<![CDATA[Clinicians empower schizophrenia patients with shared decisions and flexible treatment options—oral, long-acting injectable, or transdermal—to improve adherence, trust, and remission potential.]]>
Manchester Met wins funding to boost AI health innovation
Manchester Metropolitan University will promote AI for business and the development of wearable health technologies through funding awarded by UK Research and Innovation’s Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF). The funding will support two initiatives: Grow AI, which aims to accelerate AI adoption among businesses, and GM-WIC, which will bring together the NHS, universities, businesses and […]
<![CDATA[Explore how the asenapine transdermal patch helps schizophrenia care with steadier dosing, fewer side effects, and new options beyond sublingual pills.]]>
Dynamic changes of gut microbiota during progression of three Alzheimer’s disease mice models
IntroductionAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related and progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairment and irreversible neuronal degeneration, affecting approximately 55 million individuals worldwide. Despite extensive research efforts, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of AD remain incompletely understood, and effective therapeutic strategies for preventing or delaying disease progression are still lacking. Increasing evidence suggests that the microbiota-gut-brain axis plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. However, the dynamic alterations of gut microbiota during AD progression across different transgenic mouse models remain poorly characterized.MethodsIn the present study, we investigated age-dependent changes in gut microbiota composition in three commonly used AD mouse models, including APP/PS1, 3xTg, and 5xFAD mice, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Fecal samples were collected longitudinally at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months of age to evaluate microbial diversity, community structure, and differential bacterial taxa during aging and disease progression.ResultsOur results demonstrated distinct and model-dependent alterations in gut microbiota composition across different stages of AD progression. Significant changes in microbial diversity and bacterial community structure were observed among the three AD mouse models and wild-type controls. In particular, dynamic alterations in Verrucomicrobiota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota were consistently identified during aging in AD mice. In addition, β-diversity, Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), and correlation network analyses further revealed differential microbial signatures associated with different AD mouse models and age stages.DiscussionOverall, our findings provide additional evidence that gut microbiota composition undergoes dynamic alterations during aging in multiple AD mouse models and may be associated with AD-related progression. This study may contribute to a better understanding of microbiota-associated changes during AD development and provide a basis for future mechanistic studies targeting the microbiota-gutbrain axis in AD.
Contemporary pharmacological strategies for acute peripheral facial palsy: a narrative review with clinical decision considerations
Acute peripheral facial palsy (APFP) sometimes known as Bell’s palsy is a common neurological condition and is marked by the acute onset of lower motor weakness on one side of the face. Whereas spontaneous recovery is widespread, there is a significant rate of incomplete recovery, synkinesis, or enduring functional and psychosocial disability of patients. The past decades witnessed the improvement of the diagnostic and therapeutic plans, particularly the pharmacological and adjunctive ones, due to the developments in pathophysiological and clinical trials and the creation of guidelines. This narrative review summarizes the existing evidence on the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of APFP, particularly corticosteroid disease treatment, antiviral medication, combination therapy, adjunct, and rehabilitative therapies, and the future of precision medicine. Randomised controlled trials and high-quality systematic reviews have shown evidence in support of the early initiation of systemic corticosteroids within 72 h of symptom onset as the foundation of treatment practice, improving the likelihood of achieving full facial nerve recovery and less morbidity in the long run. Conversely, antiviral monotherapy has not demonstrated significant clinical benefit with combination therapy with antivirals potentially presenting some benefit to older patients and with severe cases of paralysis. New data highlight the significance of risk stratification, electrophysiological testing, and focal rehabilitation to maximize the results and reduce the sequelae. The developments in artificial intelligence, the work on biomarkers and adaptive clinical trial designs will likely enable more personalized prognostication and treatment choice. In general, a shift towards precision risk-based approaches to the management of acute peripheral facial palsy is also being considered and emerging diagnostic strategies, promotion of the use of corticosteroids as early as possible and focused adjunctive operations that are tailored to a child are becoming the key to improving functional outcomes in the long term.
Physical bacteria–neuron proximity and early cellular responses: a conceptual perspective
Recent experimental observations obtained in reduced in vitro systems have reported direct proximity between bacteria and neuronal cells associated with intracellular Ca2+ dynamics and transcriptomic alterations. In particular, studies involving Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and primary cortical neuronal cultures have described bacterial adhesion to neuronal surfaces together with modulation of neuroplasticity-associated proteins and gene networks related to cellular signaling and neuronal regulation. Current models of the microbiota–gut–brain axis primarily emphasize indirect communication mediated through metabolites, immune pathways, neuroendocrine signaling, vagal pathways, extracellular vesicles, and soluble mediators. Although these mechanisms possess substantial explanatory value, certain early cellular responses observed under conditions of direct bacteria–neuron proximity may not be fully interpretable exclusively through soluble signaling mechanisms. This manuscript proposes a conceptual perspective in which the neuronal membrane is considered a dynamic cellular interface potentially sensitive to localized mechanical, physicochemical, or membrane-associated perturbations generated under conditions of direct biological proximity. Within this context, intracellular Ca2+ dynamics are interpreted as possible early cellular responses that may emerge in association with membrane-associated perturbation. Potential candidate mechanisms including mechanosensitive ion channels, localized membrane perturbation, adhesion-associated signaling, cytoskeletal remodeling, membrane reorganization, and local physicochemical microenvironmental alterations are discussed together with alternative explanations involving soluble mediators, immune activation, extracellular vesicles, osmotic or ionic perturbations, and generalized cellular stress responses. Importantly, the currently available evidence derives exclusively from reduced experimental systems and does not establish physiological relevance or demonstrated neuromodulation in vivo. Rather than proposing an alternative model of microbiota–brain communication, this perspective aims to refine interpretation of emerging neurobacterial interface observations by defining experimentally testable hypotheses and mechanistically plausible questions for future investigation.
