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1.
The Putative Antidepressant Mechanisms of Probiotic Bacteria: Relevant Genes and Proteins.
Poluektova, E, Yunes, R, Danilenko, V
Nutrients. 2021;(5)
Abstract
Probiotic bacteria are widely accepted as therapeutic agents against inflammatory bowel diseases for their immunostimulating effects. In the last decade, more evidence has emerged supporting the positive effects of probiotics on the course of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. This brief review summarizes the data from clinical studies of probiotics possessing antidepressant properties and focuses on the potential genes and proteins underlying these mechanisms. Data from small-sample placebo-controlled pilot studies indicate that certain strains of bacteria can significantly reduce the symptoms of depression, especially in depressed patients. Despite the disparity between studies attempting to pinpoint the bacterial putative genes and proteins accounting for these mechanisms, they ultimately show that bacteria are a potential source of metabiotics-microbial metabolites or structural components. Since the constituents of cells-namely, secreted proteins, peptides and cell wall components-are most likely to be entangled in the gut-brain axis, they can serve as starting point in the search for probiotics with concrete properties.
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Memantine in neurological disorders - schizophrenia and depression.
Czarnecka, K, Chuchmacz, J, Wójtowicz, P, Szymański, P
Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany). 2021;(3):327-334
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Abstract
Memantine is used in Alzheimer's disease treatment as a non-competitive modern-affinity strong voltage-dependent N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist. The fundamental role of these receptors is to bind glutamate: the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, believed to play a crucial role in neuronal plasticity and learning mechanisms. Glutamate transmission plays an important role in all internal CNS structures and maintains the physiological state of the brain. Excessive glutamate transmission can lead to enlarged calcium ion current which may cause neurotoxicity; however, insufficient transmission can drastically alter the information flow in neurons and the brain, potentially causing schizophrenia-like symptoms by replacing lost information with completely new stimuli. Hence, it is possible that the modulation of NMDA activity may give rise to pathophysiological states. Available literature and clinical trials indicate that memantine is well tolerated by patients, with very few and light side effects. There is a belief that memantine may also benefit other conditions such as schizophrenia and depression.
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3.
Associations of maternal stress and/or depressive symptoms with diet quality during pregnancy: a narrative review.
Boutté, AK, Turner-McGrievy, GM, Wilcox, S, Liu, J, Eberth, JM, Kaczynski, AT
Nutrition reviews. 2021;(5):495-517
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy can be a stressful time for many women; however, it is unclear if higher stress and depressive symptoms are associated with poorer diet quality during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE The aims for this narrative review were to (1) synthesize findings of original, peer-reviewed studies that examined associations of stress and/or depressive symptoms with diet quality during pregnancy; (2) review the measurement tools used to assess stress, depressive symptoms, and diet quality; (3) identify current gaps in the extant literature; and (4) offer recommendations for future research. METHODS A search strategy was used to identify peer-reviewed manuscripts published between January 1997 and October 2018, using the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection. The search was updated December 2019. Two reviewers independently assessed title, abstract, and full-text of the studies that met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and a quality assessment was conducted. RESULTS Twenty-seven observational studies were identified in this review (21 cross-sectional and 6 longitudinal). In 22 studies, higher stress and/or depressive symptoms were associated with poorer diet quality or unhealthy dietary patterns; 5 studies found no association. Findings are mixed and inconclusive regarding the relationship among stress, depressive symptoms, and food groups related to diet quality and frequency of fast-food consumption. CONCLUSIONS The current data suggest stress and depressive symptoms may be a barrier to proper diet quality during pregnancy; however, variability in the assessment tools, timing of assessments, and use of covariates likely contribute to the inconsistency in study findings. Gaps in the literature include limited use of longitudinal study designs, limited use of comprehensive diet-quality indices, underrepresentation of minority women, and lack of multilevel theoretical frameworks. Studies should address these factors to better assess associations of stress and/or depressive symptoms with diet quality during pregnancy.
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A Scoping Review of Non-Occupational Exposures to Environmental Pollutants and Adult Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide.
Dickerson, AS, Wu, AC, Liew, Z, Weisskopf, M
Current environmental health reports. 2020;(3):256-271
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite a call for better understanding of the role of environmental pollutant influences on mental health and the tremendous public health burden of mental health, this issue receives far less attention than many other effects of pollutants. Here we summarize the body of literature on non-occupational environmental pollutant exposures and adult depression, anxiety, and suicide-in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsychINFO through the end of year 2018. RECENT FINDINGS One hundred twelve articles met our criteria for further review. Of these, we found 88 articles on depression, 33 on anxiety, and 22 on suicide (31 articles covered multiple outcomes). The earliest article was published in 1976, and the most frequent exposure of interest was air pollution (n = 33), followed by secondhand smoke (n = 20), metals (n = 18), noise (n = 17), and pesticides (n = 10). Other exposures studied less frequently included radiation, magnetic fields, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), volatile organic compounds, solvents, and reactive sulfur compounds. The current literature, although limited, clearly suggests many kinds of environmental exposures may be risk factors for depression, anxiety, and suicide. For several pollutants, important limitations exist with many of the studies. Gaps in the body of research include a need for more longitudinal, life-course studies, studies that can measure cumulative exposures as well as shorter-term exposures, studies that reduce the possibility of reverse causation, and mechanistic studies focused on neurotoxic exposures.
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Behavioral issues and quality of life in children with eosinophilic esophagitis.
