Journal of Molecular Psychiatry - Latest Articles
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The latest research articles published by Journal of Molecular Psychiatry2013-05-21T00:00:00ZMass spectrometry as a tool for studying autism spectrum disorderAutism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are increasing in incidence but have an incompletely understood etiology. Tools for uncovering clues to the cause of ASDs and means for diagnoses are valuable to the field. Mass Spectrometry (MS) has been a useful method for evaluating differences between individuals with ASDs versus matched controls. Different biological substances can be evaluated using MS, including urine, blood, saliva, and hair. This technique has been used to evaluate relatively unsupported hypotheses based on introduction of exogenous factors, such as opiate and heavy metal excretion theories of ASDs. MS has also been used to support disturbances in serotonin-related molecules, which have been more consistently observed in ASDs. Serotonergic system markers, markers for oxidative stress, cholesterol system disturbances, peptide hypo-phosphorylation and methylation have been measured using MS in ASDs, although further analyses with larger numbers of subjects are needed (as well as consideration of behavioral data). Refinements in MS and data analysis are ongoing, allowing for the possibility that future studies examining body fluids and specimens from ASD subjects could continue to yield novel insights. This review summarizes MS investigations that have been conducted to study ASD to date and provides insight into future promising applications for this technique, with focus on proteomic studies.
http://www.jmolecularpsychiatry.com/content/1/1/6
Alisa WoodsArmand WetieIzabela SokolowskaStefanie RussellJeanne RyanTanja MichelJohannes ThomeCostel DarieJournal of Molecular Psychiatry 2013, null:62013-05-21T00:00:00Zdoi:10.1186/2049-9256-1-6/content/figures/2049-9256-1-6-toc.gifJournal of Molecular Psychiatry2049-9256${item.volume}62013-05-21T00:00:00ZPDFMethylphenidate enhances neuronal stem cell differentiationBackground:
The psychostimulant methylphenidate (MPH) is the first choice of drug treatment in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Since therapy often begins at a time when the brain is still developing and the long-term consequences of MPH are still not fully clarified, we examined the influences of an acute treatment with MPH on the differentiation and proliferation of murine neural stem cells (mNSC).Findings and conclusionWe found that MPH enhanced neuronal differentiation and inhibited neural proliferation.
http://www.jmolecularpsychiatry.com/content/1/1/5
Jasmin BartlTakatoshi MoriHiroki OzawaPeter RiedererEdna GrünblattJournal of Molecular Psychiatry 2013, null:52013-04-23T00:00:00Zdoi:10.1186/2049-9256-1-5ADHD drug may alter neural stem cell activity<p>Methylphenidate, a drug commonly used to treat ADHD, enhances differentiation and inhibits proliferation of murine neural stem cells <em>in vitro</em>, further highlighting possible long-term effects of the drug on brain development.</p>/content/figures/2049-9256-1-5-toc.gifJournal of Molecular Psychiatry2049-9256${item.volume}52013-04-23T00:00:00ZXMLNRXN1 deletions identified by array comparative genome hybridisation in a clinical case series - further understanding of the relevance of NRXN1 to neurodevelopmental disorders.Background:
Microdeletions in the NRXN1 gene have been associated with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, speech and language delay, epilepsy and hypotonia.
Results:
In the present study we performed array CGH analysis on 10,397 individuals referred for diagnostic cytogenetic analysis, using a custom oligonucleotide array, which included 215 NRXN1 probes (median spacing 4.9 kb). We found 34 NRXN1 deletions (0.33% of referrals) ranging from 9 to 942 kb in size, of which 18 were exonic (0.17%). Three deletions affected exons also in the beta isoform of NRXN1. No duplications were found. Patients had a range of phenotypes including developmental delay, learning difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, speech delay, social communication difficulties, epilepsy, behaviour problems and microcephaly. Five patients who had deletions in NRXN1 had a second CNV implicated in neurodevelopmental disorder: a CNTNAP2 and CSMD3 deletion in patients with exonic NRXN1 deletions, and a Williams-Beuren syndrome deletion and two 22q11.2 duplications in patients with intronic NRXN1 deletions.
Conclusions:
Exonic deletions in the NRXN1 gene, predominantly affecting the alpha isoform, were found in patients with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders referred for diagnostic cytogenetic analysis. The targeting of dense oligonucleotide probes to the NRXN1 locus on array comparative hybridisation platforms provides detailed characterisation of deletions in this gene, and is likely to add to understanding of the importance of NRXN1 in neural development.
http://www.jmolecularpsychiatry.com/content/1/4
Sarah CurranJoo Wook AhnHannah GraytonDavid CollierCaroline OgilvieJournal of Molecular Psychiatry 2013, null:42013-04-23T00:00:00Zdoi:10.1186/2049-9256-1-4/content/figures/2049-9256-1-4-toc.gifJournal of Molecular Psychiatry2049-9256${item.volume}42013-04-23T00:00:00ZXMLThe origins of molecular psychiatryNoneEric NestlerJournal of Molecular Psychiatry 2013, null:32013-04-23T00:00:00Zdoi:10.1186/2049-9256-1-3/content/figures/2049-9256-1-3-toc.gifJournal of Molecular Psychiatry2049-9256${item.volume}32013-04-23T00:00:00ZXMLNeurobiology of Suicide- A Review of Postmortem Studies on Brain TissueThe neurobiology of suicidal behaviour, which constitutes one of the most serious problems both in psychiatry and general medical practice, still remains to a large degree unclear. As a result, scientists constantly look for new opportunities of explaining the causes underlying suicidality. In order to elucidate the biological changes occurring in the brains of the suicide victims, studies based on post-mortem brain tissue samples are increasingly being used. These studies employ different research methods to provide an insight into abnormalities in brain functioning on various levels, including gene and protein expression, neuroplasticity and neurotransmission, as well as many other areas. The aim of this paper to summarize the available data on the post-mortem studies, to provide an overview of main research directions and the most up-to-date findings, and to indicate the possibilities of further research in this field.
http://www.jmolecularpsychiatry.com/content/1/2
Karolina FurczykBarbora SchutováTanja MichelJohannes ThomeAndreas BüttnerJournal of Molecular Psychiatry 2013, null:22013-04-23T00:00:00Zdoi:10.1186/2049-9256-1-2/content/figures/2049-9256-1-2-toc.gifJournal of Molecular Psychiatry2049-9256${item.volume}22013-04-23T00:00:00ZXMLJournal of Molecular PsychiatryIt is my pleasure to welcome you to the new Journal of Molecular Psychiatry - JMP! Molecular Psychiatry is a rapidly expanding field and there are high hopes that its findings will improve the condition of patients suffering from psychiatric disorders in terms of diagnosis, prognosis and therapy.Johannes ThomeJournal of Molecular Psychiatry 2013, null:12013-04-23T00:00:00Zdoi:10.1186/2049-9256-1-1/content/figures/2049-9256-1-1-toc.gifJournal of Molecular Psychiatry2049-9256${item.volume}12013-04-23T00:00:00ZXML