Incidence and spatial distribution of adult-onset primary malignant and other central nervous system tumors in Southern Sardinia,Italy

Neurological Sciences - To study for the first time the incidence of adult-onset CNS tumors in Southern Sardinia, Italy. Clinical records of patients > 18 years old who...     

How long does it take to diagnose young-onset dementia? A comparison with late-onset dementia

Neurological Sciences - Dementia occurring in young people may be difficult to recognize. We compared the time to diagnosis between young- (YOD, age < 65) and late-onset dementia...     

Life events, ethnicity and perceptions of discrimination in patients with severe mental illness

  Background: Whilst it is commonly believed that black and ethnic minority (B&EM) people living in the UK experience social disadvantage compared with the white British (WB) population, no study has specifically addressed this issue in patients with severe mental illness. We sought to test the hypothesis that B&EM patients experience more negative life events than their WB counterparts, and to examine the extent to which they attribute these events to discrimination. Method: Thirty-four WB, 78 African Caribbean (AC) and 35 other ethnic minority patients with psychotic illnesses, defined using Research Diagnostic Criteria, were asked to complete a Racial Life Event Questionnaire examining life events and perceptions of discrimination at baseline and 12 and 24 months later. Results: African Caribbean patients experienced more `Financial' life events across the study period, otherwise there were no significant differences between patient groups in number of life events experienced. The B&EM group collectively (n = 113), however, were significantly more likely than the WB group (n = 34) to attribute `Assault', and `Legal' life events to discrimination. The AC patient group were significantly more likely than the other two ethnic groups to attribute the `Financial' and `Health' life events they experienced to discrimination. The B&EM group was also significantly more likely, and particularly the AC patient group, to report that members of their own ethnic group are adversely affected by discrimination. Further analyses showed skin colour rather than ethnicity or nationality to be the major contributing factor to perception of discrimination; thus, the Irish (n = 11) had similar scores to the WB while Africans (n = 16) scored like the ACs. Conclusion: Our study shows that B&EM patients do not experience significantly more life events than WB patients; however, their perception of these events is clearly different, and significantly more often attributed to racism. It is reasonable to suppose that patients may be disinclined to utilise services they believe to be prejudiced against them on the basis of their skin colour, and service providers need to be aware of this in order to create health care services that B&EM patients feel confident to use. Accepted: 3 September 1999     

Do autism spectrum disorders differ from each other and from non-spectrum disorders on emotion recognition tests?

 We tested whether dimensional measures of empathic ability, theory of mind, and intelligence would differentiate autism spectrum disorders from each other and from non-spectrum disorders. Tests were administered to children with a diagnosis of Autistic Disorder (AutD; n = 20), Asperger's Disorder (AspD; n = 28), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Inattentive Type) (ADHD; n = 35), Mental Retardation (Mild) (MR; n = 34), Anxiety Disorder (AnxD; n = 14), or No Psychological Disorder (NPD; n = 36). Results showed that empathic ability discriminated among groups on the autism spectrum (AutD < AspD < NPD). Because empathic ability is not independent of intelligence (AutD < AspD < NPD on intelligence; MR < ADHD < NPD on empathic ability), both dimensions are necessary to discriminate autism spectrum from non-spectrum disorders. When intelligence is covaried, empathic ability discriminated AutD, but not AspD, from other disorders (AutD < MR < ADHD <  NPD = AnxD = AspD). Accepted: 11 October 2000     

Decreased β-Cell Function is Associated with Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy in Chinese Patients Newly Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes

The influence of β-cell function on cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), an important diabetes-related complication, is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between residual β-cell function and CAN in patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. We enrolled 90 newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients and 37 participants with normal glucose tolerance as controls. The patients were divided into a CAN+ group (diabetic patients with CAN, n = 20) and a CAN− group (diabetic patients without CAN, n = 70) according to the standard Ewing battery of tests. Fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were measured. Homeostasis model assessment-beta cells (HOMA-B) and HOMA-insulin resistance (IR) were calculated. The prevalence of CAN in this population was 22.2%. Compared with the CAN− group, the CAN+ group had significantly lower fasting plasma insulin (6.60 ± 4.39 vs 10.45 ± 7.82 μ/L, P = 0.029), fasting C-peptide (0.51 ± 0.20 vs 0.82 ± 0.51 nmol/L, P = 0.004), and HOMA-B (21.44 ± 17.06 vs 44.17 ± 38.49, P = 0.002). Fasting C-peptide was correlated with the Valsalva ratio (r = 0.24, P = 0.043) and the 30:15 test (r = 0.26, P = 0.023). Further analysis showed that fasting C-peptide (OR: 0.041, 95% CI 0.003–0.501, P = 0.012) and HOMA-B (OR: 0.965, 95% CI 0.934–0.996, P = 0.028) were independently associated with cardiovascular autonomic nerve function in this population. The patients with fasting C-peptide values < 0.67 nmol/L were more likely to have CAN than those with C-peptide levels ≥0.67 nmol/L (OR: 6.00, 95% CI 1.815–19.830, P = 0.003). A high prevalence of CAN was found in patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Decreased β-cell function was closely associated with CAN in this population.     

Circulating B7-H3(CD276) Elevations in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Children with Bacterial Meningitis

The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical significance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma concentrations of B7-H3, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in bacterial and aseptic meningitis in children. The participants were six children with bacterial meningitis, 16 with aseptic meningitis, and 12 control subjects. All participants were between 2 months and 12 years of age on admission. Cytokines determination was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. CSF and plasma-circulating B7-H3 were significantly higher in the bacterial meningitis group as compared with the aseptic group (p = 0.001) and the control group (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001 respectively). However, CSF and plasma-circulating B7-H3 in aseptic meningitis were not significantly higher than control group (p = 0.071 and p = 0.72 respectively).CSF and plasma-circulating TNF-α were significantly higher in the bacterial meningitis group as compared with the aseptic group (p = 0.004 and p < 0.0001 respectively) and control group (p = 0.004 and p < 0.0001 respectively). Similarly, we did not observe significant elevated TNF-α levels in CSF and plasma in aseptic group compared with control group (p = 0.03 and p = 0.12 respectively). IFN-γ levels in CSF and plasma were undetectable in control group, and we did not find statistical significances in both of CSF and plasma between the elevated IFN-γ level in bacterial meningitis group and aseptic meningitis group(p = 0.055 and p = 0.095 respectively) CSF and plasma levels of IL-17 were undetectable in all subjects. There were correlations between B7-H3 and TNF-α, IFN-γ (r = 0.875, p = 0.000; r = −0.693, p = 0.000, respectively) in CSF in meningitis subjects. In plasma, levels of B7-H3 in bacterial meningitis on admission correlated positively with TNF-α (r = 0.968, p = 0.002), and white blood cell counts (r = 0.973, p = 0.001). Detectable CSF levels of B7-H3, TNF-α, and IFN-γ on admission were not associated significantly with any of CSF characteristics. Additionally, CSF and plasma levels of B7-H3 decreased remarkably after treatment. Altogether, our data indicated that circulating B7-H3 and TNF-α levels in the CSF and plasma were useful markers for distinguishing bacterial from aseptic meningitis, and Circulating B7-H3 was demonstrated to be useful in evaluating the intensity of the infectious inflammatory process in the central nervous system in children. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Mental health in the North West Region of England: associations with deprivation

Minor psychiatric morbidity is known to be associated with social disadvantage, but few studies have explored this association at the population level. This study reports data from a postal survey across 19 health districts in one region, with a total sample of 38,000 respondents. The percentage scoring above the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) threshold for each health district was correlated with measures of deprivation derived from the 1991 census and standardised mortality ratios. Highly significant correlations were seen between the percentage above the GHQ threshold and the Underpriveleged Area (UPA) score (r = 0.84), under 65 Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR; r = 0.80), lack of amenities (r = 0.56), overcrowding (r = 0.54), lone-parent families (r = 0.84), unemployment (r = 0.87), unskilled workers (r = 0.77), ethnic minority composition (r = 0.58) and social mobility (r = 0.85). However, the three most deprived districts had the lowest response rates and when these were excluded from the analysis, only the correlations with under 65 SMR (r = 0.57, P < 0.05), UPA score (r = 0.52, P < 0.05) and unskilled workers (r = 0.60, P < 0.05) remained significant. There may be a threshold effect for the impact of social disadvantage on mental health, with much higher rates of psychological morbidity among markedly disadvantaged populations. Accepted: 12 June 1997     

