First onset of persistent neutropenia in patient undergoing long-term clozapine treatment after vaccination against COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection in short interval - a case report. / Pierwszorazowa uporczywa neutropenia u pacjenta przewlekle leczonego klozapina po szczepieniu przeciwko COVID-19, krótko poprzedzajacym infekcje wirusem SARS-CoV-2 ­ opis przypadku.

Clozapine is one of the most effective antipsychotic drugs, but its use is limited due to the possibility of severe side effects, such as neutropenia and agranulocytosis. The risk of these complications is the highest at the beginning of the treatment, but they can occur later, particularly when additional risk factors are present. In the described case, either COVID-19 vaccination or the infection itself led to severe neutropenia, which recurred during subsequent independent trials of other antipsychotic drugs. The paper presents the case of a 23-year-old woman diagnosed with early-onset, treatment-resistant schizophrenia who had been undergoing clozapine treatment with satisfying outcome for over 10 years. A week after the first dose of an mRNA vaccine against COVID-19, the patient developed a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and experienced an extreme neutropenia, followed by a change of treatment. Although the patient fully recovered from the infection, the re-stabilization of her mental state remained unsatisfactory. The introduction of various newly implemented antipsychotic drugs led to partial improvement or another decline in the neutrophil count, despite discontinuing the use of clozapine. The authors discuss a few possible pathomechanisms. Based on our current knowledge, this is the first reported case of persistent neutropenia triggered by various antipsychotic drugs following exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

Association of OXTR, AVPR1a, LNPEP, and CD38 Genes' Expression with the Clinical Presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interactions, communication, and behavior. Although the predominant genetic predisposition to ASD seems beyond doubt, its exact nature remains unclear. In the context of social cognition disorders and the basis of ASD, the oxytocinergic and vasopresynergic systems arouse great interest among researchers. The aim of the present study was to analyze gene expression levels for oxytocin and vasopressin receptors, as well as CD38 protein and oxytocinase, in the context of the clinical picture of autism spectrum disorders. The study included 90 people, of whom 63 were diagnosed with ASD based on anamnesis, mental status testing, and the ADOS-2 protocol. The results obtained in the presented study indicate that the balance between the levels of expression of the CD38 gene and the oxytocinase gene plays a key role in the risk and clinical presentation of ASD. In a hypothetical scenario, an imbalance in the expression of CD38 and LNPEP could potentially lead to alterations in the concentrations of oxytocin and vasopressin. At the same time, the most frequently studied genes-AVPR1a and OXTR-seem to be at best of marginal importance for the risk of ASD.

Coping methods among Polish students during Covid-19 pandemic. / Metody radzenia sobie ze stresem spowodowanym pandemia Covid-19 wsród polskich studentów.

OBJECTIVES: The Covid-19 pandemic changed daily routines and forced people to develop various coping methods. University students were a social group that suffered due to a drastic change in their daily routine. The analysis of adaptation to chronic stress may help in developing more individualized care for people affected by it. METHODS: The examination of coping methods and aggression level was conducted using Brief COPE and STAXI-2 questionnaires on a group of 283 participants, extracted from the initial group of 906 tested students. The study was conducted between the second and the third wave of pandemic in Poland. RESULTS: The positive coping methods were dominant among the examined group. The most used were active coping, use of informational support and planning. The negative coping methods were inextricably linked to a higher aggression level, and were more prevailing in the female students. CONCLUSIONS: The first symptoms of maladaptive behaviors may be hidden in presumably usual activities and attitudes. It is important to be aware of them in order to provide support for students and other social groups affected by chronic stress.