Basic Self-Disturbances Related to Reduced Anterior Cingulate Volume in Subjects at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis

Introduction: Alterations of the “pre-reflective” sense of first-person perspective (e.g., of the “basic self”) are characteristic features of schizophrenic spectrum disorders and are significantly present in the prodromal phase of psychosis and in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR). Studies in healthy controls suggest that neurobiological substrate of the basic self involves cortical midline structures, such as the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices. Neuroimaging studies have identified neuroanatomical cortical midline structure abnormalities in schizophrenic spectrum disorders.Objectives: i) To compare basic self-disturbances levels in UHR subjects and controls and ii) to assess the relationship between basic self-disturbances and alterations in cortical midline structures volume in UHR subjects.Methods: Thirty-one UHR subjects (27 antipsychotic-naïve) and 16 healthy controls were assessed using the 57-item semistructured Examination of Anomalous Self-Experiences (EASE) interview. All subjects were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T, and gray matter volume was measured in a priori defined regions of interest (ROIs) in the cortical midline structures.Results: EASE scores were much higher in UHR subjects than controls (p < 0.001). The UHR group had smaller anterior cingulate volume than controls (p = 0.037). There were no structural brain imaging alterations between UHR individuals with or without self-disturbances. Within the UHR sample, the subgroup with higher EASE scores had smaller anterior cingulate volumes than UHR subjects with lower EASE scores and controls (p = 0.018). In the total sample, anterior cingulate volume was inversely correlated with the EASE score (R = 0.52, p < 0.016).Conclusions: Basic self-disturbances in UHR subjects appear to be related to reductions in anterior cingulate volume

Laboratorial study of tick-borne infectious agents in patients with brazilian Lyme-like disease (Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome)

