The Search for Biological Markers in Psychiatry‏

marking with comment to check out references further

Some of the references are available free full text on the Internet.

Enjoy.

Regarding the blood sugar advertizement, I am glad that they posted that with my article. Blood sugar is relevant here, as is brain sugar. Mental illness has symptoms similar to hypoglycemia.

Thank you so much for sharing with Sadies Points

U R welcome.

Iam really with you on this one. The side effects of the meds that we take should really be examined closely before we take them/doctors prescribe them!

Amen.

Comment on: Olson, Craig. The Search for Biological Markers in Psychiatry, April 25, 2012. Gather[online]. 2012. Available from: Return to Top

Thanks for the information. That is a big molecule! :) You would probably like some of these drawing programs, Website.

If you don't mind, I would like to make the following statement.

As a patient, I am intimately aware of the negative side effects of pharmaceuticals and "chemicals" in general. As you may know, chemicals can be quite destructive to the human biological process. As such, even those that are "orthodox" can be dangerous. A person with a divergent metabolic pathway could be endangering their body if they consume a chemical, even natural, if it feeds that pathway and, as a consequence, causes production of a dangerous intermediate. As such, I am careful about consumption, and believe it is wise to talk to a physician before consuming excess chemicals, which include vitamins.

I have not studied the relationship of Tryptophan-Kynurenine, but I found an article and abstract of a review by Dr. Gregory F. Oxenkrug from Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center Usually, I do not trust one author and try to find competing and critical reviews. When I do this, I attempt to gain an understanding for the "initial" reasons of research. I am busy though so I leave that up to another reader. With that said, I did find the following. Some readers may find the information enjoyable. I only skimmed.

Oxenkrug, Gregory F., PhD. Tryptophan-Kynurenine Metabolism as a Common Mediator of Genetic and Environmental Impacts in Major Depressive Disorder: The Serotonin Hypothesis Revisited 40 Years Later. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci.[online]. 2010. vol 47(1). pp. 56-63. Available from: Article

Oxenkrug, Gregory F. Metabolic syndrome, age-associated neuroendocrine disorders, and dysregulation of tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism. Ann NY Acad Sci.[online]. Jun 2010. Abstract Available from: Article

I also found a National Academies Press publication, "The Role of Protein and Amino Acids in Sustaining and Enhancing Performance", that very briefly discussed the kynurenine pathway and creation of diazo reactants that are excreted in the urine. I assume the later may allow a detection assay for kynurenine concentration, which may be associated with delirium in ICU patients, see below.

A Historical Perspective

Rapoport, Morton I; Beisel, William R. Curcadian Periodocity of tryptophan metabolism, 1968. J Clin Invest[online]. 2012. Available from: Article PMCID: PMC297241 doi: 10.1172/JCI105785
• The time of day can be important when evaluating tryptophan pathway.

Leklem, James E. Quantitative aspects of tryptophan metabolism in humans and other species: a review, June 1971. Am J Clin Nutrition[online]. vol. 24(6). pp. 659-672. Available from: Article
• The relationship between vitamin B6 and tryptophan metabolism is well established with regard to certain diseases and experimentally induced vitamin B6 deficiencies.
• Supplemental Vitamin B6 appears to influence the metabolic pattern of tryptophan degradation when a 2.0 gram or larger load of tryptophan is used.
- Vitamin B6 affects the pathway but I am not suggesting one take Vitamin B6. Rather, I am suggesting that one may be deficient.

Vitamin B6 and Memory

Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutreinet Research for Optimum Health. Micronutrient Information Center. Vitamin B6. Ipi.oregonstate.edu[online]. 2012. Available from: Website
• Vitamin B6 deficiency is common among alcoholics but not common among the population.
• Severe vitamin B6 deficiency include irritability, depression, and confusion; additional symptoms include inflammation of the tohgue, sores or ulcers of the mouth, and ulcers of the skin at the corners of the mouth (2).
-Potential Cognitive effects associated with Vitamin B6 and B12.
--Higher levels of vitamin B6 may be interrelated with memory processes.
• Although deficiency of vitamin B6 is uncommon, marginal vitamin B deficiencies are relatively common in the elderly.
• Depression: Clinical Trials have not provided convincing evidence that vitamin B6 supplemental is an effective treatment for depression (24, 28), though vitamin B6 may have therapeutic efficacy in premenopausal women (28).
• Drug Interactions: Certain drugs can reduce vitamin B6 levels. Also, high doses of vitamin B6 have been found to decrease the efficacy of two anticonvulsants, phenobarbital and phenytoin, as well as L-Dopa (4, 24).
• See "Linus Pauling Institute Recommendation" on daily intake for young women, elderly, and others.

Kyurenine and Delirium?

MacMillan, Leigh. Pathways to delirium in the ICU, April 17, 2012. news.vanderbilt,edu[online]. 2012. Available from: Article
• "The findings demonstrate that increased kynurenine activation is associated with longer duration of acute brain dysfunction. The kynurenine pathway could be a therapeutic target for reducing delirium/coma in ICU patients."

Some chemicals are good for you. These are usually natural substances such as vitamin C.

True! We just have to remember moderation and potential interactivity that reduces the efficacy of pharmaceuticals.

Nice graphics by the way! :)

....They have found genetic markers for schoz[herina, and bi polar and a few others.
..of the 10 that had the marker for bi polar6 had the disease, the other three, had either a sibling or parent with it....