Peripheral S100B Protein Levels in Five Major Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review

Five major psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, autistic spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, show a shared genetic background and probably share common pathobiological mechanisms. S100B is a calcium-binding protein widely studied in psychiatric disorders as a potential biomarker. Our systematic review aimed to compare studies on peripheral S100B levels in five major psychiatric disorders with shared genetic backgrounds to reveal whether S100B alterations are disease-specific. EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched for relevant studies published until the end of July 2023. This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA) guidelines. Overall, 1215 publications were identified, of which 111 full-text articles were included in the systematic review. Study designs are very heterogeneous, performed mostly on small groups of participants at different stages of the disease (first-episode or chronic, drug-free or medicated, in the exacerbation of symptoms or in remission), and various clinical variables are analyzed. Published results are inconsistent; most reported elevated S100B levels across disorders included in the review. Alterations in S100B peripheral levels do not seem to be disease-specific.

Network Analysis of Well-Being Dimensions in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Samples of University Students from Poland during the Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Although numerous studies investigated the predictors of vaccination intention and decision, little is known about the relationship between vaccination and well-being. This study compares the physical and mental health dimensions among vaccinated and unvaccinated people. In a cross-sectional online survey, 706 university students from Poland (mean age of 23 years, 76% of women) participated in this study during the fourth pandemic wave (November–December 2021). Standardized questionnaires with a Likert response scale were included in the survey to measure spirituality, exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, perceived physical health, stress, coronavirus-related PTSD, fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction. Consistent with the fuzzy-trace theory, the unvaccinated sample was younger and scored significantly lower than the vaccinated group in exposure to COVID-19, perceived physical health, stress, coronavirus-related PTSD, fear of COVID-19, and depression, while higher in life satisfaction. The network analysis showed that mental health plays a crucial role in both groups, with the central influence of anxiety and stress on depression and life satisfaction. The message on vaccination to university students should focus on the benefits of vaccination in maintaining the status quo of good health and well-being. Campus prevention programs should primarily aim to reduce anxiety, stress, and negative emotions by teaching students coping strategies, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness.

Changes in mental health during three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study among polish university students

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that mental health worsened during the Coronavirus crisis, in particular among women and university students. However, few longitudinal studies have so far investigated the changes in mental health outcomes across three subsequent waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aims to examine changes in mental health among university students.

METHODS

A total of 1,961university students from Poland, at mean age 23.23 years (SD = 3.16, 57.47% of women) were included in this repeated cross-sectional study across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: W1 (n = 657), W2 (n = 654), and W3 (n = 650). They completed the online survey with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), General Self-Rated Health (GSRH), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), as well as sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

The prevalence of people at high risk of anxiety and perceived stress, poorer physical health, and low life satisfaction changed significantly across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the two-way ANOVA showed that both the wave (W1<W2<W3) and gender (men<women) had a significant impact on the level of anxiety. Statistically significant changes in perceived stress were found between pandemic waves (W1>W2, W1>W3), and genders (men<women). Self-reported physical health significantly deteriorated in W3 compared to W1 and W2 (W1>W3, W2>W3), and was significantly worse in women than in men. The level of life satisfaction also decreased significantly in W3 (W1>W3, W2>W3), but did not differ between men and women. High GAD risk was presented two times more frequently among women and people who subjectively assessed their health as poor, three times more likely in participants dissatisfied with their lives, and seven times more probably in persons with high-stress levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study consistently indicate (using parametric and non-parametric statistical analysis) that there are significant differences in mental health problems across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. It suggests that pandemic waves should be considered in future review studies and meta-analyses. Furthermore, these findings indicate a potential role for prevention and intervention programs aimed at alleviating life satisfaction and subjective assessment of health and improving coping skills to reduce stress and anxiety.

Protective action of vitamin E on the subcellular structures of lymphocytes intoxicated with pesticides in vitro

Vitamin E was used as a protection for human lymphocytes in vitro against the toxic effects of dichlorvos, an organic phosphate pesticide. As the markers of the toxic changes in the lymphocytes lysosomes were chosen as a membrane structure, and nucleoli as a structure connected with protein synthesis. The obtained results were compared with the effects obtained previously in analogous studies after intoxication of lymphocytes with lindan and fenarimol. The experiment showed that vitamin E protected the lysosomal membranes more effectively than the nucleolar structure in these cells.

Vitamin E protects human leucocytes against toxic effects of lindan in vitro

Vitamin E (15 micrograms/ml and 60 micrograms/ml) was used for protection of human leucocytes against toxic effects of lindan (150 microM and 200 microM) in vitro. The protective effect of vitamin E manifested itself as maintenance of the phagocytic activity of granulocytes, the value of nucleologram in lymphocytes, and the proportion of euchrysin-negative lymphocytes near the values in controls.

