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Zohny SM, Habib MZ, Mohamad MI, Elayat WM, Elhossiny RM, El-Salam MFA, Hassan GAM, Aboul-Fotouh S. Memantine/Aripiprazole Combination Alleviates Cognitive Dysfunction in Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism: Hippocampal CREB/BDNF Signaling and Glutamate Homeostasis. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:464-483. [PMID: 36918475 PMCID: PMC10121975 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01360-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Significant efforts are increasingly directed towards identifying novel therapeutic targets for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with a rising role of aberrant glutamatergic transmission in the pathogenesis of ASD-associated cellular and behavioral deficits. This study aimed at investigating the role of chronic memantine (20 mg/kg/day) and aripiprazole (3 mg/kg/day) combination therapy in the management of prenatal sodium valproate (VPA)-induced autistic-like/cognitive deficits in male Wistar rats. Pregnant female rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of VPA (600 mg/kg) to induce autistic-like behaviors in their offspring. Prenatal VPA induced autistic-like symptoms (decreased social interaction and the appearance of stereotyped behavior) with deficits in spatial learning (in Morris water maze) and cognitive flexibility (in the attentional set-shifting task) in addition to decreased hippocampal protein levels of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and gene expression of glutamate transporter-1 (Glt-1) with a decline in GABA/glutamate ratio (both measured by HPLC). These were accompanied by the appearance of numerous neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) with enhanced apoptosis in hippocampal sections. Memantine/aripiprazole combination increased the protein levels of p-CREB, BDNF, and Glt-1 gene expression with restoration of GABA/glutamate balance, attenuation of VPA-induced neurodegenerative changes and autistic-like symptoms, and improvement of cognitive performance. This study draws attention to the favorable cognitive effects of memantine/aripiprazole combination in autistic subjects which could be mediated via enhancing CREB/BDNF signaling with increased expression of astrocytic Glt-1 and restoration of GABA/glutamate balance, leading to inhibition of hippocampal NFTs formation and neuronal apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohir M Zohny
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Z Habib
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt.
| | - Magda I Mohamad
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Wael M Elayat
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Reham M Elhossiny
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Ghada A M Hassan
- Neuropsychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Galala University, Al Galala, Egypt
- Neuropsychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sawsan Aboul-Fotouh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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ElSehrawy TMK, Elela EA, Hassan GAM, Missiry ME, Nabi SA, Soliman MF. A study of emotional intelligence in an Egyptian sample of offspring of patients with schizophrenia. Middle East Curr Psychiatry 2022. [PMCID: PMC9244490 DOI: 10.1186/s43045-022-00216-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Emotional intelligence is usually a construct measured in healthy children, now it may be used for relatives of schizophrenia, and considered as trait marker for schizophrenia. Offspring of parents with schizophrenia are considered children with high familial risk for major mental disorder. The aim of the study is to assess emotional intelligence in a group of off springs of a parent with schizophrenia and compare them to healthy control subjects, and to find possible relation between emotional intelligence in offspring and profile of symptoms in schizophrenic parents.
Results
Offspring of parents with schizophrenia had lower scores of emotional intelligences than their matched controls in emotion perception, self-esteem, low impulsivity and emotion regulation’s subsets of TEIQue-CF. There was correlation between offspring trait emotional intelligence and their parent’s duration of illness. There was no correlation found between schizophrenia severity in the parents and their offspring’s trait emotional intelligence.
Conclusions
Offspring of parents with schizophrenia had impaired trait emotional intelligence in some of its facets when compared to normal healthy subjects.
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Hashem RESM, Hassan GAM, El-Sheikh MM, Hassan H, Azzam LABI. Selfie phenomenon among a sample of Egyptian university students: rate and psychiatric correlates. Middle East Curr Psychiatry 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s43045-022-00254-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The selfie phenomenon is an emanating one, specifically affecting adolescents and young adults. It emerges as a reflection of a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. Based on this, the current study aimed to assess the rate of the selfie phenomenon among Egyptian university students and its sociodemographic and psychiatric correlates. During the study procedure, we enrolled 200 undergraduate Egyptian university students from two different faculties and were assessed using the Selfie Behavioral Scale, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis II Disorders, and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale.
Results
49.5% of the students being assessed had borderline selfitis with a higher rate among females. We found a highly significant association between the selfie phenomenon and depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and other psychiatric disorders and personality disorders, and we also found that selfies had a significant negative association with the level of functioning among students.
