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Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders
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Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 June 2021) | Viewed by 35069

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Donatella Marazziti

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy
2. Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
Interests: biological psychiatry; neurobiology; psychopharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Leonardo Fontenelle

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Interests: obsessive-compulsive disorder; compulsivity; social anxiety disorder
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

In recent decades, neuroscience has flourished, deepening a variety of processes underlying and regulating central nervous system (CNS) functioning. However, a gap still exists between basic research and clinical practice, so the pathophysiology of  psychiatric disorders is still largely unclear. It is now evident that neuropsychiatric conditions are the result of the interplay between different factors, such as genetic vulnerability, disturbances of normal development, sensitivity to stress, and even environmental changes. Again, it is now evident that  neuropsychiatric disorders are due to different processes and a cascade of events, such as neuroplasticity, inflammation, and stress response, which are not all confined to the CNS but involve the whole body. Given their social relavance and the increasing demand for more targeted pharmacological interventions, it is essential to promote research to provide clinicians with reliable biological markers to quickly detect and possibly prevent neuropsychiatric disorders.

Therefore, the aim of this thematic issue is to review current and novel biomarkers in some psychiatric disorders and to highlight their potential as promising and novel targets for future psychotropic drugs.  

Prof. Dr. Donatella Marazziti
Prof. Dr. Leonardo Fontenelle
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Neurobiology
  • Neuropsychiatry
  • Neuroinflammation
  • Neuroplasticity
  • Microbiome
  • Platelet markers
  • Climate changes.

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 768 KiB  
Article
Human Responses and Adaptation in a Changing Climate: A Framework Integrating Biological, Psychological, and Behavioural Aspects
by Paolo Cianconi, Batul Hanife, Francesco Grillo, Kai Zhang and Luigi Janiri
Life 2021, 11(9), 895; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11090895 - 29 Aug 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6377
Abstract
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times. Its impact on human populations is not yet completely understood. Many studies have focused on single aspects with contradictory observations. However, climate change is a complex phenomenon that cannot be adequately addressed [...] Read more.
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times. Its impact on human populations is not yet completely understood. Many studies have focused on single aspects with contradictory observations. However, climate change is a complex phenomenon that cannot be adequately addressed from a single discipline’s perspective. Hence, we propose a comprehensive conceptual framework on the relationships between climate change and human responses. This framework includes biological, psychological, and behavioural aspects and provides a multidisciplinary overview and critical information for focused interventions. The role of tipping points and regime shifts is explored, and a historical perspective is presented to describe the relationship between climate evolution and socio-cultural crisis. Vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation are analysed from an individual and a community point of view. Finally, emergent behaviours and mass effect phenomena are examined that account for mental maladjustment and conflicts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)
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15 pages, 2030 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Analysis of Erythropoietin and Carbamoylated Erythropoietin Proteome Profiles
by Neeraj K. Tiwari, Monica Sathyanesan, Vikas Kumar and Samuel S. Newton
Life 2021, 11(4), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11040359 - 19 Apr 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3598
Abstract
In recent years, erythropoietin (EPO) has emerged as a useful neuroprotective and neurotrophic molecule that produces antidepressant and cognitive-enhancing effects in psychiatric disorders. However, EPO robustly induces erythropoiesis and elevates red blood cell counts. Chronic administration is therefore likely to increase blood viscosity [...] Read more.
In recent years, erythropoietin (EPO) has emerged as a useful neuroprotective and neurotrophic molecule that produces antidepressant and cognitive-enhancing effects in psychiatric disorders. However, EPO robustly induces erythropoiesis and elevates red blood cell counts. Chronic administration is therefore likely to increase blood viscosity and produce adverse effects in non-anemic populations. Carbamoylated erythropoietin (CEPO), a chemically engineered modification of EPO, is non-erythropoietic but retains the neurotrophic and neurotrophic activity of EPO. Blood profile analysis after EPO and CEPO administration showed that CEPO has no effect on red blood cell or platelet counts. We conducted an unbiased, quantitative, mass spectrometry-based proteomics study to comparatively investigate EPO and CEPO-induced protein profiles in neuronal phenotype PC12 cells. Bioinformatics enrichment analysis of the protein expression profiles revealed the upregulation of protein functions related to memory formation such as synaptic plasticity, long term potentiation (LTP), neurotransmitter transport, synaptic vesicle priming, and dendritic spine development. The regulated proteins, with roles in LTP and synaptic plasticity, include calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type 1 (Camk1), Synaptosomal-Associated Protein, 25 kDa (SNAP-25), Sectretogranin-1 (Chgb), Cortactin (Cttn), Elongation initiation factor 3a (Eif3a) and 60S acidic ribosomal protein P2 (Rplp2). We examined the expression of a subset of regulated proteins, Cortactin, Grb2 and Pleiotrophin, by immunofluorescence analysis in the rat brain. Grb2 was increased in the dentate gyrus by EPO and CEPO. Cortactin was induced by CEPO in the molecular layer, and pleiotrophin was increased in the vasculature by EPO. The results of our study shed light on potential mechanisms whereby EPO and CEPO produce cognitive-enhancing effects in clinical and preclinical studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)
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11 pages, 1746 KiB  
Article
Neuronal Correlates of Small Animal Phobia in Human Subjects through fMRI: The Role of the Number and Proximity of Stimuli
by Ascensión Fumero, Rosario J. Marrero, Francisco Rivero, Yolanda Alvarez-Pérez, Juan Manuel Bethencourt, Manuel González and Wenceslao Peñate
Life 2021, 11(4), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11040275 - 26 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3160
Abstract
Brain regions involved in small-animal phobia include subcortical and cortical areas. The present study explored the neuronal correlates of small-animal phobia through fMRI data to determine whether a manipulation of number and proximity parameters affects the neurobiology of the processing of feared stimuli. [...] Read more.
Brain regions involved in small-animal phobia include subcortical and cortical areas. The present study explored the neuronal correlates of small-animal phobia through fMRI data to determine whether a manipulation of number and proximity parameters affects the neurobiology of the processing of feared stimuli. The participants were 40 individuals with phobia and 40 individuals without phobia (28.7% male and 71.3% female). They watched videos of real and virtual images of spiders, cockroaches and lizards in motion presented more or less nearby with one or three stimuli in the different conditions. The results suggested a differential brain activity between participants with and without phobia depending on the proximity and number of phobic stimuli. Proximity activated the motor response marked by the precentral gyrus and the cingulate gyrus. By contrast, the number of stimuli was associated with significant sensory activity in the postcentral gyrus and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. We also observed a greater activity in the occipital cortex when exploring the number compared to the proximity factor. Threatening stimuli presented nearby and those presented in greater numbers generated an intense phobic response, suggesting a different emotion regulation strategy. Based on these findings, exposure therapies might consider including proximity to the threat and number of stimuli as key factors in treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)
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Review

