Association Study between Schizophrenia and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1(MCP-1) Gene Polymorphism / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at comparing the Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) gene polymorphic variants of schizophrenics with those of normal controls, and to investigate its contribution to the development of schizophrenia. METHODS: One hundred and thirty five schizophrenics in accordance with DSM-IV criteria and one hundred and fourteen healthy individuals participated in this study. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood using proteinase K, and the MCP-1 gene promoter region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gene typing was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using restriction enzyme PvuII. RESULTS: Distribution of the genotypes and alleles of MCP-1 gene in the patient group was not significantly different from that of the control group (p=0.145 and p=0.122, respectively). There was difference in the frequencies of genotypes between positive and negative subgroup (p=0.035), but no difference in frequencies of alleles between the two subgroups (p=0.078). There was no difference in scores of PANSS general, positive and negative subscale, the age of onset, the presence or absence of family history between patients with or without -2518G allele (p=0.979, p=0.378, p=0.056, p=0.256 and p=0.301, respectively). CONCLUSION: We suggest that the polymorphism in the MCP-1 promotor gene may be the possible marker for subgouping of negative type schizophrenia.

Development of In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Model with Bovine Brain Microvessel Endothelial Cells / 체질인류학회지

The in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model was established with bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BBMECs). The characteristics of BBMECs were identified by morphological and functional studies. BBMECs began to grow as spindle shaped cells and distinctly formed the monolayer of whirling appearance by 6 to 7 days after plating. Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) of the monolayer increased through 11 days and then started to decrease. The gamma-GTP activity (1791.5+/-397.8 nmol/min/mg of protein) and alkaline phosphatase activity (15.0+/-7.8 micromol/min/mg of protein) were high. BBMECs in culture were characterized by the binding of anti-vWF, anti-ZO-1, anti-vimentin, and anti-fibronectin antibodies. They failed to react with anti-GFAP, anti-GalC, and antineurofilament 160/200 kD antibodies, markers for astrocyte, oligodendrocyte, and neuron, respectively. Decreasing order of the permeability through the BBMEC monolayers of paracellular transport model drugs was mannitol, sucrose, and PEG-4000. The permeability of transcellular transport model drugs, progesterone and propranolol was much higher than that of paracellular transport model drugs. The BBMECs cultured on porous membrane have been qualified as an in vitro BBB model and also can be used for the BBB transport study in the drug development and for the BBB transport mechanism of drugs.

Clinical Availability of Topographic Auditory Event Related Potentials in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to investigate the clinical availability of topographic auditory event related potential P300 as a biological marker in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD). METHODS: The subjects were composed of children with ADHD(n=22:16 boys, 6 girl s:mean age=89.8+/-17.1months) and normal controls(n=20:12 boys, 8 girls:mean age=90.6+/-16.8months). Topographic auditory event related potential was measured by "oddball paradigm", and the latencies and amplitudes of P300 of both groups were determined by Global Field Power Measurement. After 8 weeks treatment with methylphenidate, P300 of ADHD children were also measured. RESULTS: Both P300 latency and amplitude were not different between ADHD children after treatment and normal controls, but significantly different between ADHD children before treatment and normal controls, and between before and after treatment of ADHD children. CONCLUSIONS: The results implicate that the latency and amplitude of P300 may be considered as state markers of ADHD.

Association Study of Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Tryptophan Hydroxylase with Schizophrenia / 신경정신의학

Neurochemical investigation has played a major role in the search for the cause of schizophrenia. Among many hypotheses, dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia prevails despite much criticism and qualification. Recently, evidences showing the atypical antipsychotics act via serotonergic mechanism suggest serotonin system as an etiologic factor for schizophrenia. We examined the possibility of the association of enzymes critical for the synthesis of serotonin (tryptophan hydroxylase, TPH) and dopamine (tyrosine hydroxylase, TH) with schizophrenia. The regions of DNA that has been known to be polymorphic were amplified using polymerase chain reaction from the peripheral blood cells of 374 biologically unrelated schizophrenic patients and 393 healthy controls. RFLP (A218C) and VNTR polymorphism (intron 1) were examined for TPH and TH, respectively. The patterns of polymorphisms and the frequencies of each allele were not significantly different between the control and the patient groups, suggesting no possible associations of the genetic polymorphisms of TPH and TH genes and schizophrenia. However, in schizophrenics, the frequency of A type allele was significantly higher in positive group than negative group. Thess findings suggest the association of positive schizophrenia with A type allele of TH gene.

Association of Alcohol Dependence with the Dopamine Transporter Gene Polymorphism / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Alcoholism is known to be a heritable disease. It has been hypothesized that dopamineergic systems play an important heritable role in human behavor related to alcohol dependence, such as alcohol seeking. Therefore, genes involved in this pathway, including dopamine transporter(DAT1) which is responsible for taking released dopamine back up into presynaptic terminals and terminating dopaminergic activity, are potential candidate that may affect susceptibility to alcoholism. Analysis of a 40-base pair(bp)repeat(VNTR)in the 3'untranslated region of the DAT1 gene revealed variable number of the repeat ranging from 3 to 11 copies. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the association between alcoholism and VNTR polymorphism of DAT1. METHODS: Genomic DNA analysis with polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to identify the presence of a VNTR polymorphism. It was carried out within a group of 94 alcoholic patients and 113 normal controls. RESULTS: 1)There were no significant differences in allelic or genotype frequencies between the group of alcoholic patients and controls. 2)There were no significant differences in the first drinking age, onset age and latency of alcoholism according to DAT1 genotypes. 3)There was a significant difference in allelic frequencies between alcoholics with family history and those without family history. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that VNTR polymorphism of DAT1 is unlikely to be a factor in the genetic etiology of alcoholism, but might be related to familial transmission of alcoholism.

