Lower perturbational complexity index after transcranial magnetic stimulation in schizophrenia patients.

Background: Informational integration and differentiation of the cortex can be tested by methods such as the perturbational complexity index (PCI) combined with TMS-induced activity perturbation. The PCI is obtained by stimulating the cortex with TMS and measuring the resulting spatiotemporal cortical responses with high-density EEG.

Methods: We have compared PCI between 26 patients with schizophrenia (15 males), 15 of them First Episode (FE) (7 males), and 22 healthy controls (12 males).

Clinical and imaging spectrum of non-congenital dominant ACTN2 myopathy.

Background: Alpha-actinin-2, a protein with high expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle, is located in the Z-disc and plays a key role in sarcomere stability. Mutations in ACTN2 have been associated with both hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy and, more recently, with skeletal myopathy.

Methods: Genetic, clinical, and muscle imaging data were collected from 37 patients with an autosomal dominant ACTN2 myopathy belonging to 11 families from Spain and Belgium.

Interdisciplinary Approaches in Psychiatric Research: From Neural Dynamics to Clinical Applications in Schizophrenia.

This editorial explores the dynamic psychiatric research field by focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to understand the complexity of mental disorders by placing particular emphasis on schizophrenia. It highlights the need to integrate findings from diverse scientific disciplines, such as neuroscience, computational modeling and genomics, to unravel the multifaceted nature of these conditions. The potential of interdisciplinary research to transform our knowledge and the treatment of psychiatric disorders is underscored by moving beyond traditional models and developing more nuanced frameworks to more effectively address these complexities.

Evaluation of Crohn's Disease Activity: Validation of a Segmental Simple Ultrasound Score in a Multicenter Study.

Objective: Our objective was to validate a previously published simple ultrasound (US) score for Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: A total of 107 CD patients from 2 hospitals prospectively underwent both ileocolonoscopy (reference standard) and US as part of their clinical care. Endoscopic activity was assessed using the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) and was also categorized as absent, mild (inflammation without ulcers), or severe (presence of ulceration).