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22 pages, 407 KiB  
Review
Biochemical Correlates of Video Game Use: From Physiology to Pathology. A Narrative Review
by Barbara Carpita, Dario Muti, Benedetta Nardi, Francesca Benedetti, Andrea Cappelli, Ivan Mirko Cremone, Claudia Carmassi and Liliana Dell’Osso
Life 2021, 11(8), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11080775 - 30 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4759
Abstract
In the last few decades, video game playing progressively became a widespread activity for many people, in childhood as well in adulthood. An increasing amount of literature has focused on pathological and non-pathological correlates of video game playing, with specific attention towards Internet [...] Read more.
In the last few decades, video game playing progressively became a widespread activity for many people, in childhood as well in adulthood. An increasing amount of literature has focused on pathological and non-pathological correlates of video game playing, with specific attention towards Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). While many neurobiological studies in this field were based on neuroimaging, highlighting structural and functional brain changes among video game users, only a limited number of studies investigated the presence of biochemical correlates of video gaming. The present work aims to summarize and review the available literature about biochemical changes linked to video game use in IGD patients as well as non-pathological users, and the differences in between. Results may shed light on risks and benefits of video games, providing directions for further research on IGD treatment and, on other hand, on the potential role of video games in therapeutic or preventive protocols for specific conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)
28 pages, 771 KiB  
Review
The Microbiota/Microbiome and the Gut–Brain Axis: How Much Do They Matter in Psychiatry?
by Donatella Marazziti, Beatrice Buccianelli, Stefania Palermo, Elisabetta Parra, Alessandro Arone, Maria Francesca Beatino, Lucia Massa, Barbara Carpita, Filippo M. Barberi, Federico Mucci and Liliana Dell’Osso
Life 2021, 11(8), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11080760 - 28 Jul 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6790 | Correction
Abstract
The functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) is the result of the constant integration of bidirectional messages between the brain and peripheral organs, together with their connections with the environment. Despite the anatomical separation, gut microbiota, i.e., the microorganisms colonising the gastrointestinal [...] Read more.
The functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) is the result of the constant integration of bidirectional messages between the brain and peripheral organs, together with their connections with the environment. Despite the anatomical separation, gut microbiota, i.e., the microorganisms colonising the gastrointestinal tract, is highly related to the CNS through the so-called “gut–brain axis”. The aim of this paper was to review and comment on the current literature on the role of the intestinal microbiota and the gut–brain axis in some common neuropsychiatric conditions. The recent literature indicates that the gut microbiota may affect brain functions through endocrine and metabolic pathways, antibody production and the enteric network while supporting its possible role in the onset and maintenance of several neuropsychiatric disorders, neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition were observed in mood disorders and autism spectrum disorders and, apparently to a lesser extent, even in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related conditions, as well as in schizophrenia. Therefore, gut microbiota might represent an interesting field of research for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of common neuropsychiatric disorders and possibly as a target for the development of innovative treatments that some authors have already labelled “psychobiotics”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)
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Other

