Search

Objectives: This observational, cross-sectional study included 140 women with climacteric symptoms. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between the presence and severity of depressive symptoms and allopregnanolone levels in women during late menopausal transition and early postmenopause. Methods: The study group was divided into two groups: 45 women in late menopausal transition and 95 early postmenopausal women. We evaluated Kupperman index, Hamilton scale and serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, 17β-estradiol, prolactin, total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and allopregnanolone levels. Results: We found that serum allopregnanolone concentration was lower in early postmenopausal women compared to women in late menopausal transition; that there was a correlation between serum allopregnanolone levels in early postmenopausal women and time since last menstruation, intensity of climacteric symptoms, and intensity of depression symptoms and that there was a correlation between serum allopregnanolone levels and several depression symptoms presence (shallow sleep and symptoms of the digestive tract in women during late menopause transition; feelings of guilt, sleep disorders and general somatic symptoms in early postmenopausal women). Conclusion: We concluded that reproductive aging is characterized by a reduction of allopregnanolone circulating levels that correlate to Hamilton depression index in early postmenopause and presence of specific depressive symptoms during late menopausal transition and early postmenopause.

The study was conducted to elucidate the problem of prolactin (PRL) serum concentration in menopausal women and its possible relations with climacteric and depressive symptoms.The study included 202 women aged 40-65 years admitted to the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, because of climacteric symptoms. The authors assessed the intensity of climacteric and depressive symptoms with the Kupperman index and the Hamilton depression scale, measured BMI index, serum PRL, FSH, LH, 17β-estradiol, total testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels in all studied women.They found a correlation between serum PRL concentration and result of M. Hamilton depression scale (R = 0.21; p = 0.005) and a between serum PRL concentration and serum 17β-estradiol concentration (R = 0.21; p = 0.003).The authors concluded that serum PRL concentration is related to severity of depressive symptoms in menopausal women.

CelOcena częstości występowania zaburzeń ciągłości snu u kobiet w okresie przekwitania, ocena zależności pomiędzy występowaniem zaburzeń ciągłości snu a stopniem nasilenia zespołu klimakterycznego i występowaniem poszczególnych objawów zespołu klimakterycznego, jak również ocena zależności pomiędzy występowaniem problemów ze snem a stężeniem gonadotropin, prolaktyny i hormonów płciowych w surowicy.MetodaZbadanych zostało 140 kobiet (średni wiek 54,4 ± 4,7 lat), które kolejno zgłosiły się do Kliniki Endokrynologii Ginekologicznej z powodu objawów zespołu klimakterycznego. Do oceny typu i nasilenia zaburzeń ciągłości snu użyto pytań o jakość snu ze Skali Depresji Hamiltona. Nasilenie objawów zespołu klimakterycznego oceniano przy użyciu indeksu Kuppermana. U wszystkich badanych oznaczono stężenia hormonów: follikulotropiny (FSH), lutropiny (LH), 17β-estradiolu, prolaktyny (PRL), testosteronu całkowitego, siarczanu dehydroepiandrosteronu (DHEAS) oraz globuliny wiążącej hormony płciowe (SHBG).WynikiSkargi na zaburzony sen były częste w zbadanej grupie kobiet. Zaburzenia zasypiania zgłosiło 57,8% kobiet, zaburzenia utrzymania snu 70% kobiet, zbyt wczesne wybudzenie poranne 60,7% kobiet. Nasilenie wszystkich trzech typów zaburzeń ciągłości snu powiązane było z nasileniem objawów zespołu klimakterycznego mierzonych indeksem Kuppermana (współczynniki korelacji Spearmana odpowiednio r=0,63, r=0,61, r=0,52). Zaburzenia utrzymania snu negatywnie korelowały ze stężeniem FSH, 17β-estradiolu oraz SHBG w surowicy krwi. Zaburzenia zasypiania negatywnie korelowały ze stężeniem 17β-estradiolu w surowicy krwi.WnioskiZaburzenia ciągłości snu są częstym i istotnym problemem zdrowotnym u kobiet w okresie przekwitania. Interwencje mające na celu zmniejszenie nasilenia zespołu klimakterycznego powinny być traktowane jako ważna część leczenia problemów ze snem u kobiet w tym okresie życia.

