Total water intake guidelines are sufficient for optimal hydration in United States adults.

PURPOSE: Recent studies suggest that 24-h urine osmolality (UOsm) for optimal water intake should be maintained < 500 mmol·kg-1. The purpose of this study was to determine the total water intake (TWI) requirement for healthy adults to maintain optimal hydration as indicated by 24-h urine osmolality < 500 mmol·kg-1. METHODS: Twenty-four-hour UOsm was assessed in 49 men and 50 women residing in the United States (age: 41 ± 14 y, body mass index: 26.3 ± 5.2 kg·m-2). TWI was assessed from 7-day water turnover, using a dilution of deuterium oxide, corrected for metabolic water production. The diagnostic accuracy of TWI to identify UOsm < 500 mmol·kg-1 was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in men and women separately. RESULTS: Twenty-four-hour UOsm was 482 ± 229 and 346 ± 182 mmol·kg-1 and TWI was 3.57 ± 1.10 L·d-1 and 3.20 ± 1.27 L·d-1 in men and women, respectively. ROC analysis for TWI detecting 24-h UOsm < 500 mmol·kg-1 in men yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 77.4% with sensitivity, specificity, and threshold values of 83.3%, 64.5%, and 3.39 L·d-1, respectively. The AUC was 82.4% in women with sensitivity, specificity, and threshold values of 85.7%, 72.1%, and 2.61 L·d-1. CONCLUSION: Considering threshold values in men and women of 3.4 L·d-1 and 2.6 L·d-1, respectively, maintaining TWI in line with National Academy of Medicine guidelines of 3.7 L·d-1 in men and 2.7 L·d-1 in women should be sufficient for most individuals in the United States to maintain 24-h UOsm < 500 mmol·kg-1.

The effects of perceived psychological, educational, and financial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Greek university students' satisfaction with life through Mental Health.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to provide an operating mechanism for understanding the effects of COVID-19's on satisfaction with life, subject to students' general mental health METHODS: A sample of 1653 Greek speaking university students (72.4% females, 65.3% undergraduate, M age=26.1) completed an online survey including measures for perceived psychological, academic, and financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, general mental health and satisfaction with life. RESULTS: A mediation model was tested to illuminate these relationships by considering students' general mental health as a mediator. Findings demonstrated that there were significant direct effects of perceived COVID-19 impact on participants' financial status on satisfaction with life and indirect effects of perceived COVID-19 impact on participants' financial status and academic performance respectively on satisfaction with life through general mental health. LIMITATIONS: The study's cross-sectional design, self-report data and snowball sampling. CONCLUSIONS: The findings add to our understanding of the relationship between perceived COVID-19 impact and life satisfaction among university students, and they shed light on the critical role of general mental health in mediating the relationship. Targeting the factors that influence general mental health can help to mitigate potential problems while also finding ways to improve mental health and well-being.

Attitudes to depression and psychiatric medication amid the enduring financial crisis in Attica: Comparison between 2009 and 2014.

BACKGROUND: Only a handful of studies have explored the effect of the financial crisis on public attitudes to mental illness. AIMS: This study examines changes in lay attitudes to depression and psychiatric medication between 2009 and 2014 in Attica region. Furthermore, it explored a potential interaction with employment status. METHODS: Data were drawn from two surveys conducted in 2009 and 2014 using the same sampling procedure, interview mode, and survey instrument. Specifically, a random and representative sample of 586 people was recruited in 2009 and of 604 in 2014. Attitudes to depression were measured by the Personal Stigma subscale of the Depression Stigma Scale and attitudes to psychiatric medication by a self-constructed scale with good psychometric properties. Data collection occurred via telephone. RESULTS: There has been no overall change in lay attitudes to depression. Nonetheless, a positive change was recorded with regard to the belief that depression is a sign of personal weakness and a negative change with respect to people with depression being dangerous. Attitudes to psychiatric medication have worsened during the study period. Employment status was not found to interact with the survey year. CONCLUSION: Anti-stigma efforts should be tailored on counteracting the dangerousness stereotype, while they should prioritize targeting attitudes to psychiatric medication.

Coffee with High but Not Low Caffeine Content Augments Fluid and Electrolyte Excretion at Rest.

