Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review

The article reviews the current knowledge about the impulse control disorders (ICDs) with specific emphasis on epidemiological and pharmacological advances. In addition to the traditional ICDs present in the DSM-IV—pathological gambling, trichotillomania, kleptomania, pyromania and intermittent explosive disorder—a brief description of the new proposed ICDs—compulsive–impulsive (C–I) Internet usage disorder, C–I sexual behaviors, C–I skin picking and C–I shopping—is provided. Specifically, the article summarizes the phenomenology, epidemiology and comorbidity of the ICDs. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between ICDs and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Finally, current pharmacological options for treating ICDs are presented and discussed

Cationic Host Defence Peptides:Potential as Antiviral Therapeutics

There is a pressing need to develop new antiviral treatments; of the 60 drugs currently available, half are aimed at HIV-1 and the remainder target only a further six viruses. This demand has led to the emergence of possible peptide therapies, with 15 currently in clinical trials. Advancements in understanding the antiviral potential of naturally occurring host defence peptides highlights the potential of a whole new class of molecules to be considered as antiviral therapeutics. Cationic host defence peptides, such as defensins and cathelicidins, are important components of innate immunity with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory capabilities. In recent years they have also been shown to be natural, broad-spectrum antivirals against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including HIV-1, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and herpes simplex virus. Here we review the antiviral properties of several families of these host peptides and their potential to inform the design of novel therapeutics

Peculiaridades do transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo na infância e na adolescência

<abstract language="eng">Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has a bimodal age of onset and a range of treatment outcomes. Although most of the studies carried out so far have considered childhood and adult forms of OCD as the same disorder, more recent data have suggested that OCD children, as well as adults with an early onset of their obsessive-compulsive symptoms, may represent a distinct subgroup. This review briefly summarizes the most common clinical characteristics of the OCD presentation in children and adolescents, shows data reinforcing the idea that age of onset may be an important distinguishing feature and discusses the importance of a systematic assessment of age of onset for identifying more homogeneous subgroups of OCD patients

Chromosome 22q11.2 Interstitial deletions among childhood-onset schizophrenics and 'multidimensionally impaired'

Since its first description almost a century ago schizophrenia with childhood onset, a rare yet devastating disorder, has been diagnosed in children as young as age 5. Recently, the velocardiofacial syndrome, whose underlying cause is interstitial deletions of 22q11.2, was found in 2 of 100 cases of schizophrenics with adult onset [Karayiorgou et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 7612-7616, 1995]. No study has documented the prevalence of velocardiofacial syndrome and the 22q11.2 deletion in a population of schizophrenics with childhood onset. Here we describe the result of such a study in a sample originally selected for a trial of atypical antipsychotic drugs. A separate group of patients was also included in the study; they can best be accounted for as a variant of childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) and had been provisionally termed 'multidimensionally impaired.' Fluorescent in situ hybridization screening of 32 COS and 21 multidimensionally impaired patients revealed 1 COS patient with an interstitial deletion spanning at least 2.5 megabases.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Childhood-onset schizophrenia/autistic disorder and t(1;7) reciprocal translocation: Identification of a BAC contig spanning the translocation breakpoint at 7q21

Childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) is defined by the development of first psychotic symptoms by age 12. While recruiting patients with COS refractory to conventional treatments for a trial of atypical antipsychotic drugs, we discovered a unique case who has a familial t(1;7)(p22;q21) reciprocal translocation and onset of psychosis at age 9. The patient also has symptoms of autistic disorder, which are usually transient before the first psychotic episode among 40-50% of the childhood schizophrenics but has persisted in him even after the remission of psychosis. Cosegregating with the translocation, among the carriers in the family available for the study, are other significant psychopathologies, including alcohol/drug abuse, severe impulsivity, and paranoid personality and language delay. This case may provide a model for understanding the genetic basis of schizophrenia or autism. Here we report the progress toward characterization of genomic organization across the translocation breakpoint at 7q21. The polymorphic markers, D7S630/D7S492 and D7S2410/D7S646, immediately flanking the breakpoint, may be useful for further confirming the genetic linkage for schizophrenia or autism in this region.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo

O transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) é um quadro psiquiátrico caracterizado pela presença de obsessões e compulsões. Sua prevalência é de aproximadamente 2% a 3% na população geral. Os fatores genéticos estão provavelmente implicados na etiologia do transtorno. Os estudos realizados sugerem que há diferentes subtipos de TOC: TOC com história familiar positiva para TOC, TOC "esporádico" e TOC associado com a tiques. Os estudos de gêmeos mostram uma alta concordância de TOC entre gêmeos monozigóticos. Em alguns estudos de famílias observou-se um maior risco para TOC entre os familiares de pacientes com TOC. Os estudos de análise de segregação sugerem o envolvimento de um gene de efeito maior na etiologia do transtorno. Através de estudos moleculares, diferentes grupos de pesquisadores vêm tentando a localizar um possível gene envolvido na etiologia do TOC.<br>Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by the presence of obsessions and compulsions. Its prevalence in the general population is around 2 to 3%. Genetic factors are probably involved in its etiology. Studies suggest there are different subtypes of OCD: OCD with a positive family history of OCD, sporadic OCD, and OCD related to tics. Twin studies show a high concordance rate for monozygotic twins. Some of the family studies observed a higher risk for OCD among relatives of OCD patients. Segregation analysis studies suggest the possible role of a major gene effect in the etiology of the disorder. By means of molecular studies, several investigators have been trying to find a gene involved in the etiology of OCD