The aims of the study were: evaluation of depressive symptoms in climacteric women, comparison of depressive symptoms between peri- and post-menopausal women, and assessment of a possible relationship between the presence of depressive symptoms and the hormonal profile of the studied women.The study included 45 peri-menopausal and 95 post-menopausal women admitted to the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Poznafi University of Medical Sciences, because of climacteric symptoms. The following parameters were evaluated in all studied women: intensity of climacteric symptoms (Kupperman Index), intensity of depressive symptoms (Hamilton depression scale), serum concentrations of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones (FSH, LH, 17β-estradiol), prolactin (PRL) and androgens [total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)]. FSH, LH, 17β-estradiol, PRL, and total testosterone were evaluated by the immunoenzymatic methods and DHEAS was measured by the radioimmunological method.Psychic and somatic manifestations of anxiety and fear, shallow sleep, and general somatic symptoms were the most frequent depressive symptoms in both studied groups. Both investigated groups differed in relation to the incidence and intensity of symptoms from the genital system (observed more often in post-menopausal women) and hypochondria (noted more frequently in peri-menopausal women). Numerous relationships between the incidence and intensity of certain symptoms and serum concentrations of the investigated hormones were found in both groups. The correlations were different in peri- and post-menopausal subjects.

The purpose of this study was to establish whether vomiting bulimic and/or non-bulimic depressive patients, both treated with the serotonin reuptake inhibitor SI-5-HT (fluoxetine), have differing proportions of inorganic components (specifically, sodium, potassium and calcium) in their parotid salivary gland secretions, than in the average population.A controlled clinical trial was designed for three age-matched female groups: bulimic patients receiving fluoxetine 40 mg/day (n = 33), non-bulimic patients diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder (fluoxetine 20 mg/day, n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 51). Parotid saliva was collected using a Lashley cap while the subjects were at rest. Stimulation was obtained chemically using a 3% citric acid solution, and physically by instructing the subjects to chew on wax pellets. The concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium ions were measured using the colorimetric photometry method.The bulimic patients had a reduction in flow and sodium and potassium ions in the parotid saliva and non-bulimic patients had a reduction in flow. Deficits in certain components of saliva were shown to be directly related to salivary flow rate.The data suggest that detection of inorganic deficits in parotid saliva might serve as a reliable confirmation of reduction in flow amongst purging bulimic patients treated with fluoxetine.

In this research, we conducted a study of genes connected with the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of anorexia nervosa, using classical statistical and data-mining methods to establish a relationship with disease risk and algorithms to identify the best genetic predictors of anorexia nervosa.

Affective disorders include unipolar disorder (UP) (depression episodes) and bipolar disorder (BP) (depression and mania episodes). Currently, no biological markers are known that can help to differentiate these disorders. However, recent studies have suggested that psychiatric disorders can be connected with small, non-coding RNA, like microRNA. The objective of this study was to analyse the expression level of three microRNAs (miR-499, miR-708, miR-1908) in bipolar and unipolar disorder during depression episodes and after entering the remission state. The group consisted of adult women only, 17 UP (age: 50±17) and 15 BP (age: 33±13) patients. The expression level of miRNAs was investigated by RT-qPCR with the TaqMan assay. Our study has shown a lower expression level of miR-499 (p=0.008), miR-708 (p=0.02) and miR-1908 (p=0.004) in depression episodes of the bipolar disorder patients in comparison to remission state. We have not found similar differences in unipolar disorder and between those types in acute phase of depression and during remission. Obtained results indicate that miRNAs: miR-499, miR-708 and miR-1908 are the most promising candidates for biomarkers of depression episodes of bipolar disorder.

Former findings indicate that suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder is associated with clock genes. Additionally, numerous non-genetic risk factors are potentially associated with suicidal behavior. Therefore, we conducted an analysis of the relationship between clock genes (as distal risk factors) with clinical characteristics and the course of bipolar disorder. We also tried to obtain a predictive model for suicide attempts based on clinical and genetic data. We found associations between selected polymorphisms and: – the number of depressive episodes ( TIMELESS, PER3 ); – the average number of depressive episodes per year of illness ( TIMELESS, ARNTL ); – the ratio of depressive and hypo/manic episodes ( TIMELESS ); – the family history of suicidal attempt(s) ( TIMELESS ).

