Subjects with schizophrenia have a 2–3 fold higher mortality rate than the general population and a reduced life expectancy of 10–20 years. Approximately one-third of this excess mortality has been attributed to obesity-related type 2 diabetes (T2D) and to cardiovascular disease. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues increase satiety and delay gastric emptying, thereby reducing food intake and weight. GLP-1 analogues also exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients with T2D.

Our aim is to investigate whether 30 weeks add-on treatment with the GLP-1 analogue semaglutide can reduce HbA1c sufficiently to reverse pre-diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in overweight schizophrenic patients.

We will perform a 30 week, two-armed, multicentre, superiority, double-blinded, randomised trial investigating the effect of weekly injections of semaglutide versus placebo in mental health facilities in Region of Southern Denmark and Region of Zealand, Denmark. In total, 154 adults with schizophrenia spectrum disease, aged 18–60 years treated with second generation antipsychotic treatment, HbA1c 39–47 mmol/mol and body mass index >27 kg/m² will be randomised to injections of 1.0 mg semaglutide or placebo. The primary outcome is changes in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes encompass metabolic measures, psychotic symptoms and quality of life. Exploratory outcomes encompass insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular risk profile, medication adherence, general well-being and physical activity.

This study will be carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice guidelines. This research has obtained approval from both the Danish Medicines Agency and The Regional Committees on Health Research Ethics for Southern Denmark.

NCT05193578 European Clinical Trials Database Number (EudraCT) 2020-004374-22, Regional Ethical Committee number S-20200182.

This cross-sectional comparative study aimed to analyse and compare the story-grammar components in Tamil-speaking children with and without hearing impairment (HI) narratives.

The study used a cross-sectional, comparative design to assess and compare narrative structures.

Data were collected at the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai, India.

30 children participated in the study, including 15 children with severe to profound hearing loss who used cochlear implants and 15 with normal hearing. The participants were language-age-matched children aged 3–5 years, proficient in Tamil.

No specific interventions were implemented in this study.

The primary outcome measures focused on story-grammar components, including settings, characters, initiating events, internal plans, attempts, outcomes, and resolution. These components were evaluated through narrative retellings by the children.

Analysis of the narratives revealed significant differences between the two groups. Children with normal hearing demonstrated a higher representation of story-grammar elements than children with HI.

The findings suggest that children with normal hearing exhibit a more proficient understanding and utilisation of story structure in their story-telling than children with HI. This study highlights the importance of narrative analysis in language assessment, particularly for children with HI. Tailored interventions incorporating appropriate language stimulation techniques are needed to enhance children’s narrative skills with HI. Further research in this area is warranted.