Schizophrenia is highly familial neuropsychiatric disorder with heritability estimated at 60-90%. Even unaffected first-degree relatives of schizophrenia manifested some neuropsychological abnormalities as well as neurologic soft sign and morphologic anomalies. the aim of this study was to evaluate personality profile in first-degree relatives of schizophrenia compared to their schizophrenia probands and healthy controls and whether personality profile might be endophenotype of schizophrenia.

The subjects were 97 first-degree relatives of schizophrenia, 48 their schizophrenia probands, and 106 healthy controls, who completed Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) scale. Relatives were further divided into presumed carriers and pesumed non-carriers by schizophrenia genetic loading. Group difference in TCI scores were compared by general linear model using age and gender as covariates.

1. 1. There were significant group differences in HA scores between healthy controls, relatives, and probands after controlling age and gender, in that HA scores were increased by healthy controls, relatives, and probands in order.

2. 2. Presumed carriers have higher HA scores than presumed non-carriers and healthy controls.

3. 3. Proband group showed significantly lower RD and lower P in temperament dimension and lower SD, lower C, and higher ST in character dimension compared to other groups.

We found that HA scores of first-degree relatives of schizophrenia is intermediate level between schizophrenia probands and healthy controls. Considering increase of HA with schizophrenia genetic loading, HA may be potential endophenotype of schizophrenia. Further research with longitudinal follow up is needed to elucidate the clinical implication of high HA observed in schizophrenia family.

Patients with schizophrenia have high rates of mortality, despite improvement in health care. Acute admission can be an excellent target for the screening of acute and chronic disorders in these patients. to our knowledge no study has been performed clarifying which blood analysis should be requested to patients with schizophrenia upon an acute admission. the aim of the present study is to clarify which blood analysis should be requested to these patients, when acutely admitted.

A case-control study was performed, comparing blood analyses in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder upon their admission, with subjects without schizophrenia from the general population.

We found a significantly higher number of patients with changes on leukocytes, glucose, and AST values, and a significantly lower number with higher cholesterol (total and LDL), creatinine, ALP, and albumin. Many patients presented low values of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, platelets, glucose, vitamin B12, albumin, and HDL-cholesterol, and high values of CK, blood electrolytes, and CRP.

Present data clearly support the routine requisition of full blood count, CRP, CK, glucose and AST on admission. Although the evidence is less robust, it seems reasonable to request electrolytes, albumin and vitamin B12. NCEP laboratorial parameters may be should not be requested by routine in this context, as it tends to underestimate metabolic syndrome. the present work does not find evidence for routine requisition of urea, folic acid, and VDRL. Blood phosphorus, calcium and thyroid hormones need further investigation.

To assess the safety and effectiveness of umbilical blood stem cells (UBSC) regarding neurocognition and social cognition in schizophrenic patients.

10 men (33,6±10,6 years old) with episodic type of paranoid schizophrenia in remission with dominating negative symptomatic (F20.04 in ICD-10), who gave the informed consent and received concentrate of 250 millions UBSC intravenously. the control sample (10 patients) meeting the key demographic and disorder criteria received placebo. All patients continued antipsychotic therapy in fixed doses. in the first phase, both samples previously examined against PANSS and MCCB received one injection of UBSC or placebo. in the second phase, ten patients received four injections of UBSC each, one injection every two weeks. the dynamic was rated before each injection and at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 12th week after the last injection.

The date of the first phase points to a safety of UBSC injections (no serious or severe adverse events registered). the second phase proves the effectiveness of UBSC: the PANSS score drops from 24.5±2.4 to19.2±2.7(р< 0,001)on the negative psychopathology scale, and 41.2±6.8 to 30.82±4.4 on the general psychopathology scale. the neurocognition improved (р< 0,001) in speed of processing (30.6±1.6 to 49.4±1.7), attention (30.6±2.4 to 48.5±3.1), memory (39.7±1.4 to 56.1±1.4), verbal learning (41.3±1.7 to 62±3.2), visual learning (38.6±3.4 to 62.9±2.5), executive functions (35±2.2 to 59.5±2.5). However, the increase in social cognition was statistically nonsignificant (43.6±1.6 to 46.1±2.1).

