Neuro endocrinology letters最新文献

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of hand therapy (HT) on oxytocin and oxytocin receptor expression in a chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) model mouse.

Methods: CIPN model mouse was induced by intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel (PTX; 4 mg/kg) on days 0, 2, 4 and 6 of the study. HT was performed on the CIPN mice once daily for 14 consecutive days, starting on day 8 after the PTX injection. Following HT,we observed the oxytocin and oxytocin receptor expressions in the skin and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and assessed the oxytocin in the serum.

Results: Oxytocin expressions in the skin and DRG significantly increased in the PTX + HT group compared to that in the Non-PTX and PTX groups. Additionally, oxytocin receptor expressions in the skin and DRG significantly increased in the PTX + HT group compared to that in the PTX group. Furthermore, the PTX + HT group showed significantly higher serum oxytocin concentration than the Non-PTX and PTX groups.

Conclusion: The present study showed that HT reversed PTX-induced suppression of oxytocin receptor expressions and HT increased oxytocin expression locally and its systemic level. Such results connect the gap and previous suggestions that HT improving neurological symptoms are related to oxytocin levels.

Objectives: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a distinct subtype of breast cancer that has a poor prognosis due to the lack of effective therapeutic agents. Since a significant proportion of human surgical samples of TNBC expressed mRNA for the growth hormone (GH), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors, and the mitogenic proliferative activity of GH, GHRH, and GnRH, have been identified as effective therapeutic targets for somatostatin and its analogs and GnRH analogs, Di Bella Method (DBM), a combination of hormonal analogs and vitamins, was introduced to target and inhibit solid tumors. The present study aimed to improve the prognosis of TNBC using DBM in women with TNBC.

Methods: This retrospective observational clinical study was done on women with TNBC who were diagnosed based on histology, nuclear grade, and immunohistochemical testing for estrogen receptor, HER2/neu, and progesterone receptor. Patients were either treated with standard oncology protocol, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy plus DBM, or with DBM alone. The DBM included a daily combination of somatostatin, octreotide, melatonin, retinoids solubilized in alpha tocopheryl acetate, dopaminergic agonists, bromocriptine, cabergoline, aromatase inhibitors for anti-estrogen function, and low metronomic doses of cyclophosphamide.

Results: In this study, 35 patients were enrolled, and their survival was monitored for 5 years during which they received DBM and standard chemotherapy/radiotherapy protocol. These patients had a survival rate of 64% at 5 years, 76% at 3 years, 87% at 2 years, and 100% after 1 year of therapy. On the other hand, 13 patients who received only DBM had a survival rate of 60% at 5 years, 67% at 3 years, 75% at 2 years and 100% after 1 year of therapy. None of the patients had significant adverse events.

Conclusions: Compared to published clinical trials, the DBM improved the prognosis of women with TNBC. However, more standardized clinical trials, including DBM with and without standard therapeutic protocols for TNBC, are warranted.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between salivary melatonin levels and impulsivity in humans, as the literature has not examined this relationship in healthy individuals.

Methods: We recruited 75 participants aged 18-55 years, measuring their salivary melatonin concentrations using an enzyme immunoassay and their impulsivity using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) scores.

Results: The participants' salivary melatonin levels were positively correlated with impulsivity. With regard to the three main factors of the BIS, melatonin levels were positively correlated with attentional impulsiveness but not with motor impulsiveness or non-planning impulsiveness. Of the six subfactors assessed by the BIS, melatonin levels were positively correlated with attention, motor, and cognitive instability, while negatively correlated with perseverance. They were not correlated with self-control or cognitive complexity.

Conclusion: Individuals exhibiting high melatonin levels are more likely to have impulsive attention and cognitive instability, in addition to lacking perseverance.

Objective: This study examines the relationship between Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and cognitive impairment in elderly patients with complex chronic conditions, a link previously unclear.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study.

Material and methods: The data from 2,366 patients in Catalonia (2013-2017) from the Dryad database. HbA1c levels were taken from clinical records, and cognitive function was assessed with ICD-10 criteria and the Pfeiffer test. We included demographic details, comorbidities, medications, and clinical data as covariates. Multivariate logistic regression was used, with subgroup analyses by age and other factors.

