Da Chun Chen

Publications (42)192.57 Total impact

• Article: The prevalence and clinical‐demographic correlates of diabetes mellitus in chronic schizophrenic patients receiving clozapine

  Ruiling Zhang, Wei Hao, Miao Pan, Chuansheng Wang, Xiuli Zhang, Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Fu De Yang, Thomas R. Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: Objective To examine the prevalence and correlates of diabetes in a large sample of Chinese patients with schizophrenia on long-term clozapine treatment, because this population previously has received little systematic study.Methods Two hundred and six inpatients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition schizophrenia criteria were recruited in a cross-sectional naturalistic study, and compared with 615 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, education, and body mass index (BMI). The patient's psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Diagnoses of diabetes were established through review of medical records and fasting blood glucose testing, or an oral glucose tolerance test.ResultsDiabetes mellitus was more common in patients than in the normal controls (22.3% vs 6.2%) (odds ratio = 4.37, confidence interval (CI) 2.76–6.92, p < 0.001). The prevalence of diabetes increased with age across five age-groups as compared with normal controls (X2 = 18.0, df = 4, p = 0.001). The PANSS total score and sub-scores showed no differences between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Logistic regression in the patients revealed significant associations between diabetes and a family history of diabetes (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.01), and BMI (p < 0.05).Conclusion Long-term clozapine treatment was associated with an increased and clinically important risk of diabetes mellitus in Chinese chronic schizophrenic patients, which is consistent with previous reports in Western populations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental 08/2011; 26(6):392 - 396. · 2.48 Impact Factor
• Article: Smoking and tardive dyskinesia in male patients with chronic schizophrenia.

  Xiang Yang Zhang, Ya Qin Yu, Shilong Sun, Xuan Zhang, Wenjun Li, Mei Hong Xiu, Da Chun Chen, Fu De Yang, Fengyan Zhu, Therese A Kosten, Thomas R Kosten
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  ABSTRACT: Interactions between smoking and movement disorders include the contrasting associations of more cigarette smoking with reductions in Parkinson's disease and increases in tardive dyskinesia (TD) symptoms. Here we examine the relationship between smoking and TD in a large sample of inpatients with schizophrenia. We used cross-sectional naturalistic methods to analyze the prevalence and severity of neuroleptic-induced TD in relation to cigarette smoking among 764 male chronic and medicated inpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. We administered a detailed questionnaire including general information, medical and psychological conditions, and smoking behaviors. We evaluated TD severity using the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS) and psychopathology using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The main statistical analyses used cross-tabulations for the prevalence of TD by smoking and multivariate regression analyses for continuous measures (AIMS and PANSS). We found that the prevalence of TD did not significantly differ between smokers (41%=237/578) and non-smokers (37%=69/186). Secondary outcomes showed a significant association between the AIMS total score and age, duration of illness and hospitalization times. Thus, smoking was not associated with TD in male Chinese schizophrenics, but consistent with previous reports, older patients with a longer duration of illness and more hospitalizations showed greater severity of TD.
  Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 06/2011; 35(7):1765-9. · 3.25 Impact Factor
• Article: Gender differences in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in chronic hospitalized patients with schizophrenia on long-term antipsychotics.

  Da Chun Chen, Ming Ai Zhou, Dong Hao Zhou, Mei Hong Xiu, Gui Ying Wu, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: Gender-specific relationships between diabetes mellitus (DM) and schizophrenia have previously received little systematic study. The results showed that the overall DM prevalence was 20% with rates of 17% (58/343) in males and 27% (46/172) in females (p<0.01). Furthermore, increased body mass index (BMI), abdominal obesity and antipsychotic types were predictors of diabetes in these chronic schizophrenic patients.
  Psychiatry Research 04/2011; 186(2-3):451-3. · 2.52 Impact Factor
• Article: Reduced plasma total antioxidant status in first-episode drug-naive patients with schizophrenia.

