- Serbia
Milica M . Borovcanin
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Faculty Member
- Environmental Sciences, Publisher, International Mangement, Energy and Environment, Knowledge Management, Research Journal of Medical Sciences, and 9 morePharmaceutical Chemistry, Bioinorganic Chemistry, Reproductive Biology, Orthopaedics, Finite Element Analysis, Guilan University of Medical Science, Dynamic Condylar Screw Plate, Subtrochanteric Fracture, and High Tibial Osteotomyedit
- Psychoneuroimmunology, schizophrenia and comorbidityedit
Research Interests:
IntroductionAlthough psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUD) belong to the domain of mental health, their management varies greatly among European countries. Furthermore, both the role of psychiatrists and trainees in the treatment of... more
IntroductionAlthough psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUD) belong to the domain of mental health, their management varies greatly among European countries. Furthermore, both the role of psychiatrists and trainees in the treatment of PSUD is not the same for each European country.AimsAmong the context of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT), the PSUD Working Group has developed a survey that has been spread out between the 15th of august 2015 and 15th of October 2016, at the aim of gathering information about the training in PSUD in Europe, both from Child and Adolescent, and General Adult Psychiatric (CAP and GAP) trainees.ObjectivesThe survey investigated, at European level, the organisation of the PSUD training, trainees satisfaction, attitudes towards people who use psychoactive substances, management of pharmacologic and involvement in common clinical situations.MethodsA 70-items questionnaire regarding the aforementioned objectives was developed, and sha...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In modern clinical practice and research on behavioral changes in patients with oncological problems, there are several one-sided approaches to these problems. Strategies for early detection of behavioral changes are considered, but they... more
In modern clinical practice and research on behavioral changes in patients with oncological problems, there are several one-sided approaches to these problems. Strategies for early detection of behavioral changes are considered, but they must take into account the specifics of the localization and phase in the course and treatment of somatic oncological disease. Behavioral changes, in particular, may correlate with systemic proinflammatory changes. In the up-to-date literature, there are a lot of useful pointers on the relationship between carcinoma and inflammation and between depression and inflammation. This review is intended to provide an overview of these similar underlying inflammatory disturbances in both oncological disease and depression. The specificities of acute and chronic inflammation are considered as a basis for causal current and future therapies. Modern therapeutic oncology protocols may also cause transient behavioral changes, so assessment of the quality, quanti...
Research Interests:
Cognitive impairment may be a consequence of the normal aging process, but it may also be the hallmark of various neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Early identification of individuals at particular risk for cognitive decline is... more
Cognitive impairment may be a consequence of the normal aging process, but it may also be the hallmark of various neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Early identification of individuals at particular risk for cognitive decline is critical, as it is imperative to maintain a cognitive reserve in these neuropsychiatric entities. In recent years, galectin-3 (Gal-3), a member of the galectin family, has received considerable attention with respect to aspects of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The mechanisms behind the putative relationship between Gal-3 and cognitive impairment are not yet clear. Intrigued by this versatile molecule and its unique modular architecture, the latest data on this relationship are presented here. This mini-review summarizes recent findings on the mechanisms by which Gal-3 affects cognitive functioning in both animal and human models. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of Gal-3 in modulating the inflammatory response as a fine-tuner of ...
Uric acid is commonly known for its bad reputation. However, it has been shown that uric acid may be actively involved in neurotoxicity and/or neuroprotection. These effects could be caused by oxidative stress or inflammatory processes... more
Uric acid is commonly known for its bad reputation. However, it has been shown that uric acid may be actively involved in neurotoxicity and/or neuroprotection. These effects could be caused by oxidative stress or inflammatory processes localized in the central nervous system, but also by other somatic diseases or systemic conditions. Our interest was to summarize and link the current data on the possible role of uric acid in cognitive functioning. We also focused on the two putative molecular mechanisms related to the pathological effects of uric acid—oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. The hippocampus is a prominent anatomic localization included in expressing uric acid's potential impact on cognitive functioning. In neurodegenerative and mental disorders, uric acid could be involved in a variety of ways in etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation. Hyperuricemia is non-specifically observed more frequently in the general population and after various somatic illnesses...
