Search

IntroductionSchizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by impairment in reasoning, affectivity, and social relationships. Previous studies have shown delayed motor development and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) level change in individuals with schizophrenia. We researched the month of walking alone (MWA) and BDNF level between drug-naive first-episode schizophrenia patients (FEP) and healthy control (HC), as well as how they behave in neurocognitive function and severity of symptoms. Predictors of schizophrenia were further explored too.MethodsWe researched the MWA and BDNF levels between FEP and HCs in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from August 2017 to January 2020, as well as how they behave in neurocognitive function and the severity of symptoms. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the risk factors affecting the onset and treatment outcome of schizophrenia.ResultsWe find that FEP showed a walking delay and lower BDNF levels compared to HCs, which were associated with cognitive impairment and severity of symptoms. According to the difference and correlation analysis results, and combined with the appropriate application conditions for binary logistic regression, Wechsler Intelligence Scale Picture completion, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, and Trail Making Test: part A were added to the binary logistic regression analysis to distinguish FEP and HCs.ConclusionOur study has shown delayed motor development and changes in BDNF levels in schizophrenia, extending insight into the early identification of patients with schizophrenia versus healthy populations.

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops in China, but floods bring substantial decreases in production over the past several decades. In order to investigate the mechanisms of waterlogging resistance in mutant hot pepper, we measured the agronomic traits of mutant and wild-type, as well as the activities of root antioxidant enzymes and the contents of osmotic regulation substance. At the same time, we did transcriptome sequencing on the plant roots, and screened for differentially expressed genes between mutant and wild-type. The results showed that, under waterlogging stress, the mutants could grow normally, and the activities of their superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione reductase were significantly increased, as well as the contents of proline and soluble sugar. The accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydroxyl radical in mutants was significantly reduced. Among the 61 differentially expressed genes from transcriptome analysis, 24 genes were up-regulated and 37 genes were down-regulated in mutants. After functional analysis, we found 8 genes related to the metabolism of endogenous hormone and protective enzymes, among which, auxin-induced protein related gene cap.ARATH, ethylene response related gene Cap.RAP2, MYB family related gene Cap.MYB1R1, and the 4 genes related to peroxidase Cap.POD, were significantly up-regulated in mutants, while the Capana01g001329 gene was down-regulated. These results suggest that under waterlogging stress, the mutant could enhance its resistance to waterlogging by regulating the genes involved in metabolism of endogenous hormones and protective enzymes. This study provides the scientific basis for elucidating the gene regulation network of mutant pepper under waterlogging stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundDysregulation of immunity, such as levels of inflammatory factors, has been regarded as a sign of schizophrenia. Changes in cytokine levels are not only described in the early onset of disease, but also observed in ultra-high risk (UHR) individuals. This study aimed to investigate the potential of cytokines as biomarkers for psychotic disorders and in individuals at UHR of developing a psychotic disorder in the future.MethodsThe Luminex liquid chip technology was used to detect the concentrations of Interferon-gamma (INF-γ), Interleukin (IL)-2, Interleukin (IL)-4, Interleukin (IL)-6, Interleukin (IL)-17, Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-beta (TNF-β) in the plasma of all subjects. Meanwhile, the plasma level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) was measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Then, the levels of these cytokines were compared among patients with Drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia (FES; n = 40), UHR population (UHR; n = 49), and healthy controls (HCs; n = 30). Baseline cytokine levels were compared among UHR individuals who later transitioned (UHR-T; n = 14), those who did not transition (UHR-NT; n = 35), and HCs (n = 30).ResultsOur analysis results showed that IL-1β levels were significantly higher in UHR group than HC group (p = 0.015). Meanwhile, TNF-α concentration was significantly increased in FES group compared with HC group (p = 0.027). IL-17 (p = 0.04) and TNF-β (p = 0.008) levels were significantly higher in UHR-T group compared with UHR-NT group.ConclusionIn conclusion, our findings suggest that the immuno-inflammatory activation level is increased in the early stage of psychosis before psychotic conversion and the Drug-naïve FES. IL-1β and TNF-α are the representatives of the specific biomarkers for UHR and FES, respectively. IL-17 and TNF-β may be the potential selective predictive biomarkers for future transition in UHR individuals.

BackgroundIndividuals who experience the prodromal phase of schizophrenia (SCZ), a common and complex psychiatric disorder, are referred to as ultra-high-risk (UHR) individuals. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) is imperative in the microbiota-gut-brain axis and brain function. Accumulating amount of evidence shows the connections between psychiatric disorders and SCFAs. This study aims to explore the underlying roles SCFAs play in SCZ by investigating the association of alterations in SCFAs concentrations with common cognitive functions in both the SCZ and UHR populations.MethodsThe study recruited 59 SCZ patients (including 15 participants converted from the UHR group), 51 UHR participants, and 40 healthy controls (HC) within a complete follow-up of 2 years. Results of cognitive functions, which were assessed by utilizing HVLT-R and TMT, and serum concentrations of SCFAs were obtained for all participants and for UHR individuals at the time of their conversion to SCZ.ResultsFifteen UHR participants converted to SCZ within a 2-year follow-up. Valeric acid concentration levels were lower in both the baseline of UHR individuals whom later converted to SCZ (p = 0.046) and SCZ patients (p = 0.036) than the HC group. Additionally, there were lower concentrations of caproic acid in the baseline of UHR individuals whom later transitioned to SCZ (p = 0.019) and the UHR group (p = 0.016) than the HC group. Furthermore, the caproic acid levels in the UHR group are significantly positively correlated with immediate memory (r = 0.355, p = 0.011) and negatively correlated with TMT-B (r = -0.366, p = 0.009). Significant differences in levels of acetic acid, butyric acid and isovaleric acid were absent among the three groups and in UHR individuals before and after transition to SCZ.ConclusionOur study suggests that alterations in concentrations of SCFAs may be associated with the pathogenesis and the cognitive impairment of schizophrenia. Further researches are warranted to explore this association. The clinical implications of our findings were discussed.

