It is time to get real when trying to predict educational performance.

A study of 3,500 children in the UK shows that data on socioeconomic background and previous educational achievements can better predict how students will perform at school than genetic data.

Risk genes associated with pediatric-onset MS but not with monophasic acquired CNS demyelination.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether 57 genetic risk loci recently identified in a large-scale genome-wide association study in adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are also associated with a risk for pediatric-onset MS and whether they can predict MS diagnosis in children presenting with acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS). METHODS: We included 188 children with ADS, of whom 53 were diagnosed with MS, 466 patients with adult-onset MS, and 2,046 adult controls in our cohort study. Weighted genetic risk scores (wGRS) were calculated to evaluate genetic effects. RESULTS: Mean wGRS was significantly higher for patients with pediatric-onset MS (7.32 ± 0.53) as compared with patients with monophasic ADS (7.10 ± 0.47, p = 0.01) and controls (7.11 ± 0.53, p < 0.01). We found no difference in mean wGRS of participants with monophasic ADS (7.10 ± 0.47) and controls (7.11 ± 0.53). The ability of the wGRS for the 57 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to discriminate between children with MS and those with monophasic ADS was moderate (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.64), but improved with the addition of sex and HLA-DRB1*15 (AUC = 0.70). The combined effect of 57 SNPs exceeded the effect of HLA-DRB1*15 alone in our risk models for pediatric- and adult-onset MS. CONCLUSION: The previously reported 57 SNPs for adult-onset MS also confer increased susceptibility to pediatric-onset MS, but not to monophasic ADS.

Relapse prevention with gepirone ER in outpatients with major depression.

To evaluate long-term efficacy and tolerability of the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist, gepirone extended release (ER), a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled relapse prevention study was performed in patients with recurrent major depression (DSM-IV criteria). Patients 18 to 70 years, with a primary diagnosis of recurrent major depression (DSM-IV; 296.3) and a screening and baseline HAMD-17 total score >/=20 were eligible. After a 3- to 14-day (dependent on pretrial medication) single-blind placebo washout period, eligible patients entered an 8- or 12-week (depending on time to remission) open-label gepirone ER treatment period. They initially received a dose of 20 mg/d gepirone ER and were titrated to a dose of 40 to 80 mg/d. Patients who achieved remission (HAMD-17 total score /=16 or discontinuation for lack of efficacy. A total of 420 patients were treated in the open-label phase. Of these, 303 (72.1%) completed the open-label phase and 250 (59.5%) fulfilled the criteria for remission and were randomized into the double-blind continuation phase (gepirone ER: n = 126; placebo: n = 124). The mean (+/-SD) final titrated dose of gepirone ER was 61.9 (+/-17.0) mg/d in the double-blind continuation phase. The relapse rate in the gepirone ER group was statistically significantly lower than that in the placebo group, 23.0% versus 34.7%, respectively (P = 0.024). During the open-label phase, adverse events that occurred in more than 5% of patients were nausea (15.7%), dizziness (13.1%), headache (12.9%), insomnia (6.2%), and vertigo (6.0%). During the continuation phase, the incidence of newly or re-emerging adverse events was similar with gepirone ER (43.7%) and placebo (42.7%). Adverse events different from those occurring during the open-label phase were not apparent. All adverse events occurred in less than 5% of patients with the exception of flu syndrome and headache. In conclusion, gepirone ER at a dose range of 40 to 80 mg/d is effective for relapse prevention in patients with recurrent major depression. It is well tolerated during long-term treatment for up to approximately one year.