Appetite-regulating hormones in bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Impaired hormonal regulation of appetite may contribute to higher cardiovascular risk in bipolar disorder (BD). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating peripheral blood levels of appetite-regulating hormones in BD and controls. A total of 32 studies were included. Leptin and insulin levels were significantly elevated in patients with BD during euthymia, but not in other mood states. Greater differences in the number of male participants between patients with BD and healthy controls were associated with higher effect size estimates for the levels of insulin. There were significant positive correlations of effect size estimates for the levels of adiponectin with the percentage of individuals with type I BD and duration of BD. Our findings point to the mechanisms underlying high rates of cardiometabolic comorbidities in BD. Moreover, they suggest that investigating hormonal regulation of appetite might help to understand differences in the neurobiology of BD types.

[Analysis of the phenomenon of over-the-counter drug abuse and not controlled herbs trade by polish adolescents: Part I]. / Analiza zjawiska naduzywania przez polska mlodziez leków dostepnych bez recepty i ziól niepodlegajacych kontrolowanemu obrotowi: czesc I.

The phenomenon of stupefying by the use of available over-the-counter drugs (OTC) among adolescents is an essential problem in both Poland and throughout the world. Popular analgesics, cold medicine and antihistamines contain psychedelic substances, such as dextromethorphan (DXM), pseudoephedrine/ephedrine, codeine (methylmorphine), dimenhydrinate, paracetamol (acetaminophren) and others. Cases of fatal addiction to dextromethorphan, one of the active substances contained in medicines, e.g., the common cold, have been reported. The test results cited by the authors clearly indicate that the use of OTC drugs, whose turnover is not controlled is a domain of females. The extent of use of drugs not prescribed by a doctor has remained for many years at a constant level. The most common poisonings with OTC drugs are caused by those that affect the respiratory system or exert analgesic or antipyretic effects. They are also used in attempted suicides, especially among females. Analyzing poisonings caused by OTC medications their seasonality has been observed. Their number increases during spring-autumn. A territorial differentiation in areas of OTC drug trade in terms of their quantities, with the predominance of southern regions is also noted. Intoxication with psychoactive substances causes the deterioration of relations between young people. In the reviewed studies there is no detailed information on the composition of non-prescription medicines. Moreover, young people have easy access to mushroom fungi, growing in nearby forests and meadows that may have hallucinogenic effects and are available in pharmacies and on the Internet. Med Pr 2017;68(3):413-422.

Executive Function Deficits in Patients after Cerebellar Neurosurgery.

The cerebellum has long been perceived as a structure responsible for the human motor function. According to the contemporary approach, however, it plays a significant role in complex behavior regulatory processes. The aim of this study was to describe executive functions in patients after cerebellar surgery. The study involved 30 patients with cerebellar pathology. The control group comprised 30 neurologically and mentally healthy individuals, matched for sex, age, and number of years of education. Executive functions were measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), Trail Making Test (TMT), and working memory by the Digit Span. Compared to healthy controls, patients made more Errors and Perseverative errors in the WCST, gave more Perseverative responses, and had a lower Number of categories completed. The patients exhibited higher response times in all three parts of the SCWT and TMT A and B. No significant differences between the two groups were reported in their performance of the SCWT and TMT with regard to the measures of absolute or relative interference. The patients had lower score on the backward Digit Span. Patients with cerebellar pathology may exhibit some impairment within problem solving and working memory. Their worse performance on the SCWT and TMT could, in turn, stem from their poor motor-somatosensory control, and not necessarily executive deficits. Our results thus support the hypothesis of the cerebellum's mediating role in the regulation of the activity of the superordinate cognitive control network in the brain. (JINS, 2016, 22, 47-57).

