2235 results
Helminth infections in Apodemus sylvaticus in southern England: interactive effects of host age, sex and year on the prevalence and abundance of infections
- J. M. Behnke, J. W. Lewis, S. N. Mohd Zain, F. S. Gilbert
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- Journal of Helminthology / Volume 73 / Issue 1 / January 1999
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 April 2024, pp. 31-44
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Helminth parasites were studied in the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, in southern England in September of each of four successive years (1994–1997). Nine species of helminths were recorded: five nematodes (Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia stroma, Pelodera strongyloides, Trichuris muris, Capillaria murissylvatici), two cestodes (Microsomacanthus crenata, Taenia taeniaeformis) and two trematodes (Corrigia vitta, Brachylaemus recurvum). In total, 134 mice were examined and 91.8% carried at least one species of helminth. The majority of mice carried two to three species (60.5%) and the highest combination was six of the nine species recorded in the study. The patterns of between-year variations in the prevalence and abundance of infection were different for each of the six species for which sufficient quantitative data were available to enable statistical analysis. For H. polygyrus, the most important source of variation arose from between-year differences, host age and the interaction of these factors: abundance increased with host age but in 1995 the age pattern was markedly different from that in the remaining years. The abundance of C. vitta also varied significantly between years but additionally there was a strong independent age effect. For M. crenata, the year × age interaction was significant, indicating that abundance among different age cohorts varied from year to year but there was also a weak significant main effect of age arising from the youngest age cohort carrying no parasites and the oldest age cohort the heaviest infections. For P. strongyloides the only significant factor was between-year variation with 1995 being a year of exceptionally low prevalence and abundance of infection. No significant between-year variation was detected for S. stroma but there was a strong sex effect (males carrying heavier infections) and an age effect (older mice of both sexes carrying heavier infections). The abundance of Trichuris muris varied only in relation to host age, worm burdens growing in intensity with increasing age, but there was also a significant interaction between year and host sex with respect to prevalence. For the remaining three species, the prevalence of infections was too low (< 8.2%) to enable any meaningful interpretation. This analysis emphasizes the need for carefully controlled statistical procedures in aiding the interpretation and the prioritization of the factors affecting worm burdens in wild rodents.
Comparison of Rapid Methods for Chemical Analysis of Milligram Samples of Ultrafine Clays
- S. L. Rettig, J. W. Marinenko, H. N. Khoury, B. F. Jones
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- Clays and Clay Minerals / Volume 31 / Issue 6 / December 1983
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 April 2024, pp. 440-446
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Two rapid methods for the decomposition and chemical analysis of clays were adapted for use with 20–40-mg size samples, typical amounts of ultrafine products (<0.5-μm diameter) obtained by modern separation methods for clay minerals. The results of these methods were compared with those of “classical” rock analyses. The two methods consisted of mixed lithium metaborate fusion and heated decomposition with HF in a closed vessel. The latter technique was modified to include subsequent evaporation with concentrated H2SO4 and re-solution in HCl, which reduced the interference of the fluoride ion in the determination of Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, and K. Results from the two methods agree sufficiently well with those of the “classical” techniques to minimize error in the calculation of clay mineral structural formulae. Representative maximum variations, in atoms per unit formula of the smectite type based on 22 negative charges, are 0.09 for Si, 0.03 for Al, 0.015 for Fe, 0.07 for Mg, 0.03 for Na, and 0.01 for K.
Geological insights from the newly discovered granite of Sif Island between Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers
- James W. Marschalek, Stuart N. Thomson, Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, Pieter Vermeesch, Christine Siddoway, Andrew Carter, Keir Nichols, Dylan H. Rood, Ryan A. Venturelli, Samantha J. Hammond, Julia Wellner, Tina van de Flierdt
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- Journal:
- Antarctic Science , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 February 2024, pp. 1-24
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Large-scale geological structures have controlled the long-term development of the bed and thus the flow of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). However, complete ice cover has obscured the age and exact positions of faults and geological boundaries beneath Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier, two major WAIS outlets in the Amundsen Sea sector. Here, we characterize the only rock outcrop between these two glaciers, which was exposed by the retreat of slow-flowing coastal ice in the early 2010s to form the new Sif Island. The island comprises granite, zircon U-Pb dated to ~177–174 Ma and characterized by initial ɛNd, 87Sr/86Sr and ɛHf isotope compositions of -2.3, 0.7061 and -1.3, respectively. These characteristics resemble Thurston Island/Antarctic Peninsula crustal block rocks, strongly suggesting that the Sif Island granite belongs to this province and placing the crustal block's boundary with the Marie Byrd Land province under Thwaites Glacier or its eastern shear margin. Low-temperature thermochronological data reveal that the granite underwent rapid cooling following emplacement, rapidly cooled again at ~100–90 Ma and then remained close to the Earth's surface until present. These data help date vertical displacement across the major tectonic structure beneath Pine Island Glacier to the Late Cretaceous.
The devil’s in the defaults: An interrupted time-series analysis of the impact of default duration elimination on exposure to fluoroquinolone therapy
- Rebekah H. Wrenn, Cara N. Slaton, Tony Diez, Sr, Nicholas A. Turner, Michael E. Yarrington, Deverick J. Anderson, Rebekah W. Moehring
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- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 13 February 2024, pp. 1-7
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Objective:
To determine whether removal of default duration, embedded in electronic prescription (e-script), influenced antibiotic days of therapy.