Results: The cohort had an average age of 84.1 ± 10 years; 46.4% were male, with an average HbA1c of 6.5 ± 1.4%. Cognitive impairment was present in 20.2% of participants. The association between HbA1c and cognitive impairment was not significant after adjusting for all variables (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.91-1.08, p > 0.05). Ischemic cardiomyopathy (p = 0.008) and Barthel scores > 40 (p = 0.032) demonstrate an interaction effect on their relationship.

Conclusion: In the population of patients with complex chronic conditions, HbA1c did not show a statistically significant correlation with cognitive impairment, indicating that HbA1c might not be an independent predictor of cognitive decline in this group, though further research is needed to confirm this.

Objective: This article focuses on utilizing therapeutic letters within group schema therapy-an innovative therapeutic approach that integrates elements from various therapeutic disciplines. The primary aim is to explore how therapeutic letters can enhance the therapeutic process and support the treatment of patients.

Methods: To achieve this objective, we conducted a narrative literature review centred on schema therapy and using therapeutic letters as a therapeutic strategy. We systematically searched databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar) using the keywords "schema therapy," "therapy letters," "group," "therapeutic strategies," and "adult psychotherapy." Additionally, we gathered clinical insights from schema therapists through interviews to gain a practical perspective.

Results: Group schema therapy primarily targets identifying and modifying early maladaptive schemas and maladaptive schema modes that originate during childhood and persist into adulthood. Within this context, therapeutic letters are an effective tool, allowing individuals to process intense emotions stemming from their formative years. Individuals complete these letters as homework assignments and then, divided into small groups, read them aloud while receiving emotional support and encouragement from their peers. This process enables individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings, potentially reframe their life narratives, seek forgiveness, and ultimately progress. Various types of therapeutic letters are discussed, including the "uncensored letter", "letter from the other shore", "letter to an adult child", "business card", and "letter from the future".

Discussion: The article provides an in-depth overview of the techniques and exercises employed in group schema work when using letters. It also addresses potential challenges, such as difficulties with visualization, resistance to change, and trust issues.

Conclusion: Therapeutic letters emerge as a valuable tool in group schema therapy, enhancing the therapeutic process and supporting individual treatment. However, further research is necessary to comprehend and fully maximize their potential.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system. One of its manifestations is cognitive impairment (CI), which can negatively affect the quality of life in people with MS (pwMS). This study aimed to investigate the nature of CI in MS and its associations with various disease characteristics.

Methods: Symbol Digit Modalities Test and cognitive tests adapted for the Slovak population as part of the NEUROPSY battery were used. For the assessment of depression, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used. To assess the degree of functional disability, the Expanded Disability Status Scale, Timed 25-Foot Walk, and 9-Hole Peg Test were used. Plasma neurofilament light chain level (pNfL, a promising marker of neurodegeneration) was assessed. Variables in the CI vs. non-CI group were compared.

Results: In cognition, we observed statistically significant differences between the CI and the non-CI group in multiple measures. In the degree of functional disability, we found statistically significant differences between the groups in all measures. However, we found no statistically significant differences in depression, pNfL, type of disease-modifying therapy, or education. The Digit Span Forward (longest line) (OR: 0.375, 95%CI: 0.156-0.901, p = 0.028) and Trail Making Test-B (OR: 0.066, 95%CI: 0.013-0.339, p = 0.001) were the only independent variables in a model that predicted CI in binary logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion: Our cross-sectional study design failed to reveal the association of CI with various disease characteristics, or markers of neurodegeneration. For this purpose, longitudinal observation of pwMS, and future prospective studies are highly warranted.