Comparison of Intestinal Warm Ischemic Injury in PACAP Knockout and Wild-Type Mice

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is present in the gastrointestinal tract and plays a central role in the intestinal physiology, mainly in the secretion and motility. The aim of our study was to compare the ischemic injury in wild-type and PACAP-38 knockout mice following warm mesenteric small bowel ischemia. Warm ischemia groups were designed with occlusion of superior mesenteric artery for 1, 3, and 6 h in wild-type (n = 10 in each group) and PACAP-38 knockout (n = 10 in each group) mice. Small bowel biopsies were collected after laparotomy (control) and at the end of the ischemia periods. To determine oxidative stress parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Tissue damage was analyzed by qualitative and quantitative methods on hematoxylin/eosin-stained sections. In PACAP-38 knockout animals, tissue MDA increased significantly after 3 and 6 h ischemia (133.97 ± 6,2; 141.86 ± 5,8) compared to sham-operated (100.92 ± 3,6) and compared to wild-type results (112.8 ± 2,1; 118.4 ± 1.03 μmol/g, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, tissue concentration of GSH and activity of SOD decreased significantly in knockout mice compared to wild-type form (GSH, 795.97 ± 10.4; 665.1 ± 8,8 vs. 893.23 ± μmol/g; SOD, 94.4 ± 1.4; 81.2 ± 3.9 vs. 208.09 ± 3,7 IU/g). Qualitative and quantitative histological results showed destruction of the mucous, submucous layers, and crypts in knockout mice compared to wild-type tissues. These processes correlated with the warm ischemia periods. Our present results propose an important protective effect of endogenous PACAP-38 against intestinal warm ischemia, which provides basis for further investigation to elucidate the mechanism of this protective effect.     

Psychometric Evaluation of the Life Orientation Test—Revised in Treated Opiate Dependent Individuals

We examined internal consistency and test-retest reliability of a measure of dispositional optimism, the Life Orientation Test — Revised, in 121 opiate-dependent patients seeking methadone treatment. Internal consistency was adequate at baseline (α = .69) and follow-up (α = .72). Low socioeconomic status and being on disability were significantly associated with reduced internal consistency; ethnic and educational differences approached significance. Test-retest reliability was good (ICC = .72), varying across gender, race, ethnicity, education, employment and income (ICC Range = .24 –.85). Criterion validity was strong; the LOT-R was significantly negatively correlated with hopelessness (r = -.65, p < .001) and depression (r = -.60, p < .001). Findings support the use of this measure of optimism and pessimism to assess positive cognitive and emotional attributes and improve treatment strategies for opiate-dependent individuals. Future research should address the measurement and significance of optimism in minority, low socioeconomic status and poorly-educated individuals.     

Analyzing Theoretical Mechanisms of Physical Activity Behavior Change in Breast Cancer Survivors: Results from the Activity Promotion (ACTION) Trial

Background We previously reported that a physical activity (PA) behavior change intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) increased PA and quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Purpose To examine the effects of our interventions on TPB variables and to determine if PA at 12 weeks follow-up was mediated by TPB variables at 4 weeks. Methods Breast cancer survivors (N = 377) were randomly assigned to receive either a standard public health recommendation for PA (SR group), a step pedometer alone, or one of two TPB-based behavior change interventions consisting of print materials (alone or combined with a step pedometer). For the purpose of this study, we compared the two TPB-based intervention groups (INT group) to the SR group. Results Compared to the SR group, the INT group reported more favorable changes in instrumental attitude (mean difference = 0.13; 95% CI = −0.01 to 0.23; d = 0.19; p = 0.077), intention (mean difference = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.56; d = 0.33; p = 0.006), and planning (mean difference = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.73; d = 0.26; p = 0.027). Mediation analyses indicated that both planning and intention partially mediated the effects of the intervention on PA at 12 weeks. Conclusions Our TPB-based behavior change intervention resulted in small improvements in the TPB constructs that partially mediated the effects of our intervention on PA behavior. Additional research with the TPB is warranted.     

