Treatment Of Clinical Depression Research Articles

Suanzaoren decoction exerts its antidepressant effect via the CaMK signaling pathway.

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) are widely regarded as "memory molecules" due to their role in controlling numerous neuronal functions in the brain, and the CaMK signaling pathway plays a crucial role in controlling synaptic plasticity. Suanzaoren decoction (SZRD) can improve depression-like behavior and thus has potential benefits in the clinical treatment of depression; however, its mechanism of action is not fully understood. In this study, we found that key proteins in the CaMK signaling pathway were regulated by the decoction used to treat depression. The purpose of this research was to ascertain if the SZRD's therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of depression is associated with the modulation of key proteins in the CaMK signaling pathway. A rat model of depression was created by exposing the animals to chronic, unexpected, mild stress. Model rats were given intragastric administration of SZRD or fluoxetine every morning once a day. Protein and mRNA relative expression levels of CaM, CaMK I, and CaMK IV in the hippocampus were measured by Western blot, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus. Our findings demonstrated that SZRD significantly improved the mood of depressed rats. This indicates that SZRD, by modulating the CaMK signaling system, may alleviate depressive symptoms and lessen work and life-related pressures.

The Power of Psychobiotics in Depression: A Modern Approach through the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: A Literature Review.

The microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis is a complex communication network linking the gut, microbiota, and brain, influencing various aspects of health and disease. Dysbiosis, a disturbance in the gut microbiome equilibrium, can significantly impact the MGB axis, leading to alterations in microbial composition and function. Emerging evidence highlights the connection between microbiota alterations and neurological and psychiatric disorders, including depression. This review explores the potential of psychobiotics in managing depressive disorders, emphasizing their role in restoring microbial balance and influencing the MGB axis. Psychobiotics exhibit positive effects on the intestinal barrier, immune response, cortisol levels, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Studies suggest that probiotics may serve as an adjunct therapy for depression, especially in treatment-resistant cases. This review discusses key findings from studies on psychobiotics interventions, emphasizing their impact on the gut-brain axis and mental health. The increasing acceptance of the expanded concept of the MGB axis underscores the importance of microorganisms in mental well-being. As our understanding of the microbiome's role in health and disease grows, probiotics emerge as promising agents for addressing mental health issues, providing new avenues for therapeutic interventions in depressive disorders.

Association between cheese and fish consumption and the occurrence of depression based on European population: mediating role of metabolites.

The consumption of cheese and fish has been linked to the onset of depression. However, the connection between consuming cheese, consuming fish, experiencing depression, and the pathways that mediate this relationship remains unclear. The purpose of this research was to investigate the potential association between the consumption of cheese and fish and the occurrence of depression. Moreover, it is important to identify any metabolites that might be involved and understand their respective roles and functions. A two-step, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on cheese, non-oily fish, and oily fish consumption and depression, along with 12 alternate mediators. The study included a total of 451,486 participants in the cheese consumption group, 460,880 in the non-oily fish consumption group, 460,443 in the oily fish consumption group, and 322,580 with a diagnosis of depression. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) estimates were pooled using inverse-variance weighted, weighted median, MR-Egger, simple mode, and weighted mode. The data we collected suggested that consuming more cheese correlated with a lower likelihood of experiencing depression (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92 to 0.98). Neither non-oily fish nor oily fish consumption was directly linked to depression onset (p = 0.08, p = 0.78, respectively). Although there was a direct causal relationship with depression, the mediating relationship of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol in large HDL, cholesterol to total lipids ratio in large HDL, free cholesterol to total lipids ratio in large HDL, glycine, and phospholipids to total lipids ratio in very large HDL of cheese intake on depression risk were - 0.002 (95% CI: -0.023 - 0.020), -0.002 (95% CI: -0.049 - 0.045), -0.001 (95% CI: -0.033 - 0.031), -0.001 (95% CI: -0.018 - 0.015), 0.001 (95% CI: -0.035 - 0.037), and - 0.001 (95% CI: -0.024 - 0.021), respectively. The mediating relationship of uridine, free cholesterol to total lipids ratio in large HDL, total cholesterol in large HDL, acetoacetate, and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB) between non-oily fish consumption and depression risk were 0.016 (95% CI: -0.008 - 0.040), 0.011 (95% CI: -1.269 - 1.290), 0.010 (95% CI: -1.316 - 1.335), 0.011 (95% CI: -0.089 - 0.110), and 0.008 (95% CI: -0.051 - 0.068), respectively. The mediation effect of uridine and free cholesterol to total lipids ratio in large HDL between intake of oily fish and the risk of depression was found to be 0.006 (95% CI: -0.015 - 0.028) and - 0.002 (95% CI: -0.020 - 0.017), respectively. The correlation between eating cheese and experiencing depression persisted even when adjusting for other variables like Indian snacks, mango consumption, sushi consumption, and unsalted peanuts using multivariable MR. The consumption of cheese and fish influenced the likelihood of experiencing depression, and this may be mediated by certain metabolites in the body. Our study provided a new perspective on the clinical treatment of depression.

