Secondary carnitine deficiency during refeeding in severely malnourished patients with eating disorders: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Secondary carnitine deficiency in patients with anorexia nervosa has been rarely reported. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of carnitine deficiency in severely malnourished patients with eating disorders during refeeding and assess its potential adverse effects on treatment outcomes.

Method: In a cohort study of 56 female inpatients with eating disorders at a single hospital from March 2010 to December 2020, we measured plasma free carnitine (FC) levels and compared to those of a healthy control group (n = 35).

Outbreak of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in a child and adolescent psychiatric ward: Characteristics and responses.

Background: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has no end in sight. Currently, the emphasis is on policies aimed at easing movement restrictions and maintaining socio-economic activities. However, infection control in psychiatric hospitals has been challenging.

Contribution of copy number variations to the risk of severe eating disorders.

Aim: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex, multifactorial psychiatric conditions. Previous studies identified pathogenic copy number variations associated with NDDs (NDD-CNVs) in ED patients. However, no statistical evidence for an association between NDD-CNVs and EDs has been demonstrated.

Increase in the peripheral blood methylglyoxal levels in 10% of hospitalized chronic schizophrenia patients.

Increasing evidence indicates that enhanced peripheral carbonyl stress markers exist in subtype of schizophrenia, although it may not be the primary cause. This study aimed to investigate whether plasma concentrations of methylglyoxal, 3-deoxy-glucosone, and glyoxal, which are reactive intermediates of protein metabolism in carbonyl stress, are changed in patients with schizophrenia and can function as potential biomarkers for schizophrenia with enhanced carbonyl stress. Plasma concentrations of these di-carbonyls were simultaneously estimated in 40 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy controls.

Application of Level of Care Utilization System for Psychiatric and Addiction Services (LOCUS) to psychiatric practice in Japan: a preliminary assessment of validity and sensitivity to change.

We applied an American medical necessity scale, Level of Care Utilization System for Psychiatric and Addiction Services (LOCUS), to psychiatric practice in Japan. This is an exploratory analysis of empirical data of 272 patients. We examined the relationships between levels of care of LOCUS and clinical variables, contribution of care levels on admission decision, and changes in care levels over time.