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This study evaluated differences in uterine microbiota composition between uterine horns ipsilateral and contralateral to the corpus luteum of beef cows on day 15 of the estrous cycle. Cows (n = 23) were exposed to an estrus synchronization protocol to exogenously induce synchronized ovulation. Cows were then euthanized on day 15 of the estrous cycle, and individual swabs were collected from uterine horns ipsilateral and contralateral to the corpus luteum using aseptic techniques. DNA was extracted, and the entire (V1–V9 hypervariable regions) 16s rRNA gene was sequenced. Sequences were analyzed, and amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were determined. Across all samples, 2 bacterial domains, 24 phyla, and 265 genera were identified. Butyribirio, Cutibacterium, BD7-11, Bacteroidales BS11 gut group, Ruminococcus, Bacteroidales RF16 group, and Clostridia UCG-014 differed in relative abundances between uterine horns. Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Bacteroidales UCG-001, Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Psudobutyribibrio, and an unidentified genus of the family Chitinophagaceae and dgA-11 gut group differed between cows that expressed estrus and those that did not. The composition of the microbial community differed between the ipsilateral and contralateral horns and between cows that expressed estrus and cows that failed to express estrus, indicating that the uterine microbiota might play a role in cow fertility.

Abstract Background Suicide is one of the main causes of excess of premature death in psychotic patients. Published studies found that suicide risk begins in ultra-high risk of psychosis and continues in early years of the disease. Previous studies identifying predictive and risk factors associated with suicidality in first-episode psychosis (FEP) are highly inconsistent. Also, there are relatively few longitudinal studies on suicidal behaviour in FEP. The aim of this study was to examine prevalence, evolution and predictors of suicidal behaviour at baseline and the 12-month follow-up in patients presenting with FEP. Methods One hundred and eighteen patients presenting with FEP were recruited from two early psychosis units in Portugal. A comprehensive assessment examining socio-demographic and clinical characteristics was administered at baseline and the 12-month follow-up. Odds ratio were calculated using logistic regression analyses. McNemar test was used to evaluate the evolution of suicidal behaviour and depression prevalence from baseline to 12 months of follow-up. Results Follow-up data were available for 60 participants from the 118 recruited. Approximately 25.4% of the patients had suicidal behaviour at the baseline evaluation, with a significant reduction during the follow-up period to 13.3% (p = 0.035). A multivariate binary logistic regression showed that a history of suicidal behaviour and depression at baseline independently predicted suicidal behaviour at baseline, and a history of suicidal behaviour and low levels of total cholesterol predicted suicidal behaviour at the 12-month follow-up. A significant proportion of patients also had depression at the baseline evaluation (43.3%), with the last month of suicidal behaviour at baseline independently predicting depression at this time. Conclusions The findings of our study indicate that suicidal behaviour was prevalent on the year after FEP. Patients with a history of suicidal behaviour, depression at baseline and low levels of cholesterol should undergo close evaluation, monitoring and possible intervention in order to reduce suicide risk in the early phases of psychosis.

Objective We aimed to assess the prevalence and course of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the associated metabolic parameters during the year following a first episode pf psychosis (FEP). Methods We performed a 1-year longitudinal observation of 60 patients who experienced FEP. MetS was defined using the modified definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. We assessed the metabolic parameters and socio-demographic and psychopathological data for the participants. Results The mean age of the participants was 27.1 years, and 33.3% of them were women. There was an increase in the prevalence of MetS from 6.7% to 11.7% during the year following the baseline assessment during the year following the baseline assessment ( p = 0.250). There were also significant increases in the prevalences of abnormal triglyceride concentration, waist circumference, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration during this period. In addition, there was a considerable worsening of the metabolic profile of the participants. No baseline parameters were identified to be predictors of MetS over the 1-year follow-up period. Conclusions We can conclude that metabolic abnormalities are common in patients with FEP and that these rapidly worsen during the first year following the diagnosis of FEP. Studies on interventions are needed to reduce metabolic risk to cardiovascular diseases following the FEP.

