Conclusions: The present Scandinavian results do not verify previous associations between the analyzed DTNBP1, NRG1, DAO, DAOA, and GRM3 gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia. Additional studies and meta-analyses find more are warranted to shed further light on these relationships. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Background/Aims: An association between the II genotype of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism and suicide was found among Japanese men. Our purpose was to replicate this finding in Caucasians and explore other putative genotypic associations among suicides. Methods:

The ACE genotypes were studied by a 2-stage PCR method in 150 completed suicides

and 165 age- and sex-matched controls. Results: We found an increase in the frequency of the ACE I allele among male victims of suicide compared to male controls (odds ratio, OR = 1.69, p < 0.006), female suicides (OR = 2.01, p = 0.006) and pooled controls (OR = 1.77, p = 0.001). Analysis of genotype distribution showed that the codominant model had the best fit (p = 0.7) whereas the recessive model could be rejected (p = 0.04). Among males we found an association between the number of the ACE I allele and the method of suicide: OR = 17.98, p(corrected) = 0.00003, for jumping from a height; OR = 0.36, p(corrected) = 0.048, for hanging. We also observed a trend for Mocetinostat a negative effect of the number of copies of the ACE I allele on prevalence of depression (OR = 0.36, p = 0.013) and a trend for an effect on age at death

(p = 0.021). Conclusions: Our results suggest that low ACE activity associated with the I allele is a risk factor for suicide, especially in a subset of males. This may be of concern given the widespread use of drugs lowering ACE activity. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Introduction: Magnesium influences the nervous system via its actions on the release and metabolism of neurotransmitters, and abnormal magnesium metabolism has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders with prominent Digestive enzyme mood symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of magnesium of cocaine addicts to those of heroin addicts and normal controls. We also attempted to clarify the relationship between the pathophysiology of cocaine abuse and magnesium levels by investigating their association with various clinical dimensions. Methods: Eighty-five consecutive subjects with a history of cocaine or opiate use disorders were recruited, evaluated and compared with 100 controls. The cocaine and heroin abusers were assessed with a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale, the Symptom Check List-90 Revised, the Brown-Goodwin Scale, and the Barrat Impulsiveness Scale. Results: Magnesium levels were higher in the cocaine group compared to the opiate group and control.