Ehrlichiose Monocítica Humana, Anaplasmose Granulocítica Humana, Babesiose, Febre Maculosa das Montanhas Rochosas e Doença de Lyme são doenças transmitidas por carrapatos encontradas no Hemisfério Norte. No Brasil, a DL-símile chamada de Síndrome Baggio-Yoshinari (SBY) é descrita, mas as características epidemiológicas, clínicas e laboratoriais são diferentes da DL original. Nos Brasileiros, as outras doenças transmitidas por carrapatos são pouco estudadas. O objetivo desta pesquisa é estudar a possibilidade de co-infecção entre a SBY e outras doenças transmitidas por carrapatos, através de ensaios laboratoriais para Ehrlichia spp, Babesia spp and Rickettsia spp em um grupo de 70 pacientes com SBY. Dez pacientes estavam na fase inicial da doença e 60 no estágio latente. Eritema Migratório (EM) esteve presente em 27 (38,6%), artrite em 26 (37,1%), febre em 13 (18,5%), cefaléia em 29 (41,4%), artralgia em 36 (51,4%), mialgia em 51 (72,8%), fadiga em 38 (54,3%), meningite em 4 ((5,7%), neurite craniana em 8 (11,4%), radiculopatia periférica em 9 (12,8%), encefalomielite em 4 (5,7%), cardiopatia em 7 (10%), lesão de pele atípica em 10 (14,3%) e anemia em 10 (14,3%). O ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) para Borrelia burgdorferi foi positivo em 21 (30%) pacientes do grupo da SBY e apenas em 3 dos 50 (6%) indivíduos do grupo controle (p = 0.01). Usando o método de Western blotting (WB) modificado para antígenos da B. burgdorferi, trinta e cinco (50%) dos pacientes com SBY foram positivos, e 2 (4%) indivíduos do grupo controle. (p0,001). A Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI) (IgG) apresentou resultados significativos para três das cinco espécies de Rickettsia spp analisadas: R. parkeri (8,6%) (p = 0,032), R. amblyommii (22.8%) ( p = 0,031) e para R. bellii (8.6%) ( p = 0,032). O Teste do Qui-quadrado foi usado para análise estatística. . Poucos pacientes apresentaram positividade para antígenos de B. bovis (RIFI e ELISA) e B. equi (RIFI). A RIFI para antígenos da Ehrlichia canis foi positiva apenas para um (1.4%) paciente com SBY. Isto nos leva a concluir que pacientes com SBY apresentaram co-infecção com R. parkeri, R.. amblyommi e R. belli, sugerindo que a SBY possa ser transmitida pelos mesmos carrapatos responsáveis pela transmissão destas Rickettsias.Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease (LD) are tick-borne diseases commonly found in the North hemisphere. In Brazil, a LD-like illness called Baggio- Yoshinari Syndrome (BYS) is described, but epidemiological, clinical and laboratorial features are different from the original LD. In Brazilian humans, the other tick-borne diseases are less frequently studied. The aim of this survey was to verify the possibility of co-infections between BYS and other tick-borne diseases, using laboratorial assays to Ehrlichia spp, Babesia spp and Rickettsia spp in a group of 70 patients with BYS. Ten patients were at initial stage of the disease and 60 patients were in a latent stage. Erythema migrans (EM) was present in 27 patients (38.6%), arthritis in 26 (37,1%), fever in 13 (18.5%), headache in 29 (41.4%) arthralgia in 36 (51.4%), myalgia in 51 (72,8%), fatigue in 38 (54,3%), meningitis in 4 (5.7%), cranial neuritis in 8 (11.4%), peripheral radiculopathy in 9 (12.8%), encephalomyelitis in 4 (5.7%), cardiopathy in 7 (10%), atypical skin eruptions in 10 (14.3%) and anemia in 10 patients (14.3%). ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunossorbent Assay) for Borrelia burgdorferi antigens was positive in 21 patients (30%) of BYS group, while only 3 (6%) from 50 normal individuals had positive reactions (p = 0.01). Using the modified Western Blotting (WB) method for B. burgdorferi antigens, 35 (50%) of the BYS patients were positive, and 2 normal individuals (4%) from the control group (p 0,001). Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) (IgG) presented positive results for three of five species of Rickettsia tested: R. parkeri (8, 6%) (p = 0,032), R. amblyommii (22.8%) (p = 0,031) and for R. bellii (8.6%) (p = 0,032). Chi-square test was used for the statistic analysis. A few patients developed a positive reaction to B. bovis (IFA and ELISA) and B. equi antigens (IFA). IFA for Ehrlichia canis antigens was positive in only one patient (1.4%) with BYS. It was possible to conclude that BYS patients presented a coinfection with R. parkeri, R. amblyommi and R. bellii, suggesting that BYS can be vectored by the same ticks responsible for the transmission of Rickettsial agents

Kinetic Analysis of High-Temperature Sunflower Oil Peroxidation Inhibited by the Major Families of Phenolic Antioxidants Unveils the Extraordinary Activity of 1,4-Hydroquinones

Peroxidation of vegetable oils represents a major problem for the food and biodiesel industries, and it is greatly accelerated by oil degree of unsaturation and by temperature increase. Phenols represent the most common additives used to counteract oil peroxidation, however clear structure-activity relationships at high temperatures are not available. We report, herein, a kinetic study of O2 consumption during spontaneous peroxidation of sunflower oil at 130 °C in the presence of 18 antioxidants belonging to the main families of natural and synthetic phenols, including α-tocopherol, alkylphenols (BHT, BHA), hydroquinones (TBHD), catechols (quercetin, catechin) and gallates. Results show that TBHQ provide the best protection in terms of induction period (IP) duration and O2 consumption rate. EPR spectroscopy demonstrated that the inhibition activity is negatively correlated to the stability of the phenoxyl radical of the antioxidant (A•), suggesting that chain propagation with linoleate (RH) moieties A• + RH → AH + R• decreases the efficacy of those antioxidants forming persistent A• radicals. These results provide important information to optimize the antioxidant activity of phenols and of novel phenol-based materials