Thyroid Activity in Patients with Major Depression

Hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis dysfunction has been associated with pathophysiology of major depression. The aim of the study was to determine serum levels of total 3,5,3’-triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating-hormone (TSH) in patients with major depression and healthy controls. The study included 53 medication-free patients with depression and 49 healthy controls. Exclusion criteria for patients was: other axis-I and axis-II diagnoses, intensive psychotherapy or electroconvulsive therapy, prior clinical and/or laboratory evidence of hypoor hyperthyroidism, alcohol or nicotine dependence, pregnancy, hormone supplement therapy, somatic illnesses (diabetes, renal or hepatic disorders), infections or autoimmune diseases, recent surgical treatment or significantly changed body weight. For controls: the presence of psychiatric disorders and/or thyroid dysfunctions. The diagnosis of major depression was made using structured clinical interview based on DSM-IV criteria. The results showed significantly lower T3 and TSH levels in patients compared to controls. There was no significant difference in T4 values between patients with depression and control subjects. The results showing altered levels of thyroid hormones in depression indicate that further research on thyroid hormone activity can contribute to the better understanding of the biological basis of depression. Based on the high frequency of the subtle neuroendocrine disorders coexisting with depression, the association of thyroid abnormalities and depression should not be underestimated. Future research should identify different behavioral endophenotypes characteristic for depression, which would greatly facilitate delineating the biological phenomena associated with this psychiatric illness

A Comparison of Methods Used to Define the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Croatian Wines

Concentrations of phenolic antioxidants and antioxidant activities were determined for three different vintages of red varietal Plavac mali wines (Grgich), white varietal Pošip wines (Grgich) and white varietal Žlahtina wines (Gršković). All three mentioned cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) are well exploited in vineyards along the Croatian coast. Two different tests, the spectrophotometric Folin-Ciocalteau test and redox derivative potentiometric titration with electrogenerated chlorine, were used to quantify phenolic antioxidants and express them in gallic acid equivalents. The sequence of wines obtained by the two methods, ranked according to the increasing phenolic content, was comparable. Among all the tested wines, Plavac mali of the vintage 2003 showed the highest phenol content of ~5 g/L. As expected, due to the lack of anthocyanins and other pigments present in red wines, all six white wines showed approximately ten times lower phenolic levels in comparison with red wines, averaging between 190–380 mg/L. This study demonstrates the utilization of quick and reliable analytical techniques, spectrophotometry and derivative potentiometric titration, in quantification of wine phenolics. The change in free radical scavenging ability of the same set of wines was evaluated according to the Brand-Williams assay. The results show, on average, eight times higher free radical scavenging ability of red wines. Also, a slight decrease in the free radical scavenging ability of the older vintage white wines was observed, while the antioxidant activities of the older vintage red wines (Plavac mali) were slightly higher, due to formation of condensed tannins with time

A Comparison of Methods Used to Define the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Croatian Wines

Concentrations of phenolic antioxidants and antioxidant activities were determined for three different vintages of red varietal Plavac mali wines (Grgich), white varietal Pošip wines (Grgich) and white varietal Žlahtina wines (Gršković). All three mentioned cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) are well exploited in vineyards along the Croatian coast. Two different tests, the spectrophotometric Folin-Ciocalteau test and redox derivative potentiometric titration with electrogenerated chlorine, were used to quantify phenolic antioxidants and express them in gallic acid equivalents. The sequence of wines obtained by the two methods, ranked according to the increasing phenolic content, was comparable. Among all the tested wines, Plavac mali of the vintage 2003 showed the highest phenol content of ~5 g/L. As expected, due to the lack of anthocyanins and other pigments present in red wines, all six white wines showed approximately ten times lower phenolic levels in comparison with red wines, averaging between 190–380 mg/L. This study demonstrates the utilization of quick and reliable analytical techniques, spectrophotometry and derivative potentiometric titration, in quantification of wine phenolics. The change in free radical scavenging ability of the same set of wines was evaluated according to the Brand-Williams assay. The results show, on average, eight times higher free radical scavenging ability of red wines. Also, a slight decrease in the free radical scavenging ability of the older vintage white wines was observed, while the antioxidant activities of the older vintage red wines (Plavac mali) were slightly higher, due to formation of condensed tannins with time

Serum Lipid Levels in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

The role of lipids in the aetiology and progress of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still unclear. High lipid levels could be one of the risk factors for AD, but no association or even protective effects of high cholesterol levels in the development of the AD were also found. The aim of the study was to determine serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) in female patients with AD and in healthy elderly controls. The 50 patients met the diagnostic criteria of probable AD according to the NINDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV criteria. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Patients were subdivided into two groups of 19 patients in the middle (MMSE 10-19) and 31 patients in the late (MMSE 0-9) phase of AD. Psychotic and non-psychotic features, evaluated by means of Neuropsychiatric Inventory, were presented in 13 and 37 patients with AD, respectively. Control group consisted of 58 subjects without cognitive impairment (MMSE >27) and with lipid levels within normal range. Serum lipid levels were determined by the enzymatic colour tests and by the enzymatic clearance assay. Significantly lower lipid levels were found in patients with AD, than in controls. Patients in the late phase of AD had significantly lower entire lipid profile than controls and significantly lower cholesterol and LDL-C levels than patients in the middle stage of AD. There was no difference in lipid levels between patients with and without psychotic features. The significant positive correlations were found between MMSE scores and cholesterol, LDL-C levels and age in all AD patients. The results support the presumption that lipid profile might be connected with the aetiology and progress of AD and showed the association between low serum cholesterol and LDL-C levels and cognitive decline in patients with AD. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between lipid levels and cognition, and to validate the lipid profile as a biological marker for the progress of AD