  Xue Feng Li, You Lan Zheng, Mei Hong Xiu, Da Chun Chen, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: Excessive free radical production leading to oxidative stress may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Determination of total antioxidant status (TAS) provides an index of the sum of activities of all antioxidants. However, there have been few systematic studies to examine the relationship between TAS levels and psychopathology in first-episode and drug-naive patients with schizophrenia. TAS levels were determined in the plasma of 60 never-medicated first-episode patients with schizophrenia and 68 healthy control subjects. The schizophrenia symptomatology and the depressive symptoms were assessed by the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD). The results showed that TAS levels were significantly lower in first-episode patients with schizophrenia than in healthy control subjects (159.8 ± 45.8 U/ml vs 211.4 ± 46.8 U/ml, F=39.5, df=1, 126, p < 0.001). A trend toward significant inverse correlation between TAS levels and PANSS negative subscore was observed (r = 0.25, df=60, p = 0.06). Our results suggest that oxidative stress occurs in an early course of schizophrenia and may have an important role in pathogenesis and perhaps, negative symptomatology of schizophrenia.
  Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 03/2011; 35(4):1064-7. · 3.25 Impact Factor
• Article: Increased serum S100B in never-medicated and medicated schizophrenic patients.

  Xiang Yang Zhang, Mei Hong Xiu, Cai Song, Da Chun Chen, Gui Ying Wu, Colin N Haile, Therese A Kosten, Thomas R Kosten
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  ABSTRACT: S100B is a calcium-binding protein, which is produced primarily by glial cells. It modulates the proliferation and differentiation of neurons and glia by affecting protective and apoptotic mechanisms. Recently, several studies have shown increased serum S100B levels in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting that S100B might be relevant to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. S100B levels were assessed using ELISA in the serum of 80 never-medicated early-stage and 82 medicated chronic schizophrenia patients and 97 healthy controls subjects. The psychopathology of schizophrenia was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Our results showed significantly increased serum S100B levels in both never-medicated and medicated patients compared to normal controls (both p<0.0001). S100B in never-medicated patients was also markedly increased, compared with medicated patients (p<0.0001). S100B changes observed were irrespective of neuroleptic medication, gender, age, and smoking. Increased S100B levels in the early stage of schizophrenia suggest that glial cell activation or structural damage may be part of a neurodegenerative process in schizophrenia. The lower S100B levels in chronic than early-stage patients further suggest that antipsychotic treatment may reduce this neurodegeneration.
  Journal of psychiatric research 12/2010; 44(16):1236-40. · 3.72 Impact Factor
• Article: Reduced status of plasma total antioxidant capacity in schizophrenia with tardive dyskinesia.

  Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Hong Liu, Ben Shu Zhang, Yu Wang, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
  Journal of psychiatric research 11/2010; 44(15):1111-2. · 3.72 Impact Factor
• Article: Nicotine dependence and serum BDNF levels in male patients with schizophrenia.

  Xiang Yang Zhang, Mei Hong Xiu, Da Chun Chen, Fu De Yang, Gui Ying Wu, Lin Lu, Therese A Kosten, Thomas R Kosten
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  ABSTRACT: Schizophrenia is associated with a significantly high prevalence of smoking. Upregulation of neurotrophins by nicotine is well established. Accumulating evidence shows that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The purposes of this study were to compare BDNF levels in smokers to nonsmokers with schizophrenia and examine the association between BDNF levels and psychopathological symptoms. Serum BDNF levels were measured in 139 male inpatients with DSM-IV schizophrenia: 102 smokers and 37 nonsmokers. Symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The positive PANSS symptoms were lower in smokers than in nonsmokers, while the negative symptoms were lower in those who smoked more cigarettes. BDNF levels were significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers (p < 0.05). Higher BDNF levels correlated with fewer negative symptoms and with smoking more cigarettes. The fewer positive symptoms in smokers and fewer negative symptoms in those who smoked more cigarettes may be associated with nicotine-induced upregulation of BDNF.
  Psychopharmacologia 10/2010; 212(3):301-7. · 4.08 Impact Factor
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  Available from: sdu.edu.cn

  Article: The study of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in Chinese schizophrenic patients.

