RESUMEN
The clinical practice of adding antidepressant drugs to the therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in addition to the standard drug regimen is not yet well established. This study aims to establish if there is an association between H. pylori gastritis and depression and to further analyze the therapeutic effect of antidepressants on symptomatic relief in gastritis. A systematic review was done using articles collected within the last seven years without regional or language localization obtained using PubMed, PubMed Central® (PMC), Google Scholar, and the Cochrane controlled trials. The search terms included Helicobacter pylori, depression, functional dyspepsia, and antidepressants. We selected three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), eight cross-sectional studies, four prospective studies, one cohort study, and two review articles. Trials that were prescribed antidepressants for clinical improvement of dyspepsia in patients with H. pylori gastritis that showed no improvement after eradication therapy standard regimen were included. In conclusion, patients who showed no improvement in functional dyspepsia after H. pylori eradication were seen to improve on antidepressant therapy. Further investigation and studies to analyze this correlation are recommended.
RESUMEN
The anti-oxidant effects of melatonin and the immune-pineal axis are well established. However, how they play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is not well elucidated. A better understanding of this neuro-immuno-endocrinological link can help in the development of novel therapies with higher efficacy to alleviate symptomatology, slow disease progression and improve the quality of life. Recent studies have shown that the immune-pineal axis acts as an immunological buffer, neurohormonal switch and it also intricately links the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (like Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease) and inflammation at a molecular level. Furthermore, alteration in circadian melatonin production is seen in neurodegenerative diseases. This review will summarise the mechanics by which the immune-pineal axis and neuro-immuno-endocrinological disturbances affect the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. It will also explore, how this understanding will help in the development of novel hybrid melatonin hormone therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Ladakh, a mountainous region with low population density. We, therefore, determined these and tried to identify risk factors associated with these infections. METHODS: Randomly selected residents of Ladakh region were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). A subset of HBsAg-positive persons were tested for hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and HBV DNA and those with anti-HCV for HCV RNA. Viral genotype was also determined. RESULTS: Of the 2674 subjects, 141 (5.3%) tested positive for HBsAg, i.e. had current HBV infection and 339 (12.7%) tested positive for either HBsAg and or anti-HBc, i.e. had either current or past infection with HBV. Anti-HCV antibody was detected in 22 (0.8%) subjects. The HBsAg positivity rate was higher in Kargil district (8.3%) than in Leh district (3.3%). No particular risk factor was identified for either infection. Of the 141 and 22 specimens that contained HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively (one had both), 74 and none tested positive for HBV DNA and HCV RNA, respectively. Of the 29 specimens that had sufficient HBV DNA for genotyping, 21, 7, and 1 specimens had HBV genotypes D, C, and A, respectively. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of HBV infection seems to be higher in Ladakh region, especially the Kargil district. The prevalence of anti-HCV was similar to that in other parts of India. á á .
