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Case Reports 2014; 35(2): 95-97 PubMed PMID: 24878970 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Autoantibodies:blood, Female, Humans, Limbic Encephalitis:blood, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Proteins:immunology,.   

: We report a case of limbic encephalitis with LGI1 antibodies and cranial MRI abnormality. A 41-year-old woman who presented with confusional state that had started 1 month ago. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintense signal in right basal ganglia followed by hyperintense signals in left hippocampus and bilateral basal ganglia half a month later. This case expands the spectrum of limbic encephalitis to include LGI1 antibodies and cranial MRI changing process....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(1): 7-12 PubMed PMID: 24625921 Citation  Keywords:  Citalopram:administration & dosage, Humans, Hyponatremia:chemically induced, Osteoporosis:chemically induced, Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors:administration & dosage, Romano-Ward Syndrome:chemically induced, Serotonin Antagonists:administration & dosage, .   

: The authors present an overview of the most often discussed questions concerning citalopram, i.e. its proven effect on the QT interval and related dose reductions. They discuss citalopram's antiplatelet effect including the most recent data and draw attention to serotonin syndrome as its incidence is still underestimated. They go on to discuss hyponatremia pointing out that this condition may develop even in those taking low doses of citalopram. Finally, the authors provide a brief overview of the latest findings on osteoporosis and the serotonergic mechanism inducing it in individuals treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor....

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Clinical Trial 2014; 35(1): 68-72 PubMed PMID: 24625919 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Apoptosis:drug effects, Biflavonoids:administration & dosage, Brain Ischemia:drug therapy, Catechin:administration & dosage, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2:drug therapy, Disease Models, Animal, Gene Expression Regulation:drug effects, Janus Kinases:ph.   

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes with cerebral infarction is a common disease that severely impacts health. This study investigated the effect of procyanidin (PC) on the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT1) in type 2 diabetes mellitus SD rats with focal cerebral ischemia. We then explored the protective mechanisms of PC in type 2 diabetes mellitus SD rats with focal cerebral ischemia, to provide theory evidence for its clinical application.

METHODS: We set up a type 2 diabetes mellitus-MCAO model, evaluated neurological function, and used immunohistochemistry methods to measure the activity of STAT1.

RESULTS: The brain expression of STAT1 in rats of the sham-operation group was low, but more STAT1 positive cells were found in normal rats with ischemia and in rats with both type 2 diabetes and ischemia when groups were compared with the sham-operation group (p<0.01). Compared with rats that had type 2 diabetes and ischemia, the numbers of STAT1 positive cells after low, medium and high-doses of PC were all decreased (p<0.01), whereby the mid and high-dose groups showed a more substantial decrease (p<0.01) and with no variance between the two groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that PC has a neuroprotective effect on type 2 diabetes mellitus-MCAO; this may be through decreasing the expression of STAT1, which influences the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway that may inhibit apoptosis to relieve neurological impairment....

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Comparative Study 2014; 35(1): 42-49 PubMed PMID: 24625917 Citation  Keywords:  Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease:blood, Biomarkers:blood, Comorbidity, Depressive Disorder:blood, Female, Homocysteine:blood, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Severity of Illness Index,.   

OBJECTIVE: Elevated homocysteine is associated with a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and depressive disorder. This study was designed to detect an association between plasma homocysteine and AD with or without co-morbid depressive symptoms.

METHODS: Plasma homocysteine concentrations were measured in 85 AD patients (36 of them with depressive symptoms), 33 non-AD patients with a depression diagnosis and 44 healthy controls, all aged above 50 years.

RESULTS: Positive correlation between age and homocysteine was confirmed. Significantly higher mean plasma homocysteine was found in AD patients, but not in depressive patients, when compared with controls. We confirmed significant correlation between homocysteine concentration and the degree of cognitive impairment in AD patients. There was no incremental effect of concurrent depressive symptoms on homocysteine concentration in AD patients.

CONCLUSION: The association of high homocysteine with degree of cognitive impairment or stage of dementia in AD indicate potential role of high plasma homocysteine as a biomarker of the disease and/or indicator of brain damage during the progression of AD dementia....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(1): 64-67 PubMed PMID: 24625915 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Anorexia Nervosa:blood, Body Mass Index, Comorbidity, Depression:blood, Humans, Leptin:blood, Longitudinal Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Severity of Illness Index, Weight Gain:physiology,.   

OBJECTIVES: Anorexia nervosa (AN) often presents with comorbid depressive symptoms and is characterized by low levels of neuroimmunomodulatory hormone - leptin. Treatment-induced weight gain tends to normalize those variables. The aim of the study was the longitudinal assessment of the relationship between leptin levels and depressive symptoms in patients with AN, since previous cross-sectional studies in different populations brought conflicting results.

