The importance of oxidative biomarkers in diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring schizophrenia patients.

INTRODUCTION: The etiology of schizophrenia (SCZ), an incredibly complex disorder, remains multifaceted. Literature suggests the involvement of oxidative stress (OS) in the pathophysiology of SCZ. OBJECTIVES: Determination of selected OS markers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with chronic SCZ and those in states predisposing to SCZ-first episode psychosis (FP) and ultra-high risk (UHR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Determination of OS markers and BDNF levels by spectrophotometric methods and ELISA in 150 individuals (116 patients diagnosed with SCZ or in a predisposed state, divided into four subgroups according to the type of disorder: deficit schizophrenia, non-deficit schizophrenia, FP, UHR). The control group included 34 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Lower activities of analyzed antioxidant enzymes and GSH and TAC concentrations were found in all individuals in the study group compared to controls (p < 0.001). BDNF concentration was also lower in all groups compared to controls except in the UHR subgroup (p = 0.01). Correlations were observed between BDNF, R-GSSG, GST, GPx activity, and disease duration (p < 0.02). A small effect of smoking on selected OS markers was also noted (rho<0.06, p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: OS may play an important role in the pathophysiology of SCZ before developing the complete clinical pattern of the disorder. The redox imbalance manifests itself with such severity in individuals with SCZ and in a state predisposing to the development of this psychiatric disease that natural antioxidant systems become insufficient to compensate against it completely. The discussed OS biomarkers may support the SCZ diagnosis and predict its progression.

Impulsivity and inhibitory control in deficit and non-deficit schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence on impulsivity and its potential relationship with inhibitory control in schizophrenia. This study therefore aimed to identify differences in impulsivity and cognitive and motor inhibition between patients with deficit (DS) and non-deficit (NDS) schizophrenia and healthy controls (HC). We also explored the relationships between impulsivity and different dimensions of inhibitory control in all studied groups. METHODS: The sample comprised 28 DS patients, 45 NDS patients, and 39 age-matched HC. A neuropsychological battery was used. RESULTS: DS patients scored lower in venturesomeness, while those with NDS scored higher in impulsiveness compared to HC. In addition, both groups of patients scored higher on measures of cognitive and motor inhibition, including those relatively independent of information processing speed (although the results were slightly different after adjusting for IQ and/or years of education). Correlations between impulsivity and cognitive inhibition emerged in DS patients, while links between impulsivity and motor inhibition were observed in HC. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the presence of deficits in experimentally assessed inhibitory control in schizophrenia patients, with predominant impulsivity in the NDS population. In addition, impulsivity may affect the cognitive control of inhibition in deficit schizophrenia. Nevertheless, due to the preliminary nature of these findings, they require further empirical verification in future research.

Greater methylation of the IL-6 promoter region is associated with decreased integrity of the corpus callosum in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is associated with chronic subclinical inflammation and decreased integrity of the corpus callosum (CC). Our previous study showed associations between peripheral IL-6 levels and the integrity of the CC. Epigenetic studies show associations between methylation of the genes related to immunological processes and integrity of the CC. AIM: To investigate correlations between methylation status of IL-6 promotor and peripheral IL-6 levels and the integrity of the CC in schizophrenia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The participants were 29 chronic schizophrenia patients (SCH) and 29 controls. Decreased integrity of the CC was understood as increased mean diffusivity (MD) and/or decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in diffusion tensor imaging. Peripheral IL-6 concentrations were measured in serum samples and IL-6 promoter methylation status of 6 CpG sites was analyzed in peripheral leukocytes by pyrosequencing. RESULTS: Moderate positive correlations were found between CpG1 methylation and the MD of proximal regions of the CC (CCR1-CCR3) and between CpGmean and MD of CCR1 in SCH. Weaker positive correlations were found for CpGmean with CCR2 and CCR3 and negative correlations were found for CpG1 and FA of CCR3 in SCH. Multivariate regression showed that methylation of CpG1, type of antipsychotic treatment, and their interaction were significant independent predictors of MD of CCR1 in SCH. Methylation of CpG2 was negatively correlated with serum IL-6 in SCH. CONCLUSIONS: The methylation level of the IL-6 promotor region in peripheral leukocytes is associated with the integrity of the CC in schizophrenia and this association may depend on the type of antipsychotic treatment. Further studies are necessary to explain the mechanisms of the observed associations.