Research Interests:
Uric acid (UA) has been shown to have neuroprotective or neurotoxic properties, in relation to specific tissues and diseases that have been studied. Previous studies provided contradictory results on the role of UA in schizophrenia as a... more
Uric acid (UA) has been shown to have neuroprotective or neurotoxic properties, in relation to specific tissues and diseases that have been studied. Previous studies provided contradictory results on the role of UA in schizophrenia as a neurodegenerative disorder. The aim of this brief report was an additional analysis of UA sera levels in different phases of schizophrenia. Here, 86 patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) vs. 45 patients with schizophrenia in relapse (SC in relapse) vs. 35 healthy control subjects (HC) were studied before and 1 month after antipsychotic therapy. Further, we aimed to explore the possible correlation of UA with scores presenting clinical features and with serum concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17. When comparing the data between all three groups, we did not find significant differences in UA levels, either before or after the applied therapy. Also, comparing sera concentrations of UA in every single group, ...
Research Interests:
Background: Although psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUDs) are a domain of mental health, addiction psychiatry is only formally recognized as a subspecialty in a few European countries, and there is no standardized training... more
Background: Although psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUDs) are a domain of mental health, addiction psychiatry is only formally recognized as a subspecialty in a few European countries, and there is no standardized training curriculum.Methods: A 76-item questionnaire was developed and disseminated through an online anonymous data-collecting system and hand-to-hand amongst psychiatric trainees from the 47 European countries of the Council of Europe plus Israel and Belarus.Results: 1,049/1,118 psychiatric trainees from 30 European countries completed the questionnaire. Fifty-nine-point nine percent of trainees stated to have training in addictions. Amongst the trainees who described having training in addictions, 43% documented a not well-structured training and 37% an unsatisfactory training, mainly due to poor acquired knowledge. Overall, 97% of trainees stated that addiction represents a core curriculum for their training. Overall, general adult psychiatric trainees reported...
Research Interests:
Kratak sadržaj Neuroplastičnost je sposobnost mozga da va-skulogenezom, sinaptogenezom i neurogene-zom odgovori na različite stimuluse. Eksperi-mentima na animalnim modelima, dovedena je u pitanje dogma da su u moždanim struk-turama... more
Kratak sadržaj Neuroplastičnost je sposobnost mozga da va-skulogenezom, sinaptogenezom i neurogene-zom odgovori na različite stimuluse. Eksperi-mentima na animalnim modelima, dovedena je u pitanje dogma da su u moždanim struk-turama odraslih nervni putevi fiksni, zaokru-ženi i nepromenljivi. Adultna neurogeneza je kompleksni proces koji počinje proliferacijom progenitornih ćelija, praćen usmeravanjem u određeni neuralni podtip, morfološkim i fizio-loškim sazrevanjem funkcionalnih nervnih karakteristika, a završava se nastajenjem no-vih, funkcionalno integrisanih neurona. Broj-ni fiziološki, patološki i farmakološki, spoljaš-nji i unutrašnji faktori, regulišu sinaptičku in-tegraciju i plastičnost: od neutrotrofina, medi-kamenata, stresa, čak i epi napada, do fizičke aktivnosti, učenja, hormonskog uticaja. Poka-zano je da je neuralna proliferacija stem-ćeli-ja u hipokampusu snižena kod shizofrenih pa-cijenata, što može doprineti rasvetljavanju pa-togeneze ovog mentalnog poremećaja. Ra...
A successful student, by definition, is the one who has mastered a certain level of knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors necessary for further education required by the curriculum. External (environmental) factors and internal... more
A successful student, by definition, is the one who has mastered a certain level of knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors necessary for further education required by the curriculum. External (environmental) factors and internal factors (personality) are the most common factors of school success. Objective. The main objective of this study is to analyze the impact of medical and social factors, as well as the intelligence quotient on school success and to identify other significant factors. Method. For this study we have used the documentation from the Svetozar Markovic Elementary School in Kragujevac, Elementary School in Gornja Sabanta, documentation from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia Kragujevac department, and documentation from the Kragujevac Health Centre pediatric department for the periods: 1996/1997, 1997/1998, 1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, as well as questionnaires for parents an...
