Disturbance of serum interleukin-2 and interleukin-8 levels in posttraumatic and non-posttraumatic stress disorder earthquake survivors in northern China.

OBJECTIVE: It is evident that immune cytokines are involved in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but results of different studies are still inconsistent. Here, serum interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were compared between earthquake survivors with PTSD, those with non-PTSD and normal controls to investigate whether there is any relationship between cytokine levels and PTSD. In addition, the relationship of these cytokines with psychological parameters of the disorder was examined as well. METHODS: Thirty-four earthquake survivors with PTSD (according to DSM-IV criteria), 30 earthquake survivors with non-PTSD and 34 controls were recruited in northern China using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview instrument. Serum IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were compared. IL-2 levels were measured by radioimmunometric assay, while serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Psychological symptoms were assessed using 3 subscales of the Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90-R), including depression, anxiety and somatization. RESULTS: Only earthquake survivors diagnosed with PTSD had significantly lower serum IL-8 levels. Also, we found that earthquake survivors (either with PTSD or non-PTSD) had significantly lower serum IL-2 levels and more severe psychological symptoms. The severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms in earthquake survivors was positively related to serum IL-6 levels. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD may be associated with a reduced level of serum IL-8, and traumatic survivors may be associated with a lower level of serum IL-2.

[The association between angiotensin I converting enzyme gene polymorphism and Chinese late onset Alzheimer disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between angiotensin I converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and Alzheimer disease (AD), as well as the effect of hypertension on the relationship. METHODS: This case-control study, included 96 AD patients meeting the DSM-IV diagnosis, and 96 subjects as controls coming from the same area and in the same environmental condition. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified the DNA segments, and the PCR products were identified by 2% agarose gel and visualized by ethidium bromide staining. RESULTS: There was significant difference between AD patients and controls in ACE genotypes and alleles distribution, as well as between AD patients with high blood pressure and controls with high blood pressure. But between normotensive AD patients and normotensive controls, there was no significant difference in ACE genotypes distribution (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: ACE genotypes associated with the risk of AD, but II genotype as risk genetic factor only restricted in subjects with high blood pressure.