Design:Interrupted time-series analysis.
Setting:The study was conducted across 2 community hospitals, 1 academic hospital, 3 emergency departments, and 86 ambulatory clinics.
Patients:Adults prescribed a fluoroquinolone with a duration <31 days.
Interventions:Removal of standard 10-day fluoroquinolone default duration and addition of literature-based duration guidance in the order entry on December 19, 2017. The study period included data for 12 months before and after the intervention.
Results:The study included 35,609 fluoroquinolone e-scripts from the preintervention period and 31,303 fluoroquinolone e-scripts from the postintervention period, accounting for 520,388 cumulative fluoroquinolone DOT. Mean durations before and after the intervention were 7.8 (SD, 4.3) and 7.7 (SD, 4.5), a nonsignificant change. E-scripts with a 10-day duration decreased prior to and after the default removal. The inpatient setting showed a significant 8% drop in 10-day e-scripts after default removal and a reduced median duration by 1 day; 10-day scripts declined nonsignificantly in ED and ambulatory settings. In the ambulatory settings, both 7- and 14-day e-script durations increased after default removal.
Conclusion:Removal of default 10-day antibiotic durations did not affect overall mean duration but did shift patterns in prescribing, depending on practice setting. Stewardship interventions must be studied in the context of practice setting. Ambulatory stewardship efforts separate from inpatient programs are needed because interventions cannot be assumed to have similar effects.
Autonomous predictive maintenance of quadrotor UAV with multi-actuator degradation
- F.-y. Shen, W. Li, D.-n. Jiang, H.-j. Mao
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- The Aeronautical Journal , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 February 2024, pp. 1-25
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With the wide application of quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the requirements for their safety and reliability are becoming increasingly stringent. In this paper, based on the feedback of airframe performance health perception information and the predictive function control strategy, the autonomous maintenance of a quadrotor UAV with multi-actuator degradation is realised. Autonomous maintenance architecture is constructed by the predictive maintenance (PdM) idea and the Laguerre function model predictive pontrol (LF-MPC) strategy. Using the two-stage Kalman filter (TSKF) method, based on the established UAV degradation model, the aircraft state and actuator degradation state are predicted simultaneously. For the predictive perception of system health, on the one hand, the system health degree (HD) based on Mahalanobis distance is defined by the degree of airframe state deviation from the expected state, and then the failure threshold of the UAV is obtained. On the other hand, according to the degradation state of each actuator, a comprehensive degradation variable fused with different weight coefficients of multiple actuators degradation is used to obtain the probability density function (PDF) of remaining useful life (RUL) prediction. For the autonomous maintenance of system health, the LF-MPC weight matrixes are adjusted adaptively in real-time based on the HD evaluation, to achieve a compromise balance between UAV performance and control effect, and greatly extend the working time of UAV. Simulation results verified the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Functional neuroimaging biomarkers of anhedonia response to escitalopram plus adjunct aripiprazole treatment for major depressive disorder
- Sophie R. Vaccarino, Shijing Wang, Sakina J. Rizvi, Wendy Lou, Stefanie Hassel, Glenda M. MacQueen, Keith Ho, Benicio N. Frey, Raymond W. Lam, Roumen V. Milev, Susan Rotzinger, Arun V. Ravindran, Stephen C. Strother, Sidney H. Kennedy
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 10 / Issue 1 / January 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 05 January 2024, e18
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Background
Identifying neuroimaging biomarkers of antidepressant response may help guide treatment decisions and advance precision medicine.
AimsTo examine the relationship between anhedonia and functional neurocircuitry in key reward processing brain regions in people with major depressive disorder receiving aripiprazole adjunct therapy with escitalopram.
MethodData were collected as part of the CAN-BIND-1 study. Participants experiencing a current major depressive episode received escitalopram for 8 weeks; escitalopram non-responders received adjunct aripiprazole for an additional 8 weeks. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (on weeks 0 and 8) and clinical assessment of anhedonia (on weeks 0, 8 and 16) were completed. Seed-based correlational analysis was employed to examine the relationship between baseline resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), using the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as key regions of interest, and change in anhedonia severity after adjunct aripiprazole.
ResultsAnhedonia severity significantly improved after treatment with adjunct aripiprazole.
There was a positive correlation between anhedonia improvement and rsFC between the ACC and posterior cingulate cortex, ACC and posterior praecuneus, and NAc and posterior praecuneus. There was a negative correlation between anhedonia improvement and rsFC between the ACC and anterior praecuneus and NAc and anterior praecuneus.
ConclusionsEight weeks of aripiprazole, adjunct to escitalopram, was associated with improved anhedonia symptoms. Changes in functional connectivity between key reward regions were associated with anhedonia improvement, suggesting aripiprazole may be an effective treatment for individuals experiencing reward-related deficits. Future studies are required to replicate our findings and explore their generalisability, using other agents with partial dopamine (D2) agonism and/or serotonin (5-HT2A) antagonism.