Research Interests:
Schizophrenia and treatment of this disorder are often accompanied with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular issues. Alterations in the serum level of innate immune mediators, such as interleukin-33 (IL-33) and its receptor IL-33R (ST2)... more
Schizophrenia and treatment of this disorder are often accompanied with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular issues. Alterations in the serum level of innate immune mediators, such as interleukin-33 (IL-33) and its receptor IL-33R (ST2) and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) were observed in these conditions. Moreover, these parameters are potential prognostic and therapeutic markers. There is also accumulating evidence that these molecules play a role in neuroinflammation. Therefore, in this study we have investigated the serum level of Gal-3, IL-33 and soluble ST2 (sST2) in different stages of schizophrenia. Gal-3 levels were elevated in remission and lower in schizophrenia exacerbation in comparison with controls. Levels of IL-33 and sST2 are higher in schizophrenia exacerbation in comparison with controls and patients in remission. This initial analysis of new markers of neuroinflammation suggested their involvement in schizophrenia pathophysiology and/or cardiometabolic comorbidity.
Research Interests:
Renewing interest in immune aspects of schizophrenia and new findings about the brain-fat axis encourage us to discuss the possible role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in schizophrenia. Previously, it was suggested that a primary alteration of... more
Renewing interest in immune aspects of schizophrenia and new findings about the brain-fat axis encourage us to discuss the possible role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in schizophrenia. Previously, it was suggested that a primary alteration of the innate immune system may be relevant in schizophrenia. Functional dichotomy of IL-6 suggests that this chemical messenger may be responsible for regulating the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses, with tissue-specific properties at the periphery and in the central nervous system. Specific phase of this chronic and deteriorating disorder must be considered, which can involve IL-6 in acute or possible chronic inflammation and/or autoimmunity. We give an overview of IL-6 role in the onset and progression of this disorder, also considering cognitive impairment and metabolic changes in patients with schizophrenia. Data suggest that decreased serum level of IL-6 following antipsychotic therapy could be predisposing factor for the devel...
Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
IntroductionThe interest for academic background and investigational activities are essential in psychiatry. Several European-wide, early career psychiatrists-driven studies have been carried out completely independently, leading to high... more
IntroductionThe interest for academic background and investigational activities are essential in psychiatry. Several European-wide, early career psychiatrists-driven studies have been carried out completely independently, leading to high quality publications, where all the co-authors are junior researchers.ObjectivesTo further elaborate the European federation of psychiatric trainees (EFPT) platform of promoting the experience of collaborative work and research lead by psychiatric trainees in different countries all over Europe.MethodsA review of EFPT collaborative trainee-led research initiatives since the beginning with the focus on published articles and their impact on psychiatric community in Europe.ResultsMain topics of trainee research are related to postgraduate psychiatric training schemes in Europe raising awareness on enhancing and harmonizing standards of psychiatric education and training across Europe. Other research topics are related to treatment strategies while bei...
