Sex-Specific Association between Antioxidant Defense System and Therapeutic Response to Risperidone in Schizophrenia: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: There are various differences in response to different antipsychotics and antioxidant defense systems (ADS) by sex. Previous studies have shown that several ADS enzymes are closely related to the treatment response of patients with antipsychotics-naïve first-episode (ANFE) schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, the main goal of this study was to assess the sex difference in the relationship between changes in ADS enzyme activities and risperidone response. METHODS: The plasma activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured in 218 patients and 125 healthy controls. Patients were treated with risperidone for 3 months, and we measured PANSS for psychopathological symptoms and ADS biomarkers at baseline and at the end of 3 months of treatment. We compared sex-specific group differences between 50 non-responders and 168 responders at baseline and at the end of the three months of treatment. RESULTS: We found that female patients responded better to risperidone treatment than male patients. At baseline and 3-month follow-up, there were no significant sex differences in TAS levels and three ADS enzyme activities. Interestingly, only in female patients, after 12 weeks of risperidone treatment, the GPx activity of responders was higher than that of non-responders. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that after treatment with risperidone, changes in GPx activity were associated with treatment response, suggesting that changes in GPx may be a predictor of response to risperidone treatment in female patients with ANFE schizophrenia.

Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Dielectric Barrier on a Nanosecond Pulsed Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge.

In order to understand the impacts of dielectric barrier on the discharge characteristics of a nanosecond pulsed surface dielectric barrier discharge (NS-DBD), the effects of dielectric constant and dielectric barrier thickness are numerically investigated by using a three-equation drift-diffusion model with a 4-species 4-reaction air chemistry. When the dielectric constant increases, while the dielectric barrier thickness is fixed, the streamer propagation speed (V), the maximum streamer length (L), the discharge energy ( Q D _ e i ), and the gas heating ( Q G H ) of a pulse increase, but the plasma sheath thickness (h), the fast gas heating efficiency η , and the charge densities on the wall surface decrease. When the dielectric barrier thickness increases, while the dielectric constant is fixed, V, L, Q D _ e i , and Q G H of a pulse decrease, but h, η , and the charge densities on the wall surface increase. It can be concluded that the increase of the dielectric constant or the decrease of the dielectric barrier thickness results in the increase of the capacitance of the dielectric barrier, which enhances the discharge intensity. Increasing the dielectric constant and thinning the dielectric barrier layer improve the performance of the NS-DBD actuators.

Betaine ameliorates prenatal valproic-acid-induced autism-like behavioral abnormalities in mice by promoting homocysteine metabolism.

AIM: Abnormally high levels of homocysteine (Hcy) are associated with autism spectrum disorder. Betaine is a methyl group donor in Hcy metabolism, and is known to prevent noxious Hcy accumulation. This study explored whether betaine could influence Hcy metabolism in a mouse model of autism and ameliorate behavioral abnormalities. METHODS: Pregnant ICR mice were administered valproic acid (VPA) intraperitoneally on Embryonic Day 12.5. Serum Hcy concentrations in the offspring were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of Hcy-metabolism-related enzymes, betaine-Hcy methyltransferase, cystathionine ß-synthase, and methionine synthase, were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Offspring were treated by either betaine or saline at the age of 8 weeks and serum Hcy concentrations were measured. Social behaviors were assessed by sniff-duration test and three-chamber test. Repetitive behavior was evaluated by marble-burying test. Tail-flick test was performed to measure nociceptive sensitivity. RESULTS: Prenatal VPA-exposed mice showed significantly elevated Hcy concentrations and decreased betaine-Hcy methyltransferase expression. Treatment with betaine could reduce Hcy level in VPA-exposed mice, attenuate social impairment and repetitive behavior, and normalize nociceptive sensitivity in this model. CONCLUSION: Betaine could ameliorate autism-like features and play a beneficial role in a mouse autism model induced by prenatal VPA exposure.

Emerging malnutrition during hospitalisation independently predicts poor 3-month outcomes after acute stroke: data from a Chinese cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Questions exist regarding the causal relationship between malnutrition and stroke outcomes. This study aimed to determine whether nutritional status changes or malnutrition during hospitalisation could predict 3-month outcomes in acute stroke patients. METHODS: During a 10-month period, patients who suffered their first stroke within 7 days after stroke onset were included in this prospective multi-centre study. The demographic parameters, stroke risk and severity factors, malnutrition risk factors and dysphagia were recorded. Nutritional status was assessed by 3 anthropometric and 3 biochemical indices. Changes in nutritional status were defined by comparing the admission values with the 2-week values. A Modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6 was defined as a poor outcome at the 3-month follow-up. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the power of nutritional status changes in predicting poor patient outcomes. RESULTS: Data from 760 patients were analysed. Poor outcomes were observed in 264 (34.7%) patients. Malnutrition prevalence was 3.8% at admission and 7.5% after 2-weeks in hospital, which could not predict 3-month outcome. Emerging malnutrition was observed in 36 patients (4.7%) during the 2-week hospitalisation period and independently predicted poor 3-month outcomes after adjusting for confounding factors (odds ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.83). CONCLUSIONS: Emerging malnutrition during hospitalisation independently predicted poor 3-month outcomes in acute stroke patients in this study.