Kaolinite and Halloysite Derived from Sequential Transformation of Pedogenic Smectite and Kaolinite-Smectite in a 120 ka Tropical Soil Chronosequence
- P. C. Ryan, F. J. Huertas, F. W. C. Hobbs, L. N. Pincus
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- Clays and Clay Minerals / Volume 64 / Issue 5 / October 2016
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 January 2024, pp. 639-667
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Tropical soils range from nutrient-depleted lateritic soils rich in halloysite or kaolinite to Inceptisols rich in interstratified kaolinite-smectite (K-S), smectite, or related 2:1 clays. Given the strong influence of clay minerals on tropical soil quality, better understanding of factors influencing their occurrence is important for modeling and managing tropical environments. This study examines the alteration of smectite to kaolinite by way of intermediate K-S and halloysite in a 120 ka moist tropical chronosequence. Iron-rich smectite (11.6 ± 2.2% Fe2O3) is the dominant mineral in Holocene soils (1–8 ka) originating from sediments rich in plagioclase and clinopyroxene. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of smectite is 54–84 cmolc/kg and pH is 6.1 to 7.4. Within 50 ka, smectite fixes Al-hydroxy complexes into interlayers, K+ is retained preferentially over Ca2+, and 2:1 layers are stripped of tetrahedral sheets; the resulting K-S inherits flaky smectite crystal habit and the 2:1 layers — which only expand partially — include Al-hydroxy smectite and some illite-like layers. After 50 ka, the dominant mineral is K-S, the CEC is 18–28 cmolc/kg, and the pH is 5.3. Flaky Fe-kaolinite with ~10% residual smectite layers and halloysite (7.4% Fe2O3) also occur in 50 ka soil. The 120 ka soils are dominated by flaky Fe-kaolinite (<10% residual smectite layers) and halloysite (4.9% Fe2O3), and Fe-poor hexagonal kaolinite also occurs (5–10% of soil). The CEC is 11–16 cmolc/kg and the pH is 4.7–5.3.
Changes in crystal chemistry of the soil clays (decreasing Fe, Mg, Ca, and K; increasing Al) over time reflects two reaction mechanisms: (1) cell-preserved transformation of smectite layers to kaolinite layers that accompanies conversion of smectite to K-S and eventually kaolinite; this results in the formation of flaky Fe-rich kaolinites after 50 ka; and (2) dissolution of K-S followed by crystallization of halloysite. Neoformation of hexagonal kaolinite and/or halloysite with low Fe (<3% Fe2O3) follows dissolution of Fe-kaolinite or halloysite after 100 ka. This sequence is probably common in moist tropical soils and these findings may inform modeling of soil composition in tropical landscapes where tectonic, volcanic, or geomorphic activity periodically exposes unweathered parent material, producing a range of soil ages.
4 Evaluating Plasma GFAP for the Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia
- Madeline Ally, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Nicholas J. Ashton, Thomas K. Karikari, Hugo Aparicio, Michael A. Sugarman, Brandon Frank, Yorghos Tripodis, Ann C. McKee, Thor D. Stein, Brett Martin, Joseph N. Palmisano, Eric G. Steinberg, Irene Simkina, Lindsay Farrer, Gyungah Jun, Katherine W. Turk, Andrew E. Budson, Maureen K. O’Connor, Rhoda Au, Wei Qiao Qiu, Lee E. Goldstein, Ronald Killiany, Neil W. Kowall, Robert A. Stern, Jesse Mez, Michael L. Alosco
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 408-409
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Objective:
Blood-based biomarkers represent a scalable and accessible approach for the detection and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and neurofilament light (NfL) are validated biomarkers for the detection of tau and neurodegenerative brain changes in AD, respectively. There is now emphasis to expand beyond these markers to detect and provide insight into the pathophysiological processes of AD. To this end, a reactive astrocytic marker, namely plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), has been of interest. Yet, little is known about the relationship between plasma GFAP and AD. Here, we examined the association between plasma GFAP, diagnostic status, and neuropsychological test performance. Diagnostic accuracy of plasma GFAP was compared with plasma measures of p-tau181 and NfL.
Participants and Methods:This sample included 567 participants from the Boston University (BU) Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Longitudinal Clinical Core Registry, including individuals with normal cognition (n=234), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n=180), and AD dementia (n=153). The sample included all participants who had a blood draw. Participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery (sample sizes across tests varied due to missingness). Diagnoses were adjudicated during multidisciplinary diagnostic consensus conferences. Plasma samples were analyzed using the Simoa platform. Binary logistic regression analyses tested the association between GFAP levels and diagnostic status (i.e., cognitively impaired due to AD versus unimpaired), controlling for age, sex, race, education, and APOE e4 status. Area under the curve (AUC) statistics from receiver operating characteristics (ROC) using predicted probabilities from binary logistic regression examined the ability of plasma GFAP to discriminate diagnostic groups compared with plasma p-tau181 and NfL. Linear regression models tested the association between plasma GFAP and neuropsychological test performance, accounting for the above covariates.
Results:The mean (SD) age of the sample was 74.34 (7.54), 319 (56.3%) were female, 75 (13.2%) were Black, and 223 (39.3%) were APOE e4 carriers. Higher GFAP concentrations were associated with increased odds for having cognitive impairment (GFAP z-score transformed: OR=2.233, 95% CI [1.609, 3.099], p<0.001; non-z-transformed: OR=1.004, 95% CI [1.002, 1.006], p<0.001). ROC analyses, comprising of GFAP and the above covariates, showed plasma GFAP discriminated the cognitively impaired from unimpaired (AUC=0.75) and was similar, but slightly superior, to plasma p-tau181 (AUC=0.74) and plasma NfL (AUC=0.74). A joint panel of the plasma markers had greatest discrimination accuracy (AUC=0.76). Linear regression analyses showed that higher GFAP levels were associated with worse performance on neuropsychological tests assessing global cognition, attention, executive functioning, episodic memory, and language abilities (ps<0.001) as well as higher CDR Sum of Boxes (p<0.001).
