Change in absolute neutrophil count after COVID-19 infection in patients using clozapine versus other antipsychotics.

It was reported that patients who contracted COVID-19 while taking clozapine exhibited a distinct hematological response. However, the absence of control groups made it difficult to attribute it to clozapine. The changes in absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) during the 4 weeks after COVID-19 infection were compared between the two groups of patients with severe mental illnesses (SMIs) (49 patients using clozapine and 54 using other antipsychotics) using generalized additive modeling. Although the pattern of a transient drop in ANC followed by gradual recovery could be demonstrated in both groups, it was more pronounced in the clozapine group ( P  = 0.00025). Nevertheless, overall ANC remained at a higher level in the clozapine group. The results suggested potential interaction between clozapine and COVID-19 at the level of hematological dynamics. However, it did not necessarily indicate that such interaction is inevitably harmful or dangerous. It was more of a concern that some patients using other antipsychotics exhibited decreased ANC, which did not easily recover. Traditionally, clinicians have been concerned about the worsening of hematological side effects in clozapine patients after COVID-19 infection. However, the obtained result highlighted the necessity of hematological monitoring in patients using any type of antipsychotics for SMIs.

NCAM140 and pCREB Expression after Tianeptine Treatment of SH-SY5Y Cells.

OBJECTIVE: Antidepressants Modulate Neuronal Plasticity. Tianeptine, An Atypical Antidepressant, Might Be Involved In The Restoration Of Neuronal Plasticity; It Primarily Enhances The Synaptic Reuptake Of Serotonin. Ncam140 Is Involved In Neuronal Development Processes, Synaptogenesis And Synaptic Plasticity. We Investigated The Effect Of Tianeptine On The Expression Of Ncam140 And Its Downstream Signaling Molecule In The Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line Sh-sy5y. METHODS: NCAM protein expression was measured in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells that were cultivated in serum-free media and treated with 0, 10, or 20 µM tianeptine for 6, 24, or 72 hours. NCAM140 expression in the tianeptine treatment group was confirmed by Western blot, and quantified through measurement of band intensity by absorbance. CREB and pCREB expression was identified after treatment with 20 µM tianeptine for 6, 24, and 72 hours by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared to cells treated for 6 hours, cells treated with 0 or 10 µM tianeptine for 72 hours showed a significant increase in NCAM140 expression and cells treated with 20 µM tianeptine showed a significant increase after 24 and 72 hours. The pCREB level in cells treated with 20 µM tianeptine increased in time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that the tianeptine antidepressant effect may occur by induction of NCAM140 expression and CREB phosphorylation.

Determinants of the blood lead level of US women of reproductive age.

OBJECTIVES: Blood lead concentration of an infant is largely affected by maternal blood lead recycling. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, lifestyle, and nutritional determinants for blood lead levels (BLLs) of women of reproductive age in the United States. METHODS: Subjects (n = 4,394) were women (20-49 years old) included in the most recent complete National Health and Nutritional Survey (NHANES III). Certain sociodemographic, lifestyle and nutritional determinants for BLL were identified. RESULTS: The BLL of reproductive age women was 1.78 microg/dL geometric mean, The BLL was inversely associated with poverty income ratio and education level, hematocrit, intake of thiamine, and serum levels of folate, and positively associated with ethnicity (Black, Hispanic), living in urban areas or the Northeast region, age, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, serum protoporphyrin, and intake of pyridoxine, iron, and folate. Subjects in the lowest decile for serum ascorbic acid had significantly higher BLLs than those in the 2nd through 8th deciles. CONCLUSION: Infants born to women who smoke, drink and maintain poor nutritional status for selected nutrients are at a greater risk of lead toxicity than those born to other women. Nutritional manipulation of thiamine, ascorbic acid and folate may impact BLL in women.