Immunofluorescence analysis of duck plague virus gE protein on DPV-infected ducks.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, the expression and localization characteristics of duck plague virus (DPV) gE protein have been described in cultured cells, but the properties of DPV gE protein have not been reported in vivo. Immunofluorescence analysis had been used for the detection of virus antigen, but there was no report on the use of this technique for the detection of DPV gE. In this study, we investigated the distribution of DPV gE protein on DPV-infected ducks using polyclonal antibody raised against the recombinant His-gE fusion protein by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). RESULTS: The recombinant gE protein was highly immunogenicity by ELISA, and the gE was used as an antigen for the preparation of polyclonal antibody, which could be used the first antibody for further experiment to study the distribution of DPV gE protein in DPV-infected tissues by indirect immunofluorescence assay. DPV gE protein were distributed in the immune organs (thymus, bursa of fabricius (BF), Harders glands, spleen), the digestive organs (liver, duodenum, jejunum, ileum), and the other parenchymatous organs (kidney, myocardium, cerebrum, and lung) of DPV-infected ducks, but the positive immunofluorescence signal was not seen in the muscle and pancreas. The lymphocytes, reticulum cells, macrophages, epithelial cells, and hepatocytes served as the principal site for the localization of DPV gE antigen. Moreover, the intensity of fluorescence increased sharply from 12 to 216 h post-infection (p.i.). CONCLUSIONS: In this work, the immunogenicity of the recombinant gE protein was analyzed by ELISA, and we presented the distribution properties of DPV gE antigen in infected ducks for the first time, which may be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of DPV. These properties of the gE protein provided the prerequisite for further functional analysis.

[The risk factors for malnutrition in post-stroke patients.].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detection rate of malnutrition among post-stroke patients in community hospitals and unravel the relevant factors that precipitate malnutrition after stroke. METHODS: Based on 438 post-stroke patients who were admitted in community hospitals, we examined the demographic characteristics, the nutritional indices and the possible malnutrition related factors through a cross-sectional study. RESULTS: The detection rate of malnutrition among post-stroke patients was 52.7%. Group comparison through multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was a higher malnutrition detection rate in the post-stroke patients with multiple stroke attacks (three stroke attackes and above, OR = 11.00, 95%CI 1.14 - 106.34), higher NIHSS scores (group with NIHSS >/= 15, OR = 7.09, 95%CI 2.90 - 17.36), higher modified Rankin scales (group mRS 4 - 5, OR = 15.77, 95%CI 6.61 - 37.59) (trend test P < 0.0001). The risk of malnutrition was also correlated with the post-stroke depression, poorer family care, no early-stage rehabilitation, history of malignant tumors and severe alcoholism. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high detection rate of malnutrition among post-stroke patients in community hospitals. There are many factors related to malnutrition among post-stroke patients in the community. More attention to controllable influencing factors would improve the prognosis of post-stroke patients.

[The impact of early alimentary nutrition on short-term prognosis after acute stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the short-term effects of early naso-gastric nutrition after acute stroke. METHODS: In a prospective non-randomized controlled design, 146 stroke patients with dysphagia were included. 75 patients in the intervention group received standard naso-gastric nutrition and 71 patients in the control group and received feeding supervised by family members. We observed the nutrition status, infective complications and mortality between the two groups for 21 days. Neurological deficit was evaluated with NIH stroke scale, Barthel index and the modified of Rankin Scale, the latter scale being calculated for 90 days. RESULTS: After 21 days, the nutritional parameters (triceps skin thickness, arm muscle circumference, haemoglobin, serum albumin, and triglycerides) in the intervention group were significantly better than those in the control group. Malnutrition was observed in 27.1% of the intervention group and 48.3% of the control group (P = 0.014). The incidence of infective complications was 33.3% in the intervention group and 52.1% in the control group (P = 0.022). Mortality rate was 6.7% in the intervention group and 18.1% in the control group (P = 0.032). The score of NIH stroke scale on the 21st day in the intervention group was also significantly better than that in the control group (P = 0.008). However, the Barthel index on the 21st day and the score of the modified Rankin Scale on the 90th day of follow-up were not statistically different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that standardized naso-gastric nutrition is helpful for improving short-term neurological function following acute stroke. However, improvement of Barthel index and the score of the modified Rankin Scale needs more therapeutic measures besides nutritional support.