Association study between genetic variants at the VAMP2 and VAMP3 loci and bipolar affective disorder.

Objectives: Vesicle-associated membrane proteins 2 and 3 (VAMP2 and VAMP3) are required for the release of D-serine, a competitive agonist of the neurotransmitter glycine at the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Several lines of evidence point to an involvement of altered D-serine levels in the central nervous system in the aetiology of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Strong association findings between BPAD and two genes, G72 and DAAO, which are involved in the enzymatic degradation of D-serine, are reported.

Accelerated membrane-assisted clean-up as a tool for the clean-up of extracts from biological tissues.

Accelerated membrane-assisted clean-up (AMAC) is a new technique to purify lipid-rich extracts of biota samples. It combines a separation of organic analytes and lipid-like matrix components using a semi-permeable membrane with the technical options provided by a Dionex ASE device which was developed for pressurized liquid extraction (PLE; Dionex trade name ASE for accelerated solvent extraction). The ASE device automates the procedure.

Efficiency of adjuvant active specific immunization with Newcastle disease virus modified tumor cells in colorectal cancer patients following resection of liver metastases: results of a prospective randomized trial.

Purpose: Metastatic disease is a major cause of mortality in colorectal cancer patients. Even after complete resection of isolated liver metastases, recurrence develops in the majority of patients. Therefore, development of strategies to prevent recurrent liver metastases is of major clinical importance.

Brief report: no association between premorbid adjustment in adult-onset schizophrenia and genetic variation in Dysbindin.

Whereas Dysbindin is considered a schizophrenia vulnerability gene, there is no consistency of findings. Phenotype refinement approaches may help to increase the genetic homogeneity and thus reconcile conflicting results. Premorbid adjustment (PMA) has been suggested to aid the phenotypic dissection.

G72 and its association with major depression and neuroticism in large population-based groups from Germany.

Objective: G72 is among the most frequently replicated vulnerability genes for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The authors previously found identical haplotypes of markers M23 and M24 to be associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder. Given both the well-recognized familial clustering across these disorders and recent linkage findings implicating the region harboring G72 in the etiology of major depression and panic disorder, we can hypothesize that G72 should also be involved in the etiology of major depression.

The risk of altering soil and sediment samples upon extract preparation for analytical and bio-analytical investigations--a review.

Organic total extracts play an important role in soil and sediment risk assessment. Beside a routine application in analytical chemistry, they are used in bio-analytical investigations as a "worst-case scenario" or, e.g.

Direct link between low-temperature magnetism and high-temperature sodium order in NaxCoO2.

We prove the direct link between low-temperature (T) magnetism and high-T Na+ ordering in NaxCoO2 using the example of a so far unreported magnetic transition at 8 K which involves a weak ferromagnetic moment. The 8 K feature is characterized in detail and its dependence on a diffusive Na+ rearrangement around 200 K is demonstrated. Applying muons as local probes this process is shown to result in a reversible phase separation into distinct magnetic phases that can be controlled by specific cooling protocols.

How to confirm identified toxicants in effect-directed analysis.

Due to the production and use of a multitude of chemicals in modern society, waters, sediments, soils and biota may be contaminated with numerous known and unknown chemicals that may cause adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. Effect-directed analysis (EDA), combining biotesting, fractionation and chemical analysis, helps to identify hazardous compounds in complex environmental mixtures. Confirmation of tentatively identified toxicants will help to avoid artefacts and to establish reliable cause-effect relationships.

Genetic variation of the FAT gene at 4q35 is associated with bipolar affective disorder.

A recent study suggested that the cadherin gene FAT exerts an influence on susceptibility to bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). We aimed to replicate this finding in a German sample (425 BPAD I and 419 controls). In addition, we performed a comprehensive linkage disequilibrium mapping of the whole genomic region of FAT and the neighboring circadian gene MTNR1A (48 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering 191 kb).

The first genomewide interaction and locus-heterogeneity linkage scan in bipolar affective disorder: strong evidence of epistatic effects between loci on chromosomes 2q and 6q.

We present the first genomewide interaction and locus-heterogeneity linkage scan in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), using a large linkage data set (52 families of European descent; 448 participants and 259 affected individuals). Our results provide the strongest interaction evidence between BPAD genes on chromosomes 2q22-q24 and 6q23-q24, which was observed symmetrically in both directions (nonparametric LOD [NPL] scores of 7.55 on 2q and 7.

Integrated use of 4-Poster passive topical treatment devices for deer, targeted acaricide applications, and Maxforce TMS bait boxes to rapidly suppress populations of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in a residential landscape.

In fall 2003, we began testing an integrated control strategy to rapidly achieve and sustain reduced numbers of Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) in a residential area. We combined two host-targeted technologies in conjunction with single, barrier acaricide applications to sequentially attack each postembryonic life stage of the tick. Granular deltamethrin applied to the lawn-forest interface of participant properties resulted in 100% control of host-seeking nymphs.

Effects of reduced deer density on the abundance of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) and Lyme disease incidence in a northern New Jersey endemic area.

We monitored the abundance of Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) and the Lyme disease incidence rate after the incremental removal of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann, within a suburban residential area to determine whether there was a measurable decrease in the abundance of ticks due to deer removal and whether the reduction in ticks resulted in a reduction in the incidence rate within the human population. After three seasons, the estimated deer population was reduced by 46.7%, from the 2002 postfawning estimate of 2,899 deer (45.

Brain-specific tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2): a functional Pro206Ser substitution and variation in the 5'-region are associated with bipolar affective disorder.

The neurotransmitter serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] controls a broad range of biological functions that are disturbed in affective disorder. In the brain, 5-HT production is controlled by tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2). In order to assess the possible contribution of TPH2 genetic variability to the aetiology of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), we systematically investigated common and rare genetic variation in the TPH2 gene through a sequential sequencing and SNP-based genotyping approach.

Possible association between genetic variants at the GRIN1 gene and schizophrenia with lifetime history of depressive symptoms in a German sample.

Genetic variation in glutamatergic signalling pathways is believed to play a substantial role in the aetiology of schizophrenia. The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit gene GRIN1 has been proposed as a candidate gene for schizophrenia. We tested for a potential association between schizophrenia and four single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4880213, rs11146020, rs6293, and rs10747050) and one microsatellite marker at GRIN1 in a German sample of 354 patients and 323 controls.

The bipolar disorder phenome database: a resource for genetic studies.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assemble and validate a database of phenotypic variables that were collected from families with bipolar disorder as a resource for genetic and other biological studies.

Method: Participants were ascertained for two bipolar disorder genetic linkage studies: the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Intramural Program (CHIP) Collaboration and the NIMH Genetics Initiative project. All participants underwent detailed, phenotypic assessment with either the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version or one of four versions of the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies.

Reduction of the internal capsule in families affected with schizophrenia.

Background: The anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), connecting cortical and subcortical structures, is involved in functional important circuits. To detect volumetric changes in ALIC, including the influence of genetic factors, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of families affected with schizophrenia was performed.

Methods: The study sample comprised 22 family members with schizophrenia (FM-SZ), 34 family members without schizophrenia (FM-NSZ), and 43 control subjects.

Mitochondrial DNA HV lineage increases the susceptibility to schizophrenia among Israeli Arabs.

Haplotypes and haplogroups are linked sets of common DNA variants, acting as susceptibility or protective factors to complex disorders. Growing evidence suggests that dysfunction of mitochondrial bioenergetics contributes to the schizophrenia phenotype. We studied mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in schizophrenia patients.

A genome-wide association study implicates diacylglycerol kinase eta (DGKH) and several other genes in the etiology of bipolar disorder.

The genetic basis of bipolar disorder has long been thought to be complex, with the potential involvement of multiple genes, but methods to analyze populations with respect to this complexity have only recently become available. We have carried out a genome-wide association study of bipolar disorder by genotyping over 550,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two independent case-control samples of European origin. The initial association screen was performed using pooled DNA, and selected SNPs were confirmed by individual genotyping.

Interacting effects of the dopamine transporter gene and psychosocial adversity on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms among 15-year-olds from a high-risk community sample.

Context: Recent evidence suggests that gene x environment interactions could explain the inconsistent findings of association studies relating the dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Objective: To examine whether psychosocial adversity moderated the effect of genetic variation in DAT1 on ADHD symptoms in adolescents from a high-risk community sample.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Premorbid adjustment in schizophrenia--an important aspect of phenotype definition.

Unlabelled: Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder, and early signs of disorder such as poor premorbid adjustment (PMA) are often present before the onset of diagnosable illness. Differences in PMA between patients may be suggestive of differing aetiological pathways. Poor PMA in schizophrenia has repeatedly been reported to be associated with male sex, earlier age at onset, illness severity, negative symptoms, and poor outcome.

No evidence for an association between variants at the gamma-amino-n-butyric acid type A receptor beta2 locus and schizophrenia.

The alpha1/beta2/gamma2-containing heteropentamer is the most abundant gamma-amino-n-butyric acid type A receptor subtype in mammalian brains and the corresponding genes, the GABRA1, GABRB2, and GABRG2 genes, are located in chromosomal region 5q34 that several genome wide scans have implicated as a susceptibility region for schizophrenia. Given this positional and functional evidence, Lo et al. (Mol Psychiatry 2004; 9: 603-608) performed systematic linkage disequilibrium mapping of the GABAAR gene cluster on 5q34 in 130 schizophrenic patients and 170 controls, all of Chinese Han origin.