Bone marrow mononuclear cell transplant prevents rat depression and modulates inflammatory and neurogenic molecules.

Introduction: Major depressive disorder is associated with chronic inflammation and deficient production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) transplantation has an anti-inflammatory effect and has been proven effective in restoring non-depressive behavior. This study investigated whether BMMC transplantation can prevent the development of depression or anxiety in chronic mild stress (CMS), as well as its effect on inflammatory and neurogenic molecules.

Is there a place for cellular therapy in depression?

Although efforts have been made to improve the pharmacological treatment of depression, approximately one-third of patients with depression do not respond to conventional therapy using antidepressants. Other potential non-pharmacological therapies have been studied in the last years, including the use of mesenchymal stem cell therapies to treat depression. These therapies are reviewed here since it is clinically relevant to develop innovative therapeutics to treat psychiatric patients.

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) reduces the inflammatory response triggered in vitro by the antipsychotic drug olanzapine in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

Background: Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart), a Brazilian fruit, is considered a "superfruit" due its energetic properties and bioactive compounds. The açai's anti-inflammatory effects could attenuate the undesirable metabolic and pro-inflammatory side effects triggered by some antipsychotic drugs, such as Olanzapine (OLZ). It is possible to infer that açai supplement could potentially minimize the adverse effects of OLZ.

The antidepressant effect of bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in chronic stress.

Background: Inflammation could be a risk factor for the development of depression and change the outcome of this common chronic-recurrent mental disorder.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate if bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) transplantation is effective in restoring sucrose preference in rats subjected to chronic stress (CS), if it has an anti-inflammatory effect and is able to restore damaged DNA.

Methods: The effect of BMMC transplantation was studied in a controlled protocol (compared with a control group and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram group) involving sucrose preference in CS in rats.

Correction to: The Influence of a Xanthine-Catechin Chemical Matrix on in vitro Macrophage-Activation Triggered by Antipsychotic Ziprasidone.

After publication of our article it came to our attention that it contains a number of errors with regard to the citations. The details are provided below.

Lithium is able to minimize olanzapine oxidative-inflammatory induction on macrophage cells.

Background: Olanzapine (OLZ) is a second-generation antipsychotic drug used for treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Undesirable side effects of OLZ include metabolic alterations associated with chronic oxidative-inflammation events. It is possible that lithium (Li), a mood modulator that exhibits anti-inflammatory properties may attenuate OLZ-induced oxi-inflammatory effects.

The Influence of a Xanthine-Catechin Chemical Matrix on in vitro Macrophage-Activation Triggered by Antipsychotic Ziprasidone.

Ziprasidone (ZIP) is an effective antipsychotic with low side effects than other second-generation antipsychotics. Despite this, there are reports of adverse events and previous studies associating the use of ZIP the inflammatory response. It is possible to infer that bioactive molecules present in some foods could attenuate peripheral inflammatory and oxidative stress potentially triggered ZIP.

Genetic or pharmacological superoxide-hydrogen peroxide imbalances modulate the in vitro effects of lithium on glycogen synthase kinase-3β.

Introduction: Lithium (Li), a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder (BP) symptoms has important anti-inflammatory effects by downregulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β). However, sometime Li effect is not efficient in some patients suggesting genetic interference. Previous investigations described association between a genetic superoxide‑hydrogen (S-HP) imbalance caused by a superoxide dismutase manganese dependent gene polymorphism (Val16Ala-SOD2 SNP, rs4880) and differential anti-inflammatory response of some drugs and bioactive molecules.

Xanthine-Catechin Mixture Enhances Lithium-Induced Anti-Inflammatory Response in Activated Macrophages .

Lithium (Li) is a chemical element used for treating and preventing bipolar disorder (BD) and exerts positive effects such as anti-inflammatory effects as well as undesirable side effects. These effects of Li can be influenced by interaction with some nutritional elements. Therefore, we investigated the potential effects of xanthine (caffeine and theobromine) and catechin molecules present in some food beverages broadly consumed worldwide, such as coffee and tea, on Li-induced anti-inflammatory effects.

