OBJECTIVE This study examined associations between functional polymorphism (Val(108/158) Met) in the catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and eye tracking measures in schizophrenia. METHOD Predictive pursuit and closed-loop gains of 62 patients with schizophrenia and 53 healthy comparison subjects with Val-Val, Val-Met, and Met-Met genotypes were compared. RESULTS There was a significan...

BACKGROUND The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene contains a functional polymorphism, Val158Met, that has been found to influence human pain perception. In one study fibromyalgia was less likely among those with Val/Val genotype. METHODS In the 1995-97 Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), the association between Val/Met polymorphism at the COMT gene and chronic musculoskeletal complaints...

The valentino (val) mutation in zebrafish perturbs hindbrain patterning and, as a secondary consequence, also alters development of the inner ear. We have examined the relationship between these defects and expression of fgf3 and fgf8 in the hindbrain. The otic vesicle in val/val mutants is smaller than normal, yet produces nearly twice the normal number of hair cells, and some hair cells are p...

A 45 kb DNA sequencing analysis from Streptomyces hygroscopicus 5008 involved in validamycin A (VAL-A) biosynthesis revealed 16 structural genes, 2 regulatory genes, 5 genes related transport, transposition/integration or tellurium resistance; another 4 genes had no obvious identity. The VAL-A biosynthetic pathway was proposed, with assignment of the required genetic functions confined to the s...

PURPOSE This study investigated the relationships among the plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites, the clinical response to duloxetine treatment, and Val158Met polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Sixty-four patients and 30 healthy control subjects were recruited. Major depressive episodes were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Intervie...

We hypothesized that aliskiren provides renoprotection in diabetic animals that did not receive sufficient renoprotection by AT1-receptor antagonist treatment. Type 2 diabetic KKAy mice were treated with group 1: vehicle or group 2: valsartan (15 mg/kg per day) from 12 to 16 weeks of age. The mice were subsequently divided into 4 groups and treated with the following combinations of drugs for a...

BACKGROUND Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) is thought to be involved in the detoxification of reactive carcinogen metabolites. Numerous epidemiological studies have evaluated the association of GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism with the risk of prostate cancer. However, the results remain inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation, a meta-analysis was performed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL F...

Background/Aims: The substitution of valine by methionine in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF Val/Met) gene alters the intracellular trafficking and regulated secretion of BDNF. This study tested whether the BDNF Val/Met polymorphism is associated with bipolar disorder in Korean subjects, and whether clinical features vary according to genotype. Methods: The allelic and genotypic dis...

Genetic variability related to the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene (Val 158 Met polymorphism) has received increasing attention as a possible modulator of cognitive control functions. Recent evidence suggest that the Val 158 Met genotype may differentially affect cognitive stability and flexibility, in such a way that Val/Val homozygous individuals (who possess low prefrontal dopamine ...

Purpose The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of the relatively hydrophilic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) prodrugs, mono and di-valine esters (THC-Val and THC-Val-Val) and the amino acid (valine)-dicarboxylic acid (hemisuccinate) ester (THC-Val-HS), with respect to ocular penetration and intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering activity. THC, timolol, and pilocarpine eye drops wer...