Changes in premenstrual symptoms in women with schizophrenia: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether the psychiatric symptoms and clinical features of schizophrenia change during the premenstrual phase in female patients. METHODS: We observed 30 female schizophrenic inpatients over one menstrual cycle. All subjects met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, and all had a regular menstrual cycle. All subjects completed the Daily Rating Form (DRF) every evening, and one psychiatrist rated the subjects (using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale [BPRS]) once during each of the three menstrual phases (premenstrual, menstrual, and postmenstrual). Serum levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone were measured on the fifth to seventh day of both the premenstrual and postmenstrual phases. Data from the 24 subjects who completed the DRF correctly and completely were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean total BPRS score for the 24 subjects was highest in the premenstrual phase and lowest in the postmenstrual phase, and a statistically significant difference was found among the three menstrual phases. Mean subtotal BPRS scores showed statistically significant differences among the three menstrual phases in anxiety/depression and withdrawal/retardation, but not in the psychotic symptom subscales. Mean serum E2 level showed a trend of increasing from the premenstrual phase to the postmenstrual phase. However, there was no significant correlation between DeltaBPRS and DeltaE2. When the criterion of 30% change was applied, the DRF items of depressed mood, anxious/nervous/restless, hostile/aggressive, and less/impaired work showed high frequencies of change in the premenstrual phase. Somatic items of abdominal pain, breast pain, and headache showed significant change with the 30% change rule on the DRF. On both the BPRS and DRF scores, premenstrual change of affective and behavioral symptoms was prominent, whereas the change of psychotic symptoms was minimal on the BPRS. In addition, in the premenstrual phase, there was a statistically significant correlation between the total BPRS score and the mean total DRF score. There was no correlation between premenstrual change in symptoms and hormonal levels of E2, progesterone, and the estradiol/progesterone (E/P) ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that premenstrual exacerbation of schizophrenic symptoms in female patients may not be a worsening of the schizophrenic symptoms but a concurrence of affective, behavioral, and somatic symptoms.     

完全性生长激素缺乏患儿大脑皮质形态变化的3.0 T MRI研究

目的 探讨完全性生长激素缺乏(CGHD)患儿与特发性矮小(ISS)患儿大脑结构的灰质体积、皮层表面积及皮层厚度的差异。方法 回顾性队列研究。纳入2015年1月—2019年1月山东省立医院确诊的12例CGHD患儿(男8例、女4例,年龄5~14岁,生长激素刺激释放试验峰值小于5.0 μg/L)与12例ISS患儿(男9例、女3例,年龄5~14岁,生长激素刺激释放试验峰值大于10.0 μg/L)。在首次就诊时采集患者高分辨率、高信噪比三维T₁WI MRI。利用FreeSurfer软件图像后处理方法获得两组患儿左右大脑半球及全脑灰质体积、皮层表面积与皮层厚度值,统计分析组间的差异情况。将每组患儿的上述形态学参数值分别进行平均以获得该组患儿的均值分布图。将两组患儿的测量均值进行相减,即获得两组患儿该测量均值的差异值分布图。结果 CGHD患儿左、右侧大脑半球的灰质体积分别为(228.50±36.72)cm³、 (229.10±34.95)cm³;皮层表面积分别为(737.02±140.48)cm²、(738.68±135.26)cm²;皮层厚度分别为(2.43±0.09)mm、(2.44±0.09)mm。ISS患儿左、右侧大脑半球的灰质体积分别为(272.36±34.77)cm³、 (272.54±32.76)cm³;皮层表面积分别为(841.88±141.75)cm²、(839.98±135.69)cm²;皮层厚度分别为(2.55±0.18)mm、(2.57±0.17)mm。CGHD患儿与ISS患儿的双侧半球与全脑的灰质体积(F_左=17.884, F_右=20.115, F_全=19.009)、皮层表面积(F_左=11.105, F_右=11.453, F_全=11.337)及皮层厚度(F_左=5.907, F_右=6.109, F_全=6.066)的差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.05)。测量值的均值分布图与均值的差异值分布图显示两组患儿的灰质体积、皮层表面积与皮层厚度在诸多脑区存在差异。结论 CGHD患儿较ISS患儿的大脑灰质体积、皮层表面积与皮层厚度均较小,这可能与其智力、运动或其它功能发育相对落后相关。     

