Neurobiologically Based Stratification of Recent-Onset Depression and Psychosis: Identification of Two Distinct Transdiagnostic Phenotypes.

Background: Identifying neurobiologically based transdiagnostic categories of depression and psychosis may elucidate heterogeneity and provide better candidates for predictive modeling. We aimed to identify clusters across patients with recent-onset depression (ROD) and recent-onset psychosis (ROP) based on structural neuroimaging data. We hypothesized that these transdiagnostic clusters would identify patients with poor outcome and allow more accurate prediction of symptomatic remission than traditional diagnostic structures.

Substance use disorders and adherence to antituberculosis medications in Southwest Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: In Ethiopia, little is known about the association between substance use disorders and adherence to antituberculosis (anti-TB) medications. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of substance use disorders on adherence to anti-TB medications in Southwest Ethiopia.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Heterogeneity and Classification of Recent Onset Psychosis and Depression: A Multimodal Machine Learning Approach.

Diagnostic heterogeneity within and across psychotic and affective disorders challenges accurate treatment selection, particularly in the early stages. Delineation of shared and distinct illness features at the phenotypic and brain levels may inform the development of more precise differential diagnostic tools. We aimed to identify prototypes of depression and psychosis to investigate their heterogeneity, with common, comorbid transdiagnostic symptoms.

Prevalence of Rickettsia species in ticks including identification of unknown species in two regions in Kazakhstan.

Background: Over 60 years ago clinical patterns resembling tick-borne rickettsioses have been described for the first time in Kazakhstan. Since 1995 the incidence of clinical cases of tick-borne rickettsioses in humans seems to be rising but studies on epidemiological data regarding the occurring etiological agents, tick vector species, prevalence and distribution throughout Kazakhstan are still scarce to date. The aim of the study was molecular investigation of ticks for spotted-fever group rickettsiae in the endemic Kyzylorda region and the so far considered as non-endemic Almaty region.

A model for the accurate computation of the lateral scattering of protons in water.

A pencil beam model for the calculation of the lateral scattering in water of protons for any therapeutic energy and depth is presented. It is based on the full Molière theory, taking into account the energy loss and the effects of mixtures and compounds. Concerning the electromagnetic part, the model has no free parameters and is in very good agreement with the FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) code.

Cardiovascular whole-body MRI.

Cardiovascular diseases still rank number one in mortality statistics in the industrialized world. In these countries the five most common causes of death are associated to atherosclerotic changes of the arterial vasculature. Due to its often long lasting treatment and the possible loss of ability to work atherosclerotic disease constitutes an economic factor which should not be disregarded.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis.

Background: Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is possible if initiated early in the course of colonisation. To detect P aeruginosa as early as possible is therefore a major goal. This study was undertaken to validate a commercialised test for the detection of serum Pseudomonas antibodies in patients with CF.

Automated PrPres amplification using indirect sonication.

Prions, which mainly consist of the scrapie isoform of the prion protein (PrP(Sc)), induce the misfolding of the physiological prion protein (PrP(C)). The Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA), a process consisting of sonication and incubation, is one of the few methods thought to model autocatalytic prion replication and generation of proteinase K (PK)-resistant PrP (PrPres) in vitro. Here we show for the first time that the amplification may be achieved through direct as well as indirect sonication (water bath sonication using sealed sample containers), allowing the PMCA method to be automated.

1-alpha-calcidol modulates major human monocyte antigens and toll-like receptors TLR 2 and TLR4 in vitro.

Since vitamin D derivatives are known to interfere with the cellular immune response, we analysed the possible effect of 1-alpha-calcidol (AC) on major monocyte antigens CD14 (an endotoxin receptor), HLA-DR, and toll-like recptors 2 and 4 (TLR2, TLR4). Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from healthy donors and cultured by standard protocol followed by incubation with various concentrations of AC in unstimulated and LPS-activated cells. After 24, 48 and 72 hours cells were harvested and analysed for the expression of antigens by flowcytometry.

Glutathione S transferase deficiency and passive smoking increase childhood asthma.

Background: It has been suggested that the genetically determined deficiency of glutathione S transferase (GST) enzymes involved in the detoxification of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) components may contribute to the development of asthma.

Methods: A large population of German schoolchildren (n = 3054) was genotyped for deficiencies of the GST isoforms M1 and T1. The association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes and asthma as well as atopy was investigated with respect to current and in utero ETS exposure.

The use of atypical antipsychotics in Bipolar Spectrum disorders.

Viewed in the context of ever-expanding conceptual boundaries for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder including the spectrum concept of DSM-IV, or even beyond (Akiskal and Pinto, 1999), it becomes obvious that lithium is the treatment of choice in a minority' of patients only (Bowden et al, 2000). This article reviews what additional benefit atypical antipsychotics may provide in patients with bipolar disorder.Due both to tradition and to the regulatory requirements in the USA (FDA) and European Union (EMEA), the main target of clinical trials with atypical antipsychotics has been typical manic disorder.

Does the definition of borders of the planum temporale influence the results in schizophrenia?

Objective: The planum temporale, a highly asymmetric neocortical area of the temporal lobe, has a possible role in schizophrenia. The authors used three different anatomical definitions of the planum temporale to examine the anterior, posterior, and total planum temporale gray matter volumes simultaneously.

Method: Magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine 30 male schizophrenic patients and 30 healthy male comparison subjects.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging research in psychiatry.

Advanced functional imaging techniques now make it possible to study in vivo the relationship between altered cerebral activation patterns and the psychopathologic and cognitive features of psychiatric disorders. Functional MR imaging (fMRI) offers new approaches to research questions in psychiatry that could not have been addressed earlier by positron emission tomography and single photon emission CT. Basic features of the biology of psychiatric disorders now can be elucidated by means of fMRI.

Short- and long-term effects on serum lipoproteins by three different techniques of apheresis.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is applied in patients with coronary heart disease because of severe inherited forms of hypercholesterolemia, for which dietary and combined drug treatment cannot lower LDL cholesterol concentrations less than 130 mg/dl. The following article describes the changes in lipoprotein levels in a total of 19 patients undergoing weekly LDL apheresis. Immunoadsorption, operating with polyclonal antibodies against apolipoprotein B-100, was used in 6 patients.