Glucocorticoid receptor alpha and beta isoforms are not mutated in bipolar affective disorder.

The periodically hyperactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in bipolar affective disorders, as well as the reported changes in the binding characteristics of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), suggest the possible involvement of the GR in the aetiopathology of this disease. This was investigated by screening the coding sequences of both GR isoforms, GRalpha and GRbeta, for the presence of mutations. As a genetic predisposition has been implicated, we included in this study bipolar patients who were siblings. By RT-PCR of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients suffering from bipolar illness, using primers spanning the whole length of the GRalpha and GRbeta coding region and subsequent agarose gel electrophoresis, heteroduplex and sequence analyses, no GR mutations could be detected. Since glucocorticoid receptor activity can be modulated by agents other than the respective ligand (eg by growth factors, cytokines and stress signals), our results favor derangements in the modulation of GR activity by such agents and not in the primary structure of the receptor as aetiopathologic factors of bipolar disease.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes of bipolar affective patients have a histone synthetic profile indicative of an active cell state.

1. Although abnormalities of the immune system have been described in depression, no information exists regarding the biochemical parameters which could characterize the physiological state of lymphocytes from patients with bipolar affective disorder. 2. Lymphocytes of normal control subjects are known to be in the Go resting phase of the cell cycle. Histone synthesis is characteristically different during the Go, G1/G2 and the S phases of the cell cycle. As such, it can be used as a biochemical marker with which to distinguish between cycling and noncycling cells. 3. In order to investigate the possibility of whether or not the lymphocytes of patients with bipolar affective disorder are in an activated state, typical of cycling cells, total histone and histone variant synthesis were analysed in peripheral blood lymphocytes of a group of 12 patients with bipolar affective disorder and 7 normal controls. 4. According to the histone variant synthesis pattern, lymphocytes of patients in normothymia have values similar to those of controls, i.e., of noncycling cells, while patients in either the depressed or the manic phase have values intermediate to those of resting and cycling cells. 5. This study shows that histone synthesis can perhaps be used as a biochemical parameter of possible significance in differentiating amongst the three phases of the illness.

Glossodynia: personality characteristics and psychopathology.

BACKGROUND: Glossodynia or burning mouth syndrome has been suggested to be a multifunctional disorder. Etiologic factors that have been reported include hematologic or vitamin deficiencies, denture factors, the climacteric, infections or endocrinological disorders. On the other hand psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression and phobias have been reported to play a significant role at the beginning of this nosological entity. It seems therefore that there are two main categories of glossodynia, one with a detectable organic etiology and another with a psychologic origin. The purpose of this study was to provide further information concerning the personality characteristics and the incidence of psychopathology in patients suffering from glossodynia without an organic etiology. METHODS: Twenty-five patients suffering from glossodynia and 25 control subjects, matched for sex and age, participated in the study. Patients and controls were assessed concerning their psychosomatic morbidity. Both groups were given psychometric instruments (SRSD, STAI, EPQ, HDHQ, SSPS) for the assessment of personality characteristics and psychopathological symptoms. RESULTS: Patients were significantly differentiated from controls with respect to all factors of HDHQ; they exhibited more hostility, either introverted or extroverted, than control subjects. The patients also had significantly higher values in the N (neuroticism) and the L (lie) factors of the EPQ. Concerning the other psychometric measurements there were no significant differences. Patients also had significantly higher rates of psychosomatic morbidity than controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that hostility-especially introverted hostility-neuroticism and possibly depression are important components of the psychological profile of patients suffering from glossodynia.

Increases in prolactin levels following bilateral and unilateral ECT.

Plasma prolactin levels were studied after bilateral and unilateral ECT in eight female melancholic patients. Although prolactin levels were higher after both treatments, patients who received bilateral ECT had significantly higher prolactin levels than did those who received unilateral ECT.

Sleep deprivation psychoprophylaxis in recurrent affective disorders.

Administration of prophylactic 36 h total sleep deprivation to 9 manic-depressive patients (5 bipolar and 4 unipolar depressives) reduced the frequency of relapses and increased the duration of normothymia in 5 patients, left the course of illness unchanged in 3 patients whilst in 1 patient the effect could not be evaluated. Sleep deprivation appeared to be more effective in women, 'rapid cyclers', patients with a positive family history of mental illness and patients with recurrent depression. These observations confirm previous impressions and suggest a possible prophylactic effect of sleep deprivation.