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View article: Rotavirus Quantification and Genotyping in Wastewater: A Molecular Surveillance Study in Italy (2024–2025)
Rotavirus Quantification and Genotyping in Wastewater: A Molecular Surveillance Study in Italy (2024–2025) Open
Rotavirus remains a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, particularly in young children, despite widespread vaccination efforts. This study aims to evaluate rotavirus circulation at the population level through wastewater-base…
View article: Identification of peripheral biomarkers through metabolomic analysis in patients with bipolar disorder treated with mood stabilizers: an exploratory study
Identification of peripheral biomarkers through metabolomic analysis in patients with bipolar disorder treated with mood stabilizers: an exploratory study Open
Importance Bipolar disorder (BD) is mainly treated with mood stabilizers, among which lithium represents the gold standard. Despite its high clinical efficacy, the molecular players involved in lithium response and nonresponse remain partl…
View article: Identifying molecular signatures of post-traumatic stress disorder vulnerability and progression in a longitudinal study: a study protocol
Identifying molecular signatures of post-traumatic stress disorder vulnerability and progression in a longitudinal study: a study protocol Open
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a highly debilitating psychiatric disorder, which develops in a subset of trauma-exposed individuals. Patients with PTSD fail to extinguish fear responses to no-longer dangerous stimuli and develop …
View article: Wastewater-Based Surveillance of Human Adenoviruses in Italy: Quantification by Digital PCR and Molecular Typing via Nanopore Amplicon Sequencing
Wastewater-Based Surveillance of Human Adenoviruses in Italy: Quantification by Digital PCR and Molecular Typing via Nanopore Amplicon Sequencing Open
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) offers valuable insight into viral circulation at the community level. In this study, we combined digital PCR (dPCR) with molecular typing to investigate the prevalence and diversity of human adenoviruse…
View article: Genome-wide methylation biomarkers and biological aging in patients with bipolar disorder characterized for lithium response
Genome-wide methylation biomarkers and biological aging in patients with bipolar disorder characterized for lithium response Open
Background Epigenetic mechanisms might play a role in modulating susceptibility to bipolar disorder (BD) and response to lithium, the mainstay treatment for BD. Additionally, individuals with BD experience accelerated biological aging. Met…
View article: Mitochondrial DNA copy number is significantly increased in bipolar disorder patients and is correlated with long-term lithium treatment
Mitochondrial DNA copy number is significantly increased in bipolar disorder patients and is correlated with long-term lithium treatment Open
Mitochondrial dysfunctions have been reported in bipolar disorder (BD), but their role in the etiopathogenesis of BD as well as their implications in modulating response to pharmacological treatments with psychotropic medications have been…
View article: The clock is ticking on schizophrenia: a study protocol for a translational study integrating phenotypic, genomic, microbiome and biomolecular data to overcome disability
The clock is ticking on schizophrenia: a study protocol for a translational study integrating phenotypic, genomic, microbiome and biomolecular data to overcome disability Open
Background Shared biological factors may play a role in both the cognitive deficits and the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome observed in individuals with Schizophrenia (SCZ). These factors could entail disturbances in tryptophan …
View article: Leukocyte Telomere Length and Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Treatment-Resistant Depression and Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy
Leukocyte Telomere Length and Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Treatment-Resistant Depression and Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy Open
Objectives In this study, we investigated if changes in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-cn), 2 markers of cellular aging, are associated with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and with response t…
View article: A Secondary Analysis of the Complex Interplay between Psychopathology, Cognitive Functions, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels, and Suicide in Psychotic Disorders: Data from a 2-Year Longitudinal Study
A Secondary Analysis of the Complex Interplay between Psychopathology, Cognitive Functions, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels, and Suicide in Psychotic Disorders: Data from a 2-Year Longitudinal Study Open
Identifying phenotypes at high risk of suicidal behaviour is a relevant objective of clinical and translational research and can facilitate the identification of possible candidate biomarkers. We probed the potential association and eventu…
View article: BDNF plasma concentrations, cognitive test performances and lifetime suicide ideation in psychotic disorders: a secondary analysis
BDNF plasma concentrations, cognitive test performances and lifetime suicide ideation in psychotic disorders: a secondary analysis Open
Introduction Psychotic disorders present a significant lifetime risk for suicide. Past estimates suggest that up to 25-50% of individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) may attempt suicide during their lifetime. A growing body of literature indi…
View article: Do Long‐Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Influence Serum Levels of Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor in People With Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder?
