| 1 | Am. J. Med. Genet. B Neuropsychiatr. Genet. 2005 Feb 133B: 1-5 |
|---|---|
| PMID | 15645418 |
| Title | Assessing the validity of blood-based gene expression profiles for the classification of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a preliminary report. |
| Abstract | Recent advances have facilitated the use of blood-derived RNA to conduct genomic analyses of human diseases. This emerging technology represents a rigorous and convenient alternative to traditional tissue biopsy-derived RNA, as it allows for larger sample sizes, better standardization of technical procedures, and the ability to non-invasively profile human subjects. In the present pilot study, we have collected RNA from blood of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (BPD), as well as normal control subjects. Using microarray analysis, we found that each disease state exhibited a unique expressed genome signature, allowing us to discriminate between the schizophrenia, BPD, and control groups. In addition, we validated changes in several potential biomarker genes for schizophrenia and BPD by RT-PCR, and some of these were found to code to chromosomal loci previously linked to schizophrenia. Linear and non-linear combinations of eight putative biomarker genes (APOBEC3B, ADSS, ATM, CLC, CTBP1, DATF1, CXCL1, and S100A9) were able to discriminate between schizophrenia, BPD, and control samples, with an overall accuracy of 95%-97% as indicated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. We therefore propose that blood cell-derived RNA may have significant value for performing diagnostic functions and identifying disease biomarkers in schizophrenia and BPD. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia |
| 2 | J Am Geriatr Soc 2011 Aug 59: 1412-20 |
| PMID | 21824120 |
| Title | Potential underuse, overuse, and inappropriate use of antidepressants in older veteran nursing home residents. |
| Abstract | To examine prevalence and resident- and site-level factors associated with potential underuse, overuse, and inappropriate use of antidepressants in older Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Living Center (CLC) residents. Longitudinal study. One hundred thirty-three VA CLCs. Three thousand six hundred ninety-two veterans aged 65 and older admitted between January 1, 2004, and June 3, 2005, with long stays (? 90 days). Prevalence of potential underuse, inappropriate use, and overuse of antidepressants in residents with and without depression (as documented according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes or Depression Rating Scale). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed antidepressant. Of the 877 residents with depression, 25.4% did not receive an antidepressant, suggesting potential underuse. Of residents with depression who received antidepressants, 57.5% had potential inappropriate use due primarily to problems seen with drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. Of the 2,815 residents who did not have depression, 1,190 (42.3%) were prescribed one or more antidepressants; only 48 (4.0%) of these had a Food and Drug Administration-approved labeled indication, suggesting potential overuse. Overall, only 17.6% of antidepressant use was appropriate (324/1,844). The only consistent resident factor associated with potential underuse and overuse use was taking an antipsychotic without evidence of schizophrenia (underuse: adjusted relative risk ratio (ARRR)=0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.33-0.94; overuse: adjusted odds ratio=1.52, 95% CI=1.21-1.91). Having moderate to severe pain (ARRR=1.54, 95% CI=1.08-2.20) and the prescribing of an anxiolytic or hypnotic (ARRR=1.33, 95% CI=1.02-1.74) increased the risk of potential inappropriate antidepressant use. Potential problems with the use of antidepressants were frequently observed in older U.S. veteran CLC residents. Future studies are needed to examine the true risks and benefits of antidepressant use in CLC and non-VA nursing homes. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia |