Examining the relationship between gray matter volume and a continuous measure of bipolarity in unmedicated unipolar and bipolar depression.

Background: It has been argued that unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) exist on a continuous spectrum, given their overlapping symptomatology and genetic diatheses. The Bipolarity Index (BI) is a scale that considers bipolarity as a continuous construct and was developed to assess confidence in bipolar diagnosis. Here we investigated whether BI scores correlate with gray matter volume (GMV) in a sample of unmedicated unipolar and bipolar depressed individuals.

Dinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis impairs spatial recognition memory in mice: roles of N-methyl D-aspartate receptors and nitric oxide.

Rationale: Many peripheral diseases are associated with a decline in cognitive function. In this regard, there have been reports of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and an otherwise unexplained memory impairment.

Objectives: We sought to assess the memory performance of mice with colitis.

Stroke modifies drug consumption in opium addicts: role of the insula.

Introduction: Addiction imposes a large medical, social and economic burden on societies. Currently, there is no effective treatment for addiction. Our struggle to decipher the different mechanisms involved in addiction requires a proper understanding of the brain regions which promote this devastating behavior.

Knowledge of medical students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences regarding plagiarism.

The core concept of plagiarism is defined as the use of other people's ideas or words without proper acknowledgement. Herein, we used a questionnaire to assess the knowledge of students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) regarding plagiarism and copyright infringement. The questionnaire comprised 8 questions.

Muscimol delays lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm delivery in mice: role of GABA(A) receptors and nitric oxide.

Objectives: Immunologic processes are involved in preterm delivery (PTD). Considering the anti-inflammatory properties of muscimol (GABA(A) agonist), the effect of this drug was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide-induced PTD in mice.

Methods: PTD was induced by two intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide (35 µg/kg; n = 11), on gestational day 15 (d15).

NMDA receptor involvement in antidepressant-like effect of pioglitazone in the forced swimming test in mice.

Rationale: Previously, we showed that pioglitazone exerts its antidepressant-like effect through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma receptors and demonstrated the possible involvement of calcium-dependent nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. Based upon the in vitro results, pioglitazone reduces N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated calcium currents in hippocampal neurons.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the involvement of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) on the antidepressant-like effect of pioglitazone in the forced swimming test (FST) in mice.

Antidepressant-like effect of pioglitazone in the forced swimming test in mice: the role of PPAR-gamma receptor and nitric oxide pathway.

Unlabelled: In this study, the potential antidepressant-like effects of pioglitazone and the possible involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and nitric oxide system in antidepressant effects of pioglitazone were determined using forced swimming test (FST) in mice.

Method: After assessment of locomotor activity in open-field test, mice were forced to swim individually and the immobility time of the last 4 min was evaluated. Pioglitazone was administered orally with doses (5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) 2 and 4h before FST.