Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Chang-Chun Wu, Lee-Chin Wong, Chia-Jui Hsu, Chianne-Wen Yang, Ying-Chieh Tsai, Feng-Shiang Cheng, Hsiao-Yun Hu, Wang-Tso Lee
Summary: The study suggests that probiotics may not reduce tics in children with Tourette syndrome, but they may benefit comorbidities such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Further research is needed to clarify the effects of probiotics on the comorbidities of Tourette syndrome children.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lilach Rachamim, Hila Mualem-Taylor, Osnat Rachamim, Michael Rotstein, Sharon Zimmerman-Brenner
Summary: This study found that in children and adolescents with tic disorders, both the presence of ADHD and the absence of comorbid ADHD were associated with similar reductions in tic symptoms after internet-delivered, self-help comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (ICBIT). However, the presence of OCD comorbidity was associated with a lesser response to intervention. Furthermore, the intervention also led to significant reductions in parental reports of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Larger studies are needed to further optimize the application of ICBIT in children and teens with both tic disorders and comorbid ADHD and OCD.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Natalia Szejko, Kirsten R. Muller-Vahl
Summary: Tourette syndrome (TS) is characterized by vocal and motor tics, often accompanied by psychiatric comorbidities. Differential diagnosis between tics and OCD-related phenomena can be challenging, as some symptoms may overlap. "Just right" phenomena are common in patients with TS, showing similarities with both tics and OCD. Treatment strategies for tics and OCD in TS patients should take into consideration these complexities.
NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISEASE AND TREATMENT
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Azadeh Kushki, Robyn E. Cardy, Sina Panahandeh, Mahan Malihi, Christopher Hammill, Jessica Brian, Alana Iaboni, Margot J. Taylor, Russell Schachar, Jennifer Crosbie, Paul Arnold, Elizabeth Kelley, Muhammad Ayub, Robert Nicolson, Stelios Georgiades, Jason P. Lerch, Evdokia Anagnostou
Summary: The study discovered associations between social communication abilities and distributed cortical and subcortical networks implicated in social behaviors, language, attention, memory, and executive functions, as well as three data-driven, diagnosis-agnostic subgroups based on the patterns of association in these networks.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jose Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo, Marlene Alonso-Juarez, Joseph Jankovic
Summary: This study found that dystonic tics are present in about a third of patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) and are associated with increased severity of TS.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Justyna Kaczynska, Piotr Janik
Summary: This study evaluated the prevalence, age of onset, and clinical correlates of blocking tics (BTs) in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). BTs represent early and common symptoms of GTS, associated with a more severe form of the syndrome.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Diane Seguin, Sara Pac, Jianan Wang, Rob Nicolson, Julio Martinez-Trujillo, Evdokia Anagnostou, Jason P. Lerch, Christopher Hammill, Russell Schachar, Jennifer Crosbie, Elizabeth Kelley, Muhammad Ayub, Jessica Brian, Xudong Liu, Paul D. Arnold, Stelios Georgiades, Emma G. Duerden
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between amygdala subnuclei volumes and anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The findings suggest that larger volumes of certain amygdala subnuclei are associated with higher anxiety scores in children with ASD and OCD, indicating the potential of using amygdala subnuclei volumes as markers for identifying children at high risk for anxiety in neurodevelopmental disorders.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jose Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo, Joseph Jankovic
Summary: The study found a sexual dimorphism in patients with TS mainly before the age of 18, with males more likely to exhibit complex motor tics and ADHD in comparison to females. This suggests an earlier onset of symptoms in males.
Article
Psychiatry
Sharon Morein-Zamir, Michael Kasese, Samuel R. Chamberlain, Estherina Trachtenberg
Summary: Research has found a high frequency of hoarding symptoms in patients with ADHD, with inattention being a significant predictor of hoarding severity. Despite the potential impact on everyday functioning, individuals with ADHD do not typically disclose associated difficulties, highlighting the importance of routine assessment for HD in this population. Further research on HD in younger adults with ADHD is needed, as they differ in demographics from typical HD samples.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Tamara Pringsheim, Elaheh Nosratmirshekarlou, Asif Doja, Davide Martino
Summary: This study found that children with more severe tic symptoms had worse sleep quality, more sedentary activity time, and less light, moderate, and vigorous activity time. There was a significant negative correlation between physical activity and severity of tic, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, anxiety, and depression. Subjective sleep quality was positively correlated with symptom severity, especially with ADHD severity.
EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Masahiro Miyauchi, Naomi Matsuura, Keiichiro Mukai, Takuya Hashimoto, Shun Ogino, Kyosuke Yamanishi, Hisashi Yamada, Kazuhisa Hayashida, Hisato Matsunaga
Summary: This study investigated the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adult patients. The results showed that patients with ADHD had more severe symptoms, lower quality of life, and less improvement after treatment compared to those without ADHD or its traits.
COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Kayoko Isomura, Anna Sidorchuk, Laura Sevilla-Cermeno, Torbjorn Akerstedt, Maria Silverberg-Morse, Henrik Larsson, David Mataix-Cols, Lorena Fernandez de la Cruz
Summary: The study found a significantly higher prevalence of insomnia in Tourette syndrome (TS) and chronic tic disorder (CTD), which is associated with familial factors, neurodevelopmental comorbidities, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/medication. Insomnia should be routinely assessed and managed in TS/CTD patients.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Sini Sulkama, Jenni Puurunen, Milla Salonen, Salla Mikkola, Emma Hakanen, Cesar Araujo, Hannes Lohi
Summary: Research indicates that higher levels of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention are more common in young, male dogs who spend more time alone at home. Additionally, different breeds of dogs show genetic differences in hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention. Hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention in dogs often co-occur with compulsive behavior, aggressiveness, and fearfulness.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sara Marceglia, Marco Prenassi, Tommaso F. Galbiati, Mauro Porta, Edvin Zekaj, Alberto Priori, Domenico Servello
Summary: The study found that the 5-15Hz band is a significant biomarker of TS, related to the severity of tics and the long-term response on OCBs. This represents a step towards understanding the mechanisms underlying DBS effects in TS and the development of adaptive DBS strategies.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Kyoko Hoshino, Masaharu Hayashi, Asayo Ishizaki, Kazue Kimura, Masaya Kubota, Atsuo Nezu, Akihiro Yasuhara
Summary: A survey conducted in Japan showed that very-low-dose levodopa therapy (VLDT) is widely used for treating behavioral and motor symptoms in pediatric neurological disorders, with high safety and low incidence of adverse events. The results suggest that VLDT may have a role in DARSS and is recognized and chosen by doctors. Further studies with broader participants are recommended.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Book Review
Psychiatry
Andrea E. Cavanna
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Andrea E. Cavanna, Giulia Purpura, Anna Riva, Renata Nacinovich, Stefano Seri
Summary: Stoic philosophy has direct relevance to the clinical care of patients with neuropsychiatric conditions and has influenced the development of cognitive behavioral therapies.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Andrea Maugeri, Martina Barchitta, Giuliana Favara, Claudia La Mastra, Maria Clara La Rosa, Roberta Magnano San Lio, Antonella Agodi
Summary: In recent decades, researchers have used different multivariate techniques to analyze multidimensional dietary datasets and identify meaningful patterns of dietary habits. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis are the two most commonly used techniques, either separately or in parallel. In this study, a workflow combining PCA, hierarchical clustering, and a K-means algorithm is proposed for deriving dietary patterns. However, subjective decisions in the workflow may influence the final clustering solution, so alternative approaches are provided. The proposed approach, referred to as clustering on principal components, disentangles dietary data better than simple clustering algorithms and can be valuable for leveraging the strengths of each method.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andrea Maugeri, Martina Barchitta, Federico Puglisi, Antonella Agodi
Summary: This ecological analysis examines the relationship between demographic, economic, governance, health, and freedom characteristics of 30 European countries and antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The study finds that the governance index has a significant impact on both antibiotic consumption and AMR proportion. However, reducing antibiotic use alone is unlikely to solve the AMR problem, and more interventions are needed to improve governance efficiency.
