large genome-wide association studies identified miR-137, a miRNA shown to be involved in neuronal maturation, as one of the top risk genes. To assess the potential mechanism of impact of miR-137 in this disorder and identify its targets, we used a combination of literature searches, ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA), and freely accessible bioinformatics resources. Using TargetScan and the schizophrenia gene resource (SZGR) database, we found that in addition to CSMD1, C10orf26, CACNA1C, TCF4, and ZNF804A, five schizophrenia risk genes whose transcripts are also validated miR-137 targets, there are other schizophrenia-associated genes that may be targets of miR-137, including ERBB4, GABRA1, GRIN2A, GRM5, GSK3B, NRG2, and HTR2C. IPA analyses of all the potential targets identified several nervous system (NS) functions as the top canonical pathways including synaptic long-term potentiation, a process implicated in learning and memory mechanisms and recently shown to be altered in patients with schizophrenia. Among the subset of targets involved in NS development and function, the top scoring pathways were ephrin receptor signaling and axonal guidance, processes that are critical for proper circuitry formation and were shown to be disrupted in schizophrenia. These results suggest that miR-137 may indeed play a substantial role in the genetic etiology of schizophrenia by regulating networks involved in neural development and brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie Wright
- Department of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Center, University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jessica A. Turner
- The Mind Research NetworkAlbuquerque, NM, USA
- Psychology Department, University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Vince D. Calhoun
- The Mind Research NetworkAlbuquerque, NM, USA
- Psychology Department, University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Nora Perrone-Bizzozero
- Department of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Center, University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM, USA
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22
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Mellacqua Z, Eyeson J, Orr KD, Morgan KD, Zanelli J, Lloyd T, Morgan C, Fearon P, Hutchinson G, Doody GA, Chan RCK, Harrison G, Jones PB, Murray RM, Reichenberg A, Dazzan P. Differential relationship between neurological and cognitive dysfunction in first episode psychosis patients and in healthy individuals. Schizophr Res 2012; 142:159-64. [PMID: 23092940 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2012] [Revised: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The minor neurological and cognitive deficits consistently reported in psychoses may reflect the same underlying brain dysfunction. Still, even in healthy individuals minor neurological abnormalities are associated with worse cognitive function. Therefore, establishing which neurological and cognitive deficits are specific to psychosis is essential to inform the pathophysiology of this disorder. We evaluated a large epidemiological sample of patients with first episode psychosis (n=242) and a population-based sample of healthy individuals (n=155), as part of the AESOP study. We examined neurological soft signs using the Neurological Evaluation Scale (Buchanan and Heinrichs, 1989), and generalized and specific cognitive deficits (memory; verbal abilities; attention, concentration and mental speed; executive functions and working memory; language; visual constructual/perceptual abilities). In patients, more neurological signs across all subscales were associated with worse general cognitive function, while in controls this was only present for sensory integration and sequencing signs. Furthermore, in patients, but not in healthy individuals, more sensory integrative signs were associated with deficits in specific cognitive domains, such as memory, verbal abilities, language, visual/perceptual, executive function (p ranging <0.001-0.002); sequencing signs with language, executive function, and attention (p<0.001-0.004); and motor signs with poorer verbal abilities (p=0.001). These findings indicate the presence of specific associations between neurological and cognitive deficits in psychosis that are distinct from those of healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zefiro Mellacqua
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis Studies, London, UK
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