BACKGROUND: Low levels of caffeine ingestion do not induce dehydration at rest, while it is not clear if larger doses do have an acute diuretic effect. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the acute effect of low and high levels of caffeine, via coffee, on fluid balance in habitual coffee drinkers (at least one per day) at rest. METHODS: Ten healthy adults (eight males and two females; age: 27 ± 5 years, weight: 89.5 ± 14.8 kg, height: 1.75 ± 0.08 m, and body mass index: 29.1 ± 4.4 kg m-2) ingested 200 mL of water (W), coffee with low caffeine (3 mg kg-1, LCAF), or coffee with high caffeine (6 mg kg-1, HCAF) on three respective separate occasions. All sessions were performed at 09:00 in the morning in a counterbalanced, crossover manner, at least 5 days apart. Subjects remained in the laboratory while urine samples were collected every 60 min for 3 h post ingestion. RESULTS: Absolute caffeine consumption was 269 ± 45 and 537 ± 89 mg for the LCAF and HCAF, respectively. Coffee ingestion at the HCAF trial induced greater diuresis during the 3-h period (613 ± 101 mL, P < 0.05), when compared to W (356 ± 53 mL) and LCAF (316 ± 38 mL). In addition, cumulative urinary osmotic excretion was significantly greater in the HCAF (425 ± 92 mmol, P < 0.05), as compared to the W (249 ± 36 mmol) and LCAF (177 ± 16 mmol) trials. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that caffeine intake of 6 mg kg-1 in the form of coffee can induce an acute diuretic effect, while 3 mg kg-1 do not disturb fluid balance in healthy casual coffee drinking adults at rest.

Reduced water intake deteriorates glucose regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Epidemiological research has demonstrated that low daily total water intake is associated with increased diagnosis of hyperglycemia. Possible mechanisms for this increase include hormones related to the hypothalamic pituitary axis as well as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Therefore, the hypothesis of the present study was that acute low water intake would result in differential hormonal profiles and thus impaired blood glucose regulation during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Nine men (53 ± 9 years, 30.0 ± 4.3 m∙kg-2, 32% ± 6% body fat) diagnosed with T2DM completed OGTTs in euhydrated (EUH) and hypohydrated (HYP) states in counterbalanced order. Water restriction led to hypohydration of -1.6% of body weight, with elevated plasma (EUH: 288 ± 4, HYP: 298 ± 6 mOsm·kg-1; P < .05) and urine (EUH: 512 ± 185, HYP: 994 ± 415 mOsm·kg-1; P < .05) osmolality. There was a significant main effect of condition for serum glucose (at time 0 minute 9.5 ± 4.2 vs 10.4 ± 4.4 mmol∙L-1 and at time 120 minutes 19.1 ± 4.8 vs 21.0 ± 4.1 mmol∙L-1 for EUH and HYP, respectively; P < .001) but not insulin (mean difference between EUH and HYP -12.1 ± 44.9 pmol∙L-1, P = .390). An interaction between time and condition was observed for cortisol: decrease from minute 0 to 120 in EUH (-85.3 ± 82.1 nmol∙L-1) vs HYP (-25.0 ± 43.0 nmol∙L-1; P = .017). No differences between conditions were found within RAAS-related hormones. Therefore, we can conclude that 3 days of low total water intake in people with T2DM acutely impairs blood glucose response during an OGTT via cortisol but not RAAS-mediated glucose regulation.

Prescribed Drinking Leads to Better Cycling Performance than Ad Libitum Drinking.

Drinking ad libitum during exercise often leads to dehydration ranging from -1% to -3% of body weight. PURPOSE: This article aimed to study the effect of a prescribed hydration protocol matching fluid losses on a simulated 30-km criterium-like cycling performance in the heat (31.6°C ± 0.5°C). METHODS: Ten elite heat-acclimatized male endurance cyclists (30 ± 5 yr, 76.5 ± 7.2 kg, 1.81 ± 0.07 m, V˙O2peak = 61.3 ± 5.2 mL·min·kg, body fat = 10.5% ± 3.3%, Powermax = 392 ± 33 W) performed three sets of criterium-like cycling, which consisted of a 5-km cycling at 50% power max followed by a 5-km cycling all out at 3% grade (total 30 km). Participants rode the course on two separate occasions and in a counterbalanced order, during either ad libitum drinking (AD; drink water as much as they wished) or prescribed drinking (PD; drink water every 1 km to much fluid losses). To design the fluid intake during PD, participants performed a familiarization trial to calculate fluid losses. RESULTS: After the exercise protocol, the cyclist dehydrated by -0.5% ± 0.3% and -1.8% ± 0.7% of their body weight for the PD and AD trial, respectively. The mean cycling speed for the third bout of the 5-km hill cycling was greater in the PD trial (30.2 ± 2.4 km·h) compared with the AD trial (28.8 ± 2.6 km·h) by 5.1% ± 4.8% (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal, mean skin, and mean body temperatures immediately after the last hill climbing were greater in the AD compared with the PD trial (P < 0.05). Overall, sweat sensitivity during the three climbing bouts was lower in the AD (15.6 ± 5.7 g·W·m) compared with the PD trial (22.8 ± 3.4 g·W·m, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The data suggested that PD to match fluid losses during exercise in the heat provided a performance advantage because of lower thermoregulatory strain and greater sweating responses.