Cel Zaburzenia odżywiania, w szczególności o typie przeczyszczającym, refluks żołądkowo-przełykowy (GERD), choroba alkoholowa i zespoły chorobowe przebiegające z obniżonym wydzielaniem śliny należą do głównych przyczyn endogennych występowania erozji zębów. Celem pracy jest prezentacja pacjentki z zaburzeniami występującymi pod postacią somatyczną, u której doszło do znacznych ubytków erozyjnych zębów, na skutek oddziaływania chemicznego kwasu żołądkowego na jamę ustną. Metoda Siedemnastoletnia pacjentka została skierowana do Kliniki Psychiatrii Dzieci i Młodzieży w związku z uporczywymi nudnościami i wymiotami trwającymi od około 10 miesięcy. Z tego powodu chora była kilkakrotnie hospitalizowana na oddziałach pediatrycznych. Nudnościom i wymiotom towarzyszył również lęk przed wychodzeniem z domu, znajdowaniem się w miejscach publicznych. Chora obawiała się reakcji innych osób na swoje dolegliwości. Dodatkowo przeprowadzono stomatologiczne badanie przedmiotowe i podmiotowe jamy ustnej. Wyniki Zaburzenia występujące pod postacią somatyczną, w trakcie których doszło do intensywnych wymiotów można potraktować jako nietypowy przykład zaburzeń odżywiania o typie przeczyszczającym. Ubytki erozyjne zębów, były głównymi objawami wywołanymi zwracaniem treści pokarmowej w jamie ustnej. W badaniu przedmiotowym błony śluzowej jamy ustnej stwierdzono jej keratynizację, usuwalny nalot na języku oraz złuszczające zapalenie warg, związane z wysuszeniem i pęknięciami warg. Wnioski Zaobserwowane erozja tkanek twardych zębów i zmiany w makroskopowej budowie błony śluzowej jamy ustnej wydają się być głównymi objawami wywołanymi zwracaniem treści pokarmowej w postaci intensywnych i długotrwałych wymiotów. Zmiany te mogą stanowić duży problem zdrowotny, jak i estetyczny dla pacjenta. Zaburzenia somatomorficzne, jak wynika z opisanego przypadku, wymagają wielospecjalistycznej opieki medycznej, w tym regularnej oceny stomatologicznej.

Zaburzenia ze spektrum autyzmu (Autism Spectrum Disorders- ASD) są spowodowane zaburzeniami wczesnych faz rozwoju ośrodkowego układu nerwowego i zwykle są rozpoznawane w pierwszych latach życia. Pomimo wspólnych cech takich jak upośledzenie rozwoju społeczno-komunikacyjnego oraz stereotypowe zachowania posiadają zróżnicowany przebieg i obraz kliniczny. Do najważniejszych czynników etiologicznych należą geny i czynniki środowiskowe działające w okresie prenatalnym, perinatalnym i noworodkowym. Wskazuje się na rolę rzadko występujących wariantów genetycznych o dużej sile oddziaływania np. zmienności liczby powtórzeń w genach odpowiedzialnych za architekturę synaps i połączeń międzysynaptycznych. Postuluje się również udział występujących często wariantów o niewielkiej sile oddziaływania, w tym m.in. polimorfizmów w genach kodujących białka układu peptydów prospołecznych – oksytocyny i wazopresyny. Spośród środowiskowych czynników ryzyka wymienia się szkodliwe oddziaływania w czasie ciąży i porodu, choć do tej pory nie potwierdzono ich swoistego znaczenia, a niekiedy wskazuje się, że również niektóre z nich mogą wynikać pierwotnie z przyczyn genetycznych. W niektórych przypadkach, zwłaszcza z zaburzeniami towarzyszącymi– niepełnosprawnością intelektualną, padaczką i dysmorfiami- wskazuje się na celowość szczegółowej diagnostyki molekularnej, która obecnie może przyczynić się do wykrycia genetycznego podłoża zaburzenia w około 20% przypadków.

