Objective To investigate the serum amino acid levels in patients with acute schizophrenia(SCZ)and their predictive effect on the improvement of cognitive function after treatment,so as to provide new insights into the clinical intervention of cognitive impairment in SCZ patients.Methods A total of 66 patients with acute SCZ were enrolled(case group-baseline period).Among them,36 cases completed the follow-up after 3 months of standardized treatment(case group-follow-up period);52 healthy controls(HCs)were included.The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery(MCCB)was used to assess the cognitive function of all the participants.Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS)was employed to detect the concentrations of 18 amino acids in fasting serum of the case group-baseline period and the control group.Independent samples t-test was used to compare serum amino acid levels and cognitive function between the case group-baseline period and the control group.Paired t-test was used to compare the differences in cognitive function between the baseline period and the follow-up period of the case group.Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression model were used to investigate the correlation between serum amino acid levels at baseline in the case group and the improvement of cognitive function after 3 months of treatment.Results Compared with the control group,the cognitive function of SCZ patients in multiple dimensions at baseline was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).After treatment,the scores of Trail Making Test(TMT),Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia:Symbol Coding(BACS),Wechsler Memory Scale-Ⅲ(WMS),and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised(BVMT)in patients were significantly improved(all P＜0.05).In addition,the levels of proline,methionine,histidine,phenylalanine,arginine,tyrosine,aspartic acid,tryptophan,lysine,and glutamic acid were significantly lower in the case group at baseline than in the control group(all P＜0.05).Among them,the baseline tyrosine level had a significant predictive value for the improvement of TMT(R2=0.136,P=0.029),Neuropsychological Assessment Battery(NAB)(R2=0.339,P＜0.001),and Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test(MSCEIT)test(R2=0.165,P=0.015).The baseline arginine level had a significant predictive value for the improvement rate of Fluency test(R2=0.113,P=0.048).Conclusion There is a decrease in various amino acid levels in patients with SCZ,and some amino acids can effectively predict the improvement of cognitive function after treatment.

Objective To explore the differences in the topological attributes of the baseline state functional network module between responders and non-responders to pharmacological treatment in schizophrenia patients.Methods Patients with first-episode untreated schizophrenia were included.The therapeutic effect was evaluated 4 weeks after receiving standardized clinical treatment based on the percentage change of the positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS)score before and after treatment.The patients were divided into the response group(n=45)and the non-response group(n=32).The modular topological properties of the brain functional network were calculated using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)technology.The differences in functional connectivity between the treatment response group and the non-response group were then compared.The correlation between the functional connection of the patient's network module and the PANSS score was analyzed.Results Compared to the non-responder group,the responder group exhibited increased modularity and a higher average node participation coefficient.Moreover,the default network module exhibited a decreased separation index,whereas an increase was observed in the sensorimotor module separation index.Additionally,intra-modular connectivity was reduced within the visual network,sensorimotor module and subcortical nuclei module.The connections among the gray matter nucleus-visual module,gray matter nucleus-marginal module,gray matter nucleus-default network,gray matter nucleus-sensorimotor module and sensorimotor default network modules were decreased(FDR correction,P<0.05).The interconnections between gray matter nuclei-default network(r=0.42,P<0.01)and sensorimotor-default network modules(r=0.31,P=0.04)in the response group were positively correlated with the positive symptom scores,respectively.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the modular connection of functional networks had good classification prediction efficacy(AUC=0.858,95%CI:0.759-0.927).Conclusion The modular connections among the gray matter nucleus network,default network and sensorimotor network may provide neuroimaging evidence for the prediction of the efficacy of drug treatment for schizophrenia.

Constipation,a common functional gastrointestinal disorder,not only severely impairs patients'quality of life but is also highly comorbid with psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression.Emerging evidence indicates that gut microbiota dysbiosis is a critical link connecting these two disease states.On one hand,dysbiosis exacerbates constipation by affecting host metabolism and intestinal function;on the other,it plays a central role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.This complex interaction is primarily mediated through the"microbiota-gut-brain axis."Therefore,elucidating the intrinsic relationship among anxiety,depression,gut microbiota,and constipation has become a frontier of interdisciplinary research.

