The effect of antipsychotic drugs on nonspecific inflammation markers in the first episode of schizophrenia

Background/Aim. Immune system disorder, including inflammation, takes a significant place when considering still unclear etiology of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine the blood levels of nonspecific inflammation markers in the first episode of schizophrenia and their relation to the therapy response. Methods. In this study we determined the blood levels of nonspecific inflammation markers: white blood cells count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR) and the elements of differential white blood cell counts (or the leukocyte formula): granulocytes (Gra), lymphocytes (Lym) and monocytes (Mon), in the first episode of schizofrenia, in 78 patients hospitalized at the Clinic for Psychiatric Disorders “Dr Laza Lazarević” in Belgrade. The levels were measured at admission to the clinic, as well as after 4 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. The Positive and negative syndrome scale for schizophrenia (PANSS) was applied to measure the severity of psychopathology and response to the treatment. Results. During the first episode of schizophrenia, before initiation of antipsychotic treatment, the frequency of abnormal values was high (≥ 25% of the patients) for the following non-specific inflammation markers: WBC, CRP, ESR and Gra, in the leukocyte formula, but dropped after 4 weeks of antipsychotic treatment at the level of high statistical significance for WBC and Gra (p < 0.001). The ESR remained unchanged in as many as 50% of the patients even after 4-week antipsychotic treatment, at the level of statistical significance in the non-responders compared to the responders (p = 0.045). Conclusion. The obtained results indicate that in the first episode of schizophrenia the blood levels of non-specific inflammation markers (WBS, CRP, ESR and Gra from the leukocyte formula) were high in the subpopulation of patients with the tendency towards normalization of inflammation parameters after a 4-week antipsychotic treatment

Eksperimentalno modeliranje i numerička FE analiza procesa izvlačenja sa stanjenjem čeličnih traka

This paper deals with analysis of steel strip ironing using experimental modelling and numerical FE simulation. Since both approaches are complementary to each other, numerous results were obtained that enable complete analysis of the processes within deformation zone. Device for modelling of strip ironing has been developed for experimental testing. Die cone angle, holding force, contact friction conditions on the die and the punch side were varied, due to easily replaceable working elements of the device. Friction coefficient values used in numerical FE simulations were determined based on measured values of forces on die and punch, as well as forming load on machine. Experimentally obtained results were confirmed by FE analysis that provided additional information about physics of the process itself within deformation zone. Presented research results point to coherent influences of process factors on tensile wall stress values, which represents key indicator for efficiency of forming, resulting in recommendations for efficient process management.Rad se bavi analizom procesa izvlačenja sa stanjenjem čelične trake, primjenom eksperimentalnog modeliranja i numeričkih FE simulacija. Kako su oba pristupa komplementarna, dobiveno je mnoštvo rezultata za sveobuhvatnu analizu procesa u deformacijskoj zoni. Za potrebe eksperimentalnog modeliranja razvijen je uređaj za modeliranje procesa izvlačenja sa stanjenjem trake. Zahvaljujući lako izmjenjivim radnim elementima uređaja, varirane su vrijednosti kuta matrice, sile držanja, uvjeti kontaktnog trenja na strani izvlakača i matrice. Vrijednosti faktora trenja, korištenih u numeričkim FE simulacijama su određene na osnovu izmjerenih vrijednosti sila na matrici i izvlakaču, kao i ukupne sile na stroju. Eksperimentalno dobiveni rezultati potvrđeni su numeričkom FE analizom, pri čemu je ona dala dodatne informacije o samoj fizici procesa u deformacijskoj zoni. Prikazani rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na spregnute utjecaje analiziranih faktora procesa na iznos rasteznog naprezanja u stijenki matrice, koji predstavlja ključni pokazatelj uspješnosti obrade, iz kojih proizlaze preporuke za uspješno upravljanje procesom

Expression of Fibronectin and Tenascin after Direct Capping of the Pulp with Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Biodentine®

