Platelet Parameters, C-Reactive Protein, and Depression: An Association Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the correlation of platelet parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) with depression. METHODS: The clinical data of 61 patients with depression and 30 healthy control subjects were collected to compare the platelet parameters, CRP levels, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores of the two groups for correlation analysis. RESULTS: The results revealed that the body mass index (BMI) of patients with depression was lower (P < 0.05) than that of the healthy control subjects, and that this difference was more significant in women than in men. Patients with severe depression showed an increased mean platelet volume (MPV) (P < 0.05). In the patients with depression, MPV was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for work and interest, gastrointestinal symptoms, hopelessness, the anxiety/somatization factor, and the hopelessness factor. Platelet count (PLT) was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for hypochondriasis, and plateletcrit (PCT) was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for middle insomnia and hypochondriasis. Platelet distribution width (PDW) was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms as well as hopelessness. Higher CRP levels (P < 0.05) were found in the patients with depression than in the healthy control subjects. Furthermore, in the patients with depression, CRP levels were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for guilt and the cognitive impairment factor. CONCLUSION: Classical platelet parameters (PLT, MPV, PCT, PDW) and CRP were shown to be associated with specific depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment factors, including sleep, gastrointestinal symptoms, hypochondriasis, losing interest in work, and despair. These results suggest that both platelet parameters and CRP could be suitable biomarkers for predicting the occurrence and prognosis of depression, thus providing a new target for its treatment.

Long non-coding RNA TCONS_00000200 as a non-invasive biomarker in patients with intracranial aneurysm.

We performed long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) microarray assay to identify lncRNAs with differential expression between patients with intracranial aneurysm (IA) and healthy control individuals to evaluate their potential use as biomarkers of IA. Arraystar Human lncRNA Microarray v3.0 was performed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in plasma samples (4 ml). lncRNAs with the most pronounced differential expression were used to select gene markers, and results were validated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Plasma levels of TCONS_00000200 (fold change: 2.28) and ENST00000511927 (fold change: 2.50) were significantly higher in IA patients than in healthy individuals (P<0.001), and plasma levels of ENST00000421997 (fold change: 0.45) and ENST00000538202 (fold change: 0.43) were significantly lower in IA patients than in healthy individuals (P<0.001). qRT-PCR confirmed the same trends of up- and down-regulation of these four lncRNAs. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for TCONS_00000200 showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.963 (95% confidence interval, 0.919-1.000), optimal cut-off point was 0.0081, sensitivity was 90.0%, and specificity was 96.7%. These results indicate that the lncRNA TCONS_00000200 is differentially expressed in the plasma of IA patients and could serve as a biomarker of IA.

Increased perihematomal neuron autophagy and plasma thrombin-antithrombin levels in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: An observational study.

Animal studies have demonstrated that autophagy was involved in neuronal damage after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Several studies showed thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) plasma levels were elevated in patients with ICH. In this study, we aimed to evaluate if autophagy occurred in patients with ICH; and the relationship between the severity of brain injury and plasma TAT levels.A novel tissue harvesting device was used during hematoma removal surgery to collect loose fragments of tissue surrounding the affected brain area in 27 ICH patients with hematoma volumes of >30 mL in the basal ganglia. Control tissues were obtained from patients who underwent surgery for arteriovenous malformation (n = 25). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemistry for autophagy-related proteins were used to evaluate the ultrastructural and morphologic cellular characteristics; and the extent of autophagy in the recovered tissue specimens. Stroke severity was assessed by using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure plasma TAT levels.Transmission electron microscopy showed autophagosomes and autolysosomes exist in neurons surrounding the hematoma, but not in the control tissues. The number of cells containing autophagic vacuoles correlated with the severity of brain injury. Immunohistochemistry showed strong LC3, beclin 1, and cathepsin D staining in ICH tissue specimens. Plasma TAT levels correlated positively with autophagic cells and ICH severity (P < .01).Autophagy was induced in perihematomal neurons after ICH. Autophagy and plasma TAT levels correlated positively with severity of brain injury. These results suggest that autophagy and increased plasma TAT levels may contribute to the secondary damage in ICH patients.

A cross-sectional study to investigate the correlation between depression comorbid with anxiety and serum lipid levels.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common psychological disorder that severely threatens human health. Its pathology remains unclear, but it has been suggested to be associated with abnormal blood lipid metabolism. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the changes in blood lipid levels in patients with depression accompanied or not by anxiety, and assess whether adjusting the clinical therapeutic strategy could be based on blood lipid test results, providing a novel insight into depression treatment. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. We assessed 60 outpatients and inpatients diagnosed with depression from January 2013 to January 2014 who met the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders version 3 (CCMD-3) criteria, with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-24) ≥20. They were grouped into depression with anxiety (n=29) and depression without anxiety (n=31) groups by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). RESULTS: TG levels were higher in the depression with anxiety group compared with patients without anxiety (P=0.045), which was confirmed by multifactorial analysis [P=0.017, OR=4.394, 95% CI (1.303-14.824)]. A negative correlation between anxiety score and HDL levels was observed in patients with depression (r=-0.340, P=0.046). Meanwhile, positive associations were obtained between retardation and LDL levels (r=0.307, P=0.017) as well as age at disease onset and total cholesterol levels (r=0.410, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: TG levels differ in patients with depression accompanied by anxiety compared with those without anxiety.

Ultrastructural Changes of Brain Tissues Surrounding Hematomas after Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Our knowledge about pathophysiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) mainly originates from preclinical models of ICH. In this study, cerebral ultrastructure surrounding hematoma and its correlation with clinical severity were investigated in ICH patients. Thirty patients with basal ganglia hemorrhage and 6 control subjects were enrolled. Surgical evacuation was performed for patients with a blood loss >30 ml. Stroke severity was assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to evaluate the ultrastructural characteristics of tissue specimens. Neural cells surrounding the hematomas showed evidence of cell swelling and necrosis. Decreased numbers of organelles and mitochondrial cristae were accompanied by cytoplasmic vacuolization, nuclear membrane invagination and breakdown, and intranuclear chromatic agglutination. These changes resulted in disintegration together with malacia, disappearance of the nucleus and nucleolus, and karyopyknosis. More serious ultrastructural damage was seen in patients with greater NIHSS scores, lower GCS scores, and greater bleeding volumes (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that neural cells undergo unfavorable ultrastructural changes that are responsible for dysfunction after ICH.

Effects of Yangxue Qingnao Granules on chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency: a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: There is a great deal of interest in traditional Chinese medicine as a treatment for chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency (CCCI). In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of Yangxue Qingnao Granules (YXQNG) as a monotherapy in patients with CCCI. METHODS: From July 2007 to May 2010, 273 patients with CCCI at nine centres in China were randomly assigned to receive either YXQNG with nimodipine placebo (n= 140, 12 g/day) or nimodipine with YXQNG placebo (n= 133, 30 mg/day) for 8 weeks. The primary end points after 8 weeks of treatment were changes from baseline in severity of headache, heavy-headed feeling, dizziness and sleep disorder. RESULTS: The mean baseline levels of headache, heavy-headed feeling, dizziness and sleep disorder were comparable between the two groups. Both therapies significantly improved these symptoms after 8 weeks of treatment (P < 0.001). Compared with nimodipine therapy, YXQNG resulted in similar reductions in these symptoms. No adverse effects were observed in the YXQNG group. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that YXQNG as a monotherapy were as effective as nimodipine monotherapy in improving the symptoms of CCCI. It is well-tolerated and may have an important place in the management of this condition. Whether a combination of these two medicines will increase therapeutic efficacy deserves further clinical investigation.