| 1. |
- Annerbrink, Kristina, 1974, et al.
(författare)
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Catechol O-methyltransferase val158-met polymorphism is associated with abdominal obesity and blood pressure in men.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Metabolism. - : Elsevier BV. - 0026-0495 .- 1532-8600. ; 57:5, s. 708-711
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) degrades catecholamines and estrogens, both of which are of known importance for cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and hypertension. The gene coding for COMT contains a val158-met polymorphism that exerts a considerable influence on enzymatic activity. We hypothesized that this polymorphism might influence risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Deoxyribonucleic acid samples and data regarding blood pressure and anthropometry were collected from 240 Swedish men, all 51 years old. Subjects homozygous for the low-activity allele (met) displayed higher blood pressure, heart rate, waist-to-hip ratio, and abdominal sagittal diameter as compared with heterozygous subjects, who in turn displayed higher blood pressure, heart rate, waist-to-hip ratio, and abdominal sagittal diameter than subjects homozygous for the high-activity allele (val). All measured variables were significantly correlated; however, the associations between COMT val158-met and cardiovascular variables, and the association between COMT val158-met and anthropometry, respectively, were partly independent of each other, as revealed by multiple linear regression.
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| 2. |
- Bah Rösman, Jessica, 1975, et al.
(författare)
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Serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms: Effect on serotonin transporter availability in the brain of suicide attempters
- 2008
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Ingår i: Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. - : Elsevier BV. - 0925-4927 .- 0165-1781. ; 162:3, s. 221-229
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The efficacy of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in depression and anxiety disorders suggests the gene coding for the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), SLC6A4, as a candidate of importance for these conditions. Positive findings regarding associations between polymorphisms in SLC6A4 have been reported, indicating that these polymorphisms may influence anxiety-related personality traits, as well as the risk of developing depression and suicidality. Serotonin 5-HTT availability was assessed with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), using I-123-beta-CIT as ligand, in a population of unmedicated male suicide attempters (n=9) and in matched controls (n=9). Two polymorphisms in SLC6A4 were assessed, including the 5-HTTLPR located in the promoter region and a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in intron 2 (STin2). In suicide attempters, but not in controls, low 5-HTT availability was associated with the S allele of 5-HTTLPR and with the 12 repeat allele of STin2. Data suggest that polymorphisms in SLC6A4 may influence the expression of the brain serotonin transporter in suicide attempters.
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| 3. |
- Eriksson, Elias, 1956, et al.
(författare)
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Escitalopram Administered in the Luteal Phase Exerts a Marked and Dose-Dependent Effect in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of clinical psychopharmacology. - 0271-0749. ; 28:2, s. 195-202
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This is the first placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), escitalopram, in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Women with PMDD (intention-to-treat population, n = 151) were treated intermittently for 3 months, during luteal phases only, with 10 mg/d escitalopram, 20 mg/d escitalopram, or placebo. Escitalopram was found to exert a marked and a dose-dependent symptom-reducing effect, 20 mg/d being clearly superior to 10 mg/d. Although the primary outcome parameter, that is, the sum of the symptoms irritability, depressed mood, tension, and affective lability, was decreased by 90% with 20 mg/d escitalopram, the effect of active treatment on breast tenderness, food craving, and lack of energy was more modest and not significantly different from that of placebo; this outcome supports our previous assumption that the former symptoms are more inclined to respond to intermittent administration of an SSRI than are the latter. Although the placebo response was high, the difference between the placebo group and the 20-mg/d escitalopram group with respect to the percentage of subjects displaying 80% or greater reduction in the rating of the cardinal symptom of PMDD, that is, irritability, was considerable: 30% versus 80%. Adverse events were those normally reported in SSRI trials, such as nausea and reduced libido, and were not more common in patients given 20 mg/d of escitalopram than in patients given the lower dose. This study supports the usefulness of escitalopram for the treatment of PMDD and sheds further light on how different components of this syndrome are differently influenced by intermittent administration of an SSRI.
