Out-of-hospital paramedic interactions with people living with dementia: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Dementia encompasses neurodegenerative disorders that account for a global estimated healthcare expenditure of 1.3 trillion US dollars. In Australia, one in 12 people aged ≥65 has a diagnosis of dementia and it is the second leading cause of death. Paramedics play a crucial role in person-centred dementia care, particularly in the community. While consensus has been established on paramedicine's integration into interdisciplinary care teams, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the paramedic role in dementia care. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine and report paramedic interactions with people living with dementia in the out-of-hospital setting. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a scoping review study of paramedics and people living with dementia within the out-of-hospital setting. METHODS: This study was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review framework. Databases were searched without date limits, up to 4 April 2023. These encompassed OVID Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, APA PsycInfo and OVID Embase. Articles were included if they were primary, peer-reviewed studies in English and reporting on paramedic-specific interactions with people living with dementia in the out-of-hospital setting. Data extraction was performed based on study setting, design, population and key findings. RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles were included in the thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: need for training, patterns of attendances, patterns of documentation and the integrative potential of paramedicine. Paramedics reported feeling ill-equipped and unprepared in caring for patients living with dementia due to challenges in assessment and management of caregiver tensions. They were often called as a last resort due to poor service integration and a lack of alternative care pathways. Despite high conveyance rates, there was low incidence of paramedic interventions initiated. Underdocumentation of dementia and pain was found. CONCLUSION: Emergency ambulance conveyance of people living with dementia is a surface reaction compounded by a lack of direction for paramedics in the provision of out-of-hospital care. There is a pressing need for establishment of research and educational priorities to improve paramedic training in dementia-specific skillsets.

Polymer solubility mechanism in ionic liquids: 1H-NMR spectra and two-parameter hydrogen bonding analysis.

Understanding the polymer solubility in ionic liquids (ILs) is important for polymer processing or polymeric material preparation. Previously, two-parameter H-bonding analysis has been proposed to clarify that polymer solubility in ILs is dominated by H-bonding interactions (Y. F. Yuan et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021, 23, 21893-21900). In the present work, 1H-NMR spectra are adopted to characterize the H-bonding interactions between polymers and ILs, which provide a microscopic relation between polymer solubility and two-parameter H-bonding analysis.

Aggregation-Induced Emission CN-Based Nanoparticles to Alleviate Hypoxic Liver Fibrosis via Triggering HSC Ferroptosis and Enhancing Photodynamic Therapy.

Hypoxia can lead to liver fibrosis and severely limits the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Herein, carbon nitride (CN)-based hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) VPSGCNs@TSI for light-driven water splitting were utilized to solve this problem. CNs were doped with selenide glucose (Se-glu) to enhance their red/NIR region absorption. Then, vitamin A-poly(ethylene glycol) (VA-PEG) fragments and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizers TSI were introduced into Se-glu-doped CN NPs (VPSGCNs) to construct VPSGCNs@TSI NPs. The introduction of VA-PEG fragments enhanced the targeting of the NPs to activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and reduced their toxicity to ordinary liver cells. VPSGCN units could trigger water splitting to generate O2 under 660 nm laser irradiation, improve the hypoxic environment of the fibrosis site, downregulate HIF-1α expression, and activate HSC ferroptosis via the HIF-1α/SLC7A11 pathway. In addition, generated O2 could also increase the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of TSI units in a hypoxic environment, thereby completely reversing hypoxia-triggered PDT resistance to enhance the PDT effect. The combination of water-splitting materials and photodynamic materials showed a 1 + 1 > 2 effect in increasing oxygen levels in liver fibrosis, promoting ferroptosis of activated HSCs and reversing PDT resistance caused by hypoxia.

Ultrahigh-reflective optical thin films prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering with RF-induced substrate bias.