Objective To assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of modified 'Huoxue Shugan' (HXSG) formulas used as Chinese herbal medicine in treating patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and depression. Methods A systematic literature search of articles up to March 2018 will be performed in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System and Wanfang Database. Inclusion criteria are as follows: randomised controlled trials of modified HXSG formulas in patients with CHD and depression. The primary outcome measures will be CHD-related clinical evaluation (frequency of acute angina, severity of angina pectoris, ECG changes, dose of nitroglycerin) and the scores or amount of reduction in scales measuring depression (ie, the Hamilton Depression Scale or other widely used depression scales). The safety outcome measures will be adverse events, liver and kidney function. RevMan V.5.3 software will be used for data synthesis, sensitivity analyses, subgroup analyses and risk of bias assessment. A funnel plot will be developed to evaluate reporting bias. Stata V.12.0 will be used for meta-regression and Egger tests. We will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system to assess the quality of evidence. Ethics and dissemination This systematic review does not require ethics approval and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018089641. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive symptoms are marked features of schizophrenia, and emerging evidence has suggested that abnormalities of the brain network underlying these symptoms may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of the disease. We constructed two brain functional networks based on the positive and negative correlations between positive symptom scores and brain connectivity in drug-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES, n = 45) by using a machine-learning approach (connectome-based predictive modeling, CPM). The accuracy of the model was r = 0.47 (p = 0.002). The positively and negatively associated network strengths were then compared among FES subjects, individuals at genetic high risk (GHR, n = 41) for schizophrenia, and healthy controls (HCs, n = 48). The results indicated that the positively associated network contained more cross-subnetwork connections (96.02% of 176 edges), with a focus on the default-mode network (DMN)-salience network (SN) and the DMN-frontoparietal task control (FPT) network. The negatively associated network had fewer cross-subnetwork connections (71.79% of 117 edges) and focused on the sensory/somatomotor hand (SMH)-Cingulo opercular task control (COTC) network, the DMN, and the visual network with significantly decreased connectivity in the COTC-SMH network in FES (FES < GHR, p = 0.01; FES < HC, p = 0.01). Additionally, the connectivity strengths of the right supplementary motor area (SMA) (p < 0.001) and the right precentral gyrus (p < 0.0001) were reduced in FES. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to generate two brain networks associated with positive symptoms by utilizing CPM in FES. Abnormal segregation, interactions of brain subnetworks, and impaired SMA might lead to salience attribution abnormalities and, thus, as a result, induce positive symptoms in schizophrenia.

Copyright of Agricultural Science & Technology is the property of Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The glutamatergic system has previously been shown to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the mechanisms of action of antipsychotic treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the levels of glutamate (Glu) or Glu/total creatine (Glu/Cr+PCr) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and psychiatric symptoms as well as the response to antipsychotic treatment. We performed proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H–MRS) to measure Glu and Glu/Cr+PCr in the ACC of 35 drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and 40 well-matched healthy controls (HCs). After scanning, we treated the patients with risperidone for eight weeks. Remission status was based on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores at week 8. At baseline, there were no significant differences in the levels of Glu or Glu/Cr+PCr in the ACC between drug-naïve FES patients and HCs. Lower baseline levels of Glu/Cr+PCr but not Glu in the ACC were associated with more severe negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Compared to the remission group (RM), the non-remission group (NRM) had lower baseline ACC Glu levels (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that ACC Glu levels may be related to the severity of symptoms in the early stages of schizophrenia and therefore may be a marker with which to evaluate the treatment effect of antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients.

In this paper, a plane pendulum model is proposed to investigate the lateral vibration of a suspension bridge under crowd excitation. The plane model consists of two strings and a rigid body, which represent cables and the bridge deck, respectively. The lateral force induced by crowd is expressed as a cosine function with random phase. Comparing with other existing pedestrian-footbridge interaction models, the proposed model has two features: one is that the structural characteristics of the suspension bridge are taken into account. The other is that the expression of the lateral force induced by crowd has a unified form for different lateral bridge amplitudes. By numerically analyzing the solution stability of the plane model, we exhibit the whole changing process how a suspension bridge increases its lateral amplitude from small to large. It is shown that the worst case occurs when the lateral natural frequency of the bridge is half the lateral step frequency of the pedestrians. Based on the analysis results, the plane pendulum model can be easily used to explain why the central span of the London Millennium Bridge has large lateral oscillations at about 0.48 Hz.