Conclusions:Higher plasma GFAP levels differentiated participants with cognitive impairment from those with normal cognition and were associated with worse performance on all neuropsychological tests assessed. GFAP had similar accuracy in detecting those with cognitive impairment compared with p-tau181 and NfL, however, a panel of all three biomarkers was optimal. These results support the utility of plasma GFAP in AD detection and suggest the pathological processes it represents might play an integral role in the pathogenesis of AD.
4 Risk Factor and Biomarker Correlates of FLAIR White Matter Hyperintensities in Former American Football Players
- Monica T Ly, Fatima Tuz-Zahra, Yorghos Tripodis, Charles H Adler, Laura J Balcer, Charles Bernick, Elaine Peskind, Megan L Mariani, Rhoda Au, Sarah J Banks, William B Barr, Jennifer V Wethe, Mark W Bondi, Lisa Delano-Wood, Robert C Cantu, Michael J Coleman, David W Dodick, Michael D McClean, Jesse Mez, Joseph N Palmisano, Brett Martin, Kaitlin Hartlage, Alexander P Lin, Inga K Koerte, Jeffrey L Cummings, Eric M Reiman, Martha E Shenton, Robert A Stern, Sylvain Bouix, Michael L Alosco
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 608-610
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Objective:
White matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden is greater, has a frontal-temporal distribution, and is associated with proxies of exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) in former American football players. These findings suggest that in the context of RHI, WMH might have unique etiologies that extend beyond those of vascular risk factors and normal aging processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlates of WMH in former elite American football players. We examined markers of amyloid, tau, neurodegeneration, inflammation, axonal injury, and vascular health and their relationships to WMH. A group of age-matched asymptomatic men without a history of RHI was included to determine the specificity of the relationships observed in the former football players.
Participants and Methods:240 male participants aged 45-74 (60 unexposed asymptomatic men, 60 male former college football players, 120 male former professional football players) underwent semi-structured clinical interviews, magnetic resonance imaging (structural T1, T2 FLAIR, and diffusion tensor imaging), and lumbar puncture to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers as part of the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project. Total WMH lesion volumes (TLV) were estimated using the Lesion Prediction Algorithm from the Lesion Segmentation Toolbox. Structural equation modeling, using Full-Information Maximum Likelihood (FIML) to account for missing values, examined the associations between log-TLV and the following variables: total cortical thickness, whole-brain average fractional anisotropy (FA), CSF amyloid ß42, CSF p-tau181, CSF sTREM2 (a marker of microglial activation), CSF neurofilament light (NfL), and the modified Framingham stroke risk profile (rFSRP). Covariates included age, race, education, APOE z4 carrier status, and evaluation site. Bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals assessed statistical significance. Models were performed separately for football players (college and professional players pooled; n=180) and the unexposed men (n=60). Due to differences in sample size, estimates were compared and were considered different if the percent change in the estimates exceeded 10%.
Results:In the former football players (mean age=57.2, 34% Black, 29% APOE e4 carrier), reduced cortical thickness (B=-0.25, 95% CI [0.45, -0.08]), lower average FA (B=-0.27, 95% CI [-0.41, -.12]), higher p-tau181 (B=0.17, 95% CI [0.02, 0.43]), and higher rFSRP score (B=0.27, 95% CI [0.08, 0.42]) were associated with greater log-TLV. Compared to the unexposed men, substantial differences in estimates were observed for rFSRP (Bcontrol=0.02, Bfootball=0.27, 994% difference), average FA (Bcontrol=-0.03, Bfootball=-0.27, 802% difference), and p-tau181 (Bcontrol=-0.31, Bfootball=0.17, -155% difference). In the former football players, rFSRP showed a stronger positive association and average FA showed a stronger negative association with WMH compared to unexposed men. The effect of WMH on cortical thickness was similar between the two groups (Bcontrol=-0.27, Bfootball=-0.25, 7% difference).
Conclusions:These results suggest that the risk factor and biological correlates of WMH differ between former American football players and asymptomatic individuals unexposed to RHI. In addition to vascular risk factors, white matter integrity on DTI showed a stronger relationship with WMH burden in the former football players. FLAIR WMH serves as a promising measure to further investigate the late multifactorial pathologies of RHI.
5 Antemortem Plasma GFAP Predicts Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropathological Changes
- Madeline Ally, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Nicholas J. Ashton, Thomas K. Karikari, Hugo Aparicio, Michael A. Sugarman, Brandon Frank, Yorghos Tripodis, Brett Martin, Joseph N. Palmisano, Eric G. Steinberg, Irene Simkina, Lindsay Farrer, Gyungah Jun, Katherine W. Turk, Andrew E. Budson, Maureen K. O’Connor, Rhoda Au, Wei Qiao Qiu, Lee E. Goldstein, Ronald Killiany, Neil W. Kowall, Robert A. Stern, Jesse Mez, Bertran R. Huber, Ann C. McKee, Thor D. Stein, Michael L. Alosco
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 409-410
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Objective:
Blood-based biomarkers offer a more feasible alternative to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) detection, management, and study of disease mechanisms than current in vivo measures. Given their novelty, these plasma biomarkers must be assessed against postmortem neuropathological outcomes for validation. Research has shown utility in plasma markers of the proposed AT(N) framework, however recent studies have stressed the importance of expanding this framework to include other pathways. There is promising data supporting the usefulness of plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in AD, but GFAP-to-autopsy studies are limited. Here, we tested the association between plasma GFAP and AD-related neuropathological outcomes in participants from the Boston University (BU) Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC).
