Decreased pain sensitivity among people with schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of experimental pain induction studies

Patients with schizophrenia report reduced pain sensitivity in clinical studies, but experimental studies are required to establish pain sensitivity as a potential endophenotype. We conducted a systematic review of electronic databases from database inception until April 15, 2015, including experimental studies investigating pain among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder vs healthy controls. A random-effect meta-analysis yielding Hedges' g ±95% confidence intervals (CIs) as the effect size (ES) measure was conducted. Primary outcome was a pooled composite of pain threshold and pain tolerance; secondary outcomes included these parameters individually, plus sensory threshold, physiological pain response, and pain intensity or unpleasantness. Across 17 studies, patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (n = 387; age, 30.7 ± 6.9 years; females, 31.9%; illness duration, 7.0 ± 5.7 years) were compared with controls (n = 483; age, 29.5 ± 7.4 years; females, 31.0%). Patients had elevated pain threshold/pain tolerance vs controls (ES = 0.583; 95% CI, 0.212-0.954; P = 0.002; studies = 15). Results were similar in antipsychotic-free individuals (ES = 0.599; 95% CI, 0.291-0.907; P < 0.0001; studies = 8), with trend-level significance in antipsychotic-treated individuals (ES = 0.566; 95% CI, -0.007 to 1.125; P = 0.047; studies = 9). Likewise, patients with schizophrenia had increased pain tolerance (ES = 0.566; 95% CI, 0.235-0.897; P = 0.0001; studies = 6), sensory threshold (ES = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.505-1.727; P < 0.0001; studies = 5), and pain threshold (ES = 0.696; 95% CI, 0.407-0.986; P < 0.001; studies = 9), as well as reduced physiological response to noxious stimuli (ES = 0.456; 95% CI, 0.131-0.783; P = 0.006) and pain intensity/unpleasantness ratings (ES = 0.547; 95% CI, 0.146-0.949; P = 0.008). Findings were similarly significant in antipsychotic-free patients with schizophrenia (analysable parameters = 4) and antipsychotic-treated individuals (analysable parameters = 2). Finally, greater psychiatric symptoms moderated increased pain threshold, and younger patient age moderated increased pain tolerance. Decreased pain sensitivity seems to be an endophenotype of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. How this alteration links to other dimensions of schizophrenia and physical comorbidity-related help-seeking behaviour/morbidity/mortality requires further study

Analysis of Early Neurovascular Complications of Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures: A Long-Term Observation

Purpose. Analysis of early vascular and nerve complications of supracondylar humerus fractures in children. Material and Methods. 220 children hospitalized in the Pediatric Trauma-Orthopedic Department in the years 2004–2014. The group consisted of 143 males and 77 females. Results. Acute neurovascular complications occurred in 16.81% of patients with displaced supracondylar fracture (37 children). Nerve damage was found in 10% of patients with displaced fracture (22 children). The most injured nerve was median nerve; this complication occurred in 15 patients (68.18%). The total nerve function returned after average of 122 days (0–220 days after surgery). Symptoms of vascular injury occurred in 7.7% children with displaced fracture (17 children). Conclusions. (1) In children with supracondylar fracture the most often injured nerve is median nerve. (2) The incidence of vascular and nerve complications positively correlates with the progression of fracture according to Gartland classification

The bovine CXCR1 gene is highly polymorphic

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the bovine CXCR1 gene have been implicated in resistance to mastitis and milk somatic cell counts in several sample populations of Holstein dairy cows. As such, a more thorough understanding of SNP present in and near the bovine CXCR1 gene is needed. This study identified 36 SNP in the coding region and surrounding sequences of CXCR1 in 88 Holstein dairy cows. Four SNP induced amino acid changes and 1 SNP an early stop codon. Two amino acid changes occur in the third intracellular loop and C-terminus in locations tied to intracellular signaling. The 36 SNP could be subdivided into 4 separate linkage groups. Using representative or 'tag' SNP from each linkage group, haplotypes or the combination of SNP found on a single allele were generated to increase the specificity of an animal's genetic background. Four haplotypes were identified that represented 99% of the sample population. The haplotypes generated using tag SNP agreed with haplotypes generated from SNP causing amino acid changes. In conclusion, the CXCR1 gene is highly polymorphic and has potential implications towards genetic selection and understanding host factors that increase the risk of infection.Fil: Pighetti, Gina M.. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Kojima, Cheryl J.. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Wojakiewicz, Leszek. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Rambeaud, Magdalena. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Epizootiología y Salud Pública. Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentin

Vitamin Status in Children with Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Gene Mutation

Background: The issue of vitamin metabolism in children with cystic fibrosis screen positive, inconclusive diagnosis (CFSPID) is not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the status of vitamins A, D, E, and C in the blood of a group of children with CFSPID. Material and Methods: A total of 89 children were enrolled in the study (Me: 3.6 years, 52.8% boys), as follows: 28 with CFSPID, 31 with CF (cystic fibrosis), and 30 HC (healthy children). Their blood concentrations of vitamins A, D, E, and C, and their dietary intake of these vitamins were analysed in the study groups on the basis of a three-day food diary. Results: The patients with CFSPID had significantly higher serum vitamin D (p = 0.01) and E (p = 0.04) concentrations, compared to the children with CF. None of the children with CFSPID revealed vitamin A or E deficiencies. Patients with CF had been consuming significantly higher vitamin D and E amounts (p = 0.01). The vitamin concentrations did not depend either on the pancreatic/liver function or on anthropometric parameters. In total, 32.14% of patients with CF did not cover the baseline recommended calorie intake, and 53.6% and 36% did not take the recommended vitamin E and vitamin A intake, respectively. Conclusion: Children with CF and CFSPID did not fully cover the dietary recommendations for vitamin supply, but vitamin deficiency was found only in CF

Oxidative and Antioxidative Stress Status in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease as a Result of a Chronic Inflammatory Process

Oxidative stress (OS) has been recently implicated in the disease pathogenesis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to evaluate oxidative and antioxidative stress status and the risk of the atherosclerotic process in children with IBD and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). The prospective study included a group of 71 children during a period of 2 years. In all children, laboratory tests were performed and intima-media complex in the carotid artery was measured (IMC). Low values of OS were more frequent in children with IBD than in the FGID group. The average concentration of oxidized lipoprotein with average density (oxLDL) was lower in patients with IBD. Among patients with IBD, higher concentrations of oxLDL were recorded in patients with longer-duration disease and with higher concentrations of total cholesterol. In the IBD group, more often, higher concentrations of anti-oxLDL were recorded among patients with longer-duration disease. The obtained results did not support the hypothesis of total antioxidant capacity depletion and greater overall OS in patients with IBD. Patients with IBD with a longer duration of the disease have higher concentrations of oxLDL and anti-oxLDL