Beyond the cold baths: contemporary applications of cold-water immersion in the treatment of clinical depression and anxiety

SUMMARY Cold-water immersion (e.g. adapted cold showers, partial or whole-body immersion, cold swimming) are nowadays increasingly being used as an adjunctive procedure to enhance the effects of primary treatment of various clinical conditions, including depressive and anxiety disorders. This brief article reviews the evidence regarding the beneficial effects of cold-water immersion on clinical depression and anxiety and outlines potential therapeutic mechanisms underlying the intervention. Promising avenues for future research and best practice recommendations are also discussed to improve the clinical effectiveness of cold-water immersion.

Spatio-temporal scale information fusion of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy signal for depression detection

Depression, a prevalent and debilitating mental health disorder, necessitates early detection to enable effective intervention. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) has proven to be a promising technique for studying depressive symptoms due to its affordability, portability, high spatial resolution and non-invasiveness. However, existing fNIRS-based depression detection approaches often overlook signal intrinsic properties and intrinsic correlations among different feature types, as well as local spatial geometric structures of data. To overcome these limitations, we suggest a spatio-temporal scale information fusion framework that involves supervised local low-rank correlation (IFLRC) to detect depression. IFLRC incorporates a low-rank constraint, a sparse ℓ2,1-norm term, multiple Laplacian regularizations, and a sparse penalty projection matrix to capture global spatial functional information, handle errors to enhance robustness to noise, preserve local spatial geometric structures, exploit correlations among multiple information sets, and enhance discriminative ability. An iterative algorithm, based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), has been developed to solve the suggested objective function. The experimental findings validate the efficacy of IFLRC, yielding favorable detection rates of 95.8%, 87.3%, and 97.2% in response to positive, neutral, and negative emotional stimuli, respectively. These findings exceed existing methods, demonstrating the potential of fNIRS and the effectiveness of IFLRC for detecting depression. IFLRC presents notable advancements in feature extraction and fusion techniques for depression detection. Its capacity to capture spatio-temporal scale information, leverage intrinsic correlations, and preserve local geometric structures translates into improved performance. This framework holds promise for early detection and intervention in depressive disorders, offering valuable insights for clinical applications.

Si-Ni-San reverses dietary fat absorption defects in a murine model of depression

Depression is often associated with fatigue/energy loss. However, we lack a detailed understanding of the factors explaining this association. In this study, we uncovered that depressed mice have a defect in fat absorption, resulting in weight loss and reduced circulating lipid levels. Si-Ni-San (SNS), a basic formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of depression, was found to not only alleviate depression-like behaviors, but also reverse the weight loss and dietary fat absorption of depressed mice. We found that SNS improved body weight and circulating lipid levels of depressed mice by up-regulating proteins [such as FFA uptake protein (CD36), TAG synthesis proteins (GPAT3, MOGAT2, DGAT1 and DGAT2) and chylomicron packaging proteins (MTP and APOB)] in the fat absorption pathway. Furthermore, cell-based results conducted with LPS-stimulated mouse MODE-K and human Caco-2 cells support that SNS, as well as Sinensetin (SIN) and Nobiletin (NOB), the two active components of the formula, have a role in regulating lipid absorption. Mechanistic studies revealed that SNS reverses body weight and fat absorption defects of depressed mice in part through the NR1D1/BMAL1/DGAT2 axis. These findings advance our understanding of the crosstalk between depression and energy loss, highlight the importance of gut function in disease management, and provide a basis for the application of SNS in the clinical treatment of depression and related disorders.