  Dong Hao Zhou, Quan Zhi Yan, Xiao Mei Yan, Cun Bao Li, Hui Fang, You Lan Zheng, Chong Xi Zhang, Hui Jun Yao, Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: Accumulating evidence showed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Recent studies have reported that the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene may be associated with susceptibility for schizophrenia and age of onset of this disease, with mix results. In the present study, the BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism was examined in 387 inpatients (259 men and 128 women) meeting the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and unrelated 365 healthy controls (255 men and 110 women). The schizophrenia symptomatology was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Age of onset was defined as the age at which the psychotic symptoms first appeared. Our results showed that genotype frequency distributions and allelic frequencies did not differ between patients and controls. No interaction was found between sex and genotypes. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed a significance of the BDNF Val66Met genotypes on the age of onset (F=3.76, p<0.02), after adjusting sex, age and duration of illness. Furthermore, ANCOVA showed that the significance of the BDNFVal66Met genotypes on age of onset was increased comparing the Val66Met heterozygotes with the combination of Val66Val and Met66Met homozygotes (F=5.85, p<0.01). Our results suggest that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may not contribute directly to the susceptibility to schizophrenia, but to the onset of the disease. Furthermore, our results show the heterozygous effect of the BDNF Val66Met gene on the clinical variability of schizophrenia phenotype.
  Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 08/2010; 34(6):930-3. · 3.25 Impact Factor
• Article: The Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene is not associated with risk for schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia in Han Chinese population.

  Yu Wang, Jiang Dong Wang, Hao Ran Wu, Ben Shu Zhang, Hui Fang, Qi Min Ma, Hong Liu, Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Colin N Hail, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
  Biological Psychiatry 07/2010; 120(1-3):240-2. · 8.28 Impact Factor
• Article: Sex difference in the prevalence of smoking in Chinese schizophrenia.

  Xiang Yang Zhang, Rui Ling Zhang, Miao Pan, Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Thomas R Kosten
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  ABSTRACT: Despite a large proportion of smoker in Chinese population, few studies address the prevalence of smoking in schizophrenia in such a homogeneous ethnic group. This study examined gender-specific relationships between smoking and schizophrenia, which have previously received little systematic study. The prevalence of smoking in 510 inpatients with schizophrenia and 793 normal controls was evaluated. The relationships between smoking and retrospectively assessed measures of the course of schizophrenia were evaluated by clinician-administered questionnaires. The results showed that the gender difference in smoking prevalence was in the opposite direction for males compared to females between schizophrenia and normal controls. Male patients had a higher smoking rate than controls (81% vs 66%, adjusted OR = 2.3, p < 0.0001), while female patients had a lower rate than controls (5% vs 9% p > 0.05). Smoking was associated with a family history of smoking, a personal history of alcohol use and age in men with schizophrenia. Our present findings suggest a significant gender difference in the prevalence of smoking in schizophrenia.
  Journal of psychiatric research 03/2010; 44(14):986-8. · 3.72 Impact Factor
• Article: Association of the manganese superoxide dismutase gene Ala-9Val polymorphism with clinical phenotypes and tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenic patients.

