bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of 5-HTR2C Polymorphisms on Metabolic Syndromes in Thai Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Puangpetch A. , Na Nakorn C. , Unaharassamee W. , Sukasem C. 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionMetabolic syndrome is a significant problem in the schizophrenia patients. Previous research demonstrated that single nucleotide polymorphisms in the serotonin 2C receptor (5HTR2C) genes are associated with metabolic syndrome related to schizophrenia patients taking atypical anti-psychotic drugs. This study aimed to investigate whether the effect of 3 SNPs in 5HTR2C gene on the presence of the metabolic syndrome in Thai schizophrenia patients.MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional study and 154 patients were recruited. The schizophrenia patients were identified from a diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition, (DSM-IV) and criterion and determined the metabolic syndrome according to the 2005 international diabetes federation (IDF) Asia criteria. Patients were genotyped for the 5HTR2C rs51,8147, rs126,881,02, rs128,367,71 polymorphisms.ResultsThe preliminary analysis from 154 patients showed the metabolic syndrome prevalence was 38.73%, with 46.50% in male and 53.48% in female patients. The results showed that the patients who have heterozygous and homozygous variant on 5HTR2C gene (rs518,147 and rs126,881,02) showed a significant difference in the presence of metabolic syndrome when compare with patients who carry homozygous wild type (P = 0.007), especially in male patients (P = 0.002). The association between 5HTR2C polymorphisms and metabolic syndrome was found in male patients but not found in female patients.ConclusionThese findings suggest that 5HTR2C genotypes are associated with the metabolic syndrome in patients taking atypical anti-psychotics. However, the metabolic syndrome results from the multigenetic effects. The further studies should focus on the other genes, which were involved in metabolic syndrome.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Introduction to Mindfulness: A Pilot Exploratory Study Among Memory Clinic Attendees
Authors: Dolan C. , Bruce I. , Lawlor B.A. 
Published: June 2017

BackgroundEvidence from the literature suggests that group mindfulness interventions result in improved quality of life, less depressive symptoms and improved subjective sleep quality among patients with memory problems [1].ObjectivesTo design and pilot a brief mindfulness intervention for Memory Clinic attendees.AimsTo develop a non-pharmacological low-resource intervention for Memory Clinic attendees.MethodsAn introduction to mindfulness pack, designed by author CD, includes a booklet introducing the concept of mindfulness, instructions for meditation exercises with an accompanying CD. Memory clinic attendees diagnosed with subjective memory complaints or mild cognitive impairment were invited to take part. Participants completed standardised questionnaires pre- and post-intervention, which examined subjective memory, depression and anxiety symptoms, subjective sleep quality, worry and mindfulness levels. Qualitative information was also gathered.ResultsOf twenty-four participants (66.6% female, mean age 60.8 years), 14 (58.3%) completed the 6-week study. There was no statistical difference in anxiety and depressive symptoms, quality of life, sleep quality and worry levels pre- and post-intervention among participants. However, 100% of participants found the mindfulness intervention beneficial, with 64.3% (n = 9) reporting a subjective improvement in both memory and concentration.ConclusionsIn this small pilot study, a brief self-guided mindfulness intervention was found to be acceptable to a heterogenous group of Memory Clinic attendees.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Economic Recession and Mental Health Distress: Does Age Matter?
