Intention to stay of pediatric nurses: Does pediatric nurse-parent partnership and perceived stress matter?

AIMS: To explore intentions to stay of pediatric nurses and to determine how pediatric nurse-parent partnership and perceived stress differ among the subgroups. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION: The shortage of nurses, particularly pediatric nurses, has become a global problem. Intention to stay has been an established predictor of nurse retention. Less is known about the heterogeneity of intention to stay and the specific characteristics, which may restrict the effectiveness of prevention and interventions for pediatric nurse retention. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional online survey. A total of 603 pediatric nurses were surveyed on their pediatric nurse-parent partnership, perceived stress, and intention to stay. Latent class analysis, multinomial logistic regression, and univariate analysis were used to analyze the related factors. We followed the STROBE checklist. RESULTS: Three latent classes of intention to stay were identified: low level, moderate level, and high level. Aged between 31 and 35, higher perceived stress, contract nurse, and no spouse were associated with the low level of intention to stay. Good sensitivity in the pediatric nurse-parent partnership was associated with high level of intention to stay. Having a spouse was associated with moderate level compared with low level of intention to stay. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our study was one of the first to show three different classes of intention to stay of pediatric nurses, and the specific sociodemographic information, perceived stress, and pediatric nurse-patient partnership associated with different classes of intention to stay were reported. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND/OR HEALTH POLICY: Our results informed the development of pediatric nurse support strategies. Nurse managers could consider the specific factors affecting the intention to stay and make great efforts in developing strategies and projects for different classes of intention to stay that can maximize nurse intention to stay.

Age and sex differences in social support among children and adolescents with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore what differences exist in the perceived frequency of social support and the importance of social support according to age and sex among children and adolescents with epilepsy. METHOD: We employed an explorative cross-sectional design to examine a sample of 320 children and adolescents with epilepsy using the child and adolescent social support scale (CASSS). RESULT: There is a significant relationship between sex and age and the importance of support from classmates and friends. For the dependent variables that were not affected by the age-sex interaction, we analyzed the main effects of these dependent variables of sex and age separately. We discovered that girls with epilepsy received a higher level of support from their parents and classmates than boys. Besides, compared with adolescents, children with epilepsy consider parental support more valuable. Also, children with epilepsy attach more importance to support from their teachers than adolescents. In contrast, adolescents with epilepsy receive a higher level of support from their friends than children. CONCLUSION: Social support varies by age and sex in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Understanding the social support of children with epilepsy at various developmental stages and for different sexes can help provide a healthier environment for children and adolescents to grow up in. The results of this study provide a basis for formulating corresponding intervention programs for children and adolescents with epilepsy according to age and sex.

The Chinese version of the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire-16-C (QOLCE-16-C): translation, validity, and reliability.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological diseases that adversely impact the quality of life of patients and their families. The "Quality of Life of Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire" (hereinafter referred to as "QOLCE-16") is a 16-item measure that was designed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children with epilepsy. The purpose of the study was to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the QOLCE-16. METHODS: The 10 steps of Principles of Good Practices for translation and cultural adaptation of measures were adopted to translate the QOLCE-16 into Chinese. After that, item analysis, floor effect and ceiling effect, internal consistency, test-retest reliabilities, content validity and construct validity were conducted to test its applicability in children with epilepsy in China. A total of 435 native Chinese-speaking parents with children who had epilepsy from one children's hospital were invited to take part in the study, including a cognitive interview sample of 5 and a validation sample of 430. RESULTS: A total of 414 objects were enrolled in our study for psychometric testing. The results of the item analysis revealed QOLCE-16-C to have good discrimination, the floor effect and ceiling effect were 0.2% and 1.0% respectively, and each item was significantly related to the total scale (P < 0.001). The Cronbach's α value was 0.938 and the test-retest reliability was 0.724. For validity, results showed that the QOLCE-16-C had good content validity. Exploratory factor analysis indicated it was reasonable that the QOLCE-16-C consists of four dimensions after rotation. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good construct validity (χ2/df = 1.698, GFI = 0.913, CFI = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.058). CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of QOLCE-16-C appears to be a culturally appropriate, valid and reliable tool to assess the health-related quality of life of children with epilepsy in China.

Nursing perspectives on transitional care between paediatric intensive care units and general wards: A focus group study.

