The neuroprotective potentially of agomelatine - animal model study

Background

Major depressive disorder associated the increase of cortisol level and high level of cortisolemia is correlated with the decrease of neuroprotection. Hippocampus low volume is a marker for depressive disorder. The cognitive impairment in depression is linked with hippocampus - enthorinal structures-frontal cortex disconectivity. Melatoninic agonists can increase the neuroprotection and improve depressive mood.

Methods

We formed 2 study lots each constitued of 5 male adults rats (200–250 g), held through the study duration in temperature, humidity, food and ambient stress less conditions, compared to a control lot. The studied substances were administrated intraperitoneal, daily, for 10 days, saline solution equivalent to dexametasone (0.20 mg/kg/day) (N1); 14 days we administered 10 mg/kg/daily of agomelatine through a stomach tube and the following 10 days of dexametasone and agomelatine in the same dosage (N2). The N1 lot was sacrificed in the day 11, and the N2 lot was sacrificed in the day 25.

The sample brain was histopathologically processed: formalin (10%) and ethyl alcohol (96%) fixation and paraffine embeded. Microtome slices were stained in hematoxyline-eosine, trichromicGS, PAS-hematoxyline, toluidine blue and methylen blue for Nissle corpuscles. The obtained slices were studied with optical microscopy, the target of our study was hippocampus and frontal cortex.

Results

The hippocampus and frontal cortex presents important histopathological abnormalities (neuronal death, vacuolisation, axonal fragmentation) for N1 after dexametasone. These changes are decreased in N2.

Conclusions

Agomelatine on the animal model actioned with a neuroprotective effect in the hippocampus and frontal cortex front of cortisolic aggresion (marker for depression).

Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief: Effect of invalid responding on factor structure analysis and scores of schizotypy

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the effect of invalid responding on factor structure and on scores of schizotypy through the factor analysis of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) in a sample of 580 Romanian students using 3 validity items and 5 social desirability items.

METHODS

We examined the factor structure of the SPQ-B, we compared the mean SPQ-B scores between reliable and unreliable responders and between high vs. low social desirability responders, and we re-run the factor analysis restricting the sample to the reliable or low social desirability responders.

RESULTS

Factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor solution: Cognitive-perceptual, Interpersonal and Disorganized dimensions. Unreliable responders had lower scores of positive, negative and total schizotypy. Subjects with high social desirability scores had lower scores of disorganized schizotypy. Factor analyses in the samples of "good" responders showed minor differences in reliable responders, whereas, after taking into account the effect of social desirability, 2 items correctly loaded on expected dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

Random responding and social desirability could influence scores of schizotypy and factor structure. Simple methods could be used to identify invalid responses. The effect of social desirability could be linked to the phrasing of items.

Evaluation of elder physical abuse

Background

In the society we belong to, elders are the target of abuse which is many times generated by the social cultural tendency which promotes different expressions in terms of age, a tendency which also measures capacity in terms of age.

Objective

To evaluate elder physical abuse – cases reviewed at the Forensic Institute, Tirgu Mures County, Romania.

Methods

An experimental design was used, focusing on elder physical abuse cases involving victims aged 65 or older, who requested a forensic certificate. All cases were reviewed at the Forensic Institute Tg. Mures, Mures County, Romania between 1st of Jan–31st Dec 2014. Variables included: age, gender, environmental origin, physical abuse, sexual abuse, relationship with the perpetrator (relative, known person/neighbor, unknown person, husband/wife), the required number of days of hospitalization, victim previous psychiatric diagnosis, aggressor previous psychiatric diagnosis.

Results

A total of 5252 forensic medical certificates were issued at request by the Forensic Institute of Tg Mures. One hundred and twenty (2.28%) were related to acknowledgement of the aggression of an elderly peIntroductionrson (≥65 years, with an average age of 69.89 years CI: 68.8903–70.8930). The majority of subjects were males (65%), of rural origin (64.17%). The same address as the aggressor's was identified in most of the cases (41.66%). 35.83% were hurt by neighbours/acquaintances, 22.5% were attacked by strangers.

Conclusion

We are aware of that an elder abuse appears to occur most often in domestic home situations, men from rural, more often than women, are involved that victims and may be perpetrated by adult family members, or other persons.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Major psychotrauma and social stress–risk factors for the unfavorable course of paranoid schizophrenia

Introduction

Recent studies in the neurobiology of schizophrenia highlighted the role of neuropsychoendocrine activations as a consequence of psychostress followed by the activation of the HPA axis with an excess of endogenous cortisol. The relation endogenous cortisol–glutamatergic hyperactivation enhances the excito-toxic mechanisms and the cortical-subcortical alterations in schizophrenia.

Method

We conducted a retrospective study on 40 patients, with ages between 25 and 55 years, admitted in the university clinic of Craiova between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 for paranoid schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria and with positive history of psychotrauma and physical abuse in childhood and adolescence.

Results

The frequency of psychotraumas, social stress and physical abuse in our group was significantly higher in women (63.33%), in patients with urban residence (80.00%) and age group 36–45 years (46.67). There was a pattern of residual defectuality reflected by positive symptoms (83.33%), alcohol abuse (80.00%), aggressive behavior (66.67%) and suicide attempts (30.00%). The poor course with minimal social functioning (GAFS < 40; 36.67%) was correlated with a high number of relapses and hospitalizations (> 9 hospitalizations; 43.33%), cognitive deficit (MMSE < 23; 76.67%). The psychosocial factors involved in the pathogenesis and course of schizophrenia were social stress (60.00%), physical abuse in childhood and adolescence (20.00%) and psychotraumas (20.00%).

Conclusions.

Psychotrauma and physical abuse in childhood and adolescence and during the course of paranoid schizophrenia constitute a risk factor for a poor outcome with cognitive deterioration, aggressive and suicidal behavior that call for prophylactic measures and qualified psycho-social interventions associated to the pharmacological treatments.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.