BACKGROUND: Caries is a destructive process leading to progressive demineralization of the inorganic part of the tooth, accompanied by enzyme disintegration of the organic component of the tooth tissue. Considering the fact that caries activity can be stopped if the demineralization process is stopped, it is clear that the objectives of caries treatment are focused toward elimination of etiological factors and stimulation of regeneration of the dental tissues. That is why in the last years treatment of the caries disease is targeted to remineralization of the initial carious lesions, as well as on the biological behavior of the pulp-dentine complex after application of certain medications. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate impact of the two materials for direct capping, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine®, on the expression of glycoproteins fibronectin (FN), and tenascin (TN), responsible for dentinogenesis. METHODS: In the tests were used materials MTA and Biodentine, as agents for direct capping of pulp exposure. From 60 extracted teeth included in this in vitro study, tissue cuts were made. Each of them was then analyzed on a light microscope to determine the amount of two extracellular matrix glycoproteins, FN-C, and TN-C. RESULTS: Our study show that there is an expressed immunoreactivity for FN and for TN in the fibronectin bridge under MTA and Biodentine® after 8, and even after 30 days of their application. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, we can conclude that both materials – MTA and Biodentine – may induce reparative dentinogenesis, in which FN and TN have certainly a major role in the formation of the fibronectin matrix

Improving the quality of Al-alloys hot forging

Aluminium forgings provide the following advantages: high strength and low weight, good corrosion resistance (for most aluminium alloys), the fibre (grain) structure can be arranged to correspond to the main loading direction leading to high strength and fatigue properties. High precision forgings are designed keeping the following aspects in mind: increasing the accuracy of the component, increasing the fatigue strength, reducing the mass of the component, reducing the amount of machining and increasing the economy. This paper systematically discusses the parameters influencing the accuracy of forgings and forging tool life. Detailed characteristics of alloys AlZnMgCu1.5 (EN-AW 7075) for forging are described. By using the software Simufact. Forming for real part and production conditions, appropriate numerical modelling and recommendations for improved manufacturing have been made.The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic Serbia through the project TR 34002.Publishe

Numerical modeling of ironing process

Based on comprehensive experimental research and physical modeling of ironing, and detailed study of the material characteristics of the work piece and tool, as well as investigation of the contact friction conditions and measuring temperature generated by this contact friction, we were able to conduct a set of "numerical experiments" using finite element method implemented in the software Simufact.forming. The goal of numerical modeling was to use 3D visualization of the process, especially in deformation zone, to present strain, stress, velocity, and temperature fields which will enable more detailed analysis of the physics of the process. For that purpose a nonlinear FE approach is applied, using solid 3D finite elements, which are optimized for metal forming simulations. This allows obtaining accurate simulation results with the evaluation of changes in the sheet thickness, the effects of residual stress and recurrent elastic strains. Numerical modeling of the process, as well as results of FE analysis have allowed us to obtain important information about the ironing process such as the stress at the wall, strains, deformation forces, generation of temperature in the work piece as a result of plastic strains and the influence of contact friction and transfer of this temperature it to the die. All of these output parameters are evaluated depending on the angle of the die, the forces on the holder, lubrication conditions and the strain rate, analogous to the plan of experiments in physical modeling.Publishe

Seasonal calving in European Prehistoric cattle and its impacts on milk availability and cheese-making:impacts on milk availability and cheese-making

Present-day domestic cattle are reproductively active throughout the year, which is a major asset for dairy production. Large wild ungulates, in contrast, are seasonal breeders, as were the last historic representatives of the aurochs, the wild ancestors of cattle. Aseasonal reproduction in cattle is a consequence of domestication and herding, but exactly when this capacity developed in domestic cattle is still unknown and the extent to which early farming communities controlled the seasonality of reproduction is debated. Seasonal or aseasonal calving would have shaped the socio-economic practices of ancient farming societies differently, structuring the agropastoral calendar and determining milk availability where dairying is attested. In this study, we reconstruct the calving pattern through the analysis of stable oxygen isotope ratios of cattle tooth enamel from 18 sites across Europe, dating from the 6th mill. cal BC (Early Neolithic) in the Balkans to the 4th mill. cal BC (Middle Neolithic) in Western Europe. Seasonal calving prevailed in Europe between the 6th and 4th millennia cal BC. These results suggest that cattle agropastoral systems in Neolithic Europe were strongly constrained by environmental factors, in particular forage resources. The ensuing fluctuations in milk availability would account for cheese-making, transforming a seasonal milk supply into a storable product.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Conversion Discriminative Analysis on Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Multiple Cortical Features from MR Images

