International perspective on social cognition in schizophrenia: current stage and the next steps.

In the last decades, research from cognitive science, clinical psychology, psychiatry, and social neuroscience has provided mounting evidence that several social cognitive abilities are impaired in people with schizophrenia and contribute to functional difficulties and poor clinical outcomes. Social dysfunction is a hallmark of the illness, and yet, social cognition is seldom assessed in clinical practice or targeted for treatment. In this article, 17 international experts, from three different continents and six countries with expertise in social cognition and social neuroscience in schizophrenia, convened several meetings to provide clinicians with a summary of the most recent international research on social cognition evaluation and treatment in schizophrenia, and to lay out primary recommendations and procedures that can be integrated into their practice.

Esketamine Treatment Trajectory of Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression in the Mid and Long-Term Run: Data from REAL-ESK Study Group.

Introduction/objective: Data on long-term treatment with Esketamine Nasal Spray (ESKNS) in real-world patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD) is scarce. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of ESK-NS treatment at 6 and 12-month follow-ups.

Methods: This is part of an observational, retrospective, multicentric Italian study (REAL-ESK study).

Neuropsychological Effects of the Lockdown Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Their Caregivers: The "ACQUA" (Alzheimer-COVID QUArantine Questionnaire) Study.

Background: The lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, imposed in many countries in 2021, led to social isolation and the interruption of many activities that were useful in stimulating cognition. The impact of these changes has been particularly severe in older subjects with cognitive impairment.

Methods: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of lockdown on Alzheimer's disease patients (in cognition, behavior, and autonomy) and on their caregivers (in emotions, burden, and quality of life).

Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression-A Narrative Review.

Background And Objective: It is commonly known that there is a connection between heart disease and depression symptoms. Compared to heart failure patients without concurrent depression, those with depressive symptoms are more likely to have longer hospital stays and more outpatient visits following discharge. Although the exact neurobiological mechanisms causing the correlation between heart disease and depression symptoms are unknown, it is thought that vascular abnormalities may be a major factor.

A stratified treatment algorithm in psychiatry: a program on stratified pharmacogenomics in severe mental illness (Psych-STRATA): concept, objectives and methodologies of a multidisciplinary project funded by Horizon Europe.

Schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar (BD) and major depression disorder (MDD) are severe psychiatric disorders that are challenging to treat, often leading to treatment resistance (TR). It is crucial to develop effective methods to identify and treat patients at risk of TR at an early stage in a personalized manner, considering their biological basis, their clinical and psychosocial characteristics. Effective translation of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice is essential for achieving this goal.

Well-Being and Mental Health: Where Do We Stand After COVID-19 Pandemic?

Mental health encompasses the ability to cope with important stresses of life and to realize one's abilities in the community, and the COVID-19 pandemic represented a very stressful event for people with mental illnesses. Our aim was to assess mental well-being in people living with different mental disorders, comparing results obtained in 2016 with those observed after the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety-six participants were assessed using the Mental Health Continuum Short Form and classified as "flourishing," "moderately mentally healthy," and "languishing.

Exploring nanotechnology solutions for improved outcomes in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Objectives: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, the most prevalent mesenchymal tumors (80 %) of the gastrointestinal tract, comprise less than 1 % of all gastrointestinal neoplasms and about 5 % of all sarcomas. Despite their rarity, Gastrointestinal stromal tumors present diverse clinical manifestations, anatomic locations, histological subtypes, and prognostic outcomes.

Methods: This scoping review comprehensively explores the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic and prognostic modalities, as well as new therapeutic options for Gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Is It Possible to Combine Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation and Evidence-Based Psychosocial Interventions in Schizophrenia? A Critical Review.

In schizophrenia, it was suggested that an integrated and multimodal approach, combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, could improve functional outcomes and clinical features in patients living with schizophrenia (PLWS). Among these alternatives, evidence-based psychosocial interventions (EBPIs) and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) represent feasible treatment options targeting the clinical features that are unmet needs of PLWS (especially negative and cognitive symptoms). As no clear evidence is available on the combination of these non-pharmacological approaches, this review aimed to collect the available literature on the combination of EBPIs and NIBS in the treatment of PLWS.

