Retention of cerebrovascular dilation after cortical spreading depression in anesthetized rabbits

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We examined responses of rabbit pial arterioles to three different stimuli before and after induction of cortical spreading depression. METHODS: In urethane-anesthetized rabbits equipped with a closed cranial window, we measured pial arteriolar diameter during baseline conditions, topical application of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), topical application of acetylcholine, and inhalation of 10% CO2 in air (arterial hypercapnia) before cortical spreading depression and 30, 60, and 120 minutes after cortical spreading depression. Cortical spreading depression was induced by localized application of a 5% KCl solution anterior to the arteriole being measured. RESULTS: Average baseline diameter was approximately 90 microns. During cortical spreading depression, arteriolar diameter increased to a peak value that was 50 +/- 4% above baseline (n = 32). Before cortical spreading depression, arteriolar diameter changed 47 +/- 7% (n = 9) during hypercapnia, 17 +/- 3% (n = 4) during 10(-9) mol/L CGRP, 42 +/- 10% (n = 7) during 10(-7) mol/L CGRP, 29 +/- 6% (n = 4) during 10(-6) mol/L acetylcholine, and 61 +/- 13% (n = 6) during 10(-4) mol/L acetylcholine. Arteriolar responsiveness to any of these stimuli was not changed significantly by prior cortical spreading depression. CONCLUSIONS: Dilator capacity of pial arterioles is still intact in urethane-anesthetized rabbits after cortical spreading depression.     

Haptoglobin phenotypes and gene frequencies in unipolar major depression

OBJECTIVE: Studies from the authors' laboratory have shown that major depression is accompanied by significantly increased plasma concentrations of positive acute-phase proteins such as haptoglobin. Haptoglobin is characterized by a molecular variation with three known phenotypes (Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, and Hp 2-2). This study investigated haptoglobin plasma levels and phenotype and gene frequencies in unipolar major depression. METHOD: Haptoglobin plasma levels of 22 healthy volunteers, 32 patients with minor depression, and 72 patients with major depression were determined by means of a laser nephelometric method. Haptoglobin phenotyping of these 126 subjects and 200 healthy blood donors was also carried out. RESULTS: The patients with major depression exhibited significantly higher haptoglobin plasma levels than the healthy comparison subjects and the patients with minor depression. Subjects with the haptoglobin phenotype Hp 2-2 had significantly lower haptoglobin levels than the phenotype Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-1 carriers. The frequencies of haptoglobin phenotypes Hp 2-1 (61.1%) and Hp 2-2 (20.8%) in the patients with major depression were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than the frequencies in the normal population (i.e., the blood donors: 48.0% and 37.0%, respectively). The frequency of the Hp-1 gene was significantly greater in the patients with major depression (48.6%) than in the normal population (39.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Major depression is characterized by a hyperhaptoglobinemia that is largely independent of haptoglobin phenotypes. This altered distribution of haptoglobin phenotypes and genes suggests that genetic variation on chromosome 16 may be associated with that illness.     

Behavioral correlates of depression: Antecedents or consequences?

We compared J. C. Coyne's (see record 1976-22455-001) interpersonal model of depression to P. M. Lewinsohn's (1974) social skill model of depression in a large sample of nonreferred college students. Ss completed questionnaires on social skill, social support, depression, hopelessness, social anxiety, and social desirability. Linear structural equation modeling results partially supported Coyne's theory that depression inhibits social skill and social skill deficits negatively affect social support. Lewinsohn's theory that social skill deficits promote depression was not supported. Contrary to both Coyne and Lewinsohn, no evidence of a direct relation between social support and depression was found. Results suggested that social skill deficits are a consequence, not a cause, of depression. Implications for counseling process and interpersonal models of individual pathology are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Are autoimmune thyroid dysfunction and depression related?

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between autoimmune thyroid disease and depression in perimenopausal women. Thyroid function [TSH, free T4, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab)] and depression (using the Edinburgh Depression Scale) were assessed cross-sectionally together with other determinants of depression. The subjects were 583 randomly selected perimenopausal women (aged 47-54 yr) from a community cohort of 6846 women. The main outcome measures were the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction (abnormal free T4 and/or TSH or elevated levels of TPO-Ab) and the concomitant presence of depression according to the Edinburgh Depression Scale. Neither biochemical thyroid dysfunction nor menopausal status was related to depression. Apart from several psycho-social determinants (the occurrence of a major life event, a previous episode of depression, or financial problems), an elevated level of TPO-Ab (> or = 100 U/mL) was significantly associated with depression (odds ratio, 3.0, 95% confidence interval, 1.3-6.8). We conclude that women with elevated TPO-Ab levels are especially vulnerable to depression, whereas postmenopausal status does not increase the risk of depression.     