The pharmacological actions of Danzhi-xiaoyao-San on depression involve lysophosphatidic acid and microbiota-gut-brain axis: novel insights from a systems pharmacology analysis of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Danzhi-xiaoyao-San (DZXYS), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, plays an essential role in the clinical treatment of depression, but its mechanisms in humans remain unclear. To investigate its pharmacological effects and mechanisms as an add-on therapy for depression, we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with depressed patients receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serum and fecal samples were collected for metabolomic and microbiome analysis using UHPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing technologies, respectively. Depression symptoms were assessed using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale. We employed network pharmacology, metabolomics, and molecular docking to identify potential targets associated with DZXYS. We also examined the correlation between gut microbes and metabolites to understand how DZXYS affects the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The results showed that DZXYS combined with SSRIs was more effective than SSRIs alone in improving depression. We identified 39 differential metabolites associated with DZXYS treatment and found seven upregulated metabolic pathways. The active ingredients quercetin and luteolin were docked to targets (AVPR2, EGFR, F2, and CDK6) associated with the enriched pathways ‘pancreatic cancer’ and ‘phospholipase D signaling pathway’, which included the metabolite lysophosphatidic acid [LPA(0:0/16:0)]. Additionally, we identified 32 differential gut microbiota species related to DZXYS treatment, with Bacteroides coprophilus and Ruminococcus gnavus showing negative correlations with specific metabolites such as L-2-aminobutyric acid and LPA(0:0/16:0). Our findings indicate that DZXYS's antidepressant mechanisms involve multiple targets, pathways, and the regulation of LPA and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. These insights from our systems pharmacology analysis contribute to a better understanding of DZXYS's potential pharmacological mechanisms in depression treatment. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Spravato (Esketamine)

Depression is more than feeling a little sad or "blue" for a few days. Antidepressant medications are used in the treatment of clinical depression, usually alongside other forms of therapy such as psychological or behavioral therapy. Spravato is a medicine used to treat adults with major depression that is resistant to treatment. (Bahr, 2019) It is used in combination with an SSRI or SNRI medicine (other antidepressants) when at least two other treatments have failed. Spravato contains the active substance esketamine.

Role of BDNF-TrkB signaling in the antidepressant-like actions of loganin, the main active compound of Corni Fructus.

Corni Fructus (CF) and some CF-contained prescriptions are commonly used in clinical treatment of depression. This investigation aims to evaluate the main active compound of CF in antidepressant properties and its key target. Firstly, this study established a behavioral despair model and used high-performance liquid chromatography method to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of water extract, 20%, 50%, and 80% ethanol extracts of CF, and its main active compound. Then, this study created chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model to assess loganin's antidepressant-like properties, and its target was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, Immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) inhibitor. Results showed that the different extracts of CF significantly shortened the immobility time in forced swimming and tail suspension tests. Moreover, loganin alleviated CUMS-induced depression-like behavior, promoted neurotrophy and neurogenesis, and inhibited neuroinflammation. Furthermore, K252a blocked the improvement of loganin on depression-like behavior, and eliminated the enhancement of neurotrophy and neurogenesis and the inhibition of neuroinflammation. Overall, these results indicated that loganin could be used as a major active compound of CF for the antidepressant-like properties and exerted antidepressant-like actions by regulating brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-TrkB signaling, and TrkB could be used as key target for itsantidepressant-like actions.

Antidepressant effect of Perilla frutescens essential oil through monoamine neurotransmitters and BDNF/TrkB signal pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTraditional Chinese medicine posits that affect-mind ill-being is the primary cause of depression, with Qi movement stagnation as its pathogenesis. As such, clinical treatment for depression should prioritize regulating Qi and relieving depressive symptoms. The pharmacological properties of traditional Chinese medicine indicate that Perilla frutescens may have potential therapeutic effects on depression and other neuropsychiatric diseases due to its ability to regulate Qi and alleviate depressive symptoms. Although previous studies have reported the antidepressant effects of Perilla frutescens, the mechanism underlying PFEO inhalation-mediated antidepressant effect remains unclear. Aim of the studyThe aim of this investigation is to elucidate the antidepressant mechanisms of PFEO by examining its effects on monoamine neurotransmitters and the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway. Materials and methodsThe CUMS rat model of depression was established, and the depressive state of the animals was assessed through sucrose preference and forced swim tests. ELISA assays were conducted to determine monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats. Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and RT-PCR experiments were employed to investigate the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway's regulation of depression via PFEO inhalation. ResultsIt has been observed that inhalation administration of PFEO can significantly enhance the preference for sugar water in CUMS rats and reduce their immobility time during forced swimming. Additionally, there was an increase in the levels of monoamine transmitters in both the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of these rats. Furthermore, there was an upregulation in the expression levels of BDNF and TrkB positive cells as well as BDNF and TrkB proteins within both regions, along with increased BDNF mRNA and TrkB mRNA expression levels. ConclusionThe antidepressant effect of PFEO via inhalation administration is speculated to be mediated through the monoamine neurotransmitters and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway.

