High-fiber diet ameliorates gut microbiota, serum metabolism and emotional mood in type 2 diabetes patients.

Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often had the problems of fecal microbiota dysbiosis, and were usually accompanied with psychiatric comorbidities (such as depression and anxiety). Here, we conducted a randomized clinical study to analyze the changes in gut microbiota, serum metabolism and emotional mood of patients with T2DM after consumption of a high-fiber diet. The glucose homeostasis of participants with T2DM was improved by the high-fiber diet, and the serum metabolome, systemic inflammation and psychiatric comorbidities were also altered. The increased abundances of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Akkermansias revealed that the proportions of beneficial gut microbes were enriched by the high-fiber diet, while the abundances of Desulfovibrio, Klebsiella and other opportunistic pathogens were decreased. Therefore, the current study demonstrated that the intestinal microbiota alterations which were influenced by the high-fiber diet could improve the serum metabolism and emotional mood of patients with T2DM.

Setting off firecrackers: An economic way to release inner stress for patients with depression.

PURPOSE: To advocate an economic way to release inner stress for patients with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Setting off firecrackers has psychological value. It is not merely for fun, but is more an economic and easy behavioral therapy in psychiatric care, even risking a little bit noise and air pollution, especially for patients with depression. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In routine psychiatric care practice, patient with depression were encouraged to set off firecrackers to release their stress.

Drug Brand Response and Its Impact on Compliance and Efficacy in Depression Patients.

Introduction: Patient's response to drug brand is a comprehensive physiological and psychological effect which might impact the compliance and efficacy of drugs. Whether the therapeutic outcome altered on patients with brand response after they experience drug switch is not clear. Methods: 459 outpatients with mild-to-moderate depression were divided into the imported (joint venture) drug group and the domestic drug group according to their current drug application. Two groups of patients were assessed by drug brand preference questionnaire and medication compliance questionnaire. Patients with brand preference in imported (joint venture) drugs group received rational use of limited medical resource and pharmacoeconomics education, and then switched with domestic drug for 8 weeks. Safety and efficacy were evaluated both before and after the drug switch. Results: Overall, there were 27% of patients in imported drug group and 35% of patients in domestic drug group have brand response, respectively. About 2/3 patients in both groups showed low or no brand response. The compliance was similar in both groups with no significant difference (6.04 ± 2.08 vs. 4.74 ± 2.13, respectively, P > 0.05). The efficacy of imported drug group was significantly better than of the domestic drug group. Correlation analysis showed that in imported (joint venture) drugs group, medication compliance was closely related with brand response, but negatively correlated with age and duration. In domestic drugs group, medication compliance was independent of brand response, but closely related with education, age, and duration. After drug switch with domestic drug on patients with brand response, patients continued to maintain good antidepressant effect, and no severe adverse reaction occurred. Conclusion: The results suggested that domestic drugs switch might be feasible for patients using imported drugs with brand response, while providing patients with rational use of drug education and psychological support. The medical staff should focus on medication education to help patients make better use of limited medical resources.

Impact of brand-name drug worship and expectation psychology on antidepressant efficacy.

The choice of the generic drug is reasonable if there is evidence for its therapeutic equivalence with the brand-name drug. However, the reduced effectiveness of switching from brand-name drug to generic drug is not rare. The impact of brand-name worship and expectation psychology on drug efficacy is noteworthy to report. A 45-year-old woman suffered from depression mood disorder. She experienced profound improvement in her depressive symptoms after a switch from domestic generic venlafaxine to imported brand-name counterpart. The interview showed that the woman has a strong brand-name drug worship and expectation psychology, which is representative, typical and popular in China especially in vast rural areas. Medication education does not work too much. The brand-name drug worship and expectation psychology might improve drug efficacy when patient is switched from generic drug to branded medication.