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| 4. |
- Eriksson, Elias, 1956
(författare)
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Premenstrual syndrome: A case of serotonin
- 2008
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Ingår i: The Premenstrual syndromes. - London : Informa Health Care. ; , s. 21-26
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 5. |
- Furmark, Tomas, et al.
(författare)
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A link between serotonin-related gene polymorphisms, amygdala activity, and placebo-induced relief from social anxiety
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroscience. - 0270-6474 .- 1529-2401. ; 28:49, s. 13066-74
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Placebo may yield beneficial effects that are indistinguishable from those of active medication, but the factors underlying proneness to respond to placebo are widely unknown. Here, we used functional neuroimaging to examine neural correlates of anxiety reduction resulting from sustained placebo treatment under randomized double-blind conditions, in patients with social anxiety disorder. Brain activity was assessed during a stressful public speaking task by means of positron emission tomography before and after an 8 week treatment period. Patients were genotyped with respect to the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the G-703T polymorphism in the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) gene promoter. Results showed that placebo response was accompanied by reduced stress-related activity in the amygdala, a brain region crucial for emotional processing. However, attenuated amygdala activity was demonstrable only in subjects who were homozygous for the long allele of the 5-HTTLPR or the G variant of the TPH2 G-703T polymorphism, and not in carriers of short or T alleles. Moreover, the TPH2 polymorphism was a significant predictor of clinical placebo response, homozygosity for the G allele being associated with greater improvement in anxiety symptoms. Path analysis supported that the genetic effect on symptomatic improvement with placebo is mediated by its effect on amygdala activity. Hence, our study shows, for the first time, evidence of a link between genetically controlled serotonergic modulation of amygdala activity and placebo-induced anxiety relief.
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| 6. |
- Suchankova, Petra, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Associations between personality traits and polymorphisms in genes related to inflammation in women
- 2008
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Ingår i: XVIth World Congress on Psychiatric Genetics.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Both inflammation and certain personality traits have been associated with depression; however, studies regarding the relationship between inflammation and general brain functions are not numerous. The present study investigates two single nucleotide polymorphisms located in genes that are associated with inflammation with regards to personality traits in 270 women recruited from the population registry. These women were assessed by means of Karolinska Scale of Personality, a self-reported inventory. The first polymorphism, +1444C>T (rs1130864), is located in the gene coding for C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of low-grade inflammation, and has previously been linked to raised serum levels of high-sensitivity CRP. The second polymorphism, Y402H (rs1061170), is located in the gene coding for complement factor H (CFH), an important regulator of the complement system. CRP binds to CFH and thereby augments the ability of CFH to down regulate the alternative pathway of complement. The 402H allele has consistently been associated with age-related macular degeneration and was recently linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The +1444T allele was significantly associated with higher scores in the personality traits impulsiveness, monotony avoidance and social desirability (p<0.001, p=0.004 and p=0.012, respectively). The 402H polymorphism was significantly associated with higher levels of the personality trait verbal aggression (p=0.002). In conclusion, the association between the studied CRP and CFH polymorphisms and personality traits further supports the possible involvement of the immune system in mental functions.
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| 7. |
- Suchankova, Petra, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Associations between personality traits and polymorphisms in genes related to inflammation in women
- 2008
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Ingår i: 49th Annual meeting of the Scandinavian College of Neuro-Psychopharmacology.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Both inflammation and certain personality traits have been associated with depression; however, the mechanisms underlying these connections are unknown. The present study investigates two single nucleotide polymorphisms located in genes that are associated with inflammation with regards to personality traits in order to examine the possible involvement of inflammation in general brain functions. The first polymorphism, +1444C>T (rs1130864), is located in the gene coding for C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of low-grade inflammation, and has previously been linked to raised serum levels of high-sensitivity CRP. The second polymorphism, Y402H (rs1061170), is located in the gene coding for complement factor H (CFH), an important regulator of the complement system. CRP binds to CFH and thereby augments the ability of CFH to down regulate the alternative pathway of complement. The 402H allele has consistently been associated with age-related macular degeneration and was recently linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The population consisted of 270 women recruited from the population registry. These women were assessed by means of Karolinska Scale of Personality, a self-reported inventory. The +1444T allele was significantly associated with higher scores in the personality traits impulsiveness, monotony avoidance and social desirability (p=0.0016, p=0.016 and p=0.048, respectively). The 402H polymorphism was significantly associated with higher levels of the personality trait verbal aggression (p=0.008). In conclusion, the association between the studied CRP and CFH polymorphisms and personality traits further supports the association between the immune system and mental functions.
