Matrix metalloproteinase-3 serum levels in schizophrenic patients.

OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that matrix metalloproteinase, MMP-3 may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of mental disorders. However, there are no data on the level of MMP-3 in people suffering from schizophrenia, or its influence on the mental state of these people. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an antipsychotic treatment on the blood levels of MMP-3, as well as investigating its relationship with insight into schizophrenia. METHODS: Thirty people with schizophrenia were included in the study. The concentration of MMP-3 in the blood serum was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Insight into the disease was assessed using the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale. RESULTS: The antipsychotic treatment applied decreased the levels of MMP-3 in patients with schizophrenia (p = 0.005), however, the statistically significant interaction (p = 0.02) indicates that the decrease only concerned men. There was also a statistically significant correlation between the level of MMP-3 and insight into the disease (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: MMP-3 may be associated with gender, treatment and symptoms in schizophrenic patients.KEY POINTSMMP3 could be used as a potential biomarker for schizophrenia.The level of MMP-3 decreased due to the applied antipsychotic treatment.The higher the level of MMP-3 in a group of people with schizophrenia, the better insight into their disease.

BDNF as a biomarker in the course and treatment of schizophrenia.

Many scientists agree that the genes involved in the aetiology and pathogenesis of psychiatric diseases could serve as biomarkers - biological indicators of the health status. Genetic markers may inform about general predispositions of a person to develop certain diseases, while other biochemical factors, such as concentrations of substances in body fluids, reflect the actual condition of the organism. Researchers involved in studies on schizophrenia are interested in the gene and protein of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) due to the role of this neurotrophin in the process of neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and its influence on the functioning of dopaminergic neurons. Among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, the BDNF gene polymorphisms and methylation in the promoter sequences were studied. The neurotrophin was also assayed in the blood of patients, also taking into account the effect of pharmacotherapy on the BDNF concentration, and post-mortem in the brains of the patients. The results of current studies are contradictory. The only systematically confirmed observation is the lowered concentration of BDNF in the serum of patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. It seems that so far our knowledge about the BDNF gene expression and the functions of the protein is not sufficient to include BDNF analysis in the clinical assessment of patients with schizophrenia.

[The importance of hope in coping with schizophrenia]. / Rola nadziei w zmaganiach ze schizofrenia.

Hope is an important dimension of psychological functioning, the source of strength in existential challenges both in health and illness. It is already known that hope is connected with the subjective well-being in people suffering from schizophrenia. Therefore, increasing hope is a promising goal of therapeutic interventions. On the other hand, multiple definitions of hope and methodological differences in the approach to the subject do not lead to determining therapeutic indications, useful in clinical practice. Most scientific projects about hope in people with schizophrenia concentrate on description of mechanisms influencing the patients welfare or determining the relationships between hope intensification and other factors. The paper reviews the concepts of hope and related psychometric techniques and presents the results of research on hope in people with schizophrenia. The presented studies are focused mainly on relationships between hope and psychopathology, the recovery and well-being of the patients. Continuing the research in this topic and analysis of current data may contribute to beneficial changes in the treatment of schizophrenia