Ziprasidone, a second-generation antipsychotic drug, triggers a macrophage inflammatory response in vitro.

Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. However, most of these drugs present side effects causing obesity and other serious metabolic alterations that correlate with grade of chronic inflammation. In contrast, ziprasidone's (ZIP) metabolic side effects are attenuated relative to those of other antipsychotic drugs, but some reports suggest that this drug could cause allergic, hypersensitive reactions in susceptible patients.

Association between T102C 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphism and 5-year mortality risk among Brazilian Amazon riparian elderly population.

Objective: Serotonin (5-HT) is a pleiotropic molecule that exerts several functions on brain and peripheral tissues via different receptors. The gene for the 5-HT2A receptor shows some variations, including a T102C polymorphism, that have been associated with increased risk of neuropsychiatric and vascular disorders. However, the potential impact of 5-HT2A imbalance caused by genetic variations on the human lifespan has not yet been established.

Haloperidol and Risperidone at high concentrations activate an in vitro inflammatory response of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells by induction of apoptosis and modification of cytokine levels.

Antipsychotic drugs, such as haloperidol and risperidone, are used in long-term treatment of psychiatric patients and thus increase the risk of obesity and other metabolic dysfunctions. Available evidence suggests that these drugs have pro-inflammatory effect, which contributes to the establishment of endocrine disturbances. However, results yielded by extant studies are inconsistent.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms and exacerbations in COPD patients.

Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common psychological consequence of exposure to traumatic stressful life events. During COPD exacerbations dyspnea can be considered a near-death experience that may induce post-traumatic stress symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between COPD exacerbations and PTSD- related symptoms.

[Pharmacological treatment of impulsivity and aggressive behavior].

Impulsivity and aggressive behavior occur frequently in a variety of psychiatric disorders and neurological diseases. Two lines of treatment could be employed, the treatment of the disorder or disease in which these symptoms occur or the treatment of the impulsivity and aggressive behavior itself. This second approach considers that there are neurobiological similarities underlying these behaviors regardless of the 'primary' diagnoses with which they are associated.

[Genetics in eating disorders: extending the boundaries of research].

Objective: To review the recent literature relevant to genetic research in eating disorders and to discuss unique issues which are crucial for the development of a genetic research project in eating disorders in Brazil.

Method: A computer literature review was conducted in the Medline database between 1984 and may 2005 with the search terms "eating disorders", "anorexia nervosa", "bulimia nervosa", "binge eating disorder", "family", "twin" and "molecular genetic" studies.

Results: Current research findings suggest a substantial influence of genetic factors on the liability to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Can childhood trauma predict response to topiramate in borderline personality disorder?

We report on a woman with borderline personality disorder and a history of childhood trauma that showed significant clinical response with low dosage of topiramate. We propose that topiramate changed some of the main features of this disorder, such as catastrophic reaction to real or imaginary abandonment or rejection, improving adaptive functioning. We hypothesize that topiramate might facilitate memory extinction, therefore decreasing emotional and behavioural reactivity.

Polymorphism of 5HT2A serotonin receptor gene is implicated in smoking addiction.

Smoking behavior is influenced by genetic factors. Polymorphisms affecting the dopaminergic system have been linked to smoking habits. The aim of this study was to investigate if the T102C polymorphism of the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene is related to tobacco use, since this receptor modulates the mesolimbic dopamine system and the C allele is associated with reduced receptor gene expression.

Lithium reduces maternal child abuse behaviour: a preliminary report.

Objective: To find out in child abusing mothers whether aggressiveness in general, but which is directed towards their children in particular, could be reduced by giving lithium.

Method: An open trial of lithium in eight child-abusing mothers. Assessment of aggression using Yudofsky's Overt Aggression Scale.

Self-inhibiting action of nortriptyline's anti-immobility effect at high plasma and brain levels in mice.

Animals were treated acutely with 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg nortriptyline (NT) 30 min before the tail suspension test (TST). They were sacrificed after test for evaluation of plasma and brain levels of NT.