Depressive Symptoms as a Mediator between Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Suicidal Ideation among Chinese College Students.

The purpose of this study was to verify the mediating role of depressive symptoms between excessive daytime sleepiness and suicidal ideation in college students. Of the 6944 participants, 2609 (37.6%) were male and 4335 (62.4%) were female. College students with excessive daytime sleepiness (p < 0.001) and those with depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) were more likely to have suicidal ideation. Moreover, both excessive daytime sleepiness (ß = 0.14, 95% CI: 1.01−1.32) and depressive symptoms (ß = 1.47, 95% CI: 3.80−5.00) were associated with suicidal ideation. The effect size of the mediating role of depressive symptoms in excessive daytime sleepiness to suicidal ideation was 50.41% for the entire sample, 58.33% for males, and 42.98% for females. Depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationship between excessive daytime sleepiness and suicidal ideation. The timely assessment of depressive symptoms in college students with excessive daytime sleepiness, and intervention, may reduce their risk of suicidal ideation.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome induced by food poisoning in a pediatric patient: a case report.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can develop in patients following exposure to multiple triggers, including blood pressure fluctuations, kidney diseases, immunosuppressive agents, chemotherapy, or autoimmune disorders. However, to the best of our knowledge, the development of PRES secondary to food poisoning has not been previously reported, especially in a pediatric patient. Here, we report a 13-year-old boy who presented with PRES following the consumption of palmatum (a chicken feet dish). The patient presented with headache, vomiting, and altered consciousness. Neuroimaging findings revealed white matter hyperintensities in a bilateral, symmetrical, and parieto-occipital pattern. The patient was diagnosed with PRES and was managed with fluid expansion and a short-term mannitol regimen (1 g/kg every 12 hours for 3 days). Neuroimaging findings returned to normal at 8 days after admission. Food poisoning may therefore be a new possible trigger for PRES. A timely PRES diagnosis is recommended to prevent possible central nervous system complications.

Decreased serum complement component 4 levels in patients with schizophrenia.

Dysregulation of the immune system in mental disease, particularly complement component 4 (C4), which may be associated with schizophrenia, has been repeatedly observed. This study investigated the association between the level of serum component 4 and schizophrenia. Data were derived from a case-control association study of 40 unrelated adult patients with schizophrenia and 40 matched healthy controls. The component 4 level in serum was measured for comparative analysis by a component 4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Our findings suggest that the serum component 4 level is lower in patients with schizophrenia than in the controls, and the results apply to both males and females. Our results will lay an important foundation for establishing diagnostic methods and provide feasible and reliable evidence for the clinical treatment of schizophrenia.

Prevalence of High Non-high-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Associated Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Jilin Province, China: A Cross-sectional Study.

Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in patients with diabetes, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) is a better predictor of CVDs than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with diabetes. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the distribution of non-HDL-C and the prevalence of high non-HDL-C level in Chinese patients with diabetes mellitus and identify the associated risk factors. Non-HDL-C concentration positively correlated with total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C concentrations. Although both non-HDL-C and LDL-C concentration both related positively with TC concentration, the magnitude of correlation was relatively higher for non-HDL-C. The prevalence of high non-HDL-C (⋝4.14 mmol/L) was higher in two age groups (55-64 years: 46.7%; 65-79 years: 47.3%) than other age groups (18-24 years: 4.2%; 25-34 years: 43.6%; 35-44 years: 38.1%; 45-54 years: 41.0%). It was also higher among overweight (45.1%), generally obese (50.9%), or abdominally obese (47.3%) subjects, compared with normal weight subjects (34.5%). The risk of high non-HDL-C increased with advancing age. Both general obesity [odds ratio (OR)=1.488, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.003-2.209] and abdominal obesity (OR=1.561, 95% CI: 1.101-2.214) were significantly associated with high non-HDL-C levels.