Objective To investigate the serum amino acid levels in patients with acute schizophrenia(SCZ)and their predictive effect on the improvement of cognitive function after treatment,so as to provide new insights into the clinical intervention of cognitive impairment in SCZ patients.Methods A total of 66 patients with acute SCZ were enrolled(case group-baseline period).Among them,36 cases completed the follow-up after 3 months of standardized treatment(case group-follow-up period);52 healthy controls(HCs)were included.The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery(MCCB)was used to assess the cognitive function of all the participants.Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS)was employed to detect the concentrations of 18 amino acids in fasting serum of the case group-baseline period and the control group.Independent samples t-test was used to compare serum amino acid levels and cognitive function between the case group-baseline period and the control group.Paired t-test was used to compare the differences in cognitive function between the baseline period and the follow-up period of the case group.Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression model were used to investigate the correlation between serum amino acid levels at baseline in the case group and the improvement of cognitive function after 3 months of treatment.Results Compared with the control group,the cognitive function of SCZ patients in multiple dimensions at baseline was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).After treatment,the scores of Trail Making Test(TMT),Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia:Symbol Coding(BACS),Wechsler Memory Scale-Ⅲ(WMS),and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised(BVMT)in patients were significantly improved(all P＜0.05).In addition,the levels of proline,methionine,histidine,phenylalanine,arginine,tyrosine,aspartic acid,tryptophan,lysine,and glutamic acid were significantly lower in the case group at baseline than in the control group(all P＜0.05).Among them,the baseline tyrosine level had a significant predictive value for the improvement of TMT(R2=0.136,P=0.029),Neuropsychological Assessment Battery(NAB)(R2=0.339,P＜0.001),and Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test(MSCEIT)test(R2=0.165,P=0.015).The baseline arginine level had a significant predictive value for the improvement rate of Fluency test(R2=0.113,P=0.048).Conclusion There is a decrease in various amino acid levels in patients with SCZ,and some amino acids can effectively predict the improvement of cognitive function after treatment.

Objective To explore the differences in the topological attributes of the baseline state functional network module between responders and non-responders to pharmacological treatment in schizophrenia patients.Methods Patients with first-episode untreated schizophrenia were included.The therapeutic effect was evaluated 4 weeks after receiving standardized clinical treatment based on the percentage change of the positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS)score before and after treatment.The patients were divided into the response group(n=45)and the non-response group(n=32).The modular topological properties of the brain functional network were calculated using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)technology.The differences in functional connectivity between the treatment response group and the non-response group were then compared.The correlation between the functional connection of the patient's network module and the PANSS score was analyzed.Results Compared to the non-responder group,the responder group exhibited increased modularity and a higher average node participation coefficient.Moreover,the default network module exhibited a decreased separation index,whereas an increase was observed in the sensorimotor module separation index.Additionally,intra-modular connectivity was reduced within the visual network,sensorimotor module and subcortical nuclei module.The connections among the gray matter nucleus-visual module,gray matter nucleus-marginal module,gray matter nucleus-default network,gray matter nucleus-sensorimotor module and sensorimotor default network modules were decreased(FDR correction,P<0.05).The interconnections between gray matter nuclei-default network(r=0.42,P<0.01)and sensorimotor-default network modules(r=0.31,P=0.04)in the response group were positively correlated with the positive symptom scores,respectively.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the modular connection of functional networks had good classification prediction efficacy(AUC=0.858,95%CI:0.759-0.927).Conclusion The modular connections among the gray matter nucleus network,default network and sensorimotor network may provide neuroimaging evidence for the prediction of the efficacy of drug treatment for schizophrenia.

Constipation,a common functional gastrointestinal disorder,not only severely impairs patients'quality of life but is also highly comorbid with psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression.Emerging evidence indicates that gut microbiota dysbiosis is a critical link connecting these two disease states.On one hand,dysbiosis exacerbates constipation by affecting host metabolism and intestinal function;on the other,it plays a central role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.This complex interaction is primarily mediated through the"microbiota-gut-brain axis."Therefore,elucidating the intrinsic relationship among anxiety,depression,gut microbiota,and constipation has become a frontier of interdisciplinary research.

Objective To investigate the effect of peripheral blood bile acids on the cognitive function of schizophrenia patients.Methods Targeted metabolomics was adopted to analyze the total level of primary and secondary serum bile acid metabolites collected from 23 schizophrenia patients and 23 health control individuals.The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery(MCCB)was adopted to evaluate the subjects'cognitive function in five dimensions.Results We found that the schizophrenia patients had impaired cognitive functions in multiple dimensions including speed of processing,working memory,reasoning and problem solving,and visual learning.Compared with the health control group,serum levels of cholic acid(CA)and chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA)were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia,while serum level of glycocholic acid(GCA)was significantly higher,and the ratio of deoxycholic acid(DCA)to CA was higher(3.04 vs.1.16).Speed of processing,working memory,reasoning and problem solving,and visual learning abilities were significantly negatively correlated with serum levels of multiple primary bile acids including taurocholic acid(TCA),GCA,glycochenodeoxycholic acid(GCDCA)and taurochenodeoxycholic acid(TCDCA),after adjustments of age,sex,and body mass index.Conclusion The bile acid profile of schizophrenia patients is obvious,and the decrease in neuroprotective bile acids(namely,CA and CDCA)and the up-regulation of cytotoxic bile acid(i.e.,GCA)may impair the cognitive function of schizophrenia patients.