Optical thin films with high-reflectivity (HR) are essential for applications in quantum precision measurements. In this work, we propose a coating technique based on reactive magnetron sputtering with RF-induced substrate bias to fabricate HR-optical thin films. First, atomically flat SiO2 and Ta2O5 layers have been demonstrated due to the assistance of radio-frequency plasma during the coating process. Second, a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirror with an HR of ∼99.999 328% centered at 1397 nm has been realized. The DBR structure is air-H{LH}19-substrate, in which the L and H denote a single layer of SiO2 with a thickness of 237.8 nm and a single layer of Ta2O5 with a thickness of 171.6 nm, respectively. This novel coating method would facilitate the development of HR reflectors and promote their wide applications in precision measurements.

Mutation of Disulfide Bond Sites Reduces the Immunoreactivity of Cra a 4 by Changing the Structural Characteristics.

Sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein (Cra a 4) from Crassostrea angulata belongs to the EF-hand superfamily, and understanding of its structure-allergenicity relationship is still insufficient. In this study, chemical denaturants were used to destroy the structure of Cra a 4, showing that disruption of the structure reduced its IgG-/IgE-binding activity. To explore which critical amino acid site affects the allergenicity of Cra a 4, the mutants were obtained by site-directed mutations in the disulfide bonds site (C97), conformational epitopes (I105, D114), or Ca2+-binding region (D106, D110) and their IgG-/IgE-binding activity was reduced significantly using serological tests. Notably, C97A had the lowest immunoreactivity. In addition, two conformational epitopes of Cra 4 were verified. Meanwhile, the increase of the α-helical content, surface hydrophobicity, and surface electrostatic potential of C97A affected its allergenicity. Overall, the understanding of the structure-allergenicity relationship of Cra a 4 allowed the development of a hypoallergenic mutant.

On Orthorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review of Reviews.

INTRODUCTION: Orthorexia nervosa (ON), characterized by a pathological preoccupation with "extreme dietary purity," is increasingly observed as a mental health condition among young adults and the general population. However, its diagnosis is not formally recognized and has remained contentious. OBJECTIVE: In this systematic review, we attempt to overview previous reviews on ON, focusing on the methodological and conceptual issues with ON. This would serve both as a summary and a way to highlight gaps in earlier research. METHODS: This systematic review took reference from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines, and using combinations of the search terms ("orthorexia" OR "orthorexia nervosa" OR "ON") AND ("review" OR "systematic review" OR "meta-analysis"), a literature search was performed on EMBASE, Medline and PsycINFO databases from inception up to October 31, 2023. Articles were included if (1) they were written or translated into English and (2) contained information pertaining to the diagnostic stability or validity of ON, or instruments used to measure ON symptoms and behaviors. Only review articles with a systematic literature search approach were included. RESULTS: A total of 22 reviews were qualitatively reviewed. Several studies have reported variable prevalence of ON and highlighted the lack of thoroughly evaluated measures of ON with clear psychometric properties, with no reliable estimates. ORTO-15 and its variations such as ORTO-11, ORTO-12 are popularly used, although their use is discouraged. Existing instruments lack specificity for pathology and several disagreements on the conceptualization and hence diagnostic criteria of ON exist. DISCUSSION: Previous reviews have consistently highlighted the highly variable (and contradictory) prevalence rates with different instruments to measure ON, lack of stable factor structure and psychometrics across ON measures, paucity of data on ON in clinical samples, and a need for a modern re-conceptualization of ON. The diagnosis of ON is challenging as it likely spans a spectrum from "normal" to "abnormal," and "functional" to "dysfunctional." "Non-pathological" orthorexia is not related to psychopathological constructs in the same way that ON is.

Deciphering the population structure and genetic basis of growth traits from whole-genome resequencing of the leopard coral grouper ( Plectropomus leopardus).

