Association between disease severity according to "MN criteria" and 30-day mortality in patients with Clostridioides difficile infection.

Introduction: A rapid membrane enzyme immunoassays (EIA) are frequently used to diagnose Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). If EIA does not provide a definitive CDI diagnosis, whether treatment with anti-CD agents is to be performed depends on the pathogenesis and severity of the disease. In Japan, "MN criteria" have been proposed for the classification of disease severity.

Bcl1 polymorphism of the glucocorticoid receptor gene and treatment response to milnacipran and fluvoxamine in Japanese patients with depression.

Background: Polymorphisms in the glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) have been widely studied with rather less emphasis on relating their differences with possible pharmacological treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Bcl1 polymorphisms of GRs are associated with the antidepressant effect of milnacipran, a serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), and fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), in Japanese patients with depression.

Methods: Patients were prescribed either milnacipran (n = 98) or fluvoxamine (n = 95).

Relationship of the 24-item dysfunctional attitude scale with the temperament and character inventory in healthy subjects.

Background: The 24-item Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-24) has three subscales to evaluate dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression in the areas of achievement, dependency and self-control.

Aim: The purpose of the present investigation was to characterize the three subscales in relation to broad dimensions of personality.

Methods: The subjects were 528 healthy Japanese volunteers.

Interaction effect between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and parental rearing for interpersonal sensitivity in healthy subjects.

Interpersonal sensitivity is defined as undue and excessive awareness of, and sensitivity to, the behaviour and feelings of others and is one of the vulnerable factors to depression. In a twin study, it was suggested that this personality trait was characterised by both genetic and environmental factors. In the present study, we examined the effects of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and parental rearing on interpersonal sensitivity in 725 healthy Japanese subjects.

Interpersonal sensitivity is correlated with sociotropy but not with autonomy in healthy subjects.

Interpersonal sensitivity is a depression-prone personality trait closely related to anxious attachment, whereas sociotropy and autonomy are personality vulnerability factors in the cognitive theory of depression. In the present study, the relationships of interpersonal sensitivity with sociotropy and autonomy were studied in 362 healthy subjects. Interpersonal sensitivity was assessed using the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM), whereas sociotropy and autonomy were evaluated using the Sociotropy and Autonomy subscales, respectively, of the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale.

Parental overprotection increases sociotropy with gender specificity in parents and recipients.

Background: There have been few studies which examined the developmental origins of cognitive vulnerability of depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of parental rearing on sociotropy and autonomy, the personality vulnerability factors in the cognitive theory of depression.

Methods: The subjects were 416 healthy subjects.

Genetic polymorphisms in the serotonergic system and symptom clusters of major depressive disorder.

Background: It has been suggested that the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) are composed of some clusters, which are linked to distinct genetic mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of genetic polymorphisms in the serotonergic system with three factors of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), i.e.

Functional polymorphism of the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 gene affects the personality trait of novelty seeking in healthy subjects.

GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, which is an essential cofactor for biosynthetic enzymes of dopamine, serotonin, and nitric oxide. In the present study, the association of functional polymorphism of the GCH1 gene (C+243T, rs841) with personality traits was examined in 902 healthy Japanese subjects. Personality traits were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the GCH1 genotype was detected by a PCR-RFLP method.

Relationships of sociotropy and autonomy with dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory in healthy subjects.

The relationships of sociotropy and autonomy, the 2 personality traits postulated as vulnerability factors for depression, with 7 dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory, a comprehensive measure of personality, were studied in 305 healthy subjects. Sociotropy and autonomy were assessed by the sociotropy and autonomy subscales, respectively, of the original 60-item Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale. In multiple regression analysis, sociotropy was significantly correlated with higher harm avoidance, reward dependence (RD), and self-transcendence (ST), and lower self-directedness; and the correlation was strongest with higher RD (β = 0.

Association study between a functional polymorphism of FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5) gene and personality traits in healthy subjects.

Previous studies have shown that the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is involved in the characterization of personality traits. FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51 or FKBP5) is a co-chaperone of heat-shock protein 90, and plays an important role in the negative feedback regulation of HPA axis function. It has been reported that a C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in the intron 2 of FKBP5 gene (rs1360780) affects FKBP5 protein levels and cortisol response to dexamethasone and psychological stress tests.

Efficacy of milnacipran in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes.

Abstract Eleven outpatients with chronic pain syndromes other than fibromyalgia were treated for 12 weeks with milnacipran, a novel serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. The agent was administered at 50-150 mg/day, and the mean ± SD dose at 12 weeks or at the time drug treatment was stopped was 84.1 ± 32.

Dysfunctional parenting styles increase interpersonal sensitivity in healthy subjects.

