Maria Skibińska

Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland

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Publications (17)29.16 Total impact

  • Article: Suicide attempts and clinical risk factors in patients with bipolar and unipolar affective disorders.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Suicide is an important clinical problem in psychiatric patients. The highest risk of suicide attempts is noted in affective disorders. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to look for suicide risk factors among sociodemographic and clinical factors, family history and stressful life events in patients with diagnosis of unipolar and bipolar affective disorder (597 patients, 563 controls). METHOD: In the study, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and the Operational Criteria Diagnostic Checklist questionnaires, a questionnaire of family history, and a questionnaire of personality disorders and life events were used. RESULTS: In the bipolar and unipolar affective disorders sample, we observed an association between suicidal attempts and the following: family history of psychiatric disorders, affective disorders and psychoactive substance abuse/dependence; inappropriate guilt in depression; chronic insomnia and early onset of unipolar disorder. The risk of suicide attempt differs in separate age brackets (it is greater in patients under 45 years old). No difference in family history of suicide and suicide attempts; marital status; offspring; living with family; psychotic symptoms and irritability; and coexistence of personality disorder, anxiety disorder or substance abuse/dependence with affective disorder was observed in the groups of patients with and without suicide attempt in lifetime history.
    General hospital psychiatry 05/2013; · 2.67 Impact Factor
  • Article: Suicide attempts and psychological risk factors in patients with bipolar and unipolar affective disorder.
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    ABSTRACT: Suicide is an important clinical problem in psychiatric patients. The highest risk of suicide attempts is noted in affective disorders. The aim of the study was looking for suicide risk factors among personality dimensions and value system in patients with diagnosis of unipolar and bipolar affective disorder (n=189 patients, n=101 controls). To establish the diagnosis, we used SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) questionnaire, TCI (Temperament and Character Inventory) questionnaire and Value Survey - to assess the personality. The main limitations of the study are number of participants, lack of data about stressful life events and treatment with lithium. Novelty seeking and harm avoidance dimensions constituted suicide attempt risk factors in the group of patients with affective disorders. Protective role of cooperativeness was discovered. Patients with and without suicide attempt in lifetime history varied in self-esteem position in Value Survey.
    General hospital psychiatry 01/2013; · 2.67 Impact Factor
  • Article: No association between polymorphisms and haplotypes of the AVPR1b, CRHR1 and NR3C1 genes and depression with melancholic features in the course of bipolar disorder.
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    ABSTRACT: The present study included 130 patients with melancholic depression in the course of bipolar disorder and 732 healthy controls. No association was found neither for alleles, genotypes, nor for haplotype analysis for NR3C1, AVPR1b, CRHR1 genes and melancholic depression.
    Psychiatry research. 10/2012;
  • Article: Association between functional polymorphism of the AVPR1b gene and polymorphism rs1293651 of the CRHR1 gene and bipolar disorder with psychotic features.
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    ABSTRACT: An association between HPA-axis disturbances and susceptibility towards depression with psychotic features has been reported. NR3C1, CRHR1 and AVPR1b are the key components of this system. We investigated the possible involvement of the polymorphisms of those genes with the susceptibility to psychotic features in the course of BP I disorder. The study was conducted on 194 patients with psychotic features in the course of BPI. Control group consisted of 732 healthy subjects. Genotyping for NR3C1, AVPR1b and CRHR1 polymorphisms was done with use of TagMan SNP Genotyping Assays. The association of polymorphisms rs28536160 genotype TT of the AVPR1b gene and polymorphisms rs1293651 of CRHR1 gene with psychotic features in the course of BPI. The main limitation of our study is the small sample size of the group of patients with psychotic features. The results of our study suggest that the studied polymorphisms may increase susceptibility for obtaining psychotic features in the course of BP I.
    Journal of affective disorders 02/2012; 138(3):490-3. · 3.76 Impact Factor
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    Article: Influence of dopaminergic and serotoninergic genes on working memory in healthy subjects.
