bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cerebral Ventricular Asymmetry and Ventriculomegaly Interact to Increase Risk for Schizophrenia: A Case Report and Recommendation for Routine Fetal Sonography
Authors: Katz Elionora , Burket Jessica A. , Rosse Stephanie M. , Rosse Richard B. , Schwartz Barbara L. , Deutsch Stephen I. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTA 60-year-old patient with a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan related to the evaluation of isolated seizures that emerged while medicated with clozapine. Unexpectedly, the MRI scan revealed evidence of asymmetric and enlarged cerebral ventricles that were interpreted as congenital in origin. The presence of both congenital lateral ventricular asymmetry and ventriculomegaly may interact to increase risk of schizophrenia. The history and clinical features, including cognitive testing, of the illustrative patient are presented.
Use of SSRIs May Impact Bone Density in Adolescent and Young Women With Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Misra Madhusmita , Le Clair Marie , Mendes Nara , Miller Karen K. , Lawson Elizabeth , Meenaghan Erinne , Weigel Thomas , Ebrahimi Seda , Herzog David B. , Klibanski Anne 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTObjectives: Alterations in serotonin impact bone metabolism in animal models, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been associated with increased fracture risk in older adults. SSRIs are commonly used in anorexia nervosa (AN), a condition that predisposes to low bone mineral density (BMD). Our objective was to determine whether SSRI use is associated with low BMD in AN.Methods: We examined Z-scores for spine, hip, and whole body (WB) BMD, spine bone mineral apparent density, and WB bone mineral content/height (BMC/Ht) in females 12–21 years of age with AN who had never been on SSRIs, had been on SSRIs for <6 months (<6M), or had been on SSRIs for >6 months (>6M).Results: Subjects on SSRIs for >6M had lower spine, femoral-neck, and WBBMD Z-scores than those on SSRIs for <6M. Hip BMD and WBBMC/Ht Z-scores were lowest in subjects on SSRIs for >6M. Duration of SSRI use, duration since AN diagnosis and duration of amenorrhea inversely predicted BMD, whereas BMI was a positive predictor. In a regression model, duration of SSRI use remained an independent negative predictor of BMD.Discussion: Duration of SSRI use >6M is associated with low BMD in AN.Conclusion: It may be necessary to monitor BMD more rigorously when duration of SSRI use exceeds 6M.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Tau and Amyloid β Proteins Do Not Correlate With Cognitive Functioning in Cognitively Impaired Memory Clinic Patients
Authors: Spies Petra E. , Claassen Jurgen A.H.R. , Slats Diane , Rikkert Marcel G.M. Olde , Verbeek Marcel M. , Kessels Roy P.C. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), amyloid β42(Aβ42), phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau) on cognitive functioning.Methods: We analyzed the ability of the CSF biomarkers Aβ42, p-tau, and t-tau to predict the results on the Cambridge Cognitive Examination–Revised (CAMCOG-R), a cognitive screening test that assesses multiple cognitive domains, in 65 memory clinic patients (73.1±8.2 years) (n=30 probable Alzheimer's disease [AD], n=7 possible AD, n=12 non-AD dementia, n=16 mild cognitive impairment).Results: We found no correlations between CSF biomarkers and CAMCOG-R performance in the whole group, nor in subgroups based on aberrant biomarker concentrations.Discussion: Changed concentrations of CSF amyloid β42, p-tau, and t-tau cannot be directly linked to cognitive function in our sample of patients with cognitive impairment. Possibly, compensatory mechanisms such as cognitive reserve determine cognitive performance, rather than the absolute amount of damage caused by Aβ deposition and tangle formation. In addition, abnormal CSF biomarker concentrations may not be a direct reflection of the amount of neuronal damage, but merely serve as an indicator of AD pathology.Conclusion: While CSF biomarkers are valuable in establishing AD pathology, they cannot be used to predict severity of cognitive impairment.
Targeted Care Plans for Schizophrenia
Authors: Freudenreich Oliver 
Published: February 2017

Thomas was a 40-year-old, white male, with a 16-year history of schizoaffective disorder (Slide 1). He first became ill at 24 years of age and had an unstable course for ∼10 years, characterized by frequent hospitalizations and partial adherence. Unfortunately, during episodes of psychosis, he was also extremely violent. During his first hospitalization, risperidone was initiated, which he used intermittently for ∼10 years. There are no records documenting his weight and metabolic parameters at 24 years of age prior to receiving psychiatric medications. During his last psychiatric hospitalization at 34 years of age, olanzapine was prescribed and he stabilized. He entered a period of stable outpatient treatment and had not had a psychiatric hospitalization for 6 years.When Thomas began taking olanzapine, his weight was 200 lbs, which, given his height, corresponds to a body mass index (BMI) of 28, putting him in the overweight category. However, he had no metabolic monitoring for 3 years. After 3 years of treatment with olanzapine, he had gained substantial weight, increasing to 258 lbs, which corresponds to a BMI of 36 and class 2 obesity.