Gut microbiota and its metabolites in depression: from pathogenesis to treatment.

Major depressive disorder is one of the most disabling mental disorders worldwide. Increasing preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted that compositional and functional (e.g., metabolite) changes in gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, are associated with the onset and progression of depression via regulating the gut-brain axis. However, the gut microbiota and their metabolites present a double-edged sword in depression. Dysbiosis is involved in the pathogenesis of depression while, at the same time, offering a novel therapeutic target. In this review, we describe the association between dysbiosis and depression, drug-microbiota interactions in antidepressant treatment, and the potential health benefits of microbial-targeted therapeutics in depression, including dietary interventions, fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics. With the emergence of microbial research, we describe a new direction for future research and clinical treatment of depression.

Research Progress of TCM Psychological Techniques in the Treatment of Clinical Depression

Research Progress of TCM Psychological Techniques in the Treatment of Clinical Depression

Psychiatric Psychobiological Treatment Versus Exclusive Psychological Treatment in Depressive Disorders

Introduction: Scientific information on the antidepressant effectiveness of the varied usual therapeutic interventions is considerable but of poor quality. Objective: To analyse the scientifically well qualified international contributions on the effectiveness of habitual psychobiological psychiatric interventions in depressive disorders. Method: N= 6 structured bibliographic systems have been reviewed in a non-systematic, narrative and synthetic way and N= 75 significant contributions have been selected. Results and discussion: Patients with severe depression are more likely to receive any type of medical attention, but less likely to receive adequate attention. The use of both drugs and psychotherapy is the habitual mixed combined intervention during any ordinary psychiatric treatment. We will call it psychobiological or psychopharmacological intervention. The exclusive psychological intervention without using any medically prescribed drugs, is likely to be less cost/effective. The matter is not only to prioritise but also to adequately combine psychiatric interventions and added psychological interventions when convenient. The intervention on the neurophysiological pathways related with glutamate, the GABAergic, opioidergic, and inflammatory systems as well as on connectome and microbiome are being promoted for future drug antidepressant therapy with encouraging results. Conclusion: The mixed psychiatric option using drugs and psychotherapy, either regulated or not, by the intervening psychiatrist himself or herself is probably the main therapeutic choice for the correctly diagnosed depressive disorders. The psychotherapeutics intervention excluding the psychobiological psychiatric intervention in correctly diagnosed depressions will be insufficient in general. The professional psychological intervention may obviously complement the mixed psychiatric intervention, but can not replace it.

Fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition and N-arachidonoylethanolamine modulation by isoflavonoids: A novel target for upcoming antidepressants.

Modulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a novel putative target for therapeutic intervention in depressive disorders. Altering concentrations of one of the principal endocannabinoids, N‐arachidonoylethanolamine, also known as anandamide (AEA) can affect depressive‐like behaviors through several mechanisms including anti‐inflammatory, hormonal, and neural circuit alterations. Recently, isoflavonoids, a class of plant‐derived compounds, have been of therapeutic interest given their ability to modulate the metabolism of the endogenous ligands of the ECS. To determine the therapeutic potential of isoflavonoids, we screened several candidate compounds (Genistein, Biochanin‐A, and 7‐hydroxyflavone) in silico to determine their binding properties with fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the primary degrative enzyme for AEA. We further validated the ability of these compounds to inhibit FAAH and determined their effects on depressive‐like and locomotor behaviors in the forced swim test (FST) and open field test in male and female mice. We found that while genistein was the most potent FAAH inhibitor, 7‐hydroxyflavone was most effective at reducing immobility time in the forced swim test. Finally, we measured blood corticosterone and prefrontal cortex AEA concentrations following the forced swim test and found that all tested compounds decreased corticosterone and increased AEA, demonstrating that isoflavonoids are promising therapeutic targets as FAAH inhibitors.

