Higher IL-6 and IL-4 plasma levels in depressed elderly women are influenced by diabetes mellitus

Abstract Objective This study aimed at investigating a set of peripheral cytokines in elderly female patients with MDD, comparing them to controls, and assessing the potential influence of clinical comorbidities on inflammatory markers. Methods Twenty-five elderly female patients diagnosed with MDD and 19 age-matched female controls were enrolled on this study. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were evaluated with commercially-available assays. Results Elderly female patients with MDD exhibited higher plasma IL-6 and IL-4 levels when compared to controls. In a logistic regression model taking cytokine levels, comorbidities, and age into account, only type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) remained associated with MDD. Conclusion Diabetes influences the association between MDD and higher levels of cytokines in elderly female patients. Future studies should take this evidence into account in order to mitigate confounding factors.

The protective arm of the renin -angiotensin system may counteract the intense inflammatory process in fetuses with posterior urethral valves / O braço protetor do sistema renina-angiotensina pode contrapor-se ao intenso processo inflamatório em fetos com válvula de uretra posterior

Abstract Objective: Posterior urethral valve is the most common lower urinary tract obstruction in male children. A high percentage of patients with posterior urethral valve evolve to end‐stage renal disease. Previous studies showed that cytokines, chemokines, and components of the renin-angiotensin system contribute to the renal damage in obstructive uropathies. The authors recently found that urine samples from fetuses with posterior urethral valve have increased levels of inflammatory molecules. The aim of this study was to measure renin-angiotensin system molecules and to investigate their correlation with previously detected inflammatory markers in the same urine samples of fetuses with posterior urethral valve. Methods: Urine samples from 24 fetuses with posterior urethral valve were collected and compared to those from 22 healthy male newborns at the same gestational age (controls). Renin-angiotensin system components levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Fetuses with posterior urethral valve presented increased urinary levels of angiotensin (Ang) I, Ang‐(1‐7) and angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 in comparison with controls. ACE levels were significantly reduced and Ang II levels were similar in fetuses with posterior urethral valve in comparison with controls. Conclusions: Increased urinary levels of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 and of Ang‐(1‐7) in fetuses with posterior urethral valve could represent a regulatory response to the intense inflammatory process triggered by posterior urethral valve.

Resumo Objetivo: A válvula de uretra posterior é a obstrução do trato urinário inferior mais comum em crianças do sexo masculino. Uma alta porcentagem de pacientes com válvula de uretra posterior evolui para doença renal em estágio final. Estudos anteriores mostraram que citocinas, quimiocinas e componentes do sistema renina-angiotensina contribuem para o dano renal em uropatias obstrutivas. Recentemente, descobrimos que amostras de urina de fetos com válvula de uretra posterior tinham níveis aumentados de moléculas inflamatórias. O objetivo deste estudo foi medir as moléculas de renina-angiotensina e investigar sua correlação com marcadores inflamatórios previamente detectados nas mesmas amostras de urina de fetos com válvula de uretra posterior. Métodos: Amostras de urina de 24 fetos com válvula de uretra posterior foram coletadas e comparadas com amostras de urina de 22 recém-nascidos saudáveis de mesma idade gestacional (controles). Os níveis dos componentes de SRA foram medidos por ensaio de imunoabsorção enzimática. Resultados: Os fetos com válvula de uretra posterior apresentaram níveis urinários aumentados de angiotensina (Ang) I, Ang-(1-7) e enzima conversora de angiotensina 2 em comparação com os controles. Os níveis de enzima conversora de angiotensina eram significativamente menores e os níveis de Ang II eram semelhantes nos fetos com válvula de uretra posterior em comparação com os controles. Conclusões: O aumento dos níveis urinários de enzima conversora de angiotensina 2 e de Ang-(1-7) em fetos com válvula de uretra posterior poderia representar uma resposta regulatória ao intenso processo inflamatório desencadeado pela válvula de uretra posterior.

Plasma IL-17A levels in patients with late-life depression

Objective: A consistent body of research has confirmed that patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, the soluble IL-2 receptor, and C-reactive protein, compared to controls; however, there is limited information on IL-17A in MDD. Moreover, information about IL-17A in older populations, i.e., patients with late-life depression (LLD), is conspicuously missing from the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of IL-17A in LLD. Methods: A convenience sample of 129 individuals, 74 with LLD and 55 non-depressed controls, were enrolled in this study. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare plasma IL-17A levels between LLD and controls subjects, and Spearman's rank order correlation was used to investigate correlation of these levels with clinical, neuropsychological, and cognitive assessments. Results: Plasma IL-17A levels were not statistically different between LLD patients and controls (p = 0.94). Among all subjects (LLD + control), plasma IL-17A did not correlate significantly with depressive symptoms (rho = -0.009, p = 0.92) but a significant correlation was observed with cognitive assessments (rho = 0.22, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Our findings do not support an association between plasma IL-17A levels and LLD. Nevertheless, IL-17A may be associated with cognitive impairment in LLD patients. If this finding is confirmed in future longitudinal studies, modulation of the T-helper 17 cell (Th17) immune response may be a treatment target for cognitive impairment in this population.

