Novel Strategy in the Detection of Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reactions: A Case Series Study.

With multimorbidity on the rise, adverse cutaneous drug reactions are becoming a daily challenge in clinical practice. The objective evaluation of the skin lesion is crucial but hardly realized due to missing technology and guidelines. In this study, the novel Dermus SkinScanner-U, an optically guided high-frequency ultrasound imaging device, was evaluated regarding its comparability with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the pharmacological analysis of the patients' drug therapy. A total of 40 adult patients were evaluated, all with chronic medication use and skin lesions that led to non-compliance toward the pharmacotherapy. With the ongoing aim of further improving the methodology, the first results, with two detailed patient cases, are presented here. It was concluded that in the cases evaluated, there was a significant correlation between the characteristics of the lesions observed on the optical and ultrasound image, the DLQI score, and the pharmacological analysis. The next steps include increasing the scale of the study to ultimately develop a quality-assured methodology for the correct diagnosis of skin-related adverse drug reactions and to prepare a database with the most frequently observed events.

COVID-19 and Antipsychotic Therapy: Unraveling the Thrombosis Risk.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study investigates the potential correlation between the increased use of antipsychotic medications and the rising incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). As psychiatric disorders surged, the consequential escalation in antipsychotic drug use raised concerns about thrombotic risks. We conducted a comprehensive literature review using PubMed, focusing on articles that intersected COVID-19, antipsychotic medication, and thrombosis. This approach allowed for a nuanced examination of the historical and recent data on antipsychotic drugs and their association with thrombotic events. Our findings reveal a notable link between the use of antipsychotic medications, particularly second-generation antipsychotics, and an increased risk of VTE, including pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. This association was evident, despite variations in study designs and populations. The study underscores the need for cautious medication management in psychiatric care, especially during pandemic conditions like COVID-19, to mitigate thrombotic risks. It advocates a personalized approach to prescribing antipsychotics, considering individual patient factors and comorbidities, to balance the benefits against potential thrombotic complications.

Effect of ractopamine on the release of dopamine from the striatum dissected from mice.

In the past two decades, ractopamine has been used as a feed additive to increase protein synthesis in farmed animals (swine, cattle, and turkeys) and to produce high-quality meat. However, the excessive feeding of animals with ractopamine may result in its accumulation in animal and human tissues after consuming the meat. Ractopamine is a trace amine-associated receptor1 and ß-adrenoceptor agonist banned in the EU but approved in the USA, and it may pose a potential risk to human health. In this paper, the authors, for the first time, provide neurochemical evidence that ractopamine leads to the release of dopamine from nerve terminals of the nigrostriatal pathway in the striatum.

Altered brain rhythms and behaviour in the accelerated ovarian failure mouse model of human menopause.

To date, potential mechanisms of menopause-related memory and cognitive deficits have not been elucidated. Therefore, we studied brain oscillations, their phase-amplitude coupling, sleep and vigilance state patterns, running wheel use and other behavioural measures in a translationally valid mouse model of menopause, the 4-vinylcyclohexene-diepoxide-induced accelerated ovarian failure. After accelerated ovarian failure, female mice show significant alterations in brain rhythms, including changes in the frequencies of θ (5-12 Hz) and γ (30-120 Hz) oscillations, a reversed phase-amplitude coupling, altered coupling of hippocampal sharp-wave ripples to medial prefrontal cortical sleep spindles and reduced δ oscillation (0.5-4 Hz) synchrony between the two regions during non-rapid eye movement sleep. In addition, we report on significant circadian variations in the frequencies of θ and γ oscillations, and massive synchronous δ oscillations during wheel running. Our results reveal novel and specific network alterations and feasible signs for diminished brain connectivity in the accelerated ovarian failure mouse model of menopause. Taken together, our results may have identified changes possibly responsible for some of the memory and cognitive deficits previously described in this model. Corresponding future studies in menopausal women could shed light on fundamental mechanisms underlying the neurological and psychiatric comorbidities present during this important transitional phase in women's lives.

