The cellular and molecular basis to understand the relationship between Chagas disease (CD), a infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, and depression, a common psychiatric comorbidity in CD patients, is largely unknown. Clinical studies show an association between CD and depression and preclinical evidence suggests that depressive-like behaviors in T. cruzi infected mice are due, at least partially, to immune dysregulation. However, mechanistic studies regarding this issue are still lacking. Herein, we present and discuss the state of art of data on CD and depression, and revise the mechanisms that may explain the development of depression in CD. We also discuss how the knowledge generated by current and future data may contribute to the discovery of new mechanisms underlying depressive symptoms associated with CD and, hence, to the identification of new therapeutic targets, which ultimately may change the way we see and treat CD and its psychiatric comorbidities.
OBJECTIVEThere are few detailed studies of annual or seasonal variations in hormone concentrations in man. This study examines the components of biological variation, including seasonality, in plasma TSH, total T3 (TT3), free T4 (FT4), PRL, cortisol and testosterone in healthy volunteers. DESIGNMonthly blood samplings for the assay of the above hormones were collected during one calendar year. SUBJECTSThirteen normal men and 13 normal women participated in the present study (mean age 38.7 ± 13.4 years). MEASUREMENTSAssays of TSH, TT3 and FT4 were carried out by means of Immunoradiometric assays (IRMA), PRL by ELISA, cortisol by a fluorescence immunoassay, and testosterone with RIA. The time series were analysed by means of (bivariate or multivariate) spectral and cosinor analyses. RESULTSSignificant annual, four‐monthly and biannual rhythms were detected in serum TSH; the lowest TSH values were observed in spring. A significant annual rhythm was detected in TT3, with lower values in spring and summer than in the other seasons. The peak–trough differences in the yearly variation expressed as a percentage of the mean were 29.1% and 8.2% for TSH and TT3, respectively. The yearly variation in plasma cortisol was significantly different between men and women: in men, 5.9% of the variation was explained by an annual rhythm, while in women 14.7% was explained by the fourth and seventh harmonical wave. The peak–trough differences in the yearly variation in plasma cortisol were 17.6% and 31.8% in men and women, respectively. There were no significant seasonal rhythms in PRL, FT4 or testosterone. The intraindividual/interindividual CV values were: TSH 29.3/48.4%, TT3 9.4/18.5%, FT4 7.1/9.1%, PRL 39.2/65.0%, cortisol 21.7/46.2%, and testosterone 12.6/40.8%. CONCLUSIONSThe degree of individuality measured in the plasma hormones is such that conventional population‐based reference ranges may not correctly identify major alterations in these hormones in individual subjects.
Abstract Rationale, aims Major affective disorders including bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are associated with impaired health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Oxidative stress and subtle thyroid abnormalities may play a pathophysiological role in both disorders. Thus, the current study was performed to examine whether neuro‐oxidative biomarkers and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) levels could predict HRQoL in BD and MDD. Methods This cross‐sectional study enrolled 68 BD and 37 MDD patients and 66 healthy controls. The World Health Organization (WHO) QoL‐BREF scale was used to assess 4 QoL subdomains. Peripheral blood malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products, paraoxonaxe/CMPAase activity, a composite index of nitro‐oxidative stress, and basal TSH were measured. Results In the total WHOQoL score, 17.3% of the variance was explained by increased advanced oxidation protein products and TSH levels and lowered CMPAase activity and male gender. Physical HRQoL (14.4%) was associated with increased MDA and TSH levels and lowered CMPAase activity. Social relations HRQoL (17.4%) was predicted by higher nitro‐oxidative index and TSH values, while mental and environment HRQoL were independently predicted by CMPAase activity. Finally, 73.0% of the variance in total HRQoL was explained by severity of depressive symptoms, use of anticonvulsants, lower income, early lifetime emotional neglect, MDA levels, the presence of mood disorders, and suicidal ideation. Conclusions These data show that lowered HRQoL in major affective disorders could at least in part result from the effects of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, lowered antioxidant enzyme activities, and higher levels of TSH.
Abstract Introduction: The progressive decline in 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in chronic kidney disease (CKD) limits the kidney ability of synthesizing the vitamin. Vitamin D deficiency as defined by KDIGO (25(OH)D <20 ng/mL) is prevalent in CKD patients and associated to oxidative stress (OS). We studied a possible association between vitamin D deficiency and OS in pre-dialysis patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 206 CKD patients was carried out. Laboratory tests for 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D, inflammatory markers, and OS were added to routine tests including creatinine, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, iPTH, glucose, hemoglobin, uric acid, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was present in 55 CKD patients and normal vitamin D levels were seen in 149 patients. There was a significant association between vitamin D and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGRF). Homocysteine levels were best predicted by eGRF, sex, and age; high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) by staging and BMI; nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) were increased in late disease; leptin was influenced by BMI and higher in women than man; and adiponectin levels were higher in women. Conclusions: OS biomarkers were not correlated with vitamin D deficiency but increased NOx were seen in stages 4-5 CKD patients. Even though a relatively large number of CKD patients was included and a broad number of OS and inflammatory biomarkers were used in this studied we failed to find an association between vitamin D levels and eGRF. More studies are needed to evaluate the influence of vitamin D status in OS in pre-dialysis CKD patients.
Abstract Background Studies in old adults showed bidirectional interconnections between amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and affective symptoms and that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) may affect both factors. Nevertheless, these associations may be confined to older adults with clinical depression. Aims To delineate the relationship between clinical symptoms of aMCI and affective symptoms in older adults without major depression (MDD) or dysfunctions in activities of daily living (ADL). Methods This case-control study recruited 61 participants with aMCI (diagnosed using Petersen’s criteria) and 59 older adults without aMCI and excluded subjects with MDD and ADL dysfunctions. Results We uncovered 2 distinct dimensions, namely distress symptoms of old age (DSOA) comprising anxiety, depression, perceived stress and neuroticism scores, and mild cognitive dysfunctions (mCoDy) comprising episodic memory test scores, and the total Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. A large part of the variance (37.9%) in DSOA scores was explained by ACE, negative life events (health and financial problems), a subjective feeling of cognitive decline, and education (all positively). While ACE and NLE have a highly significant impact on the DSOA, they are not associated with the mCoDy scores. Cluster analysis showed that the diagnosis of aMCI is overinclusive because some subjects with DSOA symptoms may be incorrectly classified as aMCI. Conclusions The clinical impact is that clinicians should carefully screen older adults for DSOA after excluding MDD. DSOA might be misinterpreted as aMCI.