Votto, M, Castagnoli, R, De Filippo, M, Brambilla, I, Cuppari, C, Marseglia, GL, Licari, A
Minerva pediatrica. 2020;(5):424-432
Abstract
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic disease characterized by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction and eosinophil-predominant inflammation (≥15 eosinophils/high power field). In the last ten years, several epidemiological studies showed a significant increase in the incidence and prevalence of EoE, especially in children in Western Countries. Although EoE often presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, adults and children may develop extraintestinal symptoms and behavioral issues. Also, the chronic nature of the disease, long-term therapies, and strict follow-up may impair the quality of life of patients and their family. This review summarizes current knowledge on the behavioral and psychosocial issues and quality of life of children and adolescents with EoE and their caregivers.
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Vitamin D and depression: mechanisms, determination and application.
Geng, C, Shaikh, AS, Han, W, Chen, D, Guo, Y, Jiang, P
Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition. 2019;(4):689-694
Abstract
Depression is the most common debilitating psychiatric disease, the pathological mechanisms of which are associated with multiple aspects of neural function. While recent evidence has consistently suggested that a suboptimal vitamin D status is frequently observed in patients with depression, the results concerning whether vitamin D insufficiency is a causal factor of depression or is secondary to depressive behavior are conflicting; additionally, the lack of consistency of the method of vitamin D determination between labs has further worsened this confusion. Herein, we reviewed the neuroactivities of vitamin D that may be associated with depression and the current studies and clinical investigations to provide a full overview on the use of vitamin D in the treatment and prevention of depression.
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Self-Management of Depression: Beyond the Medical Model.
Duggal, HS
The Permanente journal. 2019
Abstract
Self-management is increasingly becoming the standard of care among people with chronic medical conditions. Its application to depression is mostly extrapolated from the paradigms used for nonpsychiatric medical illnesses. Such an approach falls short in addressing strength-based interventions that foster recovery in individuals with depression. This article describes a new paradigm of self-management, which is in line with the recovery model, is patient-centered, and goes beyond amelioration of clinical symptoms.
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Interventions of computerized psychotherapies for depression in Primary Care in Spain.
Barceló-Soler, A, Baños, RM, López-Del-Hoyo, Y, Mayoral, F, Gili, M, García-Palacios, A, García-Campayo, J, Botella, C
Actas espanolas de psiquiatria. 2019;(6):236-46
Abstract
Currently, depression is a global health problem recognized by the WHO. The prevalence of this pathology in Primary Care is estimated at 19.5% worldwide, and 20.2% in Spain. In addition, the current intervention policies and protocols involve significant costs, both personal and economic, for people suffering from this disorder, as well as for society in general. On the other hand, the relapse rates after pharmacological interventions that are currently applied and the lack of effective specialized attention in mental health services reflect the need to develop new therapeutic strategies that are more accessible and profitable. Therefore, one of the proposals that are being investigated in different parts of the world is the design and evaluation of therapeutic protocols applied through Information and Communication Technologies, especially through the Internet and computer programs. The objective of this work was to present the current situation in Spain regarding the use of these interventions for the treatment of depression in Primary Care. The main conclusion is that although there is scientific evidence on the effectiveness of these programs, there are still important barriers that hinder their application in the public system, and also the need to develop implementation studies that facilitate the transition from research to clinical practice.
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Metabotropic Glutamatergic Receptor 5 and Stress Disorders: Knowledge Gained From Receptor Imaging Studies.
Esterlis, I, Holmes, SE, Sharma, P, Krystal, JH, DeLorenzo, C
Biological psychiatry. 2018;(2):95-105
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Abstract
The metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) may represent a promising therapeutic target for stress-related psychiatric disorders. Here, we describe mGluR5 findings in stress disorders, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD), highlighting insights from positron emission tomography studies. Positron emission tomography studies report either no differences or lower mGluR5 in MDD, potentially reflecting MDD heterogeneity. Unlike the rapidly acting glutamatergic agent ketamine, mGluR5-specific modulation has not yet shown antidepressant efficacy in MDD and bipolar disorder. Although we recently showed that ketamine may work, in part, through significant mGluR5 modulation, the specific role of mGluR5 downregulation in ketamine's antidepressant response is unclear. In contrast to MDD, there has been much less investigation of mGluR5 in bipolar disorder, yet initial studies indicate that mGluR5-specific treatments may aid in both depressed and manic mood states. The direction of modulation needed may be state dependent, however, limiting clinical feasibility. There has been relatively little study of posttraumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder to date, although there is evidence for the upregulation of mGluR5 in these disorders. However, while antagonism of mGluR5 may reduce fear conditioning, it may also reduce fear extinction. Therefore, studies are needed to determine the role mGluR5 modulation might play in the treatment of these conditions. Further challenges in modulating this prevalent neurotransmitter system include potential induction of significant side effects. As such, more research is needed to identify level and type (positive/negative allosteric modulation or full antagonism) of mGluR5 modulation required to translate existing knowledge into improved therapies.
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Ketamine and Beyond: Investigations into the Potential of Glutamatergic Agents to Treat Depression.
Lener, MS, Kadriu, B, Zarate, CA
Drugs. 2017;(4):381-401
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Abstract
Clinical and preclinical studies suggest that dysfunction of the glutamatergic system is implicated in mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and bipolar depression. In clinical studies of individuals with major depressive disorder and bipolar depression, rapid reductions in depressive symptoms have been observed in response to subanesthetic-dose ketamine, an agent whose mechanism of action involves the modulation of glutamatergic signaling. The findings from these studies have prompted the repurposing and/or development of other glutamatergic modulators for antidepressant efficacy, both as monotherapy or as an adjunct to conventional monoaminergic antidepressants. This review highlights the evidence supporting the antidepressant effects of subanesthetic-dose ketamine as well as other glutamatergic modulators, such as D-cycloserine, riluzole, CP-101,606, CERC-301 (previously known as MK-0657), basimglurant, JNJ-40411813, dextromethorphan, nitrous oxide, GLYX-13, and esketamine.