Fluid Balance of Adolescent Swimmers During Training.

Swimming, either competitively or leisurely, is a unique activity that involves prolonged exercise while immersed in stable water temperatures. This environment could have an influence on the hydration status of swimmers independently of fluid balance. Forty-six healthy adolescent swimmers (26 males and 20 females; 12.8 ± 2.3 years; 50.6 ± 13.4 kg) were studied during a typical training session in an indoor swimming pool. First morning, prepractice and postpractice urine samples were tested for osmolality and specific gravity, whereas all athletes consumed fluids ad libitum. Sixty-seven percent of the athletes were hypohydrated (urine osmolality [Uosm] ≥700 mmol·kg(-1)) based on their first morning urine sample, which increased to 78% immediately before training. During the 2-hour swimming practice, the minimal sweat loss (0.39 ± 0.27 L) combined with ad libitum fluid availability resulted in unchanged body weight (0.1 ± 0.3 kg). Additionally, thirst was similar (before practice: 46 ± 26, after practice: 55 ± 33 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale) at pretraining and posttraining time points (p > 0.05). Interestingly, postpractice Uosm was reduced significantly compared with the prepractice value (630 vs. 828 mmol·kg(-1); p = 0.001), without any significant change in body weight (0.1 ± 0.3 kg; p > 0.05). In conclusion, the present data indicated that more than two-thirds of the young swimmers appeared in their practice suboptimally hydrated. Although no changes in body mass were observed during the swimming practice, the decrease in urine hydration markers after swimming might less accurately reflect hydration state.

An eight week school-based intervention with circuit training improves physical fitness and reduces body fat in male adolescents.

BACKGORUND: School-based intervention programs have been found to effectively improve various fitness and health parameters. However, only few studies so far examined the effect of circuit training in school environment during physical education (PE) classes. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of an eight-week circuit training on physical fitness and body fat in male adolescents. METHODS: Thirty nine, 16-year old male high-school students participated in the current study. The students were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention period lasted eight weeks and consisted of two circuit training sessions per week performed during regular PE classes. Total body fat was calculated by using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Physical fitness parameters such as cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, jumping ability and isometric arm strength were assessed through a battery of field tests. Finally, resting heart rate and blood pressure levels were assessed with an automatic monitor. RESULTS: By the end of the intervention period, total body fat and resting systolic blood pressure were significantly lower while cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly improved in the circuit training group only (P<0.05). In the control group Body Mass Index and total body fat percentage were significantly increased when compared pre- and post-intervention period (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Eight weeks of circuit training during PE classes appeared to be effective in improving various physical fitness parameters and reducing fatness in male adolescents.

Common genetic variation and schizophrenia polygenic risk influence neurocognitive performance in young adulthood.

Neurocognitive abilities constitute complex traits with considerable heritability. Impaired neurocognition is typically observed in schizophrenia (SZ), whereas convergent evidence has shown shared genetic determinants between neurocognition and SZ. Here, we report a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on neuropsychological and oculomotor traits, linked to SZ, in a general population sample of healthy young males (n = 1079). Follow-up genotyping was performed in an identically phenotyped internal sample (n = 738) and an independent cohort of young males with comparable neuropsychological measures (n = 825). Heritability estimates were determined based on genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and potential regulatory effects on gene expression were assessed in human brain. Correlations with general cognitive ability and SZ risk polygenic scores were tested utilizing meta-analysis GWAS results by the Cognitive Genomics Consortium (COGENT) and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC-SZ). The GWAS results implicated biologically relevant genetic loci encoding protein targets involved in synaptic neurotransmission, although no robust individual replication was detected and thus additional validation is required. Secondary permutation-based analysis revealed an excess of strongly associated loci among GWAS top-ranked signals for verbal working memory (WM) and antisaccade intra-subject reaction time variability (empirical P < 0.001), suggesting multiple true-positive single-SNP associations. Substantial heritability was observed for WM performance. Further, sustained attention/vigilance and WM were suggestively correlated with both COGENT and PGC-SZ derived polygenic scores. Overall, these results imply that common genetic variation explains some of the variability in neurocognitive functioning among young adults, particularly WM, and provide supportive evidence that increased SZ genetic risk predicts neurocognitive fluctuations in the general population.

