Craniofacial morphologic and anthropometric features of Croatian schizophrenia patients and non-psychiatric controls--a pilot study.

Aim: to evaluate differences in craniofacial morphologic features and several anthropometric measures between schizophrenia patients and non-psychiatric controls, and to find the best-fit model to differentiate between two groups.

Methods: 40 morphologic features of the head and face, and 5 craniofacial anthropometric measures were evaluated using the Lane Dysmorphology Scale in 58 patients and 46 controls. Total MPA score and subscores for different craniofacial regions were calculated.

The impact of PLA2G4A and PTGS2 gene polymorphisms, and red blood cell PUFAs deficit on niacin skin flush response in schizophrenia patients.

We investigated the etiology of the attenuated niacin skin flush response in schizophrenia patients. Skin response to topical niacin of 0.1M, 0.

HFE mutations and transferrin C1/C2 polymorphism among Croatian patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of hemochromatosis gene mutations (HFE-C282Y and H63D) and transferrin gene C2 variant (TF-C2) on susceptibility to schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder and/or age at first hospital admission. Genotyping was performed in 176 Croatian patients and 171 non-psychiatric Croatian controls using PCR-RFLP analyses. Regarding the H63D mutation, allele and genotype frequencies reached boundary statistical significance.

Niacin skin flush test: a research tool for studying schizophrenia.

Background: A body of biochemical evidence suggests that abnormal phospholipid metabolism may play a role in the etiology of schizophrenia, and possibly, other psychiatric and neurological diseases. Niacin, a B-complex vitamin, induces prostaglandin synthesis, vasodilatation, and skin flushing when applied as a solution on the skin or taken orally. In schizophrenia, diminished or absent skin response to niacin represents a robust finding.

Human genome variation in health and in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Objectives: Variation in the human genome may explain genetic contributions to complex traits and common diseases.

Findings: Until recently, single nucleotide polymorphisms were thought to be the most prevalent form of interindividual genetic variation. However, structural genomic rearrangements such as deletions, duplications, and inversions lead to variation in gene copy number and contribute even more to genomic diversity.

Phospholipid membrane abnormalities and reduced niacin skin flush response in schizophrenia.

Objectives: Reduced n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content in red blood cell (RBC) membranes and abnormal membrane phospholipid metabolism were repeatedly implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia.

Findings: Prenatal and perinatal depletion of PUFAs interferes with normal brain development and function. The lack of docosahexaenoic acid - DHA in the brain is reflected in lower membrane DHA/AA (AA - arachidonic acid) ratio, increased activity of AA-metabolizing enzymes, and disturbance of downstream metabolic pathways involved in signaling, growth modulation, brain glucose uptake, immune functions, neurotransmission, synaptogenesis and neurogenesis.