Acute urinary retention associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and ziprasidone [4]

postprin

Prenatal exposure to valproic acid induces a dose dependent impairment in sensorimotor gating in a mouse model of autism

Poster Sessionspublished_or_final_versionThe 27th World Congress of the International College of Neuro-Psychopahrmacology (CINP), Hong Kong, 6–10 June 2010. In International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2010, v. 13, suppl. S1, p. 68, abstract no. P-02.03

Assessment of the dysexecutive syndrome in schizophrenia

Background. Cognitive neuropsychological theories hypothesize a role for frontal lobe executive deficits in the aetiology of schizophrenic symptoms. The study examined the performance of a schizophrenic group on the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS), a test battery which assesses the 'everyday' difficulties associated with the dysexecutive syndrome. Performance of the schizophrenics was contrasted with that of brain injured and healthy volunteer groups. Methods. Matched groups of 31 schizophrenic patients, 35 patients-with brain injuries and 26 healthy volunteers were administered the BADS. Patients were also given tests of general intelligence and memory. Patients and their relatives/carers also completed a questionnaire rating day-to-day failures of executive functioning. Results. Schizophrenic and brain-injured patients showed impairment on the BADS, compared to healthy controls. There were no significant differences between the two patient groups. Significant impairment was found in a subgroup of 16 schizophrenics who showed otherwise intact general intellectual functioning, suggesting the existence of a specific executive deficit. Among the schizophrenic patient group there was evidence of a dissociation between executive and memory impairments. A significant correlation existed between performance on the BADS and relatives ratings of executive problems for the brain injured group, but not for the schizophrenic group. Conclusions. The BADS is a useful tool for identifying executive deficits in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, especially those who are otherwise generally intellectually intact. This is particularly important in the context of rehabilitation and community transition programmes.published_or_final_versio

Intra-orbital distance as a record of social brain dysmorphology in autism

Minor Physical Anomalies (MPAs) arise during the first trimester of prenatal life and occur more frequently in autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. We measured intra-orbital distances from T1 weighted images of children with autism aged 6 – 16 years and typically developing peers. We report a significant increase in intra-orbital distance in autism. Using voxel-wise linear regression analysis intra-orbital distances were found to positively correlate with the volume of inferio-temporal regions including the amygdala in the autism group only. We suggest that intra-orbital MPA may provide a ‘fossil’ record of much earlier childhood brain expansion in autism.published_or_final_versionThe 19th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Montreal, Canada, 7-13 May 2011. In Proceedings of the 19th ISMRM, 2011, p. 252

White matter volume and anisotropy in very low birth weight preterm born children: association with cognitive outcome

INTRODUCTION: Low birth weight premature infants are at risk of brain injury, especially to the white matter. These complications result from either the inability to repair the lesions acquired around birth, or disruption of the normal maturation process. It has been shown in normal and disease populations that white matter parameters are associated with cognitive function (1-3). We hypothesize that mean white matter volume and anisotropy are reduced in children who were born very low birth weight (2500grams) and that these parameters of white matter damage correlate with cognitive outcome …published_or_final_versio

MRI brain scan study of minor physical anomalies to aid the early diagnosis of autism

Poster Sessionspublished_or_final_versionThe 27th International College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress (CINP 2010), Hong Kong, China, 6-10 June 2010. In International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2010, v. 13, suppl. S1, p. 182, abstract no. P-14.03

Volume increases in putamen associated with positive symptom reduction in previously drug-naive schizophrenia after 6 weeks antipsychotic treatment

Background Brain structure appears to alter after antipsychotic administration, but it is unknown whether these alterations are associated with improvement of psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia. In this study, the authors explore this relationship.Method Altogether, 66 first-episode, drug-naive patients with schizophrenia and 23 well-matched healthy controls underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging scans at baseline. All 23 healthy controls and 42 of the patients were rescanned after 6 weeks follow-up. The patients received regular antipsychotic treatment during the 6-week period and their psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and 6 weeks. The difference in PANSS scores between baseline and 6 weeks was expressed as a ratio of the scores at baseline a- a PANSS reduction ratio. A modified tensor-based morphometry procedure was applied to analyse longitudinal images. Correlations between regional volume changes, PANSS reduction ratio and antipsychotic drug dosages were explored.Results Compared with healthy controls, there was a significant increase in grey-matter volume of the right putamen in patients after 6 weeks treatment. This volume change was positively correlated with a positive PANSS reduction score but not related to drug dosages.Conclusions Putaminal volume increased after 6 weeks antipsychotic treatment in first-episode schizophrenia. The increased volume was closely correlated with improved psychopathology, suggesting the putamen might be a biomarker to predict the treatment response in schizophrenia. © 2011 Cambridge University Press.published_or_final_versio

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with anti-desmoglein 2 autoantibody detection

Post-acute cardiac sequelae, following SARS-CoV-2 infection, are well recognized as complications of COVID-19. We have previously shown the persistence of autoantibodies against antigens in skin, muscle, and heart in individuals following severe COVID-19; the most common staining on skin tissue displayed an inter-cellular cement pattern consistent with antibodies against desmosomal proteins. Desmosomes play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of tissues. For this reason, we analyzed desmosomal protein levels and the presence of anti-desmoglein (DSG) 1, 2, and 3 antibodies in acute and convalescent sera from patients with COVID-19 of differing clinical severity. We find increased levels of DSG2 protein in sera from acute COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we find that DSG2 autoantibody levels are increased significantly in convalescent sera following severe COVID-19 but not in hospitalized patients recovering from influenza infection or healthy controls. Levels of autoantibody in sera from patients with severe COVID-19 were comparable to levels in patients with non-COVID-19-associated cardiac disease, potentially identifying DSG2 autoantibodies as a novel biomarker for cardiac damage. To determine if there was any association between severe COVID-19 and DSG2, we stained post-mortem cardiac tissue from patients who died from COVID-19 infection. This confirmed DSG2 protein within the intercalated discs and disruption of the intercalated disc between cardiomyocytes in patients who died from COVID-19. Our results reveal the potential for DSG2 protein and autoimmunity to DSG2 to contribute to unexpected pathologies associated with COVID-19 infection

Amblyopia and quality of life: a systematic review

Background/Aims Amblyopia is a common condition which can affect up to 5% of the general population. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) implications of amblyopia and/or its treatment have been explored in the literature. Methods A systematic literature search was undertaken (16th-30th January 2007) to identify the HRQoL implications of amblyopia and/or its treatment. Results A total of 25 papers were included in the literature review. The HRQoL implications of amblyopia related specifically to amblyopia treatment, rather than the condition itself. These included the impact upon family life; social interactions; difficulties undertaking daily activities; and feelings and behaviour. The identified studies adopted a number of methodologies. The study populations included; children with the condition; parents of children with amblyopia; and adults who had undertaken amblyopia treatment as a child. Some studies developed their own measures of HRQoL, and others determined HRQoL through proxy measures. Conclusions The reported findings of the HRQoL implications are of importance when considering the management of cases of amblyopia. Further research is required to assess the immediate and long-term effects of amblyopia and/or its treatment upon HRQoL using a more standardised approach