Cannabinoid receptor gene polymorphisms and cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia and controls

Objective: To test the hypothesis that genetic variations of cannabinoid receptors contribute to the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Methods: In this genetic association case-control study, cannabinoid receptor polymorphisms CNR1 rs12720071 and CNR2 rs2229579 were tested for association with neurocognitive performance in 69 patients with schizophrenia and 45 healthy controls. Neurocognition was assessed by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Results: We found a consistent association between CNR1 rs12720071 polymorphism and the cognitive performance of patients in several cognitive domains. Patients with C/C polymorphism presented significantly worse performance in motor speed, verbal fluency, attention/processing speed and reasoning/problem solving. Conclusion: Although limited, our data support the hypothesis that CNR1 variations may be associated with the pathogenesis of cognitive deficits of schizophrenia.

Cortical volume is inversely correlated with interleukin-6 serum levels in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction: It is well established that cortical volume are decreased in patients with schizophrenia. One possible explanation is that the increased pro-inflammatory status in schizophrenia is related to volumetric decrease of gray matter. The aim of this study was to correlate interleukin 6 (IL-6) with cortical volume in patients with schizophrenia and controls. Methods: We selected 36 patients with schizophrenia and 35 controls. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) was correlated with cortical volume in patients with schizophrenia and controls. Results: IL-6 was negatively correlated with cortical volume (p = 0.027; rho = −0.370) in patients, but not in controls (p = 0.235). Discussion: Our results are in line with previous studies suggesting that chronic inflammatory activation in patients with schizophrenia could be one plausible mechanism that could contribute for the cortical volumetric decrease often seen in this population. However, this cross-sectional study with a small number of patients does not allow us to establish causal relations. (AU)

Aleitamento materno e quimiocinas: diferenças entre esquizofrenia e controles / Breastfeeding and chemokines: differences in schizophrenia and controls

Introdução: Avaliar a associação entre níveis plasmáticos da quimiocina CCL11, coeficiente de inteligência e prática da amamentação em homens com esquizofrenia em condições psiquiátricas estáveis sob acompanhamento ambulatorial em um serviço de saúde pública. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo caso-controle com 60 indivíduos: 30 pacientes com esquizofrenia e 30 controles saudáveis, dos quais 15 de cada grupo foram expostos ao aleitamento materno e 15 não foram. Foi aplicado questionário abordando questões socioeconômicas, história ao nascer, dados clínicos e alimentação ao nascer. Foi dosada a quimiocina CCL11 e aplicados testes psicológicos para avaliar quociente de inteligência, funcionalidade, sintomas psiquiátricos, curso da doença e diagnóstico. Para os controles, foi utilizada uma escala para descartar doença psiquiátrica. Resultados: A quimiocina CCL11 apresentou valores significativamente mais altos (> 0,5) em pacientes com esquizofrenia quando comparados aos controles. No grupo de amamentados, os esquizofrênicos apresentaram valores significativamente mais altos a nível intermediário (entre 0.106 e 0.5). Não houve correlação da CCL11 com o número de hospitalizações, idade, tempo de diagnóstico e escolaridade. Não foi evidenciada correlação entre tempo de aleitamento materno em relação aos fatores do Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Houve uma tendência de correlação entre a idade de início da doença e o aleitamento materno. Foi encontrada correlação positiva do CCL11 com o tempo de aleitamento materno. Ao comparar os pacientes esquizofrênicos que foram aleitados com os que não foram, foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significativa apenas para o quociente de inteligência. Conclusão: O aleitamento materno está associado a níveis mais baixos de CCL11, escores mais altos de quociente de inteligência e a esquizofrenia. A quimiocina CCL11 é mais alta em quem não amamentou, especialmente nos esquizofrênicos. (AU)

Introduction: To evaluate the association between plasma levels of chemokine CCL11, intelligence quotient, and exposure to breastfeeding in men with schizophrenia under stable psychiatric condition and monitored as outpatients in a public health care unit. Methods: A case-control study of 60 individuals, 30 patients with schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls; in each group, 15 were exposed to breastfeeding and 15 were not. A questionnaire addressing socioeconomic issues, history at birth, clinical data, and feeding at birth was administered. Chemokine CCL11 levels were measured, and psychological tests were applied to assess intelligence quotient, functional status, psychiatric symptoms, disease course, and diagnosis. A scale to rule psychiatric illness was used for the controls. Results: Chemokine CCL11 levels were significantly higher (> 0.5) in patients with schizophrenia than in controls. In the breastfed group, patients with schizophrenia also had significantly higher CCL11 levels, but at an intermediate level (between 0.106 and 0.5). There was no correlation between CCL11 and number of hospitalizations, age, time since diagnosis, or level of education, nor between duration of breastfeeding and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale factors. A trend toward a correlation was observed between age at disease onset and breastfeeding. There was a positive correlation between CCL11 and duration of breastfeeding. The comparison of patients with schizophrenia who were breastfed vs those who were not breastfed showed a statistically significant difference only in intelligence quotient. Conclusion: Breastfeeding is associated with lower CCL11 levels, higher intelligence quotient scores, and schizophrenia. Chemokine CCL11 levels are higher in those not exposed to breastfeeding, especially in patients with schizophrenia. (AU)

Shortened telomere length in bipolar disorder: a comparison of the early and late stages of disease

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) has been associated with increased rates of age-related diseases, such as type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disorders. Several biological findings have been associated with age-related disorders, including increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and telomere shortening. The objective of this study was to compare telomere length among participants with BD at early and late stages and age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Methods: Twenty-six euthymic subjects with BD and 34 healthy controls were recruited. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and mean telomere length was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Telomere length was significantly shorter in both the early and late subgroups of BD subjects when compared to the respective controls (p = 0.002 and p = 0.005, respectively). The sample size prevented additional subgroup analyses, including potential effects of medication, smoking status, and lifestyle. Conclusion: This study is concordant with previous evidence of telomere shortening in BD, in both early and late stages of the disorder, and supports the notion of accelerated aging in BD.