Honokiol improves depression-like behaviors in rats by HIF-1α- VEGF signaling pathway activation.

Increasing evidence indicates that the pathogenesis of depression is closely linked to impairments in neuronal synaptic plasticity. Honokiol, a biologically active substance extracted from Magnolia Officinalis, has been proven to exert significant antidepressant effects. However, the specific mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, PC12 cells and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model rats were used to explore the antidepressant effects and potential mechanisms of honokiol in vitro and in rats. In vitro experiment, a cell viability detection kit was used to screen the concentration and time of honokiol administration. PC12 cells were administered with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) blocker, 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) blocker, SU5416, to detect the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, synaptic protein 1 (SYN 1), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD 95) by western blotting. In effect, we investigated whether the synaptic plasticity action of honokiol was dependent on the HIF-1α-VEGF pathway. In vivo, behavioral tests were used to evaluate the reproducibility of the CUMS depression model and depression-like behaviors. Molecular biology techniques were used to examine mRNA and protein expression of the HIF-1α-VEGF signaling pathway and synaptic plasticity-related regulators. Additionally, molecular docking techniques were used to study the interaction between honokiol and target proteins, and predict their binding patterns and affinities. Experimental results showed that honokiol significantly reversed CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors. Mechanically, honokiol exerted a significant antidepressant effect by enhancing synaptic plasticity. At the molecular level, honokiol can activate the HIF-1α-VEGF signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo, as well as promote the protein expression levels of SYN 1 and PSD 95. Taken together, the results do not only provide an experimental basis for honokiol in the clinical treatment of depression but also suggest that the HIF-1α-VEGF pathway may be a potential target for the treatment of depression.

An Exploratory Feasibility Study of Incorporating Volunteering Into Treatment for Adolescent Depression and Anxiety.

Community volunteering is an under-utilized, at least under-researched, strategy to supplement existing treatment for affective disorders. We present findings from a feasibility study incorporating community volunteering into clinical treatment for depression and anxiety among adolescents and young adults. This exploratory pilot study had four aims: to investigate recruitment feasibility; to describe participants’ experiences with volunteering; to explore psychosocial assets by which volunteering might decrease depressive and anxiety symptoms; and to document preliminary changes in mental health outcomes before and after the volunteering intervention. Interviews and surveys were employed with participants (N = 9; ages 14–20, Mage = 16 years old; eight women and one man) newly diagnosed with: mild to moderate depression (single episode), mild to moderate anxiety, or adjustment disorder. Recruitment was feasible overall, successes and challenges are discussed. Experiences with volunteering were very positive. Qualitative findings revealed perceived positive effects of volunteering on mood and well-being such as helping with social anxiety and being a positive distraction. Qualitative findings revealed several psychosocial assets that improved related to volunteering (e.g., sense of purpose/meaning and sense of community). On average, participants reported a 19% decrease in depressive symptoms from the pre-survey (before volunteering) to the post-survey (after volunteering). Although more research is warranted, the implication of this study for practicing psychologists treating adolescents and young adults for mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety is that they may wish to consider incorporating community volunteer activities into treatment. Volunteering was a desirable activity for interested participants in treatment for affective disorders.

Effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy in combination with savoring in moderate depression

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most reliable and proven treatment for patients with various psychological disorders. A significant number of researches revealed that CBT with antidepressants showed significant lower number of relapse than the pharmacotherapy group. However, despite the significant role of efficacy of CBT for depression, its role in order to prevent relapse is not clear. On the other hand, positive psychological intervention has also been instrumental to enhance well-being but there is scarcity of scientific literature regarding the treatment of clinical depression. Therefore, there is a strong need for the development of a combo package of CBT and Positive psychological interventions for the treatment of depression. Keeping this into view, the aim of the present study is to explore the effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy in combination with savoring in moderate depression. Methodology: For this purpose, a 4X6 factorial design was made. Here four types of therapies were given to patients with moderate depression like pharmacotherapy, CBT, Composite savoring index and combo package of CBT and Composite savoring index. All these four groups were tested under six phases.

