Chang Gung University of Science & Technology

Anxiety disorders, major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia and major affective disorders), and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) may cluster together within families. However, whether the first-degree relatives (FDRs) of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are at an elevated risk of neurodevelopmental or major psychiatric disorders remains unknown.

We identified 2,378,190 FDRs of patients with GAD and 9,512,760 birth year-matched and sex-matched controls from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and ADHD, and major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and GAD, were identified.

The FDRs-parents, offspring, and siblings-of individuals with GAD were more likely to be diagnosed as having schizophrenia (relative risk: 1.22), bipolar disorder (1.36), major depressive disorder (1.29), autism (1.20), ADHD (1.52), obsessive-compulsive disorder (1.21), and GAD (1.61) than are the FDRs of individuals without GAD.

Our findings support the notion of a familial coaggregation between GAD, major psychiatric disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Future studies should elucidate the definitive genetic etiology of this familial coaggregation.

Cordyceps militaris (CM) is a critical fungus for promoting health, while the cordycepin has been recognized as an indicator compound with bioactive functions such as induction of apoptosis, anti-inflammation, inhibition of angiogenesis, and antioxidant properties.However, the cultivation of CM required appropriate light to induce the fruiting body into regular growth.Light-emitting diodes (LED), which combine different wavelengths and conserve energy, offer promising potential for applications in CM cultivation.Therefore, this study involved using low-power and low-illumination LED light sources of different wavelengths for intervention in the photoperiod of CM cultures to observe the effects on the growth pattern, bioactive substance content, and antioxidant activity.This study showed that the growth patterns of CM developed normally when irradiated with low-brightness LED light sources of different wavelengths.Moreover, the total phenolic content (TPC), cordycepin, and relative antioxidant activity levels in CM fruiting body water extract were significantly elevated upon exposure irradiated with a glare blue light wavelength range compared to other groups (p < .05).Hence, this study proved a high potential for LED irradiation to be applicable in CM industrial development and exploration of practical knowledge in industrial biotechnol. with facilitated CM products that can be economically produced.

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combining 0.05% cyclosporine A (CsA) with high-potency steroids for treating severe dry eye disease (DED).

This retrospective comparative case series included 93 patients treated with 0.05% CsA for severe DED. Among them, we included data from 54 eyes of 27 patients who received high-potency steroids in the study group and from 132 eyes of 66 patients who did not receive high-potency steroids in the control group. Data on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, medications and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded. The primary outcomes were changes in symptom and sign scores. The ocular surface disease index was used as the symptom score, whereas tear break-up time, Schirmer I test without anaesthesia, ocular surface staining scores and presence of meibomian gland dysfunction were considered as sign scores. Repeated one-way ANOVA and generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate differences.

In the control group, symptom scores decreased from 1 to 2 months and from 2 to 3 months after treatment (p = .002 and .049). In the high-potency steroid group, symptom scores improved during these intervals (p = .003 and .005). The sign score in the control group remained unchanged (all p > .05), while the high-potency steroid group exhibited progressive improvement in sign scores (all p < .05). The high-potency steroid group had more favourable symptom (p = .035) and sign (p < .001) scores than did the control group. However, multiple systemic diseases were associated with poor symptom (p = .025) and sign (p = .014) scores. The risks for glaucoma and cataract formation were similar between the two groups (all p > .05).

Dual therapy combining high-potency steroids and 0.05% CsA significantly improved the signs and symptoms of severe DED compared with 0.05% CsA monotherapy, without severe complications.