Inter-ictal assay of peripheral circulating inflammatory mediators in migraine patients under adjunctive cervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS): A proof-of-concept study

Objective

To assay peripheral inter-ictal cytokine serum levels and possible relations with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) responsiveness in migraineurs.

Depression symptoms in movement disorders: comparing Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and essential tremor.

Depression is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and affects 30 to 50% of all patients. In contrast to the wealth of research on depression in PD, little is known about the occurrence of depression in other movement disorders. The primary objective of the current study was to determine whether the high prevalence of depression symptoms seen in PD is also found in other movement disorders, by directly comparing rates of specific depression symptoms and depression severity across PD, dystonia, and essential tremor (ET). Three hundred and fifty-four patients with PD, 83 patients with dystonia, and 53 patients with ET completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We found no significant between-groups differences for depression severity, frequency, or endorsement of specific depression symptoms. Forty-eight percent of PD patients, 37.3% of dystonia patients, and 34% of ET patients were found to be at least mildly depressed (BDI score of 10 or higher). The most commonly endorsed symptoms were fatigability, difficulty with work, anhedonia, and sleep disturbance. Clinicians should be aware that depression is a frequent problem in dystonia and ET, in addition to PD, and inquire about depression symptoms in these patients so that they can be appropriately treated.     

The failed repressor: EEG asymmetry as a moderator of the relation between defensiveness and depressive symptoms

This study assessed the joint effects of defensiveness and frontal asymmetry in predicting symptoms of depression and anxiety. Depression symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and anxiety symptoms with the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS). Defensiveness was assessed with both the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire L scale (EPQL). Participants completed two EEG recording sessions 3 weeks apart. Six baselines, three eyes open and three eyes closed, were recorded in each session. Alpha power (8–13 Hz) was computed and log transformed. R–L asymmetry was computed at eight pairs of homologous sites for aggregated data. Defensiveness (EPQL and MCSD scores) and depression symptoms (BDI) were assessed at the beginning of the first session. L and MCSD correlated positively with anterior R–L asymmetries. For both scales, the highest correlations were observed at F8–F7. L interacted with F8–F7 asymmetry to predict depressive symptoms. Among left frontally active individuals, there was trend toward a negative correlation between L and BDI. Among the right frontally active individuals, the correlation between L and the BDI was positive. MCSD did not moderate the relation between F8–F7 asymmetry and BDI. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that defensiveness protects against symptoms of depression in the context of left frontal activity, and serves as a diathesis for depression in the context of right frontal activity. High-defensive individuals who are right frontally active may represent “failed repressors,” i.e. individuals for whom defensiveness does not protect against depression, and may even exacerbate it.     

肉苁蓉总苷对~(60)Coγ射线损伤小鼠免疫功能的防护作用

目的　研究肉苁蓉总苷 (GCs)对 6 0 Co损伤小鼠免疫功能及 30 d存活率的影响。方法　小鼠在不同剂量6 0 Coγ射线照射前后 ,均服以 GCs,观察辐射及 GCs对其免疫功能的改变。结果　 6 0 Co照射剂量为 2 ,4及 7Gy时 ,可造成小鼠体液免疫、细胞免疫功能和非特异性免疫功能及 30 d存活率下降 (P<0 .0 5或 P<0 .0 1) ;GCs(31.2 5 ,6 2 .5 ,12 5 m g/ kg)组可促进上述各指标的恢复 ,对 6 0 Co损伤小鼠的抗体产生、外周血 T淋巴细胞数目、迟发型超敏反应、腹腔巨噬细胞的吞噬功能均有明显保护作用 (P<0 .0 1或 P<0 .0 5 ) ;且能提高受照小鼠的脾指数、胸腺指数及 30 d存活率 (P<0 .0 1或 P<0 .0 5 )。结论　 GCs对辐射损伤小鼠的免疫功能具有较强防护作用     

人工栽培盐生肉苁蓉的苯乙醇苷类化学成分

目的研究人工栽培盐生肉苁蓉(寄主为囊果碱蓬)中的苯乙醇苷类化学成分。方法采用色谱技术分离纯化,根据理化性质和谱学数据鉴定其结构。结果从盐生肉苁蓉栽培品中分离得到7个苯乙醇苷类化合物,分别鉴定为松果菊苷(echinacoside,1)、肉苁蓉苷A(cistanosideA,2)、毛蕊花苷(acteoside,3)、异毛蕊花苷(isoacteoside,4)、2′乙酰基毛蕊花苷(2′acetylacteoside,5)、管花苷B(tubulosideB,6)、1O[2(4羟基苯基)乙基]6O(E)香豆酰基βD吡喃葡萄糖苷(EutigosideA,7)。结论首次对人工栽培盐生肉苁蓉的化学成分进行了研究,分离得到7个化合物,其中化合物7为首次从列当科植物中分得,化合物1-6为在该种植物栽培品中首次报道。     

