52 research outputs found
The relationship between subtypes of depression and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review of biological models
A compelling association has been observed between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression, suggesting individuals with depression to be at significantly higher risk for CVD and CVD-related mortality. Systemic immune activation, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity, arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction have been frequently implicated in this relationship. Although a differential epidemiological association between CVD and depression subtypes is evident, it has not been determined if this indicates subtype specific biological mechanisms. A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and PsycINFO databases yielding 147 articles for this review. A complex pattern of systemic immune activation, endothelial dysfunction and HPA axis hyperactivity is suggestive of the biological relationship between CVD and depression subtypes. The findings of this review suggest that diagnostic subtypes rather than a unifying model of depression should be considered when investigating the bidirectional biological relationship between CVD and depression. The suggested model of a subtype-specific biological relationship between depression and CVDs has implications for future research and possibly for diagnostic and therapeutic processes
Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Interventions to Arrest Neuroprogression in Psychiatric Disorders
The concept of neuroprogression describes the progressive course of the disorder and stresses the progressive, recurrent, and chronic course of the disease entity under consideration. It subsumes clinical manifestations of the disease process and may also entail morphological, biochemical, neurochemical, immunological, physiological, and genetic aspects that contribute to the progressive course of the disease in question. In an attempt to identify the appropriate agent or method that could arrest neuroprogression in psychiatric patients, we conducted an evaluation of the use of anti-inflammatory drugs under the perspective of current pharmacological and neurophysiological data. This evaluation included the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as adjunctive treatment to conventional pharmacotherapy as well as the use of natural products exerting anti-inflammatory properties (i.e., ω-3 fatty acids) given as adjunctive or monotherapeutic treatments in less severe cases. The therapeutic significance of nonpharmacological methods, such as psychotherapy, physical exercise, and body-mind therapies, was also considered and will be discussed in this chapter. In conclusion, the role of psychotropic and select anti-inflammatory drugs in arresting neuroprogression is a very promising new frontier in psychiatric research and clinical practice. Modulators of a specific prostanoid synthase or receptor across the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 downstream pathway along with new multitarget NSAIDs are expected to be tested by the pharmaceutical industry as potential agents to antagonize neuroprogression. Meanwhile, salicylates and selective COX-2 inhibitors could still be used in carefully selected subgroups of patients. Psychotherapy and nonpharmacological, stress-relieving methods should be considered as adjunctive tools to aid in arresting neuroprogression. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel
Cytokine production in bipolar affective disorder patients under lithium treatment
Background: Our knowledge concerning immune functioning in bipolar affective disorder (BAD) is limited, while lithium's immunomodulatory effects seem multiple and conflicting. Our aim was to evaluate cytokine production and lithium's effect on it in BAD patients, using ELISPOT technique as a sensitive tool. Methods: Cytokine (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ) production from isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) was evaluated (ELISPOT technique) in 40 euthymic BAD patients under chronic lithium treatment, in 20 healthy volunteers, and in 10 never medicated BAD patients before and after the introduction of lithium therapy. In all cases, cytokine plasma levels were also measured using ELISA. Results: BAD patients under chronic lithium treatment had significantly lower numbers of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ secreting cells compared to healthy volunteers. The number of cytokine secreting cells decreased in never medicated patients after 3 months of lithium treatment. In vitro stimulation of PBLs with lithium did not affect the number of cytokine secreting cells either in the patients or in the healthy volunteers. Conclusions: The significantly lower number of PBLs producing cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ) in euthymic BAD patients under chronic lithium treatment result from the long-term (over 3 months) lithium administration. In vitro stimulation of PBLs with lithium did not change the number of cytokine producing cells. Our findings may be useful in elucidating possible downregulatory effects of lithium in humans. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
MEASURE THE CLIMATE, MODEL THE CITY
Modern large cities are characterized by a high building concentration, little aeration and lack of green spaces. Such characteristics
create an urban climate which is different from the climate outside of cities. An example of an urban climate effect is the so-called
Urban Heat Island: cities tend to be warmer than the surrounding rural areas. The higher temperature results in an increase in energy
consumption since people, especially in summer, use artificial means to cool themselves. Although means of mitigating the UHI effect
exist, they are difficult to justify, as knowledge about urban climate is limited, and analysis tools are lacking. This paper presents the
work carried during the 2010 MSc Geomatics Synthesis Project. A 3D spatial relational database has been implemented which is meant
to act as starting point in the development of a 3D climate-enabled geographical information system. To this end, the database stores 3D
geometries representing the built environment and its thematic properties. The database is also able to store measurements of climate
parameters, in this case temperature, obtained through mobile sensors. Spatial analyses and queries are supported, allowing users to
calculate areas, distances, buffers, add and remove geometries and thematic attributes. The database design is based on the CityGML
information model which has been extended to allow the storage of climate parameters relevant to urban climate research
Prevalence of Yersinia plasmid-encoded outer protein (Yop) class-specific antibodies in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Objective To investigate the prevalence of class-specific antibodies
(IgG, IgA) to Yersinia enterocolitica a plasmid-encoded outer proteins
(Yops) in patients with diagnosed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Methods Seventy-one patients with Hashimoto’S disease, 464 healthy blood
donors and 250 patients with non-postinfectious rheumatic disorders
(matched controls) were tested for class-specific antibodies to Yops.
Anti-Yop antibodies were determined by ELISA and Western blot.
Results The prevalence of class-specific antibodies to Yops as
determined by ELISA was 14-fold higher (20 of 71; 28.2%) in people with
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis than in the two control groups. These results
were confirmed by the Western blot, with 16 positive sera, three
equivocal and one negative.
