Sex differences in the association between suicidal ideation and neurocognitive function in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.

There is increasing evidence that sex differences exist in many clinical manifestations of patients with schizophrenia, including suicidal ideation (SI) and neurocognitive function. The present study was performed to explore the sex differences in the association between SI and neurocognitive function in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. A total of 1188 inpatients with schizophrenia were recruited from multicenter psychiatric hospitals. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was utilized to evaluate the neurocognitive function of all patients. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was utilized to assess the psychopathology of patients. The Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) was used to assess the severity of SI. In male patients, the suicide risk score was significantly associated with PANSS negative symptoms (r = 0.167, p = 0.043), visuospatial subscale (r = - 0.261, p = 0.001), and RBANS total scores (r = - 0.172, p = 0.037). Furthermore, multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the visuospatial subscale (ß = - 0.490, t = - 3.273, p = 0.001) was independently associated with the suicide risk score in male patients. In female patients, the suicide risk score was significantly correlated with PANSS positive symptoms (r = 0.249, p = 0.021), negative symptoms (r = 0.394, p < 0.001), general psychopathology (r = 0.276, p = 0.01) and PANSS total score (r = 0.365, p = 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that PANSS negative symptoms (ß = 1.849, t = 3.933, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with suicide risk scores in female patients. Our findings indicate that there are sex differences in the association between SI and neurocognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Based on the findings of our study, gender-specific prevention and intervention strategies may make a difference in reducing SI in Chinese schizophrenia patients.

A randomized controlled trial of the influence of yoga for women with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Survivors in motor vehicle accident (MVA) may have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yoga is a complementary approach for PTSD therapy. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial explored whether yoga intervention has effects on reducing the symptoms of PTSD in women survived in MVA. Participants (n = 94) were recruited and randomized into control group or yoga group. Participants attended 6 45-minuite yoga sessions in 12 weeks. Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) were used to assess psychological distress. RESULTS: Post-intervention IES-R total score of yoga group was significantly lower than that of control group (p = 0.01). At both post-intervention and 3-months post intervention, the DASS-21 total scores of yoga group were both significantly lower than those of control group (p = 0.043, p = 0.024). Yoga group showed lower anxiety and depression level compared to control group at both post-intervention (p = 0.033, p < 0.001) and post-follow-up (p = 0.004, p = 0.035). Yoga group had lower levels of intrusion and avoidance compared to control group after intervention (p = 0.002, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Results illustrate that yoga intervention may alleviate anxiety and depression and improve the symptoms of PTSD in women with PTSD following MVA.

Circ_0002945 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to promote Aß25-35-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in SK-N-SH cells and human primary neurons.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to participate in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we set to identify the activity and mechanism of circ_0002945 in AD pathogenesis. METHODS: The levels of circ_0002945, microRNA (miR)-431-5p and TNF alpha induced protein 1 (TNFAIP1) were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or western blot. The levels of cleaved caspase-12, glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), the markers of cell endoplasmic reticulum stress, were gauged by western blot. Cell viability and apoptosis abilities were evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The direct relationship between miR-431-5p and circ_0002945 or TNFAIP1 was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter or RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. RESULTS: Our data showed that circ_0002945 was overexpressed in AD serum and amyloid beta (Aß)25-35-stimulated SK-N-SH cells and human primary neurons (HPNs). Inhibition of circ_0002945 attenuated Aß25-35-induced cell apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress. MiR-431-5p was regulated by circ_0002945 and it was responsible for the circ_0002945 function. Moreover, TNFAIP1 was a miR-431-5p target and circ_0002945 functioned as a ceRNA to control TNFAIP1 expression via miR-431-5p competition. Furthermore, miR-431-5p-mediated suppression of TNFAIP1 ameliorated Aß25-35-induced cell apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress. CONCLUSION: Our findings establish circ_0002945 as a crucial regulator of Aß-induced neuron apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress and uncover a novel circ_0002945/miR-431-5p/TNFAIP1 ceRNA network for the Aß pathogenic pathway in AD.