Understanding Therapeutic Equivalence in Epilepsy
Authors: Sankar Raman , Glauser Tracy A. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTThe issues surrounding generic drug substitution in patients with epilepsy are complex.The substitution of one formulation of an antiepileptic drug (AED) for another is controversial. Well-reasoned and defensible cases can be made both for and against such substitution. Although regulatory agencies require that generic and proprietary drugs have similar pharmacokinetic bioequivalence data, their therapeutic efficacy may not necessarily be identical. The paroxysmal nature of epilepsy, the narrow therapeutic index of some AEDs, the need to. individualize therapy to achieve seizure control, and the negative consequences of uncontrolled epilepsy distinguishes epilepsy from other clinical conditions. Epilepsy management with AEDs requires careful dose titration and consistent drug exposure at the optimal level for each patient, which can be altered if a different formulation of the AED is substituted. Unexpected variability in plasma concentrations could occur when a patient who has been receiving one formulation of an AED (generic or brand) receives an alternate formulation.Thus, no substitutions should be made for people with epilepsy without the knowledge and approval of the prescribing physician. Patients should be consulted about the substitution, with all risks and benefits carefully explained.
Separating Hope from Hype:Some Ethical Implications of the Development of Deep Brain Stimulation in Psychiatric Research and Treatment
Authors: Schlaepfer Thomas E. , Lisanby S.H. , Pallanti Stefano 
Published: February 2017

Major depression is the most common serious brain disorder with a lifetime prevalence of up to 17%. Despite numerous options currently available for the treatment of depression, ~2 million people in the United States may experience an inadequate response to treatment (treatment-resistant depression [TRD]) at some point in their lives. The definition of TRD is variable, ranging from a failure to respond to two or more trials of antidepressant monotherapy to a failure to respond to four or more trials of different antidepressant therapies, including augmentation, combination therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. It has been reported that as many as one-third of patients experience only a partial response to initial therapy, while nearly one-fifth are considered nonresponders. In addition to the obvious quality of life issues for the patient with TRD, the economic cost of TRD is significant. Annual healthcare costs increase significantly for patients with TRD with each successive change in antidepressant medication. Early in treatment (two medication changes), the annual costs are <$7,000/Year. By the eighth medication change, annual costs double to nearly $14,000/year.There is a well-documented need for better long-term treatments for TRD, as witnessed by multiple efforts to establish treatment algorithms and best treatment steps when first and subsequent treatment measures prove inadequate. The Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study, which analyzed outcome following several standardized antidepressive treatment steps, reported that 33% of patients did not respond even after four evidence-based treatment steps. A substantial proportion of patients are inadequately treated and some of these will go on to suffer from chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening symptoms.
Evaluation of the Effects of Severe Depression on Global Cognitive Function and Memory
Authors: McClintock Shawn M. , Cullum C. Munro , Husain Mustafa M. , Rush A. John , Knapp Rebedca G. , Mueller Martina , Petrides Georgios , Sampson Shirlene , Kellner Charles H. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is thought to negatively impact cognitive function; however, the relationship has not been well explored.Objective: This study examined the association between depression severity and global cognitive function and memory in subjects with severe, treatment-resistant MDD.Methods: We enrolled 66 subjects with Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition diagnosed unipolar MDD in a multicenter trial to assess the efficacy and neurocognitive effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). We measured depression severity with the 24 item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD24). Neuropsychologic measures included the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and the Complex Figure Test (CFT). Correlational and regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between depression severity and cognitive function.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 53.6 years (SD=15.8), 65% were female, and mean HRSD24 was 33.9 (SD=6.7). Mean demographic-corrected T-scores for each neurocognitive measure were in the average to borderline range, and HRSD24 values were unrelated to performance on the MMSE, RAVLT immediate and delayed recall, and CFT immediate and delayed recall.Conclusion: In this sample of severely depressed subjects referred for ECT, depression severity was unrelated to global cognitive function or memory. Future research should examine the interactions between other depressive characteristics and neurocognitive function.