Limited correlation between systemic biomarkers and neurocognitive performance before and during HIV treatment

The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) study A5303 investigated the associations between neuropsychological performance (NP) and inflammatory biomarkers in HIV-infected participants. Fifteen NP tests were administered at baseline and week 48 to 233 ART naïve participants randomized to maraviroc- or tenofovir-containing ART. Neurocognition correlated modestly with markers of lymphocyte activation and inflammation pre-ART (percent CD38+/HLA-DR+(CD4+) (r = − 0.22, p = 0.02) and percent CD38+/HLA-DR+(CD8+) (r = − 0.25, p = 0.02)), and with some monocyte subsets during ART (r = 0.25, p = 0.02). Higher interleukin-6 and percent CD38+/HLA-DR+(CD8+) were independently associated with worse severity of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) (p = 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). More studies to identify HAND biomarkers are needed.     

Differential behavioral syndrome evoked in the rats after multiple doses of SSRI fluoxetine with selective MAO inhibitors rasagiline or selegiline

Summary. This study investigated whether rasagiline and selegiline (MAO-B inhibitors) induce serotonin syndrome in fluoxetine-treated rats. Rats received rasagiline (0.1, 0.5, 2.0 mg/kg), or selegiline (0.8, 4.0, 16.0 mg/kg) (doses reflecting the clinical ratio of 1:8 base) in drinking water for 28 days. During the last 21 days, they received injections of fluoxetine 10 mg/kg (controls received water only, then saline injections; a fluoxetine only group received water only then fluoxetine). Serotonin syndrome was assessed using neurological severity score (NSS), food intake and weight gain. Mean NSS significantly increased, and weight and food consumption significantly decreased in rats receiving fluoxetine alone compared with controls. Selegiline 16 mg/kg but not rasagiline (regardless of dose) exacerbated these effects. We concluded that selegiline’s amphetamine-like metabolites may increase synaptic cathecholamines and possibly serotonin, aggravating fluoxetine’s effect. Rasagiline is devoid of this effect and may therefore be safer for use with serotonergic drugs in parkinsonian patients. Professor S. Cohen and Dr. Z. Speiser are emeritus at Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University. Correspondence: Zipora Speiser, Teva, R&D Division, Sapir Industrial Zone, P.O. Box 8077, 42504 Netanya, Israel     

Phencyclidine (PCP)-Induced Disruption in Cognitive Performance is Gender-Specific and Associated with a Reduction in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Specific Regions of the Female Rat Brain

Phencyclidine (PCP), used to mimic certain aspects of schizophrenia, induces sexually dimorphic, cognitive deficits in rats. In this study, the effects of sub-chronic PCP on expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophic factor implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, have been evaluated in male and female rats. Male and female hooded-Lister rats received vehicle or PCP (n = 8 per group; 2 mg/kg i.p. twice daily for 7 days) and were tested in the attentional set shifting task prior to being sacrificed (6 weeks post-treatment). Levels of BDNF mRNA were measured in specific brain regions using in situ hybridisation. Male rats were less sensitive to PCP-induced deficits in the extra-dimensional shift stage of the attentional set shifting task compared to female rats. Quantitative analysis of brain regions demonstrated reduced BDNF levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (p < 0.05), motor cortex (p < 0.01), orbital cortex (p < 0.01), olfactory bulb (p < 0.05), retrosplenial cortex (p < 0.001), frontal cortex (p < 0.01), parietal cortex (p < 0.01), CA1 (p < 0.05) and polymorphic layer of dentate gyrus (p < 0.05) of the hippocampus and the central (p < 0.01), lateral (p < 0.05) and basolateral (p < 0.05) regions of the amygdaloid nucleus in female PCP-treated rats compared with controls. In contrast, BDNF was significantly reduced only in the orbital cortex and central amygdaloid region of male rats (p < 0.05). Results suggest that blockade of NMDA receptors by sub-chronic PCP administration has a long-lasting down-regulatory effect on BDNF mRNA expression in the female rat brain which may underlie some of the behavioural deficits observed post PCP administration.     

