Gut and oral microbiome modulate molecular and clinical markers of schizophrenia-related symptoms: A transdiagnostic, multilevel pilot study.

Although increasing evidence links microbial dysbiosis with the risk for psychiatric symptoms through the microbiome-gut-brain axis (MGBA), the specific mechanisms remain poorly characterized. In a diagnostically heterogeneous group of treated psychiatric cases and nonpsychiatric controls, we characterized the gut and oral microbiome, plasma cytokines, and hippocampal inflammatory processes via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (H-MRSI). Using a transdiagnostic approach, these data were examined in association with schizophrenia-related symptoms measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Patient-reported exposures and outcomes link the gut-brain axis and inflammatory pathways to specific symptoms of severe mental illness.

Unlabelled: We developed a "gut-brain-axis questionnaire" (GBAQ) to obtain standardized person-specific "review of systems" data for microbiome-gut-brain-axis studies. Individual items were compared to PANSS symptom measures using dimensional, transdiagnostic and traditional categorical approaches.

Method: Forty psychotic participants, independent of diagnoses, and 42 without psychosis (18 nonpsychotic affective disorders, 24 healthy controls) completed the GBAQ and underwent research diagnostic and symptom assessments.

The Differential Contribution of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Perceived Discrimination on Substance Use among Hispanic Emerging Adults.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are widely documented risk factors for substance use among Hispanic emerging adults. Studies seldom examine whether distinct ACEs differentially relate to substance use in emerging adulthood, and if said association varies in the context of additional stressors disproportionately experienced by Hispanic people. This examination is necessary for understanding the etiology of substance use disorders and related outcomes among Hispanic individuals.

An integrative study of the microbiome gut-brain-axis and hippocampal inflammation in psychosis: Persistent effects from mode of birth.

Unlabelled: The mechanism producing psychosis appears to include hippocampal inflammation, which could be associated with the microbiome-gut-brain-axis (MGBS). To test this hypothesis we are conducting a multidisciplinary study, herein described. The procedures are illustrated with testing of a single subject and group level information on the impact of C-section birth are presented.