Obstetric Complications linked to Severe Psychopathology in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, suggests study

Spain: A recent study published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews has revealed that patients with schizophrenia and related disorders who have experienced obstetric complications exhibit a higher clinical symptom burden compared to those without such a history.

“Our findings indicate that obstetric complications (OCs) are linked not only to a higher risk of developing psychosis but also to more severe symptoms,” the researchers wrote. 

Obstetric complications, which include issues such as preeclampsia, low birth weight, and maternal infections during pregnancy, have long been a topic of interest in psychiatric research. Schizophrenia (SZ) is a serious mental health disorder influenced by gene-environment interactions, with obstetric complications increasing the risk of developing the condition. Recent research indicates that OCs may also worsen the symptoms of SZ.

Against the above background, Maria Florencia Forte, Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to thoroughly assess the differences in psychopathology between individuals with and without exposure to OCs with schizophrenia and related disorders.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS to identify eligible studies. They retrieved a total of 4,091 records through systematic and citation searches. Ultimately, 14 studies were included in the review, with 12 meeting the criteria for meta-analysis, involving 2,992 patients.

The investigation yielded the following insights:

  • The analysis indicated that schizophrenia patients exposed to obstetric complications exhibited significantly higher levels of positive symptoms (SMD=0.10), general psychopathology (SMD=0.37), total clinical symptomatology (SMD=0.44), and depressive symptoms (SMD=0.47).
  • There were no significant differences in negative symptomatology or overall functioning.

The results of this meta-analysis indicate a clear link between obstetric complications and more severe symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Patients with a history of OCs showed greater severity in positive symptoms, depressive symptoms, and overall symptom severity compared to those without OCs, but there were no differences in negative symptoms or functional outcomes.

The findings highlight how issues during pregnancy and childbirth can affect the progression of schizophrenia, even in the early stages of the illness. However, due to the limited number of studies available, more research is needed to explore the specifics of stressful perinatal events, including their type and timing, to better understand their impact on individuals with psychosis.

“Recognizing early life complications could serve as a warning sign for future challenges, providing an opportunity to create tailored interventions that improve both clinical and functional outcomes for those affected,” the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Forte, M. F., Oliva, V., De Prisco, M., Garriga, M., Bitanihirwe, B., Alameda, L., González-Segura, À., Vieta, E., Baeza, I., Parellada, E., Penadés, R., Ramos-Quiroga, J., Amoretti, S., Mezquida, G., & Garcia-Rizo, C. (2024). Obstetric complications and psychopathology in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 167, 105913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105913

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Twice-Daily Deuruxolitinib Significantly Improves Alopecia Areata Over 24 Weeks: Study

Researchers found that twice-daily deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi), at an 8 mg dose, significantly improved hair satisfaction of patients with severe alopecia areata over 24 weeks. Alopecia areata represents an autoimmune disorder which may cause thinning hair on the scalp. A recent study presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in September 2024, illustrates the drug deuruxolitinib in the role of a selective inhibitor of Janus Kinase (JAK)-1 and JAK-2. It has been approved by the FDA for treatment among adult patients diagnosed with severe alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata (AA) causes immense suffering for the afflicted patient, mainly because it alters the body image dramatically. Therefore, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited had different types of presentations of key abstracts at the EADV Congress that highlighted the clinical effectiveness and safety of deuruxolitinib. The key objectives of the studies published were the drug’s indication of stimulating capacity towards scalp hair regrowth and increasing patients’ satisfaction with their appearance. Two landmark studies, THRIVE-AA1 and THRIVE-AA2, recently reported the results of this treatment in the largest cohort of patients with severe alopecia areata.

1,223 adults from Canada, the U.S., and Europe were recruited in the two studies. They all had at least 50% loss of scalp hair at the start of the study. The research involved random assignment of the participants to either the treatment group that received 8 mg or 12 mg deuruxolitinib twice a day or the placebo group. Such studies were meant to achieve a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score of 20 or less at week 24, representing a significant reduction from hair loss since a SALT score of 100 represents complete loss of scalp hair and a score of 0 no hair loss at all. The baseline SALT scores for the two trials were THRIVE-AA1 at about 85.9 and THRIVE-AA2 at about 87.9.

  • At Week 24, 95% of the patients in the 8 mg treatment group showed clinically significant hair satisfaction.

  • Both THRIVE-AA1 and THRIVE-AA2 studies confirmed that the patients had significantly important hair regrowth as evidenced by many of the patients that attained a reduction in SALT score.

