The cell cycle-related genes as biomarkers for schizophrenia.

Background: Recent studies suggest that genomic abnormalities such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variations (CNVs) may elevate the risk of schizophrenia. Such genomic abnormalities often occur during chromosomal DNA replication in the S phase of cell cycle. In addition, several studies showed that abnormal expressions of several cell cycle-related genes are associated with schizophrenia.

IL-18 mediates the formation of stress-induced, histamine-dependent gastric lesions.

A role of IL-18 in the induction of gastric lesions by water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) was investigated. When wild-type BALB/c mice were exposed to WRS, levels of IL-18 in the serum and stomach increased rapidly with the development of acute gastric lesions. In IL-18-deficient mice [IL-18 knockout (KO) mice] similarly exposed to WRS, no gastric lesions were observed, but the administration of IL-18 before exposure to WRS resulted in the induction of WRS-induced gastric lesions.

[Alterations of symptoms with borderline personality disorder after fronto-temporal traumatic brain injury. A case study].

We report a case of borderline personality disorder in which severe self-mutilation, sense of futility and tendency to manipulate others disappeared after fronto (orbital cortex and dorso-lateral surface) temporal traumatic brain injury. The patient, a right-handed 34 year-old woman began having severe depressive moods, irritability, and performed recurrent self-mutilation by wrist cutting after her marriage at age 20. She was diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder.

Natural disaster and mental health in Asia.

The purpose of the present article was to review the literature on disaster mental health in relation to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and cyclones throughout Asia. Articles reviewed show that disaster psychiatry in Asia is beginning to emerge from and leave behind the stigma attached to mental health. The emergence of the acceptance of disaster mental health throughout Asia can be attributed in part to the acceptance of the notion of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Features of obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients primarily diagnosed with schizophrenia.

We investigated the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among patients who were primarily diagnosed with schizophrenia. We investigated the differences in the neuropsychiatric features and motor symptoms between patients with schizophrenia who did or did not have OCD. Seventy-one subjects with the DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia were evaluated by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-compulsive Scale and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

[A case of intra-axial multiple cavernous angiomas, presented with dementia and cerebellar signs].

We reported a case of intra-axial multiple cavernous angiomas, presented with dementia and cerebellar signs. The patient, a right-handed 73-year-old woman, showed gait disturbances, tremor increased while writing and hypoactivity at the age of 71. Treatment with 1-dopa was not effective.

Plasma interleukin-18 levels in patients with psychiatric disorders.

There are an increasing number of reports on an association between the alteration of circulating cytokine levels and pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-18 were measured in 13 nonmedicated patients with psychiatric disorders. There was a significant elevation of IL-18 levels in patients with major depression (n = 8) and panic disorder (n = 5), compared with normal controls.