Neuroimaging measurements derived from magnetic resonance imaging provide important information required for detecting changes related to the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Cortical features and changes play a crucial role in revealing unique anatomical patterns of brain regions, and further differentiate MCI patients from normal states. Four cortical features, namely, gray matter volume, cortical thickness, surface area, and mean curvature, were explored for discriminative analysis among three groups including the stable MCI (sMCI), the converted MCI (cMCI), and the normal control (NC) groups. In this study, 158 subjects (72 NC, 46 sMCI, and 40 cMCI) were selected from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. A sparse-constrained regression model based on the l2-1-norm was introduced to reduce the feature dimensionality and retrieve essential features for the discrimination of the three groups by using a support vector machine (SVM). An optimized strategy of feature addition based on the weight of each feature was adopted for the SVM classifier in order to achieve the best classification performance. The baseline cortical features combined with the longitudinal measurements for 2 years of follow-up data yielded prominent classification results. In particular, the cortical thickness produced a classification with 98.84% accuracy, 97.5% sensitivity, and 100% specificity for the sMCI–cMCI comparison; 92.37% accuracy, 84.78% sensitivity, and 97.22% specificity for the cMCI–NC comparison; and 93.75% accuracy, 92.5% sensitivity, and 94.44% specificity for the sMCI–NC comparison. The best performances obtained by the SVM classifier using the essential features were 5–40% more than those using all of the retained features. The feasibility of the cortical features for the recognition of anatomical patterns was certified; thus, the proposed method has the potential to improve the clinical diagnosis of sub-types of MCI and predict the risk of its conversion to Alzheimer's disease

Quantitative 18F-AV1451 Brain Tau PET Imaging in Cognitively Normal Older Adults, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer's Disease Patients

Recent developments of tau Positron Emission Tomography (PET) allows assessment of regional neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) deposition in human brain. Among the tau PET molecular probes, 18F-AV1451 is characterized by high selectivity for pathologic tau aggregates over amyloid plaques, limited non-specific binding in white and gray matter, and confined off-target binding. The objectives of the study are (1) to quantitatively characterize regional brain tau deposition measured by 18F-AV1451 PET in cognitively normal older adults (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD participants; (2) to evaluate the correlations between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and 18F-AV1451 PET standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR); and (3) to evaluate the partial volume effects on 18F-AV1451 brain uptake.Methods: The study included total 115 participants (CN = 49, MCI = 58, and AD = 8) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Preprocessed 18F-AV1451 PET images, structural MRIs, and demographic and clinical assessments were downloaded from the ADNI database. A reblurred Van Cittertiteration method was used for voxelwise partial volume correction (PVC) on PET images. Structural MRIs were used for PET spatial normalization and region of interest (ROI) definition in standard space. The parametric images of 18F-AV1451 SUVR relative to cerebellum were calculated. The ROI SUVR measurements from PVC and non-PVC SUVR images were compared. The correlation between ROI 18F-AV1451 SUVR and the measurements of MMSE, CSF total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) were also assessed.Results:18F-AV1451 prominently specific binding was found in the amygdala, entorhinal cortex, parahippocampus, fusiform, posterior cingulate, temporal, parietal, and frontal brain regions. Most regional SUVRs showed significantly higher uptake of 18F-AV1451 in AD than MCI and CN participants. SUVRs of small regions like amygdala, entorhinal cortex and parahippocampus were statistically improved by PVC in all groups (p &lt; 0.01). Although there was an increasing tendency of 18F-AV-1451 SUVRs in MCI group compared with CN group, no significant difference of 18F-AV1451 deposition was found between CN and MCI brains with or without PVC (p &gt; 0.05). Declined MMSE score was observed with increasing 18F-AV1451 binding in amygdala, entorhinal cortex, parahippocampus, and fusiform. CSF p-tau was positively correlated with 18F-AV1451 deposition. PVC improved the results of 18F-AV-1451 tau deposition and correlation studies in small brain regions.Conclusion: The typical deposition of 18F-AV1451 tau PET imaging in AD brain was found in amygdala, entorhinal cortex, fusiform and parahippocampus, and these regions were strongly associated with cognitive impairment and CSF biomarkers. Although more deposition was observed in MCI group, the 18F-AV-1451 PET imaging could not differentiate the MCI patients from CN population. More tau deposition related to decreased MMSE score and increased level of CSF p-tau, especially in ROIs of amygdala, entorhinal cortex and parahippocampus. PVC did improve the results of tau deposition and correlation studies in small brain regions and suggest to be routinely used in 18F-AV1451 tau PET quantification