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    ABSTRACT: Working memory is an ability to keep information in short-term memory and manipulate them 'on line'. Working memory is also involved in complex frontal executive functions. The role of dopaminergic system in modulating working memory processes in prefrontal cortex is well established. Also the role of serotoninergic receptors is postulated. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the polymorphisms of dopaminergic (DRD1, DRD3, DRD4, COMT) and serotoninergic (SERT--serotonin transporter, 5HT2A, 5HT2C) genes' polymorphisms and performance on WCST in 200 volunteers from the Polish population. We found the association between DRD1, DRD4, COMT and SERT genes polymorphisms and the performance on WCST. The results obtained in the study indicate that dopaminergic and serotoninergic genes may play a role in modulating the executive function and working memory processes in healthy subjects. The pattern of this influence may be different in males and females. Moreover, the relationship between the efficacy of prefrontal cognitive function and genes polymorphisms may differ between healthy subjects and schizophrenic patients.
    Acta neurobiologiae experimentalis 01/2010; 70(1):86-94. · 2.11 Impact Factor
  • Article: Association analysis of tyrosine kinase FYN gene polymorphisms in asthmatic children.
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    ABSTRACT: FYN is nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that represents the earliest detectable signaling response after antigen-activated inflammatory cells. Studies in animal models of allergic asthma have shown that inhibitors of tyrosine kinases exert an anti-inflammatory effect. In the FYN gene, several polymorphisms have been described. There have, however, been no studies analyzing the impact of FYN gene polymorphisms on the course and severity of asthma. The aim of this study was to analyze the possible relationship between three polymorphisms (-93A/G, Intron10+37C/T and Ex12+894T/G) in the FYN gene and asthma. We analyzed 120 pediatric asthmatic patients aged from 6 to 18 years. The diagnosis of allergic asthma was based on clinical manifestation, lung function test and positive skin prick tests and/or an increased IgE level. The control group consisted of 187 healthy subjects. The polymorphisms were genotyped with use of the PCR-RFLP method. We observed an association of the -93A/G polymorphism and the presence of asthma (p = 0.014 for genotypes and p = 0.019 for alleles) and in the subgroup of 55 patients with severe asthma (p = 0.042 for genotypes and p = 0.021 for alleles). We also found an association of the Ex12+894T/G polymorphism in the whole group analyzed (p = 0.067 for genotypes and p = 0.024 for alleles), but not in the subgroup with severe asthma. For the Intron10+37T/C polymorphism, we did not find a significant difference between the whole group of asthmatic patients and the control group nor between the subgroup with severe asthma and the control group. In the linkage disequilibrium analysis, we observed a modest linkage between -93A/G and Intron10+37T/C polymorphisms (lod = 18.7, D' = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.51-0.71, r2 = 0.29); however, it was not strong enough to generate any haplotypes. The results may suggest a relationship between the FYN polymorphisms and allergic asthma.
    International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 02/2008; 145(1):43-7. · 2.40 Impact Factor
  • Article: Association of tumor necrosis factor -308G/A promoter polymorphism with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder in a Polish population.
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    ABSTRACT: Schizophrenia (SCH) and bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) are complex disorders with significant participation of genetic risk factors. Several lines of evidence point to the role of shared neurobiological mechanisms and common genetic background in SCH and BPAD. Immune disturbances have been suggested as contributing factor in the pathogenesis of both SCH and BPAD. The gene coding cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been the object of a number of association studies in SCH, with ambiguous results. Only 3 such studies were performed in BPAD. The aim of our study was to perform a case-control association analysis of the TNF -308G/A polymorphism in a Polish sample of patients with SCH, BPAD and healthy controls. We genotyped the TNF -308G/A polymorphism (rs1800629) by PCR-RFLP in 348 patients with SCH, 361 patients with BPAD and in 351 controls. We observed an association of the -308G allele with both SCH (p = 0.008) and BPAD (p = 0.039), and also with a positive family history in patients with SCH (p = 0.048) and BPAD (p = 0.027). For TNF genotypes, the association was only seen in SCH (p = 0.018). Our results may point to an association of the TNF -308G allele and -308G/G genotype with both SCH and BPAD, and to a relationship of the -308G allele with the risk of SCH and BPAD in patients with a positive family history. TNF could be potentially a susceptibility gene, shared between SCH and BPAD. Complex TNF gene studies--based on multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms and involving haplotype analysis--are necessary for the clarification of currently contradictory findings.
    Neuropsychobiology 02/2008; 57(1-2):88-94. · 2.67 Impact Factor
  • Article: Association analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms in asthmatic children.