Do Long‐Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Influence Serum Levels of Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor in People With Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder? Open
Schizophrenia (SCZ) and schizoaffective disorder (SAD) are severe and complex psychiatric disorders whose liability threshold is modulated by the interplay of biological, mainly genetic, and environmental factors. Consistent evidence has p…
View article: A Pilot Interaction Analysis of Gut Microbiota and Peripheral Markers of Aging in Severe Psychiatric Disorders: A Role for Lachnoclostridium?
A Pilot Interaction Analysis of Gut Microbiota and Peripheral Markers of Aging in Severe Psychiatric Disorders: A Role for Lachnoclostridium? Open
Excessive predominance of pathological species in the gut microbiota could increase the production of inflammatory mediators at the gut level and, via modification of the gut–blood barrier, at the systemic level. This pro-inflammatory stat…
View article: Probing the Association between Cognition, Suicidal Behavior and Tryptophan Metabolism in a Sample of Individuals Living with Bipolar Disorder: A Secondary Analysis
Probing the Association between Cognition, Suicidal Behavior and Tryptophan Metabolism in a Sample of Individuals Living with Bipolar Disorder: A Secondary Analysis Open
Background and Objectives: Alterations in hot cognition and in the tryptophan metabolism through serotonin (5-HT) and kynurenine (KYN) pathways have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior. Here, we aim at probing the a…
View article: Converging Evidence Points to BDNF as Biomarker of Depressive Symptoms in Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders
Converging Evidence Points to BDNF as Biomarker of Depressive Symptoms in Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders Open
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key modulator of neuroplasticity and has an important role in determining the susceptibility to severe psychiatric disorder with a significant neurodevelopmental component such as major psychos…
View article: Investigation of Genetic Variants Associated with Tryptophan Metabolite Levels via Serotonin and Kynurenine Pathways in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Investigation of Genetic Variants Associated with Tryptophan Metabolite Levels via Serotonin and Kynurenine Pathways in Patients with Bipolar Disorder Open
The kynurenine pathway (KP) may play a role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variants associated with the plasma levels of the metabolites of tryptopha…
View article: Exploring the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and longitudinal psychopathological and cognitive changes in Sardinian psychotic patients
Exploring the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and longitudinal psychopathological and cognitive changes in Sardinian psychotic patients Open
Introduction Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are among the most debilitating mental disorders and evidence on its pathophysiological underpinnings is scant. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) appears to be involved in the pathop…
View article: Is Poor Lithium Response in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder Associated with Increased Degradation of Tryptophan along the Kynurenine Pathway? Results of an Exploratory Study
Is Poor Lithium Response in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder Associated with Increased Degradation of Tryptophan along the Kynurenine Pathway? Results of an Exploratory Study Open
Bipolar disorder is associated with an inflammation-triggered elevated catabolism of tryptophan to the kynurenine pathway, which impacts psychiatric symptoms and outcomes. The data indicate that lithium exerts anti-inflammatory effects by …
View article: Exploring the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and longitudinal psychopathological and cognitive changes in Sardinian psychotic patients
Exploring the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and longitudinal psychopathological and cognitive changes in Sardinian psychotic patients Open
Background and hypothesis Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are among the most debilitating mental disorders and has complex pathophysiological underpinnings. There is growing evidence that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can play …
View article: Investigating the Role of Leukocyte Telomere Length in Treatment-Resistant Depression and in Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy
Investigating the Role of Leukocyte Telomere Length in Treatment-Resistant Depression and in Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy Open
Psychiatric disorders seem to be characterized by premature cell senescence. However, controversial results have also been reported. In addition, the relationship between accelerated aging and treatment-resistance has scarcely been investi…