The quality of prenatal care for women during pregnancy, in terms of monitoring somatic development, is generally high. The study aims to evaluate the psychosocial situation (well being) of pregnant women during a physiological pregnancy. The care of psychosocial issues of pregnant women is not systematic and often does not occur at all. Prenatal depression and anxiety are associated with an increased risk of depression even after delivery. To accomplish the goal, the authors chose both the modified Freybergh scale - the Sabbatsberg anxiety - frustration Self-Rating Scale (SDS) and a questionnaire created by the authors of this study. A total of 324 women from various regions were randomly approached, of which 277 were selected for the final evaluation. The scale contains seven categories, each with ten questions. Pregnant women repeatedly took the self-assessment over the duration of their pregnancy. The result is a summary point evaluation. The seven individual groups of questions focused on the evaluation of stress, fear, depression, regression, feelings of guilt, frustration, and aggression. The scale of answers to individual questions offered five options. The questionnaire itself had 14 monitored items and evaluated the difference in symptoms in women with and without psychological distress. The degree of psychological distress was processed using descriptive statistics. Furthermore, it was classified into four equal groups (175 points each), identified as none, mild, moderate and high deprivation. The adjusted effect of the monitored parameters on the psychological distress score was studied using a mixed model. The results of the study draw attention to psychological distress in pregnant women with physiological pregnancies. It is vital to monitor symptoms of psychological distress during physiological pregnancies. In addition, preventive prenatal programs to reduce or prevent psychological distress during pregnancies must be implemented and widely available.

This article describes using imagery approaches during group schema therapy (GST). Imagery approaches are an important tool for identifying and changing maladaptive schema modes and early maladaptive schemas. It summarises the theoretical background of the group imagery method and practical case vignettes. The text describes methods for using imagery in therapeutic groups, building a safe place, imagery rescribing painful experiences, and dialogue between schema modes. It also stresses challenging matters, like problems with imagery, difficulties trusting another person, and resistance to change. Using imagery in GST is a powerful approach to increase patient results during the therapy.

Background: With the increasing use of developmental screening tools, there is a growing need to validate parental screening methods for the early detection of developmental difficulties in children, regarding their psychometric properties.

Methods: This study evaluates the convergent validity of the S-PMV11 parental screening tool by comparing its outcomes with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III), the gold standard for direct assessment.

Results: We analyzed data from 30 children and found significant correlations between S-PMV11 scores and Bayley-III assessments across cognitive, language, and motor skill domains. Notably, expressive communication showed the strongest correlation, indicating that parents are reliable assessors of developmental risks.

Conclusion: Despite limitations related to potential overestimation in Bayley-III, our findings support the S-PMV11 as a valid tool for early identification of developmental challenges, enhancing early intervention strategies in pediatric healthcare.

Background: Major depression is classified into distinct subtypes: simple (SDMD) and major dysmood disorder (MDMD). MDMD patients exhibit elevated atherogenicity and decreased reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). However, comprehensive data regarding lipid metabolism is absent in first episode (FE)-SDMD.

Aims: In this case-control study, plasma lipid levels, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), free cholesterol, apolipoprotein (Apo)A1, ApoB, and ApoE are compared between academic students with first episode SDMD (FE-SDMD) (n = 44) or SDMD (n = 64) and control students (n = 44), after excluding those with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Results: LCAT is decreased, and free cholesterol and ApoE increased in subjects with SDMD and FE-SDMD as compared with controls. There were no significant alterations in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), ApoA1, RCT, ApoB and triglycerides in SDMD. LCAT, free cholesterol and atherogenicity indices are significantly associated with suicidal behaviors and the SDMD phenome. The effects of LCAT on those phenome features is completely mediated by free cholesterol and brooding. SDMD and FE-SDMD patients without signs of subclinical MetS show lowered LCAT and increased free cholesterol as compared with normal controls. There are significant interactions between the SDMD and FE-SDMD diagnosis and subclinical MetS, which result in decreased HDLc and RCT, and an increased ApoB/ApoA ratio.

Discussion: FE-SDMD and SDMD are pre-proatherogenic states, because of decreased LCAT, and increased free cholesterol and ApoE, and their intersections with subclinical MetS. These aberrations may drive atherogenicity, and activation of peripheral and central oxidative, neuro-immune, and degenerative pathways. Individuals with FE-SDMD should be screened and treated for increased atherogenicity risk by measuring free cholesterol and ApoE.