Animal study on the role of serotonin in depression

1. In our series of experiments the role of serotonin in human depression was studied by using animal models of depression.

2. The results of these studies support the hypothesis that some types of human depression may be primarily due to an excessive transmission of serotonin at the synapse.     

Crossed cerebellar atrophy following cerebrovascular lesions

A neuroradiological study of crossed cerebellar atrophy (CCA) was performed using X-ray CT in 103 patients suffering from unilateral supratentorial cerebrovascular diseases. CCA was demonstrated in 9 (8.7%) of 103 patients. No difference between the occurrence of CCA in cerebral hemorrhage and that in cerebral infarction was found. CCA was seen in the chronic stage of cerebrovascular disease more than 3 years since stroke occurrence, and was found to be present more frequently and to a greater extent 7 years later. No correlation between the site of bleeding and the occurrence of CCA was found. Trans-synaptic degeneration of the corticopontocerebellar tract was considered in CCA following putaminal and combined hemorrhage involving an internal capsule lesion. However, in thalamic hemorrhage, retrograde degeneration within the cerebellorubrothalamic tract was presumed. CCA following cerebral infarction was seen in patients with massive lesions in the territory of the middle cerebral artery. Multivariate analysis showed that lesions of the parietal and frontal lobes appeared to greatly contribute to the development of CCA. As the degeneration and atrophy in the thalamus on the side of the lesion appeared early and frequently, it was suggested that retrograde degeneration of the cerebellorubrothalamic tract participated, in addition to anterograde corticopontocerebellar tract degeneration, in CCA following middle cerebral artery infarction. It is likely that CCA is caused by both transsynaptic degeneration of the corticopontocerebellar tract and the cerebellorubrothalamic tract.     

Association study of seven polymorphisms in four serotonin receptor genes on suicide victims.

A number of molecular genetic studies have investigated if serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes are involved in the pathogenesis of depression, suicidal behavior, aggression, and impulsive behavior. Existence of many receptor subtypes for a single transmitter permits a great diversity of signaling raising the possibility that they may serve as genetic markers for suicidal behavior. Most previous studies of suicide have analyzed polymorphisms of the receptors 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, fewer have examined 5-HT1F. We report a study of possible association between the polymorphisms in the 5-HT receptor genes (1A, 1B, 1F, and 2A) and suicidal behavior on a sample of 226 suicide victims and 225 healthy control subjects. No significant differences in genotype frequency distributions between the suicide victims and healthy control subjects were observed for four polymorphisms; three were not polymorphic. A single polymorphism, C-1420T in gene 5-HT2A, showed a slight association with suicide (chi2= 4.94, df = 2, P = 0.067), but the correlation was not statistically significant. None of the tested genetic variants of serotonin receptors appears to be associated with suicidal behavior in the Slovenian population which has a relatively high suicide rate.     

Self-destructive behavior in adolescents who have not completed a process of mourning: case study

The article deals with the problem of self-destructive behavior in adolescence through the perspective of family dynamics. Two vignettes describe an uncompleted process of mourning after the loss of a parent in two suicidal adolescents, a girl and a boy. It shows that suicidal behavior may be only a part of a long lasting process which is not always recognized. In both cases dysfunctional family relations did not allow the adolescents to deal properly with their feelings of responsibility, guilt and accumulated inner tension. Characteristic differences are shown between the girl, who is depressed and manifests somatoform disorder and regressive behavior, and the boy, whose unresolved conflicts and anxiety are manifested by conduct disorder.     

Immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor in rat plasma

Immunoreactive ACTH (I-ACTH) levels in the rat anterior pituitary and plasma, and immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor (I-CRF) concentrations in the median eminence (ME) and plasma were determined after adrenalectomy and in insulin-induced hypoglycemia. I-CRF was detected in plasma from normal rats (mean +/- SD, 5.6 +/- 0.9 pg/ml; n = 6). Gel filtration chromatography of I-CRF from pooled plasma of these rats revealed a single peak which eluted in the position of authentic rat CRF. I-CRF levels in ME and I-ACTH levels in anterior pituitary decreased immediately after adrenalectomy, then gradually increased to high levels 14 days after surgery. Plasma I-CRF and I-ACTH concentrations increased immediately after surgery, slightly decreased to near the control levels at 24 h, and then increased to high concentrations 14 days after surgery. Plasma and ME I-CRF levels 14 days after adrenalectomy, followed by daily dexamethasone replacement, were almost the same as control levels. In insulin-induced hypoglycemia, plasma I-ACTH and I-CRF concentrations increased and ME I-CRF content decreased at 30 and 60 min. These results suggest that plasma I-CRF levels reflect changes in hypothalamic CRF levels.     

Relationship between hostility and subjective sleep quality

While hostility and sleep disturbance are the potential risk factors for health problems and disease, few studies have examined the relationship between the two factors. The present study was performed to investigate the relationship between hostility and sleep problems assessed both subjectively and objectively in a nonclinical sample. Sixty-one healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Hostility was measured according to the Cook–Medley hostility scale. Subjective sleep quality was evaluated according to the global score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Objective sleep was evaluated using actigraphy. A multiple regression analysis revealed that a higher level of hostility was significantly associated with the global score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and that a higher level of depression was not associated with the global score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Objective sleep measures were not found to be associated with hostility. Confirming the robust relationship between poor sleep and hostility would have several important treatment implications for preventing health problems.     

Health care in Hong Kong and mainland China: one country, two systems?

Hong Kong and Mainland China are undertaking health reform following recent economic fluctuations and Hong Kong's transformation to a Special Administrative Region of China in 1997. Despite spending only 4.7% of its Gross Domestic Product on health care, one third as much as in the United States, Hong Kong has developed health statistics comparable to those in leading western nations. In contrast, Mainland China's 3.6% of GDP expenditure on health is associated with health statistics and expenditures similar to those found in most developing countries. Hong Kong has adopted health care financing and organizational health systems that are commonly seen in centrally planned economies, while its economy functions as a highly capitalistic enterprise. In contrast, mainland China has integrated many features of health care systems associated with market economies, while its overall economy is largely centrally planned. In this paper we examine the policy factors associated with these disparate health systems and investigate whether they can be maintained according to the 'one country, two systems' approach that has been adopted by Chinese policy makers.