These findings suggest that ghrelin plays a role in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence, particularly during the abstinence period, in individuals with chronic alcoholism.

No abstract

A variety of cytokines are dysregulated in schizophrenia, and some antipsychotic drugs effect cytokines. In order to examine the effect of risperidone on plasma cytokines, we measured the serum level of IL-1b, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, and INF-g during acute states of illness, and after 4 weeks of treatment with risperidone in 19 schizophrenic patients. The patients' psychopathology was assessed by PANSS. Plasma IL-12 levels increased significantly after 4 weeks of treatment (p = .002). Plasma IL-b, IL-2, IL-6, and INF-g levels were not significantly different before and after treatment. There were no significant correlations between the changes in cytokine levels and the changes in PANSS scores. Increased IL-12 may contribute to activation of immune responses during treatment with risperidone. IL-12 may play an important role in immune responses related to neuropsychiatry.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic skin condition affecting as much as 15% of children in industrialized countries. While the underlying pathophysiology of AD is not entirely understood, several studies have suggested that AD may mediated by oxidative stress. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a class of polymorphic enzymes that function to protect against oxidative stress. To identify any possible associations between GSTs polymorphisms and AD susceptibility, the prevalence of two specific polymorphisms -GSTM1 and GSTT1 (homozygous deletion vs. undeleted) - were quantified by multiplex PCR in 145 patients with AD and 267 healthy controls. In individuals with AD, GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms were compared with family history of AD, age of disease onset, disease severity [per SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD)], serum IgE level and presence of other allergic diseases. While the GSTM1-null genotype was found to be significantly associated with AD (P = 0.033, OR = 1.579, 95% CI = 1.037-2.403), the correlation between the GSTT1-null genotype and AD did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.577, OR = 1.125, 95% CI = 0.744-1.702). The GSTM1-null genotype was also found to be significantly associated with a childhood onset of AD, the absence of other allergic diseases, and a family history of AD. In combination, these results suggest that GSTM1 is associated with AD susceptibility in Korean subjects.

No abstract