DTI and MTR abnormalities in schizophrenia: analysis of white matter integrity

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in schizophrenia demonstrate lower anisotropic diffusion within white matter due either to loss of coherence of white matter fiber tracts, to changes in the number and/or density of interconnecting fiber tracts, or to changes in myelination, although methodology as well as localization of such changes differ between studies. The aim of this study is to localize and to specify further DTI abnormalities in schizophrenia by combining DTI with magnetization transfer imaging (MTI), a technique sensitive to myelin and axonal alterations in order to increase specificity of DTI findings. 21 chronic schizophrenics and 26 controls were scanned using Line-Scan-Diffusion-Imaging and T1-weighted techniques with and without a saturation pulse (MT). Diffusion information was used to normalize co-registered maps of fractional anisotropy (FA) and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) to a study-specific template, using the multi-channel daemon algorithm, designed specifically to deal with multidirectional tensor information. Diffusion anisotropy was decreased in schizophrenia in the following brain regions: the fornix, the corpus callosum, bilaterally in the cingulum bundle, bilaterally in the superior occipito-frontal fasciculus, bilaterally in the internal capsule, in the right inferior occipito-frontal fasciculus and the left arcuate fasciculus. MTR maps demonstrated changes in the corpus callosum, fornix, right internal capsule, and the superior occipito-frontal fasciculus bilaterally; however, no changes were noted in the anterior cingulum bundle, the left internal capsule, the arcuate fasciculus, or inferior occipito-frontal fasciculus. In addition, the right posterior cingulum bundle showed MTR but not FA changes in schizophrenia. These findings suggest that, while some of the diffusion abnormalities in schizophrenia are likely due to abnormal coherence, or organization of the fiber tracts, some of these abnormalities may, in fact, be attributed to or coincide with myelin/axonal disruption.     

Is the P300 wave an endophenotype for schizophrenia? A meta-analysis and a family study

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the usefulness of the P300 wave as endophenotype for schizophrenia by means of a meta-analysis of the literature as well as our own family study. METHOD: Meta-analysis: We conducted a systematic search for articles published between 1983 and 2003 that reported P300 measures in non-psychotic relatives of schizophrenic patients and in healthy controls. Meta-regression analyses were performed using a random effects procedure. The pooled standardized effect size (PSES) was calculated as the difference between the means of the two groups divided by the common standard deviation. Local study: We examined the P300 wave with a standard two-tone oddball paradigm in 30 patients with schizophrenia, 40 non-psychotic relatives, and 40 controls using linear mixed models. RESULTS: Meta-analysis: We pooled 472 relatives and 513 controls. The P300 amplitude was significantly reduced in relatives (PSES = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.91; P < 0.001). The P300 latency was significantly delayed in relatives (PSES of -0.50; 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.13; P = 0.009]. Local study: The patients showed a trend for amplitude reductions (P = 0.06) and significant latency delays (P < 0.01). The relatives displayed normal amplitude but had significant latency delays (P = 0.01). The P300 amplitude and especially the P300 latency are promising alternative phenotypes for genetic research into schizophrenia.     

New evidence for involvement of the entorhinal region in schizophrenia: a combined MRI volumetric and DTI study

Postmortem examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest involvement of the entorhinal cortex (EC) in schizophrenic psychoses. However, the extent and nature of the possible pathogenetical process underlying the observed alterations of this limbic key region for processing of multimodal sensory information remains unclear. Three-dimensional high-resolution MRI volumetry and evaluation of the regional diffusional anisotropy based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed on the EC of 15 paranoid schizophrenic patients and 15 closely matched control subjects. In schizophrenic patients, EC volumes showed a slight, but not significant, decrease. However, the anisotropy values, expressed as inter-voxel coherences (COH), were found to be significantly decreased by 17.9% (right side) and 12.5% (left side), respectively, in schizophrenics. Reduction of entorhinal diffusional anisotropy can be hypothesized to be functionally related to disturbances in the perforant path, the principal efferent EC fiber tract supplying the limbic system with neuronal input from multimodal association centers. Combinations of different MRI modalities are a promising approach for the detection and characterization of subtle brain tissue alterations.     

首发精神分裂症患者的心理障碍特点及其影响因素——附483例分析

目的:探讨首发精神分裂症患者的心理障碍特点及其影响因素.方法:对483例首发精神分裂症患者(病例组)及100名健康对照者(对照组)进行症状自评量表-90(symptom check list-90,SCL-90)及EPQ评定,比较2组的差异,并以病例组SCL-90的总分以及因子分作为因变量,EPQ各因子分、年龄、性别、文化程度、病程等作为自变量,进行逐步多元回归分析.结果:病例组SCL-90总分及各因子分均高于对照组(均为P＜0.01).病例组EPQ的情绪稳定性、精神质和掩饰性因子分均显著高于对照组(P＜0.05～P＜0.01),内外向分值则低于对照组(P＜0.05).EPQ的各因子以及年龄、性别、文化程度分别与SCL-90总分或部分因子分相关(均为P＜0.05).结论:首发精神分裂症患者心理障碍较明显;个性特征、年龄、性别、文化程度等多种因素对患者心理状况有影响.     

