Protective effects of curcumin towards anxiety and depression-like behaviors induced mercury chloride

The main objective of this work is to analyze the perinatal protective effects of curcumin (Cur) on the toxicity of inorganic mercury (mercuric chloride – HgCl₂) in the developing mice offspring on their behavioral and biochemical changes. Six groups of pregnant mice (consisting of ten animals in each) were allocated in a way that Group I consuming tap water was used as control. Groups II to VI were the experimentally treated groups in which Group II and III received 150 and 300 ppm of curcumin, respectively; Group IV was given 10 ppm of HgCl₂; and Group V and VI were also exposed to 10 ppm of HgCl₂ but concurrently they were also treated with 150 and 300 ppm of curcumin, respectively. Appearance of vaginal plug was considered as the first day of pregnancy and all treatment started from day one of pregnancy until post-natal day 15 (PD 15) and the mothers were switched to plain tap water thereafter. At the age of PD 40, the male pups were subjected to measuring the depression in the light-dark chambers, forced swimming and tail suspension tests and to measuring their anxiety in plus-maze and open-field tests. Subsequently, after behavioral tests, the levels of corticosterone and cortisol hormones were estimated in the plasma of the experimental offspring. Behavioral tests were measured in the HgCl₂ treated offspring for the light-dark chambers; forced swimming test; tail suspension test; plus-maze test; and open –field test showed significant alterations in their depression, anxiety and locomotory activities. Biochemical estimation of corticosterone and cortisol hormones in the plasma of these offspring showed significant depletion in their levels. Treatment of these offspring with curcumin significantly and dose dependently ameliorated all the behavioral and biochemical disruptive effects in the offspring due to HgCl₂ toxicity. In conclusion, curcumin ameliorates the toxic effects of HgCl₂ in the offspring during gestation and lactation periods. Thus, exposure to HgCl₂ to mothers during pregnancy needs careful monitoring for minimizing its toxicity. Curcumin appears to be a promising ameliorating agent for such HgCl₂ toxicity; however, further studies are needed for establishing these preliminary findings.     

伴与不伴边缘性人格障碍的首发中青年抑郁症患者认知功能、临床症状的差异及其相关性分析

目的:比较伴与不伴有边缘性人格障碍(BPD)的首发中青年抑郁症患者认知功能及临床症状的差异,并分析相关性。方法:选取自2017年3月至2020年1月于我院就诊的首发中青年抑郁症患者167例,按照纳入标椎及排除标椎,剔除21例不符合者,最终入组146例。将伴有BPD的抑郁症患者归为研究组(72例),不伴有BPD的抑郁症患者归为对照组(74例)。采用韦氏记忆量表(WMS-RC)、韦氏智能量表(WAIS-RC)、威斯康星卡片分类测验(WCST)对两组患者进行认知功能的对照性评估,采用症状自评量表(SCL-90)评估患者临床症状,Pearson相关性分析患者认知功能与临床症状的关系。结果:研究组的人际关系敏感因子评分较对照组升高(P<0.05)。研究组即刻记忆、语言智商数、操作智商数评分均低于对照组,而持续错误数多于对照组(P<0.05)。经Pearson相关性分析可得:伴有BPD的首发中青年抑郁症患者人际关系敏感因子评分与即刻记忆、语言智商数、操作智商数均呈负相关关系(P<0.05),而与持续错误数呈正相关关系(P<0.05)。结论:伴有BPD的首发中青年抑郁症患者较不伴有BPD的抑郁症患者认知功能受损更为严重,人际关系敏感性更高,且患者的认知功能与临床症状存在一定的关联。     

喉癌患者合并抑郁症影响因素分析及对策

目的：探讨喉癌患者抑郁情绪的现状及其主要影响因素,并提出相应的护理对策。方法：采用抑郁自评量表（sos）、社会支持评定量表（SSRS）以及自行设计问卷,对96例经治的喉癌患者进行现况调查。采用SPSS13．0软件进行单因素和多因素累积logistic回归分析。结果：本研究实际有效测评96例患者,发现抑郁者54例,占56．25％;本组患者SDS为（37．59：1：8．74）分,与全国常模SDS（33．46±8．55,n=1340）相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;单因素和多因素累积logistic回归表明性别、文化程度、医疗费用来源、病程、治疗方案及社会支持度与无抑郁症患者相比差异有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。结论：喉癌患者抑郁情绪比较严重,护理人员应采取针对性的护理对策,提高患者的心理健康水平,促进躯体疾病康复。     