Coping styles do not interact with the association between childhood trauma history and the immune-inflammatory phenotype of schizophrenia: Findings from a cross-sectional study.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a well-known risk factor of schizophrenia. Moreover, individuals with schizophrenia are likely to use maladaptive stress coping strategies. Although it has been reported that a history of ACEs might be associated with a pro-inflammatory phenotype in patients with schizophrenia, the interacting effect of coping styles on this association has not been tested so far. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the levels of immune-inflammatory markers in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (HCs), taking into consideration a history of ACEs and coping strategies. Participants included 119 patients with schizophrenia and 120 HCs. Serum levels of 26 immune-inflammatory markers were determined. A history of any categories of ACEs was significantly more frequent in patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, patients with schizophrenia were significantly more likely to use emotion-focused coping and less likely to use active coping strategies compared to HCs. The levels of interleukin(IL)-6, RANTES, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), appeared to be elevated in patients with schizophrenia after adjustment for potential confounding factors in all tested models. Participants reporting a history of any ACEs had significantly higher levels of TNF-α and IL-6. No significant main and interactive effects of active strategies as the predominant coping on immune-inflammatory markers with altered levels in patients with schizophrenia were found. Findings from the present study indicate that ACEs are associated with elevated TNF-α and IL-6 levels regardless of schizophrenia diagnosis and predominant coping styles.

The deficit subtype of schizophrenia is associated with a pro-inflammatory phenotype but not with altered levels of zonulin: Findings from a case-control study.

There is evidence that subclinical inflammation and increased gut permeability might be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Less is known about these phenomena in patients with the deficit subtype of schizophrenia (D-SCZ) characterized by primary and enduring negative symptoms. Therefore, in the present study we aimed to compare the levels of zonulin (the marker of gut permeability) and immune-inflammatory markers in patients with D-SCZ, those with non-deficit schizophrenia (ND-SCZ) and healthy controls (HCs). A total of 119 outpatients with schizophrenia and 120 HCs were enrolled. The levels of 26 immune-inflammatory markers and zonulin were determined in serum samples. The following between-group differences were significant after adjustment for multiple testing and the effects of potential confounding factors: 1) higher levels of interleukin(IL)- 1ß and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with D-SCZ compared to those with ND-SCZ and HCs; 2) higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and RANTES in both groups of patients with schizophrenia compared to HCs and 3) higher levels of IL-17 in patients with D-SCZ compared to HCs. No significant between-group differences in zonulin levels were found. Higher levels of IL-1ß and CRP were associated with worse performance of attention after adjustment for age, education and chlorpromazine equivalents. Also, higher levels of IL-1ß were correlated with greater severity of negative symptoms after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In conclusion, individuals with D-SCZ are more likely to show subclinical inflammation. However, findings from the present study do not support the hypothesis that this phenomenon is secondary to increased gut permeability.

Cognitive Dysfunctions Measured with the MCCB in Deficit and Non-Deficit Schizophrenia.

This study compared cognitive domains between deficit schizophrenia (DS) and non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS) patients and healthy controls (HC), analyzing relationships between psychopathological dimensions and cognitive domains. A total of 29 DS patients, 45 NDS patients, and 39 HC subjects participated. Cognitive domains were measured using the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Battery. Psychopathological symptoms were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Clinical groups performed poorer than HC groups in regards to speed of processing, attention/vigilance, working memory, verbal and visual learning and memory, reasoning and problem solving, and social cognition. DS patients scored poorer than NDS patients in terms of all cognitive domains and the overall score, except for reasoning and problem solving. Positive, negative, disorganization, and resistance symptoms were related to cognitive functions only in NDS patients. Our findings suggest that the MCCB battery is sensitive to detecting cognitive dysfunctions in both deficit and non-deficit schizophrenia.

Executive Functions and Psychopathology Dimensions in Deficit and Non-Deficit Schizophrenia.

