Coupling physical exercise with dietary glucose supplement for treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: A theoretical model and future directions

Aims: Metabolic dysregulation may disrupt the complex neuroprotective mechanisms essential for brain health. Recent studies have pointed out the possible aetiological role of metabolic dysregulation in the onset of schizophrenia and the associated cognitive impairment. In this paper, we aimed to generate a theoretical model of how a combination of physical exercise and dietary glucose supplement may help to alleviate cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Methods: Literature on metabolic dysregulation, especially insulin resistance, in relation to the onset of schizophrenia and the associated cognitive impairment is reviewed. The cognitive enhancement effects of physical exercise and dietary glucose supplement are then summarised. Finally, we propose a theoretical model based on the concerted effects of physical exercise and glucose supplement. Results: In general, the joint action of physical exercise and dietary glucose supplement could up-regulate glucose and insulin transport into the brain, as well as augmenting the release of insulin growth factor-1 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Physical exercise and glucose supplement could enhance energy supply and neuroplasticity in brain, subsequently leading to potential cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia. However, glucose supplement is not suitable for patients with abnormal metabolic profile. Conclusions: The combination of physical exercise and glucose supplement has potential therapeutic values in treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Further research is necessary to investigate the optimal patterns of exercise and doses of glucose for treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. © 2013 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Inhibitory effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on adenosine transport in vascular smooth muscle cells

It is generally accepted that the clinical efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) arises mainly from the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX). However, more evidence has suggested that certain pharmacological actions of NSAIDs may be mediated by COX-independent mechanisms. The present study investigated the effects of NSAIDs on adenosine uptake in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Among the NSAIDs tested (all at 100 μM), aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen had no effect on [3H]adenosine uptake. Piroxicam inhibited [3H]adenosine uptake by 30%, while etodolac, indomethacin, ketoprofen, mefenamic acid and sulindac inhibited [3H]adenosine by 13-18%. Sulindac sulfide, an active metabolite of sulindac, inhibited [3H]adenosine uptake and [3H]nitrobenzylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (NBMPR) binding of HASMCs with IC50 values of 40.67 ± 4.82 and 24.19 ± 3.76 μM, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that sulindac sulfide was a competitive inhibitor of adenosine uptake. Using the nucleoside-transporter-deficient PK15NTD cells that stably express equilibrative nucleoside transport (ENT) 1 and ENT2, it was found that the inhibitory effect of sulindac sulfide on ENT1 was greater than that on ENT2. Sulindac sulfide increased the extracellular adenosine level. In addition, it inhibited the proliferation of HASMCs and this anti-proliferative effect could be abolished by adenosine A2B receptor antagonist. Our results suggest that sulindac sulfide may exert pharmacological effects through the inhibition of adenosine uptake, which modulates the availability of adenosine in the vicinity of adenosine receptors

Clinical and social correlates of duration of untreated psychosis among adult-onset psychosis in Hong Kong Chinese: The JCEP study

Aim: Understanding factors that contribute to treatment delay would inform early detection and intervention strategies in psychotic disorders. However, existing data were mixed and primarily conducted among early-onset young patients. We examined duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and its clinical and sociodemographic correlates in a large cohort of adult-onset patients with psychosis. Methods: A total of 360 patients with first-onset psychosis aged 26-55 years were recruited consecutively as part of a controlled study of an early psychosis intervention service in Hong Kong Chinese. Demographic, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics relating to DUP were assessed within 4 months of onset. Results: The population had a mean onset age of 36.6 years (SD=8.7). The mean and median DUP were 515 days (SD=1091) and 93 days (inter-quartile range from 20 to 382.3), respectively. Multivariate regression analysis suggested that insidious mode of onset, hospitalization, a diagnosis of schizophrenia, poorer insight and younger age at onset significantly prolonged DUP. DUP was not related to premorbid functioning, family involvement during help seeking and living alone. Conclusions: The initial period of untreated psychosis is determined by multiple factors. Whether family involvement is considered a kind of social support in shortening or prolonging DUP needs further examination. Local early intervention program for psychosis should take reference from these findings when formulating personalized plans to reduce delay. © 2013 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

