Serum s100b protein levels as a neuroinflammatory biomarker of acutely relapsed paranoid schizophrenia patients.

OBJECTIVE: The s100b inflammatory protein is involved in schizophrenia pathophysiology. We aim at studying the evolution of the s100b serum levels in acutely relapsed paranoid schizophrenia patients at three different time points (admission, discharge and 3 months after hospital discharge 3MAHD). METHODS: Twenty-three paranoid schizophrenia inpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria participated in the research. Twenty-three healthy subjects matched by age, gender and season acted as the control group. Psychopathology was measured with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Serum s100b levels were determined at 12:00 and 24:00 h with an enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. RESULTS: Patients had significant higher serum s100b levels at admission and discharge (12:00 h) than the group of healthy subjects. At admission and discharge, s100b serum levels at 24 h had decreased compared to the 24:00 h s100b levels of the healthy subjects. At 3MAHD patients and healthy subjects had similar levels of serum s100b protein. Positive and negative PANSS scores decreased significantly between admission and discharge. Positive and negative PANSS scores decreased between discharge and 3MAHD, but these changes had no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that the acute inflammatory response produced in acutely relapsed patients is reversed after 3 month of hospital discharge. The variations of serum s100b concentrations when the patients suffer from an acute relapse may be a useful predictor of disease evolution.

Acute paranoid schizophrenia relapsed inpatients present summer/ winter but not day/night changes in serum S100B concentrations.

Healthy subjects present higher summer than winter S100B protein concentrations. There is no available information regarding if schizophrenia patients present the same pattern. The aim of this research is to study if patients with schizophrenia present seasonal changes in serum S100B concentrations.

Pacientes ingresados por recaída aguda de esquizofrenia paranoide: cambios estacionales, pero no circadianos, en los niveles séricos deproteína S100B / Patients admitted for acute relapse of paranoid schizophrenia: seasonal, but not circadian, changes in serum levels of S100B protein

Introducción: El objetivo de esta investigación es estudiar si los pacientes esquizofrénicos presentan niveles másaltos de proteína S100B en verano que en invierno, como seha descrito en sujetos sanos.Método. Se estudiaron 52 pacientes caucásicos que ingresaron por recaída aguda y que cumplían con los criteriosDSM-IV de esquizofrenia paranoide. La proteína S100B ensuero se midió a las 12:00 y las 00:00 horas el día despuésdel ingreso. Los pacientes fueron reclutados durante nuevemeses (julio-marzo) y se agruparon por estación, según lafecha de ingreso, como grupo de verano, otoño o invierno.Los niveles séricos de S100B se midieron con un ELISA.Resultados. Los pacientes ingresados en invierno presentaron niveles séricos de proteína S100B significativamentemás altos a las 12:00 y 00:00 horas que los pacientes ingresados en verano (12:00, invierno: 287,5 ± 264,9 vs. verano: 33,7 ± 22,6, p < 0,05; 00:00, invierno: 171,2 ± 143,8 vs.verano: 23,3 ± 18,6, p < 0,05). Las concentraciones séricasde S100B en otoño no fueron significativamente diferentesde las concentraciones de verano o invierno (12:00: 128,7 ±208,8, 00:00: 102,2 ± 153,2). No hubo diferencias significativas por estación entre las concentraciones diurnas y nocturnas de proteína S100B.Conclusiones. Los pacientes esquizofrénicos hospitalizados por una descompensación aguda presentan concentraciones séricas de proteína S100B significativamente másaltas en invierno que en verano, al contrario de lo descritoen sujetos sanos, tanto a las 12:00 horas como a las 00:00horas. Al estudiar este biomarcador en la esquizofrenia esrecomendable controlar el cambio de estación como fuentede sesgo en los diseños experimentales. (AU)

Introduction: Healthy subjects present higher summerthan winter S100B protein concentrations. There is no available information regarding if schizophrenia patients presentthe same pattern. The aim of this research is to study if patients with schizophrenia present seasonal changes in serumS100B concentrations.Methods. In fifty-two Caucasian schizophrenia paranoidinpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria, serum S100B protein wasmeasured at 12:00 h and 00:00 h the next day after admission.Patients were recruited for a period of nine months (July-March)and were grouped as summer, autumn or winter group according to the date of admission. Serum S100B levels were measuredwith an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kit.Results. Patients admitted in winter had significantly higher serum S100B concentrations at 12:00 h and 00:00 h than patients admitted in summer (12:00, winter: 287.5±264.9 vs.summer: 33.7±22.6, p < 0.05; 00:00, winter: 171.2±143.8 vs.summer: 23.3±18.6, p < 0.05). Autumn serum S100B concentrations were not significantly different from the summer or winter concentrations (12:00: 128.7±208.8, 00:00:102.2±153.2). There were no significant differences between12:00 and 00:00 serum S100B concentrations in any season.Conclusions. Acutely relapsed paranoid schizophreniainpatients present significantly higher serum S100B concentrations in winter than summer, the opposite pattern described in healthy subjects, both at midday and midnight.Controlling this seasonal change as source of bias in experimental designs is strongly advisable. (AU)

