The Sex-Related Differences of Relationships between 2D : 4D Ratio and Electroencephalographic Coherence in Patients with Schizophrenia Compared with Controls

OBJECTIVES: Prenatal testosterone is known to influence both cerebral laterality and 2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D : 4D). Epigenetic changes are thought to play some role in it. We studied sex-related differences between 2D : 4D and cerebral laterality in patients with schizophrenia and controls to examine the effects of prenatal testosterone in the development of schizophrenia. METHODS: Forty one men (18 schizophrenic patients and 23 controls) and 40 women (17 schizophrenic patients and 23 controls) were recruited from one psychiatric hospital in Korea. The 2D : 4D and electroencephalographic (EEG) coherence in 19 channels (66 pairs of interhemispheric coherence and 54 pairs of intrahemispheric coherence) were measured. The sex-related statistical analyses between 2D : 4D and EEG coherence in controls and patients with schizophrenia were performed using multiple regression. RESULTS: In male patients, the relationship between 2D : 4D and right intrahemispheric EEG coherence showed mainly positive correlation in delta and theta frequency bands, while it showed negative correlation in male controls. In female patients, the relationship between 2D : 4D and interhemispheric EEG coherence showed stronger positive correlation in alpha and beta frequency bands, while it showed weaker positive correlation in female controls. CONCLUSIONS: Low prenatal testosterone may play certain roles in altered correlation between 2D : 4D and cerebral laterality in schizophrenia and the development of schizophrenia by epigenetic mechanism.

Mixed Germ Cell-Sex Cord-Stromal Tumor of Non-Gonadoblastoma Type of Ovary: A Case Report

We described a case of mixed germ cell-sex cord-stromal tumor of non-gonadoblastoma type (GCSCT-NG) of the ovary in a 2-year-old girl and compared its histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings with those of gonadoblastoma. The germ cell component showed an immunopositivity for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), and a negative reaction for -inhibin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), vimentin and CD99. The sex cord elements showed an immunopositivity for cytokeratin, EMA, vimentin and inhibin, but negativity for AFP, PLAP, and CD99. The ultrastructural features showed desmosome-like cell junctions, suggesting spermatocytic differentiation from the primordial germ cells or gonocytes. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings suggested that GCSCT-NG is probably a more differentiated form of mixed germ cell- sex cord-stromal tumor than gonadoblastoma.