Adiponectin and Stnfr2 peripheral levels are associated with cardiovascular risk in patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives: To investigate the association between cytokine peripheral levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with schizophrenia and controls.

Methods: A sample of 40 patients and 40 control subjects participated in the study. Psychiatric diagnosis was established following structured clinical assessment.

Vision-Related Quality Of Life And Depression In Brazilian Patients With Toxoplasmic Retinochoroiditis.

Purpose: To investigate visual-related quality of life (VRQL) and prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in Brazilian individuals with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TRC).

Design: Comparative observational cross-sectional study. The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were applied to respectively assess VRQL and depression in individuals consecutively seen at a uveitis referral center.

Cannabinoid receptor gene polymorphisms and cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia and controls.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that genetic variations of cannabinoid receptors contribute to the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Methods: In this genetic association case-control study, cannabinoid receptor polymorphisms CNR1 rs12720071 and CNR2 rs2229579 were tested for association with neurocognitive performance in 69 patients with schizophrenia and 45 healthy controls. Neurocognition was assessed by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS).

Investigating potential associations between neurocognition/social cognition and oxidative stress in schizophrenia.

Introduction: Deficits in neurocognition and social cognition play a critical role in the functional impairment of patients with schizophrenia. Increased oxidative stress has been evidenced in schizophrenia. Increased oxidative stress can affect neuronal function and lead to impairments in neurocognitive functions (especially working memory) and social cognition.

The association of cognitive performance and IL-6 levels in schizophrenia is influenced by age and antipsychotic treatment.

Recent findings suggest that cognitive impairment can be associated with inflammation and immune changes in schizophrenia. We aimed to study possible associations between cytokine levels and cognitive performance in a sample of patients with schizophrenia. Cognition was assessed with the brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia in 63 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia.

Lower circulating levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in patients with schizophrenia.

This study aimed at evaluating changes in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in patients with schizophrenia in comparison with controls. Plasma levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) and Ang II were assessed in 25 patients with schizophrenia and 20 controls. Patients with schizophrenia presented decreased levels of ACE compared to controls [median (25th-75th percentiles) = 434.

Serum levels of interleukin-33 and its soluble form receptor (sST2) are associated with cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective: Changes in immune system have been reported in schizophrenia. This study aimed to evaluate the involvement of IL-33, a member of the IL-1 cytokine family, in schizophrenia and its association with cognitive performance in these patients.

Methods: Forty patients with chronic schizophrenia and 40 healthy subjects participated in the study.

Cannabinoid receptors on peripheral leukocytes from patients with schizophrenia: Evidence for defective immunomodulatory mechanisms.

Objectives: to evaluate cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) expression on peripheral immune cells, i.e., blood monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and NK cells, and their relationship to a wide range of serum cytokine levels in subjects with schizophrenia and controls.

Peripheral levels of angiotensins are associated with depressive symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Background: The pathogenesis of PD remains elusive. The renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) has recently been implicated in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. This study aimed to compare plasma levels of components of the RAS of individuals with PD with controls.