Authors: Frasquilho D. , Cardoso G. , Ana A. , Silva M. , Caldas-de-Almeida J.M. 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionThe association between economic crises and mental health problems can be attributed to a number of factors. Among these, age seems to be an important determinant.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess whether mental health of the Portuguese population following the onset of the 2008 recession, differs by age groups.MethodsA follow-up study (2015) on the population aged 18 to > 65 years old, using the National Mental Health Survey (n = 911). The age-group prevalence of mental health distress assessed by the ten-item Kessler's Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was calculated using Chi2 statistics and mental distress as a categorical variable (P < 0.05).ResultsMean mental distress score differed significantly according to age group, χ2(3) = 10.684, P < = 0.05. The results showed that the older groups (50–64 and 65 = years old) were more frequently under mental distress (17–19%) compared to younger people (18–49 = years old), which were less likely to report being distressed (8–12%).ConclusionsAge seems to be an important determinant of distress levels during the economic crisis in Portugal. Older adults reported to be more distressed compared to younger individuals. There are several hypotheses for a differential expression of psychological distress between age groups such as working status and retirement, which can express differential access to coping resources under such contextual negative pressure of economic recession. Further research on age groups is thus needed to better understand how recession generates adverse effects on mental well-being.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The Effect of Apolipoprotein E ɛ4 (APOE E4) on Visuospatial Working Memory in Healthy Elders and Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients: An Event-related Potentials Study
Authors: Gu L. 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionPrevious studies provided inconsistent evidences for the effect of apolipoprotein E ɛ4 (APOE ɛ4) status on the visuospatial working memory (VSWM). Our study was the first investigation with event-related potential (ERP) to explore the effect of APOE ɛ4 on VSWM in healthy elders and aMCI patients.ObjectiveThe aim was to investigate the effect of APOE ɛ4 on VSWM with event-related potential (ERP) study in healthy elders and aMCI patients.MethodsThirty-nine aMCI patients (27 APOE ɛ4 non-carriers and 12 APOE ɛ4 carriers) and 43 their matched control (25 APOE ɛ4 non-carriers and 18 APOE ɛ4 carriers) performed an N-back task, a VSWM paradigm that manipulated the number of items to be stored in memory.ResultsOur study detected reduced accuracy and delayed mean correct response time in aMCI patients than healthy elders. P300 was elicited by VSWM and its amplitude was lower in aMCI patients at the central-parietal and parietal electrodes than healthy controls. In healthy elders, P300 amplitude declined prior to task performance change in APOE ɛ4 carriers than non-carriers. Regarding aMCI patients, P300 amplitude result revealed exacerbated VSWM deficits in APOE ɛ4 carriers than APOE ɛ4 non-carriers. Additionally, standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography analysis (s-LORETA) result showed enhanced brain activation in right parahippocampal gyrus during P300 time range in APOE ɛ4 carriers than non-carriers in aMCI patients (Fig. 1, Tables 1 and 2).ConclusionsIt demonstrated that P300 amplitude might serve as a biomarker for recognizing aMCI patients and contribute to early detection of worse VSWM in APOE ɛ4 carriers than non-carriers.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS): Successful Treatment of Visual Hallucinations Due to Vision Loss with Agomelatine in Three Cases
Authors: Hsu H.C. , Huang Y.S. , Fan W.X. , Chen T.C. 
Published: June 2017

BackgroundCBS becomes more prevalent as the population ages. CBS is characterized by the triad of impairment of vision, complex visual hallucinations with insight, mentally normal people. Although visual hallucinations in the elderly are often associated with dementia with Lewy body, Alzheimer's disease and delirium, they are excluded from the diagnosis of typical CBS. Here, we describe three typical CBS patients whose visual hallucinations developed after bilateral severe visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy. The effectiveness of agomelatine adds to evidence implicating serotonergic and melatoninergic pathways in the pathogenesis of visual hallucinations.Case reportThe average age of these three patients (2 males and 1 female) is 71. Except for the visual hallucinations, all patients showed no psychiatric symptoms or cognitive decline or neurological focal signs. They were frequently upset by the fact of hallucinating, fearing that they are losing their minds. They lived in fear of impending insanity, guilty feeling, unhappy mood, insomnia. The frequency of visual hallucinations stopped with agomelatine 25 mg/day for 3 weeks in these cases.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first report describing the effectiveness of agomelatine in treating typical CBS patients and indicates that agomelatine is an safer option for the treatment of CBS, especially in the elderly, diabetic population. Therapeutic options for CBS still remain poor and of uncertain benefit for the individual patient. CBS has a high prevalence rate (0.4%–30%) among the visually impaired. Clinicians must ask elderly people with visual impairment whether they have hallucinations. Firm reassurance that the syndrome is not related to mental illness is a major relief to an elderly person burdened already with failing vision.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
White matter hyperintensities as a new predictor of driving cessation in the elderly
Authors: Lim K.Y. , Son S.J. , Jang M. , Hong C.H. 
Published: June 2017

Background/aimsMotor, perceptual, and cognitive functions affect driving competence. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) changes on brain MRI are associated structural brain changes along with cognitive and motor performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between WMH and driving ability in the elderly.MethodsParticipants (n = 540) were drawn from a nationwide, multicenter, hospital-based, longitudinal cohort study. Each participant underwent clinical evaluations, neuropsychological tests, and interview for caregiver including driving capacity, which was categorized as ‘now driving’, and ‘driving cessation (driving before, not now)’. A total 540 participants were divided into three groups (389 mild, 116 moderate, and 35 severe) depending on the degree of WMH. The same evaluations of them were followed after each year. The statistical analyses were performed using χ2 test, an analysis of variance (ANOVA), structured equation model (SEM), and generalized estimating equation (GEE).ResultsIn a SEM, greater baseline degree of WMH was directly associated with driving cessation regardless of cognitive and motor dysfunction (β = –0.110, P < 0.001). In GEE models controlling for age, sex, education, cognitive, and motor dysfunction, the more severe changes of the degree of WMH was associated with the faster change from ‘now driving’ state to ‘driving cessation’ state over time in the elderly (β = –0.508, P < 0.001).ConclusionIn both cross-sectional and longitudinal aspects, the degree of WMH might be one of the predictive factors for driving cessation in the elderly, reflecting both motor and cognitive functions or independently.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The Effectiveness and Long-term Prognosis of the Intravenous Course of Cerebrolysin in Patients with the Amnestic MCI
Authors: Ponomareva E. 
