The mediating effect of conscientiousness on the academic consequences of social jetlag.

Social jetlag (SJL) causes impairment of academic achievement; on the other hand, the personality factor of conscientiousness is related to better grades. We evaluated the impact of conscientiousness on the academic consequences of social jetlag. Undergraduate students (n = 556) were evaluated throughout their first 3 years of university education.

The role of CYP2C9 polymorphisms in phenytoin-related cerebellar atrophy.

Purpose: Phenytoin is known to be able to induce cerebellar atrophy in patients with epilepsy. It is also known that a CYP2C9 mutation (*2 or *3) reduces phenytoin metabolism by 25-50% and can increase the risk of phenytoin-related side effects. We examined the influence of CYP2C9 polymorphisms on total cerebellar volume and cerebellar gray and white matter volumes in patients with epilepsy taking phenytoin.

Hippocampal volume and CDR-SB can predict conversion to dementia in MCI patients.

Objective: To evaluate the combination of two factors: clinical dementia rating sum of boxes scores (CDR-SB) and hippocampal volume (HV) as predictors of conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia.

Methods: Twenty-eight individuals (9 normal and 19 with MCI) were classified according to their CDR sum of boxes scores into 3 groups.

Results: The hippocampal volume was significantly lower in the high-risk group and in those who developed dementia after two years.

Cerebellar volume in patients with dementia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the cerebellar volume of subjects at different stages of Alzheimer's disease and to investigate whether volume reductions in this structure are related to cognitive decline.

Method: Ninety-six subjects from an epidemiological study were submitted to a magnetic resonance imaging scan and evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Functional Activities Questionnaire. Subjects were divided into five groups according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale.

Cerebellum and psychiatric disorders.

Objective: The objective of this update article is to report structural and functional neuroimaging studies exploring the potential role of cerebellum in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.

Method: A non-systematic literature review was conducted by means of Medline using the following terms as a parameter: "cerebellum", "cerebellar vermis", "schizophrenia", "bipolar disorder", "depression", "anxiety disorders", "dementia" and "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder". The electronic search was done up to April 2008.