Research Interests:
IntroductionGalectin-3 (Gal-3) is a unique member of the lectin family involved in cell proliferation, adhesion, apoptosis and immune responses. Deletion of the Gal-3 gene reduces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and variation of... more
IntroductionGalectin-3 (Gal-3) is a unique member of the lectin family involved in cell proliferation, adhesion, apoptosis and immune responses. Deletion of the Gal-3 gene reduces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and variation of gene encoding for Gal-3 already showed to be related with cognitive function. Also, elevated Gal-3 sera levels were measured in patients with Alzheimer's disease.Aims and objectives We measured the serum concentrations of Gal-3 in patients with schizophrenia in remission and try to determine possible correlation of Gal-3 sera levels with clinical parameters, especially cognitive aspects.MethodsIn this pilot study were included patients with schizophrenia in remission on three months stable depot antipsychotic medication (risperidone and paliperidone) (n = 27) and healthy controls (n = 18). Serum levels of Gal-3 were measured using sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, specific for humans (R&D Systems, Minneapolis). Cognition...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
2 Centar za molekulsku medicinu i istraživanje matičnih ćelija, Fakultet medicinskih nauka, Univerzitet u Kragujevcu, Kragujevac, Srbija ABSTRACT e phenomenological uniqueness of each patient with schizophrenia is determined by complex... more
2 Centar za molekulsku medicinu i istraživanje matičnih ćelija, Fakultet medicinskih nauka, Univerzitet u Kragujevcu, Kragujevac, Srbija ABSTRACT e phenomenological uniqueness of each patient with schizophrenia is determined by complex symptomatology, particularly the overlapping of symptoms and their prominence in certain phases of this mental disorder. Establishing biological markers is an important step in the further objectivisation and quantifi cation of schizophrenia. Identifying the cytokine profi les that precede a psychotic episode could direct the strategies for relapse prevention and be useful in predicting disease progression and treatment response. In the context of infl ammation, TGF-β exerts potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions by inhibiting pro-infl ammatory cytokine synthesis, but it can also have pro-infl ammatory functions through its stimula-tory eff ects on infl ammatory 17 cells. It has been shown that the T helper cell type-1 and type-17 re...
: The role of the Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has already been explored in various somatic diseases, considering its engagement in infection, acute and chronic inflammation, and autoimmunity. Additionally, it has been recognized that Gal-3 is... more
: The role of the Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has already been explored in various somatic diseases, considering its engagement in infection, acute and chronic inflammation, and autoimmunity. Additionally, it has been recognized that Gal-3 is included in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, so we presented the possibility for its involvement in neuroprogression in schizophrenia. Gal-3 possibly participates in the early life programming of schizophrenia, also in the specific response to viral infections as a “second hit” later in life, and as a part of a unique systemic somatic dysfunction leading to the specific mental changes. In this review, we would like to put all these previous observations of Gal-3 properties in the context of schizophrenia onset, clinical symptoms presentation, frequent somatic comorbid states, and future options for Gal-3 centered treatment in schizophrenia.
Dysregulation of the type 17 immune pathway has already been considered in schizophrenia and we previously measured decreased sera values of interleukin (IL)-17 in early stages. We further explored the possible correlation of IL-17... more
Dysregulation of the type 17 immune pathway has already been considered in schizophrenia and we previously measured decreased sera values of interleukin (IL)-17 in early stages. We further explored the possible correlation of IL-17 systemic levels with proinflammatory cytokines and cognitive scores and additionally analyzed the percentage of IL-17 producing lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with stable schizophrenia. We included 27 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (F20), after a three-month stable depot antipsychotic therapy (risperidone or paliperidone) and 18 healthy control subjects. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia and the Montreal-Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were conducted. Sera concentrations of IL-17, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and soluble ST2 receptor (sST2) were measured. Flow cytometry and Natural Killer (NK) and T cell analyses were done in 10 patients and 10 healthy controls. Moderate positive correlation was established...
Research Interests:
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family and plays an important role in neuroplasticity, differentiation and survival of neurons, as well as their function. Neuroinflammation has been explored in the... more
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family and plays an important role in neuroplasticity, differentiation and survival of neurons, as well as their function. Neuroinflammation has been explored in the pathophysiology of many mental disorders, such as schizophrenia. Cytokines representing different types of immune responses have an impact on neurogenesis and BDNF expression. Cross-regulation of BDNF and cytokines is accomplished through several signalling pathways. Also, typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs variously modulate the expression of BDNF and serum levels of cytokines, which can possibly be used in evaluation of therapy effectiveness. Comorbidity of metabolic syndrome and atopic diseases has been considered in the context of BDNF and cytokines interplay in schizophrenia.
