Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in schizophrenia research: a quantitative review and future directions.

This review aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of the research related to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in schizophrenia and offer suggestions for further work. Based on the keywords used, our study retrieved 335 documents for further analysis using a combination of three bibliometric techniques: co-word analysis, document co-citation analysis, and bibliographic coupling. A general rising trend in the number of publications was found in BDNF and schizophrenia research. Researchers from China and the United States have mostly researched BDNF and schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry is the most prestigious journal in the field of BDNF and schizophrenia research. The main topics and important research areas are cognition and the involvement of BDNF as a neurobiological marker (pathogenesis, therapy monitoring, and risk factors). Future research is anticipated to concentrate on relevant subjects, such as factors that affect BDNF levels or are connected to BDNF dysfunction in schizophrenia, as well as animal models of schizophrenia, in addition to cognition in schizophrenia.

Tualang honey supplementation as cognitive enhancer in patients with schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness with clusters of symptoms, including cognitive impairment. This study aimed to explore the effect of Tualang Honey (TH) on cognitive domains, especially as it pertained to the verbal memory of schizophrenia patients. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study involved 80 individuals, diagnosed with schizophrenia. The Malay Version Auditory Verbal Learning Test (MVAVLT) was used. Data were analysed using SPSS 20.0 software. Intention to treat analysis was applied. RESULT: A comparison of the total learning score at eight weeks between the two groups based on time effect and time-treatment interaction favoured TH group. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that by supplementing schizophrenia patients with 8-week of TH did improve total learning performance across domains in the immediate memory among patients with schizophrenia.

Serum adiponectin and resistin: Correlation with metabolic syndrome and its associated criteria among temiar subtribe in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized as a cluster of metabolic disorder including increased blood pressure, elevated blood glucose level, high cholesterol level and visceral fat obesity. Polypeptide hormones such as adiponectin and resistin play a significant role in glucose and lipids metabolism, liver and pancreas function. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin and resistin with MetS criteria among Temiar subtribe in Kuala Betis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross sectional study involved 123 subjects from Temiar subtribe in Kuala Betis, Gua Musang, Kelantan. MetS criteria were measured according to standard protocol by modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) guideline. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed including serum adiponectin and resistin for every study subjects. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin was significantly lower in MetS subjects (7.98 ±â€¯5.65 ng/ml) but serum resistin was found to be significantly higher in MetS subjects (11.22 ±â€¯6.34 ng/ml) compared to non-MetS subjects with p < 0.001 and p = 0.002 respectively. Serum adiponectin was negatively correlated with most of the cardio-metabolic risk factors; BMI, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and total cholesterol. Serum resistin was found to be positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The difference in serum adiponectin and resistin level among MetS individuals indicated the potential of serum adiponectin and resistin to be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of MetS among Temiar subtribe.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Terengganu, Malaysia: milestones so far and the paths to the future.

This study aims to provide an overview of mental health problems of children and adolescents in Malaysia in general and the state of Terengganu in particular. It also highlights the challenges and the opportunities in the establishment of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). CAMHS in Malaysia are developing slowly but have not reached the standards found in developed countries. Significant improvements are needed to ensure that the service can provide optimal help to children and adolescent as well as their families. Constraining factors such as a lack of trained workers, limited financial resources for training and inadequate facilities are among the challenges. Despite all these challenges, specific strategies are required to optimally utilise the potential existing resources. The Ministry of Health initiatives in creating and implementing the national mental health policy and increasing mental health awareness campaigns for children and adolescents are of paramount importance. To overcome the lack of resources in the implementation of CAMH services, in-service education and training, integration of mental health services with the existing primary health care facilities and cultivation of cooperative and communicative networks between primary care professionals, mental health workers and other relevant agencies are crucial steps.