Lower serum levels of interleukin-6 in a population sample with symptoms of depression than in a population sample without symptoms of depression.

In this study we compared the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in population samples characterized by a high or low level of self-reported depression. We measured serum IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha in two cohorts which differed in scoring on the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS). The group with a high score in ZSDS (average SDS index = 62.9) was called DEP (n=27), the group with a low score in ZSDS (average SDS index = 29.9) was called NDEP (n=16). The groups did not significantly differ in age, waist circumference and body mass index. For the assessment of serum cytokine levels multiplex immunoanalytic xMAP(LUMINEX) technology was used. We found lower IL-6 in the DEP group (medians; DEP 4.08 pg/ml vs. NDEP 6.11 pg/ml) on the border of statistical significance in multiple regression analysis (p=0.049). Serum levels of all other studied cytokines were not significantly different (medians; IL-8: DEP 2.18 pg/ml vs. NDEP 2.61 pg/ml; IL-10: DEP 2.85 pg/ml vs. NDEP 2.94 pg/ml; TNF-alpha: DEP 2.32 pg/ml vs. NDEP 2.30 pg/ml). These results are in contradiction to the prevailing opinion that pro-inflammatory cytokine levels are elevated in people with symptoms of depression.

[Cortisol levels are more closely associated with depressiveness and other psychopathologies than catecholamine levels]. / Hladina kortizolu souvisí s depresivitou a jinými psychopatologiemi více nez hladiny katecholaminu.

OBJECTIVE: Quantification of changes in the levels of the above hormones, i.e. cortisol, adrenalin, noradrenalin and dopamine depending on the presence of depressive symptoms and other psychopathological symptoms. SAMPLE: 259 randomly selected individuals from the population of the city of Pilsen. METHOD: Zung self-assessment scale and SCL-90 questionnaire were used to assess depressiveness and other psychopathologies. Serum cortisol levels were measured, as well as the levels ofcortisol and catecholamine (adrenalin, noradrenalin and dopamine) in a 24-hour urine sample. The studied sample was divided, by an arbitrarily defined limit, into a group with a higher and a group with a lower excretion of the monitored hormones. RESULTS: The group with cortisol excretion higher than 300 nmol/24 h had a significantly higher score in terms of the SCL-90 questionnaire interpersonal sensitiveness, depression, anxiety, phobia, paranoidism and psychoticism as compared with the group with cortisol excretion below 300 nmol/24 h (p < 0.05). The group with cortisol excretion above 300 nmol/24 h had also a significantly higher score on Zung's self-assessment depression scale as compared with the group with cortisol excretion below 300 nmol/24 h (p < 0.05). Division of the sample according to the score on Zung's self-assessment depression scale (SDS index > or = 50) has shown that women with a record of depressive symptoms had a statistically significant higher of urinary cortisol excretion in 24 hours (average 219.40 as compared with 191.64 nmol/24 h, respectively, p = 0.02). The group of men with depressive symptoms according to the score obtained on Zung self-assessment scale only showed a trend towards higher urinary noradrenalin excretion in 24 hours (average of 69.77 as compared with 63.84 microg/24 h, p = 0.17). CONCLUSION: As shown by the above results, there is a link between 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion levels and the monitored parameters of psychic condition.

[The role of procalcitonin in the patient assessment after surgical procedures]. / Role prokalcitoninu ve sledování nemocných po kardiochirurgických výkonech.

In the group of 450 patients operated in the Cardiosurgical Department of the Faculty Hospital in Plzen during the period from III/2003 till XI/2003, 1451 samples were collected to examine the following-procalcitonin levels (PCT), white blood cell counts (Leu) and C-reactive protein levels (CRP). The findings were assessed with respect to the respective patient's clinical status, and any correlation between procedures with extracorporeal circulation (MO), signs of inflammation, septic and non-septic serious complications and between the above mentioned markers levels, was searched. It was detected, that the PCT levels correlated well with the clinical signs of inflammation and sepsis, as well as with the non-inflammatory complications. The CRP and Leu changes were not statistically significant and their levels are commonly increased by the surgical procedure itself.

[Metabolic syndrome and latent depression in the population sample]. / Metabolický syndrom a skrytá deprese v populacním vzorku.

BACKGROUND: The aim of study was to reveal the relationship between metabolic syndrome and depression in a population sample, based on clinical and metabolic parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS: We tried to estimate depression (or other psychopathologies) prevalence in a randomly chosen population sample of the Pilsen city, using special questionnaires. Further, we estimated metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance risk factors and we looked for the relationship between these two disorders. Mental state of object was classified according to the questionnaires results, currently evaluated by the psychiatrist. Metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance was diagnosed as a presence of 3 of the 5 following factors: Triglycerides > or = 1.7 mmol/l, HDL cholesterol < 1.0 mmol/l in males or < 1.3 mmol/l in females, blood pressure > or = 130/85 mmHg (and/or antihypertensive medication), fasting plasma glucose > or = 6.1 mmol/l, waist circumference >102 cm in males or > 88 cm in females. Depressive syndrome diagnosed by Zungs scale is present in 31% of the Pilsen population, in 38% females and 31% males (n = 340). In the group of depressive objects, characteristics of metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance were two times higher than in the control group. Differences in resting heart rate, triglycerides level and fasting C-peptid were significantly higher in the depressive subjects. After the corrections considering age, sex and treatment adjustment, the waist to hip ratio was in the depressive subjects statistically higher as well as the 24 hour excretion of urine cortisone. In persons with metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance the prevalence of depression and anxiety was significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a possible relationship between depressive disorder and risk factors of the syndrome of insulin resistance. The question remains if the depression treatment can correct some of the metabolic syndrome risk factors.