Gene expression and association analyses of the phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) gene in major depressive disorder in the Japanese population.

The phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) interacts with disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), which is a known genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (MDD). PDE4B is also important in the regulation of cAMP signaling, a second messenger implicated in learning, memory, and mood. In this study, we determined mRNA expression levels of the PDE4B gene in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with MDD and control subjects (n = 33, each). Next we performed two-stage case-controlled association analyses (first set; case = 174, controls = 348; second set; case = 481, controls = 812) in the Japanese population to determine if the PDE4B gene is implicated in MDD. In the leukocytes, a significantly higher expression of the PDE4B mRNA was observed in the drug-naïve MDD patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.0001) and the expression of the MDD patients significantly decreased after antidepressant treatment (P = 0.030). In the association analysis, we observed significant allelic associations of four SNPs (the most significant, rs472952; P = 0.002) and a significant haplotypic association (permutation P = 0.019) between the PDE4B gene and MDD in the first-set samples. However, we could not confirm these significant associations in the following independent second-set of samples. Our results suggest that the PDE4B gene itself does not link to MDD but the elevated mRNA levels of PDE4B might be implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD.

Failure to confirm an association between Epsin 4 and schizophrenia in a Japanese population.

Previous studies suggested that genetic variations in the 5' region of Epsin 4, a gene encoding enthoprotin on chromosome 5q33, are associated with schizophrenia. However, conflicting results have also been reported. We examined the possible association in a Japanese sample of 354 patients and 365 controls. Seventeen polymorphisms of Epsin 4 [3 microsatellites and 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)] were selected. A microsatellite marker (D5S1403) demonstrated a significant difference in the allele frequency between patients and controls (uncorrected P = 0.04). However, there was no significant difference in the genotype or allele frequency between the two groups for the other microsatellites or SNPs. Haplotype-based analysis provided no evidence for an association. The positive result at D5S1403 no longer reached statistical significance when multiple testing was taken into consideration. Our results suggest that the examined region of Epsin 4 does not have a major influence on susceptibility to schizophrenia in Japanese.

Evaluation of photochemical tissue bonding for closure of skin incisions and excisions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Photochemical tissue bonding (PTB) is a new non-thermal technique for tissue repair involving application of a photochemically active dye and irradiation with visible light. The objective was to compare PTB with standard sutures and the tissue adhesive, octyl cyanoacrylate, for closure of skin incisions and excisions. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Incisions and excisions made on the flanks of a Hanford mini-pig were secured with subcutaneous sutures. Superficial closure methods were 3-0 monofilament sutures, PTB (Rose Bengal and green light), tissue adhesive and the combination of tissue adhesive then PTB. Wounds were evaluated 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively for cosmetic outcomes and histology. RESULTS: Cosmetic outcomes and histological scar width of incisions and excisions did not differ among the treatment groups at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: PTB is as effective as standard sutures for wound closure in porcine skin in terms of cosmetic outcomes and safety.