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    ABSTRACT: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been described to modulate airway hyper-responsiveness and inflammation and was involved in late allergic reaction in asthma and higher levels of circulating BDNF were present in allergic asthmatics. In BDNF gene, Val66Met and C-270T polymorphisms were described. There were, however, very few studies analyzing BDNF gene polymorphisms in asthma. The aim of this study was to analyze the possible relationship between these two polymorphisms in the BDNF gene and asthma. Fifty-six pediatric asthmatic patients were analyzed, aged from 6 to 18. The diagnosis of atopic asthma was based on clinical manifestation, lung function test and increased immunoglobulin E level, and/or positive skin prick tests. The control group consisted of 109 healthy subjects. The polymorphisms were genotyped with the use of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. We did not observe an association of Val/Met polymorphism and the presence of asthma. However, we observed that Val allele is much more frequent in the male group of asthmatic patients (p = 0.06). For -270C/T polymorphism, we found significant differences between asthmatic patients and the control group (p = 0.041 for genotypes and p = 0.005 for alleles). The results may suggest a relationship between the BDNF gene and asthma and male gender of asthmatic children.
    Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 07/2007; 18(4):293-7. · 2.46 Impact Factor
  • Article: Polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene and performance on a cognitive prefrontal test in bipolar patients.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to test a possible association between the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and performance on a neurocognitive test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), in bipolar patients. Fifty-four bipolar patients were studied, 18 male and 36 female, aged 18-72 (mean 46 years). The number of perseverative errors (WCST-P), non-perseverative errors (WCST-NP), completed corrected categories (WCST-CC), conceptual level responses (WCST-%CONC) and set to the first category (WCST-1st CAT) were measured in relation to the Val66Met genotypes of BDNF. The percentages of subjects with Val/Val, Val/Met and Met/Met genotypes were respectively 81.5, 16.7 and 1.8%. Subjects with Val/Val and Val/Met genotypes did not differ on clinical factors except for the age of onset of the illness, which was earlier in Val/Val than Val/Met genotype (27 years versus 38 years). The performance in all domains of WCST was significantly better in subjects with Val/Val BDNF genotype compared with Val/Met genotype. The results suggest a role of BDNF in prefrontal cognitive function in bipolar illness. The tests of prefrontal cognition may be considered as endophenotypic markers in bipolar illness.
    Bipolar Disorders 01/2004; 5(6):468-72. · 5.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: Application of GISH and AFLP techniques for identification of Lolium-Festuca introgressions.
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    ABSTRACT: At present, breeding programmes aimed at combining advantageous traits within the Lolium-Festuca complex, are mainly focused on introgression procedures. One principal objective, is the transfer of genes conferring resistance to abiotic stresses from Festuca species (F. pratensis, F. arundinacea and F. glaucescens) into Lolium multiflorum and L. perenne germplasm. In our experiments, two different hybrids: triploid - L. multiflorum (4x) x F. pratensis (2x) and pentaploid - F. arundinacea (6x) x L. multiflorum (4x) were backcrossed twice onto L. multiflorum cultivars, and numerous BC2 progeny generated. BC2 plants from both combinations were tested in field and/or simulated conditions for winter hardiness and drought resistance. GISH (genomic in situ hybridisation) analyses were then performed on the most winter hardy and drought resistant plants to locate putative genes for stress resistance. Using resistant L. multiflorum genotypes with a single Festuca chromatin segment, it was possible to allocate AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) markers specific to that segment. Markers associated with genes conferring stress resistance facilitate marker-assisted selection programmes to obtain new, more persistent grass cultivars. Preliminary results of GISH analysis, to identify Festuca chromosome segments in L. multiflorum introgression lines and to find segment-specific AFLP markers, are presented
    Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters 02/2002; 7(2A):493-8. · 1.50 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Lack of association between the insertion/deletion polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene and schizophrenia].
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    ABSTRACT: The authors analyzed the association between polymorphism of serotonin transporter gene and schizophrenia. This polymorphism is characterised by a 44-bp insertion or deletion in the promoter region of the gene which influences its transcriptional activity. 349 not related patients with paranoid schizophrenia were included in this study. Using the SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders) a consensus diagnosis, according to the DSM-IV criteria was made by two independent psychiatrists for each patient. The control group consisted of 372 persons who have not been examined by psychiatrists. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood leukocytes using a salting out method. The polymorphism was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We received two products of PCR: 406 base pairs (short allele) and 450 base pairs (long allele). We analyzed genotypes and alleles of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in the group of patients and in the control group. We also divided our sample according to their gender and early onset of schizophrenia. The analysis did not show any significant differences between the studied groups. In the present study no association between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and schizophrenia was found.