Insight: its relationship with cognitive function,brain volume and symptoms in schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Lack of insight is frequently observed in schizophrenia. Relationships have been noted between poor insight, clinical symptoms and cognitive impairments but the findings are inconsistent. There have been some recent attempts to relate poor insight to neuro-anatomical measures. METHOD: We assessed insight, positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, cognitive performance, and whole brain volumes in a sample of 78 DSM-IV male schizophrenics and 36 normal male comparison subjects matched for age and IQ. Subjects underwent a dual-echo MRI brain scan to establish grey, white and whole brain volumes. RESULTS: Poor Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance inversely correlated with insight in schizophrenic patients, as did the symptoms alogia, anhedonia, avolition/apathy, affective flattening, inappropriate affect, thought disorder and delusions. The presence of inappropriate affect, delusions and thought disorder, showed the most significant impact on insight levels. There were no significant correlations between whole brain, white and grey matter volume and degree of insight. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that poor insight is significantly related to schizophrenic psychopathology, and confirm that there is a relationship between insight and executive performance. Awareness of illness is not related to any global brain measures, suggesting future investigations should pay attention to more specific cortical regions such as the frontal cortex.     

特发性全面性癫痫患者大脑结构异常改变的MRI研究

目的 基于深度学习脑龄预测方法和FreeSurfer图像分析软件,探讨特发性全面性癫痫（IGE）患者大脑形态结构的异常改变。方法 回顾性病例对照研究。纳入2020年1月—2021年12月山东省立医院及寿光市人民医院神经内科确诊的144例IGE患者。其中男84例、女60例,年龄10~70岁。基于公共脑成像数据库（人类连接组项目、中国人类连接组项目）建立正常人脑T₁加权像（T₁WI）MRI训练深度学习脑龄预测模型,并输入脑皮质及脑白质脑图。将IGE患者T₁WI MRI输入脑龄预测模型,获取预测脑龄。将27例未经治疗的早期IGE患者设为观察组,男18例、女9例,年龄（16.1±3.2）岁;招募与观察组年龄、性别匹配的29名健康志愿者作为对照组,男19例、女10例,年龄（16.4±4.5）岁,均行MR检查。观察项目：（1）比较IGE患者不同年龄段（10~20岁、>20~30岁、>30~40岁、>40~50岁、>50~60岁、>60~70岁）大脑的预测年龄与实际年龄的差异。（2）利用FreeSurfer软件,分析和比较观察组与对照组大脑皮质体积、厚度和表面积,以及局部形态的差异。结果 （1）IGE患者的不同年龄段中,除>30~40岁外（t=-1.58,P=0.138）,脑龄预测值均大于实际年龄,差异均有统计学意义（P值均<0.05）。（2）观察组与对照组的年龄、性别、教育程度等基线资料差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。与对照组比较,观察组大脑左、右半球皮质厚度略变薄,差异有统计学意义（t=3.91、3.40,P值均<0.01）;2组大脑半球皮质体积、表面积无明显变化,差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。与对照组相比,观察组脑区中右侧眶额皮质体积增大,无脑区皮质体积减小;右侧中央后回、左侧中央沟附近中央后回、右侧舌回后部分、左侧舌回及楔叶的皮质厚度均增加,右侧中央前回、双侧额上回（背侧）、右侧内嗅皮质的皮质厚度均减小;右侧海马旁回的皮质表面积增大,无脑区的皮质表面积减小。观察组左、右侧苍白球及右侧丘脑体积较对照组缩小,差异均有统计学意义（t=4.01、4.23、2.12,P值均<0.05）。2组左侧丘脑及双侧尾状核、壳核、海马及杏仁核体积比较,差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。结论 IGE患者在多个年龄段其脑结构都会发生异常改变。早期IGE患者的大脑皮质及皮质下核团仅发生细微结构的异常改变。     

Modifiable factors associated with changes in postpartum depressive symptoms

Up to 50% of mothers report postpartum depressive symptoms yet providers do a poor job predicting and preventing their occurrence. Our goal was to identify modifiable factors (situational triggers and buffers) associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Observational prospective cohort telephone study of 563 mothers interviewed at 2 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Mothers reported on demographic factors, physical and emotional symptoms, daily function, infant behaviors, social support, and skills in managing infant and household. Mothers were categorized into four groups based on the presence of depressive symptoms at 2 weeks and at 6 months postpartum: never, always, late onset, and remission groups. Fifty-two percent did not have depressive symptoms at 2 weeks or at 6 months (never group), 14% had symptoms at both time points (always group), 10% had late onset, and 24% had early onset of symptoms with remission. As compared with women in the never group, women in the always and late onset groups had high-risk characteristics (e.g., past history of depression), more situational triggers (e.g., physical symptoms), and less robust social and personal buffers (i.e., social support and self-efficacy). As compared with the never group, mothers in the remission group had more situational triggers and fewer buffers initially. Changes in situational triggers and buffers were different for the four groups and were correlated with group membership. Situational triggers such as physical symptoms and infant colic, and low levels of social support and self-efficacy in managing situational demands are associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to investigate whether providing education about the physical consequences of childbirth, providing social support, and teaching skills to enhance self-efficacy will reduce the incidence of postpartum symptoms of depression.     

