C3 Polymorphism Influences Circulating Levels of C3, ASP and Lipids in Schizophrenic Patients.

Excessive activation of complement is associated with many diseases including schizophrenia. Investigation of C3 polymorphisms, circulating C3, cleavage product ASP/C3adesArg, and lipid metabolism. Cross-sectional analysis. C3 genotyping (CC vs GG for R102L) was performed on 434 Tunisian people consisting of 272 schizophrenic (SZ) patients and 162 control subjects. In a age- and gender-matched subgroups of the three genotypes (131 SZ and 112 NOR), plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol (C), LDL-C, HDL-C, ASP, and complement C3 were measured. C3 gene polymorphism influences BMI and plasma C3, ASP, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C among SZ patients (p < 0.05-0.0001), with increasing values demonstrated from CC (common form) to CG (heterozygote form) to GG (rare homozygote) forms. Significant correlations between plasma C3 and BMI, triglyceride, HDL-C and ASP (p < 0.05-0.0001) were observed, while ASP correlated with BMI and LDL-C (p = 0.005, p = 0.001, respectively) in SZ patients. Further, proportional conversion of C3 to ASP (%ASP/C3) also increased (p < 0.0001, GG>CG>CC). C3 polymorphisms and plasma C3, ASP and %ASP/C3 correlated with lipid parameters in this SZ population, suggesting that factors predisposing patients to schizophrenia are permissive for complement pathway activation and dyslipidemic influences.

Paraoxonase 1 activity and lipid profile in schizophrenic patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the variations of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and lipid profile in patients with schizophrenia and the association of this activity with the sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutical characteristics of this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our cross-sectional study included 140 schizophrenic patients and 119 control subjects aged respectively 37.3±10.4 and 41.4±10 years. PON1 activity was determined using Konelab 30™ equipment (Thermo Electron Corporation). Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (c-HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (c-LDL) concentrations were determined using Cobas 6000™ (Roche Diagnostics), apolipoproteins (ApoA1, ApoB) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) were determined using Integra 400 plus (Roche Diagnostics). RESULTS: Compared to controls, patients had no significant decrease of PON1 activity and significantly lower ApoA1, c-HDL levels, and significantly higher levels of TG, ApoB, Lp(a) and TC/c-HDL and ApoB/ApoA1 ratios. Furthermore, PON1 activity was correlated with TG/c-HDL ratio. The lowest PON1 activity was noted in obese patients, in paranoid sub-type and in patients treated with combination of typical and atypical antipsychotics without significant difference. Moreover, it was associated with gender and cigarette smoking but not with alcohol consumption status. CONCLUSION: Schizophrenic patients had a decrease in PON1 activity and perturbations in their lipid profiles that contribute to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, our results revealed that there was no association between the decrease of PON1 activity and any demographic or clinical characteristics. Therefore, such patients require specific care, particularly with regard to their lipid profile.

Association of PON1 and PON2 polymorphisms with PON1 activity and significant coronary stenosis in a Tunisian population.

PON1 and PON2 have attracted considerable attention as candidate genes for coronary heart disease because their enzymes function as key factors in lipoprotein catabolism pathways. We studied the distribution of PON1 and PON2 polymorphisms, including genotyping, lipid profile, and PON1 activity, and their association with PON1 activity and significant coronary stenosis (SCS) in a Tunisian population. PON1 activity was lower in patients with SCS than in controls. It increased with the R allele (QQ < QR < RR) in PON1-192 genotypes and with the L allele (MM < ML < LL) in PON1-55 genotypes. In the presence of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, PON1-192RR and PON2-311CC were associated with an increased risk of SCS and PON1-55MM seems to have lower risk. This association was evident among nonsmokers for PON1-55MM and among smokers for PON1-192RR and PON2-311CC. The GTGC haplotype seemed to increase the risk of SCS compared with the wild haplotype in a Tunisian population.

Interference of tobacco smoke with immunochromatography assay for urinary drug detection.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the interference of tobacco smoke on immunochromatography assay of urinary drug detection. METHODS: Our study included 256 voluntary subjects (143 passive smokers and 113 current smokers). Cotinine was measured by immunoenzymatic method and thiocyanates (SCN(-)) by selective electrode. Urinary drug was detected by immunochromatography assay. A positive result is completed by an analytical method with an immunometric assay. RESULTS: False positive results for benzodiazepines are significantly more frequent in smokers compared with passive smokers (90.2% Vs 22.4%; χ(2) = 116.62, p < 10(-3)). For smokers, the number of cigarettes was significantly higher in subjects with falsely positive results for benzodiazepines compared with subjects with negative results (32 ± 11 Vs 20 ± 10; p = 0.04). Between these two groups, we established a significant difference for urinary cotinine (345 ± 211 Vs 117 ± 54 µg/µmol; p < 10(-3)) and for plasma SCN(-) (101.6 ± 3.4 Vs 98.8 ± 2.1 µmol/L; p = 10(-3)). Urinary cotinine and consumption duration present the highest values of areas under curves (AUC) of the receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves. The cut-off of 167.6 µg/µmol and 10.5 years were found as predictive factors of false positive results. CONCLUSION: Tobacco smoke interferes with immunochromatography assay of urinary drug detection; therefore, all subjects must be questioned about their smoking status to avoid such false results during results interpretation.

[Butyrylcholinesterase activity in schizophrenic patients]. / Étude de l'activité butyrylcholinestérase chez des patients schizophrènes.

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is an enzyme that has been investigated for its putative role in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. The aim of our work was to study BChE activity variations in schizophrenic patients and to investigate the involvement of this enzyme in schizophrenia and the importance of determining its activity in this disease. This cross-sectional study was carried out 131 (104 males and 27 females, mean age  = 38.0  ±â€Š 11.4 years) patients with chronic schizophrenia according DSM-IV criteria and 90 (64 males and 26 females, mean age  = 37.1  ±  15.9 years) healthy controls. Plasma BChE activity was determined by a kinetic method on Integra 400plus(TM) (Roche Diagnostics). Patients with schizophrenia had higher plasma BChE activity than controls (P < 0.0001). Female patients had higher BChE activity and smokers had lower BChE activity than non-smokers either in patients and controls. In patients with schizophrenia, BChE activity was not differed with age, alcohol status and clinical sub-types, and was not correlated to duration of illness. Concerning therapeutic features, BChE activity was higher in patients treated with antipsychotics monotherapy than those treated with an association of antipsychotic and anticholinergic drugs, without significant difference (P  = 0.196). Schizophrenic patients showed an increase BChE activity, which could be related to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

[Cannabis use in a central region of Tunisia]. / Consommation de cannabis dans une région du centre tunisien.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of cannabis users, their consumption patterns, and effects. METHODS: Our cross-sectional, descriptive study included 205 subjects (191 men, 14 women, mean age = 25.9 ± 7.9 years). The consumption of psychotropic drugs and/or cannabis was confirmed by toxicological analysis. RESULTS: In our study population, 61% were cannabis users. Consumption was significantly higher in males (94.4%) than in females. Consumers were young adults, aged 25.8 ± 8.8 years, single (81.6%), had primary school educations (62.4%), were employed (72%) and lived in urban areas (77.6%); 28.8% had a personal history of psychiatric disorders. The mean age of first cannabis use was 20 years. Cannabis use was frequently associated with consumption of alcohol and tobacco (72%). Forty percent of consumers used cannabis daily. Most of those who had used drugs had done so with friends. In most cases, cannabis was regarded as a means of escape from problems (29.3%), relaxation (20.2%), experimentation (18.2%) and a source of pleasure (16.7%). CONCLUSION: These data suggest the importance of primary prevention of early use and rapid treatment of young users.