Previous researches have shown that patients with schizophrenia who were using antipsychotics in their treatment developed changes in Bone Mineral Density and body composition, leading to osteoporosis and modifications in weight, skeletal... more
Previous researches have shown that patients with schizophrenia who were using antipsychotics in their treatment developed changes in Bone Mineral Density and body composition, leading to osteoporosis and modifications in weight, skeletal muscle mass index and percent of fat tissue. Results of many studies suggested that the use of antipsychotic causes hyperprolactinemia and consequently lower bone mineral density values were observed. Further, antipsychotics increase food intake and have possible effects on metabolism, causing changes in weight, glucose level and lipid status, all of which can be a risk for developing metabolic syndrome and result in changing of bone mineral density. Antipsychotics change cytokine profi les in patients with schizophrenia and on the other hand the influence of T cells, B cells and inflammatory cytokines on osteoclasts and on osteoblasts was also established. In assessing the effects of antipsychotic on bone metabolism very important is to consider t...
The purpose of this study was to examine functional capacity of cardio-respiratory system in patients with schizophrenia, and to evaluate the effects of 12 weeks prescribed physical activity on aerobic capacity and symptoms of... more
The purpose of this study was to examine functional capacity of cardio-respiratory system in patients with schizophrenia, and to evaluate the effects of 12 weeks prescribed physical activity on aerobic capacity and symptoms of schizophrenia. Study involved 80 hospitalized patients with any of the subtypes of schizophrenia (42 men, 38 women). They were divided into two groups: exercise and control group, both with 40 patients. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max) as an indicator of cardiovascular fitness has been obtained by cardiopulmonary stress test on a treadmill. Twelve weeks program of prescribed physical activity (45 minutes, four times per week) was made for every patient individually. Patients in exercise group practiced in training zone between 65 and 75% of their maximum heart rate (HR). Target HR was controlled by Polar F4 monitors. Symptoms of schizophrenia were measured by using Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS). Before the exercise program was introduced, meas...
Research Interests:
Background/Aim. Intravenous drug users (IDUs) are still a high risk-group for cross-reacting blood-borne infections, for vertical pathogen transmission as well as for potentially blood/plasma donation (especially as ?paid? donors). The... more
Background/Aim. Intravenous drug users (IDUs) are still a high risk-group for cross-reacting blood-borne infections, for vertical pathogen transmission as well as for potentially blood/plasma donation (especially as ?paid? donors). The aim of our study was to establish the profile of opiate addict and prevalence of blood-borne pathogens ? Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among 99 patients on substitution therapy with methadone and buprenorphine from Sumadia District. Methods. The Treatment Demand Indicator (TDI) of Pompidou-questionnaire was used to assess the history of drug abuse and risk behavior. All blood samples were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and HIV antigen/antibody (HIVAg/ Ab) by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) or Chemiluminescent Immuno-Assay (CIA). Investigations were also performed for HBV, HCV and HIV by molecular testing ? Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. R...
Insomnia is a condition of inadequate quality or quantity of sleep that has extremely adverse effects on daytime activities. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life in patients with primary insomnia before and after a... more
Insomnia is a condition of inadequate quality or quantity of sleep that has extremely adverse effects on daytime activities. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life in patients with primary insomnia before and after a 3-week treatment with lorazepam (n=20) and zolpidem (n=21) and to compare the potential differences in dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes regarding patients’ sleep between the two groups. The diagnosis of primary insomnia was established using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision criteria, and patients had to complete a specially designed sleep log every day; on scheduled visits, we also administered a Visual Analogue Scale for quality of life and a self-evaluation questionnaire about Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes related to Sleep at the beginning and end of this study.In summary, the examinees in our study had significantly decreased parameters of quality of life, quite lower than expected bas...
The therapeutic potential of cannabis has been known for centuries. Cannabinoids express their effects through two types of receptors, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). Present studies indicate that... more
The therapeutic potential of cannabis has been known for centuries. Cannabinoids express their effects through two types of receptors, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). Present studies indicate that cannabis-based drugs can make a positive impact in the treatment of different diseases. For many years, multiple sclerosis patients have self-medicated with illegal street cannabis to alleviate spasticity, a common and debilitating symptom that impairs quality of life.Nabiximols is the cannabis-based medicine approved in many countries as an add-on therapy for symptom improvement in patients with spasticity who have not responded adequately to other medications. Adverse events such as dizziness, diarrhoea, fatigue, nausea, headache and somnolence occur quite frequently with nabiximols, but they are generally of mild-to-moderate intensity and their incidence can be markedly reduced by gradual uptitration. The prerequisite for the therapeutic use of cannabis in...