Objectives. The current study established whether vomiting bulimic and/or non-bulimic depressive patients, both treated with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine), have changes in their whole salivary secretion and inorganic components: Na+, K+, Ca2+. Methods. From 108 female subjects, namely bulimics (Group B) (fluoxetine: 40 mg/day) (n = 33), non-bulimic depressives (Group D) (fluoxetine: 20 mg/day) (n = 25) and a Group C of 50 healthy controls, unstimulated and stimulated saliva was collected. The concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+ were determined by colorimetric photometry method (Effox 5053, Eppendorf, Germany). Results. The bulimic group reported significant lower output in salivary flow and sodium concentration. In the group (D) only flow was lower than in healthy controls but not significant. Conclusion. This study supports the hypothesis that salivary flow is an unreliable indicator of bulimia, the lack of increase in sodium level in stimulated saliva in bulimic subjects could be a mor...

Background/Aims: Schizophrenia (SCH) and bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) are complex disorders with significant participation of genetic risk factors. Several lines of evidence point to the role of shared neurobiological mechanisms and common genetic background in SCH and BPAD. Immune disturbances have been suggested as contributing factor in the pathogenesis of both SCH and BPAD. The gene coding cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been the object of a number of association studies in SCH, with ambiguous results. Only 3 such studies were performed in BPAD. The aim of our study was to perform a case-control association analysis of the TNF –308G/A polymorphism in a Polish sample of patients with SCH, BPAD and healthy controls. Methods: We genotyped the TNF –308G/A polymorphism (rs1800629) by PCR-RFLP in 348 patients with SCH, 361 patients with BPAD and in 351 controls. Results: We observed an association of the –308G allele with both SCH (p = 0.008) and BPAD (p = 0.039), and also with a positive family history in patients with SCH (p = 0.048) and BPAD (p = 0.027). For TNF genotypes, the association was only seen in SCH (p = 0.018). Conclusions: Our results may point to an association of the TNF –308G allele and –308G/G genotype with both SCH and BPAD, and to a relationship of the –308G allele with the risk of SCH and BPAD in patients with a positive family history. TNF could be potentially a susceptibility gene, shared between SCH and BPAD. Complex TNF gene studies – based on multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms and involving haplotype analysis – are necessary for the clarification of currently contradictory findings.

Objective The study objective was to assess the role of 3α-androstanediol glucuronide (3α-diolG) as the marker of peripheral androgen action in the young women with hirsutism diagnosed as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in patients with idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and in normal non-hirsute women. Study design Fifty-nine young women with mean age 21.90 ± 3.52 years suffered from hirsutism were included in the study. Among these 59 hirsute women 31 women with mean age 21.60 ± 3.56 years were diagnosed as PCOS and 28 women with mean age 22.20 ± 3.59 years were classified as idiopathic hirsutism patients. Twenty-seven normal women, age-matched (mean age 22.60 ± 2.90 years), without signs of hirsutism and with normal menstrual cycle served as control for this study. Serum was collected from women with hirsutism (due to PCOS or idiopathic hirsutism) and from non-hirsute women. Serum levels of 3α-androstanediol glucuronide (3α-diolG), main androgens such as: testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) and also others hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and sex hormone-binding globuline (SHBG) were measured using radioimmunoassay (RIA) method in the study and control group. Hirutism was assessed using modified Ferriman–Gallwey method. Serum 3α-diolG levels in PCOS women were significantly higher than in controls. Results There were no significant differences between serum 3α-diolG levels in PCOS group and IH group. Similarly, there were significant differences between serum 3α-diolG levels in IH group and control subjects. Conclusion We conclude that 3α-diolG is not useful as the marker for peripheral androgen metabolism and for differentiation between idiopathic hirsutism and PCO-related hirsutism.

The authors present a case of a pregnancy after ovarian wedge resection by laparotomy after unsuccessful ovarian drilling. A 28-year- old patient was admitted to the present outpatient clinic because of infertility, secondary amenorrhea, and hirsutism. Three years prior she had undergone laparoscopic ovarian drilling with no effect on menstrual pattern and fertility. After clinical and ultrasonographic ex- aminations, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was diagnosed and consequently laparotomy with ovarian wedge resection was de- cided upon. Six weeks later patient was diagnosed with an early pregnancy.

