Experience of using the molecular genetic studies to assess the risk of suicide

In the recent decades, there has been widespread the opinion that genetic markers of the suicidal behavior (suicide, suicidal attempts, suicidal thoughts) can be used to predict the suicidal behavior.The purpose of the study was to determine the possibility of using the method of molecular genetic research to assess the risk of suicide in men of 18‒27 years.The study used the case-control method. The control group included 100 men of 18‒27 years who never had mental disorders. The suicide group included the persons who committed highly traumatic methods of self-harm and were motivated to commit suicide (30 persons). DNA isolation was performed using a NucleoSpin Blood kit (Macherey‒Nagel, Germany) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Each DNA sample was analyzed for polymorphism by allelic discrimination using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The frequencies of occurrence of genotypes and alleles of the following genes were analyzed: HTR1A, rs6295 (G/C); BDNF, rs6265 (G/A); COMT, rs4680 (G/A); SKA2, rs7208505 (C/T); SLC6A4 (5HTT), rs25531 (T/C); 5HTR2A, rs6313 (G/A); TPH2, rs4570625 (G/T); TPH1, rs1800532 (G/T).A statistically significant difference was found for the frequency of occurrence of genotypes and alleles of the rs25531 polymorphism of the SLC6A4 (5HTT) gene. The chance of being in the suicide group with a heterozygous genotype (T/C) carriage was 2.346 times higher.The significance of the rs25531 polymorphism of the SLC6A4 (5HTT) gene for the formation of the suicidal behavior was confirmed.

Risk Factors for Apathy in Polish Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Apathy, a feeling of indifference or a general lack of interest and motivation to engage in activity, is one of the most common neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The large variation in prevalence and the underlying pathophysiological processes remain unclear due to heterogeneous PD populations. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for apathy, the modification or treatment of which may be clinically relevant and improve quality of life and caregiver burden for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Caucasian subjects with Parkinson’s disease were included in the study. Baseline demographics, neurological deficit, medications taken, cognitive and neuropsychiatric status, and the polymorphisms in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene were assessed. Apathy was diagnosed in 53 (50.5%) patients. They were less educated (OR 0.76 CI 0.64–0.89; p = 0.001), more frequently depressed (OR 1.08 CI 1.01–1.15; p = 0.018), and less frequently treated with inhibitors of monoamine oxidase-B (MAOB-I) (OR 0.07 CI 0.01–0.69; p = 0.023). Although apathetic patients were more likely to carry the Met/Met genotype, differences in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF rs6265 polymorphism between apathetic and non-apathetic PD patients were not statistically significant in multivariate analysis. Some risk factors for apathy may be clinically modifiable. Further studies are needed to assess whether modeling modifiable apathy risk factors will affect the prevalence of this neuropsychiatric symptom in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Association of PICK1 and BDNF variations with increased risk of methamphetamine dependence among Iranian population: a case–control study

Background Genetic factors play an important role in susceptibility to methamphetamine dependency. In this line, protein that interact with C-kinase-1 (PICK1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes are linked to methamphetamine dependence (substance use disorder). Thus, in a case–control study, we investigated the association between polymorphisms of PICK1 and BDNF genes and methamphetamine dependence in an Iranian population. Methods Total of 235 cases and 204 controls were recruited in a period between 2015 to 2018. The PICK1-rs713729, -rs2076369 and BDNF-rs6265 genotypes were determined via ARMS-PCR assay. Statistical analysis was performed, using SPSS 20.0, PHASE 2.1.1 program as well as SNP Analyzer 2.0. Results In the present study, two polymorphisms including PICK1-rs713729 (OR 1.38 (CI 1.08–1.52; P-value 0.004) in multiplicative and dominant models, and PICK1-rs2076369 (OR 1.31 (CI 1.10–1.56; P-value 0.002) in multiplicative, dominant and co-dominant models were associated with the risk of methamphetamine abuse. Moreover, haplotype analysis showed a significant association of haplotype AG (OR 2.50 (CI 1.50–4.16; P-value 0.0002) in dominant, recessive and co-dominant models, and haplotype TT (OR 0.67 (CI 0.50–0.91; P-value 0.009) in dominant and co-dominant models with the risk of methamphetamine abuse. None of the polymorphisms in this study had a high level of linkage disequilibrium. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the PICK1 gene polymorphism might affect the risk of methamphetamine dependency in our population.

Association of PICK1 and BDNF Variations with Increased Risk of Methamphetamine Dependence Among Iranian Population; A Case-Control Study

Background Genetic factors play an important role in susceptibility to methamphetamine dependency. In this line, protein that interact with C-kinase-1 (PICK1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes are linked to methamphetamine dependence (substance use disorder). Thus, in a case-control study, we investigated the association between polymorphisms of PICK1 and BDNF genes and methamphetamine dependence in an Iranian population. Methods Total of 235 cases and 204 controls were recruited in a period between 2015 to 2018. The PICK1-rs713729, -rs2076369 and BDNF-rs6265 genotypes were determined via ARMS-PCR assay. Statistical analysis was performed, using SPSS 20.0, PHASE 2.1.1 program as well as SNP Analyzer 2.0. Results In the present study, two polymorphisms including PICK1-rs713729 (OR: 1.38 (CI: 1.08–1.52; P-value: 0.004) in multiplicative and dominant models, and PICK1-rs2076369 (OR: 1.31 (CI: 1.10–1.56; P-value: 0.002) in multiplicative, dominant and co-dominant models were associated with the risk of methamphetamine abuse. Moreover, haplotype analysis showed a significant association of haplotype AG (OR: 2.50 (CI: 1.50–4.16; P-value: 0.0002) in dominant, recessive and co-dominant models, and haplotype TT (OR: 0.67 (CI: 0.50–0.91; P-value: 0.009) in dominant and co-dominant models with the risk of methamphetamine abuse. None of the polymorphisms in this study had a high level of linkage disequilibrium. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the PICK1 gene polymorphism might affect the risk of methamphetamine dependency in our population.