The phenomenological uniqueness of each patient with schizophrenia is determined by complex symptomatology, particularly the overlapping of symptoms and their prominence in certain phases of this mental disorder. Establishing biological... more
The phenomenological uniqueness of each patient with schizophrenia is determined by complex symptomatology, particularly the overlapping of symptoms and their prominence in certain phases of this mental disorder. Establishing biological markers is an important step in the further objectivisation and quantification of schizophrenia. Identifying the cytokine profiles that precede a psychotic episode could direct the strategies for relapse prevention and be useful in predicting disease progression and treatment response. In the context of infl ammation, TGF-β exerts potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis, but it can also have pro-inflammatory functions through its stimulatory effects on inflammatory Th17 cells. It has been shown that the T helper cell type-1 and type-17 responses are reduced and type-2 response is increased in patients with schizophrenia. Both data from the literature and our results also indicate the ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Neuroscience and Covid-19
Background. Although psychoactive substance use disorders are a domain of mental health, addiction psychiatry is only formally recognized as a subspecialty in few European countries, and there is no standardized training curriculum.... more
Background. Although psychoactive substance use disorders are a domain of mental health, addiction psychiatry is only formally recognized as a subspecialty in few European countries, and there is no standardized training curriculum. Methods. A 76-item questionnaire was developed and disseminated through an online anonymous data-collecting system and hand-to-hand amongst psychiatric trainees in Europe from the 47 European countries of the Council of Europe plus Israel and Belarus. Results. 1,049/1,118 psychiatric trainees from 30 European countries completed the questionnaire. Fifty-nine-point nine percent of trainees stated to have training in addictions. Amongst the trainees who documented training in addictions, 43% documented a not well-structured training whilst 37% an unsatisfied training, mainly due to poor acquired knowledge. Overall, 97% of trainees stated that addiction represents a core curriculum for their training. Overall, general adult psychiatric trainees documented a better knowledge in addictions, compared to trainees in child and adolescent psychiatry. Conclusion. Despite a growing spread of psychoactive substance use disorders in European countries, addiction psychiatry is a relatively poorly trained field within psychiatry training program. Further research should investigate motivations of poor training and timings of educational activities to optimize experiential education training in addiction psychiatry.
Research Interests:
The phenomenological uniqueness of each patient with schizophrenia is determined by complex symptomatology, particularly the overlapping of symptoms and their prominence in certain phases of this mental disorder. Establishing biological... more
The phenomenological uniqueness of each patient with schizophrenia is determined by complex symptomatology, particularly the overlapping of symptoms and their prominence in certain phases of this mental disorder. Establishing biological markers is an important step in the further objectivisation and quantification of schizophrenia. Identifying the cytokine profiles that precede a psychotic episode could direct the strategies for relapse prevention and be useful in predicting disease progression and treatment response. In the context of infl ammation, TGF-β exerts potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis, but it can also have pro-inflammatory functions through its stimulatory effects on inflammatory Th17 cells. It has been shown that the T helper cell type-1 and type-17 responses are reduced and type-2 response is increased in patients with schizophrenia. Both data from the literature and our results also indicate the presence of an anti-inflammatory response through production of the TGF-β regulatory cytokine. A meta-analysis of plasma cytokine alterations suggested that TGF-β is the state marker for acute exacerbation of schizophrenia, and we showed that TGF-β can also be a valuable marker for psychosis. Hyperactivity of TGF-β signalling pathways in schizophrenia may be both a neuroprotective mechanism and a possible therapeutic target.
