季节性情感障碍与光照疗法研究进展

季节性情感障碍，也叫“冬季抑郁症”，是指因气候变化而产生的一种情绪障碍，有着独特的发病机制，诊断的关键在于明显的季节性发作和自发的症状缓解。季节性情感障碍对于人们的生活有着显著的影响，医疗工作者应准确识别其症状特点，及时地进行治疗干预，教给患者健康的生活方式，尽量减少病症所造成的影响。光照疗法作为一种独特的治疗方法，在季节性情感障碍的治疗中有着举足轻重的地位。本文主要就季节性情感障碍的主要症状及易感人群、发病机制、治疗方法、预防等做进一步详细阐述。     

The solute carrier transporters and the brain:Physiological and pharmacological implications

Solute carriers(SLCs)are the largest family of transmembrane transporters that determine the exchange of various substances,including nutrients,ions,metabolites,and drugs across biological membranes.To date,the presence of about 287 SLC genes have been identified in the brain,among which mutations or the resultant dysfunctions of 71 SLC genes have been reported to be correlated with human brain disorders.Although increasing interest in SLCs have focused on drug development,SLCs are currently still under-explored as drug targets,especially in the brain.We summarize the main substrates and functions of SLCs that are expressed in the brain,with an emphasis on selected SLCs that are important physiologically,pathologically,and pharmacologically in the blood-brain barrier,astrocytes,and neurons.Evidence suggests that a fraction of SLCs are regulated along with the occurrences of brain disorders,among which epilepsy,neurodegenerative diseases,and autism are representative.Given the review of SLCs involved in the onset and procession of brain disorders,we hope these SLCs will be screened as promising drug targets to improve drug delivery to the brain.     

Poor Insight in Schizophrenia Patients in China: a Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Psychiatric Quarterly - Poor insight exists in all phases of schizophrenia and is associated with poor clinical prognosis and adverse psychosocial functioning. This is a meta-analysis examining the...     

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound ameliorates depression-like behaviors in a rat model of chronic unpredictable stress

IntroductionThere is an unmet need for better nonpharmaceutical treatments for depression. Low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a novel type of neuromodulation that could be helpful for depressed patients.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility and potential mechanisms of LIPUS in the treatment of depression.MethodsChronic unpredictable stress (CUS) was used to generate rats with depression‐like features that were treated with four weeks of LIPUS stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Depression‐like behaviors were assessed with the sucrose preference, forced swim, and open field tests. BDNF/mTORC1 signaling was examined by Western blot to investigate this potential molecular mechanism. The safety of LIPUS was evaluated using hematoxylin‐eosin and Nissl staining.ResultsFour weeks of LIPUS stimulation significantly increased sucrose preference and reduced forced swim immobility time in CUS rats. LIPUS also partially reversed the molecular effects of CUS that included decreased levels of BDNF, phosphorylated tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB), extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), and S6 kinase (S6K). Moreover, histological staining revealed no gross tissue damage.ConclusionsChronic LIPUS stimulation can effectively and safely improve depression‐like behaviors in CUS rats. The underlying mechanisms may be related to enhancement of BDNF/ERK/mTORC1 signaling pathways in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). LIPUS is a promising noninvasive neuromodulation tool that merits further study as a potential treatment for depression.     

Barriers and facilitators in the use of formal dementia care for dementia sufferers: A qualitative study with Chinese family caregivers in Hong Kong

Understanding the barriers and facilitators in the use of formal dementia care for dementia sufferers is crucial. However, such studies have largely been conducted in Western countries, and current evidence is not fully applicable to Asian societies. This qualitative enquiry aims to identify the barriers and facilitators for family caregivers of persons with dementia (PwDs) to use relevant services at communities in Hong Kong. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 15 PwDs were conducted in three elderly care centres. The content analysis of transcribed audiotaped interviews revealed various barriers related to financial support, service availability and accessibility, life burden, and referral, and facilitators about family responsibility, perceived benefits, and caring relations. The culture rooted in Confucianism with a British melioration may play an important role in shaping PwDs’ experiences in the use of dementia services in Hong Kong. Cultural sensitive services could be attempted to attract more PwDs to utilise them.     

青少年网络成瘾的研究现状

随着信息化时代的到来，互联网作为信息科学技术的产物，普及率逐年递增。个体与互联网之间的关系构成了一个全新的单元，在其中扮演着重要角色。网络在带来前所未有便利的同时，网络成瘾作为一种新的成瘾现象已经受到广泛关注。广大青少年人群正处在生理和心理发展的一个既重要又特殊的时期，同时也是对文化知识进行选择的一个关键性阶段，心理和生理状态尚未成熟和稳定，很容易出现网络成瘾情况。调查显示青少年网民数量在网民年龄结构比中所占的比例最高。本文对青少年网络成瘾研究现况从多方面进行综述。