Cognitive impairment and depression: Meta-analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies.

Longitudinal comorbidity of depression and cognitive impairment has been reported by number of epidemiological studies but the underlying mechanisms explaining the link between affective problems and cognitive decline are not very well understood. Imaging studies have typically investigated patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) separately and thus have not identified a structural brain signature common to these conditions that may illuminate potentially targetable shared biological mechanisms. We performed a meta-analysis of.

rs2076295 variants influence nintedanib and pirfenidone outcomes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a pilot study.

Background: The antifibrotic drugs nintedanib and pirfenidone are used for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We analysed the association of common profibrotic polymorphisms in (mucin 5B, rs35705950) and (desmoplakin, rs2076295) on antifibrotic treatment outcomes in IPF.

Methods: rs35705950 and rs2076295 were assessed in IPF patients ( = 210, 139 men/71 women) from the Czech EMPIRE registry and age- or sex-matched healthy individuals ( = 205, 125 men/80 women).

Ascites in ovarian cancer: MicroRNA deregulations and their potential roles in ovarian carcinogenesis.

Ovarian cancer comprises the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and is accompanied by the high potential for the incidence of metastasis, recurrence and chemotherapy resistance, often associated with a formation of ascitic fluid. The differentially expressed ascites-derived microRNAs may be linked to ovarian carcinogenesis. The article focuses on a number of miRNAs that share a common expression pattern as determined by independent studies using ascites samples and with regard to their functions and outcomes in experimental and clinical investigations.

Detailed Phenotype of GLA Variants Identified by the Nationwide Neurological Screening of Stroke Patients in the Czech Republic.

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked disorder of glycosphingolipid metabolism caused by pathogenic variants within the alpha-galactosidase A (GLA) gene, often leading to neurological manifestations including stroke. Multiple screening programs seeking GLA variants among stroke survivors lacked detailed phenotype description, making the interpretation of the detected variant's pathogenicity difficult. Here, we describe detailed clinical characteristics of GLA variant carriers identified by a nationwide stroke screening program in the Czech Republic.

The Unfolded Protein Response Is a Major Driver of LCN2 Expression in BCR-ABL- and JAK2V617F-Positive MPN.

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a proinflammatory mediator, is involved in the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of LCN2 overexpression in MPN. LCN2 mRNA expression was 20-fold upregulated in peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and myelofibrosis (MF) patients vs.

Early and late stage MPN patients show distinct gene expression profiles in CD34 cells.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), comprising essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), are hematological disorders of the myeloid lineage characterized by hyperproliferation of mature blood cells. The prediction of the clinical course and progression remains difficult and new therapeutic modalities are required. We conducted a CD34 gene expression study to identify signatures and potential biomarkers in the different MPN subtypes with the aim to improve treatment and prevent the transformation from the rather benign chronic state to a more malignant aggressive state.

Characteristics and outcome of patients with core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia and FLT3-ITD: results from an international collaborative study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of FLT3-ITD in core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBFAML) in an international, multicenter survey of 97 patients of whom 52% had t(8;21)(q22;q22) and 48% had inv(16)(p13q22)/t(16;16)(p13;q22). The median age of the patients was 53 years (range, 19-81). Complete remission after anthracycline-based induction (n=86) and non-intensive therapy (n=11) was achieved in 97% and 36% of the patients, respectively.

Human Granulosa Cells-Stemness Properties, Molecular Cross-Talk and Follicular Angiogenesis.

The ovarian follicle is the basic functional unit of the ovary, comprising theca cells and granulosa cells (GCs). Two different types of GCs, mural GCs and cumulus cells (CCs), serve different functions during folliculogenesis. Mural GCs produce oestrogen during the follicular phase and progesterone after ovulation, while CCs surround the oocyte tightly and form the cumulus oophurus and corona radiata inner cell layer.

The neural substrates of diminished humor comprehension in schizophrenia and its relationship with psychopathology.

Patients with schizophrenia commonly revealed difficulties in understanding humor. Previous research suggested links between impaired humor comprehension, psychopathology symptoms and cognitive deficits. In this study, we investigated the associations between neural substrates of humor processing and psychopathology and cognition in schizophrenia.

LYmphoid NeXt-Generation Sequencing (LYNX) Panel: A Comprehensive Capture-Based Sequencing Tool for the Analysis of Prognostic and Predictive Markers in Lymphoid Malignancies.

B-cell neoplasms represent a clinically heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies with considerably diverse genomic architecture recently endorsed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies. Because multiple genetic defects have a potential or confirmed clinical impact, a tendency toward more comprehensive testing of diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers is desired. This study introduces the design, validation, and implementation of an integrative, custom-designed, capture-based NGS panel titled LYmphoid NeXt-generation sequencing (LYNX) for the analysis of standard and novel molecular markers in the most common lymphoid neoplasms (chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma).

Impact of hormonal biomarkers on response to hormonal therapy in advanced and recurrent endometrial cancer.

