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Background: Seasonal and circadian changes are two factors described to affect blood levels of some biological molecules. The Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) is one global measure of the antioxidant capacity of a system. There is no agreement about the existence of day/night changes in TAC levels as well as there is no information about seasonal changes in TAC levels.Objective: The aims of this research are studying if there are summer/winter changes in TAC con-centrations or if TAC concentrations have day/night changes.Method: Ninety-eight healthy subjects took part in the summer study of whom 64 participated in the winter one. Blood was sampled at 09:00, 12:00 and 00:00 h. TAC was measured by the ABTS radi-cal cation technique. Results are expressed in mmol/L of trolox equivalents.Results: The subjects had significantly higher TAC levels in summer than winter at the three-time point studied. Summer 09:00 TAC concentration was significantly higher than the 12:00 and 00:00 h concentrations (1.34±0.26 vs 0.83±0.19, 0.75±0.18). Summer TAC 12:00 h concentrations were significantly higher than the 00:00 h concentrations (0.83±0.19 vs. 0.75±0.18). Winter 09:00 TAC concentrations were significantly higher than the 12:00 and 00:00 h concentrations (1.24±0.16 vs. 0.73±0.10, 0.67±0.13). There were no significant differences between the 12:00 and 00:00 h TAC concentrations.Conclusion: Strong methodological biases may be made if the seasonal and circadian changes in se-rum TAC concentration are not taken into account when researching in this area.

Objective: The s100b inflammatory protein is involved in schizophrenia pathophysiology. We aim at studying the evolution of the s100b serum levels in acutely relapsed paranoid schizophrenia patients at three different time-points (admission, discharge and three months after hospital discharge 3MAHD). Methods: Twenty-three paranoid schizophrenia inpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria participated in the research. Twenty-three healthy subjects matched by age, gender and season acted as the control group. Psychopathology was measured with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Serum s100b levels were determined at 12:00 and 24:00 h with an enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. Results: Patients had significant higher serum s100b levels at admission and discharge (12:00 h) than the group of healthy subjects. At admission and discharge, s100b serum levels at 24 h had decreased compared to the 24:00 h s100b levels of the healthy subjects. At 3MAHD patients and healthy subjects had similar levels of serum s100b protein. Positive and negative PANSS scores decreased significantly between admission and discharge. Positive and negative PANSS scores decreased between discharge and 3MAHD, but these changes had no statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study confirms that the acute inflammatory response produced in acutely relapsed patients is reversed after three month of hospital discharge. The variations of serum s100b concentrations when the patients suffer from an acute relapse may be a useful predictor of disease evolution.

Introduction: Circadianity is a characteristic of several human biological variables, such as testosterone, melatonin and cortisol. There is little information whether or not S100B serum protein presents a circadian rhythm. Material and methods: 44 healthy subjects (24 female and 20 male, age 39.7 ± 9.4) participated in the study. Blood was sampled in July at 09:00, 12:00 and 24:00 h. Blood was centrifuged and serum was aliquot in Eppendorf tubes and frozen at-70º C. Serum S100B was measured by ELISA. Results: Serum S100B concentrations at 09:00 (56.3 ± 18.1 pg/ml), 12:00 (53.8 ± 23.1 pg/ml) and 24:00 h. (55.3 ± 20.3 pg/ml) were not significantly different. Conclusions: Our results point to the absence of a circadian rhythm of S100B serum protein concentrations. The lack of the disadvantage may allow researchers on this area to sample subjects at any time of the day.

Introduction:Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a genetic inherited disease characterized by hamartomatous growths in several organs as brain, skin, kidneys, hearth and eyes. The estimated incidence is approximately 1:6000 live births. The diagnosis is made clinically. Seizures are present in 87% of patients. Psychiatric comorbidity has been reported.Objectives:We report the clinical course of two patients with previous diagnosis of TSC. Psychiatric symptoms start in the adulthood without seizures history and absence of Subependimal Giant Cells Tumor (SGCT). The evolution and clinical features are described.Methods:Patient 1Married 33-years-old woman with two children affected with TSC. She was diagnosed after headache presentation in 2011. Initial MRI showed periventricular glioneuronal hamartomas. In January 2013 start with self-injurious (swallowing of objects) and autistic behaviours as well as several hospital urgency room visits. In addition, the patient presented with dull mood, emotional indifference and intellectual impairment, with no response to medication.Patient 2Married 43-years-old woman with a daughter affected with TSC. Diagnosis was made in 1999 and psychotic symptoms (delusional beliefs and auditory hallucinations) started in 2011 without previous psychiatric history. The MRI in 2013 shown subependymal nodules. Treatment with risperidone was effective.Results:Psychiatric symptoms are very often associated to the physical findings on TSC, even in adulthood diagnoses.Conclusions:Psychiatric comorbidities are well described in literature. about 10-20% adult patients with TSC present clinically significant behavioral problems as self-injuries, frequently associated with SGCT. The European Expert Panel recommended regular assessment of cognitive development and behaviour and symptomatic treatment.