Participants and Methods:This sample included 45 participants from the BU ADRC who had a plasma sample within 5 years of death and donated their brain for neuropathological examination. Most recent plasma samples were analyzed using the Simoa platform. Neuropathological examinations followed the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center procedures and diagnostic criteria. The NIA-Reagan Institute criteria were used for the neuropathological diagnosis of AD. Measures of GFAP were log-transformed. Binary logistic regression analyses tested the association between GFAP and autopsy-confirmed AD status, as well as with semi-quantitative ratings of regional atrophy (none/mild versus moderate/severe) using binary logistic regression. Ordinal logistic regression analyses tested the association between plasma GFAP and Braak stage and CERAD neuritic plaque score. Area under the curve (AUC) statistics from receiver operating characteristics (ROC) using predicted probabilities from binary logistic regression examined the ability of plasma GFAP to discriminate autopsy-confirmed AD status. All analyses controlled for sex, age at death, years between last blood draw and death, and APOE e4 status.
Results:Of the 45 brain donors, 29 (64.4%) had autopsy-confirmed AD. The mean (SD) age of the sample at the time of blood draw was 80.76 (8.58) and there were 2.80 (1.16) years between the last blood draw and death. The sample included 20 (44.4%) females, 41 (91.1%) were White, and 20 (44.4%) were APOE e4 carriers. Higher GFAP concentrations were associated with increased odds for having autopsy-confirmed AD (OR=14.12, 95% CI [2.00, 99.88], p=0.008). ROC analysis showed plasma GFAP accurately discriminated those with and without autopsy-confirmed AD on its own (AUC=0.75) and strengthened as the above covariates were added to the model (AUC=0.81). Increases in GFAP levels corresponded to increases in Braak stage (OR=2.39, 95% CI [0.71-4.07], p=0.005), but not CERAD ratings (OR=1.24, 95% CI [0.004, 2.49], p=0.051). Higher GFAP levels were associated with greater temporal lobe atrophy (OR=10.27, 95% CI [1.53,69.15], p=0.017), but this was not observed with any other regions.
Conclusions:The current results show that antemortem plasma GFAP is associated with non-specific AD neuropathological changes at autopsy. Plasma GFAP could be a useful and practical biomarker for assisting in the detection of AD-related changes, as well as for study of disease mechanisms.
Perceived discrimination and nativity status: risk of cognitive impairment among Latin American older adults
- Lize Tibiriçá, Dylan J. Jester, Jordan N. Kohn, Allison P. Williams, Linda K. McEvoy, Barton W. Palmer
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- International Psychogeriatrics , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 December 2023, pp. 1-13
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Objectives:
We examined the association between perceived discrimination and the risk of cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND) and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) while considering the potential effects of nativity status.
Design:A prospective analysis of discrimination and nativity status with dementia and cognitive impairment was conducted among Latinx adults aged 51 years and older who participated in the Health and Retirement Study.
Setting:A national representative sample.
Participants:A sample of 1,175 Latinx adults aged 51 years and older.
Measurements:Demographics, cognitive functioning, perceived discrimination, and nativity status (US-born vs. non-US born) were assessed. Traditional survival analysis methods (Fine and gray models) were used to account for the semi-competing risk of death with up to 10 years of follow-up.
Results:According to our results, neither everyday discrimination nor nativity status on their own had a statistically significant association with CIND/ADRD; however, non-US-born Latinx adults who reported no discrimination had a 42% lower risk of CIND/ADRD (SHR = 0.58 [0.41, 0.83], p = .003) than US-born adults.
Conclusions:These results highlight the need for healthcare providers to assess for discrimination and provide support and resources for those experiencing discrimination. It also highlights the need for better policies that address discrimination and reduce health disparities.
Is there an association between peri-diagnostic vaccination and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients?
- Julia A. Casazza, Bhaskar Thakur, Trish M. Perl, John J. Hanna, Marlon I. Diaz, Milan Ho, Heather Lanier, Madison Pickering, Sameh N. Saleh, Pankil Shah, Dimpy Shah, Ann Marie Navar, Christoph U. Lehmann, Richard J. Medford, Robert W. Turer
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- Journal:
- Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology / Volume 3 / Issue 1 / 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 September 2023, e150
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Background:
Peri-diagnostic vaccination contemporaneous with SARS-CoV-2 infection might boost antiviral immunity and improve patient outcomes. We investigated, among previously unvaccinated patients, whether vaccination (with the Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J vaccines) during the week before or after a positive COVID-19 test was associated with altered 30-day patient outcomes.
Methods:Using a deidentified longitudinal EHR repository, we selected all previously unvaccinated adults who initially tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between December 11, 2020 (the date of vaccine emergency use approval) and December 19, 2021. We assessed whether vaccination between days –7 and +7 of a positive test affected outcomes. The primary measure was progression to a more severe disease outcome within 30 days of diagnosis using the following hierarchy: hospitalization, intensive care, or death.
