Psychophysical assessment of koniocellular pathway in patients with schizophrenia versus healthy controls.

This study was designed to perform psychophysical assessment of koniocellular pathway in patients with schizophrenia versus healthy controls. A total of 26 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 15 healthy controls were included. Snellen Visual Acuity Chart scores and Short Wavelength Automated Perimetry (SWAP) visual field testing including global visual field indices [mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), test time (min)], reliability parameters [false negative responses (%), false positive responses (%) and fixed losses (%)] and average threshold sensitivity [central (parafovea), peripheral area, and four quadrants] were recorded in both groups. Significantly lower MD scores, higher PSD scores and lower average threshold sensitivity at each location across the visual field were noted in schizophrenia relative to control group. In conclusion, our findings revealed a deficit in koniocellular pathway with impaired SWAP global indices and lower threshold sensitivity at each location across the visual field among chronic schizophrenic patients as compared with control subjects. Our findings emphasize potential application of SWAP outside its original intended purpose as a glaucoma test, to provide deeper understanding of the specific contribution of lateral geniculate nucleus to the visual and cognitive disturbances of schizophrenia.

The role of NMDAR antibody in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Many authors have reported the presence of serum NMDAR antibodies in varying proportions of patients with schizophrenia; however, many others have not been able to confirm this. Because of the contradictory findings reported in various studies, more definitive research on this issue is required. Hence, we have investigated the NR1 subunit of NMDAR antibodies in patients with schizophrenia (n=49) and healthy controls (n=48). None of the investigated patients with schizophrenia and none of the healthy controls showed positive antibody against the NR1 subunit of the NMDAR. On the basis of this result, we conclude that the NR1 subunit of the NMDAR antibodies does not seem to have a role in schizophrenia.

Assessment of corneal endothelial cell density in patients with keratoconus not using contact lenses.

PURPOSE: To assess the corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) in keratoconus patients with no history of contact lens use. SETTING: Yuzuncu Yil University, School of Medicine and Van Training and Research Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Van, Turkey. DESIGN: Cross-sectional controlled study. METHODS: The eyes of 65 patients with the diagnosis of keratoconus with no history of contact lens wear and the eyes of 40 healthy controls were prospectively examined using the Heidelberg Retinal Tomography Rostock Cornea Module (HRT3/RCM). The average ECD from the two groups were then compared. RESULTS: Of the cases with keratoconus, 44 (67.7%) were men and 21 (32.3%) were women. The mean age was 20.9±6.8 (range=10-41) years. Of the controls, 28 (70%) were men and 12 (30%) were women. The mean age was 23.9±5.8 (range=14-35) years. Of the 65 eyes with keratoconus, 19 (29.2%) had mild keratoconus, 21 (32.3%) had moderate keratoconus, and 25 (38.5%) had severe keratoconus. The mean ECD was 2731.6±303.2 cells/mm2 in cases with keratoconus and 2664.9±319.5 cells/mm2 in controls. There was no difference between the densities (unpaired t-test, P=0.4). No significant relationships were found between the ECD data and central corneal thickness or steepest keratometric. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial cell density was unaltered in keratoconic patients without a history of contact lens use when compared with healthy controls. Change in ECD is independent from the central corneal thickness and the stage of keratoconus.