CEPC Conceptual Design Report: Volume 2 - Physics & Detector

The Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is a large international scientific facility proposed by the Chinese particle physics community to explore the Higgs boson and provide critical tests of the underlying fundamental physics principles of the Standard Model that might reveal new physics. The CEPC, to be hosted in China in a circular underground tunnel of approximately 100 km in circumference, is designed to operate as a Higgs factory producing electron-positron collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 240 GeV. The collider will also operate at around 91.2 GeV, as a Z factory, and at the WW production threshold (around 160 GeV). The CEPC will produce close to one trillion Z bosons, 100 million W bosons and over one million Higgs bosons. The vast amount of bottom quarks, charm quarks and tau-leptons produced in the decays of the Z bosons also makes the CEPC an effective B-factory and tau-charm factory. The CEPC will have two interaction points where two large detectors will be located. This document is the second volume of the CEPC Conceptual Design Report (CDR). It presents the physics case for the CEPC, describes conceptual designs of possible detectors and their technological options, highlights the expected detector and physics performance, and discusses future plans for detector R&D and physics investigations. The final CEPC detectors will be proposed and built by international collaborations but they are likely to be composed of the detector technologies included in the conceptual designs described in this document. A separate volume, Volume I, recently released, describes the design of the CEPC accelerator complex, its associated civil engineering, and strategic alternative scenarios

CEPC Conceptual Design Report: Volume 2 - Physics & Detector

The Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is a large international scientific facility proposed by the Chinese particle physics community to explore the Higgs boson and provide critical tests of the underlying fundamental physics principles of the Standard Model that might reveal new physics. The CEPC, to be hosted in China in a circular underground tunnel of approximately 100 km in circumference, is designed to operate as a Higgs factory producing electron-positron collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 240 GeV. The collider will also operate at around 91.2 GeV, as a Z factory, and at the WW production threshold (around 160 GeV). The CEPC will produce close to one trillion Z bosons, 100 million W bosons and over one million Higgs bosons. The vast amount of bottom quarks, charm quarks and tau-leptons produced in the decays of the Z bosons also makes the CEPC an effective B-factory and tau-charm factory. The CEPC will have two interaction points where two large detectors will be located. This document is the second volume of the CEPC Conceptual Design Report (CDR). It presents the physics case for the CEPC, describes conceptual designs of possible detectors and their technological options, highlights the expected detector and physics performance, and discusses future plans for detector R&D and physics investigations. The final CEPC detectors will be proposed and built by international collaborations but they are likely to be composed of the detector technologies included in the conceptual designs described in this document. A separate volume, Volume I, recently released, describes the design of the CEPC accelerator complex, its associated civil engineering, and strategic alternative scenarios

CEPC Conceptual Design Report: Volume 2 - Physics & Detector

The Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is a large international scientific facility proposed by the Chinese particle physics community to explore the Higgs boson and provide critical tests of the underlying fundamental physics principles of the Standard Model that might reveal new physics. The CEPC, to be hosted in China in a circular underground tunnel of approximately 100 km in circumference, is designed to operate as a Higgs factory producing electron-positron collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 240 GeV. The collider will also operate at around 91.2 GeV, as a Z factory, and at the WW production threshold (around 160 GeV). The CEPC will produce close to one trillion Z bosons, 100 million W bosons and over one million Higgs bosons. The vast amount of bottom quarks, charm quarks and tau-leptons produced in the decays of the Z bosons also makes the CEPC an effective B-factory and tau-charm factory. The CEPC will have two interaction points where two large detectors will be located. This document is the second volume of the CEPC Conceptual Design Report (CDR). It presents the physics case for the CEPC, describes conceptual designs of possible detectors and their technological options, highlights the expected detector and physics performance, and discusses future plans for detector R&D and physics investigations. The final CEPC detectors will be proposed and built by international collaborations but they are likely to be composed of the detector technologies included in the conceptual designs described in this document. A separate volume, Volume I, recently released, describes the design of the CEPC accelerator complex, its associated civil engineering, and strategic alternative scenarios