Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, personality traits, and BCL1 and N363S polymorphisms of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in metabolically obese normal-weight women.

We sought associations among metabolic profiles, copeptin levels, emotional control, personality traits, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in metabolically obese normal-weight young women (MONW). We assessed body composition, including fat-free mass; body fat (BF) and android and gynoid fat depots; fasting blood glucose, insulin, copeptin, cortisol (baseline and after dexamethasone), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), triglycerides, total cholesterol, low- (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins; and the BCL1 and N363S polymorphisms of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in 59 MONW and 71 healthy women aged 20-40 years. We also evaluated personality traits using the NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the subjective extent of emotional suppression by the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale. Compared to the controls, MONW had significantly higher insulin, cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and waist circumference, but lower HDL. MONW also had increased BF (>30 % of weight) and unfavorable regional fat distribution with excess android fat. The android/BF ratio was 8.29 % (MONW) versus 7.89 % (controls) (p = 0.005), while the gynoid/BF ratio was 31.99 versus 34.1 %, respectively (p = 0.008). Despite similar ACTH levels in both groups, MONW had higher cortisol levels both at the baseline (p < 0.001) and in the dexamethasone suppression test (p = 0.003). Copeptin levels and the distribution of glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms were similar in both groups. There were also no significant differences in psychological features between MONW and controls. In conclusion, the MONW phenotype was associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, unfavorable metabolic profiles, and fat accumulation, but normal distribution of glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms and copeptin levels, and no significant differences in psychological features between MONW and controls.

Norepinephrine transporter gene polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to alcohol dependence.

Abnormalities in monoamine neurotransmission have been implicated in the pathogenesis of alcoholism, mood disorders and schizophrenia. Murine norepinephrine transporter gene (NET) has been mapped to a region on chromosome 8 where a quantitative trait locus for ethanol sensitivity. Therefore we tested whether norepinephrine transporter (NET) gene variants confer susceptibility to either alcohol dependence or severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. There is a highly polymorphic silent G1287A mutation in the NET gene. In our study 157 alcoholics and 185 healthy unrelated matched control subjects were analyzed for a silent G1287A mutation. No significant differences in allele and genotype distribution between control subjects f(A)=0.33 and alcoholics f(A)=0.29 were found. No significant results were found in more homogenous subgroups, i.e. alcoholics with severe alcohol withdrawal (seizures, delirium), early onset age<26 nor dependent patients with positive familial history of alcoholism. These results suggest that the NET gene polymorphism in exon 9 accession number: mRNA: NM_001043, genomic contig.: NT_019610, is unlikely to be involved in the susceptibility to alcoholism and severe alcohol withdrawal.

[Some hormones secretion and personality in anorexia nervosa syndrome]. / Wydzielanie niektórych hormonów a osobowosc w jadlowstrecie psychicznym.

The relationship between plasma leptin, some hormones (GH, IRI, IGF-1, DHEA-S, LH, FSH, T, E2, TSH, fT3, fT4), glucose level, personality dispositions and adipose tissue content in 22 women with anorexia nervosa were evaluated. Some personality features as: defensiveness, domination and aggression necessities, high self-control, bad self-estimation, retiring, expectation of custody--correlated with some hormones (LH, E2, IGF-1, fT3, F, T) and leptin level. The ascertained relationships suggest that still unexplained causes generate simultaneous disturbances in the endocrine and psychic processes in central nervous system of anorexia nervosa patients. Probably hormonal and neurotransmitter derangement are the adaptive changes allowing longer survival, as the low leptin secretion in the severest undernutrition states is.

[Intensity of psychotic symptoms and selected demographic data as predictors of effectiveness of psychotherapy of schizophrenic patients in a day-hospital treatment]. / Nasilenie objawów chorobowych oraz wybrane dane demograficzne jako predyktory oceny efektywnosci terapii pacjentów ze schizofrenia w warunkach oddzialu dziennego.

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of psychotherapy in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in a day hospital. The presented model is based on the combination of group psychotherapy, individual psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy with respect to the individual needs of a patient. Psychotherapy was more effective in patients with a lower educational level and those married. We found that the effectiveness of psychotherapy depended on a psychopathological status of a patient.