Melatonin and melatonin agonists as treatments for benzodiazepines and hypnotics withdrawal in patients with primary insomnia. A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Hypnotics (HYP) and benzodiazepines (BZD) are medicines prescribed for the insomnia treatment. Many patients present difficulties in discontinuing the treatment once established. Melatonin (MLT) has been prescribed as a treatment for BZD/HYP detoxification. AIMS: The primary objective of this systematic review is to assess the efficacy of MLT and MLT agonists (melatoninergics) in improving the rate of BZD and/or HYP discontinuation among adults with primary insomnia attempting to discontinue BZD and/or HYP. The secondary objective is to evaluate the partial efficacy of melatoninergic drugs in the discontinuation of BZD and/or HYP consumption in subjects that could not stop their consumption. METHOD: A search on Web of Science and Scopus was carried out from database inception to July 1st, 2019. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-nine articles were identified but only four were included in the final review. Two were cohort prospective, one placebo-control double blind and one double blind placebo-control cross-over designed study. Total withdrawal (TW) ranged from 0% to 25% in the placebo arm and from 64.3% to 77.8% in the MLT arm. In cohort studies TW figures ranged from 30.8% to 65%. Partial withdrawal ranged between 20% and 30.8% of patients that did not achieve TW with reduction figures of diazepam equivalent dose ranging from 25% to 75%. CONCLUSION: MLT has a place in the physician armamentarium to treat the suspension/reduction of BZD/HYP consumption in patients with primary insomnia.

Feasibility of implementing a preventive physical exercise programme recommended by general practitioners in cardiovascular risk patients: A pre-post comparison study.

Background: Physical inactivity implies a significant individual and society health burden.Objectives: To assess the feasibility of implementing a preventive physical exercise (PE) programme for the general population and to analyse changes in fitness-related variables and quality of life.Methods: Pre-post comparison study in which general practitioners and nurses recommended PE to participants with sedentary behaviour and hypertension or dyslipidaemia attending in primary care for primary prevention of ischaemic cardiovascular disease. Eligible participants were referred to a PE programme (10 weeks, three days a week, a total of 30 sessions of one-hour duration). Data was collected for five years (2013-2017). Outcome measures were body weight, body mass index (BMI), physical condition (aerobic fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, balance), and quality of life (SF-36).Results: The PE programme was offered to 6,140 eligible subjects; 5,077 (82.7%) accepted to participate and received a recommendation; 3,656 (69.6% women) started the programme and 2,962 subjects (80.9% women) finished the programme. After 10 weeks, there were significant improvements (mean difference, 95% CI) in aerobic fitness (2.55 ml/min/kg, 2.32-2.79), muscle strength (0.62 m, 0.57 to 0.67), flexibility (2.34 cm, 2.06 to 2.63) and balance (-0.46 falls, -0.60 to -0.33) as well as significant decreases in body weight (-0.41 kg, -0.64 to -0.17) and BMI (-0.27 kg/m2, -0.34 to -0.20).Conclusion: Implementation of a government-supported PE programme for the general population recruited in the primary care setting and recommended by healthcare professionals is feasible, and was associated with health benefits, mainly improvements in physical fitness.

Day/Night and Summer/Winter Changes in Serum Total Antioxidant Capacity.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal and circadian changes are two factors described to affect blood levels of some biological molecules. The Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) is one global measure of the antioxidant capacity of a system. There is no agreement about the existence of day/night changes in TAC levels as well as there is no information about seasonal changes in TAC levels. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this research are studying if there are summer/winter changes in TAC concentrations or if TAC concentrations have day/night changes. METHOD: Ninety-eight healthy subjects took part in the summer study of whom 64 participated in the winter one. Blood was sampled at 09:00, 12:00 and 00:00 h. TAC was measured by the ABTS radical cation technique. Results are expressed in mmol/L of trolox equivalents. RESULTS: The subjects had significantly higher TAC levels in summer than winter at the three-time point studied. Summer 09:00 TAC concentration was significantly higher than the 12:00 and 00:00 h concentrations (1.34±0.26 vs 0.83±0.19, 0.75±0.18). Summer TAC 12:00 h concentrations were significantly higher than the 00:00 h concentrations (0.83±0.19 vs. 0.75±0.18). Winter 09:00 TAC concentrations were significantly higher than the 12:00 and 00:00 h concentrations (1.24±0.16 vs. 0.73±0.10, 0.67±0.13). There were no significant differences between the 12:00 and 00:00 h TAC concentrations. CONCLUSION: Strong methodological biases may be made if the seasonal and circadian changes in serum TAC concentration are not taken into account when researching in this area.