Published: June 2017

Early diagnosis and treatment in the predementia stage of Alzheimer's disease, i.e. in amnestic MCI (aMCI) may improve patient quality of life and promote slowing of conversion to dementia. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effectiveness and long-term prognosis of the course of cerebrolysin therapy in aMCI patients. Twenty elderly aMCI patients were included in the study and treated with a 20-day course of therapy with daily intravenous infusions of 30 mL cerebrolysin. Cognitive functions were assessed by the battery of neuropsychological scales and tests: MMSE, MoCA-test, МDRS, the Boston naming test, the Clock Drawing Test, Frontal Assessment Battery, the test “10 words”, the Digit Repetition Test. The level of the auto-antibodies to a short peptide fragment of the neurotrophins P75 receptor has been investigated by ELISA in the patient blood serum 3 times per 6 months (0, 10 and 26 weeks). Analysis of the data showed a statistically significant improvement in psychometric tests at the therapy end and also at 10 and 26 weeks of the study. Long-term therapeutic effect (5 months) proved to be significantly correlating with the following parameters: patient's age older than 70 years, basic indices of the MoCA-test and the test “memory” of the dementia Matisse scale. The decline serum level of autoantibodies to the fragment 155–164 receptor of neurotrophins P75 also provided to be an indicator of the long-term effectiveness of the therapy. These results could determine those aMCI patients who could have positive long-term therapeutic effect following cerebrolysin treatment.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
What Predicts Adjustment to Aging Among Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Older Adults?
Authors: Von Humboldt S. , Leal I. , Carneiro F. 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionIntervention programs that highlight predictors of adjustment to aging (AtA) for minority older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) populations are scarce.ObjectiveThe aim of this preliminary study is to build a structural model to explore whether socio-demographic, health and lifestyle-related variables, are correlates of AtA in a group of LGB older adults.MethodsThe sample comprised 287 LGB older adults aged 75 years old and older. Convenience sampling was used to gather questionnaire data. Measures encompassed the adjustment to aging scale, the satisfaction with life scale, demographics and lifestyle and health-related characteristics. Structural equation modeling was used to explore a structural model of the self-reported AtA, comprising all the above variables.ResultsThe structural model indicated the following significant correlates: perceived health (β = 0.456; P < 0.001), leisure (β = 0.378; P < 0.001), income (β = 0.302; P < 0.001), education (β = 0.299; P = 0.009), spirituality (β = 0.189; p <0 .001), sex (β = 0.156; P < 0.001), physical activity (β = 0.142; P < 0.001), satisfaction with life (β = 0.126; P < 0.001), and marital status (β = 0.114; P = 0.008). The variables explain respectively 76.4% of the variability of AtA.ConclusionsThese outcomes suggest that policy making and community interventions with LGB older adults may benefit of including variables, such as, perceived health, leisure and income, as these were pointed out as significant for this group of older adults for promoting adjustment to aging in late adulthood.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Neural Patterns in Ecological Momentary Assessment of Social Stressors
Authors: Courtet P. , Olié E. , Husky M. , Swendsen J. 
Published: June 2017

BackgroundSuicidal behaviors result from a complex interaction between social stressors and individual vulnerability. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) provides the opportunity to investigate the relationship between social stressors in daily life and the occurrence of negative thoughts leading to suicidal ideation. fMRI showed that a neural network supports the sensitivity to social stressors in suicide attempters.ObjectiveA joint fMRI/EMA study investigated whether individual differences in brain reactivity to scanner-based social rejection was related to social rejection during real-world social interactions.MethodSixty women were included: euthymic women with a history of depression with or without suicidal behavior and healthy controls. The Cyberball Game was used as a social exclusion paradigm. Following the fMRI, subjects used EMA for seven days, providing data on environmental, contextual and emotional factors.ResultsIn the fMRI study, in comparison to patients without any history of suicide attempt and healthy controls, suicide attempters showed decreased activation in the posterior cingulate cortex, insula and superior temporal gyrus during the exclusion vs. inclusion condition. In the EMA study, social stressors were specific predictors of suicidal ideation in suicide attempters. We will examine here if individuals who show greater activity in specific brain regions during scanner-based social rejection reported a greater social distress during their daily social interactions.Conclusionsthis study used a combined technique to assess whether neural reactivity to experimental social rejection in the scanner is related to real-world social experience, and if it may help to understand the sensitivity to social stress in suicidal behavior.Disclosure of interestThe authors declare that they have no competing interest.