Screening for the presence of FMR1 premutation alleles in women with fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, non-restorative sleep and cognitive difficulties that affects 2–4% of the general population. Recently a possible relationship between the FMR1 premutation and fibromyalgia has been pointed out. In attempt to gather more data we screened for the FMR1 CGG expansion 700 DNA samples from unrelated fibromyalgia patients. This data might be useful for evaluating the incorporation of this test in rheumatologic procedures for women with fibromyalgia. The observed frequency of FMR1 premutation carriers (3 of 700, 0.4%) is not significantly different from the estimated rate in the general female population (1/250–1/400) (P = 0.539, P = 0.716). Clinical examination of the FMR1 premutation carriers identified revealed that all of them had important neurological symptoms with regard to muscular symptoms, neurocognitive alterations and neurovegetative impairments. With regard to other clinical aspects of the disease the cases apparently did not differ from the average fibromyalgia patients. On the basis of our results an FMR1 screening among fibromyalgia female patients would not be recommended. However it would be worthwhile to further evaluate the different clinical presentations that fibromyalgia patients might present based on their FMR1 premutation carrier status.     

Weekend work and depressive symptoms among Korean employees

The purpose of this study was to quantify the association between weekend work and depressive symptoms in a representative sample of Korean employees. Subjects were 29?171 employees of companies in Korea. Data were obtained as part of the 2011 Korean Working Conditions Survey. Depressive symptoms were measured as a score of ≤7 on the World Health Organization Well-being Index. The association between weekend work and depressive symptoms was quantified using logistic regression, controlling for sociodemographic and work-related factors including the number of hours worked per week and stratified by gender. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher in employees who reported working at least one weekend day in the past month than in employees who reported working no weekend days in the past month. After controlling for confounders, including the number of hours worked per week, 1–4 days of weekend work in the past month (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 1.36 [1.18–1.57] in males and 1.32 [1.12–1.58] in females) and >4 days of weekend work in the past month (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 1.45 [1.19–1.78] in males and 1.36 [1.07–1.73] in females) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Weekend work was related with a significant increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Korean workers.     

Impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on eating behavior,depression and health related quality of life: A cross-sectional study in Riyadh

Background & objectivesPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinal disorder, and the greatest cause of infertility in women. Despite availability of individual data on impact of multiple endocrinal, reproductive and even metabolic factors in PCOS individuals, the data on the co-existence of BED and depression in PCOS patients with its relationship on the quality of life in Saudi Arabian females is not found. Hence this study is aimed to elucidate the implication of PCOS on eating behaviour, induction of depression and general health quality in Saudi Arabian population of Riyadh.Materials and methodsThis is a cross-sectional study carried out in multiple health facilities of Riyadh from January to March 2019. The study samples (494) were recruited by convenience sampling and administered validated questionnaire by trained research participants. The data obtained was analysed by binary logistic regression using SPSS-IBM 25.ResultsOf the total 494 women participated in the study, 23.48% (116) were PCOS individuals. The odds of developing abnormal health related quality of (HRQ) in patients with PCOS was significantly (P = 0.000, OR = 3.472) high when compared to non-PCOS participants. The odds of showing high binge eating disorder (BED, P = 0.007, OR = 2.856) and depression (P = 0.000, OR = 2.497) scores in PCOS participants were significantly more than patients who were not having PCOS. Out of the three parameters studied, abnormal health related quality of life possessed a higher influence of PCOS compared to depression and abnormal eating behavior.Interpretation & conclusionIn conclusion, the present study shows that women with PCOS are at a significant risk for depressive disorders, disorganized eating behavior and impaired quality of life. Therefore, necessary care and screening is required to minimize the impact of PCOS on already burdened individuals.     

Protective effects of dihydromyricetin on primary hippocampal astrocytes from cytotoxicity induced by comorbid diabetic neuropathic pain and depression

Activated astrocytes play a key role in diabetic neuropathic pain and depression. We aimed to assess the protective effects of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on primary hippocampal astrocytes cultured with high glucose (HG), substance P (SP), and corticosterone (CORT). Culturing with HG + SP + CORT resulted in damage to primary hippocampal astrocytes, which simulates the clinical damage caused by comorbidity of diabetic neuropathic pain and depression. Western blot, qPCR, and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that HG + SP + CORT increased P2X₇ receptor expression in primary hippocampal astrocytes, which was reversed by DHM treatment. Further, HG + SP + CORT elevated TNF-α, IL-1β, free Ca²⁺, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels, which was inhibited by DHM or P2X₇ shRNA treatment. Moreover, DHM significantly reduced the P2X₇ agonist-activated currents in HEK293 cells transfected with the P2X₇ receptor. These findings suggest that DHM can protect primary hippocampal astrocytes cultured with HG + SP + CORT from P2X₇ receptor-mediated damage. Culturing cells with HG + SP + CORT might be a viable cell model for cellular injury exploration of diabetic comorbid pain and depression.