CelCelem badania było ustalenie, czy pacjenci chorzy na typ przeczyszczający bulimii i / lub nie - bulimii, leczeni inhibitorem wychwytu zwrotnego serotoniny, SI- 5 -HT (fluoksetyna), mają erozję zębów i zmiany w wybranych składnikach buforowych śliny przyusznej (wodorowęglany, fosforany, mocznik), w stosunku do zdrowej populacji.MetodaKontrolowane badanie kliniczne zostało zaprojektowane dla trzech, dopasowanych co do wieku i płci (młode kobiety) grup 94 pacjentek: z bulimią otrzymujących fluoksetynę 40 mg/dzień, niebulimicznych pacjentek z diagnozą afektywnych zaburzeń dwubiegunowych otrzymujących fluoksetynę 20 mg/dzień i zdrowej grupy kontrolnej. Ślinę ze ślinianki przyusznej pobierano od pacjentów za pomocą kapsuły Lashley’a w spoczynku i po stymulacji chemicznej 3% roztworem kwasu cytrynowego. W badaniu klinicznym określono erozję jako utratę powierzchni zębów poprzez wskaźnik (TWI). W wyselekcjonowanej ślinie oznaczono całkowite stężenia fosforanów nieorganicznych, wodorowęglanów, mocznika i pH.WynikiU pacjentów z bulimią stwierdzono wyższy indeks TWI (24%) oraz niższy poziom pH, wodorowęglanów i fosforanów w ślinie. Nie było istotnych różnic w stężeniu mocznika.WnioskiUtrata tkanek zęba o typie erozyjno – abrazyjnym wydaje się być istotnym narzędziem diagnostycznym w bulimii. Występowanie zmian w strukturze zębów może być związana z utratą ochronnej funkcji śliny, czego dowodem jest zmniejszenie wartości pH i stężeń jonów buforujących. U osób z żarłocznością psychiczną o typie przeczyszczającym, leczonych długoterminowo lekami z grupy SI-5-HT wskazany jest monitoring parametrów ślinowych, takich jak szybkość wydzielania śliny, pH, składniki buforowe oraz regularna stomatologiczna kontrola stanu tkanek jamy ustnej.

Previous studies have associated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with growth deviations and obesity. However, available data regarding the growth of children with ADHD in their early childhood are insufficient. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether there are differences in body size between preschool boys with and without ADHD.The study used cross-sectional and retrospective longitudinal data concerning 112 boys with ADHD and a community-based sample of 308 boys without ADHD. The groups were homogeneous in terms of socioeconomic status, place of residence, term of birth, and birth weight. The average age of diagnosis was 8.3 years, and none of boys had been treated with stimulants before they were 7 years of age. Comparisons were made at the ages of 2, 4, and 6 years, for World Health Organization (WHO)-norm-standardized height, weight, body mass index (BMI), prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity. Separate analysis were made for the cross-sectional measurements of current body size.Boys with ADHD at the age of 2 had significantly lower z scores for weight (t=-1.98, p=0.04) and BMI (t=-2.09, p=0.04), and at the age of 4 for weight (t=-2.05, p=0.04) than the boys from the control group. A significantly lower percentage of overweight/obesity was observed in boys with ADHD at the age of 2 in comparison with the control group. At the age of 6, boys with ADHD were underweight more often. Cross-sectional analysis of current body size showed that boys with ADHD had lower z scores for height (t=-3.08, p=0.002) and higher z scores (t=3.13, p=0.002) for BMI. Overweight was more frequent in this group.Preschool boys with ADHD (age of 2-6 years) have a tendency toward lower body weight than their peers. But in subsequent phases of development, they are shorter and more frequently overweight than boys without ADHD, when place of residence, socioeconomic status, term of birth, birth weight, comorbid conditions, and treatment are controlled.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to measure the salivary and serum free IGF-1 concentration of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) in comparison to an average population. Methods. A controlled clinical trial was designed for an age- and gender-matched group of 121 AN patients and 77 healthy individuals. A clinical examination was made and blood and salivary samples were taken during the acute stage of AN (BMI < 15 kg/m2) in the first week of hospitalization. An enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) suitable for measuring free IGF-1 was used. Results. Anorexic patients had significant reductions in salivary unstimulated flow rate (UFR), pH and free IGF-1 levels in their saliva and serum. Significant correlations between serum IGF-1 and BMI; salivary IGF-1 and UFR and pH were detected. Conclusions. Salivary and serum IGF-1 analyses appear to be a reliable biochemical indicator of malnutrition in AN patients. Measurement of salivary IGF-1 levels would allow new perspectives in monitoring AN in its early stages.