AIM: We aim to explore the experiences of nursing staff in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and wards when transporting and caring for patients being discharged from PICU. BACKGROUND: PICU discharge is a challenging and complex procedure with risks and complications for patients. Nursing staff in PICU and paediatric wards play a pivotal role in the transition and are responsible for the quality of care, but their perspectives have rarely been explored. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted between December 2021 and January 2022 with purposively sampled PICU nurses and ward nurses. Four focus groups were formed, and data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The overarching themes were as follows: communication during handover, attitudes towards follow-up, a challenging transition for nurses and parents and suggestions for optimizing transitional procedure. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide nurses' insights and knowledge regarding the transition of patients from the PICU to the ward. Nursing strategies including the use of liaison nurses and critical training for ward nurses were considered essential to maintaining competence during transition. A well-structured handover checklist as well as interdisciplinary cooperation and transitional care units are important for the patient's quality of care. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Communication, cooperation, planning and professional care are vital during the transition process. Nurse managers should work to develop collaborative approaches to facilitate safe patient transition.

Parental experience of transition from a paediatric intensive care unit to a general ward: A qualitative study.

AIM: We aim to explore parental experience in transitioning from a paediatric intensive care unit to a general ward and to investigate parental involvement in caring for their critical illness children. BACKGROUND: Parents have a major responsibility in caring for seriously ill children, but nursing staff fail to meet the expectations of parents regarding nursing care. Few studies have investigated the challenges and needs of Chinese parents during the transition from paediatric intensive care unit to general ward. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 parents of children with critical illness in a paediatric hospital in Shanghai, mainland China to explore their views. Transcripts were entered into NVivo. Framework analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. RESULTS: Four themes were identified by data analysis: changes in the child during post paediatric intensive care unit periods; experiencing a wide range of emotions; factors involved in the transition; and suggestions for improving transitional care. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the unmet needs of parents, a more flexible visiting policy and social media support were highly desirable. Getting accurate information, establishing family integrated care, and strengthening ward-based critical support services were also listed as important needs of parents caring for critically ill children. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A profound understanding of parental experiences during the transitional period can help nursing staff to assess the effects on children and their families, improve ward-based intensive care, support parental participation, and improve visitation policies. Based on these findings, nurse managers can develop reasonable intervention programmes in order to improve nursing quality and patient outcomes.

Tolerance-inducing effect and properties of innate immune stimulation on chronic stress-induced behavioral abnormalities in mice.

Over-activation of the innate immune system constitutes a risk factor for the development of nervous system disorders but may reduce the severity of these disorders by inducing tolerance effect. Here, we studied the tolerance-inducing effect and properties of innate immune stimulation on chronic social defeat stress (CSDS)-induced behavioral abnormalities in mice. A single injection of the innate immune enhancer lipopolysaccharide (LPS) one day before stress exposure prevented CSDS-induced impairment in social interaction and increased immobility time in the tail suspension test and forced swimming test. This effect was observed at varying doses (100, 500, and 1000 µg/kg) and peaked at 100 µg/kg. A single LPS injection (100 µg/kg) either one or five but not ten days before stress exposure prevented CSDS-induced behavioral abnormalities. A second LPS injection ten days after the first LPS injection, or a 2 × or 4 × LPS injections ten days before stress exposure also induced tolerance against stress-induced behavioral abnormalities. Our results furthermore showed that a single LPS injection one day before stress exposure skewed the neuroinflammatory response in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of CSDS-exposed mice toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Inhibiting the central innate immune response by pretreatment with minocycline or PLX3397 abrogated the tolerance-inducing effect of LPS preconditioning on CSDS-induced behavioral abnormalities and neuroinflammatory responses in the brain. These results provide evidence for a prophylactic effect of innate immune stimulation on stress-induced behavioral abnormalities via changes in microglial activation, which may help develop novel strategies for the prevention of stress-induced psychological disorders.

