Genetic association between Notch4 polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease in the Japanese population.

It is shown that Notch 4 plays important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To investigate whether three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the Notch4 gene are associated with AD, the three SNPs were genotyped by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method for 243 AD patients and 130 age-matched controls. We also confirmed the linkage disequilibrium among these three SNPs of the gene using the EH program.

Genetic association between USF 1 and USF 2 gene polymorphisms and Japanese Alzheimer's disease.

To investigate the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the upstream stimulatory factor (USF) 1 and 2 genes on the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a case-control study was performed. The SNPs were genotyped by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 236 AD patients and 120 age-matched controls of Japanese descent. We observed no significant association between the three SNPs of the USF 1 gene and AD in our Japanese participants.

Genetic association between Notch4 polymorphisms and Japanese schizophrenics.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether three single nucleotide polymorphisms of the Notch4 gene are associated with the onset of schizophrenia. To confirm the linkage disequilibrium among these three single nucleotide polymorphisms of the gene, the three single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction-fragment length polymorphism method for all samples. The genotypic frequencies of each single nucleotide polymorphism in the schizophrenic were compared with respective controls using a chi method.

No genetic association between the myeloperoxidase gene -463 polymorphism and estrogen receptor-alpha gene polymorphisms and Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) presence has been demonstrated in microglia associated with senile plaques and contributes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology through oxidation-induced damage. MPO activity is normally higher in women than in men. Additionally, a functional biallelic (G/A) polymorphism in the promoter region (-463) of the MPO gene has been associated with a gender-specific risk factor for AD, but reports of this association have been inconsistent.

No genetic association between ATP binding cassette proteins and Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

The identification of the epsilon4 variant of apolipoprotein E as a genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) suggests that cholesterol may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Recent studies have suggested that the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein G5 (ABCG5) may be involved in the regulation of intestinal cholesterol absorption. Furthermore, genetic variation of this locus may affect blood cholesterol concentrations.

Influence of aging on the improvement of subjective sleep quality by atypical antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia: comparison of middle-aged and older adults.

Objective: The authors investigated the influence of aging on the improvement of subjective sleep quality by atypical antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Subjects were 86 inpatients (mean age: 61.4 years) who had been receiving treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs and who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia.

Genetic association between matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9 and MMP-3 polymorphisms and Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Recent studies suggested that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) might play an important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). MMP-9 and MMP-3 are reported to degrade amyloid beta and have several functional polymorphisms associated with other common diseases. Four common polymorphisms in each of MMP-9 and MMP-3 were examined in AD cases and normal control individuals.

Effects of changing from typical to atypical antipsychotic drugs on subjective sleep quality in patients with schizophrenia in a Japanese population.

Objective: To investigate the effects of the atypical antipsychotic drugs risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and perospirone on the subjective quality of sleep in patients with schizophrenia.

Method: Subjects were 92 inpatients (mean age = 59.9 years) who had been receiving treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs and who met the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia.

Effect of switching to atypical antipsychotics on memory in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

While the usefulness of atypical antipsychotics for improving cognitive function has been proven, the specific effects of these drugs are still unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate changes of the immediate memory and verbal working memory in patients with chronic schizophrenia after switching to one of four atypical antipsychotic agents and cessation of anticholinergic therapy. The subjects included 77 schizophrenic patients who were treated primarily with typical antipsychotics.

No genetic association between tumour necrosis factor receptor II 196R polymorphism and Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Recent studies have reported that acute effects of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, are limited by binding to a soluble receptor, TNF receptor II, and the G allele at position 196 in exon 6 of the TNF receptor II gene (TNFRII 196R) has been associated with auto-immune diseases. Since complex interactions among cytokines have been suggested around senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease, TNF might be associated with ageing and the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. We examined the TNFRII 196R polymorphism in 243 Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease cases and 106 control cases using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

No genetic association between Fyn kinase gene polymorphisms (-93A/G, IVS10+37T/C and Ex12+894T/G) and Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Several groups have reported that abnormal phosphorylation of tau by Fyn, a protein-tyrosine kinase, may play a role in the neuropathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, three common Japanese polymorphisms of the Fyn gene (-93A/G in the 5'-flanking region, IVS10+37T/C in intron 10 and Ex12+894T/G in the 3'-untranslated region) were studied in 127 healthy controls and 182 sporadic AD cases using a polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method. A comparison of the allelic and genotypic frequencies of these polymorphisms between controls and sporadic AD cases failed to show any significant difference.

Effect of IL-6 polymorphism on risk of Alzheimer disease: genotype-phenotype association study in Japanese cases.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory cytokine might be involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer disease (AD); several studies have reported that the "C allele of IL-6 variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism" (IL-6vntr) delayed initial onset of AD and also decreased its risk per se. Another polymorphism, G/C allele of IL-6 gene promoter region (IL-6prom), is also a candidate because it has an influence on the regulation of plasma IL-6 concentration. We examined these IL-6 polymorphisms in 128 Japanese AD cases and 83 control cases using a PCR-RFLP method.

The effect of IL4 +33C/T polymorphism on risk of Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Interleukin-4 (IL4) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that may play a role in the inflammation pathology observed surrounding senile plaques, and may also associate with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Recently, it has been reported that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the IL4 gene promoter region, IL4 +33C/T polymorphism, associates with its phenotype. It was thought that the IL4 +33C/T polymorphism causing high IL4 production may reduce the risk for AD.

Effect of risperidone on sleep in schizophrenia: a comparison with haloperidol.

The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of the atypical antipsychotic drug, risperidone on sleep measures in patients with schizophrenia by polysomnography. Sleep measures were compared in five schizophrenic patients who were receiving risperidone alone and five schizophrenic patients who were receiving haloperidol alone. There were no differences between these two groups in their demographic characteristics or doses of antipsychotic medication.