The influence of daylight exposure on platelet 5-HT levels in patients with major depression and schizophrenia

Platelet serotonin (5-HT) can be used as a limited, peripheral model for the central 5-HT synaptosomes. Altered platelet 5-HT concentrations have been associated with psychiatric disorders like depression and schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to compare platelet 5-HT concentrations during long, medium and short period of natural daylight exposure in a large number of medication-free male and female schizophrenic and depressed patients and sex-matched healthy controls. Platelet 5-HT concentration was determined spectrofluorimetrically in 240 (97 female, 143 male) schizophrenic and 258 (153 female, 105 male) nonpsychotic, nonsuicidal depressed medication-free patients and 328 (149 women, 179 men) healthy subjects during periods with short (12) and medium (average 12) hours of the natural daylight. Platelet 5-HT concentration was significantly lower in women compared to men in all groups. Healthy male subjects had significantly higher (p=0.011) platelet 5-HT concentrations during long compared to medium period. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in platelet 5-HT concentration between different periods in healthy women. The significant increase in platelet 5-HT values were found in female (p=0.01) and male (p=0.029) depressed patients during long compared to short period. There were no significant associations between platelet 5-HT concentrations and different periods in both male and female schizophrenic patients. The results indicate the sex-related differences in the serotonergic system. The alterations of platelet 5-HT concentrations, observed across period with different durations of daylight exposure, point to a direct or indirect effect of light on peripheral 5-HT system that could be related to different sensitivity of the pineal gland to light and/or melatonin influence on 5-HT metabolism

Serum lipid levels in patients with Alzheimer’s disease [Koncentracija serumskih lipida u bolesnika s Alzheimerovom bolesti]

The role of lipids in the aetiology and progress of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still unclear. High lipid levels could be one of the risk factors for AD, but no association or even protective effects of high cholesterol levels in the development of the AD were also found. The aim of the study was to determine serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) in female patients with AD and in healthy elderly controls. The 50 patients met the diagnostic criteria of probable AD according to the NINDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV criteria. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Patients were subdivided into two groups of 19 patients in the middle (MMSE 10-19) and 31 patients in the late (MMSE 0-9) phase of AD. Psychotic and non-psychotic features, evaluated by means of Neuropsychiatric Inventory, were presented in 13 and 37 patients with AD, respectively. Control group consisted of 58 subjects without cognitive impairment (MMSE >27) and with lipid levels within normal range. Serum lipid levels were determined by the enzymatic colour tests and by the enzymatic clearance assay. Significantly lower lipid levels were found in patients with AD, than in controls. Patients in the late phase of AD had significantly lower entire lipid profile than controls and significantly lower cholesterol and LDL-C levels than patients in the middle stage of AD. There was no difference in lipid levels between patients with and without psychotic features. The significant positive correlations were found between MMSE scores and cholesterol, LDL-C levels and age in all AD patients. The results support the presumption that lipid profile might be connected with the aetiology and progress of AD and showed the association between low serum cholesterol and LDL-C levels and cognitive decline in patients with AD. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between lipid levels and cognition, and to validate the lipid profile as a biological marker for the progress of AD

Platelet serotonin concentration and monoamine oxidase activity in hypothyroid patients

BACKGROUND/AIM: The relationship between the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and the serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) system is not clear. The aim of the study was to determine platelet biochemical markers (5-HT concentration and monoamine oxidase B, MAO-B, activity) in hypothyroid patients. ----- METHODS: The study included 25 medication-free female hypothyroid patients in postoperative follow-up after total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid carcinoma, who had not been treated with synthetic thyroxine (T(4)) for 4 weeks, and 44 age-matched euthyroid healthy women. The platelet 5-HT concentration, platelet MAO-B activity, total T(4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were determined using spectrofluorimetric methods, radioimmunoassay and fluoroimmunoassay, respectively. ----- RESULTS: Hypothyroid patients had significantly higher TSH, significantly lower T(4) levels and platelet 5-HT concentrations, and unchanged platelet MAO-B activity than healthy subjects. A positive correlation was found between the 5-HT concentration and platelet MAO-B activity, and between the platelet MAO-B activity and T(4) in control subjects. ----- CONCLUSIONS: Reduced platelet 5-HT concentrations in hypothyroid patients suggests a complex interaction between the 5-HT system and HPT axis activity, which could be related to the frequent occurrence of depressive symptoms in hypothyroid patients. The determination of platelet 5-HT concentrations should be considered a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of depressive symptoms in hypothyroid patients during the hormone withdrawal procedure

