fMRI connectivity as a biomarker of antipsychotic treatment response: A systematic review.

Background: Antipsychotic drugs are the first-choice therapy for psychotic episodes, but antipsychotic treatment response (AP-R) is unpredictable and only becomes clear after weeks of therapy. A biomarker for AP-R is currently unavailable. We reviewed the evidence for the hypothesis that functional magnetic resonance imaging functional connectivity (fMRI-FC) is a predictor of AP-R or could serve as a biomarker for AP-R in psychosis.

2021 update to HIV-TRePS: a highly flexible and accurate system for the prediction of treatment response from incomplete baseline information in different healthcare settings.

Objectives: With the goal of facilitating the use of HIV-TRePS to optimize therapy in settings with limited healthcare resources, we aimed to develop computational models to predict treatment responses accurately in the absence of commonly used baseline data.

Methods: Twelve sets of random forest models were trained using very large, global datasets to predict either the probability of virological response (classifier models) or the absolute change in viral load in response to a new regimen (absolute models) following virological failure. Two 'standard' models were developed with all baseline variables present and 10 others developed without HIV genotype, time on therapy, CD4 count or any combination of the above.

Extensive epigenomic integration of the glucocorticoid response in primary human monocytes and in vitro derived macrophages.

Glucocorticoid receptor is a transcription factor that is ubiquitously expressed. Glucocorticoids are circadian steroids that regulate a wide range of bodily functions, including immunity. Here we report that synthetic glucocorticoids affect 1035 mRNAs in isolated healthy human blood monocytes but only 165 in the respective six day-old monocyte-derived macrophages.

Coping styles mediate the association between negative life events and subjective well-being in patients with non-affective psychotic disorders and their siblings.

Coping styles are associated with levels of subjective well-being. Negative life events and reduced subjective well-being are more prevalent in patients with psychotic disorders. The aims of the current study were to test a mediation model, with coping styles as potential mediators of the relation between negative life events and subjective well-being in patients with psychotic disorders (N = 259), and aimed to repeat the potential mediation model in patients' non-affected siblings (N = 309).

Biomarker-based corticosteroid adjustment in severe asthma: a modified Delphi consensus.

http://ow.ly/sTrf30my3jw.

Label-Free Prostate Cancer Detection by Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles Using Raman Spectroscopy.

Mammalian cells release extracellular vesicles (EVs) into their microenvironment that travel the entire body along the stream of bodily fluids. EVs contain a wide range of biomolecules. The transported cargo varies depending on the EV origin.

2018 update to the HIV-TRePS system: the development of new computational models to predict HIV treatment outcomes, with or without a genotype, with enhanced usability for low-income settings.

Objectives: Optimizing antiretroviral drug combination on an individual basis can be challenging, particularly in settings with limited access to drugs and genotypic resistance testing. Here we describe our latest computational models to predict treatment responses, with or without a genotype, and compare their predictive accuracy with that of genotyping.

Methods: Random forest models were trained to predict the probability of virological response to a new therapy introduced following virological failure using up to 50 000 treatment change episodes (TCEs) without a genotype and 18 000 TCEs including genotypes.

Tissue Factor Coagulant Activity is Regulated by the Plasma Membrane Microenvironment.

Background: Tissue factor (TF) can be present in a non-coagulant and coagulant form. Whether the coagulant activity is affected by the plasma membrane microenvironment is unexplored.

Objective: This article studies the presence and coagulant activity of human TF in plasma membrane micro-domains.

P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor inhibits the release of procoagulant extracellular vesicles from activated platelets.

Background: Activated platelets release platelet extracellular vesicles (PEVs). Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptors P2Y1 and P2Y12 both play a role in platelet activation, The present hypothesis herein is that the inhibition of these receptors may affect the release of PEVs.

Methods: Platelet-rich plasma from 10 healthy subjects was incubated with saline, P2Y1 antagonist MRS2179 (100 μM), P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor (1 μM), and a combination of both antagonists.

Primary resistance to integrase strand transfer inhibitors in patients infected with diverse HIV-1 subtypes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and patterns of major and accessory resistance mutations associated with integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), across diverse HIV-1 subtypes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: pol gene sequences were obtained using Illumina next-generation sequencing from 425 INSTI-naive HIV-infected adults from Kenya (21.2%), Nigeria (7.

Detailed analysis of the plasma extracellular vesicle proteome after separation from lipoproteins.

The isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from blood is of great importance to understand the biological role of circulating EVs and to develop EVs as biomarkers of disease. Due to the concurrent presence of lipoprotein particles, however, blood is one of the most difficult body fluids to isolate EVs from. The aim of this study was to develop a robust method to isolate and characterise EVs from blood with minimal contamination by plasma proteins and lipoprotein particles.

HIV-1 drug resistance before initiation or re-initiation of first-line antiretroviral therapy in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

Background: Pretreatment drug resistance in people initiating or re-initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) containing non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) might compromise HIV control in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to assess the scale of this problem and whether it is associated with the intiation or re-initiation of ART in people who have had previous exposure to antiretroviral drugs.

Methods: This study was a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

A longitudinal analysis of the effects of neuroticism and extraversion on subjective well-being in patients with schizophrenia.

One in five patients with a psychotic disorder has persistent low subjective well-being (SWB), which is associated with a poorer prognosis. In schizophrenia patients, personality traits are associated with SWB. The present study aims to evaluate whether neuroticism and extraversion influence SWB in patients with a psychotic disorder and healthy controls over the course of time.

The Personal Antipsychotic Choice Index.

Introduction: We present an online decision aid to involve patients with a psychotic disorder in shared decision-making concerning the selection of antipsychotic medication.

Method: Patients selected effectiveness and adverse effects criteria from the Subject's Response to Antipsychotics-34 questionnaire. Numerical data from meta-analyses, clinical trial data, receptor affinities and expert opinions were used to rank antipsychotics on each criterion.

Oral appliance therapy versus nasal continuous positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial on self-reported symptoms of common sleep disorders and sleep-related problems.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with several sleep disorders and sleep-related problems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of a mandibular advancement device (MAD) with those of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) on self-reported symptoms of common sleep disorders and sleep-related problems in mild and moderate OSAS patients. In this randomised placebo-controlled trial, sixty-four OSAS patients (52·0 ± 9·6 years) were randomly assigned to an MAD, nCPAP or an intra-oral placebo appliance in a parallel design.

Oral appliance therapy versus nasal continuous positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial on psychological distress.

Objectives: The aim of this randomized placebo-controlled trail was to compare the effects of an objectively titrated mandibular advancement device (MAD) with those of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) and an intraoral placebo device on symptoms of psychological distress in OSA patients.

Materials And Methods: In a parallel design, 64 mild/moderate OSA patients (52.0 ± 9.

Platelet extracellular vesicles as biomarkers for arterial thrombosis.

Arterial thrombosis is a major and global cause of human death and disability. Considering the socioeconomic costs of arterial thrombosis, identification of biomarkers to predict and detect arterial thrombosis at an early stage is an important public health goal. Platelet extracellular vesicles (PEV) are a new candidate biomarker of arterial thrombosis.

An update to the HIV-TRePS system: the development and evaluation of new global and local computational models to predict HIV treatment outcomes, with or without a genotype.

Objectives: Optimizing antiretroviral drug combination on an individual basis in resource-limited settings is challenging because of the limited availability of drugs and genotypic resistance testing. Here, we describe our latest computational models to predict treatment responses, with or without a genotype, and compare the potential utility of global and local models as a treatment tool for South Africa.

Methods: Global random forest models were trained to predict the probability of virological response to therapy following virological failure using 29 574 treatment change episodes (TCEs) without a genotype, 3179 of which were from South Africa and were used to develop local models.