Investigation of serum BDNF levels in alcohol withdrawal syndrome with and without other medical co-morbidities.

Introduction: Consequences of alcohol use disorder (AUD) are associated with mental and somatic burdens that result in alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), with 30% of AWS cases leading to life-threatening delirium tremens (DTs). So far, biomarkers for tracking abstinence syndrome that are useful in clinical practice have yet to be detected. Current research focuses on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) effects on neurogenesis, modulation of plasticity, and its role in the pathogenesis of AWS and DTs.

Metabolic Syndrome and Adipokines Profile in Bipolar Depression.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a growing social, economic, and health problem. MS coexists with nearly half of all patients with affective disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the neurobiological parameters (clinical, anthropometric, biochemical, adipokines levels, and ultrasound of carotid arteries) and their relationship with the development of MS in patients with bipolar disorder.

Disorders of Endogenous and Exogenous Antioxidants in Neurological Diseases.

In diseases of the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), and even epilepsy and migraine, oxidative stress load commonly surpasses endogenous antioxidative capacity. While oxidative processes have been robustly implicated in the pathogenesis of these diseases, the significance of particular antioxidants, both endogenous and especially exogenous, in maintaining redox homeostasis requires further research. Among endogenous antioxidants, enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase are central to disabling free radicals, thereby preventing oxidative damage to cellular lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Changes in Adipokine, Resitin, and BDNF Concentrations in Treatment-Resistant Depression after Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Objectives: One of the current challenges in psychiatry is the search for answers on how to effectively manage drug-resistant depression. The occurrence of drug resistance in patients is an indication for the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This method is highly effective and usually results in relatively quick health improvement.

Studies on candidate genes for lithium prophylaxis performed at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences.

Lithium is a drug of choice as a mood-stabilizer for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. The prophylactic efficacy of lithium can be determined by genetic factors, partially related to a predisposition to bipolar disorder. In the field of psychiatric genetics, the first decade of the 21st century was dominated by the "candidate gene" research.