The leopard coral grouper ( Plectropomus leopardus) is a species of significant economic importance. Although artificial cultivation of P. leopardus has thrived in recent decades, the advancement of selective breeding has been hindered by the lack of comprehensive population genomic data. In this study, we identified over 8.73 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) through whole-genome resequencing of 326 individuals spanning six distinct groups. Furthermore, we categorized 226 individuals with high-coverage sequencing depth (≥14×) into eight clusters based on their genetic profiles and phylogenetic relationships. Notably, four of these clusters exhibited pronounced genetic differentiation compared with the other populations. To identify potentially advantageous loci for P. leopardus, we examined genomic regions exhibiting selective sweeps by analyzing the nucleotide diversity ( θπ) and fixation index ( F ST) in these four clusters. Using these high-coverage resequencing data, we successfully constructed the first haplotype reference panel specific to P. leopardus. This achievement holds promise for enabling high-quality, cost-effective imputation methods. Additionally, we combined low-coverage sequencing data with imputation techniques for a genome-wide association study, aiming to identify candidate SNP loci and genes associated with growth traits. A significant concentration of these genes was observed on chromosome 17, which is primarily involved in skeletal muscle and embryonic development and cell proliferation. Notably, our detailed investigation of growth-related SNPs across the eight clusters revealed that cluster 5 harbored the most promising candidate SNPs, showing potential for genetic selective breeding efforts. These findings provide a robust toolkit and valuable insights into the management of germplasm resources and genome-driven breeding initiatives targeting P. leopardus.

Relationship of solid fuels use with cognitive function and efficacy of switching to cleaner fuels or using ventilation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of studies have examined the relation between solid fuels use and cognitive function in the mid-elderly, but results are inconsistent. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to evaluate their relevance and the efficacy of switching to cleaner fuels or using ventilation. METHOD: We used PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify 17 studies in which the primary outcome variable was cognitive function decline or cognitive disorders, and the exposure measure was solid fuels use. The final search date of August 31, 2023. The effect size of odds ratio (OR), regression coefficient (ß), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled. Heterogeneity and the possibility of publication bias were assessed by using the Q-statistic and Begg's test, respectively. RESULT: Among the 17 included papers, the study participants were ≥45 years old. Eleven studies assessed the relationship between solid fuels use and cognitive function decline [number of studies (n) = 11, ß = -0.144; I2 = 97.7%]. Five studies assessed the relationship between solid fuels use and cognitive disorders (n = 5, OR = 1.229; I2 = 41.1%). Switching from using solid fuels to clean fuels could reduce the risk of cognitive function decline as compared to those who remained on using solid fuels (n = 2; ß = 0.710; I2 = 82.4%). Among participants using solid fuels, who cooked without on ventilated stoves were correlated with an enhanced risk of cognitive disorders as compared to participants who cooked with ventilated stoves (n = 2; OR = 1.358; I2 = 44.7%). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis showed a negative relationship between solid fuels use with cognitive function, and a positive relationship with cognitive disorders. Cleaner fuels, using ventilation, improved cookstoves can reduce the adverse health hazards of solid fuels use.

NCAM mimetic peptide P2 synergizes with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in promoting functional recovery after stroke.

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) promotes neural development and regeneration. Whether NCAM mimetic peptides could synergize with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in stroke treatment deserves investigation. We found that the NCAM mimetic peptide P2 promoted BMSC proliferation, migration, and neurotrophic factor expression, protected neurons from oxygen-glucose deprivation through ERK and PI3K/AKT activation and anti-apoptotic mechanisms in vitro. Following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats, P2 alone or in combination with BMSCs inhibited neuronal apoptosis and induced the phosphorylation of ERK and AKT. P2 combined with BMSCs enhanced neurotrophic factor expression and BMSC proliferation in the ischemic boundary zone. Moreover, combined P2 and BMSC therapy induced translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor, upregulated heme oxygenase-1 expression, reduced infarct volume, and increased functional recovery as compared to monotreatments. Treatment with LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) and PD98059 (ERK inhibitor) decreased the neuroprotective effects of combined P2 and BMSC therapy in MCAO rats. Collectively, P2 is neuroprotective while P2 and BMSCs work synergistically to improve functional outcomes after ischemic stroke, which may be attributed to mechanisms involving enhanced BMSC proliferation and neurotrophic factor release, anti-apoptosis, and PI3K/AKT and ERK pathways activation.

Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to explore the psychological impact of COVID-19 on anxiety in dyads of patients with cancer and caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Delineating the compound psychological effect of the pandemic on cancer care, and the interdependency across cancer patient-caregiver dyads have yet to be explored. This study examines the levels of psychological impact of COVID-19 on patient-caregiver dyads anxiety, and the interdependent associations between their COVID-19 and cancer concerns, and risk perceptions. METHOD: There were 352 patients and caregivers (patient-caregiver dyads, N = 176) included in this study (43.2% spousal dyads). Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and questionnaires regarding risk perception, perceived confidence in healthcare system, COVID-19, and cancer-related concerns were administered. Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) analyses were used to determine the interdependent effects. Indirect effects were tested using mediation pathway analyses. RESULTS: Patients reported significantly higher levels of risk perceptions and anxiety than their caregivers (p < 0.01). Anxiety rates (GAD-7 ≥ 10) were also significantly higher (26.7% vs 18.2%, p < 0.01). Dyads' anxiety, "general COVID-19 concerns," "cancer-related concerns," and risk perceptions were correlated (ps < 0.01). APIM showed only actor effects of general COVID-19 concerns, cancer-related COVID-19 concerns, and risk perceptions on anxiety (ßs = 0.19-0.53, ps < 0.01). No partner effects were observed. Similar results were found in the composite APIM. Indirect effects of the patient/caregiver's variables on their partner's anxiety were observed in the mediation analyses. CONCLUSION: Concerns about COVID-19 and cancer care could be indirectly associated in patient-caregiver dyads and need to be proactively addressed. As pandemic evolves into endemicity, engagement with patients and caregivers should strive to be sensitive to their differential needs and messages should be tailored to the informational needs of each.

Pediatric Hepatoblastoma After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Diagnostic Performance of MR in Staging POSTTEXT and Vascular Involvement.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of resectability after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of hepatoblastoma is dependent on Post-Treatment EXTENT of Disease (POSTTEXT) staging and its annotation factors P (portal venous involvement) and V (hepatic venous/inferior vena cava [IVC] involvement), but MR performance in assessing them remains unclear. PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced MR imaging for preoperative POSTTEXT staging and diagnosing vascular involvement in terms of annotation factors P and V in pediatric hepatoblastoma following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. SUBJECTS: Thirty-five consecutive patients (17 males, median age, 24 months; age range, 6-98 months) with proven hepatoblastoma underwent preoperative MR imaging following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T; T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), T2WI with fat suppression, diffusion weighted imaging, radial stack-of-the-star/Cartesian 3D Dixon T1-weighted gradient echo imaging. ASSESSMENT: Three radiologists independently assessed the POSTTEXT stages and annotation factors P and V based on the 2017 PRE/POSTTEXT system. The sensitivities and specificities were calculated for 1) diagnosing each POSTTEXT stage; 2) discrimination of stages III and IV (advanced) from those stages I and II (non-advanced) hepatoblastomas; and 3) annotation factors P and V. The combination of pathologic findings and surgical records served as the reference standard. STATISTICAL TESTS: Sensitivity, specificity, Fleiss kappa test. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity ranges for discriminating advanced from non-advanced hepatoblastomas were 73.3%-80.0% and 80.0%-90.0%, respectively. For annotation factor P, they were 66.7%-100.0% and 90.6%, respectively. For factor V, they were 75.0% and 67.7%-83.9%, respectively. There was excellent, substantial, and moderate agreement on POSTTEXT staging (Fleiss kappa = 0.82), factors P (Fleiss kappa = 0.64), and factors V (Fleiss kappa = 0.60), respectively. DATA CONCLUSION: MR POSTTEXT provides reliable discrimination between advanced and non-advanced tumors, and MR has moderate to excellent specificity at identifying portal venous and hepatic venous/IVC involvement. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

E-eye and FT-NIR combined with multivariate algorithms to rapidly evaluate the dynamic changes in the quality of Gastrodia elata during steaming process.

