OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia is a disabling disorder of unknown aetiology, lacking definite diagnostic method and cure. A reliable biological marker of schizophrenia is highly demanded, for which traceable immune mediators in blood could be promising candidates. We aimed to gather the best findings of neuroinflammatory markers for first-episode psychosis (FEP). METHODS: We performed an extensive narrative review of online literature on inflammation-related markers found in human FEP patients only. RESULTS: Changes to cytokine levels have been increasingly reported in schizophrenia. The peripheral levels of IL-1 (or its receptor antagonist), soluble IL-2 receptor, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α have been frequently reported as increased in FEP, in a suggestive continuum from high-risk stages for psychosis. Microglia and astrocytes establish the link between this immune signalling and the synthesis of noxious tryptophan catabolism products, that cause structural damage and directly hamper normal neurotransmission. Amongst these, only 3-hydroxykynurenine has been consistently described in the blood of FEP patients. CONCLUSION: Peripheral molecules stemming from brain inflammation might provide insightful biomarkers of schizophrenia, as early as FEP or even prodromal phases, although more time- and clinically-adjusted studies are essential for their validation.
Astrocytes ; Biomarkers ; Encephalitis ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Metabolism ; Methods ; Microglia ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Psychotic Disorders ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; Schizophrenia ; Synaptic Transmission ; Tryptophan

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite the evidence of a modest to high prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in recreational runners and endurance athletes, the frequency and intensity of GI symptoms in exercisers, but nonathletes, individuals from different modalities have been less investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of GI symptoms in individuals that practice moderate or vigorous physical exercise, at rest and during physical exercise training session.METHODS: The sample consisted of 142 exercisers individuals (64 women and 78 men with mean age of 32.9 ± 10.7 years). Out of the 142 participants, 71 reported to perform moderate physical exercise and 71 reported to perform vigorous physical exercise. Participants were assessed by an internet-based questionnaire designed to assess the frequency and intensity (at rest and during physical exercise training session) of 18 GI symptoms.RESULTS: The GI symptoms most frequently reported by the respondents (during rest and physical exercise training session, respectively) were flatulence (90.8% and 69.7%), abdominal noise (77.5% and 41.5%), and eructation (73.9% and 52.1%). Overall, the frequency and intensity of symptoms were higher (P< 0.050) during rest than physical exercise training session for who perform moderate and vigorous physical exercise.CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that GI symptoms in exercisers, but nonathletes, individuals are more prevalent during rest than during physical exercise training session, suggesting that moderate and vigorous physical exercise may act as a regulator of the GI tract.
Athletes ; Eructation ; Exercise ; Female ; Flatulence ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Male ; Noise ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hyperthyroidism and their etiology on bone mineral density (BMD), on body soft tissue composition, on the prevalence of vertebral fractures detected by vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) and on the trabecular bone score (TBS). METHODS: From an initial population of 119 Portuguese men (78 with hyperthyroidism [HT]+ 41 controls [CTs]) admitted to the Endocrinology Department we selected 41 men aged over 50 with clinical hyperthyroidism to participate; each one was matched by age and height with a control person. BMD (g/cm²) at the lumbar spine, hip, radius 33% and whole body and the total body masses (kg) were studied by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). VFA with Genant semiquantitative method was used to detect fractures. The TBS was obtained from lumbar spine DXA images. No patient had been treated previously for hyperthyroidism or osteoporosis. Adequate statistical tests were used. RESULTS: In the hyperthyroidism group, total lean mass (CT 58.16 ± 7.7 vs. HT 52.3 ± 5.7, P = 0.03) and distal radius BMD (CT 0.769 ± 0.05 vs. HT 0.722 ± 0.08, P = 0.005) were lower; there was a significantly higher prevalence of osteoporosis (CT 9.7% vs. HT 29.3%, P = 0.015) and vertebral fractures (CT 2.4% vs. HT 24.4%, P = 0.007). TBS was similar in both groups (CT 1.328 ± 0.11 vs. HT 1.356 ± 0.11, P = not significant). Comparing patients with Graves' disease with patients with toxic goiter, there were no differences regarding BMD, BMD qualification, prevalence of fractures and TBS and just total lean mass was significantly lower in patients with Graves' disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in a group of hyperthyroid men aged over 50 there are significant decreases in cortical bone BMD and lean mass and a higher prevalence of osteoporosis and silent vertebral fractures, but the etiology of the hyperthyroidism does not seem to influence it. Besides the antithyroid drugs, some patients may benefit from bone-directed treatments.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Antithyroid Agents ; Bone Density ; Endocrinology ; Goiter ; Graves Disease ; Hip ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Male ; Methods ; Osteoporosis* ; Prevalence* ; Radius ; Spine