Adherence to Treatment and Therapeutic Strategies in Schizophrenic Patients: The ADHERE Study
Authors: Gutiérrez-Casares José Ramón , Cañas Fernando , Alonso-Escolano David , Hidalgo-Borrajo Rebeca , Rodríguez-Morales Alexander 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTAim: To assess the degree of compliance and adherence to treatment during the follow-up of schizophrenic outpatients after a new therapeutic strategy had been initiated.Methods: A multicenter, retrospective, prospective, observational study of 1,848 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria) was conducted. Patients were treated either with oral or injectable conventional or second generation antipsychotics, and were followed up for 3 months at mental health centers. Patient compliance with the pharmacological treatment was assessed by the use of questionnaires, scales, medication accountability, and the Medication Event Monitoring System. Patients were considered compliant if they reported a high compliance rate (≥80%).Results: At baseline only 29% of patients on oral medication were compliant compared with 79% of patients on injectable medication (injection counting) (OR= 9.11; 95% CI 6.02-13.77; P<.0001). At the 3 month visit, 84% of patients had changed their treatment and in these, the compliance rate of those on injectable medication was 94% versus 87% of patients taking oral medication (OR= 2.47; 95% CI 1.21-5.05; P=.022).Conclusion: The use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics, which improves compliance rates and patient follow-up, should facilitate the management of Spanish patients with schizophrenia in mental health centers.
Comorbidities with Bipolar Disorders: Significance, Recognition, and Management
Authors: Bowden Charles L. 
Published: February 2017

Bipolar disorder, particularly bipolar type I disorder, is at least as highly comorbid with other psychiatric and behavioral disorders as any Axis I medical disorder (Slide 1). Two iterations of the National Comorbidity Survey study, which is epidemio-logic-based and not anecdotal evidence from clinical offices and hospital emergency rooms, have shown that these data are reflective of the overall population in the United States and potentially for all other countries across the world.In particular, if the prevalence rates of all anxiety disorders are grouped together, they are almost as prevalent as bipolar disorder itself, and clinicians rarely see a patient with bipolar disorder who does not have an anxiety disorder. This finding raises the question that anxiety may not be a separate entity, but an additional fundamental component of bipolar symptomatology, at least for a substantial number of patients. Regardless, the role of anxiety in bipolar disorder is unique. Perugi and colleagues studied the time sequence of different anxiety disorders in relation to first presence and clinical recognition of bipolar disorder (Slide 2). In contrast to panic disorder/agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety or social phobia was shown to be prevalent in 94.7% of patients prior to onset of hypomania and the clinically recognizable problematic school and home situations before the diagnosis of the bipolar disorder. This finding suggests that there may be some fundamental aspect of social anxiety and other anxiety disorders that is a ties. These patients tend to be more unstable symptomatically and have multiple comorbidities.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Baldassano Claudia 
Published: February 2017

Regarding the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder, positive findings have shown that patients engaged in treatment may live longer. Angst and Sellaro studied standardized mortality ratios for patients with bipolar disorder and found a significant reduction in mortality ratio in our bipolar patients who were actively in treatment (Slide 1). Data from the Collaborative Depression Study by Judd and colleagues showed that bipolar patients are quite symptomatic. Judd and colleagues followed bipolar patients over a 13-year period and found that these patients were symptomatic ~50% of the study period. What were these patients most likely to be symptomatic with: bipolar depression (Slide 2). Thus, it is important to focus on bipolar depression and examine placebo-controlled trials that were adequately powered in its treatment.Over the last decade, there have been positive trials studying lamotrigine, quetiapine, olanzapine, and olanzapine-fluoxetine combination. Two of these medications are United States Food and Drug Administration—approved in bipolar disorder treatment: quetiapine and olanzapine-fluoxetine. There are a number of negative trials in bipolar depression, including a number of antidepressant monotherapy trials and antidepressants in combination with mood stabilizers (Slide 3). However, what is the most frequent pharmacotherapy treatment used for bipolar depression? It is the use of antidepressants alone; antidepressant monotherapy is twice as commonly prescribed as mood stabilizers (Slide 4). Thus, it is necessary for clinicians to possess knowledge of the evidence and results from both positive and negative antidepressant trials for bipolar disorder.
Prosecutors and Presidents in New Democracies: The Russia Case
Authors: LEE SUN-WOO , WHITE STEPHEN 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis article aims at an empirical verification of prosecutors’ partisan behavior through a case study based on the Russian President Yeltsin and Putin periods. According to Gretchen Helmke's original theory of strategic defection, dependent judges may occasionally check their principal, the executive leadership, by withdrawing their support in the course of an electoral cycle. However, a modified theory of strategic defection can be readily applied to civil-law prosecutors’ behavior in new presidential democracies, where several presidents dominated that office during most of their tenure but experienced prosecutorial defection in their final phase. Russia provides a textbook case for examining the modified theory in relation to prosecutors’ partisan behavior against an incumbent president. Meanwhile, this paper uses within-case analysis based on a qualitative method, because the methodological approach can have more advantages in discovering whether prosecutors acted ‘really’ strategically when an incumbent government was outgoing in Russia, and in further explaining a pattern of prosecutors’ partisan attitudes in new presidential democracies, through the modified version of Helmke's theory.