Gastrodia elata (GE) is traditionally subjected to steaming, and steaming duration plays a crucially important role in determining GE quality. This study examined the variations in bioactive components during the steaming process and proposed the utilization of electronic eye and Fourier Transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy for quality assessment. The findings revealed that the levels of parishin E parishin B, parishin A, and gastrodin initially rose and subsequently declined, while 4-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol exhibited a rapid decrease followed by stabilization. With prolonged steaming, the brightness of GE decreased, while the red and yellow tones became more pronounced and the color saturation increased. FT-NIR divided the steaming process into three stages: 0 min (raw GE), 0-9 min (partially steamed GE), and 9-30 min (fully steamed GE), and the partial least squares regression models effectively predicted the levels of five components. Overall, this study provided valuable insights into quality control in food processing.

Analyzing the correlation between quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli resistance rates and climate factors: A comprehensive analysis across 31 Chinese provinces.

BACKGROUND: The increasing problem of bacterial resistance, particularly with quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli (QnR eco) poses a serious global health issue. METHODS: We collected data on QnR eco resistance rates and detection frequencies from 2014 to 2021 via the China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System, complemented by meteorological and socioeconomic data from the China Statistical Yearbook and the China Meteorological Data Service Centre (CMDC). Comprehensive nonparametric testing and multivariate regression models were used in the analysis. RESULT: Our analysis revealed significant regional differences in QnR eco resistance and detection rates across China. Along the Hu Huanyong Line, resistance rates varied markedly: 49.35 in the northwest, 54.40 on the line, and 52.30 in the southeast (P = 0.001). Detection rates also showed significant geographical variation, with notable differences between regions (P < 0.001). Climate types influenced these rates, with significant variability observed across different climates (P < 0.001). Our predictive model for resistance rates, integrating climate and healthcare factors, explained 64.1% of the variance (adjusted R-squared = 0.641). For detection rates, the model accounted for 19.2% of the variance, highlighting the impact of environmental and healthcare influences. CONCLUSION: The study found higher resistance rates in warmer, monsoon climates and areas with more public health facilities, but lower rates in cooler, mountainous, or continental climates with more rainfall. This highlights the strong impact of climate on antibiotic resistance. Meanwhile, the predictive model effectively forecasts these resistance rates using China's diverse climate data. This is crucial for public health strategies and helps policymakers and healthcare practitioners tailor their approaches to antibiotic resistance based on local environmental conditions. These insights emphasize the importance of considering regional climates in managing antibiotic resistance.

A Completely Portable and Concealable, Lightweight Assistive Exosuit for Upper Limbs.

Exosuits are a relatively new trend in wearable robotics to answer the flaws of their exoskeleton counterparts, but they remain impractical as the lack of rigidity in their frames makes the integration of crucial components into a single unit a challenge. While some simple solutions exist, almost all current research focuses on the output performance of exosuits rather than the needs of potential beneficiaries of this technology. To address this, a novel mechanism of complete portability for exosuits was developed and tested to improve exosuit practicality and adoption. Designed for elbow flexion, the device produced 12.21-13.66Nm of assistive torque and could be mostly concealed by the wearer's clothing without impacting performance. The proof-of-concept design proved successful and demonstrated many advantages over current portability methods, particularly in size and convenience, weighing only 1.7kg. This device provides the sense of normalcy crucial for a technology to seamlessly integrate into the daily lives of its end users. It is extendable and upgradeable with access to advanced materials and manufacturing methods.Clinical Relevance- Exoskeletons are currently the only marketed wearable robotic device for full limb support. This research is the foundation for a new series of exosuits that could drastically enhance the adoptability, accessibility, and versatility of exosuits in physical rehabilitation and general physical enhancement, becoming a superior alternative or addition.

Rapid evaluation of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and its adulterants based on the combination of FT-NIR and multivariate algorithms.