Interpersonal view of depression: Review and integration.

Reviews the interpersonal models of depression of J. C. Coyne (see PA, Vols 61:1146 and 71:15607), G. L. Klerman et al (1984), and L. B. Feldman (see record 1979-13538-001). A reciprocal model of depression is presented that is based on systems theory, A. Bandura's (see record 1979-08427-001) concept of reciprocal determinism, and a cognitive approach to depression described by A. T. Beck et al (1979). According to the model, depression is reinforced by the reciprocity of cognitions, emotions, and behaviors on the intra- and interpersonal levels. Long-term results of treatment may be expected only when change occurs in depressed persons and their significant others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Amniocentesis before 14 completed weeks as an alternative to transabdominal chorionic villus sampling: a controlled trial with infant follow-up

Plasma cortisol, prolactin, oestrogen, progesterone, thyroxine, thyrotrophin (TSH) were collected from 23 pregnant, 70 postpartum women at 7 days postpartum, and 38 non-gravid controls. Sixty two postpartum women were screened for depression by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) on day 7 after delivery and 34 of them were assessed by the Present State Examination (PSE) at 8 +/- 2 weeks after delivery. Postpartum women had a significantly greater level of cortisol, prolactin, thyroxine and oestrogen than non-puerperal women. Postpartum women with current depression (EPDS > or = 11) had significantly lower plasma prolactin levels than those without depression and those who developed depression within 6-10 weeks after delivery (PSE level > or = 5) had significantly lower plasma prolactin and significantly greater progesterone levels than those who were not depressed. There were significant correlations between age and plasma cortisol and prolactin levels. Higher thyroxine levels predicted greater severity of concurrent symptoms of depression (total EPDS score) whilst higher progesterone and lower prolactin levels predicted the occurrence of depression (total PSE score) 6-10 weeks after delivery. Women who breastfed had significantly lower EPDS and total PSE scores and higher plasma prolactin levels than those who did not breastfed their infants whilst women who had previous episodes of depression had significantly greater EPDS and PSE scores, lower prolactin and higher TSH levels than those who had not suffered from previous episodes of depression.     

Group Comparisons of DSM-IV Subtypes of Chronic Depression: Validity of the Distinctions, Part 2.

The nosology of chronic depression in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994) is highly complex and requires clinicians to differentiate among several chronic course subtypes. This study replicates an earlier investigation (J. McCullough et al., 2000; see record 2000-05424-007) that found few differences among Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed. rev.; DSM-III-R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) categories of chronic depression. In the present study, 681 outpatients with chronic major depression, double depression, recurrent major depression without full interepisode recovery, and chronic major depression superimposed on antecedent dysthymia were compared. Few differences were observed on a broad range of demographic, clinical, psychosocial, family history, and treatment response variables. The authors suggest that chronic depression should be viewed as a single, broad condition that can assume a variety of clinical course configurations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Negative reactions to depressive behaviors: A communication theories analysis.

Interpersonal aspects of depression have received considerable research attention in the past 2 decades. This work often has been guided by J. C. Coyne's (see record 1979-01146-001) interactional model of depression or P. M. Lewinsohn's (1974) social skill deficit theory of depression. A review of this research indicates that depressed people reliably experience rejection from those in their social environment and that depression generally is associated with impairments in social behavior. However, this research does not explain exactly what depressed people do to elicit rejection, or exactly why others react negatively to them. Research derived from communication theories on responsiveness, politeness, and expectations for nonverbal involvement illuminates the interpersonal cycle in depression. The role of these impairments in the cause, symptoms, course, subtypes, and therapy of depression is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nitrate and nitrite accumulation in fresh vegetables from Greece

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that during the acute poststroke period, poststroke major depression was significantly associated with left anterior lesions. Furthermore, we found that proximity of the lesion to the left frontal pole was correlated with severity of depression. Several investigators, however, have failed to replicate these findings when patients were studied beyond the acute stroke period. METHODS: We longitudinally examined the relationship between lesion size, lesion location, impairment variables, and the presence and severity of depression in 60 single lesion patients examined in-hospital and at short-term (3-6 months) and long-term (1-2 years) follow-up. RESULTS: Only in-hospital depression was significantly associated with left anterior hemisphere lesion location. At short-term follow-up, proximity of the lesion to the frontal pole, and lesion volume correlated with depression in both right and left hemisphere. At 1-2 years poststroke, depression was significantly associated with right-hemisphere lesion volume and proximity of the lesion to the occipital pole. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomical correlates of poststroke depression change over time and may explain interstudy differences in the association of lesion location with poststroke depression.