Triggering of Major Brain Disorders by Protons and ATP: The Role of ASICs and P2X Receptors / 神经科学通报·英文版

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is well-known as a universal source of energy in living cells. Less known is that this molecule has a variety of important signaling functions: it activates a variety of specific metabotropic (P2Y) and ionotropic (P2X) receptors in neuronal and non-neuronal cell membranes. So, a wide variety of signaling functions well fits the ubiquitous presence of ATP in the tissues. Even more ubiquitous are protons. Apart from the unspecific interaction of protons with any protein, many physiological processes are affected by protons acting on specific ionotropic receptors-acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). Both protons (acidification) and ATP are locally elevated in various pathological states. Using these fundamentally important molecules as agonists, ASICs and P2X receptors signal a variety of major brain pathologies. Here we briefly outline the physiological roles of ASICs and P2X receptors, focusing on the brain pathologies involving these receptors.

Epidemiología de la morbilidad psiquiátrica en América Latina / Epidemiology of psychiatric morbidity in Latin America

RESUMEN Fundamento: Ante el aumento de personas con trastornos psiquiátricos en países de América Latina, se aprecia la necesidad de desarrollar estudios epidemiológicos para conocer la distribución de estos entre los varios grupos etarios; sin embargo, existen diferencias que van desde la elección de los instrumentos, hasta la selección y cálculo de la muestra, lo que afecta los resultados y sus conclusiones, como son el subregistro y el sobre diagnóstico de trastornos, o las dificultades en el acceso a los servicios de salud mental. Objetivo: Analizar diferencias metodológicas entre los estudios relacionados con la morbilidad psiquiátrica en la población general y en servicios de atención primaria, asimismo los diferentes hallazgos obtenidos en esas investigaciones. Conclusiones: Los estudios de morbilidad psiquiátrica a partir del indicador prevalencia realizados en América Latina son heterogéneos e incluyen instrumentos, sistemas de clasificación, sujetos y cálculo de muestras diferentes, así como sus resultados, por lo que es pertinente enfocar el diseño de este tipo de investigación ajustado a las realidades locales y recursos disponibles para de esta manera definir estrategias que aporten a la planificación de servicios y el desarrollo de políticas de salud mental en esta región.

ABSTRACT Background: With the increase in the number of people with psychiatric disorders in Latin American countries, the need to develop epidemiological studies is appreciated to know the distribution of these among the several age groups; however, there are differences ranging from the choice of instruments to the selection and calculation of the sample, which affects the results and their conclusions, such as underreporting and overdiagnosis of disorders, or difficulties in accessing mental health services. Objective: To analyze methodological differences between related studies with psychiatric morbidity in the general population and in primary care health services, also the different findings obtained in these research. Conclusions: Psychiatric morbidity studies based on the prevalence indicator in Latin America are heterogeneous and include different instruments, classification systems, subjects and sample calculation, as well as their results, so it is pertinent to focus the design of this type of research adjusted to local realities and resources available to define strategies that contribute to service planning and development of mental health policies in this region.

Assessment of sleep quality of patients with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder during remission: a case-control study

Abstract Background Sleep disorders are common in psychiatric diseases. Panic disorder (PD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are two major anxiety disorders that are associated with sleep disorders. Objective We hypothesized that poor sleep quality continues in PD and GAD during remission. Therefore, in this study we aimed to compare the sleep quality of patients with PD and GAD to that of healthy controls. Methods The study included patients with PD (n = 42) and GAD (n = 40) who had been in remission for at least 3 months and healthy control volunteers (n = 45). The patients were administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results The total PSQI scores of the GAD group were significantly increased in comparison to those of the PD (p = 0.009) and control (p < 0.001) groups. The rate of poor sleep quality in GAD during remission (77.5%) was greater than that of the PD (47.6%) and control (51.1%) groups (p = 0.011). Discussion GAD is a chronic and recurrent disease. In this study, it was found that the deterioration in sleep quality of patients with GAD may continue during remission. In the follow-up and treatment of patients, it is appropriate to question about sleep symptoms and to plan interventions according to these symptoms.

Study of attempted suicide in the catchment area of Mamatha general hospital, Khammam, India

Background: Persons with psychiatric co- morbidity have markedly high risk of suicide attempts.Aim To study the socio-demographic variables, role of life events and prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis in suicideattempters. The present study has been undertaken with an intention to have deeper insight in to the mental health ofsuicide attempters.Methods A semi structured interview consisting of socio-demographic details, a proforma to document suicide attemptdata, Presumptive Stressful Life Event scale (PSLE) to know the desirable or undesirable life events. Mini InternationalNeuropsychiatric Interview plus (MINI Plus) was used to assess the psychiatric abnormality. Data was statisticallyanalyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences - Version 10 (SPSS -10).Results: Suicide attempters experience peaking of stressful events in the early months before the attempt. Most commondiagnoses were depression, personality disorders, followed by alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders.Conclusion: Suicide attempters are more among the groups of young age, female gender, rural background, married,belonging to nuclear family and low socio economic class. Majority of the suicide attempters are suffering with psychiatric illness.