RNA-seq based transcriptome analysis of ethanol extract of saffron protective effect against corticosterone-induced PC12 cell injury

BackgroundAt present, oral antidepressants are commonly used in the clinical treatment of depression. However, the current drug treatment may lead to more serious adverse reactions. Therefore, we focus on Chinese traditional medicine, trying to find an effective and safe alternative or complementary medicine. Crocus sativus (saffron) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which is typically used in the clinic to regulate anxiety, insomnia, amnesia, and other mental disorder. The study aimed to explore the neuroprotective effect of ethanol extract of saffron (EES) on corticosterone (CORT)- induced injury in PC12 cells and further explored its potential mechanism.MethodsThe authenticity of saffron and the active components of EES were identified by a water test and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry system. The screening of cytotoxicity for PC12 cells was incubated with EES in different concentrations for 24 h, and the protective efficacy of EES on CORT (500 μM) -induced PC12 cell injury, cell viability was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of EES-protected PC12 cells were analyzed using the RNA-seq method, and the results were analyzed for GO and KEGG enrichment. The results of RNA-seq were verified by qPCR analysis.ResultsThe saffron was initially identified as authentic in the water test and 10 compounds were identified by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC)- Mass Spectrometry (MS). The results of CCK-8 demonstrated that EES at concentrations above 640 μg/mL exerted a certain cytotoxic effect, and PC12 cells pretreated with EES (20, 40, and 80 μg/mL) significantly reversed the 500 μM CORT-induced cell death. RNA-seq analysis showed that EES regulated 246 differential genes, which were mainly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway. Dusp5, Dusp6, Gadd45b, Gadd45G, and Pdgfc were further validated by qPCR. Experimental data showed that the results of qPCR were consistent with RNA-seq.ConclusionsThese findings provide an innovative understanding of the molecular mechanism of the protective effect of EES on PC12 cells at the molecular transcription level, and Dusp5, Dusp6, Gadd45b, Gadd45g, and Pdgfc may be potential novel targets for antidepressant treatment.

Exercise as a treatment for clinical depression in adults and progressing the physiotherapists role: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: There has been extensive literature examining the efficacy of exercise interventions in the treatment of depression over the past few decades. However, there is ongoing debate regarding the optimal dosage, and the implications of utilising physiotherapists for the management of clinically depressed adults using exercise has not been examined. OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to examine the effectiveness of exercise as a treatment for depression (without comorbidities) and to determine the most effective dosage/mode to treat this population. This review strived to appraise the literature for a potential role for physiotherapists in depression management. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, a search for randomized controlled trials was conducted on the nine databases. All studies were appraised for quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (RoB). Data was manually extracted, and pre- and post-intervention depression scores and program variables were analysed. RESULTS: Of the 5036 papers retrieved, 7 papers met this review’s inclusion criteria. The results of the meta-analysis reveal that exercise as a sole treatment and as an add-on is significantly effective in reducing depressive symptoms. The findings support the use of moderate intensity aerobic exercise for three sessions per week. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise was shown to significantly improve depressive symptoms in depressed adults. This review adds to the growing body of evidence regarding the important role of physiotherapists in the treatment of psychiatric disorders in the design and implementation of exercise interventions.

Dlg1 Knockout Inhibits Microglial Activation and Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depression-Like Behavior in Mice

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is widely perceived as a contributor to numerous neurological diseases and mental disorders including depression. Discs large homolog 1 (Dlg1), an adaptor protein, regulates cell polarization and the function of K+ channels, which are reported to regulate the activation of microglia. However, little is known about the role of Dlg1 in microglia and the maintenance of central nervous system homeostasis. In this study, we found that Dlg1 knockdown suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation by down-regulating the activation of nuclear factor-κB signaling and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in microglia. Moreover, using an inducible Dlg1 microglia-specific knockout (Dlg1flox/flox; CX3CR1CreER) mouse line, we found that microglial Dlg1 knockout reduced the activation of microglia and alleviated the LPS-induced depression-like behavior. In summary, our results demonstrated that Dlg1 plays a critical role in microglial activation and thus provides a potential therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of depression.