Molecular signature underlying (R)-ketamine rapid antidepressant response on anhedonic-like behavior induced by sustained exposure to stress.

Anhedonia induced by sustained stress exposure is a hallmark symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and in rodents, it can be accessed through the sucrose preference test (SPT). (R)-ketamine is a fast-acting antidepressant with less detrimental side effects and abuse liability compared to racemic ketamine. The present study combined high-throughput proteomics and network analysis to identify molecular mechanisms involved in chronic variable stress (CVS)-induced anhedonia and promising targets underlying (R)-ketamine rapid antidepressant response.

Conductance Channels in a Single-Entity Enzyme.

For a long time, the prevailing view in the scientific community was that proteins, being complex macromolecules composed of amino acid chains linked by peptide bonds, adopt folded structure with insulating or semiconducting properties, with high bandgaps. However, recent discoveries of unexpectedly high conductance levels, reaching values in the range of dozens of nanosiemens (nS) in proteins, have challenged this conventional understanding. In this study, we used scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to explore the single-entity conductance properties of enzymatic channels, focusing on bilirubin oxidase (BOD) as a model metalloprotein.

Sulforaphane Improves Redox Homeostasis and Right Ventricular Contractility in a Model of Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), imposing overload on the right ventricle (RV) and imbalance of the redox state. Our study investigated the influence of treatment with sulforaphane (SFN), found in cruciferous vegetables, on RV remodeling and redox homeostasis in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH. Male Wistar rats were separated into 4 groups: control (CTR); CTR + SFN; MCT; and MCT + SFN.

Exploring Enzymatic Conformational Dynamics at Surfaces through μ-FTIR Spectromicroscopy.

Immobilization of proteins onto solid supports has critical industrial, technological, and medical applications, and is a daily task in chemical research. Significant conformational rearrangements often occur due to enzyme-surface interactions, and it is of broad interest to develop methods to probe and better understand these molecular-level changes that contribute to the enzyme's catalytic activity and stability. While circular dichroism is a common method for solution-phase conformational study, the application to surface-supported proteins is not trivial and spatial mapping is not viable.

Evidence of the Effects of Dance Interventions on Adults Mental Health: A Systematic Review.

Background: Recent research has shown that dancing takes effect directly in improving mental health, by reducing rates of depression, anxiety, and enhancing the mood aspects in people of any age.

Aim: This systematic review aimed to search for evidence of the effects of dance interventions on adults' mental health.

Methods: The eligibility criteria of the studies were defined by following the PICOS strategy, considering the population, intervention, comparison, result, and the study design.

Low-dimensionality carbon-based biosensors: the new era of emerging technologies in bioanalytical chemistry.

Since the last decade, carbon nanomaterials have had a notable impact on different fields such as bioimaging, drug delivery, artificial tissue engineering, and biosensors. This is due to their good compatibility toward a wide range of chemical to biological molecules, low toxicity, and tunable properties. Especially for biosensor technology, the characteristic features of each dimensionality of carbon-based materials may influence the performance and viability of their use.

Differentially regulated targets in the fast-acting antidepressant effect of (R)-ketamine: A systems biology approach.

Approximately two-thirds of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) fail to respond to conventional antidepressants, suggesting that additional mechanisms are involved in the MDD pathophysiology. In this scenario, the glutamatergic system represents a promising therapeutic target for treatment-resistant depression. To our knowledge, this is the first study using semantic approach with systems biology to identify potential targets involved in the fast-acting antidepressant effects of ketamine and its enantiomers as well as identifying specific targets of (R)-ketamine.

Is (R)-ketamine a potential therapeutic agent for treatment-resistant depression with less detrimental side effects? A review of molecular mechanisms underlying ketamine and its enantiomers.

Approximately one-third of individuals with major depressive disorder are resistant to conventional antidepressants (i.e., monoamine-based therapies), and, even among respondents, a proper therapeutic effect may require weeks of treatment.

Porous Graphene Oxide Films Prepared via the Breath-Figure Method: A Simple Strategy for Switching Access of Redox Species to an Electrode Surface.

Porous materials can be modified with physical barriers to control the transport of ions and molecules through channels via an external stimulus. Such capability has brought attention toward drug delivery, separation methods, nanofluidics, and point-of-care devices. In this context, gated platforms on which access to an electrode surface of species in solution can be reversibly hindered/unhindered on demand are appearing as promising materials for sensing and microfluidic switches.

COVID-19 and mental health in Brazil: Psychiatric symptoms in the general population.

Public health interventions at general population level are imperative in order to decrease the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but they may contribute to widespread emotional distress and increased risk for psychiatric illnesses. We report on the results of an investigation into the occurrence and determinants of psychiatric symptoms among the Brazilian general population (N = 1996). We assessed sociodemographic variables and general mental health (DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure), depression (PROMIS depression v.

High-resolution light-activated electrochemistry on amorphous silicon-based photoelectrodes.

