Relationship between nicotine dependence and the endophenotype-related trait of cognitive function but not acoustic startle reponses in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives: We investigated whether nicotine dependence affects these endophenotypes in Japanese schizophrenia patients and whether alpha4 and beta2 subunits of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes (alpha4 subunit of the nAChR gene (CHRNA4)/beta2 subunit of the nAChR gene (CHRNB2)) were associated with nicotine dependence in patients (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 107).

Methods: First, in patients, we evaluated cognitive function, using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, and acoustic startle responses. Second, we evaluated the severity of nicotine dependence, using the Tobacco Dependence Screener, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, and the Brinkman index in current smokers in both groups.

The effect of intraoperative rectal washout on local recurrence after rectal cancer surgery: a meta-analysis.

Background: Implantation of exfoliated cancer cells has been suggested as a possible mechanism of local recurrence at the site of colorectal anastomosis. Intraoperative rectal washout has been suggested to eliminate free cancer cells; however, there is no conclusive evidence of a beneficial effect of intraoperative rectal washout on local recurrence after anterior resection of rectal cancer.

Methods: Studies published through February 2012 evaluating the impact of intraoperative rectal washout for local recurrence or positive cytology from donuts wash were identified by an electronic literature search.

GTP cyclohydrolase 1 gene haplotypes as predictors of SSRI response in Japanese patients with major depressive disorder.

Background: Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) plays an important role in the biosynthesis of serotonin, melatonin and catecholamines, all of which are implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders (MDs), including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BP). Production of BH4 is regulated by GTP cyclohydrolase transcription and activity. Thus, we considered the GTP cyclohydrolase gene (GCH1) to be a good candidate gene in the pathophysiology of MDs and of the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) response in MDD, and conducted a case-control study utilizing three SNPs (rs8007267, rs3783641 and rs841) and moderate sample sizes (405 MDD patients, including 262 patients treated by SSRIs, 1022 BP patients and 1805 controls).

Serotonin 6 receptor gene and schizophrenia: case-control study and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Several lines of evidence suggest that genetic alterations in serotonin 6 (5-HT6) receptors might be associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We sought to assess the relationship between genotype alterations in 5-HT6 receptors and schizophrenia both in a case-control study and a meta-analysis.

Methods: We conducted an association study of the 5-HT6 receptor gene (HTR6) in Japanese patients with schizophrenia (n = 836) and controls (n = 857).

The relationship between acoustic startle response measures and cognitive functions in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Recently, schizophrenia endophenotypes have been actively investigated to better understand the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Past studies have shown that cognitive functions, including working memory and executive function, correlate with acoustic startle responses, such as prepulse inhibition (PPI), in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive functions and acoustic startle response in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.