Factors associated with suicide risk among Brazilian graduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though pandemic-related suicides are a concern, little is known about factors potentially linking graduate student life and suicide risk. This study identified factors associated with suicide risk among Brazilian graduate students (N = 5,344) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, this study revealed that 31.5% of participants presented some risk for suicide: 16.6% "low risk," 4.7% "moderate risk," and 10.2% "high risk." Higher income and religious affiliation were identified as protective factors. Identified risk factors encompass non-heterosexual orientation, a history of depression or posttraumatic stress or common mental disorders diagnoses, the use of medications-both general and psychopharmaceuticals-without medical prescription, antipsychotics use, alcohol consumption, lack of health insurance, and dissatisfaction with life as a result of accessing social media networks. The high vulnerability of graduate students to suicide risk highlights the need for institutional suicide prevention initiatives.

The Role of the IL-10 (-819C/T), TNFA (-308G/A) and ENOS (-786T/C) Polymorphisms of Impulsive and Aggressive Personality Traits in Cocaine/Crack Users.

Cytokines and nitric oxide have been associated with impulsive and aggressive personality traits. We conducted the first study that investigated the role of SNPs in cytokines and nitric oxide genes and the influence in the progression of aggressive and impulsive behavior in 107 of cocaine and crack users. In this case-control, IL-10 (-819C/T), TNFA (-308G/A) and ENOS (-786T/C) polymorphisms were determined by Real-Time PCR. In addition, the relationship between these polymorphisms and Impulsivity and Aggression was determined. We found that the physical aggressiveness sub score was negatively correlated with the C allele of -819C/T polymorphism of the IL-10 (b = -0.14; p = 0.04). The T allele of the SNP -786T/C of the ENOS gene positively predicts traits of physical aggressiveness (b = 0.14; p = 0.04). The GA genotype (b = 0.22; p = 0.01) and the A allele (b = 0.15; p = 0.02) of -308 G/A polymorphism of the TNFA were positively correlated with aggressiveness physical. The GA genotype (b = 0.20; p = 0.03) was positively correlated with aggressiveness verbal. IL-10 (-819C/T), TNFA (-308G/A) and ENOS (-786T/C) polymorphisms might be associated with high risk of aggressive and impulsive behavior.

IL-10 (-819C/T), TNFA (-30G/A) and ENOS (-786T/C) Polymorphisms Modulating the Outcome Related to Mental Disorders in Crack Addicted Users.

Background: Cocaine/crack use affects immune system molecules and development of mental disorders has been identified. Objective: To investigate the relationship of polymorphisms in the TNFA (-308G/A), IL-10 (-819C/T) and ENOS (-786T/C) genes with mental disorders in cocaine and crack users. Methods: A case-control study was carried out, which included 107 cocaine and crack users and 115 controls who never used healthy cocaine and crack. The SNPs in the TNFA (-308G/A), IL-10 (-819C/T) and ENOS (-786T/C) genes were genotyped by real time PCR. Results: As for the individuals included in this study, the average age of 31.4 years (± 8.59). We identified that the G/A genotype to TNFA (-308) (OR = 0.24; p = 0.03) and the A allele (OR = 0.30; p = 0.03) were associated with reduced risk for dysthymic disorder. The T allele of the IL-10 (-819) polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of developing panic disorder (OR = 0.44; p = 0.01), while the C allele was correlated with an increased risk for alcohol dependence (OR = 1.97; p = 0.04), alcohol abuse (OR = 1.81; p = 0.04) and psychotic syndrome (OR = 2.23; p = 0.01). C/C genotype was correlated with increased chances of developing current psychotic syndrome (OR = 4.23; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Our results suggest that genetic polymorphisms promote susceptibility or promote protection for clinical phenotypes of psychiatric comorbidities in cocaine and crack users and be considered as good prognostic markers.

Association of polymorphisms in serotonin and nitric oxide genes with clinical outcome of dengue in Brazilian northeast population.

