Neuroendocrine and Neurochemical Processes in Depression

2015 ◽  
pp. 189-200
Author(s):  
Phil Cowen
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Pharmacological Interventions ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Monoamine Depletion ◽  
The Many ◽  
Antidepressant Action

Neuroendocrine and neurochemical theories of depression have continued to be of importance in understanding pathophysiology and suggesting new kinds of pharmacological interventions. Monoamine theories still dominate the neurochemistry of depression and results from monoamine depletion studies suggest that in certain circumstances lowered activity of serotonin and noradrenaline pathways can indeed lead to clinical depressive symptomatology. More recent developments have implicated changes in the amino acid neurotransmitters γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate in depressed patients; the ability of the N-methyl-d-aspartate acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist, ketamine, to relieve depressive symptomatology rapidly has spurred basic research on the cellular mechanism of glutamatergic antidepressant action. The link between inflammation and depression has led to new kinds of immunological investigations in depressed patients and suggests the possibility of developing effective targeted antiinflammatory treatments. Finally hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis abnormalities remain a focus of interest, particularly in the context of the many medical comorbidities that frequently complicate chronic depressive disorders.

scholarly journals Factors related to age at depression onset: the role of SLC6A4 methylation, sex, exposure to stressful life events and personality in a sample of inpatients suffering from major depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Sanwald ◽  
◽  
Katharina Widenhorn-Müller ◽  
Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona ◽  
Christian Montag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Entire Group ◽  
Affective Neuroscience ◽  
Depression Severity

Abstract Background An early onset of depression is associated with higher chronicity and disability, more stressful life events (SLEs), higher negative emotionality as described by the primary emotion SADNESS and more severe depressive symptomatology compared to depression onset later in life. Additionally, methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) is associated with SLEs and depressive symptoms. Methods We investigated the relation of SLEs, SLC6A4 methylation in peripheral blood, the primary emotions SADNESS and SEEKING (measured by the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales) as well as depressive symptom severity to age at depression onset in a sample of N = 146 inpatients suffering from major depression. Results Depressed women showed higher SADNESS (t (91.05) = − 3.17, p = 0.028, d = − 0.57) and higher SLC6A4 methylation (t (88.79) = − 2.95, p = 0.02, d = − 0.55) compared to men. There were associations between SLEs, primary emotions and depression severity, which partly differed between women and men. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) indicated the selection of a model including sex, SLEs, SEEKING and SADNESS for the prediction of age at depression onset. SLC6A4 methylation was not related to depression severity, age at depression onset or SLEs in the entire group, but positively related to depression severity in women. Conclusions Taken together, we provide further evidence that age at depression onset is associated with SLEs, personality and depression severity. However, we found no associations between age at onset and SLC6A4 methylation. The joint investigation of variables originating in biology, psychology and psychiatry could make an important contribution to understanding the development of depressive disorders by elucidating potential subtypes of depression.

scholarly journals Preliminary Pharmacogenetic Study to Explore Putative Dopaminergic Mechanisms of Antidepressant Action

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 731
Author(s):  
Taichi Ochi ◽  
Natalya M. Vyalova ◽  
Innokentiy S. Losenkov ◽  
Diana Z. Paderina ◽  
Ivan V. Pozhidaev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Bipolar Depression ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Pharmacogenetic Study ◽  
Dopaminergic Mechanisms ◽  
Major Depressive Disorders ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
Antidepressant Action

Background: There is sufficient evidence that interference of dopaminergic neurotransmission contributes to the therapeutic effects of antidepressants in unipolar and bipolar depression. Methods: Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD 17) scores of 163 at least moderately ill patients with major depressive disorders were used to establish treatment response. HAMD 17 score status was measured before initiation, after two weeks, and after four weeks of treatment with various antidepressants. The possible association between response and genotype in a total of 14 variants of dopamine neurotransmission-related proteins was investigated. Results: DRD4 rs11246226 CA heterozygous patients were found with a greater improvement of HAMD 17 score when compared to homozygous C patients during 0–2 weeks and 0–4 weeks. Patients with MAOB rs1799836 heterozygous GA and homozygous A also demonstrated improved scores during 2–4 weeks and 0–4 weeks. Conclusions: The results are preliminary due to the limited population size and the small number of variants. Further research into the involvement of habenular dopamine D4 receptors in the antidepressant response is desirable.