Results:Among 60,031 hospitalized patients, 543 (0.91%) were initially vaccinated at the time of diagnosis and 59,488 (99.09%) remained unvaccinated during the period of interest. Among 316,337 nonhospitalized patients, 2,844 (0.90%) were initially vaccinated and 313,493 (99.1%) remained unvaccinated. In both analyses, individuals receiving vaccines were older, more often located in the northeast, more commonly insured by Medicare, and more burdened by comorbidities. Among previously unvaccinated patients, there was no association between receiving an initial vaccine dose between days −7 and +7 of diagnosis and progression to more severe disease within 30 days compared to patients who did not receive vaccines.
Conclusions:Immunization during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection does not appear associated with clinical progression during the acute infectious period.
The Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey III: Spectra and Polarisation In Cutouts of Extragalactic Sources (SPICE-RACS) first data release
- Alec J. M. Thomson, David McConnell, Emil Lenc, Timothy J. Galvin, Lawrence Rudnick, George Heald, Catherine L. Hale, Stefan W. Duchesne, Craig S. Anderson, Ettore Carretti, Christoph Federrath, B. M. Gaensler, Lisa Harvey-Smith, Marijke Haverkorn, Aidan W. Hotan, Yik Ki Ma, Tara Murphy, N. M. McClure-Griffiths, Vanessa A. Moss, Shane P. O’Sullivan, Wasim Raja, Amit Seta, Cameron L. Van Eck, Jennifer L. West, Matthew T. Whiting, Mark H. Wieringa
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- Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia / Volume 40 / 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 August 2023, e040
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The Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope has carried out a survey of the entire Southern Sky at 887.5 MHz. The wide area, high angular resolution, and broad bandwidth provided by the low-band Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey (RACS-low) allow the production of a next-generation rotation measure (RM) grid across the entire Southern Sky. Here we introduce this project as Spectral and Polarisation in Cutouts of Extragalactic sources from RACS (SPICE-RACS). In our first data release, we image 30 RACS-low fields in Stokes I, Q, U at 25$^{\prime\prime}$ angular resolution, across 744–1032 MHz with 1 MHz spectral resolution. Using a bespoke, highly parallelised, software pipeline we are able to rapidly process wide-area spectro-polarimetric ASKAP observations. Notably, we use ‘postage stamp’ cutouts to assess the polarisation properties of 105912 radio components detected in total intensity. We find that our Stokes Q and U images have an rms noise of $\sim$80 $\unicode{x03BC}$Jy PSF$^{-1}$, and our correction for instrumental polarisation leakage allows us to characterise components with $\gtrsim$1% polarisation fraction over most of the field of view. We produce a broadband polarised radio component catalogue that contains 5818 RM measurements over an area of $\sim$1300 deg$^{2}$ with an average error in RM of $1.6^{+1.1}_{-1.0}$ rad m$^{-2}$, and an average linear polarisation fraction $3.4^{+3.0}_{-1.6}$ %. We determine this subset of components using the conditions that the polarised signal-to-noise ratio is $>$8, the polarisation fraction is above our estimated polarised leakage, and the Stokes I spectrum has a reliable model. Our catalogue provides an areal density of $4\pm2$ RMs deg$^{-2}$; an increase of $\sim$4 times over the previous state-of-the-art (Taylor, Stil, Sunstrum 2009, ApJ, 702, 1230). Meaning that, having used just 3% of the RACS-low sky area, we have produced the 3rd largest RM catalogue to date. This catalogue has broad applications for studying astrophysical magnetic fields; notably revealing remarkable structure in the Galactic RM sky. We will explore this Galactic structure in a follow-up paper. We will also apply the techniques described here to produce an all-Southern-sky RM catalogue from RACS observations. Finally, we make our catalogue, spectra, images, and processing pipeline publicly available.
Comparison of virus aerosol concentrations across a face shield worn on a healthcare personnel during a simulated patient cough
- Alessandra A. Pratt, Grant D. Brown, Eli N. Perencevich, Daniel J. Diekema, Matthew W. Nonnenmann
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- Journal:
- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 45 / Issue 2 / February 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 August 2023, pp. 221-226
- Print publication:
- February 2024
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Background:
Patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) aerosolize severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via respiratory efforts, expose, and possibly infect healthcare personnel (HCP). To prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 HCP have been required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during patient care. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, face shields were used as an approach to control HCP exposure to SARS-CoV-2, including eye protection.
Methods:An MS2 bacteriophage was used as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 and was aerosolized using a coughing machine. A simulated HCP wearing a disposable plastic face shield was placed 0.41 m (16 inches) away from the coughing machine. The aerosolized virus was sampled using SKC biosamplers on the inside (near the mouth of the simulated HCP) and the outside of the face shield. The aerosolized virus collected by the SKC Biosampler was analyzed using a viability assay. Optical particle counters (OPCs) were placed next to the biosamplers to measure the particle concentration.
Results:There was a statistically significant reduction (P < .0006) in viable virus concentration on the inside of the face shield compared to the outside of the face shield. The particle concentration was significantly lower on the inside of the face shield compared to the outside of the face shield for 12 of the 16 particle sizes measured (P < .05).
Conclusions:Reductions in virus and particle concentrations were observed on the inside of the face shield; however, viable virus was measured on the inside of the face shield, in the breathing zone of the HCP. Therefore, other exposure control methods need to be used to prevent transmission from virus aerosol.
