Biomedical subjects

L Bierut

Publications and source records attributed to L Bierut.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Initial genome scan of the NIMH genetics initiative bipolar pedigrees: chromosomes 1, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

A report on an initial genome screen on 540 individuals in 97 families was collected as part of the NIMH Genetics Initiative on Bipolar Disorder. Families were ascertained to be informative for genetic linkage and underwent a common ascertainment and assessment protocol at four clinical sites. The sample was genotyped for 65 highly polymorphic markers from chromosomes 1, 6, 8, 10, and 12. The average intermarker interval was 16 cM. Genotypic data was analyzed using affected sib pair, multipoint affected sib pair, and pedigree analysis methods. Multipoint methods gave lod scores of approximately two on chromosomes 1, 6, and 10. The peak lod score on chromosome 6 occurred at the end of the q-arm, at some distance from the 6p24-22 area previously implicated for schizophrenia. We are currently genotyping additional markers to reduce the intermarker interval around the signals. The interpretation of results from a genome screen of a complex disorder and the problem of achieving a balance between detecting false positive results and the ability to detect genes of modest effect are discussed.

Bipolar Disorder↗

PubMed1994

Progress in a genome scan for linkage in schizophrenia in a large Swedish kindred.

Genetic linkage studies of a kindred from Sweden segregating for schizophrenia have been performed using a genetic model (autosomal dominant, f = 0.72, q = 0.02, phenocopies = 0.001) as described in Kennedy et al., 1988. Analyses of the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASO), and short tandem repeat (STR also called microsatellite) data for 180 polymorphisms (individual probe-enzyme, ASO, or STR systems) at 155 loci have been completed using the MLINK and LIPED programs. Linkage to schizophrenia was excluded, under the given model, at 47 loci; indeterminate lod scores occurred at 108 loci. The total exclusion region across 20 chromosomes is estimated at 330 cM; 211 cM excluded by pairwise analyses and 119 cM previously excluded by multipoint analyses (Kennedy et al., 1989: Schizophr Bull 15:383-391; Moises et al. 1991: Genet Epidemiol 2:99-110; Hallmayer et al., 1992: Arch Gen Psychiatry 49:216-219).

Alleles↗

PubMed1993

ECT and TRH: cholinergic involvement in a cognitive deficit state.

In this paper we describe the findings from two preliminary experiments, a human and an animal study, investigating whether thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) can mitigate electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced cognitive deficits. Our results suggest further explorations of TRH and its analogs as possible therapeutic agents for these deficits. We speculate that the major cause of the ECT-induced cognitive deficits is a decrease in cholinergic transmission in the central nervous system. Treatments such as TRH, which enhance cholinergic activity, can reverse the cognitive deficits.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Electroconvulsive therapy.

Modern ECT practice has evolved far from its beginnings more than 50 years ago. ECT is effective, safe, and rewarding in the clinical setting. This discussion complements the 1990 APA Task Force report and elaborates on some of the clinical and scientific factors that could not be fully addressed by the report. The future of ECT lies in understanding the mechanisms by which it relieves depressive symptoms and causes amnesia and related cognitive deficits.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

PubMed1983

Plasmid vectors for the rapid isolation and transcriptional analysis of human beta-globin gene alleles.

We describe the construction and characterization of miniplasmid vectors that can be used to isolate and express normal and mutant alleles of the human beta-globin gene. These vectors, designated pi SV beta plasmids, contain a bacterial origin of replication and selectable marker, a 5'-flanking beta-globin DNA fragment that can be used for recombination screening (Seed, 1983), and simian virus 40 (SV40) sequences that allow accurate and efficient expression of the beta-globin gene transfected into mammalian cells. We show that pi SV beta plasmids can be used to select cloned beta-globin genes from a bacteriophage lambda library of genomic DNA, and that plasmids containing the beta-globin gene linked to the SV40 enhancer sequence can be excised from the phage, circularized and recovered by transformation of Escherichia coli. Analysis of the beta-globin transcripts produced by the recovered pi SV beta recombinant plasmids after transfection into COS cells and replication to high copy number, indicates that the beta-globin gene is accurately transcribed, but a substantial fraction of the transcripts are the result of readthrough from sites within the vector. In contrast, when these plasmids are transferred into HeLa cells beta-globin RNA is accurately initiated and little readthrough transcription is observed. These results indicate that HeLa cells are more suitable than COS cells for studying mutant beta-globin genes, even though the copy number of the pi SV beta plasmids is much higher in COS cells.

Alleles↗