GLOBALIZATION AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Martina Barchitta, Roberta Magnano San Lio, Maria Clara La Rosa, Claudia La Mastra, Giuliana Favara, Giuliana Ferrante, Fabiola Galvani, Elisa Pappalardo, Carla Ettore, Giuseppe Ettore, Antonella Agodi, Andrea Maugeri
Summary: Limited evidence exists on the effects of maternal dietary patterns on birth weight, and most studies conducted so far did not adjust their findings for gestational age and sex, leading to potentially biased conclusions. In this study, a novel method was applied to derive dietary patterns among pregnant women and evaluate the associations with birth weight for gestational age. The findings suggest that adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern is associated with an increased likelihood of having a large for gestational age newborn.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Federica Saia, Adriana Prato, Lucia Saccuzzo, Francesca Madia, Rita Barone, Marco Fichera, Renata Rizzo
Summary: This study aimed to understand the molecular bases of Tourette syndrome (TS) in a large cohort of pediatric patients. Molecular analyses, including array-CGH analyses, were conducted to identify and compare copy number variations (CNVs) related to neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric disorders. The study found a higher occurrence of rare deletions and duplications focusing on significant neurodevelopment genes in children with tics and additional comorbidities.
Article
Psychiatry
Clare M. Eddy
Summary: The Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (RMET) is a widely used test of social cognition that measures mental state judgments based on photographs of human eyes. The test can identify impairments in individuals with psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the interpretation of task performance is limited without the use of control tasks. A new Non-human Animal RMET (NARMET) was developed using photographs of domestic cat and dog eyes, showing promise as an assessment tool for social cognitive skills in neuropsychiatric populations.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Maugeri, Martina Barchitta, Roberta Magnano San Lio, Antonella Agodi
Summary: A positive linear association was found between temperature change and antimicrobial resistance rates, but this association disappeared when adjusting for economic and governance factors. Instead, antibiotic consumption, population density, and governance efficiency were identified as the main predictors of antimicrobial resistance. Ensuring appropriate antibiotic use and improving governance efficiency are effective strategies to counteract antimicrobial resistance.
Article
Biology
Salvatore Pezzino, Maria Sofia, Chiara Mazzone, Sergio Castorina, Stefano Puleo, Martina Barchitta, Antonella Agodi, Luisa Gallo, Gaetano La Greca, Saverio Latteri
Summary: There is increasing evidence linking dysbiosis of the gut microbiome to the etiopathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have shown promise in restoring dysbiosis and improving clinical indicators of disease. Additionally, postbiotics and parabiotics have gained attention as potential therapeutic options. This bibliometric analysis aims to evaluate recent publishing trends on the role of the gut microbiome in NAFLD, NASH, and cirrhosis, and its connection with various biotics.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
M. Barchitta, A. Maugeri, G. Favara, R. Magnano San Lio, M. C. La Rosa, F. D'Ancona, A. Agodi
Summary: This study describes the trends of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in Italian intensive care units (ICUs) and compares the characteristics and outcomes of patients with or without COVID-19. The study found that the incidence and density of HAIs are increasing, with higher incidence among COVID-19 patients and a higher risk of death.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Roberta Magnano San Lio, Martina Barchitta, Andrea Maugeri, Serafino Quartarone, Guido Basile, Antonella Agodi
Summary: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a standard treatment for gallstone patients, but there are multiple risk factors that can lead to conversion to open surgery. This systematic review examines the main factors associated with conversion and finds that male gender, age over 60, acute cholecystitis, diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, obesity, and previous upper abdominal surgery increase the likelihood of conversion. Understanding these preoperative factors can help improve surgical planning and post-operative recovery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Federica Saia, Adriana Prato, Caterina Angela Florio, Vincenzo Paolo Cutrone, Renata Rizzo
Summary: This article reports on a new case of the 17q21.31 microduplication syndrome and provides a literature review of previously studied patients.
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Clare M. Eddy
Summary: Narcissistic Personality Disorder is associated with social cognition, with cognitive empathy appearing unlikely to be impaired while affective empathy may be reduced. Those with grandiose narcissism rate their empathic skills higher than those with vulnerable narcissism, but objective measures are rare. Narcissism may utilize social cognitive skills for self-serving purposes, but further research is needed to explore performance on a wider range of emotion recognition and theory of mind tasks, as well as whether excessive jealousy and paranoia reflect hyper-mentalizing.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