Points requiring attention in primary-care settings in the treatment of patients with acute drug intoxication / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

Objective: To develop an effective and safe therapeutic strategy, we studied the effect of the clinical characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication on the duration of hospitalization. <br>Subjects and Methods: The subjects were 89 patients hospitalized for acute drug intoxication. They were divided into two subgroups; the short hospitalization group (duration of hospitalization < 7 days) and the long hospitalization group (duration of hospitalization ≥ 7 days). We compared age, sex, vital signs, drugs, and therapy between the two groups. <br>Results: There were no significant differences in sex or severity of consciousness disturbance between the short- and long-hospitalization groups. Age in the latter group was higher than that in the former, and age was significantly and positively correlated with the duration of hospitalization. Prolongation of hospitalization in patients with Japan Coma Scale (JCS) I or II is associated with psychiatric disease, and in patients with JCSIII, with physical disease. We used direct hemoperfusion (DHP) to treat patients with severe acute drug intoxication. The duration of hospitalization in patients treated by DHP tended to be shorter than those not so treated. <br>Conclusions: The present results suggest that aging is associated with prolongation of hospitalization and the onset of physical disease among patients with acute drug intoxication. When elderly patients with acute drug intoxication are treated in a primary-care setting, the question of whether or not physical diseases are present as complications should be considered. The appropriate use of DHP for the treatment of patients with severe acute drug intoxication requires further study.

Prevalência de transtornos psiquiátricos em pacientes em hemodiálise no estado da Bahia / Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients in hemodialysis in the state of Bahia

INRODUÇÃO: Limitações da qualidade de vida dos pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica (IRC) em programa de hemodiálise estão associadas a maior prevalência de transtornos psiquiátricos. O diagnóstico precoce e preciso pode contribuir na elaboração de estratégias de tratamento. OBJETIVO: Estudar a prevalência e o padrão dos transtornos psiquiátricos em pacientes hemodialisados, identificando variáveis relacionadas com sua ocorrência. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 244 pacientes e analisadas as variáveis associadas à ocorrência de transtornos psiquiátricos. Os pacientes foram avaliados através do Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). RESULTADOS: Pelo menos um diagnóstico psiquiátrico foi apresentado por 91 pacientes (37,3 por cento). Os de ocorrência mais freqüente foram distimia (17,6 por cento), risco de suicídio (16,4 por cento) e episódio depressivo maior (8,6 por cento). O sexo feminino apresentou maior risco de transtornos psiquiátricos (razão de chance [RC] = 2,77; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95 por cento: 1,42-5,41). Os pacientes viúvos, separados e solteiros apresentaram maior risco de transtornos psiquiátricos do que os casados (RC= 5,507;IC95 por cento:1,348-22,551). Aqueles com menos de dois anos em diálise apresentaram risco maior (RC = 2,075; IC 95 por cento: 1,026-4,197). Os pacientes com clearance fracional de uréia (Kt/V) abaixo de 0,9 tiveram maior chance de apresentar transtornos psiquiátricos (RC = 3,955; IC 95 por cento: 1,069-11,012). CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de transtornos psiquiátricos foi alta. Os transtornos afetivos foram os mais freqüentes. Nas mulheres e naqueles com Kt/V baixo, o risco foi maior. Nos pacientes casados e naqueles com mais de dois anos em tratamento o risco foi menor.

INTRODUCTION: Limiting factors of dialysis patients' quality of life are associated with high rates of psychiatric disease. Since effective treatment of psychiatric diseases can positively affect dialysis patients' prognosis and survival, there is a need for an early diagnosis. In Brazil only few studies have measured the prevalence of these disorders. OBJECTIVE: Study the prevalence and pattern of psychiatric disorders in chronic hemodialysis patients and assess the association between these diseases and some variables. METHODS: Two hundred forty-four patients were enrolled in two nephrology units at the state of Bahia, Brazil. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used in all patients. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients (37.3 percent) presented at least one psychiatric diagnosis. The most common disorders included dysthymia (17.6 percent), risk of suicide (16.4 percent), and major depressive episode (8.6 percent). Women had higher risk of mental disorders than men (RC = 2.77; confidence interval [CI] 95 percent: 1.42-5.41). Widowed, divorced and single patients had higher risk than married patients (RC = 5.507; CI 95 percent: 1.348-22.551). Patients on treatment for less than two years had higher risk (RC = 2.075; CI 95 percent: 1.026-4.197). Those with Kt/V below 0.9 were at higher risk than those with a higher Kt/V (RC = 3.955; CI 95 percent: 1.069-11.012). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients on dialysis was high (37.3 percent). Affective disorders were the most common ones. Women and patients with Kt/V below 0.9 were at increased risk. The risk was lower in patients at dialysis program for longer than two years and in married patients.