  Hong Liu, Cui Wang, Pin Hong Chen, Ben Shu Zhang, You Lan Zheng, Chong Xi Zhang, Hua Qing Meng, Yu Wang, Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: Several recent studies that have investigated the genetic association between the manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene Ala-9Val single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and tardive dyskinesia (TD) have produced conflicting results. This study was to investigate whether this SNP was associated with clinical phenotypes and antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia (TD) in schizophrenia in a genetically homogeneous Han Chinese inpatient population. Genotyping was performed for the MnSOD gene Ala-9Val SNP in Chinese schizophrenia patients with (n=176) and without TD (n=346). The severity of TD was assessed using the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS), and psychopathology using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The frequencies of genotypes and alleles did not differ significantly between schizophrenic patients with and without TD (both p>0.05). Also, there was no significant difference in the AIMS total score between the Val/Val and Ala allele carrier groups (p>0.05). However, the PANSS negative symptom subscore was significantly higher in patients with Val/Val genotype (21.8+/-7.3) than those with Ala alleles (20.1+/-7.7) (t=2.32, p=0.03). While the MnSOD gene Ala-9Val polymorphism did not play a major role in the susceptibility to TD in schizophrenic patients, it might be associated with negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
  Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 03/2010; 34(4):692-6. · 3.25 Impact Factor
• Article: Smoking initiation and schizophrenia: a replication study in a Chinese Han population.

  Xiang Yang Zhang, Cun Bao Li, Min Li, You Lan Zheng, Chong Xi Zhang, Quan Zhi Yan, Wen Zhong Liu, Yi Min Kang, Fan Wang, Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Thomas R Kosten
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  ABSTRACT: Schizophrenia is associated with a greater probability of ever smoking daily and with higher rates of initiation of daily smoking after age 20 in Caucasian populations. The aims of the current study were to replicate that schizophrenia is associated with smoking and higher risk of initiating daily smoking before schizophrenia starts among a large sample of male Chinese patients. A survival analysis of onset age for daily smoking compared 776 DSM-IV male inpatients with schizophrenia to 560 male controls. The results showed that the cumulative hazard curves for age of smoking initiation in schizophrenia and controls were significantly different (p<0.001), even after controlling for education (p<0.001). After excluding the patients who started smoking within 5 years before schizophrenia started, the cumulative hazard curve for schizophrenia was significantly different from ever-smoked controls (p<0.001), even after adjusting for education (p<0.001). These findings suggest that schizophrenic patients have a higher risk of starting daily smoking suggesting that vulnerability to schizophrenia may be associated with a higher risk of becoming a daily smoker.
  Biological Psychiatry 12/2009; 119(1-3):110-4. · 8.28 Impact Factor
• Article: Increased S100B serum levels in schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia: association with dyskinetic movements.

  Xiang Yang Zhang, Mei Hong Xiu, Da Chun Chen, Feng Yan Zhu, Gui Ying Wu, Colin N Haile, Lin Lu, Therese A Kosten, Thomas R Kosten
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  ABSTRACT: Several studies show that calcium-binding protein S100B is increased in schizophrenia and may be involved in the pathogenesis of tardive dyskinesia (TD). We therefore compared serum S100B levels in normal controls (n=60), schizophrenic patients with (n=32) and without TD (n=50). Assessments included the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS) and the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). Serum S100B levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicated that patients with TD had higher serum S100B levels than normals and those without TD. Serum S100B levels were positively correlated with AIMS scores in patients with TD. These data suggest that increased S100B levels may be related to neuro-degeneration, associated with TD pathophysiology.
  Journal of psychiatric research 11/2009; 44(7):429-33. · 3.72 Impact Factor
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  Available from: sdu.edu.cn

  Article: Decreased serum BDNF levels in chronic institutionalized schizophrenia on long-term treatment with typical and atypical antipsychotics.