精神分裂症与情感障碍病人并发糖尿病的临床资料分析

目的探讨精神分裂症和情感障碍病人并发糖尿病的临床特征。方法对84例发生糖尿病的精神分裂症和情感障碍病人的糖尿病资料进行回顾性分析，比较两组糖尿病的临床资料。结果精神分裂症和情感障碍并发糖尿病的病人在年龄、体重、病程、精神药物使用时间上有极显著差异（t=2．04～3．02，P〈0．01）、糖尿病药物的选择上有显著差异（χ^2=5．43，P〈0．05）。在性别、文化、家族史、糖尿病症状、血糖水平上无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论精神分裂症患者比情感障碍患者有更多的与易患糖尿病相关的因素，但诊断糖尿病时的血糖水平一致，情感障碍病人并发糖尿病时降糖药物的选择范围更宽。     

溃疡期压疮的综合治疗与护理进展

压疮是身体局部组织长期受压，血液循环障碍，组织营养缺乏，致使皮肤失去正常功能，而引起的组织破损和坏死。压疮是临床常见的并发症，多发生于长期卧床和强迫体位的患者中。患者一旦发生压疮，不仅给患者带来痛苦，加重病情，延长康复时间，严重时可因继发感染引起败血症而危及生命。因此，必须加强护理，降低压疮的发生率。近年来，有关其治疗与护理等方面的研究迅速，现报道如下。     

难治性精神病的立体定向多靶点联合损毁治疗

目的:探讨难治性精神病的立体定向技术和多靶点组合的临床疗效。方法:立体定向下经CT、电阻值和微电极电生理核团定位,对160例难治性精神病患者,采用杏仁核、内侧隔区、扣带回等多靶点组合射频热凝治疗。应用多种精神病评定量表在术后6个月对治疗效果进行评定。结果:依据减分率标准,160例中,显著进步84例,进步70例,无变化6例。手术前后量表评分有显著差异(P<0.05)。结论:多靶点组合的立体定向技术是难治性精神病的有效治疗方法之一。     

护理干预对首发精神分裂症患者疗效的影响

目的探讨护理干预对首发精神分裂症患者的疗效和社会功能康复的影响。方法选取60例在护理干预科病房住院治疗的首发精神分裂症患者为干预组,60例在非护理干预科病房住院的首发精神分裂症患者为对照组,对照组单用抗精神病药物治疗,干预组在药物治疗的同时辅以心理和社会综合干预措施。于干预前、出院后随访6mo末及1a末采用自编一般资料调查表、阳性症状与阴性症状量表、社会功能缺陷筛选量表评定临床疗效及社会功能改善情况。结果阳性症状与阴性症状量表评分出院后随访6mo末及1a末干预组总分及阴性症状分均显著低于对照组(P均<0.01);社会功能缺陷筛选量表评分出院后随访6mo末及1a末干预组职业和工作、社会活动、家庭职能、生活自理、责任性和计划性等因子分均显著低于对照组(P均<0.01)。结论护理干预措施有助于提高精神分裂症患者的疗效和促进社会功能的康复。     

精神分裂症探究性眼动分析与P300电位研究

目的探讨精神分裂症患者探究性眼动分析与P300电位对精神分裂症患者的诊断价值。方法对42例精神分裂症患者和40例正常健康者分别进行探究性眼动分析与P300电位测定．并进行比较分析。结果精神分裂症组中探究性眼动分析和P300电位测定的异常率分别为85．7％和81．0％．两者异常吻合率为76．2％。精神分裂症组探究性眼动测定结果中凝视点和反应探索评分值显著低于对照组（P〈0．01），P300电位测定中N2、P3波潜伏期和P3波幅较对照组分别延长和降低（P〈0．01）。结论探究性眼动分析和P300电位测定可作为精神分裂症患者的诊断指标应用于临床。     

家庭干预对精神分裂症患者家庭支持及社会功能的影响

目的：探讨家庭干预对精神分裂症患者家庭支持及社会功能的影响。方法将120例精神分裂症患者按照随机数字表法分为两组,每组60例,均维持原抗精神病药物治疗,并接受常规电话随访,研究组在此基础上联合家庭干预,观察6个月。于干预前后采用家庭关怀指数问卷和社会功能缺陷筛选量表进行测评分析。结果家庭干预6个月末,研究组家庭关怀指数问卷评分较干预前显著升高(P <0.01),社会功能缺陷筛选量表评分较干预前显著降低(P<0.01),对照组则无显著变化(P >0.05);同期两组间比较,干预前差异无显著性(P >0.05),干预后差异有显著性(P <0.01)。相关分析显示,家庭干预后研究组患者家庭关怀度指数问卷的适应度因子分与社会功能缺陷筛选量表的职业功能、社会活动、生活能力因子分呈显著正相关(P <0.05);合作度、情感度因子分与家庭活动、生活能力因子分呈显著正相关(P <0.05);成熟度、亲密度因子分与社会活动、生活能力因子分呈显著正相关(P <0.05或0.01)。结论精神分裂症患者的家庭支持度与社会功能呈显著正相关。家庭干预能显著改善精神分裂症患者的家庭支持,提高患者的社会功能。