Analysis of personality traits and their influence on the quality of life of postmenopausal women with regard to genetic factors.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life can be perceived as a subjective assessment of different aspects of human functioning. Personality is a factor which determines actions taken by individuals and their tendency to perceive reality in a particular way. Therefore, the assumption that personality may influence the QoL assessment seems reasonable. Our purpose was to assess the relationships between personality traits and the presence of the 44-bp VNTR polymorphism in the 5-HTT (SLC 6A4) promoter region and the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the MAO-A promoter region. We also wanted to determine the influence of personality on the quality of life of postmenopausal women. METHODS: The study involved 214 postmenopausal women from northwest Poland. It was conducted using the NEO-FFI and the SF-36 questionnaires. DNA polymorphisms were identified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The average age of the women was 56.8 ± 4.08 years. Half of the respondents had completed second-level education, 69.2 % had life partners, and 53.3 % were professionally active. Women with the 3/3 genotype were characterized by significantly lower openness to experience than respondents with other MAO-A genotypes (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the quality of life and the levels of neuroticism and extroversion, as well as between selected quality of life domains and the levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness. CONCLUSIONS: (1)Women with the 3/3 genotype of the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the MAO-A promoter region are characterized by lower levels of openness to experience than women with other MAO-A genotypes in our study (2) Personality traits may contribute to the assessment of the quality of life.

Case control study of ANKK1 Taq 1A polymorphism in patients with alcohol dependence classified according to Lesch's typology.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between the Taq 1A polymorphism of the ANKK1 gene in homogeneous subgroups of patients with alcohol dependence syndrome divided according to Lesch's typology. MATERIAL/METHODS: DNA was provided from alcohol-dependent (AD) patients (n = 373) and healthy control subjects (n = 168), all of Polish descent. The history of alcoholism was obtained using the Polish version of the SSAGA (Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism). Samples were genotyped using the PCR method. RESULTS: We found no association between alcohol dependence and ANKK1 Taq 1A polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Lesch's typology is a clinical consequence of the disease, and its phenotypic description is too complex for simple genetic analysis.

Serotonin and Dopamine Candidate Gene Variants and Alcohol- and Non-Alcohol-Related Aggression.

AIMS: Aggressive and criminal traits have a complex genetic background which interacts with environmental factors. Alcohol intoxication has been related to lower thresholds of aggressive behaviors. In this association study of two independent samples, a number of candidate gene variants (5HT2A T102C, 5-HTTLPR, DRD Ins-141Del, DAT1 VNTR) were related to violent criminal behavior and alcohol-related aggressive traits. METHOD: Treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals (293 patients and 499 controls from Germany, 180 patients and 402 controls from Poland) underwent a Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism interview which gathered information on alcohol-related violence and criminal behaviors, beside alcohol dependence characteristics. RESULTS: Patients with a history of violent or non-violent crime were more often male, had an earlier onset of alcoholism, more withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens, and were more likely to have a history of suicide attempts. No significant association between candidate gene variants and criminal behavior was detected. 5HTTLPR variant was related to one characteristic of alcohol-related violence. CONCLUSIONS: With findings from genome-wide association studies linking aggression-related traits to second messenger systems, further studies are needed to determine the genetic underpinnings of non-alcohol and alcohol-related aggression.

Val158Met COMT polymorphism and risk of aggression in alcohol dependence.

Aggression, violence and antisocial behavior are common in alcoholism, but their biological basis is poorly understood. Several studies and recent meta-analyses indicate that in schizophrenia the catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met genotype may be associated with aggression, most often in methionine allele carriers. We tested this hypothesis in a sample of treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent in-patients (293 German patients and 499 controls, and additional 190 Polish patients as replication sample). As expected, patients with a history of violent or non-violent crime were more often male, had an earlier onset of alcoholism and more withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens, and were more likely to have a history of suicide attempts. COMT genotype was not associated with a history of violent or non-violent crime. More studies are needed on the neurobiological basis of aggression and violence in alcoholism.

The assessment of the relationship between personality, the presence of the 5HTT and MAO-A polymorphisms, and the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women.

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between personality, the serotonin transporter (5HTT) and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) polymorphisms and the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women. The study involved 272 healthy postmenopausal women from Poland. This survey-based study was performed using the following: the Beck Depression Inventory for depressive symptoms, the Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index and the Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness-Five Factor Inventory for personality. A polymerase chain reaction was employed to identify the DNA polymorphisms. The women were aged 55.4 ± 5.5 years on average. Significant correlations were proved between the allele frequency of the 30-bp variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the MAO-A promoter region and the incidence of depressive symptoms in the women analysed (p ≤ 0.05), as well as between the severity of climacteric symptoms in the postmenopausal women and the allele frequency of the polymorphism in the 5HTT gene (the 5HTT 's' variant) (p ≤ 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). (1) The severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms depends on personality traits. (2) Personality traits are biologically determined, and the level of their expression is associated with the 5HTT polymorphism. (3) Identification of homogeneous groups of women having predispositions to depressive and severe climacteric symptoms may help to implement early prevention programmes for this group of recipients.