scholarly journals A Mini Review: Recent Advances in Surface Modification of Porous Silicon

Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seo Lee ◽  
Jae Kang ◽  
Dokyoung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Surface Modification ◽  
Porous Silicon ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Developed Surface ◽  
The Many ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Biomedical Fields

Porous silicon has been utilized within a wide spectrum of industries, as well as being used in basic research for engineering and biomedical fields. Recently, surface modification methods have been constantly coming under the spotlight, mostly in regard to maximizing its purpose of use. Within this review, we will introduce porous silicon, the experimentation preparatory methods, the properties of the surface of porous silicon, and both more conventional as well as newly developed surface modification methods that have assisted in attempting to overcome the many drawbacks we see in the existing methods. The main aim of this review is to highlight and give useful insight into improving the properties of porous silicon, and create a focused description of the surface modification methods.

Diamond Films: Recent Developments in Theory and Practice

MRS Bulletin ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 28-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Stoneham ◽  
I.J. Ford ◽  
P.R. Chalker
Keyword(s):  
Film Growth ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Diamond Films ◽  
Electrical Contacts ◽  
Film Deposition ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Maximum Effect ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
The Many

The diamond films of the early 1980s presented two quite different challenges. First how could this new form of diamond be exploited technically? Second, how could this clearly nonequilibrium generation of diamond be understood and the understanding be used to maximum effect? We shall be discussing the ideas of theory and modeling, and we will show how they have contributed to the interplay of science and technology.The science of diamond films is the art of beating nature in the use of carbon. Theory gives the understanding to improve this art. One way in which we improve on nature is in new geometries: controlled growth over selected surfaces o surface regions. The coverage, defect density, microstructure, and rate of growth are key issues. Another way to beat nature is controlled doping. Could wmake n-type semiconductors or lasers using diamond films? A third direction might be routes to control interfaces. Grai boundaries and the regions between small, misaligned crystals affect thermal properties and electron emission. Difficulties with electrical contacts may limit the use of diamond films as semiconductors or insulators. Substrate-film adhesion can determine tribological performance.If theory is to play a role in controlling film deposition, we need to understand the role of theory itself. Theory can add value at several distinct levels. At the highest level, modeling has the potential to provide a substitute for experiment, especially when information is needed about behavior at extreme conditions. When the phenomena are very fast or very complex, theory can be used to interpret limited experiments. At a more modest level, even simple quantitative models can illustrate the many processes occurring during film growth. Atomistic theories of this type can identify the rate-determining steps and point to ways of influencing them. Mesoscopic theories, especially combined with macroscopic approaches like elasticity theory, can identify routes to improved performance.

scholarly journals TA Treatment of Depression. A Simplified Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design. The Case of “Giovanni”

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariavittoria Zanchetta ◽  
Laura Farina ◽  
Stefano Morena ◽  
Enrico Benelli
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Evaluation Methodology ◽  
Transactional Analysis ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Case Evaluation ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Depressive Personality

This study is inspired by previous case series replications of Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design which aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a manualized transactional analysis treatment for depressive disorders and depressive personality. We address problems and difficulties emerged in previous case series, such as: spending time in training a group of people to conduct the hermeneutic analysis, organizing the involvement of external judges to give the final adjudication, and dealing with inconsistencies between quantitative and qualitative data. For these reasons, this study suggests a simplified method to conduct the hermeneutic analysis that require one person only, maintaining its validity. Therefore, we integrated hermeneutic design with the pragmatic case evaluation methodology in order to follow pre-defined criteria in analysing qualitative material. Furthermore, we present a way to use the Script System to detect changes in depressive symptomatology and depressive personality. We tested this approach to HSCED in the case of ‘Giovanni, a 17-years old white Italian boy who attended sixteen session of transactional analysis psychotherapy with a white Italian woman specializing in psychotherapy with 2 years of clinical experience. The patient satisfied DSM-5 criteria for moderate major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.This is the second investigation which has evaluated the effectiveness of Transactional Analysis psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.  

scholarly journals The Many Faces of Astrocytes in Alzheimer's Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Monterey ◽  
Haichao Wei ◽  
Xizi Wu ◽  
Jia Qian Wu
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Reactive Astrocytes ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Current Therapies ◽  
Pathological Development ◽  
The Many