  Mei Hong Xiu, Li Hui, Yu Feng Dang, Tian De Hou, Chong Xi Zhang, You Lan Zheng, Da Chun Chen, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: Accumulating evidence showed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Decreased BDNF levels have been found in the serum of schizophrenic patients with mixed results. In the present study, we assessed serum BDNF levels in a large group of 364 schizophrenic patients (157 on clozapine, 89 on risperidone and 118 on typical antipsychotics), compared to 323 healthy control subjects matched for age and gender. The schizophrenia symptomatology was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and serum BDNF levels were measured by sandwich ELISA. The results showed that BDNF levels were significantly lower in chronic patients with schizophrenia than in healthy control subjects (9.9+/-2.0 ng/ml vs.11.9+/-2.3 ng/ml, p<0.0001). Lower BDNF levels were observed in patients treated with risperidone (9.3+/-2.3 ng/ml) compared to those with clozapine (10.2+/-2.0 ng/ml, p<0.001) and typical antipsychotics (10.0+/-2.1 ng/ml, p<0.01). Furthermore, a stepwise multiple regression analysis identified types of antipsychotic drugs (beta=-0.37, t=-3.15, p=0.001) and BDNF levels (beta=-0.26, t=-2.51, p=0.014) as the influencing factor for the positive symptom subscore of PANSS. In addition, there was a sex difference in BDNF levels in patients with schizophrenia (9.7+/-1.9 ng/ml for males vs.10.4+/-2.1 ng/ml for female, p<0.005), but not in normal controls. Our findings indicated decreased BDNF serum levels in chronic patients with schizophrenia, which may be related to clinical phenotypes, including gender, antipsychotic treatment and the severity of psychotic symptoms.
  Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 08/2009; 33(8):1508-12. · 3.25 Impact Factor
• Article: The novel oxidative stress marker thioredoxin is increased in first-episode schizophrenic patients.

  Xiang Yang Zhang, Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Fan Wang, Ling Yan Qi, Hong Qiang Sun, Song Chen, Shu Chang He, Gui Ying Wu, Colin N Haile, Therese A Kosten, Lin Lu, Thomas R Kosten
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  ABSTRACT: Excessive free radical production leading to oxidative stress may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Oxidative stress increases serum thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein with antioxidant activity recognized as an oxidative-stress marker. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of serum TRX levels in various stages of schizophrenia. Serum TRX levels were determined using ELISA from 60 never-medicated first-episode and 66 medicated chronic schizophrenia patients and 66 healthy control subjects matched for age and gender. The psychopathology of schizophrenia was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Our results showed that group comparison between first-episode and chronic patients and control groups revealed significantly increased serum TRX only in first-episode patients. Increased levels of TRX in patients experiencing an acute stage schizophrenic episode was also significantly higher compared to chronic schizophrenic patients on antipsychotic medication. Serum TRX was also positively correlated with positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Our results suggest oxidative stress occurs in an acute stage of schizophrenic episode and may have an important role in pathogenesis and symptomology of schizophrenia. Lower TRX levels in chronic patients treated with antipsychotics may have implications for treatment outcome.
  Biological Psychiatry 07/2009; 113(2-3):151-7. · 8.28 Impact Factor
• Article: Association between monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A gene variants and schizophrenia in a Chinese population.

  Hai Tang Qiu, Hua Qing Meng, Cai Song, Mei Hong Xiu, Da Chun Chen, Feng Yan Zhu, Gui Ying Wu, Therese A Kosten, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A is a critical enzyme in the catabolism of dopamine. Dysfunction of dopaminergic systems has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, suggesting that MAOA gene variation might be associated with the disorder. MAOA gene variation was compared between 234 Chinese schizophrenic patients and 121 healthy controls. Three polymorphic markers of the MAOA gene were analyzed using PCR techniques: two MAOA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), -941G/T and -1460C/T, and the variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) in the promoter region. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analyses were performed with Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. In single marker analyses the 941T allele was significantly associated with schizophrenia in men (p=0.01). Haplotype analyses revealed a significant overall difference (p=0.03) between schizophrenia and control men, with higher frequencies of haplotypes containing the major allele (T) of -941T/G and the short allele (3 repeats) of the VNTR polymorphisms. No significant associations were detected for females using single markers or haplotypes. These findings suggest that genetic variants in MAOA may play a role in susceptibility to schizophrenia in Chinese men.
  Brain research 07/2009; 1287:67-73. · 2.46 Impact Factor
• Article: Increased serum S100B levels in chronic schizophrenic patients on long-term clozapine or typical antipsychotics.