Conclusions There is strong clinical and seroepidemiologic evidence for
an immunopathologic causative relationship between Yersinia
enterocolitica infection and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Further
investigation concerning the mechanisms involved and the possible
effects of antibacterial chemotherapy on the outcome of Hashimoto’s
disease is warranted
Ureaplasma urealyticum in semen: is there any effect on in vitro fertilization outcome?
Objective: To determine the effect of the presence of Ureaplasma
urealyticum in semen on IVF outcome (fertilization, pregnancy, and
abortion rates).
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: Private IVF unit in Athens, Greece.
Patient(s): One hundred ninety-one asymptomatic men with normal semen
parameters whose wives underwent an IVF cycle.
Intervention(s): Culture of semen for U. urealyticum on the day of
oocyte retrieval.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Fertilization, pregnancy, and abortion rates
after IVF.
Result(s): Ninety-six (86%) of the 112 women whose husbands’ semen was
negative for U. urealyticum and 65 (82%) of the 79 women whose
husbands’ semen was positive for U. urealyticum underwent ET. The
pregnancy rate (PR) was 20% (19/96) in the negative group and 17%
(11/65) in the positive group. An increased incidence of abortions
(6/11) was observed in the positive group (abortion rate, 54%),
compared with 21% (4/19) in the group of women whose husbands’ semen
was negative for U. urealyticum.
Conclusion(s): Fertilization rates and PP,s may not be affected by the
presence of U. urealyticum in semen on the day of oocyte retrieval. It
can be presumed that the semen preparation for IVF cleanses the semen of
U. urealyticum. On the other hand, the higher abortion rate in the U.
urealyticum-positive group might be related to maternal factors, such as
an existing U. urealyticum infection or one contracted after conception.
(Fertil Steril(R) 1999;71:523-7. (C) 1999 by American Society for
Reproductive Medicine.
Cerebrospinal fluid biomarker profiling in corticobasal degeneration: Application of the AT(N) and other classification systems
Introduction: Total tau (τT), phosphorylated tau (τP-181) and amyloid beta (Aβ42) are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is no consensus on the interpretation criteria of these biomarkers. The aim of this study was to apply three different sets of criteria for CSF AD biomarker interpretation in a cohort of corticobasal degeneration (CBD) patients. Method: SForty patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria for “probable CBD” were included. The AT(N), BIOMARKAPD/ABSI and the τP-181/Aβ42 ratio criteria were applied. Results: The AT(N) criteria categorized 50% of “probable CBD” patients as AD, and 62.5% as harboring amyloid pathology. The BIOMARKAPD/ABSI and τP- 181/Aβ42 criteria categorized ~40% of “probable CBD” patients as AD. Discussion: Use of different interpretation criteria for CSF AD biomarkers produces diverse results. AD pathology is common in patients fulfilling “probable” CBD criteria. CBD diagnostic criteria may have suboptimal positive predictive value. A consensus regarding interpretation criteria of CSF AD biomarkers is pivotal. © 202
Serum cytokine concentrations in alcohol-dependent individuals without liver disease
In the current study, our aim was to evaluate and investigate the
influence of heavy alcohol intake on serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8,
IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
concentrations. The selection of cytokines was based on their
presumptive role in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence. On
admission to the Drug-Free Substance Addiction Detoxification clinic
(”ATHENA”), blood samples were obtained from study participants,
and serum cytokine concentrations were measured by using a commercial
sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Alcohol
dependence, as diagnosed according to DSM-IV [Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.)] criteria for alcohol
dependence and estimated by using the Composite International Diagnostic
Interview (CIDI), was characterized by increased serum IL-6
concentration. Interleukin-8, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-alpha concentrations
were comparable to those found in control subjects (P > .05). These
results indicate that in alcohol-dependent individuals there is a
significant increase in the serum IL-6 concentration (P < .05). (C) 2004
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells infectious burden: Correlation to inflammation and atherosclerosis in haemodialysis patients
Background: Infectious agents may be implicated in the inflammatory
atherosclerotic process. Not only specific microorganisms but also the
infectious burden, defined as the number of pathogens to which a patient
is exposed, has been associated with atherosclerosis. In the present
study, the infectious burden, determined directly (by identification of
viable pathogens in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)) and
indirectly (by serum antibodies detection) is correlated to the
inflammatory and atherosclerotic status in haemodialysis (HD) patients,
a population at high risk for cardiovascular disease.
Methods: The viable forms of four microorganisms (Chlamydia pneumoniae,
herpes virus 1 and 2 and cytomegalovirus) were identified in patients
PBMC by cell cultures and subsequent polymerase chain reaction. Serum
IgG against the above pathogens and Helicobacter pylori were also
determined. Inflammation was assessed by measurement of C-reactive
protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), three pro- and one
anti-inflammatory cytokines and four adhesion molecules. Atherosclerosis
was defined by a scoring system using medical history data.
Results: The number of viable pathogens identified in PBMC in the 122 HD
patients included in the study were zero in 22.1% of them, one in
33.6%, two in 43.4% and three in one patient. The number of IgG
antibodies determined was one in 6.6% of patients, two in 32%, three
in 48.4% and four in 13.1%. Seropositivity was not significantly
different between patients with or without the respective viable
pathogen identified in PBMC. Atherosclerosis was present in 40.2% of
patients, and CRP, SAA and interleukin-6 were all increased in these
patients. Neither inflammatory indexes nor atherosclerosis were
significantly different in patients with a higher number of viable
pathogens detected in PBMC or in those with a higher antibodies number.
Conclusions: The direct infectious burden determination (the number of
viable pathogens in PBMC) does not coincide with the serum (by IgG
detection) infectious burden. Although inflammation correlates to
atherosclerosis, neither PBMC nor the serum infectious burden is
associated with these two entities in the inflamed and atherosclerotic
HD patients
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