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Objectives A systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trials were conducted to examine how soon an increase in recurrence risk could be observed among bipolar I disorder (BDI) patients who were clinically stable with the combination therapy of mood stabilizers with second-generation antipsychotics (SGA+MS) treatment following second-generation antipsychotics discontinuation (i.e., MS alone) compared with SGA+MS maintenance. Methods Embase, PubMed, and CENTRAL databases were used for systematic literature searches until May/22/2020. The primary outcome was the recurrence rate of any mood episode at 6 months. The secondary outcomes were the recurrence rates of manic/hypomanic/mixed and depressive episodes and all-cause discontinuation at 6 months. The recurrence rates at 1, 2, 3, 9, and 12 months were also investigated. Results Eight studies (mean study duration = 58.25 ± 33.63 weeks) were identified (SGA+MS group [n = 1,456: 3 aripiprazole+MS studies, 1 lurasidone+MS study, 1 olanzapine+MS study, 2 quetiapine+MS studies, 1 ziprasidone+MS study] and placebo+MS group [n = 1,476]). Pooled SGA+MS exhibited lower recurrence rates of any mood episode, manic/hypomanic/mixed episodes, and depressive episodes as well as reduced all-cause discontinuation at every observational point. The risk ratios (95% confidence interval) of the recurrence rate at 6 months were 0.51 (0.39-0.86) for any mood episode, 0.42 (0.30-0.59) for manic/hypomanic/mixed episodes, and 0.39 (0.28-0.54) for depressive episodes. The RR for all-cause discontinuation was 0.67 (0.50-0.89). Both aripiprazole+MS and quetiapine+MS outperformed placebo+MS in the recurrence of any mood, manic/hypomanic/mixed, and depressive episodes at 6 months. Conclusions SGA+MS prevented recurrence for up to 12 months for BDI compared with placebo+MS.

Objective This study is a meta-analysis of inositol as a treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library database, and PsycINFO were searched up to 14 August 2013. A systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted comparing inositol for depressed or anxiety disorder patients. Results Seven RCTs in depression (two bipolar depression studies, one bipolar depression and major depressive disorder (MDD) study, two MDD studies, and two premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) studies) (n = 242) were identified. Four RCTs in anxiety disorders (two obsessive–compulsive disorder studies, one panic disorder study, and one posttraumatic stress disorder study) (n = 70) were also identified. There were no statistically significant effects of inositol on depressive, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms and discontinuation (all-cause, side effects, and worsening psychiatric symptoms). However, inositol had marginally more responders in depression than placebo (p = 0.06), and inositol showed a trend towards superior efficacy for depressive symptoms in patients with PMDD (p = 0.07). Inositol marginally caused gastrointestinal upset compared with placebo (p = 0.06). Conclusions Our results suggest that inositol may be beneficial for depressed patients, especially those with PMDD. The main limitation of this report is that a small number of studies were included in this meta-analysis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Molecularly-thin nanosheets are ultimate two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials potentially giving unusual physical and chemical properties due to the strong 2D quantum and surface effects. Here, it is demonstrated that 1.5-nm-thick ZnO nanosheets exhibit greatly enhanced room-temperature ferromagnetism. Saturation magnetization value of the nanosheets with intercalated dodecyl sulfate layers is approximately 100 times that of ZnO mesocrystals. Anion exchange with dodecyl phosphate layers strongly suppresses ferromagnetic ordering as a result of surface defect passivation while maintaining bulk-like n-type semiconducting properties, which reveals significance of interfacial states to engineer functional properties of nanosheet-based hybrid materials.

Objectives There is currently no meta-analysis of the efficacy and tolerability of Yokukansan in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Method We used information obtained from the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases until October 2012. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials comparing Yokukansan with usual care (UC, i.e., controls). Standardized mean difference and weighted mean difference were calculated. All studies used the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) for the evaluation of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Results Four relevant studies (total n = 236) were identified. Yokukansan was superior to UC in the reduction of total NPI scores (p = 0.0009, weighted mean difference =−7.20, I2 = 0%). In addition, Yokukansan was more efficacious in reducing scores on the NPI subscale (delusions, hallucinations, and agitation/aggression) than UC (p

Aims/Introduction Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, is expected to provide a new treatment option for diabetes. However, the suitable timing of liraglutide administration in type 2 diabetic patients has not yet been clarified. Materials and Methods We reviewed type 2 diabetic patients (n = 155) who visited the Osaka Red Cross Hospital for glycemic control, with administration of liraglutide at a dose of 0.6 mg (average glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] level, 8.7 ± 0.1%). The effect of liraglutide based on the pretreatment status was compared. We also analyzed the background factors of both a successful and failed group of patients who switched to liraglutide from insulin. Results An improvement in blood glucose levels was confirmed in 122 of 155 patients. During the 4-month observation period, the improvement in HbA1c levels was significantly greater in the group of drug-naive/previous oral hypoglycemic agent (9.1 ± 0.2 to 7.2 ± 0.2%) than that in the group switching from insulin (8.6 ± 0.2 to 7.8 ± 0.2%). In addition, C-peptide immunoreactivity levels (fasting > 2.2 ng/mL; delta >1.6 ng/mL; urine > 70 μg/day), younger age and a smaller number of insulin units used per day were considered important when deciding on switching to liraglutide from insulin. Conclusions Liraglutide was more effective in patients who had not been treated previously or received oral hypoglycemic agents than in patients switching from insulin. With respect to switching to liraglutide from insulin, the most important factors to be considered were C-peptide immunoreactivity levels, age, and the number of insulin units used per day.

A facile method for the construction of 2-thiazolin-4-one or thiazolidin-4-one structure is described. Condensation reactions of thiourea (la) and maleimides (2) under solvent-free conditions gave 2-amino-2-thiazolin-4-ones (3) via Michael-type reaction, while similar reactions of N-substituted thioureas (1b-d) with 2 afforded 2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones (4). Since the solvent-free reactions of 1 with 2a afforded 3 in good yields, the synthetic method was found to be effective from the viewpoint of green chemistry.