Low cholesterol level as a possible suicide risk factor / Az alacsony szérumkoleszterin-szint mint lehetséges öngyilkossági rizikótényezo.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A koleszterinszint a köztudatban elsosorban mint cardiovascularis rizikófaktor van jelen. Nem mellékes azonban, hogy akár a magas, akár az alacsony koleszterinszint direkt összefüggésbe hozható számos pszichiátriai kórképpel. Célkituzés: A jelen tanulmány célja felhívni a figyelmet a holisztikus nézopont kialakítására, hisz a hypercholesterinaemia korai cardiovascularis elhalálozáshoz vezethet, viszont alacsony koleszterinszint esetén megnövekedhet a hangulatzavarra és foleg az öngyilkosságra való hajlam. Módszer: Kutatásunkban 200 olyan pszichiátriai beteg összkoleszterinszintjét vizsgáltuk meg, akik öngyilkossági gondolatokkal küszködtek. Az öngyilkossági veszélyt a Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation (Miller és mtsai) segítségével mértük. Eredmények: Az elért pontszámok alapján 3 kategóriába soroltuk a betegeket: 52 minimális suicid késztetésu, 49 középsúlyos és 99 súlyos rizikójú beteg. A legsúlyosabb kategóriába tartozó betegek nagy többségének (83 páciens, 84%) összkoleszterinje 4,5 mmol/l alatti volt. A másik két kategóriában ezen arány jelentosen kisebbnek bizonyult: a minimális suicid késztetésu kategóriában ez az érték csak 3 betegre (6%) volt vonatkoztatható, és a középsúlyosak esetén is csak 13 betegre (29%). Megbeszélés: Ezen tanulmányunk hátrányát képezheti a relatíve kis betegszám és a longitudinális utánkövetés megvalósításának hiánya. Következtetés: Jelen eredményeink alapján jogosan vetodhet fel a koleszterinszint mérésének rutinszeru bevezetése mint hatásos, szurésre alkalmas öngyilkossági rizikófaktor biomarker. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(43): 1732-1739. INTRODUCTION: High cholesterol levels are widely recognized as cardiovascular risk factors. However, lower or higher cholesterol levels can be in a solid relationship with several mental disorders, too. OBJECTIVE: Our study aims to raise awareness about the fact that hypocholesterolemia is involved in various mood disorders and even suicidal behavior looks to be much more frequent. METHOD: Our current study implicates 200 psychiatric patients. These subjects had suicidal ideation upon hospital referral. In the first 24 hours, their total cholesterol levels were measured and the severity of self-harm intentions was evaluated with the Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation by Miller et al. Results: By the obtained evaluation score we differentiated 3 groups: 52 patients with low suicide risk, 49 with moderate risk and 99 with high suicide risk. In this last group, 83 patients had their serum total cholesterol level under 4,5 mmol/L (84%). By comparison, in the low-risk category only 3 patients (6%) and in the moderate-risk 13 patients (29%) were with such levels. DISCUSSION: Clear conclusion cannot be drawn due to the reduced number of our patients, due to the absence of long-term consequent monitorization, and due to the heterogeneity of the studied population. CONCLUSION: Considering these data, a possible usefulness of total cholesterol levels in psychiatric patients may be suggested as a screening tool for the severity of suicidal ideation. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(43): 1732-1739.

Hemodynamic profile, responsiveness to anandamide, and baroreflex sensitivity of mice lacking fatty acid amide hydrolase.

The endocannabinoid anandamide exerts neurobehavioral, cardiovascular, and immune-regulatory effects through cannabinoid receptors (CB). Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is an enzyme responsible for the in vivo degradation of anandamide. Recent experimental studies have suggested that targeting the endocannabinergic system by FAAH inhibitors is a promising novel approach for the treatment of anxiety, inflammation, and hypertension. In this study, we compared the cardiac performance of FAAH knockout (FAAH-/-) mice and their wild-type (FAAH+/+) littermates and analyzed the hemodynamic effects of anandamide using the Millar pressure-volume conductance catheter system. Baseline cardiovascular parameters, systolic and diastolic function at different preloads, and baroreflex sensitivity were similar in FAAH-/- and FAAH+/+ mice. FAAH-/- mice displayed increased sensitivity to anandamide-induced, CB1-mediated hypotension and decreased cardiac contractility compared with FAAH(+/+) littermates. In contrast, the hypotensive potency of synthetic CB1 agonist HU-210 and the level of expression of myocardial CB1 were similar in the two strains. The myocardial levels of anandamide and oleoylethanolamide, but not 2-arachidonylglycerol, were increased in FAAH-/- mice compared with FAAH+/+ mice. These results indicate that mice lacking FAAH have a normal hemodynamic profile, and their increased responsiveness to anandamide-induced hypotension and cardiodepression is due to the decreased degradation of anandamide rather than an increase in target organ sensitivity to CB1 agonists.

Lack of prejunctional modulation of noradrenaline release by endogenous nitric oxide in guinea pig pulmonary artery.

The regulation of noradrenaline (NA) release by endogenous endothelium-derived compounds was investigated in the isolated guinea pig pulmonary artery preloaded with [3H]NA. The radioactivity uptake, the basal and electrical field stimulation (10 Hz, 2 ms, 360 shocks) evoked release of [(3)H]NA was similar in arteries with intact endothelium and after removal of the endothelium. The wide selectivity nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N-omega-nitro-L-arginine (100 microM) did not affect significantly the basal and stimulation-evoked release of [(3)H]NA in control and endothelium-denuded preparations. These results indicate that neither endogenous NO nor other compounds derived from the endothelium have substantial influence on the NA outflow from sympathetic nerves innervating the pulmonary artery.