OBJECTIVES: Whether vortioxetine has a utility as an adjuvant drug in the treatment of bipolar depression remains controversial. This study aimed to validate the efficacy and safety of vortioxetine in bipolar depression. METHODS: Patients with bipolar Ⅱ depression were enrolled in this prospective, two-center, randomized, 12-week pilot trial. The main indicator for assessing treatment effectiveness was a Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) of ≥50%. All eligible patients initially received four weeks of lurasidone monotherapy. Patients who responded well continued to receive this kind of monotherapy. However, no-response patients were randomly assigned to either valproate or vortioxetine treatment for eight weeks. By comprehensively comparing the results of MADRS over a period of 4‍‒‍12 weeks, a systematic analysis was conducted to determine whether vortioxetine could be used as an adjuvant drug for treating bipolar depression. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients responded to lurasidone monotherapy, and 60 patients were randomly assigned to the valproate or vortioxetine group for eight weeks. After two weeks of combined valproate or vortioxetine treatment, the MADRS score in the vortioxetine group was significantly lower than that in the valproate group. There was no difference in the MADRS scores between the two groups at 8 and 12 weeks. The incidence of side effects did not significantly differ between the valproate and vortioxetine groups. Importantly, three patients in the vortioxetine group appeared to switch to mania or hypomania. CONCLUSIONS This study suggested that lurasidone combination with vortioxetine might have potential benefits to bipolar II depression in the early stage, while disease progression should be monitored closely for the risk of switching to mania.
Humans ; Bipolar Disorder/drug therapy* ; Vortioxetine/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Valproic Acid/administration & dosage* ; Lurasidone Hydrochloride/administration & dosage* ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Pilot Projects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Sulfides/therapeutic use* ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use*

A growing interest in the comprehensive pathogenic mechanisms of psychiatric disorders from the perspective of the microbiome has been witnessed in recent decades; the intrinsic link between microbiota and brain function through the microbiota-gut-brain axis or other pathways has gradually been realized. However, little research has focused on viruses-entities characterized by smaller dimensions, simpler structures, greater diversity, and more intricate interactions with their surrounding milieu compared to bacteria. To date, alterations in several populations of bacteriophages and viruses have been documented in both mouse models and patients with psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and Alzheimer's disease, accompanied by metabolic disruptions that may directly or indirectly impact brain function. In addition, eukaryotic virus infection-mediated brain dysfunction provides insights into the psychiatric pathology involving viruses. Efforts towards virus-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have primarily been documented. However, limitations due to the lack of large-scale cohort studies, reliability, clinical applicability, and the unclear role of viruses in microbiota interactions pose a challenge for future studies. Nevertheless, it is conceivable that investigations into viruses herald a new era in the field of precise psychiatry.
Humans ; Mental Disorders/virology* ; Animals ; Brain/virology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology* ; Viruses ; Virus Diseases/complications*

Objective:To explore the clinical distribution characteristics and changes of common inhalant allergens and food allergens in all outpatient and inpatient children visiting Shanghai Children′s Hospital from 2020 to 2024, and to provide a basis for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of allergic diseases in children.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to retrospectively enroll all outpatient and inpatient children who visited Shanghai Children′s Hospital and underwent serum allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) antibody testing from January 2020 to August 2024, and the characteristics and changing trends of allergens in the past 5 years were analyzed. A total of 127 310 tests were included. There were 76 776 male tests (60.31%) and 50 534 female tests (39.69%). There were 27 392 tests (21.52%) aged 0-3 years (infant group), 51 596 tests (40.53%) aged 4-6 years (preschool group), 44 574 tests (35.01%) aged 7-12 years (school-age group), and 3 748 tests (2.94%) aged 13-18 years (adolescent group). The χ2 test was used for statistical analysis. Results:The difference in total positivity rate between different years was statistically significant ( χ2=2 907.478, P<0.001). The positive rates of inhalant allergens such as house dust, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/ Dermatophagoides farinae, cockroach, cat dander, mugwort, Humulus scandens, mold fungi mix, and food allergens such as beef and mutton increased significantly with age (The χ2 values were 649.496, 3 414.686, 303.247, 1 277.408, 40.477, 189.952, 600.737, 203.198, and 15.301, respectively, and the P values were <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001,<0.001,<0.001, and 0.002, respectively). The positive rates of inhalant allergen such as Ambrosia elatior (1.59%) and food allergens such as egg white (17.36%), milk (30.48%), shrimp (8.27%), crab (8.13%), codfish (2.61%), salmon (0.66%), mytilus edulis (2.89%), lobster/scallop (5.27%), cashew nuts (5.09%), peanuts (3.54%), and soybean (1.73%) were highest at the age of 0-3 years and decreased significantly with age (The χ2 values were 10.365, 2 407.443, 139.085, 872.548, 870.245, 106.823, 47.674, 47.244, 559.422, 369.800, 384.788, 153.660, respectively, and the P values were 0.016, 0.000,<0.001,<0.001,<0.001,<0.001,<0.001,<0.001,<0.001,<0.001,<0.001,<0.001, respectively). Inhaled allergens mainly have a greater impact on children with respiratory-related diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma, while food allergens mainly have a greater impact on children with atopic dermatitis/eczema. The positive rate of sIgE of various allergens in the allergic rhinitis combined asthma group were higher than that of allergic rhinitis alone, and the sIgE positive rate of total allergens and inhaled allergens was significantly higher than that of allergic rhinitis alone ( χ2=20.851, 39.155, the P values were both<0.001). Among them, the sIgE positive rate of Ambrosia elatior and cashew nuts showed significant difference ( χ2=5.044, 8.420, P=0.025, 0.004); and the sIgE positive rate of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/ Dermatophagoides farinae, cat dander, grass pollens mix and mold fungi mix had extremely significant difference ( χ2=26.409, 25.990, 21.283, 16.411, the P values were all <0.001). The inhaled allergens and food allergens with the highest positive rates in the 5 years were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/ Dermatophagoides farinae (56.21%) and milk (47.47%), and as time went by, the positive rates gradually decreased. There is a moderate correlation between the three allergens of Ambrosia elatior, Amaranthus retroflexus, and tree pollens mix (0.55, 0.70, 0.63), and there is a moderate correlation between mango and tree pollens mix (0.50). Conclusion:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/ Dermatophagoides farinae, cat dander, dog dander, egg white, and milk may be important allergens for children in Shanghai City from 2020 to 2024. The positive rates vary among different genders, age groups, and disease groups, but the positive rates of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/ Dermatophagoides farinae, milk and cat dander allergens remain in the top three.

