Heart rate variability in patients with fully remitted major depressive disorder.

Objective: Cardiac autonomic dysregulation has been reported in major depressive disorder (MDD), but scarce studies investigated that in fully remitted MDD.

Methods: To examine cardiac autonomic function in remitted MDD, 470 unmedicated individuals with a diagnosis of MDD earlier in life and 462 healthy volunteers, aged 18-65 years, were recruited for a case-control analysis. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) parameters.

Developing consensus 3D-QSAR and pharmacophore models for several beta-secretase, farnesyl transferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Three consensus 3D-QSAR (c-3D-QSAR) models were built for 38, 34, and 78 inhibitors of β-secretase, histone deacetylase, and farnesyltransferase, respectively. To build an individual 3D-QSAR model, the structures of an inhibitor series are aligned through docking of a protein receptor into the active site using the program GOLD. CoMFA, CoMSIA, and Catalyst are then performed for the training set of each structurally aligned inhibitor series to obtain a 3D-QSAR model.

Repeated angioedema following administration of venlafaxine and mirtazapine.

We report a rare case of a 48-year-old female who presented with bilateral lower-leg swelling due to a medication-induced angioedema resulting from the use of two common classes of antidepressants, venlafaxine and mirtazapine. Although the mechanisms by which the antidepressants achieve these effects are not understood, the recent recognition of a novel antidepressant-dependent form of angioedema may offer important insights into the mechanisms by which the antidepressants exert their effects.

Lack of association between dopamine D3 receptor Ser9Gly polymorphism and schizophrenia in Han Chinese population.

Background: The Ser9Gly polymorphism in dopamine D3 receptor gene (DRD3) was considered an important factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Allele and genotype frequencies of this polymorphism were studied in different ethnic groups of schizophrenic patients. However, the results have been inconclusive.

Association study of the norepinephrine transporter gene polymorphisms and bipolar disorder in Han Chinese population.

Many studies have indicated that the norepinephrine transporter (NET) may play an important role in the mechanisms underlying affective disorders. Thus, the genes of the NET (SLC6A2) are good candidates for research on bipolar disorder (BPD). This study examined whether the NET gene is a susceptibility factor for the BPD in Han Chinese.

Lack of association between the norepinephrine transporter gene and major depression in a Han Chinese population.

Objective: Although the physiological mechanisms contributing to the development of major depression remain unclear, several lines of evidence suggest that the catecholaminergic system involving the norepinephrine transporter (NET) is implicated in the etiology of major depression. This study aims to determine whether major depression is associated with the NET gene in a Han Chinese population.

Methods: We analyzed the NET promoter T-182C polymorphism and another silent polymorphism G1287A in exon 9 of the NET gene with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method in 216 patients with major depression and 210 unrelated, age-and sex-matched healthy control subjects.