Results of 1998 Korean Depression Screening Day and Sociodemographic Characteristics of Participants / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of participants in '1998 Korean Depression Screening Day' and to evaluate the results of the screening test. METHODS: By using the survey results of 619 volunteers from 8 hospitals, the authors examined the prevalence of depression detected at the screening test and sociodemographic characteristics and the psychiatric treatment history of respondents. The assessment measure was the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. RESULTS: The mean depression score of all participants was 57.5+/-13.8 and it came under mild depression. Of all participants, 69.5% (N=430)had at least mild depressive symptoms, 43.1% (N=267)had at least moderate symptoms, and 18.4% (N=114)had severe symptoms. Never have 56.8% of respondents in the severely depressed range and 63.9% of those in the moderately depressed range had psychiatric treatment. The results suggest that the age group of 29-year-old or younger (relative to 60-year-old or older group)and full-time employment status (relative to unemployment)are protective factors of depression. CONCLUSIONS: By '1998 Korean Depression Screening Day', many depressed patients were detected and their depressive symptoms had statistically significant relationships with some sociodemographic characteristics. The results suggest that the education and screening test programs for depressive illness facilitated by Depression Screening Day are useful to the patients regardless of being under current treatment or not.

Clinical Availability of Topographic Auditory Event Related Potential P300 as a Biological Marker in Patients with Schizophrenia / 신경정신의학

This study was designed to investigate the clinical availability of topographic auditory event related potential P300 as a biological marker in patients with schizophrenia. The subjects were composed of normal controls(N=30) and patients(N=30) with schizophrenia by DSM-IV. Topographic auditory event related potential P300 and N100 were measured by "oddball paradigm", which was known as a standard method. Schizophrenics were evaluated twice, initial and follow-up, by 4 week interval. P300 latency and N100 latency were deter-mined by Global Field Power. At this time point the maximum amplitude and its location, according to X-Y coordinates, were determined in brain topography. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS). P300 latencies of normal controls, initial group of schizophrenics, and follow-up group of schizophrenics were 315.8+/-24.2msec, 403.8+/-42.3msec, and 364.7+/-43.2msec, respectively. P300 amplitudes of normal controls, initial group of schizophrenics, and follow-up group of schizophrenics were 8.8+/-2.7microV, 4.4+/-1.9microV, and 4.4+/-2.5microV, respectively. They had significantly different P300 latencies one another by measuring ANCOVA, of which covariables were N100 latency, age, and CCP(correct counted percent)(p<0.01). X-Y coordinates was not significant. In P300, there were some different characters between normal controls and schizophrenics even though excluding N100, which was supposed to be exogeneous component by external stimuli. When clinical symptoms were improved, P300 latency was decreased. However, P300 amplitude was not changed. These results suggest that P300 woald be available clinically as a biological marker, P300 latency be a state marker, and P300 amplitude be a trait marker in schizophrenia.

The Effect of Tricyclic Antidepressant(Dothiepin) on Sleep in Depressed Patients: A Polysomnographic Study / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate 1) sleep changes after antidepressant(dothiepin) treatment, and 2) sleep variables which seem to be associated with clinical response in the depressed patients. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 16 patients who fullfilled the criteria for major depression by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual,(4th edition). Their sleep was recorded using polysomnography at the baseline and after one week and three weeks of dothiepin treatment. All subjects were further interviewed using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) to rate the severity of their depression. High response to the drug was defined as a reduction of more than 50% of the HRSD score. Result : The results were as follows : 1) Depressed patients after dothiepin treatment showed more total sleep time(p=0.019), shorter sleep latency(p=0.05), less awake time(p=0.033), more sleep efficiency(p=0.018), more stage 2 sleep(p=0.002), less REM time(p=0.000), and longer REM sleep latency(p=0.004) than before treatment. 2) There were no differences in sleep variables between those who received 1 week and 3 weeks of dothiepin treatment except of th shortening of sleep latency after 3 weeks(p<0.05). 3) Depressive symptom scores on HRSD were reduced after 1 week and 3 weeks of dothiepin treatment as compared with the baseline. 4) High responers showed a tendency of increased wake time(p=0.054), while their stage 4 sleep decreased after 1 week of dothiepin treatment as compared with the low responders(p=0.0136). Conclusions : These results suggest that sleep of the depressed patients after dothiepin treatment tends to be nomalized and sleep chages seem to appear early in the treatment phase. In addition, clinical response might be associated with greater wake time at the baseline and lesser atage 4 sleep 1 week of dothiepin treatment.

Effects of methysergide(serotonin antagonist) on serum prolactin response after electroconvulsive therapy / 신경정신의학

No abstract available.

Three Cases of Traumatic Nail Dystrophy / 대한피부과학회지

We report 3 cases of traumatic nail dystrophy,, developed in 11 years old girl (Case 1), 10 years old(case 2) and 15 years old boys(case 3) Dystrophic nails show transverse ridging with longitudinal axis on the both thumb nails in case 1 R 3, and transverse ridging with transverse axis on the left thumb nail in case 2 Mothers overprotection(case 1, 3) and indifference(case 2) were considered to be of the most important causes of the nail biting and playing with nails in our cases.