Association of serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and major depressive disorder in Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND： Serotonin transporter （5-HTT） polymorphisms comprise 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphism region （5-HTTLPR） and variable number of tandem repeats （VNTR）. Studies have revealed an association between 5-HTT polymorphism and major depressive disorder, which suggests that the ＂S＂ allele of 5-HTTLPR and Stin2.9 of 5-HTTVNTR are associated with major depressive disorder. However, there are a number of studies that do not support the 5-HTT polymorphism effect in major depressive disorder. OBJECTIVE： To study the relationship between 5-HTT gene polymorphism and major depressive disorder in Chinese Han population. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Case-controlled study of 5-HTT gene polymorphism. The experiment was performed at the Central Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, China from March 2005 to January 2006. PARTICIPANTS： A total of 99 depressive patients of Chinese Han nationality were recruited for this study. All patients met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and had a total score of Hamilton Depression Scale （24 items） ≥21 points. In addition, 101 healthy subjects, matched for age and gender, served as the control group. METHODS： Venous blood was collected from all subjects. 5-HTT genotypes and alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction. Consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the association between 5-HTT gene polymorphism and major depressive disorder were analyzed by Chi-square test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： 5-HTTLPR and 5-HTTVNTR genotypes and allele frequencies were measured. RESULTS： No significant differences in 5-HTTLPR genotypes and allele frequencies were determined between patients and controls （P 〉 0.05）. However, significant differences in 5-HTTVNTR genotypes and allele frequencies were detected （P 〈 0.01 ）. The Stin2.10 allele and 10/10 genotype associated with major depressive disorder （OR = 2.61,7.7, P 〈 0.05; analysis of dose-response relationships Х^2 = 12.35, P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Results from the present study revealed no association between 5-HTTLPR and major depressive disorder. However, a significant association between 5-HTTVNTR and major depressive disorder existed in a population of Chinese Han. The presence of Stin2.10 and 10/10 genotypes increased the risk for major depressive disorder in a dose-dependent manner.     

Hope in Huntington＇s disease--survey in counseling patients with Huntington＇s disease,as well as the caregivers

BACKGROUND： It is difficult to attract interest in non-compulsory, preventive, medical care, and persons diagnosed with certain diseases often ignore the existence of these diseases. However, Huntington＇s disease （HD） is an exception. OBJECTIVE： To qualitatively analyze factors motivating HD patients to participate in a study, namely the European Huntington＇s Disease Network （EHDN） REGISTRY. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： An observational survey was conducted in the EHDN Study Site in Poznan, Poland between 2007 and 2008. PARTICIPANTS： The study involved 22 persons affected with HD and 3 pre-symptomatic individuals totaling 9 males and 16 females. The 24 participants in this study had 24 different caregivers. A total of 25 symptomatic or pre-symptomatic subjects participated in the initial REGISTRY visit, as well as 6 in the second, and 1 in the third. All subjects did not know each other prior to the visit. METHODS： A mutation in the IT15 gene was confirmed in each patient or pre-symptomatic mutation carrier. An in-depth interview produced detailed information on the HD patients, as well as the caregivers, for the REGISTRY study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： A qualitative analysis of the factors motivating HD patients and the pre-symptomatic mutation carriers to participate in the REGISTRY longitudinal, observational, research project was performed. RESULTS： The primary motivating factor for involvement of HD patients and the caregivers in the REGISTRY study was the hope that an effective HD therapy would soon be discovered. In HD patients and the pre-symptomatic group, the response to participate in the REGISTRY project reached 100%, despite the fact that they knew the project was only an observational study. CONCLUSION： Patient hope is thought to be a factor for engaging in preventive, therapeutic activities. However, this is rarely mentioned in medical papers and clinical textbooks, and is usually overlooked in medical teaching. Clearly, efforts should be made to include this in clinical practice.     

促红细胞生成素对脑出血神经再生影响的临床研究

[目的]探讨重组人促红细胞生成素对脑出血患者神经再生的影响。[方法]应用腰穿注射重组人促红细胞生成素,观察脑出血患者血清VEGF、bFGF的变化以及欧洲卒中量表。[结果]治疗组d7、d10、d14、d17、d21血清VEGF和血清bFGF高于对照组,治疗组欧洲卒中量表d10、d14、d17、d21高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。[结论]通过腰穿注入重组人促红细胞生成素能促进脑出血患者的神经再生。     