    Psychiatria polska 40(5):925-35. · 0.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Association between polymorphisms of ins/del in the 5-HTT gene and T102C in the 5HTR2A gene and the drug response for escitalopram and nortriptyline in depressed patients].
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    ABSTRACT: The role of the Serotonin receptor 5HT2A and Serotonin transporter 5HTTLPR polymorphisms was suggested in the pathogenesis of depression and the therapeutic response to serotonergic drugs. The aim of this study was to find a possible association between polymorphisms of ins/del in the 5-HTT gene and T102C in the 5HTR2A gene and drug response for escitalopram and nortriptyline in depressed patients. We analysed 90 patients (21 male and 69 females), in the age range 19-68 years, suffering from depressive disorder of at least moderate severity meeting the research criteria of ICD-10 and DSM-IV for major depression. All patients were part of the GENDEP study and were given the written consent for the study. The project was accepted by the local ethics committee. The subjects were randomized to one of the 2 different treatment regimes: (1) patients who received the serotoninergic drug--escitalopram (n=51) with a specified dose range of 10-20 mg/day. (2) patients treated by a noradrenergic drug--nortriptyline (n=39) with the dose range of 75-150 mg/day. The efficacy of treatment was defined by a reduction > or =50% of the total score of the Hamilton scale in the 8th week of treatment. Genotypes for polymorphisms of the ins/del 5-HTT gene and T102C 5HTR2A gene were established by the PCR-RFLP method in the Laboratory of Psychiatric Genetics of the Psychiatric Clinic. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistica version 7.1. The results of the pharmacogenetic analysis, showed no association between the effects of serotoninergic (escitalopram) or noradrenergic (noradrenaline) therapy and the genotypes or alleles polymorphisms of the 5HTT and 5HTR2A genes.
    Psychiatria polska 42(6):903-14. · 0.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Association between polymorphisms of Val66Met in the BDNF gene and the response to escitalopram and nortriptyline treatment in the light of the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of depression].
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    ABSTRACT: Results from pharmacogenetic studies show importance of the relationship between response to treatment with antidepressants and polymorphisms within the genes involved in the neurotransmission and signal transduction. Changes in BDNF levels were reported in response to antidepressant treatment. The aim of study was to investigate a possible association of Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene with response to antidepressants in patients with depression. In the study, 90 patients (21 male and 69 females) were included, in the age range 19-68 years and suffering from a depressive disorder of at least moderate severity and meeting the research criteria of ICD-10 and DSM-IV for major depression. All patients were given the written consent for the study. The project was accepted by the local ethics committee. Patients were randomized into two groups: one was treated with the serotonergic drug - escitalopram (n=51) with therapeutic doses between 10-20 mg/day. The second group was treated with the noradrenergic drug--nortriptyline (n=39) with a dose range of 75-150 mg/day. The DNA was extracted from blood cells by the salting out method. The genotype for polymorphism of the Val66Met BDNF gene was established by the PCR-RFLP method in the Laboratory of Psychiatric Genetics of the Psychiatric Clinic. Statistical analysis was performed with the Statistica version 7.1 Results. We have not found any association between the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene with treatment response neither to escitalopram (p = 0.751 for genotypes, p = 0.798 for alleles) nor for nortryptyline (p = 0.607 for genotypes, p = 0.607 for alleles) The polymorphism of the BDNF gene is not likely to be associated with treatment response to escitalopram and nortriptyline in our group of patients with depression.
    Psychiatria polska 42(6):915-23. · 0.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Family based association study of DRD1, DRD2, DRD3, DRD4, DAT, COMT gene polymorphism in schizophrenia].
