Quality of life and pain in premenopausal women with major depressive disorder: The POWER Study

BACKGROUND: Whereas it is established that organic pain may induce depression, it is unclear whether pain is more common in healthy subjects with depression. We assessed the prevalence of pain in premenopausal women with major depression (MDD). Subjects were 21- to 45-year-old premenopausal women with MDD (N = 70; age: 35.4 +/- 6.6; mean +/- SD) and healthy matched controls (N = 36; age 35.4 +/- 6.4) participating in a study of bone turnover, the P.O.W.E.R. (Premenopausal, Osteopenia/Osteoporosis, Women, Alendronate, Depression) Study. METHODS: Patients received a clinical assessment by a pain specialist, which included the administration of two standardized forms for pain, the Brief Pain Inventory – Short Form, and the Initial Pain Assessment Tool, and two scales of everyday stressors, the Hassles and Uplifts Scales. In addition, a quality-of-life instrument, the SF-36, was used. The diagnosis of MDD was established by a semi-structured interview, according to the DSM-IV criteria. Substance P (SP) and calcitonin-gene-related-peptide (CGRP), neuropeptides which are known mediators of pain, were measured every hour for 24 h in a subgroup of patients (N = 17) and controls (N = 14). RESULTS: Approximately one-half of the women with depression reported pain of mild intensity. Pain intensity was significantly correlated with the severity of depression (r(2 )= 0.076; P = 0.04) and tended to be correlated with the severity of anxiety, (r(2 )= 0.065; P = 0.07), and the number of depressive episodes (r(2 )= 0.072; P = 0.09). Women with MDD complained of fatigue, insomnia, and memory problems and experienced everyday negative stressors more frequently than controls. Quality of life was decreased in women with depression, as indicated by lower scores in the emotional and social well-being domains of the SF-36. SP (P < 0.0003) and CGRP (P < 0.0001) were higher in depressed subjects. CONCLUSION: Women with depression experienced pain more frequently than controls, had a lower quality of life, and complained more of daily stressors. Assessment of pain may be important in the clinical evaluation of women with MDD. SP and CGRP may be useful biological markers in women with MDD

Effects of physiologic testosterone therapy on quality of life, self-esteem, and mood in women with primary ovarian insufficiency

Low androgen levels occur in women with primary ovarian insufficiency(POI) and could contribute to mood and behavioral symptoms in this condition. We examined the effects of physiologic testosterone (T) replacement therapy added to standard estrogen/progestin replacement therapy (EPT) on quality of life, self-esteem, and mood in women with POI

Efficacy and Safety of Generic Amphotericin B in Experimental Pulmonary Aspergillosis

The recent shortage of the brand name drug Fungizone has necessitated a change to generic formulations of amphotericin B deoxycholate. Clinical trials cannot be conducted in a timely manner to provide data on the safety and efficacy of these formulations. We therefore compared generic amphotericin B and Fungizone for activity and safety in the treatment of experimental invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in persistently neutropenic rabbits. Fungizone and generic amphotericin B are similar in efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety in the treatment of experimental IPA