Objective To examine the joint effects of parent-child relationship and environmental sensitivity(ES)on adolescent mental health from the perspective of sensitivity X family conflict interaction.Methods In 2023,we investigated 7,010 adolescents from six junior high schools in Shaanxi Province,China.Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess parent-child relationship,ES,and adolescent mental health.ES was assessed by Highly Sensitive Child Scale(HSC);Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9),Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire(SDQ),and Happiness index were used to measure depression,externalizing problems,and subjective well-being.Results ① Girls'ES scores were significantly higher than boys'(t=-7.504,P＜0.01).② When predicting depression and externalizing problems,the main effects of parent-child relationship and ES in adolescents were significant(b=-0.263,0.237,0.332,P＜0.001;b=0.201,0.220,P＜0.001),and the interaction between family conflicts and ES was significant(b=-0.072,P＜0.05;b=0.092,P＜0.05).(3)Widaman's confirmatory and competitive approach results showed the significant interaction of sensitivity X family conflict with depression and externalizing problems,which were consistent with the differential susceptibility and diathesis-stress framework,respectively(BIC=2 170.98,2 162.6).Conclusion Adolescents with high environmental sensitivity suffer more from high family conflict and benefit more from low family conflicts.These sensitive adolescents can be described as having developmentally susceptibility rather than vulnerability.

【Objective】 To elucidate the possible role of arginine and histidine in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia by exploring the serum levels of semi-essential amino acids (arginine and histidine) in patients with schizophrenia and their correlation with psychiatric symptoms. 【Methods】 We selected 72 inpatients with schizophrenia admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from March 2021 to October 2022 and 72 healthy volunteers enrolled in Yanta Community during the same period as the research subjects. Serum arginine and histidine levels were measured in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls using serum liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). We used the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) to evaluate the mental symptoms of patients with schizophrenia and analyzed the correlation of serum arginine and histidine levels with disease course, frequency of onset, and PANSS score. 【Results】 The levels of serum arginine (P<0.001) and histidine (P=0.011) in the schizophrenia group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The levels of serum arginine and histidine were significantly negatively correlated with the frequency of onset (rs=-0.410, rs=-0.262), total score of PANSS (rs=-0.298, rs=-0.256), positive factors (rs=-0.299, rs=-0.234) and cognitive impairment factors (rs=-0.251, rs=-0.296). In addition, serum arginine levels had significantly negative correlation with anxiety and depression factors (rs=-0.269, P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 The serum levels of arginine and histidine in patients with schizophrenia are significantly lower than those in healthy individuals, and are negatively correlated with overall mental symptoms, severity of positive symptoms and cognitive impairment. The severity of anxiety and depression symptoms is negatively correlated with arginine levels. The detection of serum arginine and histidine can provide reference for the diagnosis and assessment of the severity of schizophrenia in the future.

【Objective】 To explore the effect of childhood maltreatment on clinical symptoms and early efficacy of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. 【Methods】 Totally 73 schizophrenic patients were divided into mild maltreatment group(n=42) and severe maltreatment group(n=31) according to the Child Trauma Questionnaire(CTQ). The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression(CGI) were measured and compared between the two groups at baseline and 3 weeks after antipsychotic treatment to analyze the correlation between child maltreatment experience and mental symptoms and the response to early treatment of antipsychotics. 【Results】 PANSS positive factor score(P=0.026) and cognitive deficit factor score (P=0.042) were significantly higher in severe abuse group than in mild abuse group. The positive factor was significantly positively correlated with emotional abuse factor in CTQ score(r=0.257, P=0.028), and the cognitive deficit factor was significantly positively correlated with emotional neglect factor(r=0.283, P=0.015). After antipsychotic treatment, the reduction rate of PANSS negative factor in severe abuse group was significantly lower than that in mild abuse group(P=0.035), and had the highest correlation with CTQ physical abuse factor(r=-0.302, P=0.011). 【Conclusion】 The severity of childhood maltreatment experienced by schizophrenic patients is more related to positive symptoms and cognitive deficits, and more childhood maltreatment experience will affect the improvement of negative symptoms by antipsychotics, suggesting a poor prognosis.