Clinical significance of increased cerebellar default-mode network connectivity in resting-state patients with drug-naive somatization disorder.

The cerebellum has been proven to be connected to the brain network, as in the default-mode network (DMN), among healthy subjects and patients with psychiatric disorders. However, whether or not abnormal cerebellar DMN connectivity exists and what its clinical significance is among drug-naive patients with somatization disorder (SD) at rest remain unclear.A total of 25 drug-naive patients with SD and 28 healthy controls were enrolled for a resting-state scan.

Patients with first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenia and subjects at ultra-high risk of psychosis shared increased cerebellar-default mode network connectivity at rest.

Increased cerebellar-default mode network (DMN) connectivity has been observed in first-episode, drug-naive patients with schizophrenia. However, it remains unclear whether increased cerebellar-DMN connectivity starts earlier than disease onset. Thirty-four ultra-high risk (UHR) subjects, 31 first-episode, drug-naive patients with schizophrenia and 37 healthy controls were enrolled for a resting-state scan.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and subsequent clozapine-withdrawal effects in a patient with refractory schizophrenia.

Here, we report a female patient developing neuroleptic malignant syndrome following the use of a combination of clozapine and haloperidol. Subsequently, the patient presented withdrawal effects after an abrupt discontinuation of clozapine. Psychiatrists not aware of possible clozapine-withdrawal effects may misdiagnose as a part of the primary mental illness or as the initial symptoms worsening, if unrecognized.

The comparison of glycometabolism parameters and lipid profiles between drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.

To compare the difference in body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and glucose and lipid metabolism parameters between drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls matched for age, ethnicity and gender, we conducted a test including BMI, WHR, and fasting glucose and lipid metabolism parameters in both 70 drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia patients, having not a single day of cumulative exposure to antipsychotic medications and 44 normal healthy controls at baseline. Student's t tests (two tailed) were conducted to examine between group differences. We found that drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia patients had higher insulin, insulin resistance and C-peptide levels, and had lower total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and apolipoproteinA1 levels.

Serum uric acid levels and the clinical characteristics of depression.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the correlation between serum uric acid (UA) levels and the clinical characteristics of depression.

Design And Methods: The serum UA levels were measured in 124 patients with depression, 660 patients with different types of other mental disorders (OMD) and 42 healthy subjects. Clinical characteristics of depression and OMD were also investigated.