This study: (a) compared executive functions between deficit (DS) and non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS) patients and healthy controls (HC), controlling premorbid IQ and level of education; (b) compared executive functions in DS and NDS patients, controlling premorbid IQ and psychopathological symptoms; and (c) estimated relationships between clinical factors, psychopathological symptoms, and executive functions using structural equation modelling. Participants were 29 DS patients, 44 NDS patients, and 39 HC. Executive functions were measured with the Mazes Subtest, Spatial Span Subtest, Letter Number Span Test, Color Trail Test, and Berg Card Sorting Test. Psychopathological symptoms were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Brief Negative Symptom Scale, and Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms. Compared to HC, both clinical groups performed poorer on cognitive flexibility, DS patients on verbal working memory, and NDS patients on planning. DS and NDS patients did not differ in executive functions, except planning, after controlling premorbid IQ and negative psychopathological symptoms. In DS patients, exacerbation had an effect on verbal working memory and cognitive planning; in NDS patients, positive symptoms had an effect on cognitive flexibility. Both DS and NDS patients presented deficits, affecting the former to a greater extent. Nonetheless, clinical variables appeared to significantly affect these deficits.

Complement Activation Products in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia.

Evidence suggests a role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of a number of mental conditions, including schizophrenia (SCH). In terms of physiology, aside from its crucial protective function, the complement cascade (CC) is a critical element of the regeneration processes, including neurogenesis. Few studies have attempted to define the function of the CC components in SCH. To shed more light on this topic, we compared the levels of complement activation products (CAP) (C3a, C5a and C5b-9) in the peripheral blood of 62 patients with chronic SCH and disease duration of ≥ 10 years with 25 healthy controls matched for age, sex, BMI and smoking status. Concentrations of all the investigated CAP were elevated in SCH patients. However, after controlling for potential confounding factors, significant correlations were observed between SCH and C3a (M = 724.98 ng/mL) and C5a (M = 6.06 ng/mL) levels. In addition, multivariate logistic regression showed that C3a and C5b-9 were significant predictors of SCH. There were no significant correlations between any CAP and SCH symptom severity or general psychopathology in SCH patients. However, two significant links emerged between C3a and C5b-9 and global functioning. Increased levels of both complement activation products in the patient group as compared to healthy controls raise questions concerning the role of the CC in the etiology of SCH and further demonstrate dysregulation of the immune system in SCH patients.

Serum Inflammatory Markers and Integrity of the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus and the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus in Schizophrenia, from Prodromal Stages to Chronic Psychosis-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Chronic subclinical inflammation is believed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Meta-analyses confirm the presence of increased levels of peripheral inflammatory markers (IM) in schizophrenia and its prodromal stages. Peripheral cytokines may affect the brain microstructure through chronic activation of microglia. Disruptions in the integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) are commonly seen in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We therefore attempted to verify in a cross-sectional study whether there is a correlation between levels of peripheral IM and the integrity of these brain regions in healthy controls, from prodromal states and first episode psychosis to long-term schizophrenia. The integrity of white matter was measured using diffusion tensor imaging. Despite a broad analysis of six IM (CRP, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), we did not find any correlations with the integrity of the SLF or ILF in any of the analyzed groups (after correction for multiple comparisons). In conclusion, our study does not support the existence of a link between disrupted levels of peripheral IM and reduced integrity of ILF and SLF in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, prospective studies are needed to verify this over a long period of time.

Polish version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42) - adaptation and normalization. / Polska wersja Skali Depresji Leku i Stresu (DASS-42) ­ adaptacja i normalizacja.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to present the Polish adaptation and preliminary normalization of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 42 (DASS-42). METHODS: The study was conducted among 1,021 participants (625 females and 396 males) aged 18-83 years (M = 30.67; SD = 13.25). It was a non-clinical sample. Second sample was a group of 49 psychiatric patients (28 females and 21 males) aged 22-76 years (M = 49.40; SD = 13.34). The reliability of the DASS-42 was measured using Cronbach's α coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). RESULTS: In the non-clinical sample the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.93 points for the depression subscale; 0.89 points for the anxiety subscale; 0.92 for the stress subscale, and 0.96 for the DASS-42 total score. The ICC were satisfactory, between 0.37 and 0.49 points. Psychiatric patients obtained significantly higher results in all subscales and in a total score of the DASS-42 (p< 0.001) than healthy participants. It is an indicator of good concurrent validity of the method. The effect size of the differences for all questionnaire indicators was large (0.96

Serum Inflammatory Markers and Their Associations with the Integrity of the Cingulum Bundle in Schizophrenia, from Prodromal Stages to Chronic Psychosis.

