Introduction: Schizophrenia(SCZ) and Bipolar disorder (BD) are frequently occurring and impairing disorders that affect around 1% of the population. Important endophenotypes in the genetic research of SCZ and BD are cognitive functions. Core symptoms for SCZ and BD are impairments in working memory, declarative memory and attention, all of which fulfill the criteria for an endophenotype. The FK506 Binding Protein 5 (FKBP5) gene codes for a co-chaperone of the glucocorticoid receptor and has been reported to be associated with cognition. Aim: The aims of our research were to determine the degree of cognitive impairment in patients suffering from SCZ and BD and to explore the association of the FKBP5 variant rs3800373 genotype with the cognitive endophenotypes. Material and Methods: Patients and healthy controls were recruited over a period of two years from the Psychiatric Clinic, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. Genotyping and neuropsychological assessments were performed for 263 subjects (129 SCZ, 53 BD, and 81 healthy controls [HC]). Neuropsychological assessments were performed for all patients with the Trail Making Test-A&B (TMT-A&B) and Digit-span forward&backwards tasks. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3800373 in the FKBP5 gene was genotyped using Infinium PsychArray Bead Chips. Results and Conclusion: SCZ and BD patients performed lower than HC in the TMT-A&B and in the Digit-span backwards task, while no differences were observed between SCZ and BD patients. While SCZ patients performed lower than HC in the Digit-span forwards task, there were no differences between BD and HC or between BD and SCZ. Rs 3800373 was not associated with performance in the TMT-A&B or Digit-span forwards&backwards tasks. SCZ and BD share largely overlapping neurocognitive characteristics. Rs3800373 was not associated with performance in the neuropsychological tests. However, given the limited sample size, the results do not exclude an association with the rs3800373 variant in a larger sample. Furthermore, as the analysis was limited to one SNP, the results cannot be generalized to other genetic variants in FKBP5.

Introduction: In the present study we investigated the performance, precision, and recovery of three different automated methods in determining cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 levels.Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 60 hospitalized female patients. As controls, commercially available samples were used. Cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 levels were measured using ARCHITECT CA 15-3, Elecsys® CA 15-3, and Vitros CA 15-3 immunoassays. A comparison of the results between the three methods was conducted, and the precision and recovery were analyzed.Results: Coefficient of variations (CVs), determined with low- and high-level-CA 15-3 control samples, and reproducibility values were: 2.56-2.80% and 3.10-4. 20% for ARCHITECT i2000SR immunoassay analyzer; 3.50-5.55% and 4.88-6.47% for Cobas E 601 analyzer; 3.30-4.0% and 4.30-4.80% for VITROS 5600 Integrated System, respectively. The percent recoveries were 95-98% for Elecsys® CA 15-3 assay, 93-105% for Vitros CA 15-3 assay, and 92-95% for ARCHITECT CA 15-3 assay. Method comparison results demonstrated correlation coefficient (r) in range from 0.994 to 1. The average CA 15-3 concentrations measured by Vitros, ARCHITECT, and Elecsys® were 157.24 +/- 329.75 U/mL, 100.91 +/-213.75 U/mL, and 80.93 +/- 173.29 U/mL, respectively.Conclusions: Tumor marker CA 15-3 in individual patients should be monitored using the same immunoassay method, reagents, and analyzer. Different immunoassays tested on different analyzers, often show large discrepancies in reported values for individual patients. Different immunoassay technologies quantify analytes of clinical interest using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. Thus, the usage of antibodies with different specificities could explain the differences in CA 15-3 serum values between different methods.

Introduction: The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in psychotic disorder can be explained by partial antagonism of homocysteine on NMDA-glycine receptor. Plasma concentration of homocysteine is an indicator of the status of the B-vitamins (folate, B12, B6). Folate defi ciency may have different effects on the neurochemical processes of schizophrenia. This suggests that the association between elevated levels of homocysteine and schizophrenia is biologically very likely. Methods: The study was consisted of 20 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. We investigated the levels of serum homocysteine concentration using AxSYM (Abbott), levels of folate assay is two-step immunoassay to determine the presence folate in human serum using CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) technology and Axsym Holo Tc is microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) for the quantitative determination of human holo TC in serum and determination defi cit of vitamin B 12. Results: The patients group has higher levels of homocysteine in compare with controls group for 3.85 μmol/L while the concentration of folate in the group of patients was lower for 9.17 ng/mL. The mean level of vitamin B-12 in investigation groups were in reference range 19.1-119 pmol/L, but patient group have lower average concentration of vitamin B-12 lower for 24.81 pmol/L compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our results showed that homocysteine concentration is inversely proportionate to folate concentration, i.e. as homocysteine concentration in serum increases, folate concentration falls. Shizophrenic patients with elevated tHcy level and low folate levels should have vitamin supplementation with folic acid.

Introduction: Schizophrenia (Sch) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder associated with impairment of cognitive function as a central feature, which is confirmed by a number of studies performed on patients suffering from Sch, where clinical symptoms and social functioning of patients are consequences of neurocognitive deficits. Goal: The goal of this study was to assess the clinical usability of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a screening instrument for cognitive impairment in schizophrenic patients, alone and in correlation with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Material and methods: This clinical prospective study included 30 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Patients were selected from Psychiatric Clinic, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo (CCUS) during 2010. For assessment of cognitive impairment we used Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: From the total number of respondents (n=30), 15/30 (50 %) were males and 15/30 (50 %) were females; age of onset were 23.5±6.69; duration of illness before hospitalization (mean±SD) 32.5±12.9. If we make a comparison of MoCA scale and MMSE under the limit values, then we get that there was 10 true positive, 4 true negative, 14 false positive and 2 false negative. This all leads to sensitivity of MoCA scale again in comparison with the MMSE of 41.7%, specificity 66.7%, positive predictive value of 83.3% and negative predictive value of 22.2%. Conclusions: Our findings provide preliminary evidence that MoCA scale performs well in detecting true positive but it is imprecise in the detection of true negative findings.