Brain network functional connectivity changes in long illness duration chronic schizophrenia.

Introduction: Chronic schizophrenia has a course of 5 years or more and has a widespread abnormalities in brain functional connectivity. This study aimed to find characteristic functional and structural changes in a long illness duration chronic schizophrenia (10 years or more). Methods: Thirty-six patients with a long illness duration chronic schizophrenia and 38 healthy controls were analyzed by independent component analysis of brain network functional connectivity. Correlation analysis with clinical duration was performed on six resting state networks: auditory network, default mode network, dorsal attention network, fronto-parietal network, somatomotor network, and visual network. Results: The differences in the resting state network between the two groups revealed that patients exhibited enhanced inter-network connections between default mode network and multiple brain networks, while the inter-network connections between somatomotor network, default mode network and visual network were reduced. In patients, functional connectivity of Cuneus_L was negatively correlated with illness duration. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve of functional connectivity showed that changes in Thalamus_L, Rectus_L, Frontal_Mid_R, and Cerebelum_9_L may indicate a longer illness duration chronic schizophrenia. Discussion: In our study, we also confirmed that the course of disease is significantly associated with specific brain regions, and the changes in specific brain regions may indicate that chronic schizophrenia has a course of 10 years or more.

Targeting mitophagy for neurological disorders treatment: advances in drugs and non-drug approaches.

Mitochondria serve as a vital energy source for nerve cells. The mitochondrial network also acts as a defense mechanism against external stressors that can threaten the stability of the nervous system. However, excessive accumulation of damaged mitochondria can lead to neuronal death. Mitophagy is an essential pathway in the mitochondrial quality control system and can protect neurons by selectively removing damaged mitochondria. In most neurological disorders, dysfunctional mitochondria are a common feature, and drugs that target mitophagy can improve symptoms. Here, we reviewed the role of mitophagy in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injuries. We also summarized drug and non-drug approaches to promote mitophagy and described their therapeutic role in neurological disorders in order to provide valuable insight into the potential therapeutic agents available for neurological disease treatment. However, most studies on mitophagy regulation are based on preclinical research using cell and animal models, which may not accurately reflect the effects in humans. This poses a challenge to the clinical application of drugs targeting mitophagy. Additionally, these drugs may carry the risk of intolerable side effects and toxicity. Future research should focus on the development of safer and more targeted drugs for mitophagy.

[Stress and coping style in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their influence on disease self-management].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of demographic and clinical characteristics, stress, and coping style on disease self-management in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed to select 149 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (aged 8-20 years). Related data were collected using the questionnaires and scales on general information, diabetes self-management, perceived stress, and coping style. RESULTS: Of the 149 children and adolescents, 37(24.8%) had high stress. Compared with the school-aged children, the adolescents had higher stress level and were more likely to present with negative coping style (P<0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the children whose mothers had an educational level at or above senior high school, who had a low stress level, and who adopted positive coping measures had a higher level of diabetes self-management (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly a quarter of the children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes have a high stress level. When delivering the education on diabetes self-management to children and adolescents, healthcare workers should focus on the families whose mothers have an educational level at or below junior high school. Strategies should aim at reducing stress by encouraging positive coping styles.