以阳性症状为主精神分裂症患者的静息态脑功能网络特征

目的:探索以阳性症状为主的精神分裂症患者的静息态脑功能网络特征。方法:纳入符合DSM-IV精神分裂症诊断标准的以阳性症状为主患者100例和70例健康成人,采用阳性和阴性症状量表(PANSS)评估患者的临床症状,并完成静息态磁共振成像扫描。通过独立成分分析(ICA)方法比较两组听觉网络、执行网络和凸显网络间的功能连接及网络内功能连接,并对两组间存在差异的脑功能连接指标与精神病性症状和认知功能得分进行相关性分析。结果:与对照组相比,患者组听觉网络与凸显网络间的功能连接增加[(0.49±0.27)vs.(0.38±0.23)],同时听觉网络与执行网络[左侧:(-0.10±0.22 vs.(0.002±0.21);右侧:(-0.05±0.24)vs.(0.05±0.21)]及凸显网络与执行网络间功能连接[(0.001±0.28)vs.(0.11±0.24)]降低。网络内功能连接分析显示,患者组听觉网络的左侧颞上回功能连接降低,以及执行网络的脑岛和顶下小叶脑区功能连接降低。相关分析发现,前凸显网络和右执行网络间的功能连接与冲动性行为呈负相关(r=-0.24,P<0.05),听觉网络和右执行...     

Morphological changes associated with furazolidone-induced cardiomyopathy: effects of digoxin and propranolol

The purpose of the present study was to examine light microscopic data qualitatively as well as quantitatively from an animal model of dilated cardiomyopathy in the turkey. A previous study reported the gross cardioprotective effect of propranolol and the lack of cardioprotection with digoxin in furazolidone-induced cardiomyopathy. It was therefore important to define whether the response of the myocardium to therapeutic interventions differed from the structural responses seen in their absence. In furazolidone-treated birds with resultant cardiac dilation there was myocyte hypertrophy, enlargement of nuclei and reorientation of subepicardial myocardial fibres. Similar changes were noted in birds receiving both furazolidone and digoxin. However, birds receiving propranolol, a non-selective beta-receptor antagonist, and furazolidone did not demonstrate a hypertrophic response or reorientation of fibres. These data indicate that propranolol maintained myocardial morphology and morphometry and thus prevented the structural sequelae of the disease, which is a better achievement of therapy than simple arrest of the progress. A role for intracellular calcium is implied. The cardioprotective effect seen with beta blockade suggests that membrane related events may lead to the contractile dysfunction that results in dilation and cardiac hypertrophy.     

Slowed lexical access is uniquely associated with positive and disorganised symptoms in schizophrenia

Introduction: This study addressed the relationship of both semantic priming and slowed lexical access to the symptoms of schizophrenia, and evaluated their association with other neurocognitive deficits. Methods: 57 outpatients with schizophrenia and 20 nonpsychiatric control subjects performed a lexical decision semantic priming task (LDT), and a brief neuropsychological battery. The schizophrenia group was also assessed with an extended Positive and Negative Symptom Scale. Results: As expected, the schizophrenia group had significantly slower reaction times (RTs) than the control group, and poorer performance on most neuropsychological tasks. Both groups exhibited semantic priming effects in both automatic and controlled processing conditions; these effects were not significantly different between groups. RT was unrelated to age, illness duration, GAF scores, or neuroleptic dose; controlled semantic priming effects were related to illness duration only. RT to real word targets (but not to nonwords) on the LDT was significantly correlated with positive and disorganised, but not negative symptoms. The neurocognitive correlates of RT slowing were: fullscale IQ and verbal fluency, but not attention; working memory; episodic memory retrieval; executive function, or manual speed. Both controlled semantic priming effects as well as the difference between controlled and automatic priming effects were related to executive functions in general. Severity of symptoms in the three major symptom groups was generally unassociated with impairment on the neuropsychological battery. The associations of RT slowing to positive and disorganised symptoms remained even after controlling for each of the above clinical and neurocognitive measures. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in schizophrenia, slowed lexical access is uniquely related to positive and disorganised symptoms. This relationship is not accounted for by more general cognitive deficits, overall illness severity, or generalised effects of symptoms on cognitive function. This relationship may reflect a specific impairment in the access to semantic memory.     