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to estimate of the transmission of six candidate genes alleles (according to the dopaminergic hypothesis of schizophrenia) by parents to their children with schizophrenia. The genes under investigation were the following: DRD1 (polymorphism -48A/G), DRD2 (polymorphism -141C ins/del), DRD3 (polymorphism Ser9Gly), DRD4 (polymorphism -521C/T), DAT (polymorphism VNTR w 3'-UTR), COMT (polymorphism Val108(158)Met). Method. There were 116 families in the group under investigation (the ill person and his/her both parents). The patients and their parents were examined using SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders). No mental disturbances were found with all the patients' parents. The DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes by the salting out method. Polymorphisms were studied by the PCR method (PCR-RFLP method for: DRDI, DRD2, DRD3, DRD4, COMT and PCR-VNTR method for: DAT). The statistical analysis of the frequency of transmission of alleles was carried out by the TDT (Transmission Disequilibrium Test) method. To analyse the transmission disequilibrium of alleles under examination, the Haploview v. 3.2. programme was used. According to the results obtained, no connection between analysed polymorphism of genes: DRD2 (-141C ins/del), DRD3 (Ser9Gly), DRD4 (-521C/T), DAT (VNTR), COMT (Val108(158)Met) and schizophrenia was stated. In the case of polymorphism -48A/G of gene DRD1, a trend was observed towards a more frequent transmission of allele A of gene DRD1 by parents to their children with schizophrenia (p = 0.091). This trend should be interpreted very carefully. There is also the possibility that other variant of gene in linkage disequilibrium with -48A/G polymorphism was responsible for the trend observed in this study.
    Psychiatria polska 44(3):405-13. · 0.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Lack of association between the insertion/deletion polymorphism in serotonin transporter gene, T102C polymorphism of the 5HT2A receptor gene and schizophrenia--family based study].
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to estimate the transmission of two candidate genes' alleles (according to the serotonergic hypothesis of schizophrenia) by parents to their children with schizophrenia. The genes under investigation were the following: 5HTR2A (polymorphism T102C) and SLC6A4 (polymorphism 5-HTTLPR). There were 116 families in the group under investigation (patient and his/her both parents). Due to the missing genotypes or unlikely inheritance (other biological parent or genotyping error) the number of analysed trios differs for particular polymorphisms (these trios were not excluded from the study, however they were not analysed in the case of a given polymorphism). The patients and their parents were examined using the SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders). No mental disorders were found with all the patients' parents. The DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes by the salting out method. The polymorphisms were studied by the PCR method (PCR-RFLP method for: 5HTR2A and PCR-VNTR method for: SLC6A4). The statistical analysis of the frequency of transmission of alleles was carried out by the TDT (Transmission Disequilibrium Test) method. To analyse the transmission disequilibrium of alleles under examination, the Haploview v. 3.2. programme was used. According to the results obtained, no association between the analysed polymorphism of genes: 5HTR2A (T102C), SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR) and schizophrenia was found. Thus it seems advisable to carry out further examinations of the role of these polymorphisms in schizophrenia by means of TDT method and the classical association method.
    Psychiatria polska 44(2):197-206. · 0.19 Impact Factor
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    Article: No association of three GRIN2B polymorphisms with lithium response in bipolar patients.
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    ABSTRACT: We investigated three polymorphisms in the NMDA receptor 2B subunit gene (GRIN2B) as a candidate gene for lithium response involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission. One hundred five bipolar patients treated with lithium for at least 5 years were analyzed. The lithium response was assessed as excellent - no affective episodes during lithium treatment; partial - 50% reduction in the episode index; or no response - less than 50% reduction, no change or worsening in the episode index. Genotypes for the -200G/T, 366C/G and rs890G/T GRIN2B polymorphisms were established using the PCR-RFLP method. Genotype distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for all three polymorphisms. No association was found between the three polymorphisms studied and the treatment response to lithium. The authors conclude that polymorphisms of the GRIN2B gene did not show an association with the treatment response to lithium in bipolar patients.
    Pharmacological reports: PR 61(3):448-52. · 2.44 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Family based association study of MMP-9 gene-1562C>T polymorphism in schizophrenia].
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    ABSTRACT: MMP-9 is a candidate gene related to the neurodevelopment hypothesis of schizophrenia. The aim of this research was TDT analysis of polymorphism -1562C>T MMP-9 gene in schizophrenia. Research was carried out on 147 trios (patient and his/hers both healthy parents). Genetic material was isolated from leukocytes using the salting out method. Polymorphism was studied with PCR-RFLP, statistic analysis was made using transmission disquilibrium test by Haploview 4.2. There was no significant association between analyzed polymorphism of MMP-9 (-1562 C>T) and schizophrenia. Insignificant association doesn't exclude the possible contribution of MMP-9 to pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Further research is needed to be carried out on bigger groups and other populations.
    Psychiatria polska 45(3):317-24. · 0.19 Impact Factor