Correction: Positive effect of microvascular proliferation on functional recovery in experimental cervical spondylotic myelopathy
Applications of machine learning algorithms to detect digital addiction: a meta-analysis
Digital addiction (DA) has emerged as a significant global concern, yet traditional diagnostic methods relying on self-report questionnaires face subjective bias and threshold inconsistencies. Recent advances in machine learning (ML) offer promising alternatives for automated DA detection. This study conducted a systematic meta-analysis of 64 eligible studies (75 independent datasets; N = 165,624), employing both single-group proportion and bivariate diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) models. The pooled classification accuracy was 0.87 (95% CI [0.85, 0.90]), and the DTA framework yielded a robust AUC of 0.92, with balanced sensitivity and specificity (both 0.86). Subgroup analyses showed high accuracy across subtypes, particularly for internet (0.90) and social media addiction (0.86). Accuracy was comparable between survey-based and physiological data, though physiological markers demonstrated superior specificity (0.90). These findings underscore the potential of ML-driven tools as scalable screening instruments while emphasizing the need for representative sampling and standardized diagnostic criteria to advance digital mental health practice.
The impacts of a justice-focused body image program for early adolescents
To address gaps in universal, diversity-focused eating disorders prevention with early adolescents, our team co-created an evidence-informed body image intervention through a community-engaged, participatory research process. The Body Justice intervention and associated research were co-created by a team of middle school students and staff and undergraduate students and faculty in the Pacific Northwest United States. The intervention includes eight brief lessons (six hours total) with culturally-tailored content rooted in cognitive dissonance and media literacy (e.g., cultural appearance ideals, diversity representation within media, food culture). The intervention was delivered with 7th grade students over three years (N = 333; 49% students of color; 53% cisgender boys, 36% cisgender girls, 12% gender diverse; 27% sexually diverse) using college student leaders (near peers) and middle school student co-leaders. Student satisfaction immediately after the intervention was moderate overall and higher for students of color, sexually diverse students, and cisgender girls and gender diverse students compared to their peers with majority identities. Across the sample, there was a significant reduction in unhealthy weight control behaviors from baseline to two-month follow-up with similar improvement among subgroups except for students of color, who had smaller reductions over time compared to their white peers. Across the sample, there was a significant reduction in internalized appearance norms from pre to post-intervention and through follow-up. These reductions were similar across gender, but the change was significant only for white students and straight students. There was no overall improvement in perceived appearance pressure from social media over time, but subgroup analyses revealed that students of color experienced improvement over time unlike other subgroups. In general, subgroup analyses should be interpreted cautiously due to concerns about adequate power. These results suggest that the Body Justice curriculum was delivered effectively and was well-liked by middle school students with marginalized identities. While aspects of the intervention were beneficial (e.g., a reduction in unhealthy weight control behaviors over time), findings suggest potentially differential results across identity subgroups. This has implications for collaborative school-based research, body image and eating disorders prevention, and community-engaged methods to foster equity.
Gender-specific symptom outcomes on cariprazine treatment: a 12-month naturalistic longitudinal follow-up study in schizophrenia
IntroductionA growing body of literature is focusing on third-generation antipsychotics and their unique characteristics, but few studies have examined gender as a crucial factor in response profiles. The present study aims to address this gap by analyzing the outcomes of 12-month naturalistic treatment with cariprazine to elucidate changes in specific psychopathological domains between men and women.MethodsThe present 12-month longitudinal naturalistic study involved a sample of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM-5-TR treated with cariprazine at the outpatients’ psychiatric services of a major university and community hospitals in Italy. The assessments conducted included sociodemographic data, the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 (SCID-5), and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) Total and Subscale scores, as well as the PANSS-derived Marder factors. The PANSS was administered at three time points: before starting the treatment with cariprazine (T0), after 6 months (T1), and after 12 months (T2).ResultsFifteen male and 17 female subjects were assessed at the three time points. The mean dose of cariprazine was 4.2 ± 1.3 mg for men and 4.0 ± 1.5 mg for women. Both genders exhibited improvements in all PANSS subscale symptoms after 6 and 12 months of cariprazine treatment compared to the baseline, with the only exception of the Uncontrolled hostility/excitement Marder factor among men. Progressive improvements through time points in symptom subscales were found in both sexes, reaching numerical differences in every PANSS subscale in both sexes at T2. Gender specifc response profiles emerged after 6 and 12 months of treatment in the PANSS subscales and items in men and women.DiscussionCariprazine exhibited significant efficacy in both sexes, with no significant differences between men and women despite a gender specific response profile emerged. Additional studies are needed to further investigate the efficacy profile and long-term outcome of cariprazine treatment by gender.