The cognitive impact of UBSC appears to be made via its obvious metabolic (nootropic) and psychostimulant actions.

Individuals with schizophrenia are in greater risk of physical illnesses and their life is shorter comparing with general population. Hazardous lifestyles as tobacco smoking, lack of physical activity, and obesity contributing to this negative trend. Role of antipsychotic therapy, particularly second generation is also possible. This study aimed to establish hazardous lifestyles in clinical sample of patients with schizophrenia treated with first or second generation antipsychotics.

Study included 60 patients with schizophrenia (38.3% women) treated with antipsychotics for period of six months or longer. Experimental group included 30 patients treated with second generation antipsychotics, and control group included 30 patients treated with first generation antipsychotics. Physical activity, tobacco smoking, and waist circumference as an increased body weight indicator were analysed. Overweight was defined as a waist circumference above 102 cm for males and 88 cm for females.

Mean age was 44.5±12.6. in this sample was 75% tobacco smokers, 30% of subjects taking typical, and 43% of subjects taking atypical antipsychotics declared physical inactivity during most of the day. Increased waist circumpherence was established in 51.6% of subjects. There wasn't statistically significant difference between two group of subjects (p=0.538).

Hazardous lifestyles including cigarette smoking, lack of physical activity and increased body weight are common in the individuals with schizophrenia. There wasn't statistically significant difference between subjects taking first or second generation antipsychotics.

The aims of the current study are:

• • To examine the clinical symptoms and functional capacity of the patients.

• • To evaluate the cognitive dysfunctions and to see how they develop in 6 month.

• • To examine the relationship between clinical and functional capacity and the cognitive dysfunctions of the chronic schizophrenia patients.

24 people with chronic schizophrenia were followed up 6 month along with a control group of 50 individuals free from schizophrenia. Patients were diagnosed using DSM-IV criteria, assessed with the PANSS, GAF, to evaluate psychiatric symptoms, respectively functionality. Rey Memory Test, Trail Making, Spatial Recognition Memory (SRM),Spatial Working Memory (SWM), Paired Associated Learning (PAL), Spatial Spam (SSP) and Stoking of Cambridge (SOC) from the CANTAB were applied to all patients at the start point of the study and after 6 month, in order to evaluate the cognitive functions.

The overall performance of chronic schizophrenia patients was significantly lower compared to healthy individuals on all cognitive tasks. the cognitive dysfunction is independent of age and intellectual level, but does correlate with global functioning and remain stable. CANTAB is a useful tool to detect and estimate the cognitive impairments.

The current study reveals that cognitive impairments are a central feature of schizophrenia and a major cause of poor functioning of the patients. the chronic schizophrenia patients perform worse on all investigated cognitive domains (memory, attention and executive function). the reviewed studies show different opinions about the development of these impairments. Further longitudinal studies are required in order to settle if they remain stable or progress in time.

Based on new imaging, some results have led to the hypothesis, indicating left hemispheric dysfunction in schizophrenic patients,

Transcranial color Doppler sonography also showed significant blood flow velocity changes in schizophrenic patients.

Our study tried to clarify possible differences between carotid blood flow of each side, in symptom positive and symptom negative schizophrenic patients, as well as differences of blood flow between schizophrenic patients versus control cases.

31 schizophrenic patients which had been selected randomly were divided in two separate groups of symptom positive (14 cases) and symptom negative (17 cases) patients, according to PANSS test. Then carotid color Doppler sonography was performed for them and for 32 control cases.

Velosities (PSV, DV) and Doppler indices (RL, PI) were measured to be compared statistically in patients and control cases.