Electrophysiological indices associated with social functioning outcome in schizophrenia: a 5-year follow-up study

We previously demonstrated that event-related potentials (ERPs), such as N1/N2b amplitudes in an auditory selective attention task, were significantly associated with communication skills of schizophrenia. The present study investigated the relationship between N1/N2b amplitudes and the quality of life (QOL) 5 years after ERP measurement. QOL of 15 patients with schizophrenia was assessed using the quality of life scale (QLS). Correlational analyses revealed a significant relationship between N2b, but not N1, amplitude and specific domains of QOL. N2b amplitude, an electrophysiological index of orienting response, may be associated with longitudinal social functioning outcome in schizophrenia.     

HLA (A-B-C and -DRB1) alleles and brain MRI changes in multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal study

Several major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles have been postulated to influence the susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as its clinical/radiological course. In this longitudinal observation, we further explored the impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I/II alleles on MS outcomes, and we tested the hypothesis that HLA DRB1*1501 might uncover different strata of MS subjects harboring distinct MHC allele associations with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures. Five hundred eighteen MS patients with two-digit HLA typing and at least one brain MRI were recruited for the study. T2-weighted hyperintense lesion volume (T2LV) and brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) were acquired at each time point. The association between allele count and MRI values was determined using linear regression modeling controlling for age, disease duration and gender. Analyses were also stratified by the presence/absence of HLA DRB1*1501. HLA DRB1*04 was associated with higher T2LV (P=0.006); after stratification, its significance remained only in the presence of HLA DRB1*1501 (P=0.012). The negative effect of HLA DRB1*14 on T2LV was exerted in DRB1*1501-negative group (P=0.012). Longitudinal analysis showed that HLA DRB1*10 was significantly protective on T2LV accrual in the presence of HLA DRB1*1501 (P=0.002). Although the majority of our results did not withstand multiple comparison correction, the differential impact of several HLA alleles in the presence/absence of HLA DRB1*1501 suggests that they may interact in determining the different phenotypic expressions of MS.     

CHRNA4 was associated with prepulse inhibition of schizophrenia in Chinese: a pilot study

Introduction: Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the auditory startle reflex, as an operational measurement used to evaluate the function of brain sensorimotor gating, appears to be a sensitive potential endophenotype for schizophrenia. CHRNA4 is highly expressed in the central nervous system and has been demonstrated to be significantly associated with schizophrenia by previous studies. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of CHRNA4 on PPI and acoustic startle parameters in schizophrenia.

Methods: 77 patients with schizophrenia and 62 controls were administered the test PPI, and 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3746372, rs1044396, and rs3787140) of CHRNA4 were genotyped in these subjects.

Results: Patients with schizophrenia showed significantly lower levels of PPI at the 120?ms prepulse intervals and longer peak latency than controls, and the GG genotype of rs3746372 and the TT genotype of rs1044396 were associated with decreased PPI levels in schizophrenia but not in controls.

Conclusion: PPI may be influenced by the polymorphisms of the CHRNA4 in schizophrenia and it may be a potential endophenotype of schizophrenia. An independent replication would greatly increase the value of this study.     

首发精神分裂症患者抑郁症状9年随访

目的:探讨首发精神分裂症病人接受抗精神病药物治疗后9年中抑郁症状的转归及与其他相关因素的关系。方法:本研究纳入符合中国精神疾病分类方案与诊断标准第二版修订本(CCMD-2-R)精神分裂症诊断标准的164例首次发病住院患者,用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、简明精神病评定量表(BPRS)、阴性症状量表中文版(SANS-CV)、临床总体印象量表(CGI)及功能总体评定量表(GAF)对患者在入院时及治疗后9年中每年进行一次评定,并据此计算缓解时间。结果:共139例患者完成随访。从治疗后的第1年起,每年末HAMD总分≥8分的患者所占比例为3.6%～13.7%,治疗后1～9年的HAM D总分均低于入院水平(P0.001)。入组时HAM D总分与治疗后9年中的缓解时间、9次年末的去除焦虑抑郁因子BPRS总分、SANS-CV、CGI及GAF分均无统计学意义相关。结论:经抗精神病药治疗1年之后,首发精神分裂症患者急性期的抑郁症状迅速减轻,此后在较低水平上略有波动;急性期抑郁症状水平不能预测精神分裂症的长期预后。     

Biochemical changes in the rat brain associated with dinitrophenol-induced brain edema.

