Correlations between Immunoinflammatory Factor Levels and Cognitive Functions and Brain Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features among Patients with Primary Schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with significant cognitive impairment. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia remain unclear. Based on the latest concept of cognition, immunoinflammatory factors and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) features of the brain are considered markers of schizophrenia.

Association of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level and early response to antipsychotic drug in first-episode patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives: To investigate the role of Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the psychotic symptoms in first-episode patients with schizophrenia and whether BDNF levels were associated with the improvement of psychotic symptoms after risperidone treatment.

Methods: 89 schizophrenia patients and 90 healthy controls were recruited, the schizophrenia patients were assigned into early response or early non-response groups at 2 weeks based on improvement in the positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS) total score. All patients were treated with risperidone for 2 weeks, their serum BDNF levels were compared at baseline and after 2 weeks treatment.

Occurrence of macroprolactinemia in schizophrenia patients treated with risperidone or amisulpride.

Objective: To investigate macroprolactinemia caused by antipsychotics and its clinical significance.

Methods: A total of 133 patients with schizophrenia were selected, all of whom were treated with either risperidone or amisulpride alone. The levels of total prolactin (T-PRL) and macroprolactin (MPRL) were measured before treatment as well as the second, fourth, and sixth weeks of treatment.

Risk factors for medication-induced amenorrhea in first-episode female Chinese patients with schizophrenia treated with risperidone.

Background: Amenorrhea is a common adverse effect of treatment with antipsychotic medications that influences both fertility and adherence to medication regimens. Most research suggests that medication-induced prolactinemia is the main cause of amenorrhea but few prospective studies have assessed this hypothesis.

Aim: Identify risk factors for amenorrhea following treatment with antipsychotic medication.

[Glycometabolism of patients with depression at first episode].

Objective: To investigate glycometabolism of patients with depression at first episode.

Methods: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 100 patients with depression at first episode and 50 healthy subjects; the levels of fast blood plasma insulin were also measured.

Result: There were no statistically significant differences in fast blood plasma insulin levels and postprandial blood glucose levels at 0 h, 1 h and 3 h (P>0.