According to P value < 0.05 as level of significance in all comparisons, no evidence of any significant differences is seen between two sides of patients(positive symptoms and negative symptoms) as though between control cases and patients. No positive conclusion also derived based on sex interference.

So examination reveals no differences between carotid blood flows of two sides in schizophrenic patients(positive and negative symptom).

There is no differences between carotid blood flow of patients and control group, even when sex interfered as a variety.

In patients with schizophrenia, higher rates of tobacco dependency contribute significantly to increased morbidity and mortality of various physical illnesses. However, evidence for treatment of nicotine addiction in these patients is uncertain. We performed a systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of bupropion (Zyban) for smoking cessation in schizophrenia.

We searched databases and conference proceedings for reports of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in all languages, comparing bupropion with placebo or with a different therapeutic control in adult smokers with schizophrenia. Eligibility and quality of RCTs were independently assessed by two reviewers. Results are synthesised using a random effects model and expressed as Risk Ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD), both with 95% confidence interval (CI).

16 reports from six RCTs were included (258 participants). Smoking cessation rates after bupropion were significantly higher than placebo at the end of bupropion treatment (RR 2.56, CI 1.46 to 4.50) and at six months (RR 2.82, CI 1.04 to 7.69). Expired carbon monoxide level was significantly lower with bupropion at the end of therapy (MD -5.39ppm, CI -7.43 to -3.34ppm) but the effect was not sustained at six months (p=0.33). Positive and negative symptoms were not significantly different between bupropion and placebo group, but depressive symptoms were significantly reduced with bupropion at the end of treatment. There were no seizures reported with bupropion use.

Our review suggests that bupropion increases the rates of smoking abstinence in smokers with schizophrenia, without jeopardising their mental state.

The aim of the study was to investigate the state of parameters characterizing different sites of metabolism and the degree of endogenous intoxication in drug-naïve first episode schizophrenic patients (FES).

Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) and serum semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activities, serum concentrations of middle-mass endotoxic molecules (MMEM) and malondialdehyde and parameters of serum albumin functional state (Uzbekov et al., 2006) were measured in 16 FES patients and 15 age-matched healthy volunteers.

Severity of disorder prior the treatment was 73.1±12.5 according to PANSS score. FES patients were characterized by significant increase in MAO activity (by 107 %) and MMEM concentration (by 140 %) and significant decrease in SSAO activity (by 29 %) as compared with controls. Degree of endogenous intoxication in 13 patients was assessed as moderate and severe. Changes of all other parameters were insignificant. Regression analysis has shown significant relationship of 3 parameters - MAO (p< 0,01), SSAO (p< 0,01) and MMEM (p< 0,02) with values of PANNS score. Three methods of extraction of factor analysis have revealed that MAO and SSAO are belonged to factor 1 whereas MMEM and albumin functional parameters - to factor 2.

It is supposed that MAO and SSAO are integral components of schizophrenia pathogenetic mechanisms. Comparing our earlier data on chronic schizophrenic patients with these data we suppose that FES patients are on the stage of the formation of the pathological state of metabolism.Study was partially supported by the ISTC grant 3156.

Investigate some properties of albumin binding sites in schizophrenic patients.

Properties of serum albumin binding sites were studied using quenching of fluorescence of probe K-35 (N-carboxyphenylimide of dimethylaminonaphthalic acid) with nitrate anion. Serum samples were collected from 24 schizophrenic patients and 24 healthy volunteers.

In the absence of quencher specific probe fluorescence in patients was 1,4 times higher than in controls. Fluorescent quenching constant for probe bound to albumin was 2,5 L/mol in patients versus 4,6 L/mol in volunteers (p< 0,01). Fluorescent fraction assessable to quenching was significantly lower in patients than in volunteers. Fluorescent decay studies on S-60 synchrotron have revealed in patient's albumin the redistribution between long-lived and short-lived molecules of the probe with increase of the latter. There were found decrease of albumin accessible SH-groups in schizophrenic patients as compared with volunteers.