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19 pages, 1105 KiB  
Systematic Review
Platelet APP Processing: Is It a Tool to Explore the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Disease? A Systematic Review
by Manuel Glauco Carbone, Giovanni Pagni, Claudia Tagliarini, Donatella Marazziti and Nunzio Pomara
Life 2021, 11(8), 750; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11080750 - 26 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3020
Abstract
The processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a critical event in the formation of amyloid plaques. Platelets contain most of the enzymatic machinery required for APP processing and correlates of intracerebral abnormalities have been demonstrated in platelets of patients with AD. [...] Read more.
The processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a critical event in the formation of amyloid plaques. Platelets contain most of the enzymatic machinery required for APP processing and correlates of intracerebral abnormalities have been demonstrated in platelets of patients with AD. The goal of the present paper was to analyze studies exploring platelet APP metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease patients trying to assess potential reliable peripheral biomarkers, to offer new therapeutic solutions and to understand the pathophysiology of the AD. According to the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review through the PubMed database up to June 2020 with the search terms: “((((((APP) OR Amyloid Precursor Protein) OR AbetaPP) OR Beta Amyloid) OR Amyloid Beta) OR APP-processing) AND platelet”. Thirty-two studies were included in this systematic review. The papers included are analytic observational studies, namely twenty-nine cross sectional studies and three longitudinal studies, specifically prospective cohort study. The studies converge in an almost unitary way in affirming that subjects with AD show changes in APP processing compared to healthy age-matched controls. However, the problem of the specificity and sensitivity of these biomarkers is still at issue and would deserve to be deepened in future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)
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21 pages, 815 KiB  
Systematic Review
Neuroimaging Studies of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Youth: A Systematic Review
by Marcelo J. A. A. Brañas, Marcos S. Croci, Ana Beatriz Ravagnani Salto, Victoria F. Doretto, Eduardo Martinho, Jr., Marcos Macedo, Euripedes C. Miguel, Leonardo Roever and Pedro M. Pan
Life 2021, 11(8), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11080729 - 22 Jul 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5918
Abstract
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent and affects mainly the youth population. It is prospectively associated with suicide attempts, making it a target for suicide prevention. Recently, several studies have investigated neural pathways of NSSI using neuroimaging. However, there is a lack of systematized [...] Read more.
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent and affects mainly the youth population. It is prospectively associated with suicide attempts, making it a target for suicide prevention. Recently, several studies have investigated neural pathways of NSSI using neuroimaging. However, there is a lack of systematized appraisal of these findings. This systematic review aims to identify and summarize the main neuroimaging findings of NSSI in youth. We followed PRISMA statement guidelines and searched MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, and Google Scholar databases for neuroimaging studies, irrespective of imaging modality, specifically investigating NSSI in samples with a mean age of up to 25 years old. Quality assessment was made using the Newcastle–Ottawa and Joanna Briggs Institute scales. The initial search retrieved 3030 articles; 21 met inclusion criteria, with a total of 938 subjects. Eighteen studies employed functional neuroimaging techniques such as resting-state and task-based fMRI (emotional, interpersonal exposure/social exclusion, pain, reward, and cognitive processing paradigms). Three studies reported on structural MRI. An association of NSSI behavior and altered emotional processing in cortico-limbic neurocircuitry was commonly reported. Additionally, alterations in potential circuits involving pain, reward, interpersonal, self-processing, and executive function control processes were identified. NSSI has complex and diverse neural underpinnings. Future longitudinal studies are needed to understand its developmental aspects better. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Neurobiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)
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