Dyslipidemia awareness, treatment, control and influence factors among adults in the Jilin province in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In China, even though the prevalence of dyslipidemia among adults increased yearly and dyslipidemia being an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases among the Chinese population, however, the awareness, treatment and control of dyslipidemia are at low levels, and only limited studies on the influence factors associated with the awareness, treatment and control dyslipidemia in China have been carried out. METHODS: The analysis was based on a representative sample of 7138 adult subjects aged 18~79 years recruited from a cross-sectional study of chronic disease and risk factors among adults in the Jilin province in 2012. Chi-square test was used to compare the rates of dyslipidemia awareness, treatment and control between different characteristics of participants. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed separately for each group to explore the associations between participants' characteristics and dyslipidemia awareness, treatment and control. RESULTS: Among participants with dyslipidemia, 11.6% were aware of the diagnosis, 8.4% were receiving treatment, and 34.8% had dyslipidemia controlled. Increase in age and BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 were by far the strongest risk factors associated with better awareness and treatment of dyslipidemia. Retirees were more likely to be aware of their dyslipidemia condition (OR=1.255; 95% CI: 1.046, 1.506) and to be receiving treatment (OR=1.367; 95% CI: 1.114, 1.676) than manual workers. A family history of dyslipidemia increased the likelihood of awareness (OR=3.620; 95% CI: 2.816, 4.653) and treatment (OR=3.298; 95% CI: 2.488, 4.371) of dyslipidemia. Alcohol drinking and physical activity were associated with a lower level of awareness and treatment.Cigarette smokers (OR=0.501; 95% CI: 0.349, 0.719) and those with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (OR=0.480; 95% CI: 0.326, 0.706) who received treatment were also associated with poor dyslipidemia control. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights low levels of awareness, poor treatment and control of dyslipidemia among adults aged 18~79 in the Jilin province. Promotion of healthy lifestyles and establishment of a comprehensive strategy of screening, treatment and control of dyslipidemia is needed to reduce or prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease in the Jilin province.

Association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and first-episode patients with schizophrenia in a Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a key enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system, can modulate dopamine turnover in the midbrain. Previous studies have revealed an association between ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and chronic schizophrenia, yet results are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to examine whether the ACE gene I/D polymorphism is associated with first-episode patients with schizophrenia (FEP) in a Chinese Han population. METHODS: The presence of the polymorphism was determined in 220 FEP and 538 healthy controls using a case-control design. We assessed the psychopathology in 212 FEP using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). RESULTS: The allelic and genotypic frequencies of the ACE gene I/D polymorphism did not significantly differ between FEP and healthy controls (both p>0.05). However, the negative PANSS symptom was significantly higher in FEP with the D/D genotype than those with I/D and I/I genotypes (all p<0.05) even after Bonferroni corrections (all p<0.05). Furthermore, the D allele of the ACE gene was associated with higher negative PANSS symptom score in FEP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that even though the ACE gene I/D polymorphism did not associate with FEP, it may play a role in susceptibility to the negative PANSS symptom of FEP in a Chinese Han population.

Association between DBH 19 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism and cognition in first-episode schizophrenic patients.

Many genes associated with dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) systems influence cognitive deficits of schizophrenia patients, but one key enzyme is dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), which converts DA to NE and whose activity and levels are under strong genetic control. This study examines the association of the 19 bp insertion/deletion (Ins/Del) polymorphism in the 5' flank of the DBH gene with cognitive deficits in first-episode schizophrenic patients (FEP). We assessed the cognitive function in 195 FEP and 304 healthy controls using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The 19 bp Ins/Del polymorphism of DBH gene was genotyped. Our results showed that the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the 19 bp Ins/Del polymorphism significantly differed between FEP and healthy controls (both p < 0.05). Cognitive test scores were significantly lower in FEP than healthy controls on all scales (all p < 0.001) except for the visuospatial/constructional index (p > 0.05). Immediate memory abilities significantly differed by genotype (p<0.05) but not genotype×diagnosis. Immediate memory score was lower in FEP with DBH5'-Del/Del genotype (61.3 ± 17.2) than those with DBH5'-Ins/Ins genotype (68.6 ± 16.2; p < 0.05). The 19 bp Del allele was associated with poorer immediate memory performance than the Ins allele in FEP (p < 0.05). However, healthy controls did not show any differences in cognitive function indices between the Ins and Del for either the allele or genotype of the 19 bp Ins/Del polymorphism. Our findings suggest that the DBH5'-Ins/Del polymorphism may play a role in susceptibility to FEP. The DBH5'-Ins/Del polymorphism may also influence immediate memory in FEP. Moreover, FEP had poorer cognitive function than healthy controls in all examined cognitive domains except for the visuospatial/constructional index.