Alcoholism is present in � 40-60% of bipolar patients. This comorbidity between bipolar disorder and alcoholism is high and may result from existence of common genetic factors for the two disorders. In both disorders, dysregulation of the dopaminergic neurotransmission had been implicated. Association analyses revealed several candidate genes acting in the dopaminergic pathway and polymorphisms in those genes that might be associated with both disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse possible relationship between polymorphisms in the dopaminergic pathway genes (one SNP for each dopamine receptor gene 1-4) and alcohol abuse comorbidity in bipolar patients. Methods: We analysed 317 patients with bipolar disorder. In this group, 42 patients were diagnosed with alcohol abuse. The diagnosis was made for each patient by at least two psychiatrists, using structured clinical interviews for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID). The control group consisted of 350 subjects. We performed RFLP analysis of polymorphisms in four genes: DRD1, DRD2, DRD3, and DRD4. Results: We have not found association of any of the analysed polymorphisms in the dopamine genes in the group of bipolar patients with comorbid alcohol abuse as compared to the control group. In the male group of bipolar patients with comorbid alcohol abuse, we also have not observed any significant differences between the patients and the control subjects. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the analysed polymorphisms of the dopamine genes polymorphisms may not be involved in the shared genetic vulnerability to both, bipolar disorder, and alcohol abuse.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of major psychoses. In this paper, the T–50C polymorphism of the GSK-3β gene has been studied in patients with schizophrenia (n = 432), patients with bipolar disorder (n = 416) and in a healthy control group (n = 408). Consensus diagnosis by at least two psychiatrists was made for each patient, according to DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Genotypes were established by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. We have found a trend towards an association for the C allele in the whole group of schizophrenic patients (p = 0.088) and for the heterozygous T/C genotype of bipolar patients (0.095). Significant differences of genotype distribution and allele frequencies of the T–50C polymorphism were found in the female group of bipolar II patients (p = 0.015 for genotypes and p = 0.009 for alleles). In conclusion, this polymorphism may be associated with female gender in bipolar II disorder.

Dysregulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the etiology of major psychoses. The dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1) plays a role in some brain functions and mechanisms of psychotropic drugs. Therefore, the DRD1 gene makes a good candidate gene for molecular genetic studies in schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. In the present study, the –48A/G polymorphism of the DRD1 gene was estimated in patients with schizophrenia (n = 407) or bipolar affective disorder (n = 380), and in healthy controls (n = 399). No association was found between the polymorphism studied and schizophrenia, either in the whole group of patients or in subgroups divided by gender, age at onset or predominance of positive or negative symptoms. A statistical trend was obtained for an association between this polymorphism and bipolar affective disorder (p = 0.059 for genotypes, p = 0.073 for alleles). The G/G genotype and G allele were significantly more frequent in patients with bipolar disorder, type II (p = 0.016 for genotypes, p = 0.008 for alleles), especially in the women subgroup (p = 0.054 for genotypes, p = 0.024 for alleles). An association between the G/G genotype and bipolar affective disorder with disease onset after 18 years of age was also found (p = 0.022). These data suggest that the –48A/G polymorphism of the DRD1 gene may be involved in the etiology of bipolar disorder in a Polish population.

Objective. The aim of the study was an evaluation of possible relationships between polymorphisms of serotoninergic system genes and the risk of depression in postmenopausal women.Methods. We studied 332 women admitted to our department because of climacteric symptoms. The study group included 113 women with a diagnosis of depressive disorder according to the Hamilton rating scale for depression; the controls consisted of 219 women without depression. Serum 17β-estradiol concentrations were evaluated using radioimmunoassay, while polymorphisms in serotoninergic system genes: serotonin receptors 2A (HTR2A), 1B (HTR1B), and 2C (HTR2C); tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) and 2 (TPH2), and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction.Results. We found that the 1460T allele ofMAO-Ac.1460C>T (SNP 1137070) appeared with a significantly higher frequency in depressed female patients than in the control group (P=0.011) and the combined c.1460CT + TT genotypes were associated with a higher risk of depression (P=0.0198). Patients with the 1460TT genotype had a significantly higher 17β-estradiol concentration than patients with the 1460CT genotype (P=0.0065) and 1460CC genotype (P=0.0018).Conclusions. We concluded that depression in postmenopausal women is closely related to the genetic contribution ofMAO-A.

