An increasing number of studies have described the relationship between velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) and schizophrenia. in a family-based study, we found that rs10314, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) present in the 3’-flanking region of the CLDN5 gene, was associated with schizophrenia among a Chinese population. High false positive rate is a common problem with the association study of human diseases. It is very important to replicate an initial finding with different samples and experimental designs.

A total of 749 patients with schizophrenia and 383 age and sex matched healthy control subjects in Chinese population were recruited. PCR-based RFLP protocol was applied to genotype rs10314 to see its disease association.

The χ2 goodness-of-fit test showed that the genotypic distributions of rs10314 were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the patient group (χ2=1.12, P=0.289) and the control group (χ2=0.22, P=0.639). rs10314 was associated with schizophrenia with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.32 in the male subjects (χ2=5.45, P=0.02, 95% CI 1.05-1.67) but not in the female subjects (χ2=0.64, P=0.425, OR=1.14, 95% CI 0.83-1.57). the χ2 test showed a genotypic association only for combined samples (χ2=7.80, df=2, P=0.02). SNP rs10314 is a G to C base change. Frequency of the genotypes containing the C allele was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group.

The present work shows that the CLDN5 gene polymorphism is more likely to be involved in schizophrenic men than women, suggesting that this gene may contribute to the gender differences in schizophrenia.

The pharmacological properties of betel nut which is consumed in immense quantities in the East as a cognitive enhancer. There was no evidence to prove the cognitive enhancement effect of chewing bet nut.

We tried to demonstrated that chewing betel nut enhanced cognitive performance, mainly attention, especially when they felt fatigue.

First, we demonstrated the fatigue effect induced by repeated continuous performance attention tests. Second, we tested the cognitive enhancement effect induced by betel nut.

Experiment 1, thirty-four volunteers, naive to betel nut, performed a continuous performance test three times without chewing anything before-and-during the test. Experiment 2, seventeen subjects who are used to chew betel nut performed the same tests. During the second and third session, they were given two pieces of gums or five piece of betel nut to chew. The sequence of chewing were counterbalanced.

In experiment 1, omission error rate was significantly different between section 1 and 3. Commission error was significantly different between section 1 and 2, 3 (Figure 1). In experiment 2, omission error rate was significantly different between baseline and section of chewing betel nut (Figure 2). Commission error rate had no difference between three sections. In both experiments, reaction time of different sections had no difference.

[Figue 1. The error rate of different types errors.]

Chewing betel nut could reverse the increase of omission error rate but chewing gum could not improve it. Either chewing betel nut or gum improved commission error rate. This study demonstrate the cognitive enhancement effect of chewing betel nut.

Several questions still exist in the literature on the relationship between cumulative exposure to work-related incidents and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in First Responders (FR).

To address three unanswered questions in the field.

1. (1) Are different cumulative exposure scoring algorithms similarly related to PTSD?

2. (2) Is PTSD associated only with incidents rated as severe and traumatic?

3. (3) Can we identify cut-off scores of cumulative exposure that maximize sensitivity and specificity to predict PTSD?

To better characterize the relationship between cumulative exposure and PTSD in FR.

The association between exposure and PTSD was examined with logistic and linear regression and with receiver operating characteristic analysis in 349 FR.

1. (1) The strength of the association between PTSD and total cumulative exposure indexes varied across different scoring algorithms.

2. (2) Compared to total cumulative exposure indexes and to sub-scores of exposure to non-traumatic and/or less severe incidents, sub-scores indexing exposure to severe traumatic events only were more strongly and significantly associated with PTSD.

3. (3) The use of two cut-off scores maximizes sensitivity and specificity to predict PTSD.

1. (1) The relationship between current PTSD and cumulative exposure is partially dependent on the approach used to quantify exposure.

2. (2) Focusing on the assessment of cumulative exposure to severe traumatic events is sufficient to predict PTSD, and might be more useful and effective in research and clinical decision-making.

3. (3) Sensitivity and specificity of exposure scores might help improve secondary prevention (early detection and effective intervention) of individuals at risk.

Item Response Theory (IRT) allows for dimensional scaling of the severity of a disorder, and comparison of symptoms’ properties across different measures of the same trait and across groups. IRT has never been applied to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

To determine discrimination and severity parameters of PTSD symptoms measured with two instruments, and to examine gender- and age-related Differential Item Functioning (DIF) of PTSD indicators.

To inform the dimensional scaling of PTSD in youth.

IRT was applied to PTSD items measured with the DPS and the PTSD-RI in 6,733 9/11-exposed youths. DIF analysis was performed in the sample stratified by gender and age (8-13; 14-21).

DPS and PTSD-RI items are most informative at intermediate and severe levels of PTSD, respectively. Across instruments, discrimination was greatest for insomnia and nightmares, and lowest for 9/11-related thoughts. Severity parameters were highest for avoidance and numbing symptoms, and lowest for 9/11-related thoughts. The majority of PTSD symptoms showed significant DIF across subgroups.

DPS and PTSD-RI criteria are informative at different levels of PTSD severity. PTSD symptoms differentially discriminate among individuals along the PTSD continuum, and are most informative at different levels of PTSD severity. These results could inform dimensional scaling of PTSD, and allow for flexibility in assigning cut-off points for facilitating clinical decision-making. PTSD criteria do not provide the same information across subgroups defined by gender and age, suggesting that symptoms differ in the way they represent severe post-traumatic stress reactions across groups.