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| 8. |
- Walum, Hasse, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic variation in the vasopressin receptor 1a gene (AVPR1A) associates with pair-bonding behavior in humans.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 1091-6490. ; 105:37, s. 14153-14156
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pair-bonding has been suggested to be a critical factor in the evolutionary development of the social brain. The brain neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) exerts an important influence on pair-bonding behavior in voles. There is a strong association between a polymorphic repeat sequence in the 5' flanking region of the gene (avpr1a) encoding one of the AVP receptor subtypes (V1aR), and proneness for monogamous behavior in males of this species. It is not yet known whether similar mechanisms are important also for human pair-bonding. Here, we report an association between one of the human AVPR1A repeat polymorphisms (RS3) and traits reflecting pair-bonding behavior in men, including partner bonding, perceived marital problems, and marital status, and show that the RS3 genotype of the males also affects marital quality as perceived by their spouses. These results suggest an association between a single gene and pair-bonding behavior in humans, and indicate that the well characterized influence of AVP on pair-bonding in voles may be of relevance also for humans.
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| 9. |
- Westberg, Lars, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Sex steroid-related candidate genes in psychiatric disorders.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN. - 1488-2434. ; 33:4, s. 319-30
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sex steroids readily pass the blood-brain barrier, and receptors for them are abundant in brain areas important for the regulation of emotions, cognition and behaviour. Animal experiments have revealed both important early effects of these hormones on brain development and their ongoing influence on brain morphology and neurotransmission in the adult organism. The important effects of sex steroids on human behaviour are illustrated by, for example, the effect of reduced levels of these hormones on sexual drive and conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, perimenopausal dysphoria, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, dysphoria induced by oral contraceptives or hormonal replacement therapy and anabolic steroid-induced aggression. The fact that men and women (as groups) differ with respect to the prevalence of several psychiatric disorders, certain aspects of cognitive function and certain personality traits may possibly also reflect an influence of sex steroids on human behaviour. The heritability of most behavioural traits, including personality, cognitive abilities and susceptibility to psychiatric illness, is considerable, but as yet, only few genes of definite importance in this context have been identified. Given the important role of sex steroids for brain function, it is unfortunate that relatively few studies so far have addressed the possible influence of sex steroid-related genes on interindividual differences with respect to personality, cognition and susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. To facilitate further research in this area, this review provides information on several such genes and summarizes what is currently known with respect to their possible influence on brain function.
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| 10. |
- Yonkers, Kimberly Ann, et al.
(författare)
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Premenstrual syndrome.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Lancet. - 1474-547X. ; 371:9619, s. 1200-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most women of reproductive age have some physical discomfort or dysphoria in the weeks before menstruation. Symptoms are often mild, but can be severe enough to substantially affect daily activities. About 5-8% of women thus suffer from severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS); most of these women also meet criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Mood and behavioural symptoms, including irritability, tension, depressed mood, tearfulness, and mood swings, are the most distressing, but somatic complaints, such as breast tenderness and bloating, can also be problematic. We outline theories for the underlying causes of severe PMS, and describe two main methods of treating it: one targeting the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis, and the other targeting brain serotonergic synapses. Fluctuations in gonadal hormone levels trigger the symptoms, and thus interventions that abolish ovarian cyclicity, including long-acting analogues of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or oestradiol (administered as patches or implants), effectively reduce the symptoms, as can some oral contraceptives. The effectiveness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors, taken throughout the cycle or during luteal phases only, is also well established.
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