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Firmly held beliefs that have a delusional quality are commonly experienced in those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and have been reported in those with dissociative identity disorder (DID). However, no study to date has compared delusional belief content and characteristics between these diagnostic groups. This study examined delusional content, and the degree of conviction, preoccupation and distress associated with them in 50 participants with DID and 50 with an SSD exploring also dissociation and childhood trauma as predictors of delusional beliefs. Multivariate analysis of variance and linear regressions were conducted to explore differences between beliefs and characteristics and to examine their association with dissociation and childhood trauma. The SSD sample presented more self-referential delusional beliefs and characteristics compared to the DID group. Yet, the DID group had more mistrust delusional beliefs and characteristics in comparison to SSD participants. Mistrust beliefs were predicted by depersonalization/derealization in the DID sample, but did not predict any delusional belief in the SSD sample. The content of fixed beliefs differs between DID and SSD samples and in this study depersonalization/derealization experiences were related to mistrust beliefs but not to other delusional forms, and only in the DID sample. • SSD participants presented more delusional beliefs overall than DID participants. • SSD participants showed higher self-referential beliefs than DID participants. • DID participants showed higher mistrust beliefs than SSD participants. • Depersonalization/Derealization was related with mistrust belief in the DID sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KIT is a receptor tyrosine kinase that after binding to its ligand stem cell factor activates signaling cascades linked to biological processes such as proliferation, differentiation, migration and cell survival. Based on studies performed on SCF and/or KIT mutant animals that presented anemia, sterility, and/or pigmentation disorders, KIT signaling was mainly considered to be involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis, gametogenesis, and melanogenesis. More recently, novel animal models and ameliorated cellular and molecular techniques have led to the discovery of a widen repertoire of tissue compartments and functions that are being modulated by KIT. This is the case for the lung, heart, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, kidney, liver, and bone. For this reason, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors that were originally developed for the treatment of hemato-oncological diseases are being currently investigated for the treatment of non-oncological disorders such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and alzheimer's disease, among others. The beneficial effects of some of these tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been proven to depend on KIT inhibition. This review will focus on KIT expression and regulation in healthy and pathologic conditions other than cancer. Moreover, advances in the development of anti-KIT therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and their application will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the prevalence of persecutory, grandiose, reference, control, and religious delusions in adult clinical populations worldwide and whether they differed according to country characteristics or age, gender, or year of publication. 123 studies met inclusion criteria, across 30 countries; 102 (115 samples, n = 20,979) were included in the main random-effects meta-analysis of studies measuring multiple delusional themes (21 in a separate analysis of studies in recording a single theme). Persecutory delusions were most common (pooled point estimate: 64.5%, CI = 60.6–68.3, k = 106, followed by reference (39.7%, CI 34.5–45.3, k = 65), grandiose (28.2, CI 24.8–31.9, k = 100), control 21.6%, CI 17.8–26.0, k = 53), and religious delusions 18.3%, CI 15.4–21.6, k = 50). Data from studies recording one theme were broadly consistent with these findings. There were no effects for study quality or publication date. Prevalences were higher in samples exclusively with psychotic patients but did not differ between developed and developing countries, or by country individualism, power distance, or prevalence of atheism. Religious and control delusions were more prevalent in countries with higher income inequality. We hypothesize that these delusional themes reflect universal human dilemmas and existential challenges. • The most prevalent delusional themes are persecutory (64.5%), reference (39.7%), grandiose (28.2%), control (21.6%), and religious (18.3%). • All five types of delusions were more common in samples restricted specifically to psychotic patients. • The prevalence of different delusional themes was unaffected by sociodemographic and cultural features of the samples. • These themes may reflect affected psychosocial mechanisms that have evolved to allow humans to cope with life dilemmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyaluronan (HA) is the major glycosaminoglycan in the extra-cellular matrix. During inflammation, there is an increased breakdown of HA, resulting in the accumulation of low molecular weight (LMW) HA and activation of monocytes and macrophages. Eicosanoids, derived from the cytosolic phospholipase A2 group IVA (cPLA2α) activation, are potent lipid mediators also attributed to acute and chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of LMW HA on cPLA2α activation, arachidonic acid (AA) release, and subsequent eicosanoid production and to examine the receptors and downstream mechanisms involved in these processes inmonocytes and differently polarized macrophages. LMWHA was a potent stimulant of AA release in a time- anddose-dependentmanner, induced cPLA2α,ERK1/2, p38, and JNK phosphorylation, as well as activated COX2 expression and prostaglandin (PG) E2 production in primary human monocytes, murine RAW 264.7, and wild-type bone marrow-derived macrophages. Specific cPLA2α inhibitor blocked HA-induced AA release and PGE2 production in all of these cells. Using CD44, TLR4, TLR2, MYD88, RHAMM or STAB2 siRNA-transfectedmacrophages andmonocytes,we found that AA release, cPLA2α, ERK1/2, p38, and JNK phosphorylation, COX2 expression, and PGE2 production were activated by LMW HA through a TLR4/MYD88 pathway. Likewise,/ PGE2 production and COX2 expression were blocked inTlr4-/- and Myd88-/- mice, but not in Cd44-/- mice, after LMW HA stimulation. Moreover, we demonstrated that LMW HA activated the M1 high macrophage phenotype with the unique cPLA2α/COX2high and lCOX1/ALOX15/ALOX5/LTA4Hlow gene and PGE2/PGD215-HETEhigh and LXA4low eicosanoid profile. These findings reveal a novel link between HA-mediated inflammation and lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]