Objective: Cariprazine is a new atypical antipsychotic approved for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia (1, 2) and for the treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (1). Recently, cariprazine also got extended FDA-approval for the treatment of depressive episodes in adults with bipolar I disorder (3). The use of low doses of atypical antipsychotics is an essential component of early intervention in psychosis. For its particular performance and tolerability, cariprazine is becoming an important option for the treatment of first-episode psychosis.Method: Three patients experiencing first-episode psychosis (FEP) were successfully treated with cariprazine. Two patients were in their first months of the disease, and the third patient was in his third year after the FEP.Results: The three patients had a diagnosis of non-affective FEP, which includes schizophrenia, delusional disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. One of them was in their third year after the FEP with a predominance of negative symptoms at this stage of the disorder. All the patients were treated with cariprazine with a target dose of 3–4.5 mg/day. The three patients showed improvements in their psychosis, including a decrease in negative symptoms. No significant side effects were reported.Conclusion: Our three case reports indicate that cariprazine is an atypical antipsychotic beneficial in the treatment of early psychosis. Treatment with low doses of cariprazine could be effective and tolerable in this phase of the disorder. Future studies with longer follow-up of FEP patients are recommended to confirm these positive results of cariprazine in the early phases of psychosis.

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This paper estimates the socioeconomic impacts of the emergence and expansion of e-hailing services in São Paulo, Brazil. Combining data from a major service provider, individual level data from a representative travel diary survey and a structural traffic network simulation, we evaluate the impact of e-hailing on commuters' travel time and accessibility. We then estimate the effect of these changes on workers' productivity. Finally, using a Spatial Computable General Equilibrium (SCGE) model, we estimate the effect of these productivity shocks on broader economic outcomes. Our main results indicate that 83% of current e-hailing trips derived from trips that were previously made by traditional motorized private modes. We also find that the current e-hailing supply has mostly negligible effects on travel times and congestion; however, some individuals experienced important accessibility gains due to the emergence of this alternative mode. We then simulate e-hailing expansion and development scenarios, including the case of larger vehicle occupancy. Total economic activity expands by 1.089% if average vehicle occupancy reaches 3 passengers per trip and all motorized private trips are substituted by e-hailing.

Introdução: Desde há algumas décadas que se pensa que uma hiperactividade dopaminérgica da via mesolímbica esteja implicada na génese dos sintomas positivos da esquizofrenia. Objectivos: Nesta revisão da literatura procurámos interligar as várias áreas do conhecimento actual, procurando fazer a ponte com a prática clínica. Métodos: Foi efectuada uma pesquisa sistemática da literatura em inglês, até Abril de 2014 através da PUBMED utilizando como termos MeSH (medical subject headings) “mesolimbic” e “psychosis”, tendo-se incluído revisões da literatura. Resultados e Conclusões: Foram encontrados 111 artigos, tendo-se excluído 56 por, após leitura do resumo, se concluir que não estavam relacionados com o tema. Dos restantes 55 foram seleccionados 14 artigos tendo sido mantidas as abreviaturas em inglês para facilitar a sua consulta posterior. São apresentadas evidências sobre o papel desempenhado por vários sistemas reguladores no desenvolvimento dos sintomas positivos associados não apenas a esta doença mas às várias perturbações em que ocorrem, assim como a possível relação entre esses vários factores. Entre os vários sistemas discutidos conta-se a influência do neurodesenvolvimento, da regulação pelos receptores nicotínicos da acetilcolina, a influência dos canais de potássio KCNQ, a regulação por péptidos neurotransmissores, pela adenosina e pela fosfodiesterase 10A, assim como avanços na compreensão da etiologia da esquizofrenia. Trata-se, portanto, de um enunciado do substrato neurobiológico dos sintomas positivos.