  Ling Yan Qi, Mei Hong Xiu, Da Chun Chen, Fan Wang, Therese A Kosten, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: S100B is a calcium-binding protein, mainly produced and secreted by astrocytes, and it mediates the interaction among glial cells and between glial cells and neurons. Recently, several studies have shown increased serum 100B levels in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting that S100B might be relevant to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. To examine the potentially differential effect of clozapine compared to typical antipsychotics on serum S100B and the relationship between S100B levels and psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia, 63 physically healthy patients with schizophrenia were compared with 50 age-, sex-matched normal controls. The psychopathology of patients was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Serum S100B levels were measured by sandwich ELISA. The results showed that S100B levels were significantly elevated in chronic patients with schizophrenia than in healthy controls (p<0.0001). As compared with healthy controls, there was a significant increase in S100B levels in patients treated with both clozapine and typical antipsychotics (both p<0.0001). However, no significant difference in S100B was found between patients treated with clozapine and typical antipsychotic subgroups (p>0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between S100B and standardized drug doses or the duration of taking neuroleptic medications (both p>0.05). In addition, no significant correlation was observed between S100B and PANSS total score and its subscale scores (all >0.05). These findings suggest that serum S100B levels in chronic schizophrenia under antipsychotic medication may be increased, suggesting that a dysfunction of astrocytes and/or oligodendrocytes may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Long term treatment with both typical and atypical antipsychotics may produce similar effects on the S100B serum levels, which however remains to be characterized in a large sample of first-episode, medication-naïve patients with schizophrenia using a longitudinal design.
  Neuroscience Letters 06/2009; 462(2):113-7. · 2.11 Impact Factor
• Article: Elevated serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in clozapine-associated obesity in chronic schizophrenia.

  Da Chun Chen, Ling Yan Qi, Mei Hong Xiu, Lian Yuan Cao, Fan Wang, Song Chen, Gui Ying Wu, Therese A Kosten, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
  Schizophrenia Research 11/2008; 106(2-3):367-8. · 4.75 Impact Factor
• Article: Altered interleukin-3 serum levels in drug-naïve and neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients.

  Mei Hong Xiu, Song Chen, Fan Wang, Lian Yuan Cao, Ling Yan Qi, Da Chun Chen, Gui Ying Wu, Lin Lu, Therese A Kosten, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang
  Schizophrenia Research 11/2008; 106(2-3):369-70. · 4.75 Impact Factor
• Article: The effect of vitamin E treatment on tardive dyskinesia and blood superoxide dismutase: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

  Xiang Yang Zhang, Dong Feng Zhou, Lian Yuan Cao, Chang Qing Xu, Da Chun Chen, Gui Ying Wu
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  ABSTRACT: Free radicals may be involved in the pathogenesis of tardive dyskinesia (TD). Vitamin E, a free radical scavenger, has been reported to improve symptoms of TD. The present study was designed to replicate this finding in a group of Chinese patients with TD, and to examine the effect of vitamin E treatment on blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), a critical enzyme in the detoxification of free radicals. Forty-one inpatients with TD completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of vitamin E. Twenty-two of the patients were randomly assigned to receive a fixed dose of 1200 IU/d vitamin E, and 19 were assigned to a placebo for 12 weeks. Patients were assessed primarily using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) at baseline, weeks 6 and 12. Blood SOD levels were measured by radioimmunometric assay before and after treatment. The results showed that the reduction in AIMS score from baseline was significantly higher with vitamin E treatment compared with placebo (45.9% vs. 4.3%). Blood SOD levels were significantly increased after treatment with vitamin E (P = 0.001), but no change with placebo treatment (P < 0.05). These results support earlier findings of the efficacy of vitamin E in the treatment of TD. Moreover, the efficacy of vitamin E may be due to its ability to increase SOD level, which may reduce oxidative injure in tardive dyskinesia.
  Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 03/2004; 24(1):83-6. · 4.10 Impact Factor