Deconstructing heterogeneity in schizophrenia through language: a semi-automated linguistic analysis and data-driven clustering approach.

Previous works highlighted the relevance of automated language analysis for predicting diagnosis in schizophrenia, but a deeper language-based data-driven investigation of the clinical heterogeneity through the illness course has been generally neglected. Here we used a semiautomated multidimensional linguistic analysis innovatively combined with a machine-driven clustering technique to characterize the speech of 67 individuals with schizophrenia. Clusters were then compared for psychopathological, cognitive, and functional characteristics. We identified two subgroups with distinctive linguistic profiles: one with higher fluency, lower lexical variety but greater use of psychological lexicon; the other with reduced fluency, greater lexical variety but reduced psychological lexicon. The former cluster was associated with lower symptoms and better quality of life, pointing to the existence of specific language profiles, which also show clinically meaningful differences. These findings highlight the importance of considering language disturbances in schizophrenia as multifaceted and approaching them in automated and data-driven ways.

It is time to address language disorders in schizophrenia: A RCT on the efficacy of a novel training targeting the pragmatics of communication (PragmaCom).

INTRODUCTION: Language and communication disruptions in schizophrenia are at the center of a large body of investigation. Yet, the remediation of such disruptions is still in its infancy. Here we targeted what is known to be one of the most damaged language domains in schizophrenia, namely pragmatics, by conducting a pragmatics-centered intervention with a randomized controlled trial design and assessing also durability and generalization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study with these characteristics. METHODS: Inspired by the Gricean account of natural language use, we tailored a novel treatment addressing the pragmatics of communication (PragmaCom) and we tested its efficacy in a sample of individuals with schizophrenia randomized to the experimental group or to an active control group. The primary outcome with respect to the efficacy of the PragmaCom was measured by changes in pragmatic abilities (as evaluated with the global score of the Assessment of Pragmatic Abilities and Cognitive Substrates test) from baseline to 12 weeks and at 3-month follow-up. The secondary outcome was measured by changes in metaphor comprehension, abstract thinking, and global functioning from baseline to 12 weeks and at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Relative to the control group, at post-test the PragmaCom group showed greater and enduring improvement in global pragmatic skills and in metaphor comprehension. At follow-up, these improvements persisted and the PragmaCom exerted beneficial effects also on functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited sample size, we believe that these findings offer initial yet encouraging evidence of the possibility to improve pragmatic skills with a theoretically grounded approach and to obtain durable and clinically relevant benefits. We argue that it is time that therapeutic efforts embrace communicative dysfunctions in order to improve illness outcome.

Get up! Functional mobility and metabolic syndrome in chronic schizophrenia: Effects on cognition and quality of life.

Low mobility and poor physical health, especially metabolic syndrome, are frequently reported in patients with schizophrenia and tend to increase with age. Recent evidence suggests that metabolic syndrome may affect cognition and quality of life, while the role functional mobility is still less addressed and their interplay needs to be further explored. This study aims to analyze the effects of functional mobility on cognitive performance, symptoms and quality of life, taking into account age and also modeling it relationship with metabolic syndrome in a sample of 103 adults with chronic schizophrenia. Data were analyzed by means of Pearson's correlations, forward stepwise regressions and mediation models. Results showed that poorer functional mobility is associated with metabolic syndrome and related to more severe negative symptoms, worse cognitive abilities and more disrupted quality of life. Moreover, functional mobility proved to be a significant predictor of cognitive abilities and quality of life, even when other influencing factors were taken into account and independently of age. Finally, analyses showed that functional mobility mediates the effect of metabolic syndrome on both cognition and quality of life. Taken together, these results suggest that functional mobility and metabolic syndrome may represent relevant aspects that further contribute to the evolution of cognitive deficits through all stages of the disease, with also impact on quality of life. In this perspective, the assessment of functional mobility, a non-invasive and quickly performed test may be worth to be implemented in clinical practice, with important implications for treatment and monitoring.

Differences in the efficacy of carboxylic acid amide fungicides against less sensitive strains of Plasmopara viticola.

BACKGROUND: Plasmopara viticola is controlled by fungicides with different modes of action, including carboxylic acid amides (CAAs). The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the response of CAA-resistant P. viticola strains towards CAAs. RESULTS: The G1105S mutation affects all four CAAs, but with different impacts. While this confirms that they have the same mode of action, it shows that differences between CAAs can occur. CONCLUSION: Further molecular modelling and docking studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the different behaviours reported here. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

A contribution to the validation of the Wii Balance Board for the assessment of standing balance.

Valid and reliable accessible measures of balance are required in a health-related fitness test battery, both in the general population and in groups with special needs. For this purpose, the capability of the Wii Balance Board (WBB) in evaluating standing balance was analysed and compared with a laboratory-graded force platform (FP). A 30-s double limb standing test with open and closed eyes was performed by 28 individuals (12 male and 16 female, mean age = 23.8, SD = ±2.7 years). A simple method of acquisition of the centre of pressure (CoP) over time was applied to compare WBB and FP simultaneously on the same signal. User-defined software was developed to obtain the CoP from WBB over time and the resulting related measures and graphical representations. The comparison of measures, such as sway path and maximum oscillations along the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral direction, obtained with the FP and the WBB shows that the latter, in conjunction with the user-defined developed software, can be appropriate, considering prescribed limits, and an easy-to-use tool for evaluating standing balance.

Enjoyment perception during exercise with aerobic machines.

This study investigated enjoyment and naturalness of movement perceived during short bouts of exercise with three aerobic machines: treadmill, elliptical crosstrainer, and Vario. The participants were 72 experienced and 60 inexperienced users. Immediately after the exercise with each machine, they filled in a 12-item form of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) and a Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) about naturalness of movement. Results showed significant within-subjects differences on all scales; exercise with the treadmill and Vario were perceived to be similarly enjoyable and more enjoyable and natural in comparison with the elliptical crosstrainer. Differences in naturalness ratings between experienced and inexperienced users were observed. Exercise was not equally enjoyable when performed with different aerobic machines, and this should be considered by professionals when prescribing aerobic training to enhance motivation and adherence.