Medication compliance is one of the foremost problems affecting neuroleptic efficacy in psychiatric patients. It is a crucial point to dispone of useful instruments that allow us a fiable assessment of patients' medication adherence in order to plan more appropriate therapeutical interventions. The aim of our study was to validade the Portuguese versión of the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), a concise instrument for assessment of medication compliance in psychosis.A translation-backtranslation of the original scale was elaborated. The sample consisted of 77 psychotic patients according to the DSM-IV criteria. Feasibility and reliability were calculated.The results demonstrated that the MARS has a good internal consistence (Cronbach α = 0,73) and reliability (Pearson's r = 0,76; p < 0,05).These coefficients were similar to those found by the researchers who developed this scale. The MARS scale has proven to be easily applied and may be deemed a valid and reliable measure of compliancy for psychoactive medications.

Besides intervention in prepsychotic period, early intervention in psychosis includes interventions done after the onset of the first-episode psychosis, namely psychopharmacological and psychosocial phase-specific intervention. The main aim is to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and to ensure that besides remission of the symptoms there is also a psychosocial recovery. Many centers set up an assertive and integrated early intervention program, involving an active search of patients with a treatment that includes antipsychotic medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, family and vocational interventions. The authors of this review explain the concepts and main studies that support this kind of treatment in early psychosis. The results of published data show that is possible to reduce the DUP and improve the clinical and functional outcomes with this intervention. Critical period hypothesis proposes that deterioration occurs aggressively in the first 2 to 5 years of early psychosis, so it is crucial to intervene in this period to ensure a functional recovery. Cost-benefit ratio seems to be favorable to early intervention model, with reduction of in-stay period, which is an important component of the direct costs of psychotic illness. Early intervention service model organization is also reviewed by the authors of this research. The results of many studies show favorable outcomes for the integrative early intervention and so many countries included it in their political mental health directives and attributed funds for early intervention in psychosis.

Lack of insight into mental disorder is a frequent phenomenon in patients affected by a psychotic disorder and can be an important predicting factor involving the course of the disease mainly regarding compliance with treatment. The aim of the present study was to validate the Portuguese version of the Marková and Berrios Insight Scale, a self-report instrument that allow us to evaluate insight into psychotic illness. After a translation-back translation process, the Portuguese version of the scale was administered to a sample of 83 psychotic patients (DSM-IV). The results demonstrated that the Marková and Berrios Insight Scale achieved a excellent viability, internal reliability (a = 0,80). These coefficients were similar to those found by the researchers who developed this scale. The Marková and Berrios Insight Scale has proven to be easily applied and deemed an useful and valid instrument in researches involving psychotic subjects.

Psychotic disorders, namely schizophrenia, are severe illnesses with their onset in adolescence or youth adult age and have a classic limited outcome. In recent years there has been some research about early intervention in psychosis which can be done in prepsychotic period (prodrome) and/or after the onset of full blown psychotic episode. The authors review the literature about the diagnosis, evaluation, and possible interventions in patients in prepsychotic period (prodrome). Identification of patients with ultra high risk of psychosis could identify patients with a risk of development psychosis in 40%. The main interventions, pharmacological and psychosocial treatments, and main published studies are explained. Prospective identification of these patients and their treatment could prevent the development of full blown psychosis, delay the onset or promote the recovery of the disorder. We must remember some ethical issues about this kind of intervention, namely the stigma and false positive individuals. The results from the research in this area are mainly preliminary, but these studies suggest that some interventions are effective and promising. In future we must have trials with more number of patients included and probably a refinement of the criteria of ultra high risk patients.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an efficient, safe and even life saving treatment for several psychiatric disorders, namely depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Many were the doubts with it utilization, namely until the 1980s. After that it became more accepted with the publication of guidelines for many international associations of Psychiatry. Even with the development of psychopharmacology, ECT is still used with very good results, namely with affective disorders. Nowadays it is used almost exclusive with refractory patients but many studies show its efficacy in all the phases of psychiatric disorders where is indicated. The authors' review, based on literature, the history, indications, mechanism of action, procedure and adverse effects of ECT. The recent development of many procedures of magnetic stimulation could put ECT as a secondary treatment but the efficacy of that technique in comparison with ECT is still to be demonstrated, and ECT remains the most efficient treatment of psychiatry disorders.