Neuroticism, social network, stressful life events: association with mood disorders, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in a community sample of women.

According to the stress-diathesis hypothesis, depression and suicidal behavior may be precipitated by psychosocial stressors in vulnerable individuals. However, risk factors for mental health are often gender-specific. In the present study, we evaluated common risk factors for female depression in association with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in a community sample of women. The sample was composed by 415 women evaluated for mood disorders (MDs), depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation by structured interviews and the Beck depression inventory II (BDI II). All women also filled in the Eysenck personality questionnaire to evaluate neuroticism and were interviewed for social contact frequency and stressful life events (SLEs). In the whole sample, 19% of the women satisfied criteria for MD and suicidal ideation was reported by 12% of the women. Though stressful life events, especially personal and interpersonal problems, and poor social network were associated with all the outcome variables (mood disorder, depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation), neuroticism survived to all multivariate analyses. Social network, together with neuroticism, also showed strong association with depressive severity, independently from current depressive state. Though we were unable to compare women and men, data obtained from the present study suggest that in women neurotic traits are strongly related to depression and suicidal ideation, and potentially mediate reporting of stressful life events and impaired social network. Independently from a current diagnosis of depression, impaired social network increases depressive symptoms in the women.

The relationship between physical fitness and obesity among a sample of adolescents in Cyprus.

Recent data revealed that adolescent obesity appeared to be a rising problem in Cyprus. However, there is a scarcity of published data regarding fitness-related parameters, which could contribute for the presence of obesity in Cyprus' adolescence population. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between adolescent obesity, body composition, and fitness levels. A total of 270 high school students volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional study. Body mass and height were assessed in order to calculate body mass index, while body fat percentage was calculated by using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Physical fitness parameters were assessed through a battery of field tests. Body fat was inversely associated with cardiorespiratory fitness levels, sprint and jumping performance, as well as with the frequency of physical education class sessions per week (p<0.05). The adolescents with high body fat were found to exhibit significant reductions in all the fitness related parameters (p<0.05), except with the arm strength (p>0.05). This study is the first to uncover an inverse association between high body fat and fitness-related parameters among a sample of adolescents in Cyprus. These data can be used in order to develop effective interventions aiming to counterbalance obesity and improve the overall health and the quality of life of adolescents.

Co-occurrence profiles of trace elements in potable water systems: a case study.

Potable water samples (N = 74) from 19 zip code locations in a region of Greece were profiled for 13 trace elements composition using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The primary objective was to monitor the drinking water quality, while the primary focus was to find novel associations in trace elements occurrence that may further shed light on common links in their occurrence and fate in the pipe scales and corrosion products observed in urban drinking water distribution systems. Except for arsenic at two locations and in six samples, rest of the analyzed elements was below maximum contaminant levels, for which regulatory values are available. Further, we attempted to hierarchically cluster trace elements based on their covariances resulting in two groups; one with arsenic, antimony, zinc, cadmium, and copper and the second with the rest of the elements. The grouping trends were partially explained by elements' similar chemical activities in water, underscoring their potential for co-accumulation and co-mobilization phenomena from pipe scales into finished water. Profiling patterns of trace elements in finished water could be indicative of their load on pipe scales and corrosion products, with a corresponding risk of episodic contaminant release. Speculation was made on the role of disinfectants and disinfection byproducts in mobilizing chemically similar trace elements of human health interest from pipe scales to tap water. It is warranted that further studies may eventually prove useful to water regulators from incorporating the acquired knowledge in the drinking water safety plans.

The influence of an anti-stigma intervention on adolescents' attitudes to schizophrenia: a mixed methodology approach.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at exploring adolescents' attitudes to schizophrenia and the impact of an educational intervention on improving them, by employing a mixed methodology. METHOD: A total of 1081 secondary-school students were randomly allocated to a control and intervention condition. Stigma endorsement was assessed by a free association card and a questionnaire, before and 2 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: The intervention yielded substantial changes in students' beliefs, attitudes and social distance levels as well as in their associations with the term 'severe mental illness'. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions can contribute substantially to preventing consolidation of unfavourable attitudes towards mental illness.