Teachers' experiences of managing children with epilepsy in school: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: School is the second most important environment for children second to the family. An increasing number of children with epilepsy (CWE) are able to go back to school to continue to study after treatment. In school, CWE can be involved in studies and activities, which is conducive to their growth. However, CWE have to face more barriers than other children in school, such as cognitive impairment, poor attendance, school absenteeism, and learning disability. What is more, even if CWE have been taking antiepileptic medicines, they still have a risk of seizure. Therefore, it is important to ensure the safety of CWE in the school. Teachers play a significant part in managing CWE in school, so we aimed to deeply explore the experiences of school teachers in managing CWE during school. METHOD: Purposive sampling was used to recruit teachers (n = 17) who cared for children with epilepsy in their class. Semi-structured interviews were used to access qualitative data. Framework analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. RESULT: Five major themes emerged after analyzing: the recognition of epilepsy, the attitude to children with epilepsy, the barriers to communicate with parents about epilepsy, the reaction to a seizure, and the need for training. CONCLUSION: The findings of this qualitative study reported teachers' knowledge of and attitude toward epilepsy, the barriers for them to communicate with parents, the reaction to seizure, and the need for training. Although teachers know little about epilepsy, they have a positive attitude toward CWE. There are many obstacles in terms of the communication between teachers and parents. Parents' cover-ups and teachers' lack of professional training will put teachers and CWE at risk. In view of the fact that teachers and parents are not professionals, it is necessary for hospitals to play a coordinating role between the two.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells protect against CMS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice via regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Increasing studies show that inflammatory processes may be involved in depressive disorders. Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) modulates tissue microglial M1 phenotypic changes to the M2 phenotype, which is implicated in protection against inflammatory diseases. We have reported that the adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) display anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we explored whether the mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of ADSCs was related to Nrf2. ADSCs were isolated from mouse fat pads and intravenously administered to chronic mild stress (CMS)-exposed C57BL/6 mice at the dose of 1 × 106 once a week for 3 weeks. We showed that ADSC administration significantly remedied CMS-induced depressive-like behaviors in sucrose preference test, tail suspension test, and forced swim test accompanied by suppressing microglial activation and the expression of inflammatory factors including MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Furthermore, ADSC administration promoted both the expression of BDNF and TrkB, and promoted Nrf2/HO-1 signaling but suppressed TLR4/NF-κB signaling in brain tissue. In order to elucidate the role of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in ADSC-caused neuroprotection, Nrf2-modified ADSCs were cocultured with BV2 microglial cells, then exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Downregulation of Nrf2 in ADSCs decreased the protective effects of ADSCs against LPS-induced microglial activation and M1 polarization. Nrf2 overexpression in ADSCs markedly suppressed LPS-induced TLR4 and NF-κB expression in microglial cells. These results suggest a possible antidepressive mechanism correlated with microglial polarization for anti-inflammatory agents, which may provide a new microglia-targeted strategy for depression therapy.

Exosomes derived from PEDF modified adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulation of autophagy and apoptosis.

Increasing evidence suggest that exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells have therapeutic effects in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a multifunctional protein that exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective properties. We investigated the involvement of PEDF in I/R, using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) isolated from rat. PEDF-overexpressing ADSCs were constructed and exosomes from ADSCs were isolated. SY-5Y cells were employed to identify the protective effects of exosomes in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) experiments. Exosome treatment suppressed OGD-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the two-step caspase dependent (caspase-9 and caspase-3) apoptotic pathway. Increasing the PEDF content of exosomes further promoted the protective effect against OGD-induced apoptosis by activating autophagy, while blocking autophagy reduced the effect of PEDF-containing exosomes. We constructed a middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion (MCAO) model using male Sprague-Dawley rats to identify the role of PEDF in exosome-mediated neuroprotection. These in vivo experiments further confirmed that exosomes from PEDF-modified ADSCs ameliorated cerebral I/R injury by activating autophagy and suppressing neuronal apoptosis. These findings suggest that PEDF plays a role in exosome-mediated prevention of cerebral I/R injury by modulating apoptotic factors and promoting autophagy.

Venlafaxine inhibits apoptosis of hippocampal neurons by up-regulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor in a rat depression model.

The effect of venlafaxine on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rat hippocampal neurons was studied, as well as its inhibitory effect on apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Differences in behavioral ability between the depression model group and the venlafaxine treatment group were observed in behavioral, sucrose-water and open field tests. The rat hippocampal tissue was sliced, stained and observed for BDNF distribution by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of hippocampal neurons was detected by TUNEL. BDNF expression in the hippocampal tissue was detected by Western blot. Injury and apoptosis of the hippocampal tissue were observed by electron microscopy. Behavioral test showed that venlafaxine effectively improved the behavioral abilities of depressed rats. Immunohistochemistry showed that venlafaxine markedly increased BDNF expression in the rat hippocampus. TUNEL showed that venlafaxine markedly inhibited apoptosis of hippocampal neurons, which was also confirmed by electron microscopic observation of the pathologic sections. Venlafaxine improved the expression of BDNF by influencing the PI3k/PKB/eNOS pathway and repressed the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.

Pediatricians' Perspectives on Introducing Transitional Care into Handover Between Pediatric Intensive Care Units and General Wards.

Background: Despite the availability of a considerable number of studies on transitional care, few qualitative studies have synthesized physicians' perspectives on PICU-to-ward transition to develop a comprehensive transitional care curriculum. The aim of this study is to explore physicians' perceptions and management of the transition of critically ill children from the PICU to the general ward, with the aim of providing an evidence-based curriculum. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted between July and August 2022. The study involved semi-structured interviews with 11 participants, and data analysis was carried out using NVivo 12.0 software through thematic analysis method. Results: Based on the data analysis, three main themes were identified: recognition of professional roles during transition, difficulties during implementation transitional care and suggestions for improving transitional care. Conclusion: The insights of doctors can be valuable in improving transitional care for critically ill children during PICU-to-Ward transition and in developing relevant curricula. It is essential to introduce standardized clinical pathways and strengthen curricula on critical elements, including communication and follow-up.

Clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of tandospirone versus sertraline monotherapy for social anxiety disorder: a randomized open-label trial.

OBJECTIVE: Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are now established as first-line pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAD), other agents with different mechanisms have shown promise in treating SAD. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of tandospirone in treating adolescents with SAD. METHODS: Adolescent patients meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for SAD were randomly assigned (1:1) to open-label treatment with either tandospirone or sertraline for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measures were changes from baseline in the Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) scale and response using the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) scale. RESULTS: The adjusted mean change in HAM-A scores from baseline was indicating a significant improvement over baseline in both treatment arms (p < 0.0001). The mean CGI-I scale score at week was with no significant difference between the two arms (p = 0.42). Rates of response were 48.6% for tandospirone and 55.6% for sertraline using the CGI-I. Response rates were 37.1% for tandospirone and 41.7% for sertraline using a HAM-A response criterion (≥50% reduction). The adjusted mean change in Social Phobia Inventory scores from baseline was indicating a significant improvement over baseline in both treatment arms (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Tandospirone is safe and effective and appears non-inferior to sertraline for SAD in youths.

Caregivers' experiences in the management of children with epilepsy: A Systematic synthesis of qualitative studies.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood is the prime age for epilepsy onset. Adults in the family of affected children often become caregivers. Providing care for children with epilepsy may affect the caregivers' quality of life. There is a paucity of literature reviewing the experiences of caregivers of children with epilepsy. Therefore, we summarised the best available evidence exploring caregivers' experiences in caring for children with epilepsy. METHOD: Published papers in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases were identified by two researchers. All search results were imported into EndNote X20. Two reviewers independently extracted the data using Microsoft Excel. The Critical Appraisal Skill Program systematic review checklist was used to evaluate the quality of the included articles. Data of the included studies were extracted by two independent reviewers using a standardised form. These findings were synthesised using a meta-aggregative approach. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies were included in this meta-synthesis. In total, 260 findings were identified. These findings were aggregated into 13 categories, which were synthesised into four main themes: (i) burden experienced by caregivers, (ii) challenges experienced by caregivers, (iii) lack of social support, and (iv) adaptation to disease conditions. SIGNIFICANCE: The synthesised studies present multiple perspectives on the burdens and challenges encountered by caregivers of children with epilepsy. Caregivers require support from a variety of sources, not only from their families but also society at large. Providing care to children with epilepsy is a dynamic experience for caregivers.

The effects of thiamine supplementation on patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Micronutrients can benefit patients with heart failure (HF). Thiamine is a critical vitamin, while the impact of thiamine supplementation on patients with HF remains unclear. Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effects of thiamine supplementation on clinical outcomes in patients with HF. METHODS: Databases including Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CNKI were searched from inception to June 29th 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing thiamine supplementation with placebo were included. Meta-analysis was conducted with the software Review Manager 5.4. The quality assessment was performed according to Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. RESULTS: Eight studies including 384 patients were included in this review. The results of overall systematic review showed no benefit of thiamine supplementation in HF patients. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had no statistically significant improvements in LVEF (Mean Difference, - 0.19; 95 % CI, - 2.78 to 0.96; I2 = 49 %; P = 0.10) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Other outcomes including NYHA class, BNP or NT-proBNP, thiamine status, symptom changes, and quality of life were not improved by thiamine supplementation in CHF patients. Similarly, no improvements in clinical outcomes were found in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in the studies included. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis found no evidence to support the effects of thiamine supplementation in patients with HF, though thiamine supplementation is promising in improving cardiac functions, thiamine status and relieving HF-related symptoms. More well-designed RCTs with large sample sizes are required.

Hippocampal NR6A1 impairs CREB-BDNF signaling and leads to the development of depression-like behaviors in mice.

Chronic stress exposure is a risk factor that can induce the development of depression-like behaviors by impairing the hippocampal cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element binding protein (CREB)-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, but its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We identified an orphan receptor that can suppress the activity of CREB, nuclear receptor sub-family 6, group A, member 1 (NR6A1), in mouse brain neurons. Given the critical role of the impaired CREB-BDNF signaling in depression, we speculate that the neuronal NR6A1 may mediate the pathogenesis of depression. Results showed that chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) markedly increased the expression levels of hippocampal NR6A1 protein, which reduced hippocampal CREB phosphorylation and BDNF protein expression. Overexpression of hippocampal NR6A1 in stress-naïve mice simulated chronic stress, inducing depression-like behaviors in the tail suspension test, forced swimming test, and sucrose preference test, and impairing the hippocampal CREB-BDNF signaling cascade. Genetic knockdown of hippocampal NR6A1 did not affect mouse behaviors but prevented the CUS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice and impairment in hippocampal CREB-BDNF signaling. Furthermore, genetic knockdown of hippocampal CREB or BDNF abrogated the preventive effect of hippocampal NR6A1 down-regulation on CUS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Collectively, these results for the first time identified a nuclear expression of NR6A1 in mouse brain neurons, and showed that the abnormally increased NR6A1 protein in the hippocampus in mice treated with or without chronic stress can impair the CREB-BDNF signaling cascade and lead to the development of depression-like behaviors. Hippocampal NR6A1 could be a novel target for the development of antidepressants.

Relative Safety and Efficacy of Two Doses of Tandospirone Citrate for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To determine the relative safety and efficacy of different doses of tandospirone in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Patients and Methods: This parallel randomized controlled trial enrolled patients with GAD from eight centers in China. The patients were randomly assigned to 60 mg/day or 30 mg/day tandospirone groups. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate after receiving 6-week treatment. The secondary endpoints included significant response rate, clinical recovery rate, change in the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) total score, HAMA subscale score, Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17), Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) score, and Impression-Improvement scale (CGI-I) score. Results: No significant difference was found in the overall response rate between the two groups (65.7% vs 58.4%, p = 0.213). A higher significant response rate and change in the HAMA total score were found in the 60 mg/day group. The reduction in the CGI-S score and percentage of patients with a CGI-I score of ≤2 were higher in 60 mg/day group. The reduction in HAMA somatic anxiety factor, cardiovascular symptom factor, gastrointestinal symptom factor, and HAMD-17 score were more significant in the 60 mg/day group. The incidence of total adverse events was higher in the 60 mg/day group than in the 30 mg/day group. No significant difference was found in the proportion of withdrawal due to adverse events. Conclusion: Both 60 mg/day and 30 mg/day tandospirone show good efficacy in treating patients with GAD. High doses of tandospirone may have advantages in relieving the somatic symptoms but also present disadvantages due to their high level. Trial Registration: The trial registration no. was NCT01614041.

A prophylactic effect of macrophage-colony stimulating factor on chronic stress-induced depression-like behaviors in mice.

Innate immune activation has been shown to reduce the severity of nervous system disorders such as brain ischemia and traumatic brain damage. Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), a drug that is used to treat hematological system disease, is an enhancer of the innate immune response. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of M-CSF preconditioning on chronic social defeat stress (CSDS)-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Results showed that a single M-CSF injection 1 day before stress exposure at the dose of 100 and 500 µg/kg, or a single M-CSF injection (100 µg/kg) 1 or 5 days but not 10 days before stress exposure prevented CSDS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Further analysis showed that a second M-CSF injection 10 days after the first M-CSF injection and a 2 × or 4 × M-CSF injections 10 days before stress exposure also prevented CSDS-induced depression-like behaviors. Molecular studies revealed that a single M-CSF injection prior to stress exposure skewed the neuroinflammatory responses in the brain in CSDS-exposed mice towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype. These behavioral and molecular actions of M-CSF were correlated with innate immune stimulation, as pre-inhibiting the innate immune activation by minocycline pretreatment (40 mg/kg) abrogated the preventive effect of M-CSF on CSDS-induced depression-like behaviors and neuroinflammatory responses. These results provide evidence to show that innate immune activation by M-CSF pretreatment may prevent chronic stress-induced depression-like behaviors via preventing the development of neuroinflammatory response in the brain, which may help to develop novel strategies for the prevention of depression.