Late toxic effects of long-term exposure to lindane in peripheral blood cells in rabbits. I. Function impairment and structural disturbances in leucocytes

Following lindane intoxication in daily doses of 0.1 LD50 during one month (total dose 2.0 LD50) functional changes were noted in granulocytes and structural changes in lymphocytes in peripheral blood of rabbits during 4 months after completion of lindane administration. A significant decrease of the phagocytic activity with a rise in the number of non-phagocytizing granulocytes, quantitative and qualitative changes of nucleoli and lysosomes were found in lymphocytes. The latest effect of lindane is regarded to be a raised number of non-phagocytizing granulocytes 4 months after withdrawal of the pesticide.

Late toxic effects of long-term exposure to lindane in peripheral blood cells in rabbits. II. Erythrocyte changes

After lindane administration in daily doses of 0.1 LD50 for one month (total dose 2.0 LD50) changes in the erythrocytes were found persisting for up to 4 months after withdrawal of the pesticide. A significant increase in the number of echinocytes, a greater per cent of reticulocytes, significantly raised level of denatured haemoglobin, and an increased number of erythrocytes of higher sensitivity to oxidating factors in relation to control group was observed.

[Cytotoxic effect of fenarimol on peripheral blood cells and organs]

The effect of fenarimol in blood cells and changes in liver and kidneys in rats were investigated. Fenarimol applied in doses 25 mg/ml intragastrically during 5 days, at 24h after the last doses caused functional and structural changes of blood cells and organs. The decreases of osmotic fragility of erythrocytes and phagocytic activity of neutrophils, and the increase of the percentage of lymphocytes without detectable lysosomes accompanied by the minor decrease of the number of blood cells was observed in the peripheral blood. The indistinctness of the structure of the hepatic lobules and of liver laminae and the vacuolized hepatic cells with pycnotic nuclei were visible in the liver. The abnormally enlarged cortical Malphighian++ glomeruli in kidney were found. The observed changes indicate the cytotoxic effect of fenarimol in strongly intoxicated rats. The impaired phagocytic activity of neutrophils may cause the growth of susceptibility to bacterial infection.

Mechanism of unbalanced growth-induced cell damage. I. A probable role for hydrolytic enzymes synthesis

This study examines the relationship between cell progress into the state of unbalanced growth, hydrolytic enzyme activities and cell survival during the exposure of L5178Y cells to hydroxyurea (HU), excess thymidine (dThR), hydroxyurea with excess of four deoxyribonucleosides (dNR) or excess dTHR with deoxycytidine (dCR). Cell progress into the state of unbalanced growth was measured as cell size, protein/DNA ratio and protein content per cell. Activities of two lysosomal (acid phosphatase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase) and one cytoplasmic non-lysosomal (LDH) enzymes were determined. It has been found that in cells arrested by HU or excess dThR, a progressive cell volume increase with protein/DNA imbalance is correlated with a progressive increase in lysosomal and non-lysosomal hydrolase activities in the cells and in the medium and with a marked lethal effect. Cell volume increase, enhancement of enzyme activities and cell killing could be prevented in HU-arrested cells by concomitant addition of excess dNR (deoxyadenosine, deoxyguanosine, thymidine, deoxycytidine) leading to equal inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis. Control-like values of all parameters were achieved also in cells in which the dThR-inhibiting effect was reversed by dCR addition. It is suggested that a common pathway in the mode of action of the chemotherapeutic agents inducing cell killing through the state of unbalanced growth can be the over-production, abnormal accumulation and progressive leakage of numerous hydrolytic enzymes through the cell membranes, leading in consequence to 'lytic' cell death.

Hydroxyurea has the capacity to induce damage to human erythrocytes which can be modified by radical scavengers

The treatment of human erythrocytes with hydroxyurea [HU] results in the azide-dependent changes in osmotic fragility and in increased methemoglobin formation. Similar changes were induced by H2O2 treatment. However when H2O2 in the presence of azide stimulated malondialdehyde production, in the HU-treated cells no malondialdehyde was detectable. When subjected to an oxidant stress [sodium ascorbate] HU-treated erythrocytes were more fragile and revealed changes in the absorption spectrum of the TBA-reactive material in comparison with the cells treated with ascorbate alone. Partial protection by radical scavengers against certain HU-induced changes can be achieved. The results indicate that HU can damage erythrocytes and suggest the radical origin of these effects.

[Lysosomes of blast cells in various cytochemical types of acute leukemia]

In 25 cases cytochemical types of acute leukemia were determined using the classification of Loeffler. Three cytochemical methods used were: p.a.S.-glycogen content, pox-peroxidase activity, and esterase activity determinatione. At the same time selective identification of lysosomes in perypheral blood blast cells was done using vital euchrisine staining and fluorescence microscopy. A correlation was observed between the cytochemical types of acute leukaemia and the lysosomal pattern. The fluorescence method of the identification of lysosomes is suggested for diagnosis of acute leukaemia.