The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) jointly held the second European Consensus Workshop on Education in Periodontology in February, 2023. Building on the first consensus workshop in 2009, expert working groups from European Workshop Committee updated four educational levels: undergraduate, specialist, continuing professional development (CPD), as well as teaching methods, culminating in the updated consensus report in March, 2024. This article introduces and interprets the contents of the 2024 consensus report. Specific to China′s national conditions, we also propose future perspectives and considerations on different levels of periodontal education in China based on this consensus.

In recent years, with the rapid development of information and communication technologies, big data, and artificial intelligence, digital therapeutics (DTx) have gradually gained attention in the field of disease treatment, demonstrating advantages such as precise assessment, improved diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy, convenience, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. They hold significant potential in the treatment of mental illnesses. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the background, concepts, and primary treatment modalities of DTx. At the same time, it delves into the current application status, efficacy, limitations, and future directions of DTx in diagnosing and treating depressive disorders, providing a reference for optimizing care and promoting the personalized and efficient advancement of DTx in this field.

As a physical treatment technique, modified electro-convulsive therapy (MECT) is used to treat mental and certain neurological disorders by causing seizures with short, suitable electrical currents applied to the brain while the patient is under general anesthesia and muscle relaxants. MECT is recognized for its therapeutic efficacy and clinical safety, rendering it one of the most prevalent interventions in psychiatric care. To enhance clinical outcomes and minimize adverse effects, this consensus document delineates the indications, therapeutic parameters, therapeutic procedures, potential adverse effects, and associated management strategies for MECT. These guidelines are informed by the latest clinical research and expert consensus, integrating evidence-based medicine methodologies. The objective is to furnish clinicians with precise operational guidelines and to advance the standardization of MECT practices in clinical settings.

Objective To evaluate the respective or synergistic value of cytoplasmic tryptophan-tRNA ligase(WARS1/SYWC)and adenosine deaminase(ADA)in diagnosing tuberculous pleural effusion(TPE).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients with pleural effusion(64 cases of TPE,56 cases of non-TPE)admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University and its affiliated Shunde Hospital from January 2020 to December 2024.Pleural fluid SYWC levels were identified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify diagnostic predictors,while receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to assess the diagnostic perfor-mance of individual and combined biomarkers.Results Compared to the non-TPE group,TPE group exhibited significantly younger age,lower pleural CEA,less serum CEA,and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),but significantly higher levels of pleural ADA,total protein,SYWC,and serum CRP(all P<0.05).Univariate analysis identified age,pleural CEA,carbohydrate antigen 199,ADA,SYWC,serum CEA,and NLR as potential predictors.Multivariate analysis confirmed pleural ADA(OR=1.064,95%CI:1.017～1.228)and SYWC(OR=6.695,95%CI:2.794～16.04)as independent diagnostic factors.At optimal cutoffs,SYWC(16.94 μg/L)demonstrated a sensitivity of 71.80%and specificity of 98.21%,while ADA(36.5 U/L)showed a sensitivity of 93.75%and a specificity of 89.29%.Combined detection increased the sensitivity to 95.56%,the specificity to 98.0%,and the accuracy to 97.87%.ROC analysis revealed an AUC of 0.973(95%CI:0.943～1.000)for the combination,outperforming ADA(0.897)and SYWC(0.938)alone.Conclusion The combi-nation of SYWC and ADA notably enhances diagnostic efficacy for TPE,providing high sensitivity and specificity as a reliable tool for clinical differentiation.

Blonanserin,a second-generation atypical antipsychotic agent,acts as an antagonist for dopamine D2,D3,and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.Clinical studies have demonstrated that blonanserin is non-inferior to other antipsychotics,such as haloperidol and risperidone,in alleviating the symptoms of schizophrenia.Moreover,it exhib-its beneficial effects on cognitive symptoms and social functioning,with a favorable safety profile,making it one of the key treatment options for schizophrenia.With extensive clinical experience accumulated in China,this expert consensus aims to provide psychiatrists with updated and localized guidance on the optimal use of blonan-serin.Based on a systematic review of the latest evidence-particularly studies in Chinese population,this paper pres-ents the updated Chinese expert recommendations for the clinical use of blonanserin in 2024.

Blonanserin,a second-generation atypical antipsychotic agent,acts as an antagonist for dopamine D2,D3,and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.Clinical studies have demonstrated that blonanserin is non-inferior to other antipsychotics,such as haloperidol and risperidone,in alleviating the symptoms of schizophrenia.Moreover,it exhib-its beneficial effects on cognitive symptoms and social functioning,with a favorable safety profile,making it one of the key treatment options for schizophrenia.With extensive clinical experience accumulated in China,this expert consensus aims to provide psychiatrists with updated and localized guidance on the optimal use of blonan-serin.Based on a systematic review of the latest evidence-particularly studies in Chinese population,this paper pres-ents the updated Chinese expert recommendations for the clinical use of blonanserin in 2024.