Adolescents hospitalised with deliberate self-harm: the significance of an intention to die

 All suicide attempters admitted to medical wards in the greater Oslo area, (n = 91) aged 13–19 years, were dichotomised on the basis of one item in the Motives for Parasuicide Questionnaire (MPQ) and one item in the Suicide Intent Scale (SIS): if the intent was to die (n = 57), or not (n = 34). The two groups were compared regarding the attempt, mental health problems, and psychosocial risk factors. The attempt of adolescents with an intent to die were more serious, rated with SIS (15.7 vs. 5.7, p < 0.001), with Risk Rescue Rating (p = 0.003) or rated medically (p < 0.05). They were clinically more often depressed (61% vs. 32%, p < 0.01), felt more hopeless (Hopelessness Scale) (10.8 vs. 8.2, p < 0.05), were less disruptive (11% vs. 32%, p < 0.05) and less often abused substances (0 vs. 12%, p < 0.05). Both groups were equally burdened with other factors. Differentiation on the basis of suicidal intent delineated two groups, both with considerable psychosocial problems. Those with suicide intent had more internalising problems including depression, while those with other intents showed more externalising behaviour. The need for help in the group with no intent to die may be underestimated. Accepted: 19 June 2000     

A fMRI Study of Verbal Working Memory, Cardiac Output, and Ejection Fraction in Elderly Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with cognitive deficits even in the absence of stroke. We examined the relationship between cardiac performance, as measured by cardiac output (CO) and ejection fraction (EF), and brain activity during a verbal working memory (VWM) task in elderly CVD patients who tend to be at increased risk for vascular cognitive impairments. Seventeen patients were recruited from a cohort participating in an ongoing prospective study examining the effects of CVD on cognitive function in the elderly. Participants were diagnosed with CVD (age 68 ± 8) and completed a 2-back VWM task in a 1.5T fMRI paradigm. CO and EF were calculated from echocardiogram measures. Task-related activation was averaged in a priori regions of interest. The relationship between CO, EF, and 2-back-related activity was modeled using partial correlations (two-tailed p < .05) controlling for age and 2-back accuracy. All participants were globally cognitively intact as indicated by Mini-Mental Status Exam and Dementia Rating Scale scores. Mean accuracy on the 2-back was 78 ± 9% while reaction time averaged 1,027 ± 192 ms. Mean CO and EF values showed a large range (CO: 3.55 to 6.31; EF: 0.36 to 0.76) but average values were within the normal range. After controlling for age and 2-back accuracy, lower EF was related to decrease in left insula activity (r = 0.61, p = 0.03). There were trends for EF to be related to accuracy (r = 0.47, p = 0.09) and reaction time (r = −0.48, p = 0.09). CO was also related to insula activity (r = 0.60, p = 0.04) and activity in the supplementary motor area activity (r = 0.66, p = 0.01). Cardiac performance was related to decreased efficiency in task related brain areas and tended to be related to performance on a VWM task in elderly patients with CVD. Results have implications for a line of investigation indicating that cardiac and systemic vascular indices could be used as proxy measures to examine mechanisms of cerebrovascular dysfunction in the elderly.     