     

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty

A simple, validated protocol consisting of a battery of tests is available to identify elderly patients with frailty syndrome. This syndrome of decreased reserve and resistance to stressors increases in incidence with increasing age. In the elderly, frailty may pursue a step-wise loss of function from non-frail to pre-frail to frail. We studied frailty in HIV-infected patients and found that ~20% are frail using the Fried phenotype using stringent criteria developed for the elderly^1,2. In HIV infection the syndrome occurs at a younger age.HIV patients were checked for 1) unintentional weight loss; 2) slowness as determined by walking speed; 3) weakness as measured by a grip dynamometer; 4) exhaustion by responses to a depression scale; and 5) low physical activity was determined by assessing kilocalories expended in a week''s time. Pre-frailty was present with any two of five criteria and frailty was present if any three of the five criteria were abnormal.The tests take approximately 10-15 min to complete and they can be performed by medical assistants during routine clinic visits. Test results are scored by referring to standard tables. Understanding which of the five components contribute to frailty in an individual patient can allow the clinician to address relevant underlying problems, many of which are not evident in routine HIV clinic visits.     

The effect of vibrissa deprivation pattern on the form of plasticity induced in rat barrel cortex

Plasticity was induced in the barrel cortex of adolescent rats by depriving every second vibrissa on the contralateral vibrissa pad.This produced a chessboard pattern of barrels in the cortex where each barrel receiving its principal input from a spared vibrissa was surrounded by barrels for which the principal vibrissa had been deprived and conversely, each barrel receiving its principal input from a deprived vibrissa was surrounded by barrels for which the principal vibrissa had been spared. After 7 days' deprivation, responses to the regrown vibrissae were depressed in layers II/III (49% of control levels) and IV (60%). Depression was far greater than that seen with "all vibrissa" deprivation, suggesting that activity in the spared vibrissae accentuated the depression of the deprived vibrissae. Depression was not due to subcortical changes as thalamic Ventral Posterior Medial (VPM) responses to deprived vibrissa were unchanged. The short latency responses in layer IV (5-7 ms) were unaffected by deprivation, but the number of cells responding at intermediate latencies (8-13 ms) was markedly reduced (to 66% of control). Potentiation of the spared vibrissa response was substantial in the near side of the neighbouring barrel (2.2-fold increase in layers II/III, 2.9-fold in layer IV) but had not spread to the far side after 7 days' deprivation. Sparing multiple vibrissae may increase the rate of potentiation since 7 days is insufficient time for potentiation in single vibrissa spared animals. Potentiation was not due to subcortical changes as thalamic VPm responses to the spared vibrissa were normal. However, in the spared barrel the response latency decreased by 1-2 ms. Only the cells responding at short latency exhibited potentiated responses (39% increase) suggesting that some thalamocortical plasticity is still possible at P28-35. These results show that chessboard pattern deprivation is capable of inducing substantial plasticity over a wide area of barrel cortex. All the major forms of plasticity seen with other vibrissa deprivation patterns were present, although no other single deprivation pattern studied so far causes the complete repertoire seen with chessboard deprivation.     

435例产妇产后相关激素水平的调查研究及闭经风险和抑郁状况的关系研究

目的:研究435例产妇产后相关激素水平及可能发生闭经的风险,并探讨其与抑郁状况的关系,为临床诊疗提供依据。方法:选取2017年3月到2019年5月期间我院收治的435例产妇为研究对象,根据出血情况将产妇分为出血≥400 m L组(n=26)和出血400 m L组(n=409),根据生产产程将产妇分为产程≥36h组(n=34)和产程36h组(n=401),根据催产素应用情况将产妇分为催产素用量≥20U组(n=41)和催产素用量20U组(n=394),根据是否发生产后抑郁将产妇分为产后抑郁组(n=69)和无产后抑郁组(n=366),检测并对比所有产妇血清中卵泡刺激素(FSH)、促黄体生成激素(LH)、泌乳素(PRL)以及雌二醇(E_2)水平。结果:出血≥400 m L组FSH、LH水平显著高于出血400 m L组,出血≥400 m L组E_2水平显著低于出血400 m L组(P0.05);产程≥36h组FSH、LH水平显著高于产程36h组,产程≥36h组E_2水平显著低于产程36h组(P0.05);催产素用量≥20U组FSH、LH水平显著高于催产素用量20U组,催产素用量≥20U组E_2水平显著低于催产素用量20U组,(P0.05);产后抑郁组FSH、LH水平显著高于无产后抑郁组,产后抑郁组的E_2水平显著低于无产后抑郁组(P0.05);不同组分的PRL水平比较无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:出血量≥400 m L、产程≥36h和催产素用量≥20U可能是闭经的风险因素,而产后抑郁可能降低产妇的卵巢功能。