scholarly journals SULFATION PATHWAYS: The steroid sulfate axis and its relationship to maternal behaviour and mental health

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. T199-T210 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Davies
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ◽  
Maternal Behaviour ◽  
Steroid Sulfatase ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Model Studies ◽  
Sulfated Steroids ◽  
Biological Substrates ◽  
Steroid Sulfate

Steroid hormones can exist in functionally dissociable sulfated and non-sulfated (free) forms and can exert profound effects on numerous aspects of mammalian physiology; the ratio of free-to-sulfated steroids is governed by the antagonistic actions of steroid sulfatase (STS) and sulfotransferase (SULT) enzymes. Here, I examine evidence from human and animal model studies, which suggests that STS and its major substrate (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, DHEAS) and product (DHEA) can influence brain function, behaviour and mental health, before summarising how the activity of this axis varies throughout mammalian pregnancy and the postpartum period. I then consider how the steroid sulfate axis might impact upon normal maternal behaviour and how its dysfunction might contribute towards risk of postpartum psychiatric illness. Understanding the biological substrates underlying normal and abnormal maternal behaviour will be important for maximising the wellbeing of new mothers and their offspring.

The Psychophysiology of Anxiety and Mood Disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 225 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Lang ◽  
Lisa M. McTeague ◽  
Margaret M. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Physiological Reactivity ◽  
Research Domain Criteria ◽  
Diagnostic Systems ◽  
Psychophysiological Reactivity ◽  
Diagnostic Categories ◽  
New Research ◽  
Research Domain

Abstract. Several decades of research are reviewed, assessing patterns of psychophysiological reactivity in anxiety patients responding to a fear/threat imagery challenge. Findings show substantive differences in these measures within principal diagnostic categories, questioning the reliability and categorical specificity of current diagnostic systems. Following a new research framework (US National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], Research Domain Criteria [RDoC]; Cuthbert & Insel, 2013 ), dimensional patterns of physiological reactivity are explored in a large sample of anxiety and mood disorder patients. Patients’ responses (e.g., startle reflex, heart rate) during fear/threat imagery varied significantly with higher questionnaire measured “negative affect,” stress history, and overall life dysfunction – bio-marking disorder groups, independent of Diagnostic and Statistical Manuals (DSM). The review concludes with a description of new research, currently underway, exploring brain function indices (structure activation, circuit connectivity) as potential biological classifiers (collectively with the reflex physiology) of anxiety and mood pathology.

scholarly journals Steroid sulfatase deficiency causes cellular senescence and abnormal differentiation by inducing Yippee-like 3 expression in human keratinocytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyoung-Seok Baek ◽  
Tae-Uk Kwon ◽  
Sangyun Shin ◽  
Yeo-Jung Kwon ◽  
Young-Jin Chun
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Senescence ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Human Keratinocytes ◽  
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ◽  
Steroid Sulfatase ◽  
Cholesterol Sulfate ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Estrone Sulfate ◽  
Breast And Prostate Cancer ◽  
Related Proteins

AbstractHuman steroid sulfatase (STS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), estrone sulfate (E1S), and cholesterol sulfate. Abnormal expression of STS causes several diseases including colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer and refractory skin disease. In particular, accumulation of intracellular cholesterol sulfate by STS deficiency leads to a skin disorder with abnormal keratinization called X-linked ichthyosis (XLI). To determine the detailed mechanisms of XLI, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis using human keratinocyte HaCaT cells treated with cholesterol and cholesterol sulfate. Of the genes with expression changes greater than 1.5-fold, Yippee-like 3 (YPEL3), a factor expected to affect cell differentiation, was found. Induction of YPEL3 causes permanent growth arrest, cellular senescence, and inhibition of metastasis in normal and tumor cells. In this study, we demonstrate that YPEL3 expression was induced by STS deficiency and, using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, a partial knock-out (STS+/−) cell line was constructed to establish a disease model for XLI studies. Furthermore, we show that increased expression of YPEL3 in STS-deficient cell lines promoted cellular senescence and expression of keratinization-related proteins such as involucrin and loricrin. Our results suggest that upregulation of YPEL3 expression by STS deficiency may play a crucial role in inducing cellular senescence and abnormal differentiation in human keratinocytes.

scholarly journals Digital Health Needs of Women With Postpartum Depression: Focus Group Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madison E Lackie ◽  
Julia S Parrilla ◽  
Brynn M Lavery ◽  
Andrea L Kennedy ◽  
Deirdre Ryan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Psychosocial Skills

BACKGROUND Although approximately 10% of new mothers in Canada develop postpartum depression (PPD), they face many barriers when accessing care. eHealth offers a unique opportunity to provide psychosocial skills and support to new mothers; however, patient populations are not consistently engaged in eHealth development processes. Thus, the diversity of women’s backgrounds and needs are often not reflected in existing tools. OBJECTIVE This study aims to engage women from a variety of backgrounds and locations around British Columbia (BC) who have previously experienced PPD to determine the unmet psychoeducational needs of women with PPD and how a web-enabled platform used to deliver psychosocial skills and education to assist in the management of PPD could fulfill those needs. METHODS Focus groups were conducted in 7 cities across BC with a total of 31 women (mean age 34.5 years, SD 4.9), with each group ranging from 2-7 participants. Focus groups were cofacilitated by the study coordinator and a local service provider in each community using a semistructured guide to discuss participants’ needs, ideas, and opinions as they relate to the use of technology in PPD management. Transcripts were approached inductively using thematic analysis to identify themes and qualitative description to frame what was observed in the data. RESULTS A total of 5 themes were identified: bridging gaps to meet needs; providing validation to combat stigma; nurturing capacity to cope, manage, and/or reach wellness; empowering people to take ownership over their mental health; and offering customization to ensure relevance. Each theme identified a need (eg, combatting stigma) and a way to address that need using a web-enabled intervention (eg, providing validation). At the intersection of these themes was the overarching value of promoting agency for women experiencing PPD. CONCLUSIONS Ultimately, new mothers require accessible mental health care that promotes their agency in mental health care decision making. Our participants believed that a web-enabled intervention could help meet this need. These data will be used to guide the design of such an intervention, with the eventual implementation of this resource as a first-line management option for PPD.

4. Risk factors

2020 ◽  
pp. 74-104
Author(s):  
Kathleen Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Sugar ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Physiological Factors ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Brain

Would everyone get dementia if we lived long enough? ‘Risk factors’ focuses on the genetic, environmental, and physiological factors that makes dementia more or less likely to affect us. The media often distorts scientific findings with false correlations. We must be aware of these ourselves, particularly in relation to cause and effect; a factor that we may see as a cause of dementia might be a symptom. Risk factors include age, overall poor physical and mental health, blood sugar, blood and brain function, inflammation, and not using the brain. Many of these can be modified, even the effects of ageing, but there is no single cause or one-size-fits-all solution.

Perinatal mental health provision across the UK

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 528-534
Author(s):  
David Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Perinatal Mental Health ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Health Visitors ◽  
The Uk

A critical report has found that many new mothers still do not know where to turn for help and support with their mental health. Dave Hancock looks into the implications for health visitors and service provision around the country

scholarly journals Mental health issues in pregnant women in Nepal

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-501
Author(s):  
Edwin Van Teijlingen ◽  
Padam Simkhada ◽  
Bhimsen Devkota ◽  
Padmadharini Fanning ◽  
Jillian Ireland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Area Of Concern ◽  
The Uk

Mental health of pregnant women and new mothers is a growing area of concern in both low- and high-income countries. Maternity services in the UK, for example, have focused more attention on maternal mental health. We recognise that pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period is a time of major psychological and social change for women.

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