Association of catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia and negative symptoms in a Chinese population.

The gene encoding Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), a dopamine catabolic enzyme, has been associated inconsistently with schizophrenia in spite of consistent evidence for dopaminergic dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of schizophrenia. Since one contribution to this inconsistency might be genetic heterogeneity, this study investigated whether the COMT gene was associated with the development and symptoms of schizophrenia in relatively genetically homogeneous Chinese schizophrenic patients. We analyzed two polymorphisms (rs740603 and rs4818) of the COMT gene in a case-control study of 604 Han Chinese (284 patients and 320 controls). The patients' psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). We found no significant differences in the rs740603 and rs4818 genotype and allele distributions between the patient and control groups. Quantitative trait analysis by the UNPHASED program showed that the rs740603 and rs740603(G)-rs4818(G) haplotypes were associated with negative symptoms in the schizophrenic patients, particularly among female patients. Thus, the COMT gene polymorphisms may not contribute to the susceptibility to schizophrenia, but may contribute to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia among Han Chinese.

[Association between polymorphism of BDNF and internalizing disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism and internalizing disorders, to provide the theoretical basis to explore the etiology of internalizing disorders. METHODS: PCR-based ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) was applied to tag single nucleotide lengh polymorphism (SNPs) of BDNF gene among 259 undergraduates affected by internalizing disorders and 269 healthy undergraduates. Haplotype analysis and multiple locus analysis were conducted to analyze the genotyping data. RESULTS: The genotypic frequency of tag SNPs of BDNF gene did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both case and control groups. Rs12273539 was not associated with internalizing disorders (P > 0.05), but rs10835210 and rs2030324 were related to internalizing disorders (P < 0.05). The case group had more A allele of rs10835210 and C allele of rs2030324 when compared to the controls while A allele of rs10835210 and C allele of rs2030324 seemed to be the risk factors of internalizing disorder (OR = 1.877, P < 0.001; OR = 1.347, P < 0.05). Results of multiple locus analysis showed that the haplotype composed by the three tag SNPs which was related to internalizing disorders (chi(2) = 23.537, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: BDNF gene might serve as the susceptible gene for internalizing disorder.

[Study on the genetic association between the polymorphism of cytosolic phospholipase A2 family genes and schizophrenia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic association between the polymorphism of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) family genes and schizophrenia in the North Han Chinese. METHODS: Method of polymerase chain reaction-based ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) was applied to genotype 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cPLA2 family genes among 201 pedigrees consisting of fathers, mothers and affected offsprings with schizophrenia. Haplotype relative risk (HRR) test, transmission disequilibrium test (TDT), haplotype transmission analysis and multiple locus analysis were conducted to analyze the genotyping data. RESULTS: The genotypic frequency of cPLA2 gene did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both case and control groups. HRR and TDT showed that the 10 SNPs were not associated with schizophrenia (P > 0.05). Analysis for haplotype transmission showed that no haplotype systems was associated with schizophrenia (P > 0.05). Results from COA and COG tests showed a disease association for the rs2162886-rs1668589, rs891014-rs1668589 and rs2307279-rs7542180 combinations (chi2 = 6.913, P = 0.032; chi2 = 8.393, P = 0.015; chi2 = 8.447, P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Many loci in the cPLA2 family genes were associated with schizophrenic.