Seasonality associated with the serotonin 2A receptor -1438 A/G polymorphism.

Background: Seasonal affective disorder and seasonal rhythms in mood and behavior (seasonality) have been reported to be associated with serotonergic system. In this study we investigated the relationship between the serotonin 2A receptor (5HTR2A) -1438 A/G polymorphism and seasonal variation in a young Korean healthy population.

Methods: 297 young Korean medical students were recruited for this study.

G-protein beta3 subunit C825T polymorphism tends to be associated with seasonal variation in young male college students.

This study investigated the relationship between G-protein beta(3) subunit (GNB3) C825T polymorphism and seasonal variation in 189 young male college students. The subjects were genotyped for C825T and were evaluated by the Seasonality Pattern Assessment Questionnaire. The Global Seasonality Score (GSS) between the three genotypes revealed a marginal difference.

Reduced cortical gray matter density in human MDMA (Ecstasy) users: a voxel-based morphometry study.

The popular recreational drug, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) exerts its actions in part via blockade of serotonin and dopamine reuptake. Many animal and human studies have demonstrated long-lasting reductions in measures of central nervous system (CNS) serotonin function following MDMA administration. One emerging role of serotonin function in the CNS is a positive trophic effect via stimulation of intracellular signaling pathways and trophic factors.

Multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of high-energy phosphate metabolites in human brain following oral supplementation of creatine-monohydrate.

Alterations in brain high-energy phosphate metabolism, determined by in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), have been reported in subjects with a number of brain disorders including major depression, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. It is not clear to what extent these changes can be modified by pharmacological or nutritional means. To address this possibility, we evaluated changes in brain chemistry that were associated with oral creatine (Cr) administration.

Reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Temperament and Character Inventory.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), a self-report questionnaire based on Cloninger's biosocial model of personality. The TCI was translated into Korean and administered to 851 Korean college students. A test-retest study of the TCI was conducted across a 3-month interval with 130 subjects.