Difference in cognitive emotional regulation strategies used by mothers with conflict and barrier personal meaning of child's illness
Authors: Pervichko E. , Dovbysh D. 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionA number of studies have noted a high level of symptoms of depression and anxiety in mothers bringing up children with burn injury. The emergence of such symptoms show high importance of child's disease situation to mother and suggests the formation of a special personal meaning of child's illness for mother (conflict or barrier). The aim of this study is to describe specific patterns of mothers responding on the situation of the child burn injuries : special cognitive emotion regulation strategies and personal meaning of illness.MethodsClinical interview to assess personal meaning of illness, State Trait Anxiety Inventor, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.ParticipantsTwenty-eight mothers (aged between 22 to 43 years), children received burn 5-7 days ago ; 2 mothers (aged between 24 to 37 years), children had burns over a year ago.ResultsWe found a strong correlation between using certain strategies of cognitive emotion regulation and different personal meaning of child's illness : mothers with a conflict meaning characterized by using of « Rumination » and « Self-Blame » strategies ; mothers with barrier meaning – « Refocus on planning ». This connection is maintained throughout the child's illness and does not depend on medical specialties. A number of strategies of cognitive emotion regulation are used by all mothers at different stages of the child's illness, regardless of the mother's personal meaning of illness : immediately after injury the most popular strategies are “Catastrophizing” and « Self-Blame » ; in the long-term rehabilitation – « Putting into perspective » is the most common one.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
MicroRNA Profiling in Postmortem Brain and Plasma Exosomes: Biomarker Perspective of Suicidality
Authors: Dwivedi Y. 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionSuicide is a leading cause of death. Although research on the biological aspects of suicide is accumulating, there is no testable biomarker to assess suicidality. miRNAs, small non-coding RNAs, have been implicated in synaptic plasticity, genetic susceptibility to stress and coping to stress response. Because of the presence of microRNAs in circulating body fluids, miRNAs can not only be used as regulators of disease pathologies but also in prognosis and treatment response.ObjectivesWhether miRNAs can be used as biomarker for suicidality.AimsTo examine miRNA expression in brain of suicide victims and in plasma exosomes of suicidal individuals.MethodsmicroRNA expression was studied in prefrontal cortex of depressed suicide subjects and healthy normal controls. Role of microRNAs in synaptic plasticity was studied by examining total and synaptonerosomes. microRNA expression was also studied in plasma exosomes of depressed non-suicide and depressed suicide subjects and healthy normal controls.ResultsWe found a global down–regulation of miRNAs in depressed subjects (21 miRNAs significantly down-regulated). Many of them were synaptically enriched and encoded at nearby chromosomal loci, shared motifs within the 5’-seeds, and shared putative mRNA targets. In addition, we found a dramatic reorganization of microRNAs in a coordinated and cohesive fashion in depressed subjects. We also detected changes in miRNAs in plasma exosomes of depressed suicide subjects that corresponded to microRNA changes in prefrontal cortex.ConclusionOur study provides critical evidence that microRNAs play a major role in suicide pathophysiology and that these microRNAs can be reliably used as peripheral biomarker.Disclosure of interestThe author declares that he has no competing interest.
No effect of cognitive performance on post-intervention improvement in emotion recognition
Authors: Bozikas V.P. , Tsotsi S. , Dardagani A. , Dandi E. , Nazlidou E.I. , Garyfallos G. 
Published: June 2017

Deficits in emotion perception in patients with first episode of psychosis have been reported by many researchers. Till now, training programs have focused mainly in patients with schizophrenia and not in first psychotic episode (FEP) patients. We used a new intervention for facial affect recognition in a group of 35 FEP patients (26 male). The emotion recognition intervention included coloured pictures of individuals expressing six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, surprise, fear) and a neutral emotion. The patients were trained to detect changes in facial features, according to the emotion displayed. A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests was also administered, measuring attention, memory, working memory, visuospatial ability and executive function by using specific tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). We tried to explore whether cognitive performance can explain the difference noted between the original assessment of emotion recognition and the post-intervention assessment. According to our data, overall cognitive performance did not correlate with post-intervention change in emotion recognition. Specific cognitive domains did not correlate with this change, either. According the above mentioned results, no significant correlation between neuropsychological performance and post-intervention improvement in emotion recognition was noted. This finding may suggest that interventions for emotion recognition may target specific processes that underlie emotion perception and their effect can be independent of general cognitive function.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.