Inflammation Markers Among Schizophrenia Patients Who Use Cannabis

OBJECTIVES

The mechanism of inflammation of the immune system, for example, such circulatory markers as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV), has been shown in many studies to be associated with schizophrenia. In addition, it has been shown that the cannabidiol component reduces the activation of the acquired immune system. This study examined the differences in the levels of NLR and MPV among schizophrenia patients with cannabis use versus those without.

METHODS

In 2019 to 2020, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted based on digital medical records. Demographic, clinical, and complete blood cell count data were collected from records of rehospitalization of active psychotic schizophrenia inpatients. Data on NLR, MPV values, and demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the groups and according to the degree of prevalence of cannabis use.

RESULTS

No differences were found in the NLR and MPV values between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The results were contrary to our expectations. These results may be explained by the presentation of a "pseudo-balanced" picture created when multiple processes affect inflammatory indices.

[Effect of professional training on dental health attitudes of Israeli dental students]

Few studies have been published regarding the importance of oral hygiene education for dental students and little is known about the influence of dental education in dental schools on students' attitudes to the subject. The objective of the present research was to examine the changes that occur in the attitudes of Israeli dental students toward their dental health during the course of their professional training. The research was based on a questionnaire developed at The Hiroshima University, Japan (The Hiroshima University Dental Behavioral Inventory, HU-DBI), and provides a quantitative estimate of the students' attitudes to their dental health. Similar studies have been carried out in several countries (Japan, Australia, Indonesia and Finland). This study was performed on students from the two dental schools in Israel, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University and The Faculty of Dental Medicine at Hebrew University, Jerusalem. Students from all six academic years (1st-6th) were requested to complete the questionnaire within two months, from the beginning of the academic year that started in October 1999. While no significant differences could be detected in the students' attitudes with regard to the dental school of their origin, female students (from both schools) showed a significantly better attitude than their male colleagues throughout the years. Results showed a significant improvement in the students' attitudes through the years of their professional training, especially between the 1st year and the clinical years (5th and 6th) of their studies. This can be related to the teaching curricula in the dental schools in Israel that emphasizes clinical issues in the two last years of study. When comparing the results of this study to similar ones that were conducted in other parts of the world, certain differences become apparent. In spite of the gradual improvement in the Israeli students' attitudes during the course of their studies, their initial attitudes (1st year) as well as their final attitudes (6th year), were the lowest compared to their colleagues from other countries (Japanese, Australian and Finnish students). Apparently, the improvement in the Israeli students' attitudes is not satisfying and a higher level of improvement should be expected. The attitudes of the Israeli students should be further improved by means of comprehensive programs that emphasize the importance of personal oral hygiene and dental health. Hopefully this will enable future improvement in the dental health of their patients, as well as improvement in the community dental health in Israel, in general.

A developmental study of three-dimensional perception in Israeli children

One hundred thirty-six 5- to 10-year-old Israeli male and female children were given three black and white photographs of a highway, a column of identical tanks, and a row of elephants, and were asked some questions on each one of the photographs in order to elicit responses of three-dimensional perception. The results showed a clear developmental pattern, quite similar to what has been found in other studies. It appears that the procedure used in the present study is an easier and probably more reliable way of assessing perspective responses than the original procedure of Piaget and Inhelder.