Redox dysregulation, neuroinflammation, and NMDA receptor hypofunction: A "central hub" in schizophrenia pathophysiology?

Accumulating evidence points to altered GABAergic parvalbumin-expressing interneurons and impaired myelin/axonal integrity in schizophrenia. Both findings could be due to abnormal neurodevelopmental trajectories, affecting local neuronal networks and long-range synchrony and leading to cognitive deficits. In this review, we present data from animal models demonstrating that redox dysregulation, neuroinflammation and/or NMDAR hypofunction (as observed in patients) impairs the normal development of both parvalbumin interneurons and oligodendrocytes. These observations suggest that a dysregulation of the redox, neuroimmune, and glutamatergic systems due to genetic and early-life environmental risk factors could contribute to the anomalies of parvalbumin interneurons and white matter in schizophrenia, ultimately impacting cognition, social competence, and affective behavior via abnormal function of micro- and macrocircuits. Moreover, we propose that the redox, neuroimmune, and glutamatergic systems form a "central hub" where an imbalance within any of these "hub" systems leads to similar anomalies of parvalbumin interneurons and oligodendrocytes due to the tight and reciprocal interactions that exist among these systems. A combination of vulnerabilities for a dysregulation within more than one of these systems may be particularly deleterious. For these reasons, molecules, such as N-acetylcysteine, that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can also regulate glutamatergic transmission are promising tools for prevention in ultra-high risk patients or for early intervention therapy during the first stages of the disease

The Effects of Caffeine on Anaerobic Power DIII Female Ice Hockey Players

Caffeine is used widely by athletes as an ergogenic aid. Caffeine improves performance by enhancing anaerobic exercise capacity and power output. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of caffeine on anaerobic power in Division III female ice hockey players. METHODS: Ten collegiate Division III female ice hockey players were recruited to participate (age: 20 ± 1 yr, height: 166 ± 6 cm, weight: 71 ± 10 kg, and body composition: 30 ± 5-%). Subjects completed two Wingate test protocols in a randomized order. The subjects consumed either the CAF (120 mg) or the PLA (3 mg) 1 h prior to each test. The Wingate test protocol consisted of three 30 s bouts of maximal sprint pedaling with a 2 min rest interval between each sprint. The resistance was equivalent to 7.5% of body weight. Peak anaerobic power (PP), mean anaerobic power (MP), and fatigue index (FI) were calculated and recorded. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in PP, MP, or FI following the consumption of CAF or PLA (PP: CAF = 510.25 ± 27.03W vs PLA = 498.76 ± 24.54W; MP: CAF = 365.83 ± 13.29 vs PLA 368.67 ± 14.05W; FI: CAF = 47.46 ± 1.79 vs PLA = 47.43 ± 3.55%, p \u3e 0.05). CONCLUSION: The consumption of CAF one hour prior to exercise showed no significant improvements in anaerobic performance. A higher dosage of CAF may have resulted in enhanced anaerobic exercise capacity and power output