Renewing interest in immune aspects of schizophrenia and new findings about the brain-fat axis encourage us to discuss the possible role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in schizophrenia. Previously, it was suggested that a primary alteration of... more
Renewing interest in immune aspects of schizophrenia and new findings about the brain-fat axis encourage us to discuss the possible role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in schizophrenia. Previously, it was suggested that a primary alteration of the innate immune system may be relevant in schizophrenia. Functional dichotomy of IL-6 suggests that this chemical messenger may be responsible for regulating the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses, with tissue-specific properties at the periphery and in the central nervous system. Specific phase of this chronic and deteriorating disorder must be considered, which can involve IL-6 in acute or possible chronic inflammation and/or autoimmunity. We give an overview of IL-6 role in the onset and progression of this disorder, also considering cognitive impairment and metabolic changes in patients with schizophrenia. Data suggest that decreased serum level of IL-6 following antipsychotic therapy could be predisposing factor for the development of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders in schizophrenia. As we reviewed, the IL-6 plays significant role in disease genesis and progression, so the use of specific inhibitors may not only be beneficial for exacerbation and alleviation of positive symptoms, but may attenuate cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia and treatment of this disorder are often accompanied with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular issues. Alterations in the serum level of innate immune mediators, such as interleukin-33 (IL-33) and its receptor IL-33R (ST2)... more
Schizophrenia and treatment of this disorder are often accompanied with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular issues. Alterations in the serum level of innate immune mediators, such as interleukin-33 (IL-33) and its receptor IL-33R (ST2) and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) were observed in these conditions. Moreover, these parameters are potential prognostic and therapeutic markers. There is also accumulating evidence that these molecules play a role in neuroinflammation. Therefore, in this study we have investigated the serum level of Gal-3, IL-33 and soluble ST2 (sST2) in different stages of schizophrenia. Gal-3 levels were elevated in remission and lower in schizophrenia exacerbation in comparison with controls. Levels of IL-33 and sST2 are higher in schizophrenia exacerbation in comparison with controls and patients in remission. This initial analysis of new markers of neuroinflammation suggested their involvement in schizophrenia pathophysiology and/or cardiometabolic comorbidity. HIGHLIGHTS-Gal-3 serum levels are elevated in remission and lower in schizophrenia exacerbation.-IL-33 and sST2 serum levels are higher in schizophrenia exacerbation.-sST2 serum levels negatively correlate with N subscore in acute psychosis.-sST2 serum levels negatively correlate with cholesterol in relapse and positively with CK-MB in schizophrenia remission.
DESCRIPTION Bioloske osnove anksioznosti i novine u psihofarmakoloskom tretmanu anksioznih poremecaja
Neuroplastičnost je sposobnost mozga da va-skulogenezom, sinaptogenezom i neurogene-zom odgovori na različite stimuluse. Eksperi-mentima na animalnim modelima, dovedena je u pitanje dogma da su u moždanim struk-turama odraslih nervni... more
Neuroplastičnost je sposobnost mozga da va-skulogenezom, sinaptogenezom i neurogene-zom odgovori na različite stimuluse. Eksperi-mentima na animalnim modelima, dovedena je u pitanje dogma da su u moždanim struk-turama odraslih nervni putevi fiksni, zaokru-ženi i nepromenljivi. Adultna neurogeneza je kompleksni proces koji počinje proliferacijom progenitornih ćelija, praćen usmeravanjem u određeni neuralni podtip, morfološkim i fizio-loškim sazrevanjem funkcionalnih nervnih karakteristika, a završava se nastajenjem no-vih, funkcionalno integrisanih neurona. Broj-ni fiziološki, patološki i farmakološki, spoljaš-nji i unutrašnji faktori, regulišu sinaptičku in-tegraciju i plastičnost: od neutrotrofina, medi-kamenata, stresa, čak i epi napada, do fizičke aktivnosti, učenja, hormonskog uticaja. Poka-zano je da je neuralna proliferacija stem-ćeli-ja u hipokampusu snižena kod shizofrenih pa-cijenata, što može doprineti rasvetljavanju pa-togeneze ovog mentalnog poremećaja. Rasve-tljavanje e...