Interaction between HFE and haptoglobin polymorphisms and its relation with plasma glutathione levels in obese children.

Obesity among children has emerged as a serious public health problem. The growing prevalence of childhood obesity has led to the appearance of serious complications, including a chronic systemic inflammation associated with oxidative stress.  In the present study, we analysed the interaction between two genes related with iron metabolism - HFE and haptoglobin - and the plasmatic concentration of glutathione, as a way to evaluate the antioxidant response capacity in obesity.

The role of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in alcohol craving experience.

The way in which genetic risk mediates the development of craving in alcohol dependence is still relatively unknown. The authors sought to clarify the extent to which alcohol craving could be predicted by a relevant polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene encoding the 5-HT transporter (5-HTTLPR). A sample of 101 alcohol-dependent patients admitted for alcohol treatment was recruited for the study.

Neuropsychological function and platelet monoamine oxidase activity levels in type I alcoholic patients.

Aims: To explore neuropsychological function in two differentiated patterns of platelet monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) activity in alcoholic patients.

Methods: Neuropsychological examination and platelet MAO B activity extracted from blood were collected from 42 alcohol-dependent patients recruited in the alcoholism unit (NETER) of the Psychiatric Service of Santa Maria University Hospital.

Results: Alcoholics presented significantly low levels of platelet MAO B activity, when compared with control subjects; platelet MAO B activity in alcoholics classified as "under average subgroup" showed significant lower scores in the Raven Progressive Matrix and higher scores in hostility dimension, when compared with platelet MAO B activity in "above average subgroup.