Background: Approximately 20% of women with endometrial cancer have advanced-stage disease or suffer from a recurrence. For these women, prognosis is poor, and palliative treatment options include hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. Lack of predictive biomarkers and suboptimal use of existing markers for response to hormonal therapy have resulted in overall limited efficacy.

COVID-19's natural course among ambulatory monitored outpatients.

Research objective was to detail COVID-19's natural trajectory in relation to the Czech population's viral load. Our prospective detailed daily questionnaire-based telemonitoring study evaluated COVID-19's impact among 105 outpatients. In accordance with government quarantine requirements, outpatients were divided into a cohort with two negative tests at the end of the disease (40 patients) and a cohort with a new algorithm (65 patients) following a 14-day quarantine.

On the Role of Bilateral Brain Hypofunction and Abnormal Lateralization of Cortical Information Flow as Neural Underpinnings of Conventional Metaphor Processing Impairment in Schizophrenia: An fMRI and EEG Study.

Figurative language processing (e.g. metaphors) is commonly impaired in schizophrenia.

On the relation of white matter brain abnormalities and the asociality symptoms in schizophrenia outpatients - a DTI study.

Recent MRI studies have shown that abnormal functional connections in schizophrenia coexist with subtle changes in the structure of axons in the brain. However, there is a discrepancy in the literature concerning the relationship between white matter abnormalities and the occurrence of negative psychopathological symptoms. In the present study, we investigate the relationship between the altered white matter structure and specific psychopathology symptoms, i.

Emotional Awareness in Schizophrenia Is Associated With Gray Matter Volume of Right Precuneus.

We assessed the relationship between emotional awareness (e.g., the ability to identify and differentiate our own feelings and feelings of others) and regional brain volumes in healthy and in schizophrenia groups.

The association of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) with hippocampal volume in schizophrenia: a preliminary MRI study.

Matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP9) are enzymes involved in regulating neuroplasticity in the hippocampus. This, combined with evidence for disrupted hippocampal structure and function in schizophrenia, has prompted our current investigation into the relationship between MMP9 and hippocampal volumes in schizophrenia. 34 healthy individuals (mean age = 32.

Individual differences in interoceptive accuracy and prediction error in motor functional neurological disorders: A DTI study.

In motor functional neurological disorders (mFND), relationships between interoception (a construct of high theoretical relevance to its pathophysiology) and neuroanatomy have not been previously investigated. This study characterized white matter in mFND patients compared to healthy controls (HCs), and investigated associations between fiber bundle integrity and cardiac interoception. Voxel-based analysis and tractography quantified fractional anisotropy (FA) in 38 mFND patients compared to 38 HCs.

Processing of emotionally ambiguous stimuli in eating disorders: an fMRI pilot study.

Purpose: People with eating disorders (EDs) have difficulties understanding their own emotions and recognizing the emotions of others, especially in ambiguous settings. We examined the neuronal mechanisms underlying the emotion processing of ambiguous interpersonal stimuli in EDs and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: The fMRI data were acquired by a blocked experimental design with 28 women (14 EDs) during the visual presentation of a modified Thematic Apperception Test.

Characteristics and outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and t(8;16)(p11;p13): results from an International Collaborative Study.

In acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) t(8;16)(p11;p13)/MYST3-CREBBP is a very rare abnormality. Previous small series suggested poor outcome. We report on 59 patients with t(8;16) within an international, collaborative study.

The impact of anti-mould prophylaxis on Aspergillus PCR blood testing for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.

Background: The performance of the galactomannan enzyme immunoassay (GM-EIA) is impaired in patients receiving mould-active antifungal therapy. The impact of mould-active antifungal therapy on Aspergillus PCR testing needs to be determined.

Objectives: To determine the influence of anti-mould prophylaxis (AMP) on the performance of PCR blood testing to aid the diagnosis of proven/probable invasive aspergillosis (IA).

The Practice of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Children and Adolescents in the Czech Republic.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in child and adolescent patients in the Czech Republic.

Methods: We conducted a mail questionnaire survey among Czech facilities associated with the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and university hospitals with inpatient psychiatric wards, focused on the practice of ECT between 2013 and 2017 in patients younger than 18 years.

Results: Of 18 approached facilities, 13 had access to ECT, and only 6 used ECT on 16 patients.

Types of congenital nonsyndromic ichthyoses.

Congenital ichthyoses are a very heterogeneous group of diseases manifested by dry, rough and scaling skin. In all forms of ichthyoses, the skin barrier is damaged to a certain degree. Congenital ichthyoses are caused by various gene mutations.

The prognostic significance of periprocedural infarction in the era of potent antithrombotic therapy. The PRAGUE-18 substudy.

Background: The prognostic significance of periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) remains controversial.

Methods And Results: The study aims to investigate the incidence of periprocedural MI in the era of high sensitivity diagnostic markers and intense antithrombotics, and its impact on early outcomes of patients with acute MI treated with primary angioplasty (pPCI). Data from the PRAGUE-18 (prasugrel versus ticagrelor in pPCI) study were analyzed.