Cognition in schizophrenia: Selective impairment and factors that influence it

Currently it is well known that schizophrenia is associated with cognitive impairment. Still there are many unresolved questions, such as whether cognitive deficit is total, what are the relationships of cognitive impairment with clinical features, demographic characteristics and different biomarkers, which could shed light on its pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to characterize cognitive impairment in schizophrenia and to find factors that may contribute to it. Sixty patients with paranoid schizophrenia were examined. BACS, Rey-Osterreith complex figure and correction task were used to assess cognitive functioning. Only 14.3% of patients had BACS score in the normal range. The vast majority of them showed impaired motor function, verbal and visual memory. Cognitive functioning did not worsen with time. Working memory impairment was influenced by genetic predisposition to schizophrenia and age of disease onset. Residual positive symptoms led to a decrease in the speed of skill development. Symptoms of anxiety and depression contributed to the impairment of accuracy. Hypomania was associated with impaired planning. Planning and problem-solving behavior did not correlate with other cognitive functions, which makes them isolated domains. Higher levels of NSE had been found in patients with more severe memory impairment. S100B level was associated with safer constructive abilities. In general, cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, although present in the majority of patients, varies a lot and appears selective and dependent on certain clinical features.

The study was supported by RSCF 14-50-00069 grant.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Effect of ageing and endodontic treatment on the thermal stability of human dentin

BACKGROUND

Human dentin is a highly calcified tissue of mesenchymal origin with a heterogeneous structure. Its morphology is constantly remodelled throughout the life span of the tooth, as well as under the influence of external stimuli.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to obtain information about the thermal changes in the crown and root dentin specimens of vital and devitalized teeth.

METHODS

The investigated samples were divided into 6 groups, depending on the patients' age and dentin location (crown, root). An additional group of endodontically treated teeth was created. The methods of choice were were combined thermal analysis (DTA-TG(DTG)-MS and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

After heating up to 1200 °C, endo- and exothermal effects were observed. The effects' dynamic was the same for all samples. The differences were in the samples' weight after the experiment, with root dentin showing the greatest mass loss percentage.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed mass loss differences could be attributed to the presence of impurities in the dentin, as well as alterations in the collagen matrix. Ageing and endodontic treatment could catalyse the accumulation of such changes and affect the microstructure of the mineralized tissue.

Quantifying multiple sclerosis pathology in post mortem spinal cord using MRI

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common inflammatory, demyelinating and degenerative disease of the central nervous system. The majority of people with MS present with symptoms due to spinal cord damage, and in more advanced MS a clinical syndrome resembling that of progressive myelopathy is not uncommon. Significant efforts have been undertaken to predict MS-related disability based on short-term observations, for example, the spinal cord cross-sectional area measured using MRI. The histo-pathological correlates of spinal cord MRI changes in MS are incompletely understood, however a surge of interest in tissue microstructure has recently led to new approaches to improve the precision with which MRI indices relate to underlying tissue features, such as myelin content, neurite density and orientation, among others. Quantitative MRI techniques including T₁ and T₂, magnetisation transfer (MT) and a number of diffusion-derived indices have all been successfully applied to post mortem MS spinal cord. Combining advanced quantification of histological features with quantitative - particularly diffusion-based - MRI techniques provide a new platform for high-quality MR/pathology data generation. To more accurately quantify grey matter pathology in the MS spinal cord, a key driver of physical disability in advanced MS, remains an important challenge of microstructural imaging.

Ketoprofen-loaded polymer carriers in bigel formulation: an approach to enhancing drug photostability in topical application forms

The purpose of the study was to investigate the stability and biopharmaceutical characteristics of ketoprofen, loaded in polymeric carriers, which were included into a bigel in a semisolid dosage form. The polymer carriers with in situ-included ketoprofen were obtained by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of the monomers in aqueous medium or a solution of the polymers used. The morphological characteristics of the carriers, the in vitro release and the photochemical stability of ketoprofen were evaluated. The model with optimal characteristics was included in a bigel formulation. The bigel was characterized in terms of pH, rheological behavior, spreadability, and in vitro drug release. Acute skin toxicity, antinociceptive activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and antihyperalgesic effects of the prepared bigel with ketoprofen-loaded polymer carrier were evaluated. The carriers of ketoprofen were characterized by a high yield and drug loading. The particle size distribution varied widely according to the polymer used, and a sustained release was provided for up to 6 hours. The polymer mixture poly(vinyl acetate) and hydroxypropyl cellulose as a drug carrier, alone or included in the bigel composition, improved the photostability of the drug compared with unprotected ketoprofen. The bigel with ketoprofen-loaded particles provided sustained release of the drug and had optimal rheological parameters. In vivo experiments on the bigel showed no skin inflammation or irritation. Four hours after its application, a well-defined analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperalgesic effect was registered. The polymer mixture of poly(vinyl acetate) and hydroxypropyl cellulose as a carrier of ketoprofen and the bigel in which it was included provided an enhanced photostability and sustained drug release.

The structure of mental disorders in HIV-infected patients with syphilis

Introduction

There are no data in literature on mental disorders in HIV-infected patients with syphilis.

The objective of the study was to determine the structure of mental disorders in HIV-infected patients with syphilis.

Method

Sixty-five HIV-infected patients with syphilis were examined by a clinical method.

Results

The sample included 45 men (average age 32.09 ± 9.83) and 20 women (average age 31.7 ± 5.97). We divided the sample into three comparison groups (according to the importance of risk factors): women, men who have sex with men (MSM), and men who have sex with women (MSW).

Mental disorders were identified in most patients (83%). Opiate dependence (F11, ICD-10) was established in 55% of women (7.7% for MSW, 0% in MSM; P < 0.001). The dependence on multiple drug use (F19) was revealed with nearly the same frequency in women (25.0%) and in MSW (23.1%); but far less frequently in MSM (3.2%; P = 0.047). The dependence on stimulants (F15) was found in women (5.0%) and MSM (6.3%). The dependence on alcohol (F10) was more common among MSW (61.5%) and women (50.0%) (9.4% in MSM; P < 0.001). 20% of women had Depressive episode (F32). Adjustment disorders (F43) were found much more often in men (43.8% for MSM; 38.5% for MSW; 10% for women; P = 0.035). Personality disorders (F60) were found in all the groups.

Conclusions

We revealed a high incidence of addictions among women and MSW. Affective disorders were represented by depressive episode in women and adjustment disorders in men.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Analytical studies of the Alexandrovo Thracian tomb wall paintings

A profound study of samples obtained from Thracian tomb wall paintings at Alexandrovo, Bulgaria (dating back to the fourth century BC) were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FTIR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The current work provides a glimpse of the ingenious construction and painting techniques used in Thracian tomb at Alexandrovo. The results suggest that beeswax was used as a paint binder and also revealed presence of various nano-materials.

[Inguinal endometriosis: two case reports and literature review]

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease that is characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Ectopic endometrial tissue can be localized in all organs of the human body, but it affects most often organs in the pelvis. The localization in the inguinal canal is extremely rare - 0.3% -0.6% of all cases of endometriosis. We report two cases of inguinal endometriosis in patients with a history of previous surgery in the pelvis. Both patients is formation in the inguinal region of increasing volume, accompanied by severe pain especially in the premenstrual period. The diagnosis was based on an exact medical history and histological examination. The main methods of treatment of inguinal endometriosis is radical surgical excision of the lesion. We recommend hormone therapy as an adjunct to treatment.