Association Between Alzheimer’s Disease and the <Emphasis Type="Italic">NOS3</Emphasis> gene Glu298Asp Polymorphism in Chinese

The oxidative stress caused by nitric oxide (NO) in the brain has been proposed as a pathogenic mechanism in Alzheimer’s disease. Endothelial NO synthase (ecNOS) produces the majority of circulating NO. The biological functional and genetic association studies suggested that the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the ecNOS gene (NOS3) may be a genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). To investigate an association between the NOS31 Glu298Asp polymorphism and sporadic LOAD in Chinese, we examined 338 LOAD patients and 378 healthy controls. The associations of the Glu/Glu genotype and Glu allele with LOAD (χ ² = 9.12, df = 1, P = 0.003 by genotype; χ ² = 8.37, df = 1, P = 0.038 by allele) were found. After stratifying by apolipoprotein E allele 4 (APOE ɛ4) status, increased LOAD risks associated with the Glu/Glu genotype and Glu allele only in the APOE ɛ4 noncarriers (χ ² = 6.28, df = 1, P = 0.012 by genotype; χ ² = 5.62, df = 1, P = 0.018 by allele) were seen. These results suggest that the NOS3 gene Glu298Asp polymorphism might be a risk factor for LOAD and dependent on APOE ɛ4 status in Chinese. Binbin Wang and Sainan Tan contributed equally to the work.     

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-12 in children with meningitis

Purpose  Certain cytokines play important roles in the pathophysiology of meningitis. The main purpose of this study was to investigate if the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be diagnostic predictors of bacterial meningitis in children. Methods  CSF was obtained from 95 patients suspected with meningitis. These cases were classified to the bacterial meningitis (n = 12), aseptic meningitis (n = 41), and nonmeningitis (n = 42) groups. The levels of IL-6 and IL-12 in CSF were measured using the enzyme-linked immmunosorbent assays test. Results  The CSF IL-6 levels in the bacterial meningitis group (45.2 ± 50.0 pg/ml) were significantly higher than those in the aseptic meningitis group (12.9 ± 10.2 pg/ml) and the nonmeningitis group (6.5 ± 7.8 pg/ml; p < 0.05). The CSF IL-12 levels in the bacterial meningitis group (69.8 ± 67.1 pg/ml) were significantly higher than those in the aseptic meningitis group (22.9 ± 10.8 pg/ml) and the nonmeningitis group (15.3 ± 11.2 pg/ml; p < 0.05). With regard to diagnosis, the measurement of CSF IL-6 and IL-12 levels showed sensitivities of 96% and 96%, respectively, and specificities of 51% and 75%, respectively. Conclusion  It is suggested that the CSF IL-6 and IL-12 levels are useful markers for distinguishing bacterial meningitis from aseptic meningitis.     

Common mood and anxiety states: gender differences in the protective effect of physical activity

  Background: We wished to examine the impact of the duration and intensity of physical activity on common anxiety and depressive states. Method: A nested case-control design was applied to data from the Health and Lifestyle Survey. Anxiety and depressive states were measured by caseness on the General Health Questionnaire. Physical activity variables were defined from a detailed activity schedule. Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, the findings suggest that compared to men who reported 0–44 min of daily physical activity, there is benefit to men who exercise for at least 92 min a day (92–161 min a day: OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.37–0.87, P < 0.01; 162–554 min a day: OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.43–0.97, P < 0.05), but not to women. The protective effect does not appear to vary according to the intensity of activity in men or women. Conclusions: Physical activity of long duration amongst men confers protection against common mood and anxiety states. This study found no such protection for women. Accepted: 21 October 1999     

Fyn Polymorphisms are Associated with Distinct Personality Traits in Healthy Chinese-Han Subjects

The Src family tyrosine kinase Fyn regulates a myriad of neurophysiological processes, including learning and memory. To date, the role of Fyn in the neurological mechanisms that determine personality traits has not been addressed. To this end, we determined the association between the rs706895C/T polymorphism of the Fyn gene (FYN) and personality traits measured by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire in 502 healthy Chinese-Han subjects. There were no significant differences in the total scores for novelty seeking (χ ² = 5.12, P = 0.077), harm avoidance (HA; χ ² = 2.63, P = 0.269), or reward dependence (RD; χ ² = 3.94, P = 0.139) among the rs706895C/T genotypes. In sub-item analyses, however, both fear of uncertainty (HA2; χ ² = 7.84, P = 0.020) and sentimentality (RD1; χ ² = 8.27; P = 0.016) scores were significantly different among rs706895C/T genotypes. Our results suggest that FYN alleles can contribute to the variance in human personality traits.