In schizophrenic patients conformational state of albumin binding sites is significantly disturbed that can lead to changes in protein-ligand interaction and to damage of main albumin functions (transport and detoxification) and aggravation of endotoxicosis.

Patients with schizophrenia have difficulties in representing the mental states of others. the capacity to appreciate others’ mental states is called Theory of Mind (ToM). Usually patients in remission are able to pass first- and second order ToM tasks, but they have difficulties with understanding more complex situations. A faux pas (FP) task contains a social situation when someone says something he or she should not have said, or something awkward. Understanding these situations requires higher-order ToM skills. in our study faux pas tasks were used to assess mentalization deficits among patients with schizophrenia in remission.

Seventeen patients and seventeen matched control individuals were evaluated. ToM skills were assessed by computerized FP tasks. the answers and the time the participants used to read the stories and answer the questions were recorded. the participants carried out 5 FP tasks and 5 control tasks.

Patients with schizophrenia performed significantly worse in faux pas tasks (p=0,0033), and memory questions (p=0,0033). Patients needed significantly more time to read both faux pas (p=0,0098) and control stories (p=0,0002). However the patients did not spend significantly more time to answer the questions then the control subjects (p=0,9966 p=0,8705).

Patients with schizophrenia performed a sinificant impairment in ToM tasks. Beside, an improving tendency was found also in the patient's and in the control group's answers suggesting a capacity to “learn” in the dimension of mentalization.

Verbal memory and processing speed are two of the proposed neurocognitive predictors in schizophrenia. the objective is to determinate neurocognitive predictors of functioning in one five years follow-up period on ambulatory schizophrenia patients.

We conduct one cohort study on 30 schizophrenia out-patients (19 male; age mean: 32.8 years; SD:7.2). at the moment of inclusion it was applied one neuropsychological battery sensitive to neuropsychological deficit in schizophrenia: WAIS-III, BADS, WCST, Colour Trails, Trail Making A and B, BVRT, California Verbal Learning Test (Spanish version: TAVEC). Variables was summarized determining Z values and principal components. the cohort was prospectively studied for up to five years. as result variables it were considered: time to the first antipsychotic-drug change, time to the first psychiatric admission, and average five-years annual score in the Strauss-Carpenter Outcome Scale. It was constructed Cox and Linear Regression Models to determinate the better predicting neurocognitive components.

The better global outcome was directly related with WAIS-III processing speed index (corrected R square: 0.19; p = 0.02; beta constant= 0.469; beta WAIS-III processing speed= 0.125). None predictor was selected for the outcome variable change of antipsychotic. Psychiatric admission was predicted (p=0.006) by implicit learning (beta= -2.19), executive functioning (beta= 1.02), WAIS-III Total IQ (beta= 0.45) and WAIS-III Perceptual Organization Index (beta= -0.20).

Higher processing speed index predicts one better functioning outcome during five-years follow-up. the risk for psychiatric admission was heterogeneously related with neurocognitive predictors. Verbal memory did not predict functional outcome.

The coexistence of comorbidity in schizophrenia (somatic, dual pathology, personality…) can conditionate evolution and prognosis in this severe mental illness, those aspects should be taken in account to planify treatments and follow up issues.

We are interested in this work in evaluate previous and developed comorbidity in schizophrenic patients; we also analyzed comorbidity consequences in clinical, therapeutical management, treatment adherence, relapses and hospitalizations.

In 50 Schizophrenic patients (DSM-IV TR Diagnostic criteria) with at least one previous psychotic episode we have studied longitudinal and transversally sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutical variables, related comorbidity (somatic, drugs related and dual pathology) and evolution, prognosis, clinical, treatment adherence and tolerance variables were also studied. We also evaluate psychopathologic and medical status (EEG, EKG, Chest RX, BMI, body weight, general analysis) secondary effects were registered. Uxue and CGI were the scales used.

