Objective: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key factor known to mediate neuronal proliferation, differentiation, survival and response to stress. Decreases in BDNF levels have been reported in schizophrenia, but studies in treatment naïve patients are few. Herein we report on serum BDNF levels in a series of patients with first-episode treatment naïve psychoses in comparison to age matched healthy controls.
Method: Fasting serum BDNF levels were measured in 41 patients with treatment naive first episode psychosis (24 with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or schizophreniform disorder, and 17 with non-schizophrenia psychotic disorders) and 41 age-matched healthy controls.
Results: A three group analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) showed a diagnosis effect (p=.038) in which patients with schizophrenia had lesser serum BDNF levels than patient with non-schizophrenia psychosis, who in turn had lesser BDNF levels than matched healthy controls. Planned two-group ANCOVAs suggested that patients with schizophrenia had lower serum BDNF level than matched controls (p=.016), whereas patients with non-schizophrenia psychosis did not differ from controls. There were no age effects on BDNF, but there was a trend (p=.08) for a gender by group interaction with greater reductions in female patients with schizophrenia. The BDNF levels did not correlate with magnitude of smoking, body mass index, severity of positive and negative symptoms or overall functioning.
Conclusions: Serum BDNF may be reduced at the onset of psychosis but its role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia remains unclear. Elucidating the role of BDNF in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders may provide an important therapeutic target. Further studies are also needed to examine if patients with schizophrenia have more pronounced reductions in BDNF than those with affective psychosis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2009.12.035 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
December 2024
Neurobiota Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Korea.
To understand the action mechanism of probiotics against postmenopausal symptoms, we examined the effects of Lactococcus lactis P32 (P) and Bifidobacterium bifidum P45 (P), which suppressed interleukin (IL)-6 and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) ligand (RNAKL) expression in Gardnerella vaginalis (Gv)-stimulated macrophages, on vaginitis, osteoporosis, and depression/cognitive impairment (DC) in mice with vaginally infected Gv, ovariectomy (Ov), or Ov/Gv (oG). Oral administration of P or P decreased Gv-induced DC-like behavior and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, RANK, and/or RANKL expression in the vagina, bone, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and colon, while Gv-suppressed bone osteoprotegerin and brain serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels increased. They partially shifted vaginal and gut dysbiosis in Gv-infected mice to the gut microbiota composition in normal control mice.
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December 2024
Department of Drug Prohibition and Public Security, Criminal Investigation Police University of China, Shenyang, 110035, China.
Methamphetamine use disorder has emerged as a significant public health concern globally. This study endeavors to elucidate the alterations in expression changes of miRNAs in the plasma of methamphetamine use disorder and elucidate the alterations in miRNA expression in the plasma of individuals with methamphetamine use disorder and investigate the relationship between these differentially expressed miRNAs and the disorder itself, cravings for methamphetamine, and associated mental disorders. Furthermore, the study seeks to clarify the expression of downstream target molecules of specific miRNAs in the plasma of methamphetamine use disorder, assess the diagnostic utility of these miRNAs and their target molecules, explore their potential as biomarkers, and identify potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of methamphetamine use disorder.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurosci Lett
December 2024
Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai, India. Electronic address:
An enriched environment (EE) constitutes a proficient strategy that instigates social, cognitive, and motor faculties, fostering healing and heightening learning and memory function after ischemia, while fucoidan derived from brown seaweed encompasses a diverse array of bioactivities and is known to possess neuroprotective properties. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of combining fucoidan and EE in a rat model of vascular dementia to overcome cognitive challenges. The rats were randomly assigned as Sham, Lesion - 4-vessel occlusion (4VO) i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Surg Res
December 2024
Department of Physiology, Marmara University, School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye.
Introduction: High mortality and morbidity of neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) necessitates the investigation of novel therapies to improve outcomes. It was aimed to elucidate the potential therapeutic effect of estrogen receptor agonists on NEC-induced intestinal and brain injury in rats.
Methods: Sprague-Dawley pups of both sexes were separated from their mothers at postnatal 5 d.
Brain Stimul
December 2024
Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China. Electronic address:
Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious complication in elderly patients after major surgery, associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment and prevention methods are limited. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) shows potential in enhancing cognitive function and improving consciousness.
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