From periphery immunity to central domain through clinical interview as a new insight on schizophrenia

Identifying disease predictors through advanced statistical models enables the discovery of treatment targets for schizophrenia. In this study, a multifaceted clinical and laboratory analysis was conducted, incorporating magnetic resonance spectroscopy with immunology markers, psychiatric scores, and biochemical data, on a cohort of 45 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 51 healthy controls. The aim was to delineate predictive markers for diagnosing schizophrenia. A logistic regression model was used, as utilized to analyze the impact of multivariate variables on the prevalence of schizophrenia. Utilization of a stepwise algorithm yielded a final model, optimized using Akaike's information criterion and a logit link function, which incorporated eight predictors (White Blood Cells, Reactive Lymphocytes, Red Blood Cells, Glucose, Insulin, Beck Depression score, Brain Taurine, Creatine and Phosphocreatine concentration). No single factor can reliably differentiate between healthy patients and those with schizophrenia. Therefore, it is valuable to simultaneously consider the values of multiple factors and classify patients using a multivariate model.

Risk factors for weight gain in patients with first-episode psychosis

OBJECTIVES

Assessment of the association between weight gain in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and biopsychosocial and sociological factors.

METHODS

25 subjects with FEP aged 14-35 examined in week 1 (P1) and after three months of hospitalization (P3) were enrolled in the study. Within 3 months all patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia. The study used: a socio-demographic survey, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), Questionnaire Eating Behaviors (QEB), and routine biochemical test findings. For some variables, the differences (variable_D) between the values at P1 and P3 were calculated.

RESULTS

Statistically significant correlations were shown between body weight_P1, _P3, _D, and healthy diet index_P1, _P3, severity of psychotic symptoms measured by the PANSS_P1 and _D, the CISS focused on emotions and task_P1, _P3 and _D, mother's body weight in youth and now, father's body weight in youth and now, and the number of the patient's siblings. In the linear regression analysis, body weight_P1 and the CISS focused on emotions_P1 turned out to be significant predictors of body weight_P3.

CONCLUSIONS

Multifactorial influence of weight gain in FEP in schizophrenia was observed. Countermeasures against weight gain should refer not only to the diet, but also to the way the eating habits are related to psychopathology associated with psychosis and to the emotional functioning of the patient.

Heterogeneity of peripheral blood monocytes, endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. SLE patients have increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis, although the mechanisms of this observation remain unclear. Considering the emerging role of monocytes in atherosclerosis, we aimed to investigate the relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and the phenotype of peripheral blood monocytes in SLE patients.

METHODS

We characterized the phenotype of monocyte subsets defined by the expression of CD14 and CD16 in 42 patients with SLE and 42 non-SLE controls. Using ultrasonography, intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) as well as nitroglycerin-induced dilation (NMD) were assessed.

RESULTS

Patients with SLE had significantly, but only modestly, increased IMT when compared with non-SLE controls (median (25th/75th percentile) 0.65 (0.60/0.71) mm vs 0.60 (0.56/0.68) mm; p < 0.05). Importantly, in spite of early atherosclerotic complications in the studied SLE group, marked endothelial dysfunction was observed. CD14dimCD16+proinflammatory cell subpopulation was positively correlated with IMT in SLE patients. This phenomenon was not observed in control individuals. Interestingly, endothelial dysfunction assessed by FMD was not correlated with any of the studied monocyte subsets.

CONCLUSIONS

Our observations suggest that CD14dimCD16+monocytes are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE, although the mechanism appears to be independent of endothelial dysfunction.

[Biostimulating laser therapy as one method of treating bone and joint diseases]

An assessment of medium power semi-conductor laser treatment effectiveness was evaluated in 205 patients (132 females and 73 males) aged 57 to 75 (mean 62.5) years with pain syndrome in a course of hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, temporo-maxillaris and vertebral joints degenerative changes. Procedures were performed 3 times a week using punctual technique, sweeping and scanning. Total number of procedures ranged from 8 to 20 and radiation energy dose was 4 to 12 J/cm2. Favourable therapy effect was demonstrated as pain and oedema disappearance in about 40% of patients; insignificant therapeutic effect was achieved in 46.3% and lack of affect in 13.7% of individuals.