METHODS: Thirty AN inpatients were assessed twice - at admission and after mean body mass index (BMI) increase of 3.2 kg/m(2). Physical parameters were measured, blood samples for leptin levels drawn and depression evaluated with both clinician - (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - HDRS) and self - (Beck Depression Inventory - BDI) rated scales at the same morning. Correlation coefficients between changes in assessed variables, and linear regression for changes in depression scores were calculated.

RESULTS: BMI and leptin levels showed significant increase after treatment, respectively 14.45±0.90 vs. 17.61±0.87 and 1.87±1.14 vs. 7.47±4.65, whereas severity of depressive symptoms measured with BDI and HDRS was significantly reduced: 18.69±12.65 vs. 11.62±11.59; 12.76±6.90 vs. 5.66±4.91, respectively. In linear regression analysis decrease of the clinician-rated depression score (HDRS) was directly associated with decrease in the self-assessed depressive symptoms (BDI) (standardized Beta=0.45; t=2.60; p<0.05) and inversely related to the increase in leptin level (standardized Beta=-0.33; t=-2.08; p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These results may suggest, that increase in leptin levels during weight recovery in patients with AN is associated with objectively measured depressive symptoms. Longitudinal studies in other populations are warranted to establish whether this relationship is valid across the weight spectrum....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(1): 58-63 PubMed PMID: 24625912 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anxiety:etiology, Biomarkers:blood, Blood-Brain Barrier:metabolism, Cell Membrane Permeability:physiology, Depression:etiology, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Inflammation:etiology, Interleukin-6:blood, Male, Military Personnel, Rest:physiology, S10.   

BACKGROUND: Experimental data suggest stress-related cognitive dysfunction may be associated with increased blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability secondary to immune activation.

METHODS: We investigated the relationship between prolonged and intense physical and psychological combat-training stress, immune activation and blood-brain-barrier permeability in 37 healthy male army medical rapid response troops.

RESULTS: Soldiers during intense combat training showed greater self-reported stress, anxiety and depression levels than at rest, as assessed by specific questionnaires. S100B, a marker of BBB permeability, as well as serum cortisol, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations, were significantly increased in soldiers during combat training compared to rest (all p<0.05). Serum S100B correlated negatively with morning serum cortisol in soldiers during combat training, but not during the rest period (r=-0.387, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: We conclude that combat training inducing significant levels of stress, depression and anxiety is accompanied by evidence of increased blood-brain barrier permeability and by increases in systemic pro-inflammatory mediators....

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Comparative Study 2014; 35(1): 50-57 PubMed PMID: 24625910 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antipsychotic Agents:pharmacology, Benzodiazepines:pharmacology, Body Mass Index, Estradiol:blood, Humans, Insulin:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Prolactin:blood, Risperidone:pharmacology, Schizophrenia:blood, Testosterone:blood, Time Factors,.   

OBJECTIVE: A sufficient amount of testosterone (T) is essential for adequate sexual functioning but also for cognitive and psychological well-being. Most recent studies have demonstrated that higher BMI and other symptoms of metabolic syndrome are associated with alterations in sex steroid hormone concentrations. Although, neuroleptics are known to cause a significant and sustained weight excess, the relationships between body mass index and the level of testosterone in psychiatric patients have not been thoroughly studied. The main purpose of the present study was to examine the correlations between testosterone, estradiol BMI, and insulin in male patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and treated with olanzapine or risperidone.

METHODS: The study included 78 males diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM-IV diagnostic classification hospitalized in psychiatric inpatient units (42 on risperidone and 36 on olanzapine). The initial and final evaluation of testosterone (T), estradiol, prolactin (PRL) and insulin serum levels were performed at week 3 and 8 after the onset of the new treatment, respectively.

RESULTS: At week 3, the mean serum prolactin was markedly higher, whereas testosterone level was lower in risperidone patients compared to those treated with olanzapine. T level was negatively affected by the studied medication (risperidone), increased prolactin and a higher BMI. At week 8, the mean serum prolactin level was markedly higher in risperidone patients. Higher values of BMI and serum insulin were the most prominent factors independently associated with decreased plasma testosterone levels at that measurement point. Individual changes of T level between week 3 and 8 were positively correlated with the corresponding changes in estradiol levels.

CONCLUSIONS: T serum levels appear to be independently linked with BMI, insulin and prolactin in both investigated neuroleptics. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between reproductive hormones and metabolic parameters in patients with schizophrenia under neuroleptic treatment....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 53-73 PubMed PMID: 11393163 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Glands:physiology, Animals, Biological Clocks, Blood Pressure:physiology, Chronobiology Disorders:physiopathology, Chronobiology Phenomena, Chronotherapy, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Drug Administration Schedule, Genomics, Homeostasis, Humans, Pi.   

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