Objective:The aim of this study was the assessment of −308G/A tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene polymorphism and intPLA2 gene polymorphism in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and healthy controls.Subjects:We studied 91 non-related patients with AN and 144 healthy women (blood donors and students). The mean age of women from study group was 18.22 years (SD ± 3.13 years) and from control group was 31.71 years (SD ± 8.22).Methods:Gene polymorphisms were studied with the use of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. TNF-α gene polymorphism consists of G/A substitution in −308 promoter region. IntPLA2 gene polymorphism is related to intron 1, in which restrictive region is found and recognized by BanI enzyme.Results:We did not obtain statistically significant differences in the frequency of genotypes and alleles of −308G/A TNF-α polymorphism between the study and control groups (genotypes: P = 0.106, alleles: P = 0.076). We did analogous analysis in the restrictive and bulimic subgroups. We did not observe statistically relevant differences in the frequency of genotypes (P = 0.700) and alleles (P = 0.305). We did not obtain statistically relevant difference in the frequency of genotypes and alleles of intPLA2 gene between the study group and controls (genotypes: P = 0.300, alleles: P = 0.331). We did analogous analysis in both subgroups of AN. We did not observe statistically relevant differences in the frequency of genotypes (P = 0.344) and alleles (P = 0.230).Conclusions:There was no statistically relevant trend for the association between TNF-α polymorphism and AN. We did not find association between studied polymorphism of intPLA2 gene and risk of AN.

Background:Female patients with anorexia nervosa differ significantly from the control women in various dimensions of personality.Objective:To investigate the personality dimensions measured with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in adolescent patients with restrictive-type and bulimic/purging-type anorexia nervosa (ANR and ANB, respectively), and contrast them with the results of control females.Methods:Sixty-one patients with anorexia nervosa (36 ANR and 25 ANB) and 60 controls were tested with the TCI. A concomitant assessment of depression, body mass index and age was made to evaluate the possible correlation with personality dimensions.Results:Adolescent ANR patients scored higher in persistence, harm avoidance and cooperativeness, and lower in novelty seeking and self-transcendence than control women. ANB patients scored in the middle between ANR and control females, but differences did not reach the significance level with either group, except for the self-transcendence dimension where they scored significantly higher than those with ANR.Conclusions:The deviations in temperamental profile of adolescent ANR are similar to those reported in adult patients. The ANB adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa show less prominent deviations from the personality of control women. With regard to the character dimension of cooperativeness, adolescents with ANR scored higher than controls, in contrast to the observations in adult patients. This may reflect the effect of illness on the development of character.

Objectives: The aim of this study was evaluation of the influence of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) on the regional cerebral blood flow in postmenopausal women. Methods: The study group were 20 postmenopausal women, mean age 48.7 years (S.D. ±4.9 years). The control group were ten regularly menstruating women, mean age 32.6 years (S.D. ±13.2 years). In the studied group we measured the severity of climacteric syndrome with the use of Kupperman index and serum FSH and 17β-estradiol level with the use of radioimmunological method. Cerebral blood flow was measured at rest using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). Tracer accumulation evaluation was performed in three slices defined as: cerebellar slice, thalamic slice and ventricular slice, the reference region was delineated in the cerebellum. In ten women with an impairment in the cerebral blood flow at the beginning of the study all the tests were repeated after 12 months of HRT. Results: Before HRT mean value of the Kupperman index in the study group was 29.8 points (S.D. ±7.1 points); 17β-estradiol 27 pg/ml (S.D. ±2 pg/ml); FSH 56 IU/l (S.D. ±49.5 IU/l); SPECT study revealed cerebral blood flow impairment in ten women. In all the studied slices cerebral blood flow was lower in the study group than in the controls. After 12 months of HRT the mean value of the Kupperman index in the study group was 13.2 points (S.D. ±2.1 points) (P