Evidence of arsenic release promoted by disinfection by-products within drinking-water distribution systems.

Changes in disinfectant type could trigger a cascade of reactions releasing pipe-anchored metals/metalloids into finished water. However, the effect of pre-formed disinfection by-products on the release of sorbed contaminants (arsenic-As in particular) from drinking water distribution system pipe scales remains unexplored. A bench-scale study using a factorial experimental design was performed to evaluate the independent and interaction effects of trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA) on arsenic (As) release from either scales-only or scale-biofilm conglomerates (SBC) both anchored on asbestos/cement pipe coupons. A model biofilm (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was allowed to grow on select pipe coupons prior experimentation. Either TTHM or HAA individual dosing did not promote As release from either scales only or SBC, detecting <6 µg AsL(-1) in finished water. In the case of scales-only coupons, the combination of the highest spike level of TTHM and HAA significantly (p<0.001) increased dissolved and total As concentrations to levels up to 16 and 95 µg L(-1), respectively. Similar treatments in the presence of biofilm (SBC) resulted in significant (p<0.001) increase in dissolved and total recoverable As up to 20 and 47 µg L(-1), respectively, exceeding the regulatory As limit. Whether or not, our laboratory-based results truly represent mechanisms operating in disinfected finished water in pipe networks remains to be investigated in the field.

Mild dehydration and cycling performance during 5-kilometer hill climbing.

CONTEXT: Hydration has been shown to be an important factor in performance; however, the effects of mild dehydration during intense cycling are not clear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of mild dehydration on cycling performance during an outdoor climbing trial in the heat (ambient temperature = 29.0°C ± 2.2°C). DESIGN: Crossover study. SETTING: Outdoor. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Ten well-trained, male endurance cyclists (age = 28 ± 5 years, height = 182 ± 0.4 cm, mass = 73 ± 4 kg, maximal oxygen uptake = 56 ± 9 mL·min(-1)·kg(-1), body fat = 23% ± 2%, maximal power = 354 ± 48 W). INTERVENTION(S): Participants completed 1 hour of steady-state cycling with or without drinking to achieve the desired pre-exercise hydration level before 5-km hill-climbing cycling. Participants started the 5-km ride either euhydrated (EUH) or dehydrated by -1% of body mass (DEH). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Performance time, core temperature, sweat rate, sweat sensitivity, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). RESULTS: Participants completed the 5-km ride 5.8% faster in the EUH (16.6 ± 2.3 minutes) than DEH (17.6 ± 2.9 minutes) trial (t1 = 10.221, P = .001). Postexercise body mass was -1.4% ± 0.3% for the EUH trial and -2.2% ± 0.2% for the DEH trial (t1 = 191.384, P < .001). Core temperature after the climb was greater during the DEH (39.2°C ± 0.3°C) than EUH (38.8°C ± 0.2°C) trial (t1 = 8.04, P = .005). Sweat rate was lower during the DEH (0.44 ± 0.16 mg·m(-2)·s(-1)) than EUH (0.51 ± 0.16 mg·m(-2)·s(-1)) trial (t8 = 2.703, P = .03). Sweat sensitivity was lower during the DEH (72.6 ± 32 g·°C(-1)·min(-1)) than EUH (102.6 ± 54.2 g·°C(-1)·min(-1)) trial (t8 = 3.072, P = .02). Lastly, RPE after the exercise performance test was higher for the DEH (19.0 ± 1.0) than EUH (17.0 ± 1.0) participants (t9 = -3.36, P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: We found mild dehydration decreased cycling performance during a 5-km outdoor hill course, probably due to greater heat strain and greater perceived intensity.

Mild hypohydration decreases cycling performance in the heat.