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) is a valued seed renowned for its sedative and sleep-enhancing properties. However, the price increase has been accompanied by adulteration. In this study, chromaticity analysis and Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) combined with multivariate algorithms were employed to identify the adulteration and quantitatively predict the adulteration ratio. The findings suggested that the utilization of chromaticity extractor was insufficient for identification of adulteration ratio. The raw spectrum of ZMS and HAS adulterants extracted by FT-NIR was processed by SNV + CARS and 1d + SG + ICO respectively, the average accuracy of machine learning classification model was improved from 77.06 % to 97.58 %. Furthermore, the R2 values of the calibration and prediction set of the two quantitative prediction regression models of adulteration ratio are greater than 0.99, demonstrating excellent linearity and predictive accuracy. Overall, this study demonstrated that FT-NIR combined with multivariate algorithms provided a significant approach to addressing the growing issue of ZSS adulteration.

Acute flare of systemic lupus erythematosus with extensive gastrointestinal involvement: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV) is a serious condition that may occur as an acute manifestation of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement and is not easily diagnosed by physicians. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of LMV may lead to rapid disease progression and can be life threatening. CASE SUMMARY: A previously healthy 27-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain following a history of fatigue and consumption of cold water. Laboratory investigations, physical examinations, and enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) suggested systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by LMV. She received treatments, such as GI decompression, somatostatin, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressants, and was evaluated using color ultrasonography. Twenty days later, the patient reported no stomach discomfort and was able to consume semi-liquid food. Laboratory investigations showed that inflammatory factors decreased to normal levels and complement levels increased slightly. One year after discharged, she recovered with methylprednisolone being tapered to 4 mg per day, mycophenolate mofetil to 0.75 g bid, and hydroxychloroquine to 0.2 g bid; however, only C3 complement level was slightly below the normal level. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of LMV is essential for successful treatment; this depends on a combination of clinical manifestations, laboratory investigations, and imaging findings. Enhanced CT is preferred, but ultrasonography can be used for prompt screening and follow-up.

A Doped Lanthanide-Based Coordination Polymer Exhibiting High Relative Sensitivity to Ratiometric Luminescent Thermometers at 440 K.

Ratiometric luminescent thermometers with excellent performance often require the luminescent materials to possess high thermal stability and relative sensitivity (Sr). However, such luminescent materials are very rare, especially in physiological (298-323 K) and high-temperature (>373 K) regions. Here we report the synthesis and luminescent property of [Tb0.995Eu0.005(pfbz)2(phen)Cl] (3), which not only exhibits high Sr in physiological temperature but also has a Sr up to 7.47% K-1 at 440 K, the largest Sr at 440 K in known lanthanide-based coordination compound luminescent materials.

RNA-sequencing of peripheral whole blood of individuals at ultra-high-risk for psychosis - A longitudinal perspective.

BACKGROUND: The peripheral blood is an attractive source of prognostic biomarkers for psychosis conversion. There is limited research on the transcriptomic changes associated with psychosis conversion in the peripheral whole blood. STUDY DESIGN: We performed RNA-sequencing of peripheral whole blood from 65 ultra-high-risk (UHR) participants and 70 healthy control participants recruited in the Longitudinal Youth-at-Risk Study (LYRIKS) cohort. 13 UHR participants converted in the study duration. Samples were collected at 3 timepoints, at 12-months interval across a 2-year period. We examined whether the genes differential with psychosis conversion contain schizophrenia risk loci. We then examined the functional ontologies and GWAS associations of the differential genes. We also identified the overlap between differentially expressed genes across different comparisons. STUDY RESULTS: Genes containing schizophrenia risk loci were not differentially expressed in the peripheral whole blood in psychosis conversion. The differentially expressed genes in psychosis conversion are enriched for ontologies associated with cellular replication. The differentially expressed genes in psychosis conversion are associated with non-neurological GWAS phenotypes reported to be perturbed in schizophrenia and psychosis but not schizophrenia and psychosis phenotypes themselves. We found minimal overlap between the genes differential with psychosis conversion and the genes that are differential between pre-conversion and non-conversion samples. CONCLUSION: The associations between psychosis conversion and peripheral blood-based biomarkers are likely to be indirect. Further studies to elucidate the mechanism behind potential indirect associations are needed.