稿件中的硬伤

每天都会接到几个关于向SCI收录杂志投稿的咨询电话,当然也包括向我们出版的SCI收录的《中国神经再生研究(英文版)》杂志投稿的一些咨询。咨询者有着不同的夙求,比如博士毕业答辩,基金课题结题,提职晋级评审,乃至参评博导博士后导师,申请重大资助课题等等,均要有这样经过国际同行评议,体现作者学术和技术特点的优秀论文的发表,以此来验证作者某方面先进的学术水平!尽管各自的需求不尽相同,但要将自己优秀的学术成绩和精良     

稿件中的硬伤

每天都会接到几个关于向SCI收录杂志投稿的咨询电话,当然也包括向我们出版的SCI收录的《中国神经再生研究(英文版)》杂志投稿的一些咨询。咨询者有着不同的夙求,比如博士毕业答辩,基金课题结题,提职晋级评审,乃至参评博导博士后导师,申请重大资助课题等等,     

SCI收录的《中国神经再生研究(英文版)》(NRR)杂志组稿重点

《中国神经再生研究(英文版)》(NRR)杂志:2008年1月起已被SCI,CA,SCOPUS,EM,IC等国际重要数据库收录,同时被中国统计源期刊(英文版),中国科学引文数据库核心版收录,并被美国OVID期刊全文数据库收录,可同时被全球2000余家机构检索和阅读     

舌下神经压榨损伤后降钙素基因相关肽在SD大鼠舌下神经核中表达的变化

目的：研究降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）在舌下神经损伤后再生过程中舌下神经运动神经元中的表达变化.方法：健康SD大鼠36只,均行左侧舌下神经压榨术,术后饲养至第3、7、14、21、28、35天,分别取出脑干含舌下神经核团部分,用免疫组化及图像分析技术,观察舌下神经核中的CGRP在舌下神经再生中的变化.结果：CGRP分布于正常SD大鼠舌下神经各亚核,舌下神经损伤后第3天,损伤侧的舌下神经核中CGRP比对照侧增强,图像分析CGRP灰度值与对照侧比较,差异有统计学意义（P﹤0.05）;损伤后第7天达最高峰（P﹤0.05）,以后尽管显著表达但渐减.结论：损伤导致CGRP在舌下神经运动神经元中的表达增加,提示CGRP在舌下神经再生修复过程中发挥调理作用.     

丙戊酸钠充填导管促进大鼠外周神经再生的实验研究

目的 观察丙戊酸钠(VPA)充填导管对缺损外周神经再生的促进作用.方法 通过建立大鼠坐骨神经缺损模型.用硅胶管(1 cm)进行缺损神经段(0.8 cm)的桥接,局部应用8%VPA注射液10ul,观察VPA对神经再生和运动神经功能恢复的影响.30只大鼠随机分成2组,实验组在硅胶管局部注射VPA注射液;对照组在硅胶管局部注入生理盐水. 结果 术后每只大鼠每2周进行坐骨神经功能指数(SFI)检测,每4周做电生理检查,最后术后12周处死所有大鼠,对坐骨神经进行组织形态学分析.用数字图像分析软件检测有髓神经纤维髓鞘厚度.并对再生神经纤维轴突计数.通过统计软件分析发现SFI,电生理检查,神经组织性形态上两组差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05). 结论 局部使用VPA于神经缺损的大鼠,可以促进损伤神经的轴突再生和运动功能恢复.因此VPA有望在临床上应用于外周神经损伤病例的治疗.     

银杏叶提取物对大鼠坐骨神经切断后HSP 70在脊髓与脊神经节中表达的影响

目的 研究周围神经损伤后脊髓热休克蛋白(heat shock proteirns,HSPs)的表达变化,及银杏叶提取物EGb 761对其影响,探讨银杏叶提取物对周围神经损伤的保护机制.方法 取成年雄性SD大鼠144只,随机分成三组:对照组、坐骨神经切断组、坐骨神经切断+银杏叶提取物干预组[术后每天用EGb 761(100 mg·kg-1*d-1,溶于2 ml SAL)灌胃,直到取材],每组48只.术后6 h、12 h、1 d.2 d,4 d、7 d、14 d、28 d取L4～6节段脊髓节段,采用免疫组织化学方法检测HSP 70在脊髓前角及脊神经节中的表达.结果 正常大鼠脊髓与神经节中均有少量HSP 70表达,在坐骨神经切断后表达迅速增加,持续一段时间后又回到正常水平,用EGb 761干预后,HSP 70表达早期较未干预组表达低,后期表达增高,且表达持续时间长.结论 银杏叶提取物EGb 761可以增加神经损伤后HSP 70表达,可能是银杏叶提取物保护神经,促进神经再生作用的机制.