Light-activated electrochemistry (LAE) consists of employing a focused light beam to illuminate a semiconducting area and make it electrochemically active. Here, we show how to reduce the electrochemical spatial resolution to submicron by exploiting the short lateral diffusion of charge carriers in amorphous silicon to improve the resolution of LAE by 60 times.

Reduction of hippocampal IL-6 levels in LPS-injected rats following acute exendin-4 treatment.

Preclinical evidence on the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1r) agonists in the brain led to an increased interest in repurposing these compounds as a therapy for central nervous system (CNS) disorders and associated comorbidities. We aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of acute treatment with exendin (EX)-4, a GLP-1r agonist, in an animal model of inflammation. We evaluated the effect of different doses of EX-4 on inflammatory, neurotrophic, and oxidative stress parameters in the hippocampus and serum of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injected animals.

Targeting Inflammatory-Mitochondrial Response in Major Depression: Current Evidence and Further Challenges.

The prevalence of psychiatric disorders has increased in recent years. Among existing mental disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD) has emerged as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, affecting individuals throughout their lives. Currently, MDD affects 15% of adults in the Americas.

Spatially localized electrodeposition of multiple metals via light-activated electrochemistry for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy applications.

Light can be used to address electrochemical reactions on a monolithic semiconducting electrode with spatial and temporal resolution. Herein, such principle was used for the electrodeposition of Au, Ag and Cu nanoparticles on a unique silicon-based electrode. The parallel nature of the process granted manufacturing speed and platforms were applied to discriminate molecules via multi-wavelength and multivariate Raman analysis.

Controlling Gold Electrodeposition on Porous Polymeric Templates Produced by the Breath-Figure Method: Fabrication of SERS-Active Surfaces.

Porous structured surfaces decorated with gold nanoparticles can be fabricated in an economical two-step process. Sub-micrometric porous polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) templates are formed by using the breath-figure method (BFM) with a single-step spin-coating onto a conducting substrate to result in a set of delimited microdomains for gold electrodeposition. By controlling electrochemical parameters, distinct morphologies are engendered, among them, nanoparticles that present useful local Raman enhancement in the order of up to 10 with stability of a solid-phase platform and characteristic chemical resistance of gold.

BDNF prevents central oxidative damage in a chronic unpredictable mild stress model: The possible role of PRDX-1 in anhedonic behavior.

Prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sustained increase of glucocorticoids have been evidenced in major depression and are related to changes involving neurotrophins and markers of oxidative stress in response to inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate central measures of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), oxidative damage and total antioxidant capacity in rats submitted to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), as well as to investigate the relationship between BDNF levels and differentially processes. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were submitted to CUMS for six weeks.

Anhedonic-like behavior correlates with IFNγ serum levels in a two-hit model of depression.

Stress is implicated in the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and leads to the activation of proinflammatory pathways, which are recognized to induce depressive symptoms. For instance, depression is commonly observed in patients with hepatitis C and cancer under IFN therapy, and high levels of inflammatory cytokines are described in the serum of individuals with MDD - which indicate a multi-system aspect of psychiatric disorders. Thus, we evaluated the effects of a two-hit model of depression on peripheral and CNS inflammatory, neurotrophic, and oxidative stress parameters and behavior.

Attenuated inflammatory response of monocyte-derived macrophage from patients with BD: a preliminary report.

Background: Innate immune system dysfunction has been recognized as an important element in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). We aimed to investigate whether there are differences in the response of macrophages derived from patients in the early stages and late stages of BD and healthy subjects.

Methods: Human monocytes purified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with BD type I (n = 18)-further classified into early- and late stage BD patients according to their functioning- and from healthy individuals (n = 10) were differentiated into macrophages in vitro.

White matter volume is decreased in bipolar disorder at early and late stages.

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a debilitating mood condition that affects approximately 1.3% of people worldwide, although some studies report up to 3.9% lifetime prevalence and 4-6% in adults when broad diagnostic criteria are applied.

Bucindolol attenuates the vascular remodeling of pulmonary arteries by modulating the expression of the endothelin-1 A receptor in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the ß-adrenergic blocker bucindolol on endothelial dysfunction and pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, monocrotaline (MCT), control?+?bucindolol and monocrotaline?+?bucindolol (MCT?+?BCD). PAH was induced by an injection of monocrotaline (60?mg/kg i.

Trapidil improves hemodynamic, echocardiographic and redox state parameters of right ventricle in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension model.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a disease characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance and redox imbalance, leading to failure of right ventricle. Trapidil has been described to improve the redox balance and cardiac conditions.

Hypothesis: Trapidil can improve the redox balance and contribute to functional improvements of the RV in PAH.

Depression and Mania Induce Pro-inflammatory Activation of Macrophages Following Application of Serum from Individuals with Bipolar Disorder.

Objective: Evidence has suggested that immune imbalance is involved with bipolar disorder (BD); however, its precise mechanism is poorly understood. This study investigated whether biochemical changes in the serum from BD patients could modulate the phenotype of cultured macrophages.

Methods: Eighteen subjects with BD and five healthy individuals were included in this study.