Cortical white-matter microstructure in schizophrenia. Diffusion imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Several, although not all, of the previous small diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) studies have shown cortical white-matter disruption in schizophrenia. AIMS: To investigate cortical white-matter microstructure with DWI in a large community-based sample of people with schizophrenia. METHOD: Sixty-eight people with schizophrenia and 64 healthy controls underwent a session of DWI to obtain the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of white-matter water molecules. Regions of interest were placed in cortical lobes. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the schizophrenia group had significantly greater ADCs in frontal, temporal and occipital white matter (analysis of covariance, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the presence of cortical white-matter microstructure disruption in frontal and temporo-occipital lobes in the largest sample of people with schizophrenia thus for studied with this technique. Future brain imaging studies, together with genetic investigations, should further explore white-matter integrity and genes encoding myelin-related protein expression in people with first-episode schizophrenia and those at high risk of developing the disorder.

A comparison of metoprolol OROS with antenolol in the treatment of effort angina pectoris: a randomized double-blind study.

The antianginal efficacy of metoprolol OROS has been investigated in comparison with that of atenolol in a multicenter double-blind cross-over trial carried out in patients with stable effort angina. OROS (ORally OSmotic) is a new semi-permeable delivery system with very slow osmotic release of the active drug, which is maintained at virtually constant plasma levels throughout the 24 hours. At the end of a 2-week run-in period, 53 patients with chronic coronary artery disease and documented ischemia during bicycleergometric exercise test were given, on double-blind condition, metoprolol OROS 21/285 and atenolol 100 mg in random order for 4 weeks each. On the last day of each cross-over period, patients underwent a bicycleergometric exercise test 24 hours after the last drug intake. The mean number of anginal attacks (2.54 during the 2-week run-in period) decreased under both metoprolol OROS (1.29 and 1.13 after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, respectively) and atenolol (1.29 and 0.73 after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, respectively), with no difference between the two beta-blockers. The same behaviour was observed as regards the nitroglycerin tablets consumption. The exercise test variables (i.e. duration of exercise, maximum workload and peak exercise values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and ST-segment depression) did not differ between the two treatments and did not show a time-effect. The percentage of patients reporting adverse effects was low with both treatments. Two patients were withdrawn from the study during atenolol (gastralgia and heartburn, respectively), and one during metoprolol OROS (gastralgia).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Spiro-ergometric evaluation of a group of healthy young subjects: sedentary females, sedentary males and practicing male sports amateurs (jogging)]. / Valutazione spiroergometrica effettuata in gruppi di giovani sani: femmine sedentarie, maschi sedentari e maschi praticanti sport amatoriale (jogging).

In order to assess the qualitative and quantitative differences in physical performance, twenty sedentary females (Group A), twenty sedentary males (Group B) and twenty amateur sportsmen who jogged 45-60 min 2-3 times a week (Group C), have been evaluated by spiroergometric test on bicycle ergometer. At the submaximal level of 90 Watts the cardiorespiratory efficiency, as reflected by the values of double product (DP) and ventilatory equivalent (VE) was statistically different in the three Groups (A less than B less than C). At the maximal work the females, compared to sedentary males, achieved lower values (P less than 0.001) of maximal working capacity (MWC), total work (TW), systolic blood pressure (SBP), maximal O2 uptake (VO2 max), O2 pulse (O2P) and a greater (P less than 0.001) energetic cost (EC = HRmax/TW): sedentary males, compared to amateur sportsmen, achieved lower values (P less than 0.001) of MWC, TW, VO2 max, O2P and greater values (P less than 0.001) of VE, EC, HR, and DP (P less than 0.02). The lower VO2 max in females can be mainly ascribed to the lower stroke volume which in turn correlates with smaller body surface area. The greater VO2 max and O2P max of amateur sportsmen can be ascribed to larger stroke volume and muscular O2 uptake brought about by jogging. Furthermore the females, compared to sedentary males, have achieved VO2 max and O2P max that were 29% lower, a TW 43% lower, while EC was 73,4% higher. The sedentary males, compared to amateur sportsmen, have achieved lower values of VO2 max (-14,3%), O2P max (-17,5%) and TW (-31,3%) with DP and EC 8,3% and 50,7% higher, respectively. On the grounds of these data sedentary subjects, particularly females, pay a high energetic cost during physical activity. The practice of an aerobic sport such as jogging, may notably increase cardiovascular and respiratory efficiency.