Pharmacy switch of antipsychotic medications: patient's perspective.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Several studies have raised concerns over consequences of brand-to-generic and generic-to-generic pharmacy-generated medication substitutions in psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess behavioral and emotional responses of patients with schizophrenia to antipsychotic medication substitution performed by pharmacies. METHODS: A group of Polish ambulatory patients with schizophrenia (n = 196) chronically treated with antipsychotic medications were asked whether antipsychotic medication substitution had been proposed by a pharmacist in the last 12 months. Ninety-nine patients answering positively were administered more questions addressing the patient's emotional and behavioral response to the pharmacy proposal. RESULTS: The most important findings of the present study can be summarized as follows: (1) approximately half of the patients were confronted with a pharmacy proposal to switch their antipsychotic medications in the last 12 months, (2) one quarter of these patients did not accept the pharmacy switch, (3) a substantial proportion of patients (>40 %) did not receive any explanation from a pharmacist offering medication substitution, (4) pharmacy-generated substitution proposals were mainly associated with negative patient attitudes and negative emotional responses, (5) substitution proposals provoked an unscheduled psychiatric visit in approx. 10 % of patients, (6) despite the negative attitudes reported by patients, the pharmacy switch rarely led to treatment discontinuation, but did provoke a change in drug dosing in 7 % of patients accepting the switch. CONCLUSIONS: A pharmacy proposal to switch their antipsychotic medications is a relatively common experience of Polish ambulatory patients with schizophrenia. Pharmacy-generated substitution proposals are mainly associated with negative patient attitudes, but rarely lead to antipsychotic treatment discontinuation in this group of patients.

Neuropsychological characteristics of verbal and non-verbal fluency in schizophrenia patients.

This review paper provides analyses confirming correlation between various brain regions activity, particularly its prefrontal portions, and schizophrenia patients' performance in verbal fluency tests. Various factors modifying patients' performance in the aforementioned tasks were singled out and discussed. Systematically we have reviewed the results of non-verbal fluency tests conducted in the schizophrenic patients. The authors also summarizes findings of earlier studies stressing the role of semantic fluency as a predictor of first-episode psychosis. Verbal and non-verbal fluency tests engage complex cognitive processes and executive functions in patients. As a result, the interpretation of their results is often complicated and requires special competences. The tests are popular neuropsychological tools used for assessment of verbal memory, executive functions, visual-spatial abilities and psychomotor speed in patients with mental and neurological disorders. The aim of this paper is to discuss diagnostic tools used for measuring both types of fluency (verbal and non-verbal), test interpretation methods, as well as their usefulness in clinical diagnostics and scientific research.

Genetics of alcohol dependence: a review of clinical studies.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Alcohol dependence is a common severe psychiatric disorder with a multifactorial etiology. Since the completion of the human genome project and with the increased availability of high-throughput genotyping, multiple genetic risk factors for substance-related disorders, including alcohol dependence, have been identified, but not all results could be replicated. METHODS: We systematically review the clinical literature on genetic risk factors for alcohol dependence and alcohol-related phenotypes, including candidate gene-based studies, linkage studies and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). RESULTS: Irrespectively of the methodology employed, the most robust findings regarding genetic risk factors for alcohol dependence concern genetic variations that affect alcohol metabolism. GWAS confirm the importance of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene cluster on chromosome 4 in the genetic risk for alcohol dependence with multiple variants that exert a small, but cumulative influence. A single variant with strong influence on individual risk is the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 ALDHD2*2 variant common in Asian populations. Other robust associations have been found with previously uncharacterized genes like KIAA0040, and such observations can lead to the identification of thus far unknown signaling pathways. Converging evidence also points to a role of glutamatergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitter signaling in the risk for alcohol dependence, but effects are small, and gene-environment interactions further increase the complexity. CONCLUSION: With few exceptions like ALDH2*2, the contribution of individual genetic variants to the risk for alcohol-related disorders is small. However, the concentration of risk variants within neurotransmitter signaling pathways may help to deepen our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and thereby contribute to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

[Specificity of attention and cognitive inhibition processes in relapsing -remitting multiple sclerosis patients with consideration of their mood level]. / Specyfika procesów uwagi i hamowania poznawczego u osób ze stwardnieniem rozsianym o przebiegu rzutowo- -remisyjnym z uwzglednieniem poziomu nastroju.

UNLABELLED: The results of contemporary neuropsychological analyses lay foundation for a broad discussion of the nature and causes of cognitive deficits in MS patients. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the level of alternating attention and dominant reaction inhibition in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, with consideration of their mood level, age and disease duration. METHOD: Experimental group consisted of 43 adults (30 women and 13 men) diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, with Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) results ranging between 2.5-6.5. Control group comprised 38 healthy adults (26 women and 12 men) selected according to sex, age and education. The following tasks were used in the study: the Trail Making Test A and B (TMT), Stroop Colour-Word Test (SCWT), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: Experimental group was characterized by significantly worse performance in TMT (p < 0.001) and SCWT (p < 0.001) than the control group. No differences were observed in performance of TMT (p > 0.05) and SCWT (p > 0.05) in the experimental group between subjects with depressed and neutral mood. Disease duration proved significantly related to the level of dominant reaction inhibition (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairments within areas of concentration, attention shifting and dominant reaction inhibition were all revealed in the experimental group.

[The analysis of the polymorphic variations of the dopamine gen transporter (DAT1) and the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome with inclusion of the phenotypic feature of sweet liking preference]. / Analiza polimorficznych wariantów genu transportera dopaminy DAT1 i transportera serotoniny 5-HTTLPR u pacjentów z zespolem zaleznosci alkoholowej z uwzglednieniem fenotypowej cechy preferencji smaku slodkiego.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sweet-liking phenotype and the variation of the gene sequence of the dopaminergic and serotonergic system. METHODS: The study recruited 100 probands. The participants were interviewed for addiction (SSAGA-Semi Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism) and assessed with the questionnaires: MMSE, Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton Anxiety, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale. The taste was analyzed with tests to assess sensitivity to sweet taste and also smell tests were performed. Patients preferring the highest glucose volumes were called sweet likers. Statistical analyses were performed (SPSS- Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). RESULTS: Links between sweet liking phenotype and polymorphic variant of DAT1 gene were determined. The presence of DAT1 9/10 genotype increased three fold time sweet liking phenotype (p = 0.015, odds ratio-3.00), the presence of DAT1 10/10 decreased two fold time the chance being sweet liker (p = 0.051, odds ratio-0.43). Genotype 10/10 was significantly more common among sweet dislikers 10/10 (68.18% vs 47.92%) i 9/9 (6.82% vs 2.08%). CONCLUSIONS; A genetically significant association between the presence of 9/10 DAT1 VNTR genotype and a sweet-liking phenotype in probands was determined.

[An interaction between a polymorphism of the serotonin transporter (5HTT) gene and the clinical picture of adolescents with combined type ofADHD (hyperkinetic disorder) and youth drinking]. / Zwiaizek polimorfizmu genu transportera serotoniny 5HTT z obrazem klinicznym u adolescentów z ADHD-podtyp mieszany (zaburzenie hiperkinetyczne) oraz u mlodziezy wczesnie eksperymentujacej z alkoholem.

INTRODUCTION: The combined type of ADHD and alcohol dependence are two different disorders. Research demonstrate that 45-55% of patients diagnosed with ADHD also suffer from comorbid substance abuse, and 11-55% of patients diagnosed with substance abuse suffer from undiagnosed ADHD. Alcohol is by far the most widely used psychoactive substance in the European culture. The serotonin transporter (5HHT) gene has been implicated as one of the candidate genes in both disorders in recent molecular genetic research. AIM: The aim of the present study was to seek a common clinical and biological marker for hyperkinetic disorder and youth drinking. METHODS: The study was conducted between 2008 and 2012. The sample consisted of 100 combined type ADHD patients: 51 adolescents youth drinking and 100 individuals without mental disorders or addiction in a population-based group. The 5HHT gene polymorphism was examined using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Statistical analysis was conducted with STATISTICA.PL software (version 5.0.97) licensed by StatSoft, Inc. USA. RESULTS: A preferential trend for the "s" short allele of the investigated 5HHT gene polymorphism was observed in all the groups of adolescents compared to the population-based group of adults without alcohol dependence (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on the conducted study a provisional conclusion may be drawn that the presence of the short "s" allele of the 5HTTgene polymorphism may be a prognostic factor of impulsivity in ADHD and of predisposition to alcohol dependence.

Associations of gut microbiota alterations with clinical, metabolic, and immune-inflammatory characteristics of chronic schizophrenia.

The present study had the following aims: 1) to compare gut microbiota composition in patients with schizophrenia and controls and 2) to investigate the association of differentially abundant bacterial taxa with markers of inflammation, intestinal permeability, lipid metabolism, and glucose homeostasis as well as clinical manifestation. A total of 115 patients with schizophrenia during remission of positive and disorganization symptoms, and 119 controls were enrolled. Altogether, 32 peripheral blood markers were assessed. A higher abundance of Eisenbergiella, Family XIII AD3011 group, Eggerthella, Hungatella, Lactobacillus, Olsenella, Coprobacillus, Methanobrevibacter, Ligilactobacillus, Eubacterium fissicatena group, and Clostridium innocuum group in patients with schizophrenia was found. The abundance of Paraprevotella and Bacteroides was decreased in patients with schizophrenia. Differentially abundant genera were associated with altered levels of immune-inflammatory markers, zonulin, lipid profile components, and insulin resistance. Moreover, several correlations of differentially abundant genera with cognitive impairment, higher severity of negative symptoms, and worse social functioning were observed. The association of Methanobrevibacter abundance with the level of negative symptoms, cognition, and social functioning appeared to be mediated by the levels of interleukin-6 and RANTES. In turn, the association of Hungatella with the performance of attention was mediated by the levels of zonulin. The findings indicate that compositional alterations of gut microbiota observed in patients with schizophrenia correspond with clinical manifestation, intestinal permeability, subclinical inflammation, lipid profile alterations, and impaired glucose homeostasis. Subclinical inflammation and impaired gut permeability might mediate the association of gut microbiota alterations with psychopathological symptoms and cognitive impairment.

Greater methylation of the IL-6 promoter region is associated with decreased integrity of the corpus callosum in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is associated with chronic subclinical inflammation and decreased integrity of the corpus callosum (CC). Our previous study showed associations between peripheral IL-6 levels and the integrity of the CC. Epigenetic studies show associations between methylation of the genes related to immunological processes and integrity of the CC. AIM: To investigate correlations between methylation status of IL-6 promotor and peripheral IL-6 levels and the integrity of the CC in schizophrenia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The participants were 29 chronic schizophrenia patients (SCH) and 29 controls. Decreased integrity of the CC was understood as increased mean diffusivity (MD) and/or decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in diffusion tensor imaging. Peripheral IL-6 concentrations were measured in serum samples and IL-6 promoter methylation status of 6 CpG sites was analyzed in peripheral leukocytes by pyrosequencing. RESULTS: Moderate positive correlations were found between CpG1 methylation and the MD of proximal regions of the CC (CCR1-CCR3) and between CpGmean and MD of CCR1 in SCH. Weaker positive correlations were found for CpGmean with CCR2 and CCR3 and negative correlations were found for CpG1 and FA of CCR3 in SCH. Multivariate regression showed that methylation of CpG1, type of antipsychotic treatment, and their interaction were significant independent predictors of MD of CCR1 in SCH. Methylation of CpG2 was negatively correlated with serum IL-6 in SCH. CONCLUSIONS: The methylation level of the IL-6 promotor region in peripheral leukocytes is associated with the integrity of the CC in schizophrenia and this association may depend on the type of antipsychotic treatment. Further studies are necessary to explain the mechanisms of the observed associations.

The importance of oxidative biomarkers in diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring schizophrenia patients.

INTRODUCTION: The etiology of schizophrenia (SCZ), an incredibly complex disorder, remains multifaceted. Literature suggests the involvement of oxidative stress (OS) in the pathophysiology of SCZ. OBJECTIVES: Determination of selected OS markers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with chronic SCZ and those in states predisposing to SCZ-first episode psychosis (FP) and ultra-high risk (UHR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Determination of OS markers and BDNF levels by spectrophotometric methods and ELISA in 150 individuals (116 patients diagnosed with SCZ or in a predisposed state, divided into four subgroups according to the type of disorder: deficit schizophrenia, non-deficit schizophrenia, FP, UHR). The control group included 34 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Lower activities of analyzed antioxidant enzymes and GSH and TAC concentrations were found in all individuals in the study group compared to controls (p < 0.001). BDNF concentration was also lower in all groups compared to controls except in the UHR subgroup (p = 0.01). Correlations were observed between BDNF, R-GSSG, GST, GPx activity, and disease duration (p < 0.02). A small effect of smoking on selected OS markers was also noted (rho<0.06, p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: OS may play an important role in the pathophysiology of SCZ before developing the complete clinical pattern of the disorder. The redox imbalance manifests itself with such severity in individuals with SCZ and in a state predisposing to the development of this psychiatric disease that natural antioxidant systems become insufficient to compensate against it completely. The discussed OS biomarkers may support the SCZ diagnosis and predict its progression.

The effect of selected polymorphisms of the dopamine receptor gene DRD2 and the ANKK-1 on the preference of concentrations of sucrose solutions in men with alcohol dependence.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of DRD2 gene polymorphisms in exon 8 G/A (rs 6276) in the promoter region -141 C Ins/Del (rs1799732) and the influence of ANKK-1 gene Taq-1A polymorphism (rs 1800497) on the preference of increasing sucrose concentrations in men with alcohol dependence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 63 male patients with alcohol dependence were genotyped for the above polymorphisms. Their preference for increasing sucrose concentrations was tested and their taste intensity perception of sucrose solutions was assessed. The patients were tested with the 'Sniffin' Sticks' olfactory test. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant association between some alleles of ANKK 1 gene Taq 1A polymorphisms and sucrose preference in the subjects. The A1 Taq 1A allele determined hedonistic response to the two highest concentrations of sucrose. No association was found regarding the other two polymorphisms (in the promoter region and in the exon 8 of the DRD2 gene). CONCLUSIONS: Study results suggest Taq-1A polymorphism plays a role in the preference to high concentrations of sucrose and its potential association with alcohol dependence pathogenesis.

[The influence of antipsychotic therapy on the cognitive functions of schizophrenic patients]. / Wplyw leków przeciwpsychotycznych na funkcje poznawcze u pacjentów ze schizofrenia.

AIM: The aim of the present study was twofold: 1. to compare the efficacy of three antipsychotics (ziprasidone, olanzapine and perazine) in schizophrenia 2. to compare the improvement in cognitive functioning between groups treated with the three different neuroleptics. METHOD: A total of 58 Caucasian patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia were recruited into the study group. We used the Polish version of the CIDI (Composite International Diagnostic Interview) to obtain ICD-10 diagnoses. The intensity of psychopathological symptoms was examined using the PANSS. The patients were randomly assigned to treatment with perazine, olanzapine or ziprasidone administered as monotherapy for 3 months. The treatment efficacy was measured as a change in the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) total score from baseline (T0) to 3 months (T1). The WCST (The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) was used to measure working memory and executive functions in the evaluated patients. Wilcoxon's and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to compare changes in the PANSS scores between the treatment groups. To analyze the cognitive functions, Kruskal-Wallis test for the WCST parameters was used. RESULTS: The three antipsychotics similarly reduced the total PANSS score. The WCST parameters in the 3 groups of examined patients using the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed some differences between the three administered antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that the short-term efficacy of the atypical (olanzapine, ziprasidone) and typical (perazine) antipsychotic drugs did not differ. Based on the analysis, a conclusion can be drawn that the three neuroleptics provided similar improvements in cognitive functioning.

Serum Inflammatory Markers and Integrity of the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus and the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus in Schizophrenia, from Prodromal Stages to Chronic Psychosis-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Chronic subclinical inflammation is believed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Meta-analyses confirm the presence of increased levels of peripheral inflammatory markers (IM) in schizophrenia and its prodromal stages. Peripheral cytokines may affect the brain microstructure through chronic activation of microglia. Disruptions in the integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) are commonly seen in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We therefore attempted to verify in a cross-sectional study whether there is a correlation between levels of peripheral IM and the integrity of these brain regions in healthy controls, from prodromal states and first episode psychosis to long-term schizophrenia. The integrity of white matter was measured using diffusion tensor imaging. Despite a broad analysis of six IM (CRP, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), we did not find any correlations with the integrity of the SLF or ILF in any of the analyzed groups (after correction for multiple comparisons). In conclusion, our study does not support the existence of a link between disrupted levels of peripheral IM and reduced integrity of ILF and SLF in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, prospective studies are needed to verify this over a long period of time.