Peripheral cytokines may affect the brain through chronic activation of microglia and, as a result, can potentially lead to decreased integrity of white matter of cingulum bundle (CB). Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the relationships between peripheral inflammatory markers and the integrity of the CB in various states: from healthy controls, through prodromal states and first-episode psychosis, to long-term schizophrenia. The integrity of the CB was measured using diffusion tensor imaging. We analyzed six parameters: CRP, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. We found that levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ differed significantly between groups. Initial analysis showed some correlations between the inflammatory markers and CB integrity, in particular a correlation with IL-6 that was present in several groups. However, none of the analyzed parameters were associated with the integrity of the CB after correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: Our results supported our hypothesis that there are increased levels of inflammatory markers in psychotic disorders, but did not allow to confirm our hypothesis that there is a link between increased peripheral inflammatory markers and decreased integrity of the CB. However, we found some interesting trend levels that need to be verified in larger studies.

Concerns, attitudes and comparison of the COVID-19 epidemic impact on the mental state of medical and nonmedical employees. / Obawy, postawy i porównanie wplywu epidemii COVID-19 na stan psychiczny pracowników medycznych oraz osób niewykonujacych zawodu medycznego.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to compare the manifestation of anxiety and depressive disorders as well as attempt to identify factors influencing their occurrence among healthcare system employees and nonmedical staff. METHODS: A survey was conducted with participation of 921 people using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Modified (HADS-M) and a survey prepared to assess the attitudes of the respondents towards the epidemic.. RESULTS: The obtained results allow to state that the examined groups do not differ in the level of perceived anxiety or the level of depression, however, they had different attitudes towards the epidemic. Anumber of factors increasing the risk of occurrence of these disorders have been identified. Among medical professions, nurses are the professional group particularly vulnerable to anxiety disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemic has a significant impact on human mental well-being. Recognizing the factors increasing the risk of mental disorders and their prevalence during an epidemic can help identify individuals who are particularly at risk of developing them. The knowledge resulting from empirical explorations is the basis for implementing preventive and therapeutic measures among people affected by mental disorders during the pandemic.

Personality-Related Factors and Depressive Symptomatology Predict Behavioral Control in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorders.

In the face of increasing social, economic, and health consequences of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and limited effects of available treatment options, the search for novel prevention and management methods continues to remain a timely and valid endeavor. This, however, requires a better grasp of the theoretical framework underlying addiction mechanisms. With the goal to extend the existing body of evidence on AUDs, we set out to investigate the effect of personality-related factors and depressive symptomatology on (i) impulsivity, (ii) cognitive response inhibition, and (iii) the links between the two measures of behavioral control (different facets of impulsivity and response inhibition) in a treatment-seeking AUD sample. To this end, 53 male (n = 45) and female (n = 8) inpatients at an alcohol rehabilitation center completed three self-report questionnaires: the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP-50), the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and performed one behavioral task-an alcohol go/no go task. Regression analyses revealed conscientiousness, intellect, and depression level to be important potential predictors of self-report impulsivity and processing speed in recovering drinkers. No significant links were observed between the two measures of behavioral control, thus complementing evidence that while they both encompass behavioral under-regulation, they may indeed represent distinct psychological constructs.

Do Personality, Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy, and Depressive Symptomatology Affect Abstinence Status in Treatment-Seeking Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder?