Between 20% and 25% had other medical conditions, and 25-30% had some kind of drug abuse, those were who had worse prognosis, more secondary effects and usually were treated with classic antipsychotics.

The results are discussed, and we propose integrative treatments for schizophrenia and the co morbidities, focusing on affectivity and tolerance.

Temporal correlations in the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal oscillations of widely separated brain regions are presumed to reflect intrinsic functional connectivity and have been demonstrated across several distinct networks serving different functions. Impaired connectivity or disturbed integration of neural activity, as seen in brain networks in schizophrenia, might influence the symptoms of the disorder and biologically implicates in temporal and spatial alterations in BOLD signal fluctuations.

The objective of this study is to examine the activity of a temporal lobe and default modes during working memory task in schizophrenic patients. These two networks were selected because both have been previously studied.

Patients with schizophrenia and healthy comparison subjects undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning while performing a verbal working memory “n-back” task. All subjects receive identical training in task performance prior to scanning. Independent component analysis will be used to identify the default mode and temporal lobe component. Spatial and temporal aspects of the networks will be examined in patients versus healthy control subjects.

Data collection and statistical evaluation will proceed until October 2008.

Identifying specific activation patterns for the temporal lobe and default mode components may contribute to the identification of a trait-related marker for schizophrenia and improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

Although there is no consensus regarding the definition of personality, personality psychology is getting near to understanding that personality traits can be summed up into five basic dimensions. Five factor personality model consists of these five basic dimensions: neuroticism, extraversion/introversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness.

Of this research was to establish in what manner certain personality traits of patients suffering from schizophrenia and depression and healthy individuals, influence their sexual satisfaction.

This research was conducted on 100 patients suffering from schizophrenia, 100 patients suffering from depression and 100 healthy individuals. Instruments used in this research were: five factor personality questionnaire and sexual experience scale (Arizona).

Among patients suffering from schizophrenia, sexual drive and easier sexual arousal were linked to higher extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness and to lower neuroticism. among patients suffering from depression, smaller number and less pronounced sexual dysfunctions were linked to higher extraversion, openness to experience and conscientiousness, and also to lower neuroticism. among healthy individuals, higher extraversion is linked to easier sexual arousal and higher neuroticism to lower orgasm satisfaction.

Personality traits have a significant influence on sexual satisfaction of patients suffering from depression and patients suffering from schizophrenia, but also of healthy individuals.

A single nucleotide polymorphism, rs17070145, in the KIBRA protein, is thought to influence memory function in humans (Papassotiropoulos et al, 2006). We sought to investigate its effect on memory performance in people with Early Onset Schizophrenia (EOS; onset before age of 18) and their first-degree relatives.

53 EOS probands and 117 non-psychotic first-degree relatives were examined on IQ (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised), learning and memory (California Verbal Learning Test; CVLT). the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV yielded four diagnostic groups: EOS probands; relatives with Mood Disorders; other Axis I diagnoses; and no diagnosis (healthy relatives). Analysis of co-variance was performed, with diagnosis and genotype as fixed factors and age as covariate.

Carriers of the rs17070145 T allele achieved higher performance IQ, and recalled more words in short-delayed and long-delayed recall in the CVLT compared to C allele carriers [p< 0.003 and p< 0.009, respectively]. However TT homozygotes made more perseverative errors than C allele carriers [p=0.04]. after applying the Bonferroni for multiple comparisons, a genotype by diagnosis interaction revealed that relatives who were TT homozygotes and had mood disorders performed better on long-delayed recall [p< 0.04] but made more intrusion errors in the CVLT than the CC/CT genotype group.

KIBRA may be involved in:

1. 1. processes that enhance overall competence in non-verbal tasks;

2. 2. phenotypic expression of cognition in mentally unwell relatives of schizophrenia patients.