肉苁蓉总黄酮的微波提取及含量测定

目的　从肉苁蓉中提取总黄酮 ,并测定其含量。方法　运用微波技术提取肉苁蓉总黄酮 ,用比色法测定总黄酮含量。结果　测得肉苁蓉中总黄酮含量 2 .5 4 % ,平均回收率为 10 3.14 % ,RSD=0 .95 (n=6 )。结论　首次运用微波技术从肉苁蓉中提取出总黄酮 ,反应速度加快 ,实验结果令人满意。     

Topics in contemporary psychiatric practice: Compliance in major psychoses

Objective. While there is a recommendation to screen for postpartum depression (PPD), there are worries about the validity of instruments other than the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; little is known about the construct validity of one of the most used screening instruments, the Beck Depression Inventory, in this period. Methods. This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the BDI in a population-based sample of women and their spouses (n=772) in the postpartum. Additionally, we compared factor scores within the couple. Results. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a two-factor solution (depressive symptoms and somatic symptoms), accounting for 44.01% of the total variance. Internal consistency was good (Cronbach's α=0.90). Women had higher scores than their partners in both factors (P<0.001), but not a higher proportion of the total score attributable to somatic symptoms. Conclusion. With little factor variance between women and men, and a similar proportion of somatic symptoms, these results should be taken to reinforce the validity of the BDI in the postpartum.     

A comparison of the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in severely depressed patients

Abstract

Background. We set out to examine the psychometric properties of the MDI in comparison to the BDI in a mixed group of patients with primary depression. Methods. At the Department of Biological Psychiatry in Vienna currently depressed inpatients with either a depressive or a schizo-affective disorder filled out both MDI and BDI on day of admission and at a time-point two weeks later during their treatment. Furthermore the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) was administered by the treating clinician at both time-points. Results. In total, 51 patients were included in the study. The non-parametric item response analysis was preferred to the classical Cronbach coefficient α as the latter is influenced by the number of items in a questionnaire. MDI obtained a Mokken analysis coefficient above 0.40, indicating unidimensionality. To determine external validity severely depressed patients with psychotic symptoms (N = 10) were compared to the remaining non-psychotic depressed patients (N = 41). Although BDI and MDI showed a lower score for psychotic than for non-psychotic inpatients, the standard deviations for both were greater for psychotic inpatients. On the intercorrelations between the different scales, MDI showed for all coefficients values above 0.70. On the other hand BDI and MDI both showed the same degree of linear relationship as the usual versions of HAM-D. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that the MDI had the highest coefficients values and was sufficient as a measure for depressive disorders in psychiatric patients.     

Psychopharmacology and Cardiovascular Disease

This review discusses common mental health disorders and their associations with cardiovascular disease risks. Commonly found mental health disorders include depression, anxiety, and personality types. The link between depression and cardiovascular disease mortality has been established. Depression is also common in patients with heart failure. In addition to discussing psychological disorders, a review of psychotropic drugs is also included. Drugs are described for therapy for depression and anxiety, as well as associations with cardiovascular drug-drug interactions. Drug-drug interactions are more common and potentially dangerous in elderly patients, in whom the conditions often coexist. The most common drug-drug interactions involve the P450 system of enzymes.     

Using the cardiac depression scale in men recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery

Aims. To examine the utility and validate the use of the Cardiac Depression Scale in patients who had first‐time coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Background. The Beck Depression Inventory, though frequently used, may not be sufficiently sensitive for use in cardiac patients. The Cardiac Depression Scale has been shown to identify the range of depression in medical cardiac patients. Design. Survey. Methods. The Beck Depression Inventory and Cardiac Depression Scale were administered to 120 men at hospital discharge, as well as six, 12 and 36 weeks postoperatively. Cronbach’s α scores were calculated for the measures at each point. Changes in scores over time were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Associations between the measures scores were calculated using Pearson product–moment correlations. Agreement between the measures’ dichotomised scores (depression/no depression) was examined using Cohen’s Kappa statistic. Results. Internal consistency was similar for the Beck Depression Inventory (0·793–0·904) and Cardiac Depression Scale (0·859–0·910). Depression scores decreased over time with the Beck Depression Inventory [F(2·50, 175·29) = 22·27, p < 0·001] and Cardiac Depression Scale [F(2·68, 190·37) = 13·18, p < 0·001]. The measures had similar power [Cohen’s f = 0·65 (Beck Depression Inventory) and 0·43 (Cardiac Depression Scale)] to reveal changes over time. The continuous scores were highly correlated at each point [0·737 (p < 0·001)–0·819 (p < 0·001)]. However, when dichotomised scores were compared, the chance corrected level of agreement was less impressive [0·198 (p = 0·014)–0·381 (p < 0·001)]. Conclusions. The Cardiac Depression Scale may have utility for use with surgical cardiac patients. However, continued examination of this measure of depression is warranted. Relevance to clinical practice. Given the prevalence of depression and its negative impact on coronary artery disease, it is important to identify even mild depression in cardiac patients. Using a measure of depression specifically for cardiac patients, rather than a generic measure, may best accomplish this goal.