Widespread Adoption of Precision Anticancer Therapies After Implementation of Pathologist-Directed Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Across a Large US Health System.

Purpose: Precision therapies and immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer care, with novel genomic biomarker-associated therapies being introduced into clinical practice rapidly, resulting in notable gains in patient survival. Despite this, there is significant variability in the utilization of tumor molecular profiling that spans the timing of test ordering, comprehensiveness of gene panels, and clinical decision support through therapy and trial recommendations.

Methods: To standardize testing, we designed a pathologist-directed test ordering system at the time of diagnosis using a 523-gene DNA/RNA hybrid comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) panel and extensive clinical decision support tools.

Treatment satisfaction and effectiveness of Lurasidone on quality of life and functioning in adult patients with schizophrenia in the real-world Italian clinical practice: a prospective 3-month observational study.

Background: Although second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) have proven to be effective therapeutic options for patients with schizophrenia, there is a notable lack of evidence on patients' subjective perspectives regarding their well-being, quality of life, and satisfaction with these medications. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment satisfaction and effectiveness of lurasidone on quality of life and functioning in adult patients with schizophrenia in real-world Italian clinical practice.

Methods: This was a multicentre, national, non-interventional, single-arm, 3-month prospective study.

The economic burden of schizophrenia spectrum disorders: clinical and functional correlates and predictors of direct costs. A retrospective longitudinal study.

The economic burden of schizophrenia amounts for 1.5-3 % of healthcare expenses in developed countries, and ∼50 % derives from direct costs: 81 % of these are due to hospitalization, residential facilities and semi-residential facilities. Therefore, a better characterization of variables that influence direct costs represents a relevant issue.

Compression Behavior of 3D Printed Composite Isogrid Structures.

Composite materials, particularly carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), have become a cornerstone in industries requiring high-performance materials due to their exceptional mechanical properties, such as high strength-to-weight ratios, and their inherent lightweight nature. These attributes make CFRPs highly desirable in aerospace, automotive, and other advanced engineering applications. However, the compressive behavior of CFRP structures remains a challenge, primarily due to the material sensitivity to structural instability, leading to matrix cracking and premature failure under compressive loads.

Changes in Digestive Health, Satiety and Overall Well-Being after 14 Days of a Multi-Functional GI Primer Supplement.

A recent review proposed a role for multi-functional food or supplement products in priming the gut to support both digestive and systemic health. Accordingly, we designed and eva-luated the effect of a multi-functional gastrointestinal (GI) primer supplement on participant-reported measures for digestive health, quality-of-life (e.g.

Insulin-resistance as a modifiable pathway to cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia: A systematic review.

Background: Cognitive deficits are difficult to treat and negatively influence quality of life and functional outcomes of persons with schizophrenia. In the last twenty years, extensive literature demonstrated that persons with diabetes and insulin resistance (IR) also display cognitive deficits. Being type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and IR highly frequent in persons with schizophrenia, it is plausible to hypothesize that these conditions might play a role in determining dyscognition.

The Relationship between Cognitive Impairment and Violent Behavior in People Living with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Critical Review and Treatment Considerations.

Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Violent and aggressive behavior represents a complex issue in psychiatry, and people with SSD have been shown to be at risk of being both victims and perpetrators of violence. In this review, the complex relationship between cognitive impairment and violent behavior is explored, also considering the usefulness of treating cognitive impairment to improve violence-related outcomes.

Treatment of Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: New Evidence, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) represents one of the core features of the disorder and has a significant impact on functional and rehabilitation outcomes of people living with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). The aim of this critical review is to highlight the most recent evidence on effective treatments available for CIAS, to discuss the current challenges in this field, and to present future perspectives that may help to overcome them. Concerning psychopharmacological approaches, among the most indicated strategies for the management and prevention of CIAS is to favor second-generation antipsychotic medications and avoid long-term and high-dose treatments with anticholinergic medications and benzodiazepines.