The Emergence of New-Onset Obsessive and Compulsive Disorder in an Adolescent During COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge toll on both the physical and mental health of people around the globe. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, as well as long-term sequelae, have been demonstrated in those afflicted with COVID-19. These symptoms range from cognitive, attention deficit, new-onset anxiety, depression, psychosis, seizures, and post-traumatic stress. Prolonged lockdown led to social isolation which negatively affected the mental well-being of many individuals. This particularly caused a relapse of psychiatric symptoms due to stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It sparked an increase in hoarding behaviors such as obtaining germicidal and cleaning supplies. In this report, we present a case of an adolescent male presenting with a new onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder with symptoms similar to olfactory hallucinations and olfactory reference syndrome in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simple Schizophrenia Remains a Complicated Diagnosis: Case Report and Literature Review.

The diagnosis of simple schizophrenia has been challenged and criticized since it was first described by Otto Diem in 1903. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), released by the American Psychiatric Association in May 2013, classified it as a condition for further study with the name "attenuated psychosis syndrome." This clinical condition has undergone several revisions with each edition of the DSM. It is characterized by oddities in conduct, inability to meet the demands of society, and decline in total performance in the absence of obvious psychotic symptoms. We discuss the case of a 35-year-old man who presented with symptoms fitting the criteria for simple schizophrenia and review the various definitions and case reports published over the years that defend the diagnosis of simple schizophrenia.

Sirolimus modulates HIVAN phenotype through inhibition of epithelial mesenchymal transition.

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is characterized by proliferative phenotype in the form of collapsing glomerulopathy and microcystic dilatation of tubules. Recently, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal cells has been demonstrated to contribute to the pathogenesis of proliferative HIVAN phenotype. We hypothesized that sirolimus would modulate HIVAN phenotype by attenuating renal cell EMT. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of sirolimus on the development of renal cell EMT as well as on display of HIVAN phenotype in a mouse model of HIVAN (Tg26). Tg26 mice receiving normal saline (TgNS) showed enhanced proliferation of both glomerular and tubular cells when compared to control mice-receiving normal saline (CNS); on the other hand, Tg26 mice receiving sirolimus (TgS) showed attenuated renal cell proliferation when compared with TgNS. TgNS also showed increased number of α-SMA-, vimentin-, and FSP1-positive cells (glomerular as well as tubular) when compared with CNS; however, TgS showed reduced number of SMA, vimentin, and FSP1+ve renal cells when compared to TgNS. Interestingly, sirolimus preserved renal epithelial cell expression of E-cadherin in TgS. Since sirolimus attenuated renal cell ZEB expression (a repressor of E-cadherin transcription), it appears that sirolimus may be attenuating renal cell EMT by preserving epithelial cell E-cadherin expression.

HIV-associated nephropathy: role of AT2R.

AT(1)R has been reported to play an important role in the progression of HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN); however, the effect of AT(2)R has not been studied. Age and sex matched control (FVB/N) and Tg26 mice aged 4, 8, and 16weeks were studied for renal tissue expression of AT(1)R and AT(2)R (Protocol A). Renal tissue mRNA expression of AT(2)R was lower in Tg26 mice when compared with control mice. In Protocol B, Tg26 mice were treated with either saline, telmisartan (TEL, AT(1) blocker), PD123319 (PD, AT(2)R blocker), or TEL+PD for two weeks. TEL-receiving Tg26 (TRTg) displayed less advanced glomerular and tubular lesions when compared with saline-receiving Tg26 (SRTg). TRTgs displayed enhanced renal tissue AT(2)R expression when compared to SRTgs. Diminution of renal tissue AT(2)R expression was associated with advanced renal lesions in SRTgs; whereas, upregulation of AT(2)R expression in TRTgs was associated with attenuated renal lesions. PD-receiving Tg26 mice (PDRTg) did not show any alteration in the course of HIVAN; whereas, PD+TEL-receiving Tg26 (PD-TRTg) showed worsening of renal lesions when compared to TRTgs. Interestingly, plasma as well as renal tissues of Tg26 mice displayed several fold higher concentration of Ang III, a ligand of AT(2)R.