Excessive fear of clusters of holes, its interaction with stressful life events and the association with anxiety and depressive symptoms: large epidemiological study of young people in Hong Kong
- Stephanie M. Y. Wong, Eric Y. H. Tang, Christy L. M. Hui, Y. N. Suen, Sherry K. W. Chan, Edwin H. M. Lee, K. T. Chan, Michael T. H. Wong, Arnold J. Wilkins, Eric Y. H. Chen
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue 5 / September 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 August 2023, e151
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Background
Excessive and persistent fear of clusters of holes, also known as trypophobia, has been suggested to reflect cortical hyperexcitability and may be associated with mental health risks. No study, however, has yet examined these associations in representative epidemiological samples.
AimsTo examine the prevalence of trypophobia in a population-representative youth sample, its association with mental health and functioning, and its interaction with external stress.
MethodA total of 2065 young people were consecutively recruited from a household-based epidemiological youth mental health study in Hong Kong. Trypophobia, symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress, and exposure to personal stressors were assessed. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationships between trypophobia and mental health. Potential additive and interaction effects of trypophobia and high stress exposure on mental health were also tested.
ResultsThe prevalence of trypophobia was 17.6%. Trypophobia was significantly associated with severe symptoms of anxiety (odds ratio (OR) = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.32–2.53), depression (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.24–2.56) and stress (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.11–2.53), even when accounting for sociodemographic factors, personal and family psychiatric history, resilience and stress exposure. Dose–response relationships were observed, and trypophobia significantly potentiated the effects of stress exposure on symptom outcomes, particularly for depressive symptoms. Those with trypophobia also showed significantly poorer functioning across domains and poorer health-related quality of life.
ConclusionsScreening for trypophobia in young people may facilitate early risk detection and intervention, particularly among those with recent stress exposure. Nevertheless, the generally small effect sizes suggest that other factors have more prominent roles in determining recent mental health outcomes in population-based samples; these should be explored in future work.
Thrombotic complications of treatment with antipsychotic drugs : risk factors
- W. Abid, F. Chérif, N. Bouattour, R. Masmoudi, F. Guermazi, I. Feki, R. Sallemi, J. Masmoudi
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S590
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Introduction
Antipsychotic agents (AP) are widely used drugs to treat psychotic symptoms. For decades, some studies suggested that there is a relationship between using (AP) and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The causality of this association, its risk factors, and its implications for clinical practice have not been fully elucidated.
ObjectivesWe undertook a systematic literature review to evaluate the evidence for an association between antipsychotic medication and venous thromboembolic events (VTE) and to identify risk factors for these adverse effects.
MethodsTo identify relevant studies, we searched the PubMed, Science Direct databases up using the following keywords « pulmonary embolism », « venous thromboembolism » « antipsychotics agents ». We also searched the reference lists relevant articles for related studies.
ResultsTwelve articles are included in this analysis and indicate an elevated risk of VTE in antipsychotic drug users. The results showed that compared with non-users, current AP users have significantly increased risks of VTE. The risk of venous thrombosis in obese people was higher than that in overweight people, patients not less than 65 years old had an increased risk compared with younger patients . In addition, women taking antipsychotics had a higher risk of pulmonary embolism than men. The other factors that increased risk were use of second-generation antipsychotics and antipsychotic polytherapy. The highest risk was noted in the first 3 months of treatment. Data also suggested a dose-dependent increase in the risk of thrombotic complications. For individual drugs, increased risk of VTE and PE was observed in taking clozapine , haloperidol, risperidone and olanzapine. Clozapine was associated with the highest risk. However, careful interpretation is needed because of high heterogeneity among studies and scarce data.
ConclusionsThe use of antipsychotics will increase the risk of venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism, which will be affected by AP and patient characteristics.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Psychiatric Adverse Effects of treatement with Corticosteroids: A Tunisian case report
- N. Boussaid, F. Guermazi, W. Abid, R. Masmoudi, I. Feki, I. Baati, J. Masmoudi
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S958
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Introduction
Corticosteroids are certainly an efficacious treatment for several inflammatory and immunologic disorders. However, their abuse can lead to dangerous consequences such as psychiatric complications. Physicians and Psychiatrists should cooperate to treat and prevent, if possible, the deleterious adverse psychiatric effects of corticosteroids.
Objectivesto describe a patient whose psychotic symptoms occured within 2 weeks of starting corticosteroid abuse, to review the literature and to suggest treatment.
MethodsTo present a case of a female young patient suffering from corticosteroid-induced psychosis due to corticosteroid abuse and review case report data published during the past quarter-century on adverse corticosteroid-induced psychiatric effects.
ResultsThe patient was investigated to exclude other causes of her psychosis and she was treated with chlorpromazine and Risperidone. Numerous cases investigating these psychiatric corticosteroid-induced symptoms were identified. Data on incidence, drug dose, onset of symptoms, course of illness and treatment were arranged.
ConclusionsCorticosteroid abuse should be put in the spotlight especially for young Tunisian females desiring to look plump. This misjudged abuse may have sever psychiatric complications. Thus we should establish strategies of prevention and cure to these psychiatric complications
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Negative attitudes and lack of Knowledge towards mental health problems
- N. Bouattour, F. Cherif, W. Abid, F. Guermazi, R. Massmoudi, S. Hentati, R. Sellami, I. Feki, I. Baati, J. Massmoudi
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1122
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Introduction
Negative thoughts towards mental illness are a global problem for health care professionals. Mainly it leads to late help seeking which aggravates the prognosis of the problem, denial of this situation, refusing long term medication etc.…
ObjectivesWe aim to identify the determinants leading to negative attitudes towards psychiatric problems among medical students.