Difference in proinflammatory cytokines produced by monocytes between patients with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Immune activation and suppression in patients with major depressive disorders (MDD) have been both reported in different studies. We assume that these findings may indicate innate immunological tolerance in MDD, with subclinical elevated level of proinflammatory cytokines and the decrease in innate immune response while encountering pathogens. METHODS: Peripheral monocytes of 50 untreated patients with MDD and 40 healthy controls were isolated and cultured, with or without 10 ng/ml lipopolysacchride (LPS) for 6 h (6 h, LPS+/-), and with LPS for 18 h (18, LPS+). The cell culture supernatants were collected to measure concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß). RESULTS: The baseline concentrations of IL-6 and IL-1ß (6 h, LPS-) were significantly higher in the MDD group than those in the control group. There was no significant difference of TNF-α between the two groups. The fold changes of LPS-induced secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α from monocytes cultured for 6 and 18 h were all lower in the patient groups, and that was true for IL-1ß as monocytes cultured for 18 h. LIMITATIONS: Given the gap between the results of in vitro experiments and the actual response that happens in vivo when the immune system encounters pathogens from the external world, future research should include in vivo methods to test the results of the current study. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MDD may have subclinical inflammation during a depressive episode, and the reduced response to LPS in monocytes indicates innate immunological tolerance.

[Effects of paroxetine with or without zolpidem on depression with insomnia: a multi-center randomized comparative study].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of paroxetine with or without zolpidem on depression with insomnia. METHODS: 229 consecutive outpatients with the diagnosis of major depression based on the CCMD-3 criteria who visited the departments of mental counseling, psychiatric, or neurology in 11 general hospitals the country over during a period of 4 weeks, were randomly allocated into 2 groups: paroxetine + zolpidem group (Group A, treated with paroxetine 10 - 20 mg/d and zolpidem 10 mg/d H. d. for 4 weeks) and paroxetine group (Group B, treated with paroxetine only), among which 221 underwent intention-to-treat analysis and 207 underwent completer analysis (CA). Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17), Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI), and 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate the outcomes. RESULTS: One week after the beginning of treatment the reduction of PSQI score of Group A was 5.7, showing an improvement of sleep quality, significantly higher than that of Group B (1.6), and 4 weeks later the reduction of PSQI of Group A was 9.7 +/- 3.6, significantly higher than that of Group B (6.0 +/- 3.5, both P = 0.000). Four weeks after the beginning of treatment, the HAMD reduction rate of Group A was 68.5%, significantly higher than that of Group B (56.8%, P < 0.01), and the HAMA reduction rate of Group A was 66.2%, significantly higher than that of Group B (57.1%, P < 0.01), and the SF-36 score of Group A was 66 +/- 19 (last observation carry forward analysis) or 67 +/- 19 (CA), significantly higher than those of Group B (38 +/- 16 or 67 +/- 19 respectively, both P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant combined with hypnotic augments the effects of antidepressant on the depressive and anxiety symptoms.

The link between long noncoding RNAs and depression.

The major depressive disorder (MDD) is a relatively common mental disorder from which that hundreds of million people have suffered, leading to displeasing life quality, which is characterized by health damage and even suicidal thoughts. The complicated development and functioning of MDD is still under exploration. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) are highly expressed in the brain, could affect neural stem cell maintenance, neurogenesis and gliogenesis, brain patterning, synaptic and stress responses, and neural plasticity. The dysregulation of certain lncRNAs induces in neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and neuroimmunological disorders, primary brain tumors, and psychiatric diseases. Although advances have been made, no fully satisfactory treatments for major depression are available, further investigation is requested. And recently data showed that the expression level of the majority of lncRNAs demonstrated a clear tendency of upregulation, and the certain dysregulated miRNAs and lncRNAs in the MDD have been proved to have a co-synergism mechanism, that is why we speculate lncRNA might get the capability to regulate MDD. Few identified lncRNAs have been deeply studied in detailed experiments up until now, little predictions of their function have been raised, and further researches is calling for discover their signal pathway and related regulatory networks.