Given the high global incidence and disabling nature of alcohol use disorders, alongside high relapse rates, we sought to investigate potential predictors of abstinence, considered a prerequisite of full remission. With an aim to examine (i) the effect of personality, alcohol abstinence self-efficacy, and depressive symptomatology on abstinence status as our primary objective, and (ii) interactions between these three factors, as well as (iii) their changes over time as two secondary objectives, we recruited 51 inpatients at an alcohol rehabilitation center to complete the International Personality Item Pool, the Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory, and to provide information on abstinence attainment 2 months post-treatment. Although regression analyses revealed no evidence for the effect of the investigated factors (personality, self-efficacy, or depressive symptoms) on post-therapy abstinence, other findings emerged, demonstrating (i) a significant reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms, (ii) the effect of personality and alcohol abstinence self-efficacy on depressive symptom severity, and (iii) the role of personality in predicting the temptation to use alcohol in recovering drinkers. These preliminary indications of links between personality, self-efficacy, and subjective well-being mark a promising area for future research on powerful and relevant cues of relapse and abstinence efficacy.

Psychopathology and Stem Cell Mobilization in Ultra-High Risk of Psychosis and First-Episode Psychosis Patients.

Although regenerative and inflammatory processes are involved in the etiopathogenesis of many psychiatric disorders, their roles are poorly understood. We investigate the potential role of stem cells (SC) and factors influencing the trafficking thereof, such as complement cascade (CC) components, phospholipid substrates, and chemokines, in the etiology of schizophrenia. We measured sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), stromal-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), and CC cleavage fragments (C3a, C5a, and C5b-C9; also known as the membrane attack complex) in the peripheral blood of 49 unrelated patients: 9 patients with ultra-high risk of psychosis (UHR), 22 patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP), and 18 healthy controls (HC). When compared with the HC group, the UHR and FEP groups had higher levels of C3a. We found no significant differences in hematopoietic SC, very small embryonic-like stem cell (VSEL), C5a, S1P, or SDF-1 levels in the UHR and FEP groups. However, among FEP patients, there was a significant positive correlation between VSELs (CD133+) and negative symptoms. These preliminary findings support the role of the immune system and regenerative processes in the etiology of schizophrenia. To establish the relevance of SC and other factors affecting the trafficking thereof as potential biomarkers of schizophrenia, more studies on larger groups of individuals from across the disease spectrum are needed.

The Relationship between Cognitive Functions and Psychopathological Symptoms in First Episode Psychosis and Chronic Schizophrenia.

Impairments in cognitive functions are one of the main features of schizophrenia. A variety of factors can influence the extent of cognitive deficits. In our study, we examined the severity of cognitive deficits at different stages of the disease and the relationship between psychopathological symptoms and cognitive functions. We recruited 32 patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP), 70 with chronic schizophrenia (CS), and 39 healthy controls (HC). Psychopathological symptoms were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and cognitive functions were measured with the MATRICS Cognitive Consensus Battery (MCCB). Cognitive deficits were present in both FEP and CS participants. CS individuals had lower overall scores and poorer working memory; however, clinical variables appeared to play a significant role in these scores. In FEP, disorganization correlated negatively with verbal and visual learning and memory, social cognition, and overall score; negative symptoms negatively correlated with social cognition. In CS participants, disorganization correlated negatively with speed of processing, reasoning, problem solving, and overall score; negative symptoms were negatively correlated with speed of processing, visual learning, memory, and overall score; positive symptoms were negatively correlated with reasoning and problem solving. Our findings indicate that psychopathological symptoms have a significant impact on cognitive functions in FEP and CS patients.

Relationship between White Matter Alterations and Pathophysiological Symptoms in Patients with Ultra-High Risk of Psychosis, First-Episode, and Chronic Schizophrenia.

Some symptoms of schizophrenia might be present before full-blown psychosis, so white matter changes must be studied both in individuals with emerging psychosis and chronic schizophrenia. A total of 86 patients­12 ultra-high risk of psychosis (UHR), 20 first episode psychosis (FEP), 54 chronic schizophrenia (CS), and 33 healthy controls (HC)­underwent psychiatric examination and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. We assessed fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILS). We found that CS patients had lower FA than FEP patients (p = 0.025) and HC (p = 0.088), and higher MD than HC (p = 0.037) in the right SLF. In the CS group, we found positive correlations of MD in both right ILF (rho = 0.39, p < 0.05) and SLF (rho = 0.43, p < 0.01) with disorganization symptoms, as well as negative correlation of FA in the right ILF with disorganization symptoms (rho = −0.43, p < 0.05). Among UHR individuals, we found significant negative correlations between MD in the left ILF and negative (r = −0.74, p < 0.05) and general symptoms (r = −0.77, p < 0.05). However promising, these findings should be treated as preliminary, and further research must verify whether they can be treated as potential biomarkers of psychosis.

