Postpartum-onset major depression is associated with personality disorders

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to investigate the incidence rate of postpartum-onset major depression (PPMD) and to examine associated sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric factors, and personality disorders. METHOD: The study data were obtained from 302 women who delivered at a child and maternity hospital. We interviewed the new mothers on the first day of their childbirth and at 6 weeks postpartum. Major depression and axis II diagnoses were determined by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, and the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition, Personality Disorders, respectively. RESULTS: Nineteen (6.3%) women had new-onset major depression during 6 weeks postpartum. Postpartum-onset major depression was unrelated to age, educational level, employment status, planned or unplanned pregnancy, history of abortion and gestational complications, term of delivery, type of delivery, sex of the baby, and mother's breast-feeding. Frequency of primiparity and of avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders was higher in women with PPMD than that in women without PPMD. As a result of logistic regression analysis, the independent predictor of PPMD was the presence of avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that childbearing women with avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders have increased risk of new-onset major depression during the postpartum period.     

Evaluation of plasma adiponectin levels in young men with coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the relation between plasma adiponectin levels and other risk factors in a young patient population. MATERIAL AND RESULTS: We enrolled consecutively 69 young patients (< 45 years) with coronary artery disease in the study group. he patient enrollment period was between February 2003 and November 2004. The control group consisted of 42 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Anthropometric, lipid and other variables including adiponectin, fasting glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured in all subjects. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed to determine the differences between the groups, the relation between adiponectin and other parameters and independent factors that predict CAD. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of lipid parameters (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol). Mean plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the patients (P < 0.05).Among the risk factors adiponectin had a significant negative association with the plasma triglyceride level (P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed triglycerides and adiponectin as independent predictors of CAD.The areas under the ROC curves of adiponectin and triglycerides were not different (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We found a decreased plasma adiponectin level in young male patients with coronary artery disease. It may be a novel marker of atherosclerosis in young men.     

Serum lipids,lipoproteins and apolipoproteins levels in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

GOALS/BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a form of liver disease that is histologically indistinguishable from alcoholic hepatitis but occurs in persons who do not consume alcohol in excess. The objectives of this study are to measure serum levels of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins (apo AI, apo B), lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and to investigate the relationship with liver histology. STUDY: The scope of this study is composed of 36 patients (27 males, 9 females) with NASH, diagnosed by biochemical liver function tests, sonographic examination of liver and liver biopsy and 32 healthy adults as a control group (22 males, 10 females). Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apo AI, apo B, and Lp (a) measurements were taken in the study group and controls, and a correlation with histopathologic findings was searched for. RESULTS: Serum mean levels (+/- SD as mg/dl) of total cholesterol (201.05 +/- 34.48), triglyceride (225.94 +/- 156.50), and LDL-cholesterol (111.77 +/- 19.85) in patients with NASH were significantly higher than those of the control group (170.68 +/- 31.06; 138.81 +/- 49.96; 100.68 +/- 17.98; respectively) and serum HDL-cholesterol level (41.22 +/- 2.47) was less than that of the control group (45.06 +/- 8.32) (P = 0.017). The serum mean level of apo AI (151.54 +/- 30.90) in the study group was lower than that of the controls (160.62 +/- 22.11), but the difference was not significant (P = 0.17). However, the serum apo AI level in patients with liver fibrosis (140.62 +/- 35.62) was significantly lower than that of patients without liver fibrosis (164.57 +/- 25.47) (P = 0.01). The serum mean level of apo B (89.80 +/- 20.62) in the patients was significantly higher than the control group (73.25 +/- 25.39) (P = 0.004), but not correlate with liver histopathology. The serum Lp (a) levels in both the patients (13.09 +/- 9.61) and the controls (12.01 +/- 7.50) were not different (P = 0.61). Hypertriglyceridemia (above 220 mg/dL) had a positive correlation with steatosis of the liver (r = 0.333, P = 0.04) and a negative correlation with liver fibrosis (r = -0.438, P = 0.008). There was a significant negative correlation between apo AI and steatosis (r = -0.360, P = 0.03), inflammation (r = -0.364, P = 0.03) and fibrosis of liver (r = -0.418, P = 0.01). A positive correlation of serum LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.507, P = 0.002) and Lp(a) (r = 0.394, P = 0.01) concentrations with liver fibrosis was also noted. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities of lipid metabolism such as the increase of serum triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level and decrease of HDL-cholesterol may be the contributing factors in the development of NASH. The decrease in apo AI and the increase in LDL and Lp (a) in patients were correlated with liver fibrosis. Apo AI may be a serum marker for liver fibrosis in patients with NASH.     

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy is associated with less frequent mood and anxiety disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Aims:  The purpose of the present study was to examine the current prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders, and factors related to mood and anxiety disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Method:  The study sample included 83 consecutive patients with RA who were admitted to a rheumatology outpatient clinic. Diagnoses of psychiatric disorders were determined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). To assess physical disability and disease activity, the Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Disease Activity Score, respectively, were used.
Results:  The prevalence of any mood or any anxiety disorder was 43.4%. The two most common psychiatric diagnoses were major depression (21.7%) and generalized anxiety disorder (16.9%). Mood and anxiety disorders were unrelated to sociodemographic features, disease-related factors, and medications for RA except anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). These disorders, however, were identified less frequently in patients with RA receiving anti-TNF-α drugs compared to patients who did not receive such medications.
Conclusion:  Patients with RA frequently have mood and anxiety disorders, and anti-TNF-α drugs may be useful for the mental status of these patients.     

Effects of melatonin on Wi-Fi-induced oxidative stress in lens of rats

Introduction:

Melatonin has been considered a potent antioxidant that detoxifies a variety of reactive oxygen species in many pathophysiological states of eye. The present study was designed to determine the effects of Wi-Fi exposure on the lens oxidant, antioxidant redox systems, as well as the possible protective effects of melatonin on the lens injury induced by electromagnetic radiation (EMR).

Materials and Methods:

Thirty-two rats were used in the current study and they were randomly divided into four equal groups as follows: First and second groups were cage-control and sham-control rats. Rats in third group were exposed to Wi-Fi (2.45 GHz) for duration of 60 min/day for 30 days. As in the third group, the fourth group was treated with melatonin. The one-hour exposure to irradiation in second, third and fourth took place at noon each day.

Results:

Lipid peroxidation levels in the lens were slightly higher in third (Wi-Fi) group than in cage and sham control groups although their concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by melatonin supplementation. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in Wi-Fi group than in cage and sham control groups although GSH-Px (P < 0.01) and reduced glutathione (P < 0.05) values were significantly higher in Wi-Fi + melatonin group than in Wi-Fi group.

Conclusions:

There are poor oxidative toxic effects of one hour of Wi-Fi exposure on the lens in the animals. However, melatonin supplementation in the lens seems to have protective effects on the oxidant system by modulation of GSH-Px activity.