China's Assertive Posture in Reinforcing its Territorial and Sovereignty Claims in the South China Sea: An Insight into Malaysia's Stance
Authors: AHMAD MOHAMMAD ZAKI , MOHD SANI MOHD AZIZUDDIN 
Published: February 2017

AbstractChina's growing assertiveness in strengthening its territorial and sovereignty claims in the South China Sea has arguably intensified friction and deepened tension between the rival claimant States. In sharp contrast to the strong reactions of its fellow ASEAN claimants, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, Malaysia traditionally has been less critical and more inclined to downplay China's perceived emotive actions. This subtle foreign policy orientation is likely to remain unchanged in the immediate future. Malaysian leaders are aware of the need to continue adopting a more cautious but pragmatic approach to counter China's increasingly aggressive actions in the Spratly Islands. Because of the significant economic and political benefits derived from its close relationships with China, Malaysia's policy preference is aimed to avoid jeopardizing such relations. However, the growing presence of Chinese military vessels in Malaysia's waters in recent years has forced the latter to reassess its foreign policy approach, which might include adopting a more assertive stance towards China. Set against this backdrop, this article aims to give an exploratory insight into Malaysia's external behaviour and actions in response to China's recent growing aggressiveness in the South China Sea. To this end, the aim of this article is achieved through a twofold approach. First, it examines Malaysia's overlapping claims to maritime features and waters with China, with the focus on the Spratly Islands group. Lastly, the article provides an explorative insight of Malaysia's rationalist stance, particularly under the current administration of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, in response to China's aggressiveness. It also examines the motivations, intentions, and basis of this external posture.
State Capitalism and Chinese Food Security Governance
Authors: LIN SCOTT Y. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSince the financial crisis of 2008–9, how a state can play a more active role in correcting market failure has become a central topic in political economy. Thus, academia is again discussing state capitalism seriously. Contemporary state capitalism assumes state intervention in markets is becoming more multifaceted. Consequently, traditional state-owned enterprises exist alongside new government-favored actors, such as privately owned national champions and sovereign wealth funds, intervening in markets. This coalition helps the state achieve its security, political, economic, social, and nationalistic goals more efficiently. Its growing power in markets also heralds the return of state capitalism. This paper uses state capitalism theories to re-interpret China's food security governance. The three preliminary findings are as follows. First, China's food security governance is typically operated under state capitalism, which has successfully managed China's foodavailability, though not without some corruption, but has weakened its foodaccessibility. Second, using state capitalism to manage China's foodsafetyhas been impeded, so the effects remain to be seen. Third, state capitalism has successfully improved thestabilityof the food supply and demand in China, but its agricultural business branching-out strategy has worried the international community and should be observed further.
The Strategic Coordination under Quasi-SNTV: A Case Study of Hong Kong
Authors: WEI JUDY CHIA YIN 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis article aims to explore the effects of quasi-SNTV (Single Non-transferable Vote) under the Largest Remainder Proportional Representation (LRPR) in Legislative Council (LegCo) elections in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) after the British handover of 1997. Although the quasi-SNTV results from the inability of political parties to control their candidates, the Democratic Party (DP) and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) can obtain more seats in total than they could by coordinating around one single list if they can successfully control their party label and the political camps can coordinate different parties and candidates. The quasi-SNTV in Hong Kong is notable for the strategic coordination found in its alliances, a key aspect that differentiates it from Colombia's quasi-SNTV. The DP's failure can be attributed to its internal conflicts and the lack of coordination among the pro-democracy alliances. In contrast to the democratic camp, which lacks any overriding authority to coordinate different parties and candidates, the pro-China's united front machinery facilitates coordination and helps the DAB perform better than the DP in quasi-SNTV.
Back to the Past: Analysis of the Amendments Regarding Emperor and the National Symbols in the LDP 2012 Constitutional Draft
Authors: PLETNIA MACIEJ 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSince the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan's (LDP) return to power in late 2012, there has been on-going discussions regarding the possibility of revising the Japanese constitution. Prime Minister Shinzō Abe has made numerous remarks regarding his intention to implement significant changes. Understandably, amendments to the controversial Article 9 as well as to the Article 96 have become the main points of interests for both journalists and scholars. Judging by the LDP's constitutional draft from 2012 there are other significant changes that the ruling party would like to implement. This article mainly analyses the proposed amendments regarding the position and significance of the emperor, national flag, and anthem, as well as separation of the state and religion. Based on textual analysis of the draft and analysis of the remarks made by Abe Shinzō regarding changing the constitution, this paper argues that, if implemented, the proposed changes would symbolically link contemporary Japan with its pre-1945 past. Furthermore, both the LDP's constitutional draft and leading politicians’ comments regarding the necessity of those amendments fit into a much broader narrative regarding Japan's historical past, and signify another attempt to reconstruct collective memory of both the Pacific War and occupation years.