INTRODUCTION: Hypohydration exceeding 2% of body mass decreases exercise performance. However, the effects of mild hypohydration (<2%) are not clear. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mild hypohydration on cycling performance during a simulated-hill circuit course in a warm environment (32.5°C ± 0.5°C). METHODS: Ten trained male cyclists (age, 30 ± 7 yr; mass, 78.4 ± 9.5 kg; height, 1.80 ± 0.01 m; V˙O2max, 52.4 ± 3.3 mL·min·kg; and Powermax, 355 ± 29 W) performed a cycling circuit three times on a laboratory ergometer consisting of 5 km at 50% of maximum power output and 5 km at an all-out pace, followed by a 5-min rest every 5 km. Subjects started the performance test either euhydrated (EUH) or hypohydrated (HYP), by 0% ± 0% and -1.0% ± 0.1% of body mass, respectively. RESULTS: Mean speed at the first, second, and third 5-km simulated-hill cycling was higher in the EUH (28.1 ± 3.1, 27.7 ± 3, and 27.0 ± 3.6 km·h) than that in the HYP trial (27.0 ± 2.9, 26.1 ± 3.7, and 25.9 ± 3.6 km·h) (P < 0.05). Mean power output at the first, second, and third 5-km simulated-hill cycling was greater in the EUH (284 ± 55, 266 ± 53, and 254 ± 58 W) than that in the HYP trial (272 ± 56, 250 ± 61, and 240 ± 57 W) (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal temperature at the end of the first, second, and third 5-km simulated-hill cycling was greater in the HYP (38.3°C ± 0.4°C, 38.4°C ± 0.2°C, and 38.6°C ± 0.2°C) than that in the EUH trial (38.1°C ± 0.3°C, 38.1°C ± 0.3, and 38.3°C ± 0.3°C) (P < 0.05). Overall, sweat sensitivity during the circuit course was greater in the EUH (115 ± 58 g·°C·min) versus HYP trial (67 ± 19 g·°C·min) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, RPE and heart rate were similar and near maximal between trials (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The data showed that mild hypohydration decreased cycling performance, possible by inducing greater thermal and cardiovascular strain.

Potential role of membrane-bound COMT gene polymorphisms in female depression vulnerability.

BACKGROUND: Several polymorphic variants within the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene locus have been associated with a number of diverse psychiatric phenotypes including affective disorders. COMT enzyme participates in metabolic pathways involving brain catecholamines, as well as steroid hormones such as estrogens. Given the suggested mood enhancing role of estrogens and the higher prevalence of depression in women, we set out to investigate the potential impact of functional COMT genetic variants on depression and anxiety symptoms in a homogeneous female community sample. METHODS: We genotyped three common polymorphisms within the COMT gene in a rural female population isolate (n=391) interviewed for the presence of lifetime major depression episodes and generalized anxiety disorder. Furthermore, well validated self-rated questionnaires were administered evaluating state depressive symptoms and neuroticism personality trait. Single-marker and haplotype association analyses were performed. RESULTS: Two highly correlated markers located in the membrane-bound (MB) COMT promoter region (rs2020917, rs737865) were significantly associated with both self-rated and clinician-rated depressive symptomatology. We did not detect any robust association with generalized anxiety disorder or neuroticism. Exploratory haplotype analysis examining the two promoter markers in combination with the extensively studied val 158met polymorphism (rs4680) did not provide any further support for the contribution of this variant in depressive mood. LIMITATIONS: The relative small sample size should be considered a limitation of this study. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide promising evidence that MB-COMT specific genetic variation may represent an as yet unrecognized genetic factor that influences predisposition to depression amongst females.

Variation in psychosis gene ZNF804A is associated with a refined schizotypy phenotype but not neurocognitive performance in a large young male population.

Genetic variability within the ZNF804A gene has been recently found to be associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, although the pathways by which this gene may confer risk remain largely unknown. We set out to investigate whether common ZNF804A variants affect psychosis-related intermediate phenotypes such as cognitive performance dependent on prefrontal and frontotemporal brain function, schizotypal traits, and attenuated psychotic experiences in a large young male population. Association analyses were performed using all 4 available self-rated schizotypy questionnaires and cognitive data retrospectively drawn from the Athens Study of Psychosis Proneness and Incidence of Schizophrenia (ASPIS). DNA samples from 1507 healthy young men undergoing induction to military training were genotyped for 4 previously studied polymorphic markers in the ZNF804A gene locus. Single-marker analysis revealed significant associations between 2 recently identified candidate schizophrenia susceptibility variants (rs1344706 and rs7597593) and a refined positive schizotypy phenotype characterized primarily by self-rated paranoia/ideas of reference. Nominal associations were noted with all positive, but not negative, schizotypy related factors. ZNF804A genotype effect on paranoia was confirmed at the haplotype level. No significant associations were noted with central indexes of sustained attention or working memory performance. In this study, ZNF804A variation was associated with a population-based self-rated schizotypy phenotype previously suggested to preferentially reflect genetic liability to psychosis and defined by a tendency to misinterpret otherwise neutral social cues and perceptual experiences in one's immediate environment, as personally relevant and significant information. This suggests a novel route by which schizophrenia-implicated ZNF804A genetic variation may confer risk to clinical psychosis at the general population level.