High-Resolution Vessel Wall MRI of Endovascularly Treated Intracranial Aneurysms.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and the pattern of post-procedural intracranial aneurysm contrast enhancement on high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HR-VW MRI). We investigated the possible association between this imaging finding and factors such as time elapsed since embolization or aneurysm occlusion grade on baseline and follow-up imaging. (2) Methods: Consecutive patients presenting for follow-up after endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms were included. HR-VW MRI was acquired and interpreted independently by two radiologists. (3) Results: This study included 40 aneurysms in 39 patients. Contrast enhancement was detected in 30 (75%) aneurysms. It was peripheral in 12 (30.0%), central in 9 (22.5%), and both peripheral and central in 9 (22.5%) aneurysms. The statistical analysis did not reveal any relationship between follow-up period and the presence of contrast enhancement (p = 0.277). There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of contrast enhancement between aneurysms with total occlusion and those with remnant flow on follow-up MR angiography (p = 0.850) nor between aneurysms with different interval changes in the aneurysm occlusion grade (p = 0.536). Multivariate analysis did not demonstrate aneurysm size, ruptured aneurysm status, nor initial complete aneurysm occlusion to be a predictor of contrast enhancement (p = 0.080). (4) Conclusions: Post-procedural aneurysm contrast enhancement is a common imaging finding on HR-VW MRI. The clinical utility of this imaging finding, especially in the prediction of aneurysm recurrence, seems limited. The results of our study do not support routine use of HR-VW MRI in the follow-up of patients after endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Psychopathology and Integrity of the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus in Deficit and Nondeficit Schizophrenia.

The superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) is a white matter bundle that connects the frontal areas with the parietal areas. As part of the visuospatial attentional network, it may be involved in the development of schizophrenia. Deficit syndrome (DS) is characterized by primary and enduring negative symptoms. The present study assessed SLF integrity in DS and nondeficit schizophrenia (NDS) patients and examined possible relationships between it and psychopathology. Twenty-six DS patients, 42 NDS patients, and 36 healthy controls (HC) underwent psychiatric evaluation and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). After post-processing, fractional anisotropy (FA) values within the SLF were analyzed. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Brief Negative Symptom Scale, and Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms. The PANSS proxy for the deficit syndrome was used to diagnose DS. NDS patients had lower FA values than HC. DS patients had greater negative symptoms than NDS patients. After differentiating clinical groups and HC, we found no significant correlations between DTI measures and psychopathological dimensions. These results suggest that changes in SLF integrity are related to schizophrenia, and frontoparietal dysconnection plays a role in its etiopathogenesis. We confirmed that DS patients have greater negative psychopathology than NDS patients. These results are preliminary; further studies are needed.

Serum inflammatory markers and their associations with white matter integrity of the corpus callosum in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.

Schizophrenia is associated with disrupted integrity of white matter microstructure of a variety of brain regions, especially the corpus callosum (CC). Chronic subclinical inflammation is considered to be one of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of this disease, and increased levels of peripheral inflammatory markers are often observed in schizophrenia patients. Therefore, we decided to investigate whether the integrity of the corpus callosum is correlated with levels of these markers. A total of 50 patients with stable chronic schizophrenia (SCH) and 30 controls (CON) were enrolled in the study. All participants underwent psychiatric evaluation, neuroimaging, and blood sampling including the measurement of serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL - 10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Additional potentially related factors, such as age, gender, BMI, smoking, disease duration, and treatment were included in the analysis. Significantly higher IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were observed in SCH compared to CON. In SCH, IFN-γ was positively correlated with mean diffusivity of region 2 of the CC. In CON, IL-6 was inversely correlated with fractional anisotropy of region 1 of the CC. These results support the potential influence of peripheral inflammatory markers on the integrity of the CC in schizophrenia, but require verification in longitudinal studies.