Serotonin and nitric oxide seem to be involved in Dengue virus infection. The aim of this study was to investigate if SNPs in serotonin and nitric oxide are associated with dengue severity. A retrospective case-control study was conducted, with groups of dengue fever (DF; n = 78) and dengue hemorrhagic fever patients (DHF; n = 49). Genotyping was performed using qPCR and PCR. The power of the sample size was calculated by G*power software. The heterozygous SL for 5-HTTLPR SNP was significantly correlated with protection against progression to DHF in the codominant SS/SL/LL (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.06-0.81, p = 0.011) and overdominant models SL vs SS + LL (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.06-0.65, p = 0.003). For the ENOS (rs1799983) SNP, the genotype GT was positively associated with protection for development of the clinical form in DHF compared to dengue fever (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = (0.13-1.14), p = 0.0058) in codominant GG/GT/TT and overdominant model GT vs GG + TT (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = (0.12-1.02), p = 0.04). To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify the association of the serotonin and nitric oxide SNPs with dengue severity.

Suicide attempt in mental disorders (MeDi): Association with 5-HTT, IL-10 and TNF-alpha polymorphisms.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders (MeDi) and suicide attempts (SA) are influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Genetic polymorphism studies have identified some candidate genes for suicidal behaviour in people with MeDi. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate MeDi and SA in relation to the presence of rs2020933 (5-HTT), rs1800871 (IL-10) and rs1800629 (TNF-α) polymorphisms. METHODS: A questionnaire for identification and general data, a brief quality of life assessment (WHOQOL-brief), the scale of suicide ideation by Beck and the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview were used in this study. DNA was obtained using buccal mucosa swab samples, and genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. A total of 306 patients were assessed with MeDi; 161 patients had MeDi and a history of SA, and 145 patients had MeDi and no history of SA. The study had 175 subjects in the control group. RESULTS: The TNF-α rs1800629 -308A/G genotype was significantly associated with function as a protection factor in the control group compared with MeDi without SA. The TNF-α rs1800629 -308G allele appeared as risk factor for MeDi compared to the control group, for female gender. Additionally, the -308A/G + A/A genotype appeared as protection factor for the control group compared to the group with MeDi. For TNF-α, the -308G allele appeared as risk factor for the number of SA (1 time) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The IL-10 (rs1800871) and 5-HTT (rs2020933) SNPs were considered to have inadequate statistical power. The rs1800629 (TNF-α) polymorphism may be associated with MeDi without SA, MeDi in females and the number of SA (1 time) in the studied group.

Do suicide attempts occur more frequently in the spring too? A systematic review and rhythmic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal variations in suicides have been reported worldwide, however, there may be a different seasonal pattern in suicide attempts. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review on seasonality of suicide attempts considering potential interfering variables, and a statistical analysis for seasonality with the collected data. METHOD: Observational epidemiological studies about seasonality in suicide attempts were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS and Cochrane Library databases with terms attempted suicide, attempt and season. Monthly or seasonal data available were evaluated by rhythmic analysis softwares. RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles from 16 different countries were included in the final review. It was observed different patterns of seasonality, however, suicide attempts in spring and summer were the most frequent seasons reported. Eight studies indicated differences in sex and three in the method used for suicide attempts. Three articles did not find a seasonal pattern in suicide attempts. Cosinor analysis identified an overall pattern of seasonal variation with a suggested peak in spring, considering articles individually or grouped and independent of sex and method used. A restricted analysis with self-poisoning in hospital samples demonstrated the same profile. LIMITATIONS: Grouping diverse populations and potential analytical bias due to lack of information are the main limitations. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of a seasonal profile suggests the influence of an important environmental modulator that can reverberate to suicide prevention strategies. Further studies controlling interfering variables and investigating the biological substrate for this phenomenon would be helpful to confirm our conclusion.

Genetic Polymorphisms Might Predict Suicide Attempts in Mental Disorder Patients: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis.

The aim of the present study was to analyze if the genetic polymorphisms might predict suicide attempts in mental disorder patients. The literature review and meta-analysis were conducted using the PubMed/Medline, Web of science and Scopus database using the terms: "5-HTT or SLC6A4 or 5-SERT and suicide, suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior or suicidal attempt". Thirty articles were analyzed. We found 17 articles that showed association and 13 articles that showed no association between LPR serotonin transporter polymorphism and suicide. A higher study of suicide identified the serotonin transporter polymorphism in patients with schizophrenia, mental disorder, major depression and bipolar disorder. There is an association between the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region and suicidal behavior. The mental disorders with greater relationship with the suicide were the bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia. The L allele had higher risk for suicide.