The effects of dysfunctional parenting styles on interpersonal sensitivity were studied in 640 Japanese volunteers. Interpersonal sensitivity was assessed by the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM), and perceived parental rearing was evaluated by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which is consisted of care and protection factors. Parental rearing was classified into 4 types, i.

Association study between a functional polymorphism of tyrosine hydroxylase gene promoter and personality traits in healthy subjects.

According to the Cloninger's theory, personality consists of temperaments, which are automatic emotional reactions and habits, and characters, which are the self-concepts about goals and values. It has been suggested that temperaments are highly heritable and related to catecholaminergic neurotransmission. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamines such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which are deeply involved in human mental functions and behaviors.

Influence of serotonergic/noradrenergic gene polymorphisms on nausea and sweating induced by milnacipran in the treatment of depression.

The present study was conducted to find out the predictors of side effects such as nausea and excessive sweating induced by milnacipran, a serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Both clinical characteristics prior to the treatment and gene polymorphisms such as serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), a variable number of tandem repeats in the second intron of the 5-HTT gene (5-HTTVNTR), 5-HT2A receptor gene (5-HT2A G-1438A), a TPH gene polymorphism in intron 7 (TPH A218C), norepinephrine transporter (NET) gene polymorphism in the promoter region (NET T-182C) and in the exon 9 (NET G1287A), a variable number of tandem repeats in the promoter region of monoamine oxidase A, were items to be assessed in this study. Ninety-six patients with major depressive disorder were treated with milnacipran.

Effect of the cytochrome P450 19 (aromatase) gene polymorphism on personality traits in healthy subjects.

There have been several studies showing the relationship between sex hormones and personality traits. Cytochrome P450 19 (CYP 19, aromatase) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the conversion of androgens into estrogens, and it has been reported that the C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of CYP19 gene (rs10046) affects dispositions of estradiol and testosterone. Therefore, it is hypothesized that this polymorphism affects personality traits.

Association study between the -1021C/T polymorphism of the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase gene promoter and personality traits in healthy subjects.

Dopamine and norepinephrine are implicated in the characterization of personality traits. Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) is the enzyme responsible for conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine, and thus plays an important role in controlling dispositions of these neurotransmitters. Previous studies have shown that the -1021C/T polymorphism of the DBH gene promoter influences plasma DBH activity.

Differential clinical effects of fluvoxamine by the effect of age in Japanese female major depressive patients.

The effects of gender differences and age on the treatment response to fluvoxamine were investigated in major depressive Japanese patients. A total of 100 Japanese patients participated in this study. The daily dose of fluvoxamine was fixed to 100, 150 or 200 mg in the fourth week.

The -67 A/T promoter polymorphism in the dopamine transporter gene affects personality traits of Japanese healthy females.

Dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a major role in terminating dopamine neurotransmission, which may be involved in the characterization of personality traits. Recently, polymorphisms of the promoter region (-67 A/T) and intron 8 (40-bp variable number of tandem repeats, VNTRs) in the DAT gene were reported to affect DAT expression. In the present study, we examined the associations of these polymorphisms with personality traits in 654 healthy Japanese.

Increased body mass index associated with increased harm avoidance and decreased self-directedness in Japanese women.

Previous studies have suggested that body mass index (BMI) is related to personality traits, and that there may be gender specificity in this relationship. In the present study, the association between BMI and the 7 dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory was investigated in 567 Japanese healthy volunteers, with special attention on gender effects. Height and weight were self-reported, and BMI was calculated from these values.

Effect of month of birth on personality traits of healthy Japanese.

The effect of month of birth on personality traits was investigated in 595 healthy Japanese. Personality traits were evaluated by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Statistical analyses were conducted in two steps.

Parental overprotection increases interpersonal sensitivity in healthy subjects.

The effect of parental rearing on interpersonal sensitivity was studied in 469 Japanese volunteers. Perceived parental rearing was assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument, which consists of the factors of care and protection, and interpersonal sensitivity was measured by the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM). In male subjects, higher IPSM scores were related to higher scores of paternal protection (P < .

Association study of the cytochrome P450 17 gene polymorphism with personality traits in healthy subjects.

There have been several studies suggesting that sex hormones are involved in characterization of human mental function and behaviour. Recently, it has been reported that the -34T/C polymorphism of cytochrome P450 17 (CYP17) gene affects sex hormone dispositions. Therefore, it is possible that the CYP17 -34T/C polymorphism affects personality traits.

Predictors of antidepressant response to fluvoxamine obtained using the three-factor structures of the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale for major depressive disorders in Japanese patients.

Aims: Fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is widely used to treat major depression. However, the symptomatological predictors of the response to fluvoxamine have not been studied.

Methods: This study included 100 Japanese patients who fulfilled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV criteria for the diagnosis of major depressive disorders and whose score on the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was 21 or higher.