The present paper was designed to the study of cerebral edema induced by intracarotid infusion of dinitrophenol. The determinations included variations in three lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase, cathepsin C and beta-glucuronidase), Na+-K+-ATP-ase, changes in cerebral RNA and protein concentrations and the synthesis of these macromolecules in vitro. In experimental brain edema a drastic drop in the activity of lysosomal enzymes took place. The acid phosphatase decreased to less than 30% of controls. Cathepsin C and beta-glucuronidase were reduced about 30% and 50% of control levels respectively. Protein concentration in the cerebral tissue also decreased by more than 50%. The concentration of RNA, RNA synthesis, and the level of Na+-K+-ATP-ase remained unchanged. Protein synthesis was stimulated by 75% (against controls). All these phenomena were suppressed when the animals subjected to the action of dinitrophenol were concomitantly treated with the antiacidotic substance, tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane.     

Regional brain wave activity changes associated with fatigue

Assessing brain wave activity is a viable strategy for monitoring fatigue when performing tasks such as driving, and numerous studies have been conducted in this area. However, results of a systematic review on changes in brain wave activity associated with fatigue have revealed equivocal findings. This study investigated brain wave activity associated with fatigue in 48 nonprofessional healthy drivers as they participated in a simulated driving task until they fatigued. The results showed that as a person fatigues, slow wave activity increased over the entire cortex, in theta and in alpha 1 and 2 bands, while no significant changes were found in delta wave activity. Substantial increases also occurred in fast wave activity, though mostly in frontal sites. The results suggest that as a person fatigues, the brain loses capacity and slows its activity, and that attempts to maintain vigilance levels lead to increased beta activity.     

Measuring brain hemodynamic changes in a songbird: responses to hypercapnia measured with functional MRI and near-infrared spectroscopy

Songbirds have been evolved into models of choice for the study of the cerebral underpinnings of vocal communication. Nevertheless, there is still a need for in vivo methods allowing the real-time monitoring of brain activity. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has been applied in anesthetized intact songbirds. It relies on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast revealing hemodynamic changes. Non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is based on the weak absorption of near-infrared light by biological tissues. Time-resolved femtosecond white laser NIRS is a new probing method using real-time spectral measurements which give access to the local variation of absorbing chromophores such as hemoglobins. In this study, we test the efficiency of our time-resolved NIRS device in monitoring physiological hemodynamic brain responses in a songbird, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), using a hypercapnia event (7% inhaled CO(2)). The results are compared to those obtained using BOLD fMRI. The NIRS measurements clearly demonstrate that during hypercapnia the blood oxygen saturation level increases (increase in local concentration of oxyhemoglobin, decrease in deoxyhemoglobin concentration and total hemoglobin concentration). Our results provide the first correlation in songbirds of the variations in total hemoglobin and oxygen saturation level obtained from NIRS with local BOLD signal variations.     

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome is associated with structural brain alterations on MRI

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is an autosomal recessive condition that results from mutations in the SBDS gene, at chromosome 7q11. Main features include exocrine pancreatic failure, neutropenia and skeletal dysplasia. This study investigated brain structures by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with SDS. MRI of the brain was performed in nine patients (7 males, age range 7-37 years) with SDS and mutations in the SBDS gene and in 18 age- and gender-matched controls. MRI images were assessed visually, and volumetric analyses of the brain matter and structural midsagittal measurements were performed. Eight out of nine SBDS mutation-verified patients reported learning difficulties. Patients with SDS had smaller occipitofrontal head circumferences than the controls (Z-score -1.3 vs. +0.3, P = 0.021), and decreased global brain volume (1.74 L vs. 1.94 L, P = 0.019); both gray matter (P = 0.042) and white matter (P = 0.007) volumes were reduced. Patients with SDS had no macroscopic brain malformations, but they had significantly smaller age- and head size-adjusted areas of posterior fossa (P = 0.006), vermis (P = 0.002), corpus callosum (P = 0.020), and pons (P = 0.002), and significantly larger cerebrum-vermis ratio (P < 0.0001) than the healthy controls. SDS patients had structurally smaller posterior fossa and cerebellar vermis, corpus callosum, and brainstem than the healthy controls. The MRI findings may be related to the neuropsychological features described in SDS.