Early psychiatric morbidity in a Brazilian sample of acute ischemic stroke patients

OBJECTIVE: Stroke is a major public health problem worldwide, and its neuropsychiatric sequelae are frequent and disabling. Furthermore, there is evidence that these sequelae impair recovery. Brazil has the highest stroke rates in Latin America, but data on the frequency of neuropsychiatric disorders in these patients are scarce. This study aimed to identify mental disorders among in-hospital patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus (MINI-Plus) was applied to 60 patients during the first week of hospitalization. RESULTS: Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 55% of the patients. A wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders have been identified, mainly mood and anxiety disorders. Specifically, we identified major depression (26.7%), alcohol abuse or dependence (11.7%), specific phobia (8.3%), generalized anxiety disorder (6.7%), psychosis (5.0%), social phobia (3.3%), adjustment disorder (3.3%) and panic disorder (1.7%). CONCLUSION: Psychiatric comorbidity should be evaluated as part of the rehabilitation of stroke patients and should be carefully examined by physicians.

Psychopathological evaluation and use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in a sample of Brazilian patients with post-stroke depression

Abstract Background: Depression is the most frequent psychiatric complication of stroke and is often undetected or inadequately treated. Objective: This study aimed to characterize psychopathological aspects of Brazilian patients admitted to an acute stroke unit, and to evaluate the performance of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in detecting cases of depression. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Sixty consecutive patients admitted to an acute stroke unit were assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the Modified Rankin Scale, the Functional Independence Measure, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus, the HADS, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Pathological Laughing and Crying Scale. Results: Prevalence of depression was 26.7%. Patients with post-stroke depression were more likely to present diabetes (p < 0.01) and had greater disability (p < 0.001) and cognitive impairment (p < 0.001) in comparison to non-depressed patients. Depressed patients showed worse performance specifically on tasks of attention/calculation and language of the MMSE. ROC curve analysis of HADS provided a cutoff value of 6 for detecting depression (sensitivity: 83.3%; specificity: 83.3%). The depression subscale of HADS (HADS-D) presented sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99.17%. Discussion: HADS-D showed good performance in screening for depressive symptoms after acute stroke.

The prevalence of malnutrition and its risk factors in children attending outpatient clinics in the city of Manaus Amazonas Brazil / Prevalência de desnutrição e fatores de risco em crianças atendidas em ambulatórios na cidade de Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its risk factors in children aged 0-10 years attending outpatient clinics in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. A cross-sectional epidemiological study of a population of 347 children was conducted. Data concerning socio-economic levels and food consumption were obtained by interviewing the accompanying guardian of each child. Dietetic evaluation was conducted using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and faecal samples were examined by optical microscopy. Anthropometric measurements were transformed into percentiles and z-scores, and nutritional status was evaluated by reference to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicators. Factors associated with undernutrition were analysed using a random-effects logistic regression model. The overall prevalences of underweight, stunting and wasting were 18.1, 15.5 and 10.7 percent, respectively, with reference to CDC growth curves, and 14.3, 17.3 and 4.4 percent, respectively, with reference to NCHS growth curves. The overall prevalence of wasting was statistical higher according to the CDC reference than that estimated using the NCHS reference (P=0.02). The prevalence rate of intestinal parasites was 58.8 percent. Risk factors associated with malnutrition were: low educational level of guardian respondent (OR=4.55), energy intake <54.5 kcal/kg (OR=4.55), children in age group 6-10 years (OR=3.54), and attendance at outpatient clinic for paediatric visit (OR=2.71). In the studied population, malnutrition (stunting, underweight and wasting) and parasite infection still represent serious public health problems. The risk factors identified in the present study confirm the influence of socio-economic factors on the nutritional status of children.

O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a prevalência de desnutrição e fatores de risco em crianças de 0-10 anos, atendidas em ambulatórios em Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. Foi conduzido um estudo epidemiológico transversal em uma amostra de 347 crianças. As entrevistas foram realizadas com os pais ou responsáveis, foram coletados dados socioeconômico e de consumo alimentar de cada criança. Para avaliação dietética utilizou-se um questionário semi-quantitativo de freqüência alimentar. Amostras de fezes foram examinas por microscópio ótico. Medidas antropométricas foram transformadas em percentis e z-escore e o estado nutricional foi avaliado pelos indicadores do National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) e do Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Fatores de risco associados à desnutrição foram analisados usando modelo de regressão logística com efeito aleatório. As prevalências de baixo peso, déficit de estatura e déficit de peso foram 18,1, 15,5 e 10,7 por cento pela referência do CDC e 14,3, 17,3 e 4,4 por cento do NCHS. A prevalência de déficit de peso foi maior quando estimada pelo CDC em comparação ao NCHS (p=0,02). A prevalência de parasitoses intestinais foi de 58,8 por cento. Os fatores de risco associados a desnutrição foram: baixo nível educacional dos respondentes (OR=4.55), ingestão calórica <54.5 kcal/kg (OR=4.55), crianças na faixa etária de 6-10 anos (OR=3.54), e consulta pediátrica como motivo de visita ao ambulatório (OR=2.71). Na população estudada, desnutrição (baixo peso, déficit de estatura e déficit de peso) e infecção parasitária ainda representam um problema de saúde pública. Os fatores de risco confirmam a influência dos fatores sócio econômicos no estado nutricional das crianças.