A three-month longitudinal study of changes in day/night serum total antioxidant capacity in paranoid schizophrenia.

Free radicals and an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance have been involved in the schizophrenia pathophysiology. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is a measure of the antioxidant capacity of a system. Day/night changes are a biological characteristic of hormones such as melatonin or cortisol. There is little information about TAC day/night changes in schizophrenia patients. The aim of this research is to study if there are day/night changes in serum TAC levels of schizophrenia patients. Thirty-two DSM-IV schizophrenia paranoid patients were studied. Blood was sampled at 12:00 and 00:00 h at admission, discharge and three months after hospital discharge (TMAHD). TAC results are expressed as mmol of Trolox/L. Patients did not have day/night TAC differences at admission (12:00: 0.67±0.12 vs. 00:00: 0.61±0.14, p>0.14) or discharge (12:00: 0.65±0.15 vs. 00:00: 0.65±0.12, p>0.99). At TMHD, patients had significantly higher TAC levels at midday than midnight (12:00: 0.83±0.10 vs. 00:00: 0.74±0.12, p<0.006) as it has been reported in healthy subjects. There were no significant TAC differences at 12.00 and 00:00 between admission and discharge. At TMAHD, patients had significantly higher TAC levels than at admission and discharge, both at 12:00 and 00:00 h. In conclusion, the absence of day/night serum TAC changes when clinically relapsed and the normalization of day/night serum TAC changes at TMHD can be considered as a biological marker of schizophrenia evolution.

Day/night changes in serum S100B protein concentrations in acute paranoid schizophrenia.

There are day/night and seasonal changes in biological markers such as melatonin and cortisol. Controversial changes in serum S100B protein levels have been described in schizophrenia. We aim studying whether serum S100B levels present day/night variations in schizophrenia patients and whether S100B levels are related to psychopathology. Sixty-five paranoid schizophrenic inpatients participated in the study. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at admission and discharge. Blood was drawn at 12:00 (midday) and 00:00 (midnight) hours at admission and discharge. Sixty-five healthy subjects matched by age, gender and season acted as control group. At admission and discharge patients had significantly higher serum S100B concentrations at midday and midnight than healthy subjects. At admission, patients showed a day/night variation of S100B levels, with higher S100B levels at 12:00 than at 00:00h (143.7±26.3pg/ml vs. 96.9±16.6pg/ml). This day/night difference was not present in the control group. Midday and midnight S100B at admission decreased when compared to S100B at discharge (midday, 143.7±26.3 vs. 83.0±12, midnight 96.9±16.6 vs. 68.6±14.5). There was a positive correlation between the PANSS positive subscale and S100B concentrations at admission. This correlation was not present at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: acute paranoid schizophrenia inpatients present a day/night change of S100B serum levels at admission that disappears at discharge. The correlation between serum S100B concentrations and the PANSS positive scores at admission as well as the decrease of S100B at discharge may be interpreted as an acute biological response to the clinical state of the patients.

Low levels of serum total antioxidant capacity and presence at admission and absence at discharge of a day/night change as a marker of acute paranoid schizophrenia relapse.

BACKGROUND: An oxidant-antioxidant system dysregulation has been described as a schizophrenia pathophysiological base. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is one measure of the antioxidant capacity of a system. Day/night concentration changes is a biological characteristic of hormones such as melatonin or cortisol. There is no information about TAC day/night changes in schizophrenia. AIMS: Studying the existence of a day/night TAC change in schizophrenia. METHOD: Forty-three DSM-IV paranoid schizophrenia inpatients participated in the study. Thirty healthy subjects matched by age and gender acted as control group. Blood was sampled at 12:00 and 00:00h the day after admission and the day before discharge. Serum TAC was measured by the ABTS radical cation technique and expressed in Trolox mmol/L. RESULTS: Patients had significantly lower TAC levels at admission and discharge (12:00 and 00:00) than controls. At admission patients had a TAC day/night change, with higher day-time than night-time levels (0.66±0.14 vs 0.60±0.15) as well as healthy subjects (0.83±0.07 vs 0.77±0.11). At discharge patients had a similar TAC level at 12:00 and 00:00 (0.64±0.15 vs 0.63±0.14). CONCLUSION: Schizophrenic patients present a deficit of the antioxidant system. The initial presence and the later absence of a day/night change deserves future studies.