The Implications of Cytochrome P450 2D6/CYP2D6 Polymorphism in the Therapeutic Response of Atypical Antipsychotics in Adolescents with Psychosis-A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The plasma level of antipsychotics and their metabolites depends on the activity of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system in the liver. This research aims to test the individual response variability to atypical antipsychotic drugs, depending on the activity of the CYP2D6 enzyme. METHODS: In a prospective, noninterventional study, we included 56 adolescents, 51.79% male, diagnosed with schizophrenia. The patients underwent DNA sampling for genotyping SNP by RT-PCR and CYP* allelic variants using Applied Bio-systems™ TaqMan® Assays Foster City, CA, USA). and clinical and paraclinical assessments. The effectiveness of the therapy was evaluated with the PANSS scores at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after the initiation of an atypical antipsychotic treatment. RESULTS: Based on the genotyping results, the patients were divided into slow metabolizers (Group 1), extensive metabolizers (Group 2), and intermediate metabolizers (Group 3). The PANSS score showed a significant decrease in Group 2, compared to Group 3 after 3 (p = 0.02), 6 (p = 0.0009), and 12 months (p < 0.0001). The patients in Group 1 showed high PANSS scores, and those in Group 2 had fewer adverse reactions than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing the CYP2D6 polymorphism may be useful in clinical pediatric psychiatric practice towards improving clinical results and patients' quality of life.

Ankle involvement in rheumatoid arthritis - a comparison of inflammatory signs on musculoskeletal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

AIM: To evaluate the frequency of tibiotalar and subtalar joints together with extensor, flexor and peroneal tendons inflammatory lesions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients by using ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty RA patients and 25 healthy subjects were prospectively included. All patients and controlsunderwent clinical examination (to screen for swollen and/or tender ankles) and ankle US and MRI (to screen for synovialhypertrophy - SH, tenosynovitis and power Doppler - PD signals). The imaging tests were compared using overall agreement, positive agreement, Cohen's κ, sensitivity, specificity and positive likelihood ratio. RESULTS: The subtalar joint had the highest frequency of US-detected SH (30%), as well as positive PD signals (10%). Regarding US joint effusion, the tibiotalar joint recorded the highest frequency (44%). The most frequent US tenosynovitis was detected in the tibialis posterior tendon (40%). Compared to MRI, US evaluation of tibiotalar joints had very good agreement and large effect on detection probability for both SH and effusion (kappa 0.84, positive likelihood ratio 21.1). Compared to MRI, the sensitivity and specificity for US joint involvement ranged between 72.0-88.5% and 82.4-95.8%, and for tenosynovitis were 33.3-78.6% and 85.2-100%,  respectively. Compared to asymptomatic RA patients (n=25), those with at least one symptomatic ankle (n=25) had significantly higher frequencies of both SH and effusion in all the evaluated structures. CONCLUSION: US has high sensitivity and specificity in detecting RA inflammatory lesions in the ankle and rearfoot, in very good agreement with MRI. The high frequency of ankle inflammatory lesions in RA should result in increased interest in the imaging evaluation of these structures.

Designs for research of High Dilutons in animal models: an update / Designs for research of High Dilutons in animal models: an update

This article discusses the series of tests on animal experimental models carried out by our group to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparations selected according to traditional criteria of pathogenetic similarity. Our overall experience indicates that it is not difficult to carry out experimental studies assaying homeopathic medicines in randomized placebo-controlled tests returning statistically analyzable results. The basic requirement for this purpose is to select validated experimental models. The simplest and most reliable ones are the ones arising from common daily clinical practice or those taken from classical pharmacological studies modified as to fit the goals of a homeopathic assay. By proceeding in this way it will be possible to build a sound body of evidence for the biological effects of high dilutions [1].(AU)

Designs for research of High Dilutons in animal models: an update / Designs for research of High Dilutons in animal models: an update

This article discusses the series of tests on animal experimental models carried out by our group to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparations selected according to traditional criteria of pathogenetic similarity. Our overall experience indicates that it is not difficult to carry out experimental studies assaying homeopathic medicines in randomized placebo-controlled tests returning statistically analyzable results. The basic requirement for this purpose is to select validated experimental models. The simplest and most reliable ones are the ones arising from common daily clinical practice or those taken from classical pharmacological studies modified as to fit the goals of a homeopathic assay. By proceeding in this way it will be possible to build a sound body of evidence for the biological effects of high dilutions [1].

