Genome-wide association analysis reveals potential genetic correlation and causality between circulating inflammatory proteins and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease, continues to elude complete comprehension of its pathological underpinnings. Recent focus on inflammation in ALS pathogenesis prompts this investigation into the genetic correlation and potential causal relationships between circulating inflammatory proteins and ALS.

Methods: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data encompassing 91 circulating inflammatory protein measures from 14,824 individuals of European ancestry, alongside records from 27,205 ALS cases and 110,881 controls, were employed.

Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis of 91 circulating inflammatory protein levels and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with poorly understood pathophysiology. Recent studies have highlighted systemic inflammation, especially the role of circulating inflammatory proteins, in ALS.

Methods: This study investigates the potential causal link between these proteins and ALS.

Peripheral Interleukin-18 is negatively correlated with abnormal brain activity in patients with depression: a resting-state fMRI study.

Background: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) may participate in the development of major depressive disorder, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether IL-18 correlates with areas of the brain associated with depression.

Methods: Using a case-control design, 68 subjects (34 patients and 34 healthy controls) underwent clinical assessment, blood sampling, and resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

A Combined Analysis of Genetically Correlated Traits Identifies Genes and Brain Regions for Insomnia.

Aims: Previous studies have inferred that there is a strong genetic component in insomnia. However, the etiology of insomnia is still unclear. This study systematically analyzed multiple genome-wide association study (GWAS) data sets with core human pathways and functional networks to detect potential gene pathways and networks associated with insomnia.

Plasma neuropeptides as circulating biomarkers of multifactorial schizophrenia.

Background: Promising biomarkers would be used to improve the determination of diagnosis and severity, as well as the prediction of symptomatic and functional outcomes of schizophrenia.

Basic Procedures: In this study, we used three different mouse models induced by a genetic factor (PV-Cre; ErbB4, G group), an environmental stressor (adolescent social isolation, G group), and a combination of genetic factor and environmental stressor (PV-Cre; ErbB4 mice with isolation, G × E group). Attenuated PPI (%) confirmed the successful establishment of three schizophrenia-like mouse models.

Systematic genetic analyses of GWAS data reveal an association between the immune system and insomnia.

Background: Previous studies have inferred a strong genetic component for insomnia. However, the etiology of insomnia is still unclear. The aim of the current study was to explore potential biological pathways, gene networks, and brain regions associated with insomnia.

Systematic genetic analyses of genome-wide association study data reveal an association between the key nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex and bipolar disorder development.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) are used to identify genetic variants for association with bipolar disorder (BD) risk; however, each GWAS can only reveal a small fraction of this association. This study systematically analyzed multiple GWAS data sets to provide further insights into potential causal BD processes by integrating the results of Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Phase I (PGC-I) for BD with core human pathways and functional networks.

Methods: The i-Gsea4GwasV2 program was used to analyze data from the PGC-I GWAS for BD (the pathways came from Reactome), as well as the nominally significant pathways.

[Association of Val66Met polymorphism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene with cognitive impairment and clinical symptoms in first episode schizophrenia].

Objective: To assess the association of cognitive impairment and clinical symptoms in first-episode schizophrenia with the Val66Met (rs6265) polymorphism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene.

Methods: For 87 patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 76 healthy controls, the Val66Met polymorphism was determined with a Taqman Assay-on-Demand method. Wechsler intelligence test was carried out for all participants.

[Pathway-focused correlation study of genome-wide methylation status with visual memory].

OBJECTIVE To explore the biological processes and pathways associated with memory function which may be regulated by gene promoter methylation. METHODS The genome-wide promoter methylation statuses in 9 healthy individuals were analyzed with a Multiplex HG18 CpG Promoter chip. Genes with promoter methylation statuses strongly correlated with both immediate and delayed visual memory function were preceded for pathway and physical interactions analysis.

[Association of gender, age, education and polymorphism of DRD4 gene with cognitive functions in adults].

Objective: To assess the association of cognitive functions with gender, age, education and polymorphism of dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene in healthy adults.

Methods: Four hundred and fifty-five healthy participants have completed 3 cognitive function tests including Tower of Hanoi (TOH), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Trail Making Test (TMT). Peripheral blood samples were collected from all participants, and genomic DNA was extracted according to a standard phenol-chloroform procedure.

[Regulation of PI3K-Akt-GSK3β signaling pathway in U251 cells by risperidone].

Objective: To investigate the effect of risperidone, an antipsychotic drug, on the Akt-GSK3β pathway and the role of PI3K in dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) expression and Akt-GSK3β signal pathway.

Methods: Human glioma cells (U251) were cultured in vitro. Cells without any treatment as control, Western blotting was used for measuring the expression of Akt (Thr308 and Ser473) and GSK3β (Ser9) protein phosphorylation by risperidone and LY294002 in U251 cell, and real-time PCR was used for detecting the expression of DRD2 mRNA.

[Lack of association of COMT Val158Met polymorphism with attention and executive function in patients with schizophrenia].

Objective: To explore the association of a functional polymorphism Val158Met of COMT gene and attention and executive function in first-episode treatment-naive patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

Methods: Trail making test (TMT) and clinical performances were evaluated in 103 first-episode treatment-naive patients with schizophrenia and 99 healthy controls. Polymorphism of COMT Val158Met was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Properties of extracellular matrix-like scaffolds for the growth and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells.

Background: To provide a new strategy for constructing small vascular graft, the survival conditions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which were seeded on two different groups of extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds were studied in vitro.

Materials And Methods: The scaffold was made with a mixture of fibrinogen, fibronectin, and laminin, which solidified to form unpressed structure. A 1N force could make it to be pressed.