This study evaluated differences in uterine microbiota composition between uterine horns ipsilateral and contralateral to the corpus luteum of beef cows on day 15 of the estrous cycle. Cows (n = 23) were exposed to an estrus synchronization protocol to exogenously induce synchronized ovulation. Cows were then euthanized on day 15 of the estrous cycle, and individual swabs were collected from uterine horns ipsilateral and contralateral to the corpus luteum using aseptic techniques. DNA was extracted, and the entire (V1–V9 hypervariable regions) 16s rRNA gene was sequenced. Sequences were analyzed, and amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were determined. Across all samples, 2 bacterial domains, 24 phyla, and 265 genera were identified. Butyribirio, Cutibacterium, BD7-11, Bacteroidales BS11 gut group, Ruminococcus, Bacteroidales RF16 group, and Clostridia UCG-014 differed in relative abundances between uterine horns. Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Bacteroidales UCG-001, Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Psudobutyribibrio, and an unidentified genus of the family Chitinophagaceae and dgA-11 gut group differed between cows that expressed estrus and those that did not. The composition of the microbial community differed between the ipsilateral and contralateral horns and between cows that expressed estrus and cows that failed to express estrus, indicating that the uterine microbiota might play a role in cow fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of early progesterone removal on pregnancy rates to fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in presynchronized beef cows. Postpartum beef cows (n = 882) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) 7&7 Synch : cows received a controlled internal drug release insert (CIDR) and a 25-mg injection of prostaglandin F 2α on day 0, 100 μg of GnRH on day 7, a second injection of prostaglandin F 2α (PG2) at CIDR removal on day 14, and a second injection of GnRH at FTAI 60–66 h after PG2 (day 17); 2) 7&6 Synch : cows received the same treatment as 7&7 Synch; however, CIDR removal occurred in conjunction with PG2 on day 13, while FTAI remained at 60–66 h after CIDR removal (day 16). Ovarian ultrasonography was performed to determine follicle diameter at PG2 and FTAI in a subset of cows (n = 40). Cows exposed to the 7&7 Synch tended to have larger follicle diameter at PG2 compared with 7&6 Synch cows (P = 0.09); however, there were no differences in follicle diameter at FTAI. No differences were determined between treatments for the expression of estrus (7&7 Synch: 61.6 ± 5.30; 7&6 Synch: 54.1 ± 5.45; P = 0.31) or pregnancy rates to FTAI (7&7 Synch: 60.8 ± 3.83; 7&6 Synch: 57.0 ± 3.84; P = 0.42). In conclusion, early removal of progesterone did not impact pregnancy rates in presynchronized beef cows. • Cows with greater days postpartum had greater expression of estrus. • Presynchronized cows that expressed estrus behavior had greater pregnancy rates. • 7&6 Synch cows tended to have smaller follicles at progesterone withdrawal. • 7&7 Synch and 7&6 Synch treatments resulted in similar expression of estrus. • 7&7 Synch and 7&6 Synch treatments resulted in similar pregnancy rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to: 1) evaluate the impact of intravaginal progesterone (P4) inserts containing different amounts of P4 on pregnancy rates of predominantly Bos taurus beef cows exposed to fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) using estradiol and P4-based synchronization protocols, and 2) evaluate the impact of delayed luteolysis on the fertility of cows receiving P4 insert with less P4. Cows (n = 1744) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) 2.0 mg of estradiol benzoate together with an intravaginal P4-releasing insert containing 1.9 g of P4 (CIDR) on Day 0; 12.5 mg of dinoprost tromethamine