Association between PLA2G12A polymorphism and patients with schizophrenia in a southern Chinese Han population

Background

Elevated phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity is reported to be involved in the development of schizophrenia. Further study revealed an association between PLA2 groups XIIA (PLA2G12A) polymorphism and patients with schizophrenia in a northeast Chinese Han population.

Objective

This study will further examine whether PLA2G12A rs3087494 polymorphism is associated with patients with schizophrenia in a southern Chinese Han population.

Methods

This polymorphism was genotyped in 438 patients with schizophrenia (diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐IV) and 876 healthy controls using a case–control design. Demographic and clinical data were collected in all subjects.

Results

The allele and genotype frequencies of PLA2G12A rs3087494 polymorphism significantly differed between groups (both, p < .001). These differences still were significant by adjusting for sex and age. However, there was no difference in age at onset among 3 genotype groups in patients with schizophrenia by adjusting for the variables (F = 0.22, p = .80). Stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that this polymorphism was not associated with age at onset in patients with schizophrenia (β = .008, t = .07, p = .94).

Conclusions

Our results indicated that even though PLA2G12A rs3087494 polymorphism did not influence age at onset in patients with schizophrenia, it may play an important role in the susceptibility to schizophrenia in a southern Chinese Han population.     

Higher serotonin transporter availability in early‐onset obsessive–compulsive disorder patients undergoing escitalopram treatment: A [11C]DASB PET study

Objective

Early‐onset obsessive–compulsive disorder (EOCD) and late‐onset obsessive–compulsive disorder (LOCD) are distinct subtypes of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD patients are treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but the difference in serotonin transporter (SERT) availability between medicated EOCD and LOCD is unexplored yet.

Methods

Six EOCD and 6 LOCD patients were enrolled. They underwent serial [¹¹C]DASB positron emission tomography scans during maintenance therapy with escitalopram, and their plasma concentration of escitalopram was measured simultaneously with the scan. Then, the drug‐free binding potential of SERT was calculated by pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic modelling.

Results

In comparison with LOCD patients, SERT availability was significantly higher in the putamen of EOCD patients (U = 4, p = .026), but not in the caudate nucleus (U = 14, p = .589), thalamus (U = 16, p = .818), and dorsal raphe nucleus (U = 7, p = .093). Binding potential of putamen showed a negative correlation (r = ?.580, p = .048) with age of onset of the disease, but not with the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scores.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that the earlier the age of onset of OCD, the less serotonergic pathology there is and that this difference remains even after long‐term serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment. Clinically, it might suggest that nonserotonergic treatments would be a better option for EOCD patients.     

Mitochondrial Antioxidants Alleviate Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in a Cellular Model of Sepsis

Purpose  

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in sepsis.     

Clinical trials during pregnancy: what has been done

Objective  

We describe clinical trials conducted in pregnant women.     

Short circuit: Disaggregation of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in HIV‐positive,methamphetamine‐using men who have sex with men

Objective

This study examined if methamphetamine use alone (METH + HIV?) and methamphetamine use in combination with HIV (METH + HIV+) were associated with hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation as well as insulin resistance relative to a nonmethamphetamine‐using, HIV‐negative comparison group (METH‐HIV?).

Methods

Using an intact groups design, serum levels of HPA axis hormones in 46 METH + HIV? and 127 METH + HIV+ men who have sex with men (MSM) were compared to 136 METH‐HIV? men.

Results

There were no group differences in prevailing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or cortisol levels, but the association between ACTH and cortisol was moderated by METH + HIV+ group (β = ?0.19, p < .05). Compared to METH‐HIV? men, METH + HIV+ MSM displayed 10% higher log₁₀ cortisol levels per standard deviation lower ACTH. Both groups of methamphetamine‐using MSM had lower insulin resistance and greater syndemic burden (i.e., sleep disturbance, severe depression, childhood trauma, and polysubstance use disorder) compared to METH‐HIV? men. However, the disaggregated functional relationship between ACTH and cortisol in METH + HIV+ MSM was independent of these factors.

Conclusions

Further research is needed to characterize the bio‐behavioral pathways that explain dysregulated HPA axis functioning in HIV‐positive, methamphetamine‐using MSM.     

The effects of clozapine on quinpirole-induced non-regulatory drinking and prepulse inhibition disruption in rats

Rationale  

The biological underpinnings of schizophrenic polydipsia are poorly understood.     

Residual effects of esmirtazapine on actual driving performance: overall findings and an exploratory analysis into the role of CYP2D6 phenotype

Introduction  

Esmirtazapine is evaluated as a novel drug for treatment of insomnia.     

Conductive warming and insulation reduces perioperative hypothermia

Background  

Perioperative hypothermia is rather common after head and neck surgery.     

Dose finding of melatonin for chronic idiopathic childhood sleep onset insomnia: an RCT

Rationale  

Pharmacokinetics of melatonin in children might differ from that in adults.     

Environmental-induced differences in corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor blockade of amphetamine self-administration in rats

Rationale  

Rats raised in isolation self-administer more amphetamine than rats raised in enrichment.     

PEG-poly(amino acid) Block Copolymer Micelles for Tunable Drug Release

Purpose  

To achieve tunable pH-dependent drug release in tumor tissues.     

Parathyromatosis after parathyroidectomy because of primary hyperparathyroidism: A case report

Introduction  

Differential diagnosis and treatment of recurrent hyperparathyroidism are complicated.     

Polymethacrylate Microparticles Gel for Topical Drug Delivery

Purpose  

Evaluating the potentials of particulate delivery systems in topical drug delivery.     

Cationic Lipid-Coated Gold Nanoparticles as Efficient and Non-Cytotoxic Intracellular siRNA Delivery Vehicles

Purpose  

Cationic lipid-coated gold nanoparticles were developed for efficient intracellular delivery of therapeutic siRNA.     

Dopamine transporter-related effects of modafinil in rhesus monkeys

Rationale  

Modafinil is currently used as a treatment for daytime sleepiness.     

Expression of GFP in the Mitochondrial Compartment Using DQAsome-Mediated Delivery of an Artificial Mini-mitochondrial Genome

Purpose  

We describe a novel strategy for expression of GFP in mammalian mitochondria.     

Opposite Effects of Polyols on Antibody Aggregation: Thermal <Emphasis Type="Italic">Versus</Emphasis> Mechanical Stresses

Purpose  

To investigate the physical stability of antibody-polyol formulations under thermal and mechanical stresses.     

Assessment of Nasal Spray Deposition Pattern in a Silicone Human Nose Model Using a Color-Based Method

Purpose  

To develop a simple and inexpensive method to visualize and quantify droplet deposition patterns.     

Aripiprazole maintenance increases smoked cocaine self-administration in humans

Rationale  

Partial dopamine receptor agonists have been proposed as candidate pharmacotherapies for cocaine dependence.     

Leachables from Saline-Containing IV Bags Can Alter Therapeutic Protein Properties

Purpose  

To investigate the cause of the observed instability of dulanermin in 100 ml polyolefin (PO) infusion bags containing saline.