MethodsThis is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted at the Faculty of Medicine of Sfax through an anonymous questionnaire via google Forms. The degree of stigmatization was evaluated by the score « The Attribution Questionnaires AQ-27 ».
ResultsOne hundred and seven students completed the questionnaires. The Sex-ratio was 0.30 (M/F). The percentage of first- and second-year students was 24.42%, third to 6th year students was 34.57% and residents was 41.01%. Students with a personal history of psychiatric disorders presented 45.8% of our population and those with a family history of mental health problems 40.2%. Medical students who studied psychiatry as a discipline and students who had internship in the psychiatry department (third to 6th year students and residents) had lower scores of the Attribution Questionnaires AQ-27 (p=0,003 and p=0,002 respectively). Sixty per cent of the students reported that spreading listening cells when needed, media coverage of mental illness and campaigns of awareness can help us reduce mental disease’s related stigma.
ConclusionsTo conclude, in order to lower rates of stigmatization of mentally sick people, spreading awareness among medical students can be an important tool in order to understand this situation and to provide a better health care.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Childhood trauma and anger in adults with and without depressive and anxiety disorders
- N. De Bles, L. E. Putz, N. Rius Ottenheim, A. M. van Hemert, B. M. Elzinga, B. W. Penninx, E. J. Giltay
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S89-S90
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Introduction
Childhood trauma (CT) is associated with severe sequelae, including personality disorders and stress-related mental health disorders that can perpetuate long into adulthood.
ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate (1) whether childhood trauma is associated with anger in adulthood, and, if so, (2) to explore which types of childhood trauma predominate in the prediction of anger, and (3) to explore whether the association is independent of psychopathology in a cohort that included participants without lifetime psychiatric disorders, with current or remitted depressive and anxiety disorders, or comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders.
MethodsIn the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), childhood trauma was assessed with a semi-structured Childhood Trauma Interview (CTI) at baseline, and analyzed in relation to anger as measured at 4-year follow-up with the Spielberger Trait Anger Subscale (STAS), the Anger Attacks Questionnaire, and cluster B personality traits (i.e., borderline, antisocial) of the Personality Disorder Questionnaire 4 (PDQ-4), using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Post-hoc analyses comprised cross-sectional regression analyses, using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form (CTQ-SF) obtained at 4-year follow-up.
ResultsParticipants (n = 2,276) were on average 42.1 years (SD = 13.1), and 66.3% were female. Childhood trauma showed a dose-response association with all anger constructs. Zooming in, all types of childhood trauma except for sexual abuse were associated with higher levels of trait anger, and a higher prevalence of anger attacks and antisocial personality traits in adulthood, independently of depression and anxiety. Additionally, all types of childhood trauma were significantly associated with borderline personality traits. Cross-sectionally, the effect sizes were larger compared to the analyses with the childhood trauma measured four years prior to the anger measures.
ConclusionsChildhood trauma is linked with anger in adulthood, most strongly for trait anger and borderline personality traits. It is of clinical importance to explore childhood traumatic experience and start trauma-focused interventions when appropriate.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Pro-inflammatory markers predict response to sequential pharmacotherapy in major depressive disorder: a CAN-BIND-1 report
- M. I. Husain, J. A. Foster, B. L. Mason, S. Chen, W. Wang, S. Rotzinger, S. Rizvi, K. Ho, R. Lam, G. MacQueen, R. Milev, B. N. Frey, D. Mueller, G. Turecki, M. Jha, M. Trivedi, S. H. Kennedy
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S295
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Introduction
Despite replicated cross-sectional evidence of aberrant levels of peripheral inflammatory markers in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), there is limited literature on associations between inflammatory tone and response to sequential pharmacotherapies.
ObjectivesTo assess associations between plasma levels of pro-inflammatory markers and treatment response to escitalopram and adjunctive aripiprazole in adults with MDD.
MethodsIn a 16-week open-label clinical trial, 211 participants with MDD were treated with escitalopram 10– 20 mg daily for 8 weeks. Responders continued on escitalopram while non-responders received adjunctive aripiprazole 2–10 mg daily for 8 weeks. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory markers – C-reactive protein, Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, Interferon gamma (IFN)-Γ, Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, and Chemokine C–C motif ligand-2 (CCL-2) - measured at baseline, and after 2, 8 and 16 weeks were included in logistic regression analyses to assess associations between inflammatory markers and treatment response.
ResultsPre-treatment levels of IFN-Γ and CCL-2 were significantly higher in escitalopram non-responders compared to responders. Pre-treatment IFN-Γ and CCL-2 levels were significantly associated with a lower of odds of response to escitalopram at 8 weeks. Increases in CCL-2 levels from weeks 8 to 16 in escitalopram non-responders were significantly associated with higher odds of non-response to adjunctive aripiprazole at week 16.
ConclusionsPre-treatment levels of IFN-Γ and CCL-2 were predictive of response to escitalopram. Increasing levels of these pro-inflammatory markers may predict non-response to adjunctive aripiprazole. These findings require validation in independent clinical populations.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared