Pharmaco-genetic analysis of CYP1A1 and RGS4 variants and its impact on response to olanzapine and risperidone in Indian schizophrenic cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Genetic variations contribute significantly to inter-individual responses to drugs and side effects. Pharmacogenomics has the potential to be utilized as a tool in disorders like schizophrenia with a high degree of genetic inheritance, although data on pharmacogenomics of schizophrenia are limited. Olanzapine and risperidone are the frequently used anti-psychotic drugs used in clinics. Studies have observed the variability in the response of both drugs in schizophrenic individuals. Considering the pharmacogenomics importance of both drugs, we aim to examine the cytochrome P 4501A1 (CYP1A1) and regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) variants and their metabolizing status in 94 schizophrenic individuals of Indian descent. METHODS: The present study is retrospective observational study. The metabolizing status of schizophrenic individuals was examined using Axiom Precision Medicine Diversity Array (PMDA) and the data were analyzed with the help of SNP Axiom Analysis Suite v5.1 (Affymetrix). The pharmacogenomics annotation was performed using PharmGKB. RESULTS: Genotype and allele frequencies were observed. The results reveal the high frequency of poor metabolizers of olanzapine and risperidone in the studied cohort. In lieu of the high distribution of poor metabolizers, we compare observed allele frequencies with global populations' data to understand the variability of the genetic pool attained by Indian schizophrenic individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Interestingly, the Indian schizophrenic cohort forms a different cluster compared to global populations, suggesting that pharmacogenomics testing might play an important role in clinical decision making for schizophrenia drug management.

Opium alkaloids, biosynthesis, pharmacology and association with cancer occurrence.

Papaver somniferum L. (Family: Papaveraceae) is a species well known for its diverse alkaloids (100 different benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs)). L-tyrosine serves as a precursor of several specific metabolites like BIAs. It has been used as an antitussive and potent analgesic to alleviate mild to extreme pain since ancient times. The extraction of pharmaceutically important alkaloids like morphine and codeine from poppy plant reflects the need for the most suitable and standard methods. Several analytical and extraction techniques have been reported in open literature for morphine, codeine and other important alkaloids which play a vital function in drug development and drug discovery. Many studies suggest that opioids are also responsible for adverse effects or secondary complications like dependence and withdrawal. In recent years, opium consumption and addiction are the most important risk factors. Many evidence-based reviews suggest that opium consumption is directly linked or acts as a risk factor for different cancers. In this review, we highlight significant efforts related to research which have been done over the past 5 decades and the complete information on Papaver somniferum including its phytochemistry, pharmacological actions, biosynthetic pathways and analytical techniques of opium alkaloid extraction and the link between opium consumption and cancer-related updates.

Is obesity a risk to depression? A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Depression and obesity are disorders of stress with a dose dependent relationship between the both. The adverse health and social consequences are significant, when depression and obesity co-exist. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of depression among overweight and obese patients in a large station of Armed Forces and associate other risk factors of depression. METHODS: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the general OPD of large Station medicare centre (SMC) on overweight and obese personnel. Data was collected by self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess the risk for depression over a period of one month. RESULTS: In this study, out of 106 individuals, 71 (67%) were overweight and 35 (33%) were obese, as per WHO criteria. Of the individuals assessed, 13 (12%) individuals were found to have risk of moderate depression, 58 (54%) for mild depression and 35 (33%) individuals had no risk for clinically significant depression. The likelihood of depression was most strongly associated with BMI followed by age, status of living with family and habit of drinking alcohol. CONCLUSION: Obesity and depressive disorders are common comorbidities with overlapping pathophysiology whose co-existence leads to exponential adverse health outcomes. The outcome of depression and obesity is to be managed comprehensively by psychological counseling and life style modification.