Conclusions
Results concur with previous existing literature regarding the magnitude of the selfie phenomenon and its relationship with different psychiatric disorders and personality disorders.
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El Ghamry R, Saad A, Elbatrawy AN, Hassan GAM, Rabie ES, Mohamed MY. Symptom remission and functional outcome in an Egyptian sample of patients with schizophrenia. Middle East Curr Psychiatry 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s43045-021-00156-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The ultimate treatment goal of schizophrenia is regaining patients’ pre-morbid function.
Results
Ninety-three outpatients with schizophrenia, diagnosed according to the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—fourth edition (DSM-IV), were recruited, of whom 35 patients (37.6%) had achieved the remission severity criteria, whereas 58 patients (62.4%) failed to fulfill the criteria for remission. The functional aspects were examined by the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) and the Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ). Predictors of outcome were examined by applying binary logistic regression analysis. Patients who fulfilled those specific criteria for remission showed a favorable outcome in the assessed areas, regarding GAF and social functioning in society. Lack of judgment or insight item of PANSS showed significantly good functional outcomes.
Conclusion
The results suggest that the remission concept has important implications for the treatment of schizophrenia. Remission seems to be associated with better functional capabilities. However, this does not necessarily mean that remitted patients have “adequate” functioning, especially regarding the social skills domain.
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Abo Elella E, Hassan GAM, Sabry W, Hendawy H, Shorub E, Zyada F, Medany O. Trait emotional intelligence in a sample of Egyptian children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Child Adolesc Ment Health 2017; 22:216-223. [PMID: 32680413 DOI: 10.1111/camh.12236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The link between types and severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and trait emotional intelligence (TEI) is still underinvestigated, especially in children. We aimed to examine the relationship between TEI and ADHD symptoms in a sample of Egyptian children. METHOD The study included 50 children with ADHD, who were compared on the basis of their TEI and contrasted with 25 matched healthy controls. They were subjected to the Arabic version of the following scales: Connors scale 3rd edition, parent rating form, Kiddie-Schedule for affective disorders and Schizophrenia present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), Stanford Binet intelligence scale, 4th edition and Trait Emotional Intelligence Child form (TEI) and a semistructured clinical data sheet for sociodemographic data. RESULTS Using TEI scale, the control group was shown to have higher scores in TEI than cases, there was a high significant difference with regards to eight of nine TEI facets together with the TEI global score. Moreover, the control group significantly outperformed ADHD children with mixed and hyperactive subtypes on TEI global score in all facets except for adaptability. Meanwhile, the inattentive group performed significantly poorer than those in the control group on TEI global score, adaptability, emotional expression, self-motivation and emotion regulation facets. Trait Emotional Intelligence was negatively correlated with four of ADHD symptom groups assessed by Connors test, namely; impulsivity, cognitive, social problem, and emotional liability symptoms. However, Impulsivity was negatively correlated with all the domains of TEI except for adaptability and emotional expression. On the other hand, oppositional symptoms did not show a significant correlation with any of the TEI facets. CONCLUSIONS Trait emotional intelligence is highly impaired in children with ADHD and emotional deficits are corner stone features of that disorder, low impulsivity facet of TEI is highly correlated with social problems and poor peer relations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Abo Elella
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, The WHO Collaborating Center for Mental Health Research & Training, Ain Shams University, Abbasseyia, Ramses Street Extension, PO Box: 11657 Dair Al-Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghada A M Hassan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, The WHO Collaborating Center for Mental Health Research & Training, Ain Shams University, Abbasseyia, Ramses Street Extension, PO Box: 11657 Dair Al-Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Walaa Sabry
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, The WHO Collaborating Center for Mental Health Research & Training, Ain Shams University, Abbasseyia, Ramses Street Extension, PO Box: 11657 Dair Al-Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Heba Hendawy
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, The WHO Collaborating Center for Mental Health Research & Training, Ain Shams University, Abbasseyia, Ramses Street Extension, PO Box: 11657 Dair Al-Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Eman Shorub
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, The WHO Collaborating Center for Mental Health Research & Training, Ain Shams University, Abbasseyia, Ramses Street Extension, PO Box: 11657 Dair Al-Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fadia Zyada
- Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Omar Medany
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, The WHO Collaborating Center for Mental Health Research & Training, Ain Shams University, Abbasseyia, Ramses Street Extension, PO Box: 11657 Dair Al-Malak, Cairo, Egypt
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