Effects of risperidone and haloperidol on superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide in schizophrenia

Oxidative stress may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. No double-blind study has compared the effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics on both antioxidant enzyme activity and nitric oxide (NO) levels in schizophrenic patients. Seventy-eight inpatients with chronic schizophrenia were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of treatment with 6 mg/day of risperidone or 20 mg/day of haloperidol using a double-blind design. Clinical efficacy was determined using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) and plasma NO levels were measured in patients and 30 normal controls. Our results showed that following a 2-week washout period, levels of SOD and NO were significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia compared to normal controls. Both risperidone and haloperidol equivalently reduced the elevated blood SOD levels in schizophrenia, but neither medication reduced the elevated plasma NO levels in schizophrenia. Low blood SOD levels at baseline predicted greater symptom improvement during treatment, and greater change in SOD was correlated with greater symptom improvement. These results suggest that both typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs may at least partially normalize abnormal free radical metabolism in schizophrenia, and some free radical parameters at baseline may predict antipsychotic responses of schizophrenic patients. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

A systematic review of radiological outcomes of highly cross-linked polyethylene versus conventional polyethylene in total hip arthroplasty

The purpose of this study was to summarise the best evidence to assess radiological outcomes of highly cross-linked polyethylene compared with conventional polyethylene in total hip arthroplasty. All randomised, controlled clinical trials comparing highly cross-linked polyethylene with conventional polyethylene were sought and then analysed by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane collaboration guidelines. Eight studies in seven articles were identified as eligible for inclusion. Due to the clinical and methodological heterogeneity, data from the studies included could not be pooled. No failures related to highly cross-linked polyethylene were reported. All highly cross-linked polyethylene groups had a significantly lower wear or penetration than conventional polyethylene groups. This preliminary result suggests that highly cross-linked polyethylene has significantly less wear than conventional polyethylene