Association between reduced plasma BDNF concentration and MMSE scores in both chronic schizophrenia and mild cognitive impairment.

Reduced brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration is reported to be associated with a cognitive decline in schizophrenia, depending on the stage of the disease. Aim of the study was to examine the possible association between plasma BDNF and cognitive decline in chronic stable schizophrenia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The study included 123 inpatients of both sexes with schizophrenia, 123 patients with MCI and 208 healthy control subjects. Cognitive abilities were assessed using mini mental state examination (MMSE), Clock Drawing test (CDT) and cognitive subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Plasma BDNF concentration was determined using ELISA. BDNF concentration was lower in patients with schizophrenia and MCI compared to age-matched healthy controls and was similar in carriers of different BDNF Val/66Met genotypes. The MMSE and CDT scores were lower in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls and subjects with MCI. Reduced plasma BDNF was significantly associated with lower MMSE scores in all subjects. BDNF concentration in patients with schizophrenia was not affected by clinical and demographic factors. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was not associated with the MMSE scores in all participants. Further studies should include longitudinal follow-up and other cognitive scales to confirm these results and offer cognition-improving strategies to prevent cognitive decline in chronic schizophrenia.

Overview of metabolomic aspects in postpartum depression.

Along with the typical biochemical alterations that occur during pregnancy, certain metabolic changes might be associated with the development of several psychiatric disorders, including postpartum depression (PPD), which is the most common type of psychiatric disorder during pregnancy or first postpartum year, and it develops in about 15% of women. Metabolomics is a rapidly developing discipline that deals with the metabolites as the final products of all genetically controlled biochemical pathways, highly influenced by external and internal changes. The aim of this paper was to review the published studies whose results suggest or deny a possible association between the fine regulation of the metabolome and PPD, enabling conclusions about whether metabolomics could be a useful tool in defining the biochemical pathways directly involved in the etiology, diagnosis and course of PPD. Beside numerous hormonal changes, a lot of different metabolic pathways have been discovered to be affected in women with PPD or associated with its development, including alterations in the energy metabolism, tryptophan and amino acid metabolism, steroid metabolism, purine cycle, as well as neurotransmitter metabolism. Additionally, metabolomics helped in defining the association between PPD and the exposure to various endocrine disrupting metabolites during pregnancy. Finally, metabolome reflects different PPD therapies and exposure of fetus or breastfed infants to pharmacotherapy prescribed to a mother suffering from PPD. This review can help in creating the picture about metabolomics' broad application in PPD studies, but it also implies that its potential is still not completely used.

The association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor with the diagnosis and treatment response in depression.

INTRODUCTION: Recent evidence from the studies evaluating the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration/levels, BDNF Val66Met (rs6265) polymorphism, and major depressive disorders, referred as depression, and the association between BDNF levels and/or BDNF Val66Met with the treatment response in depression is presented. AREAS COVERED: This mini review focuses on the changes in the peripheral BDNF levels in blood (serum, plasma, platelets) in patients with depression before or after treatment with antidepressant drugs or different therapeutic strategies. In addition, this review describes the recent data on the possible association between different antidepressants/therapeutic strategies and the particular BDNF Val66Met genotypes, evaluating the risk alleles associated with the response in patients with depression. EXPERT OPINION: BDNF has an important role in the pathophysiology and treatment response in depression. Most data reveal that peripheral BDNF levels are lower before than after antidepressant treatment and might be used as potential biomarkers of therapeutic response. Novel therapeutic strategies should target restoring/increasing BDNF levels.

Breastfeeding Promotion and the Results of the Maternity Ward - a Friend of Children Initiative Implementation in Bjelovar-Bilogora County in 2018.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding has a beneficial effect on the overall health system of the child and the mother. After six months of age, it is recommended to introduce complementary feeding in parallel and to continue breastfeeding for at least one year of the child's life. Maternal education is one of the key tasks of medical staff during pregnancy and especially during lactation. OBJECTIVE: The main objectives of the study is to determine the essential features of female respondents with regard to previous pregnancies, births and health visitors visits after birth; to determine the percentage of women whose lactation was started in hospital and who exclusively breastfed; to determine the differences in child's diet during a health visitor visit at two, four, six, nine and twelve months in regards to female respondents' age. METHODS: The study has been conducted as a cross-sectional study. 571 women who gave birth in General Hospital of Bjelovar took part in the survey and the reviewing was continued by Health Visiting Service of Bjelovar-Bilogora County in 2018. The tools for data collection were IT system of General Hospital of Bjelovar, case histories as well as Health Visiting Service IT system. RESULTS: Most of the female respondents are of the average age of 30 years. The study was conducted on a highly educated sample. 461 respondents have a certain form of education. Older respondents are considerably more educated (62 %). Single respondents and extramarital respondents are considerably of younger age. Older respondents predominantly live in the town, have more previous pregnancies and children compared to younger respondents. Lactation was started with 98.8 % respondents in hospital, and 96.7 % exclusively breastfed. The mothers of older ages breastfeed longer. CONCLUSION: Older, educated, employed, married, town residential female respondents decide upon breastfeeding and exclusively breastfeeding. Older respondents have more experience with previous pregnancies and lactation. The study has confirmed that older mothers breastfeed longer, while younger mothers more often reach for milk alternatives.