  • The stated treatment with the dose of 8 mg deuruxolitinib, administered twice a day, is said to have induced quite considerable regrowth of scalp hair as well as improvements in the mental state of those patients who commonly lose hair and experience psychological stress because of it.

Two other posters presented at the EADV Congress covered deuruxolitinib with regards to its therapeutic effect on the improvement of the psychological status of alopecia areata patients. According to the results of the studies, a more significant hair regrowth is correlated with a better emotional well-being profile, with reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Besides, posters were focused on the optimization of the dose for the 8 mg therapy regimen giving an insight into maximizing the therapeutic efficiency with minimal side effects.

Treatment with deuruxolitinib twice daily at 8 mg has proven to induce significant hair satisfaction and subjective improvements in mental well-being in patients suffering from severe alopecia areata for as long as 24 weeks. EADV Congress Study Deuruxolitinib has been proven to be an effective treatment method in improving quality of life for individuals facing such a challenging condition.

Reference:

Sun Pharma Presents New Clinical Efficacy and Safety Data in Severe Dermatological Conditions at the 2024 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress. https://sunpharma.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Press-Release-new-clinical-efficacy-and-safety-data-present-at-the-2024-EADV-Congress.pdf. Presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 25-28 September.

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Katihar Medical College intern attacked with knife, Medicos strike over ongoing threats for 6 months

An intern doctor at Katihar Medical College, Bihar was recently attacked by the local goons when he, along with two of his classmates, went outside the city on their motorcycles to a car showroom.

On their way back on Tuesday, when they stopped for a tea break, they were attacked by some goons. While two of the intern doctors managed to escape from the spot, one was attacked with a knife behind the ear and near the chin. Later, filing a police complaint, the victim medico identified one of the goons as a nursing student from the same medical college.

For more details, click the link below

Katihar Medical College Intern Attacked by Goons- Medicos on Strike Alleging Continous Threats for Last 6 Months

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Doctor challenges NBE order cancelling Post-MBBS diploma admission, HC rejects plea

The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a plea challenging an order issued by the National Board of Examinations holding that it did not have the territorial jurisdiction to adjudicate the same.

NBE had cancelled the admission of the petitioner’s admission to the NBEMS Diploma Course for the 2023 Session, citing delayed joining of the course. When the petitioner challenged the NBE’s order dated 19.09.2024 before the High Court, the HC bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav held that the essential, material and integral cause of action, i.e. the admission of the petitioner, leave application, its acceptance, the joining and leave letter and the subsequent rejection of the candidature- “all have arisen beyond the territorial jurisdiction of this Court”.
For more details, click the link below

Doctor challenges NBE Order Cancelling Post MBBS Diploma Admission, HC junks Plea

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Gujarat Govt raises medical teachers’ salaries to tackle doctors shortage

To address the ongoing shortage of doctors, the Gujarat government on Wednesday announced pay raises for contractual medical teachers in government hospitals associated with medical colleges.

Health Minister Rishikesh Patel said on Wednesday that the state government has decided to increase the monthly salaries of contractual medical teachers by 30 per cent to 55 per cent.

For more details, click the link below

Gujarat Govt announces pay raise for contractual medical teachers

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AI-supported dermatology for darker skin tones, thanks to new data set

In many countries in Africa, up to nine out of ten children suffer from a skin problem, and there are far too few local dermatologists. Artificial intelligence could help with diagnosis, but needs to be trained with the relevant images, so researchers have created a new data set for dark skin tones.

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Different types of teenage friendships critical to well-being as we age, scientists find

Being a teenager is hard, confusing—and crucially important. Scientists studying teenage socializing have found that teenage friendships could lay essential foundations for well-being in later life, and that not just the kinds of friendships teenagers experience but the timing of those friendships is critical.

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Breakdancers may risk ‘headspin hole’ caused by repetitive headspins, doctors warn

Breakdancers may be at risk of developing a condition caused by repeatedly doing a cardinal move of their practice and performance—the headspin—warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports.

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Don’t rely on AI chatbots for accurate, safe drug information, warns study

Patients shouldn’t rely on AI-powered search engines and chatbots to always give them accurate and safe information on drugs, conclude researchers in the journal BMJ Quality & Safety, after finding a considerable number of answers were wrong or potentially harmful.

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Study determines higher dosage of radioembolization to treat liver cancer improves survival rates

A study led by clinician-scientists and researchers from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has determined the benefits of using a higher dosage of radioembolization treatment using yttrium-90 (Y-90) microspheres, than previously recommended, for liver cancer. Patients who received this elevated dose had significantly better outcomes than those who did not. The study results, which are potentially practice changing, were published in the journal Liver Cancer in September 2024.

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