No abstract

Studies have indicated that early-life or early-onset depression is associated with a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of developing Alzheimers disease (AD). In AD, aggregation of an abnormally phosphorylated form of the tau protein may be a key pathological event. Tau is known to play a major role in promoting microtubule assembly and stabilization, and in maintaining the normal morphology of neurons. Several studies have reported that stress may induce tau phosphorylation. The main aim of the present study was to investigate possible alterations in the tau protein in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and then re-exposed to CUMS to mimic depression and the recurrence of depression, respectively, in humans. We evaluated the effects of CUMS, fluoxetine, and CUMS re-exposure on tau and phospho-tau. Our results showed that a single exposure to CUMS caused a significant reduction in sucrose preference, indicating a state of anhedonia. The change in behavior was accompanied by specific alterations in phospho-tau protein levels, but fluoxetine treatment reversed the CUMS-induced impairments. Moreover, changes in sucrose preference and phospho-tau were more pronounced in rats re-exposed to CUMS than in those subjected to a single exposure. Our results suggest that changes in tau phosphorylation may contribute to the link between depression and AD.

Background and aims: The depression prevalence is 40-70% in teenagers.it is twice as many as boys. Insufficient parents' attention to psychosocial need satisfaction (PSNS) can be effective in teenagers depression. This research studied the depression and PSNS in girl students living in Kashan eIRAN 2006 Methods: It was a Descriptive-Cross sectional research that studied 509 high school students whom were selected randomly from the schools of Kashan 2006.The Beck questionnaire were used for depression determination ;scores less than 5,5-7,8-15and more than 16 were considered normal, mild, moderate and sever depression. The PSNS was studied by a researcher made questionnaire that its reliability and validity has been assessed scores which were considered for low psns was 1-31,moderate was 32-62 and high psns was 63-93. X2 and T test were used to analyze the data. Results: The research showed that 53/3% of girls was depressed. The high PSNS were 49/9%, 62/2%, 84/1% and 87/3% in sever,moderate,mild and no depression girls respectively which showed significant direct relationship between PSNS and depression. The girl who were fully satisfied of psychosocial needs showed just 2/9% severe depression while the depression was 50% among girls with low PSNS (p<0/05). Conclusions: The parents' attention to psychosocial needs of teenagers can decrease depression in teenagers.

Background and Aims:Several studies have shown that the level of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in schizophrenia is higher than in controls. And it is hypothesized that the neurotropic intracellular protozoan may contribute to the development of schizophrenia. The present study is to explore whether Bactrim, which is effective to T. gondii, can help to treat Toxoplasma-seropositive patients with schizophrenia.Methods:99 patients who were positive in IgG or IgM antibody to T. gondii were seperated into two groups randomly. One group recceived SMZco tablets (contained 400mg SMZ and 80mg TMP, 6 tablets/d) plus risperidone, and the other group received placebo and risperidone. Both the physicians and the patients did not know whether the patients took SMZco or placebo. The dosage of risperidone was tittered according to the patient's clinical symptoms and the maximum dose is 6mg/d. PANSS scales were used to assess the symptoms before and after treated for 6 weeks.Results:There was no significant difference in the scores of PANSS at baseline and after treatment. The rate of adverse effects, and the ratio of patients who have combined with benzodiazepine and anticholinergic medicine between the two groups did not differ significantly, while two patients in the SMZ group dropped out because of serious nausea and vomiting. The maximum dosage of risperidone in the SMZ group was lower than the placebo group (P<0.05).Conclusions:For toxoplasma-seropositive patients with schizophrenia, Bactrim may be helpful by decrease the dose of the antipsychotic medicine.