Treatment response – mycolab.ai

Associations Between Escitalopram and Psilocybin Therapy and Brain Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Major Depressive Disorder

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This study compared how two depression treatments—a common antidepressant called escitalopram and psilocybin therapy—affect brain connectivity and depression symptoms. Both treatments reduced feelings of lacking pleasure and impulsive behaviors in depressed patients. The research found that while both worked, they affected different parts of the brain’s reward system in distinct ways, suggesting they may work through different mechanisms.

Ketamine induces multiple individually distinct whole-brain functional connectivity signatures

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This study examined how ketamine, a promising depression treatment, affects different people’s brains in different ways. Rather than averaging brain scans across all participants, researchers looked at individual differences and found that each person showed unique patterns of brain activity changes. The research suggests that personalized approaches to ketamine treatment, based on individual brain responses, could help identify which patients would benefit most from the therapy.

Biological markers of treatment response to serotonergic psychedelic therapies: a systematic review

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This review examines how scientists can predict which patients will benefit most from psychedelic-assisted therapy for depression by measuring biological markers in the brain and blood. Researchers found that certain brain changes and protein levels—particularly involving the amygdala, specific brain regions, and inflammation markers—appear linked to treatment success. While the current studies are small, they suggest that measuring these biological markers could eventually help doctors personalize psychedelic treatments for depression.

Identification of Blood Biomarkers of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Treatment Response for Generalised Anxiety Disorder

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Researchers studied how psilocybin-assisted therapy works for people with anxiety disorders by examining blood samples from patients who responded well to treatment versus those who didn’t. They identified four genes whose expression patterns could help predict which anxiety patients would benefit from psilocybin therapy before starting treatment. This breakthrough could help doctors avoid giving intensive treatment to patients unlikely to respond and instead direct them toward more effective alternatives.

Efficacy of psilocybin for treating symptoms of depression: systematic review and meta-analysis

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This comprehensive analysis of clinical trials found that psilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms, shows promise as a treatment for depression compared to placebo. The treatment was particularly effective for patients with depression related to serious illness, those using self-reported symptom assessments, older adults, and those with prior experience with psychedelics. While side effects were minimal and temporary, researchers emphasize that more research is needed to fully understand how expectancy and individual factors influence treatment outcomes.

Single-dose psilocybin alters resting state functional networks in patients with body dysmorphic disorder

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Researchers gave eight patients with body dysmorphic disorder (an excessive preoccupation with appearance flaws) a single dose of psilocybin and measured their brain activity before and after treatment. They found that psilocybin increased communication between key brain regions involved in decision-making and attention control. Patients whose brains showed these changes experienced significant symptom improvement within a week, suggesting psilocybin may help by enhancing mental flexibility and emotional regulation in BDD.

Clinical spectrum, immune status, and prognostic factors of cryptococcosis: insights from a large, multi-center, ambispective cohort study in southeastern China

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This study examined cryptococcosis, a serious fungal infection, in 396 non-HIV patients across hospitals in southeastern China. The researchers found that patients’ immune status, whether the infection spread to the brain, and blood inflammation markers were key predictors of survival. Most patients treated with azole medications (a common antifungal) improved or recovered, though those with brain involvement or severe immune deficiency had worse outcomes. The findings help doctors identify which patients need more intensive treatment.

Role of Candida species in pathogenesis, immune regulation, and prognostic tools for managing ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease

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This article explores how fungi, particularly Candida species, contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The fungal microbiota becomes imbalanced in IBD patients, triggering harmful immune responses and worsening inflammation. The researchers propose that measuring specific Candida levels could help doctors diagnose disease severity and predict treatment response, opening new possibilities for personalized IBD management.

Clinical Outcomes of Micafungin for Invasive Fungal Infections in the Obese and Nonobese

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This study examined whether obese patients treated with the antifungal drug micafungin for serious fungal infections had different outcomes compared to non-obese patients. Researchers reviewed 378 patient cases and found that both groups had similar success rates of about 50%, suggesting that the standard dose of micafungin works equally well in obese and non-obese patients. These findings suggest that doctors do not need to prescribe higher doses of micafungin specifically for obese patients, though more research is needed to fully understand how obesity affects antifungal treatment.

Research Keyword: Treatment response