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and is the most common cause of dementia in an aging population. The majority of research effort has focused on the role of neurons in neurodegeneration and current therapies have limited ability to slow disease progression. Recently more attention has been given to the role of astrocytes in the process of neurodegeneration. Specifically, reactive astrocytes have both advantageous and adverse effects during neurodegeneration. The ability to isolate and depict astrocyte phenotype has been challenging. However, with the recent development of single-cell sequencing technologies researchers are provided with the resource to delineate specific biomarkers associated with reactive astrocytes in AD. In this review, we will focus on the role of astrocytes in normal conditions and the pathological development of AD. We will further review recent developments in the understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity and associated biomarkers. A better understanding of astrocyte contributions and phenotypic changes in AD can ultimately lead to more effective therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals From Translation Studies and audiovisual translation to media accessibility

Target ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Remael ◽  
Nina Reviers ◽  
Reinhild Vandekerckhove
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Translation Studies ◽  
Hybrid Form ◽  
Audio Description ◽  
Translation Practice ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The One

Abstract Recent developments in Translation Studies and translation practice have not only led to a profusion of approaches, but also to the development of new text forms and translation modes. Media Accessibility, particularly audio description (AD) and subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (SDH), is an example of such a ‘new’ mode. SDH has been evolving quickly in recent decades and new developments such as interlingual SDH and live subtitling with speech recognition bring it closer to established forms of translation and interpreting. On the one hand, interlingual SDH reintroduces Jakobson’s (1959) ‘translation proper’ while the use of speech recognition has led to the creation of a hybrid form that has affinities with both subtitling and interpreting. Audio description, for its part, cannot even be fitted into Jakobson’s ‘intersemiotic translation’ model since it involves translation from images into words. Research into AD is especially interesting since it rallies methods from adjacent disciplines, much in the same way that Holmes ([1972] 1988) described TS when it was a fledgling discipline. In 2008, Braun set out a research agenda for AD and the wealth of topics and research approaches dealt with in her article illustrate the immense complexity of this field and the work still to be done. Although AD and SDH research have developed at different paces and are concerned with different topics, converging trends do appear. Particularly the role of technology and the concept of multimodality seem to be key issues. This article aims to give an overview of current research trends in both these areas. It illustrates the possibilities of technology-driven research – particularly popular in SDH and live-subtitling research – while at the same time underlining the value of individual, human-driven approaches, which are still the main ‘modus operandi’ in the younger discipline of AD where much basic research is still required.

scholarly journals What happens to anxiety disorders in later life?

2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 74-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard JA Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Pharmacological Interventions ◽  
Measuring Change ◽  
Pathological Anxiety

Anxiety disorders decline in prevalence with advancing age but remain more common than depressive disorders. They are often of late-onset and there is frequent comorbidity with depressive disorders and physical illness. While anxiety disorders in older people are likely to respond to the same non-pharmacological interventions that have been shown to work in younger people, there is currently little formal evidence of this. Although there is some evidence that the non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic medication, buspirone, is effective against late life anxiety symptoms, clinical trials in older people with rigorously diagnosed anxiety disorders are needed. An anxiety scale with demonstrated reliability and validity in older people is needed for screening for pathological anxiety and for measuring change in older patients undergoing treatment for anxiety disorders.

Sustainability in Higher Education through Basic Science Research

2012 ◽  
pp. 56-66
Author(s):  
P. Yogeeswari ◽  
D. Sriram
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Basic Science ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Industrial Growth ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Basic Science Research ◽  
Recent Developments

Basic research in Universities is essential for a sustainable development. Recent developments in higher education have seen the inclusion of curiculum redesigned to serve the concept of developming young minds in the intrepretation, execution, and use of basic science research. The challenge for educators is to “demystify” research and teach in ways that are professionally meaningful as well as intellectually acceptable. The objective of this chapter is to bring in various case studies to prove the essentiality of basic research in higher education with specific concern over pharmaceutical industrial growth plans. Data on R&D in higher education can be broken down by field of science (natural sciences, engineering, medical sciences, agricultural sciences, social sciences, and humanities), by type of costs (current expenditures, capital expenditures), and by source of funds (business enterprise, government, higher education, private non-profit, and funds from abroad). Measures of R&D performance in the higher education sector are often estimated by national authorities, and evaluation methods are periodically revised. It is necessary to review the design and conduct of higher education R&D surveys to improve the comparability of these indicators.

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