Platelet serotonin and monoamine oxidase in Alzheimer's disease with psychotic features

Post mortem brain studies indicate that alterations in serotonergic and catecholaminergic systems might be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the study was to determine serotonin (5-HT) levels and monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) activity in platelets of psychotic and non-psychotic patients with AD, established according to the NINCDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV-TR criteria. Cognitive impairment and psychotic features were evaluated using Mini Mental Status Examination and Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Platelet 5-HT concentration and MAO-B activity were determined spectrofluorimetrically in 116 (51 male, 65 female) healthy subjects and 70 psychotic (10 male, 60 female) and 151 non-psychotic (32 male, 119 female) patients. Psychotic and non-psychotic female and psychotic male patients had significantly lower platelet 5-HT concentration than corresponding sex matched control subjects. Platelet MAO-B activity was significantly increased in both male and female non-psychotic patients compared to the sex matched controls. Non-psychotic female patients had significantly higher platelet MAO-B activity than psychotic female patients. Our data suggest that platelet MAO-B activity, but not platelet 5-HT concentration, could differentiate between psychotic and non-psychotic subtypes of AD

Koncentracija serumskih lipida u bolesnika s Alzheimerovom bolesti

The role of lipids in the aetiology and progress of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still unclear. High lipid levels could be one of the risk factors for AD, but no association or even protective effects of high cholesterol levels in the development of the AD were also found. The aim of the study was to determine serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) in female patients with AD and in healthy elderly controls. The 50 patients met the diagnostic criteria of probable AD according to the NINDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV criteria. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Patients were subdivided into two groups of 19 patients in the middle (MMSE 10-19) and 31 patients in the late (MMSE 0-9) phase of AD. Psychotic and non-psychotic features, evaluated by means of Neuropsychiatric Inventory, were presented in 13 and 37 patients with AD, respectively. Control group consisted of 58 subjects without cognitive impairment (MMSE >27) and with lipid levels within normal range. Serum lipid levels were determined by the enzymatic colour tests and by the enzymatic clearance assay. Significantly lower lipid levels were found in patients with AD, than in controls. Patients in the late phase of AD had significantly lower entire lipid profile than controls and significantly lower cholesterol and LDL-C levels than patients in the middle stage of AD. There was no difference in lipid levels between patients with and without psychotic features. The significant positive correlations were found between MMSE scores and cholesterol, LDL-C levels and age in all AD patients. The results support the presumption that lipid profile might be connected with the aetiology and progress of AD and showed the association between low serum cholesterol and LDL-C levels and cognitive decline in patients with AD. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between lipid levels and cognition, and to validate the lipid profile as a biological marker for the progress of AD.Uloga lipida u etiologiji i razvoju Alzheimerove bolesti (AB) još uvijek je nejasna. Rezultati dosadašnjih istraživanja su pokazali da ne postoji povezanost između serumskih lipida i kognitivnih promjena u oboljelih od AB, ali i protektivni pa čak i pozitivni učinak povišenih vrijednosti serumskih lipida u razvoju AB. Cilj istraživanja bio je odrediti vrijednosti ukupnog serumskog kolesterola, lipoproteina velike gustoće (HDL-C), lipoproteina male gustoće (LDL-C) i triglicerida (TG) u 50 žena oboljelih od AB i u 58 zdravih žena starije životne dobi. Dijagnoza vjerojatne AB postavljena je na temelju NINDS-ADRDA i DSM-IV kriterija. Težina kognitivnog oštećenja je procijenjena pomoću Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Bolesnice su podijeljene u skupinu od 19 bolesnica u srednjoj (MMSE 10-19) i u skupinu od 31 bolesnice u kasnoj (MMSE 0-9) fazi AB. U procjeni psihotičnih simptoma korištena je Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Psihotički simptomi su bili prisutni u 13 bolesnica, a bez psihotičkih simptoma bilo je 37 bolesnica. Kontrolna skupina bila je sastavljena od žena starije životne dobi bez kognitivnog oštećenja (MMSE>27) i s normalnim rasponom koncentracije serumskih lipida. Vrijednosti serumskih lipida određene su enzimatskim testovima. U bolesnica s AB opažene su značajno niže vrijednosti serumskih lipida od onih u serumu kontrolne skupine. Bolesnice u kasnoj fazi AB imale su značajno niže vrijednosti svih serumskih lipida od kontrolne skupine, te značajno niže vrijednosti ukupnog kolesterola i LDL-C od oboljelih u srednjoj fazi bolesti. Vrijednosti serumskih lipida nisu bile povezane s psihotičnim simptomima. Opažena je mala, ali značajna pozitivna korelacija između bodova MMSE i vrijednosti kolesterola ili LDL-C, te između MMSE i životne dobi bolesnica. Rezultati istraživanja upućuju da bi vrijednosti serumskih lipida mogle biti povezane s etiologijom i razvojem AB. Pokazana je povezanost između niskih vrijednosti serumskog kolesterola i LDL-C i kognitivnog propadanja u oboljelih od AB. Neophodna su daljnja istraživanja kako bi se ustanovilo da li bi vrijednosti serumskih lipida mogle biti biološki pokazatelj progresije AB