Designs for research of high dilutons in animal models: an update / Desenho para pesquisa de altas diluições em modelos animais: atualização / Diseños para investigación de altas diluciones en modelos animales: actualización

This article discusses the series of tests on animal experimental models carried out by our group to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparations selected according to traditional criteria of pathogenetic similarity. Our overall experience indicates that it is not difficult to carry out experimental studies assaying homeopathic medicines in randomized placebo-controlled tests returning statistically analyzable results. The basic requirement for this purpose is to select validated experimental models. The simplest and most reliable ones are the ones arising from common daily clinical practice or those taken from classical pharmacological studies modified as to fit the goals of a homeopathic assay. By proceeding in this way it will be possible to build a sound body of evidence for the biological effects of high dilutions(AU)

Este artigo discute a série de experimentos em modelos animais realizada por nosso grupo para avaliar o efeito de preparações homeopáticas escolhidas de acordo com o critério tradicional de similitude patogenêtica. Nossa experiência global indica que não é difícil realizar estudos experimentais com medicamentos homeopáticos em ensaios randomizados controlados com placebo que forneçam resultados analisáveis estatisticamente. O requisito básico para este propósito é escolher modelos experimentais validados. Os mais simples e mais confiáveis são aqueles derivados da prática clínica cotidiana assim como aqueles tomados de estudos farmacológicos clássicos modificados de modo a se corresponderem com os objetivos de um experimento homeopático. Procedendo desse modo, será possível construir um corpo sólido de evidência a favor dos efeitos biológicos das altas diluições.(AU)

Este artículo discute la serie de experimentos en modelos animales realizada por nuestro grupo, con el propósito de evaluar el efecto de preparados homeopáticos elegidos según el criterio tradicional de similitud patogenética. Nuestra experiencia global indica que no es difícil llevar a cabo estudios experimentales con medicamentos homeopáticos en ensayos randomizados controlados con placebo que resulten en datos pasibles de análisis estadística. El requisito fundamental para este fin es elegir modelos experimentales validados. Los más simples y confiables son aquellos derivados de la praxis clínica cotidiana así como los tomados de estudios farmacológicos clásicos, modificados para cumplir los objetivos de un experimento homeopático. Actuando de esta manera, será posible construir un corpus sólido de evidencia favorable a los efectos biológicos de las altas diluciones.(AU)

Designs for research of high dilutons in animal models: an update

This article discusses the series of tests on animal experimental models carried out by our group to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparations selected according to traditional criteria of pathogenetic similarity. Our overall experience indicates that it is not difficult to carry out experimental studies assaying homeopathic medicines in randomized placebo-controlled tests returning statistically analyzable results. The basic requirement for this purpose is to select validated experimental models. The simplest and most reliable ones are the ones arising from common daily clinical practice or those taken from classical pharmacological studies modified as to fit the goals of a homeopathic assay. By proceeding in this way it will be possible to build a sound body of evidence for the biological effects of high dilutions

Este artigo discute a série de experimentos em modelos animais realizada por nosso grupo para avaliar o efeito de preparações homeopáticas escolhidas de acordo com o critério tradicional de similitude patogenêtica. Nossa experiência global indica que não é difícil realizar estudos experimentais com medicamentos homeopáticos em ensaios randomizados controlados com placebo que forneçam resultados analisáveis estatisticamente. O requisito básico para este propósito é escolher modelos experimentais validados. Os mais simples e mais confiáveis são aqueles derivados da prática clínica cotidiana assim como aqueles tomados de estudos farmacológicos clássicos modificados de modo a se corresponderem com os objetivos de um experimento homeopático. Procedendo desse modo, será possível construir um corpo sólido de evidência a favor dos efeitos biológicos das altas diluições.

Este artículo discute la serie de experimentos en modelos animales realizada por nuestro grupo, con el propósito de evaluar el efecto de preparados homeopáticos elegidos según el criterio tradicional de similitud patogenética. Nuestra experiencia global indica que no es difícil llevar a cabo estudios experimentales con medicamentos homeopáticos en ensayos randomizados controlados con placebo que resulten en datos pasibles de análisis estadística. El requisito fundamental para este fin es elegir modelos experimentales validados. Los más simples y confiables son aquellos derivados de la praxis clínica cotidiana así como los tomados de estudios farmacológicos clásicos, modificados para cumplir los objetivos de un experimento homeopático. Actuando de esta manera, será posible construir un corpus sólido de evidencia favorable a los efectos biológicos de las altas diluciones.