on Day 7; 300-IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin together with 0.6 mg of estradiol cypionate and CIDR withdrawal on Day 9 (CIDR-PG7); 2) cows were exposed to the same treatment as CIDR-PG7, however a different intravaginal insert containing 0.5 g of P4 (DIB 0.5) was utilized (DIB-PG7); and 3) cows were exposed to the same synchronization treatment as DIB-PG7, however a dinoprost tromethamine injection was administered on Day 9 instead of Day 7 (DIB-PG9). All cows received a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) 48 h after P4 inserts CIDR removal (Day 11). Circulating concentrations of P4 on Day 9 were greater (P < 0.01) in cows receiving CIDR-PG7 than in cows receiving DIB-PG7 or DIB-PG9. Dominant follicle diameter on Day 9 was greater (P < 0.01) in DIB-PG7 compared with CIDR-PG7 or DIB-PG9, but not different (P > 0.10) between CIDR-PG7 and DIB-PG9 treatments. Follicle diameter on Day 11 did not differ between CIDR-PG7 and DIB-PG7 (P > 0.10), which were greater compared with DIB-PG9 (P < 0.01). Dominant follicle growth between Days 9 and 11 was greater (P < 0.01) in cows receiving CIDR-PG7 than in cows receiving DIB-PG7 and DIB-PG9, which were not different (P = 0.18) among them. Pregnancy rates on experimental Days 41 and 131 were greater (P < 0.01) in cows receiving CIDR-PG7 (59.4 %; 55.5 %) compared with DIB-PG7 (40.1 %; 34.4 %) or DIB-PG9 (45.2 %; 41.4 %) cows. Compared with cows receiving DIB-PG7, cows receiving DIB-PG9 treatment tended (P = 0.08) to have a greater pregnancy rate on experimental Day 41 and 131 (P = 0.06). In summary, intravaginal P4 inserts with only 0.5 g of P4 resulted in decreased circulating concentrations of P4 and decreased pregnancy rates. Delaying induction of luteolysis only partially mitigated this negative outcome., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of luteal color doppler (CD) ultrasonography and plasma concentrations of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) for early pregnancy diagnosis in Bos taurus beef cows. Additionally, CD and PAG were evaluated as potential predictors of late embryonic/early fetal mortality (LEM). Postpartum beef cows (n = 212) were exposed to estrus synchronization followed by fixed-time artificial insemination (day 0). On days 20 and 22, B-mode and CD ultrasonography were performed to evaluate corpus luteum (CL) morphometries and blood perfusion. Moreover, blood samples were collected on days 25 and 29 to quantify circulating concentrations of PAG. Conventional ultrasonography on days 29 and 100 was utilized as the gold-standard method for pregnancy diagnosis. Cows that experienced pregnancy loss between days 29 and 100 were classified as LEM. Pregnant cows had larger and more vascularized CL compared with nonpregnant cows on days 20 and 22 (P < 0.001 for all response variables). Accuracy for CD on days 20 and 22 were 87% and 92%, respectively. Accuracy for PAG on days 25 and 29 were 84% and 99%, respectively. No false negative (FN) results were observed for CD on both days 20 and 22; however, there were 7.1% FN results for PAG on day 25. Cows that experienced LEM had decreased (P = 0.04) circulating PAG on day 29 of gestation compared with cows that maintained pregnancy; however, there were no differences in luteal blood perfusion on days 20 and 22 (P ≥ 0.53) or circulating PAG on day 25 (P = 0.46) between LEM cows and cows that maintained pregnancy. Sensitivity and specificity of PAG on day 29 as predictors of LEM were 83% and 77%, respectively. In conclusion, CD resulted in accurate pregnancy diagnosis in B. taurus beef cows on both days 20 and 22 of gestation, while having no FN results. Circulating concentrations of PAG were decreased in cows that experienced LEM; however, further research is required to utilize PAG as a predictor of LEM commercially., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)