Increased frequency of cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14+) monocytes expressing interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) in Alzheimer's disease patients and intermediate levels in late-onset depression patients.

OBJECTIVE: Depression might be a prodromal stage of dementia. Many factors contribute to the etiology of depression and dementia, being inflammation one of those. The present work measured and analyzed immune molecules involved in the innate immunity on cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14+) monocytes trying to investigate any relationship among late-onset depression (LOD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Immune molecules were evaluated in monocytes of AD, LOD patients, and controls using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Interestingly, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) expressing CD14+ monocytes were increased in AD patients compared with controls. LOD presented intermediate frequency of CD14+ monocytes expressing IL-1ß between controls and AD patients. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that an increased frequency of CD14+ monocytes expressing IL-1ß level could be a stage marker related to the pathophysiology of dementia process between normal aging and AD.

Genetic variant of AKT1 and AKTIP associated with late-onset depression in a Brazilian population.

OBJECTIVES: Examine the association between polymorphisms in the AKT1 and AKTIP genes and late-onset depression (LOD). Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric diseases. LOD is a disorder that starts after 65 years old. AKT1 is a downstream enzyme that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurotransmitter-related disorders, such as depression. The identification of a novel AKT1-binding protein (AKTIP) was pointed as an important new target. AKTIP binds directly to AKT1, enhancing the phosphorylation of regulatory sites, and this modulation are affected by AKT1 activation. The association of AKT1 and AKTIP polymorphisms with depressive symptoms was not investigated in LOD. DESIGN: Genotype tagSNPs in the AKT1 and AKTIP in LOD patients and controls. SETTINGS: An academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Sample composed by 190 outpatients with LOD and 77 healthy individuals. MEASURES: The participants were evaluated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV criteria, MINI-PLUS and the Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS: Our findings suggested an association between the tagSNP rs3730358 homozygous A/A (p = 0.006) and LOD. A strong association of allele A and increased association for LOD was demonstrated with tagSNP rs3730358 (p-value = 0.003). LIMITATIONS: Limitation include composition of our control group, where the exclusion criteria generated a kind of super-healthy older group what might have produced a hidden stratification when compared with the LOD. CONCLUSION: This study is the first one to establish the association of the AKT1/AKTIP genes and LOD, and further studies are necessary to clarify the functional role of these proteins.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase genetic variant associated with the risk of Alzheimer's disease in a Brazilian population.

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a Brazilian population. The case-control method was used to study the association between AD and genetic variants of COMT. Six tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in the COMT gene were genotyped by RT-PCR. Our findings showed that the 6 tag SNPs analyzed in this study were not associated with AD at the allele and genotype levels in comparison with the control group. No statistical difference was found between groups with and without behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Our results do not support the hypothesis that the polymorphisms of the COMT gene may be associated with susceptibility to AD with and without BPSD.

Lack of Association between Genetic Polymorphism of Circadian Genes (PER2, PER3, CLOCK and OX2R) with Late Onset Depression and Alzheimer's Disease in a Sample of a Brazilian Population (Circadian Genes, Late-Onset Depression and Alzheimer's Disease).

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the association between polymorphisms in circadian genes and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and/or late-onset depression (LOD). AD pathology leads to circadian disturbances, with clear negative influence on quality of life. In addition, there is an increasing evidence that regulators of circadian system have effects on AD and LOD pathology. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: An exploratory case-control study designed to evaluate SNPs in the PER2, PER3, CLOCK and OX2R genes in a sample composed by 249 AD, 222 LOD and 112 healthy individuals. MEASURES: The participants were evaluated using DSM-IV criteria for LOD and NINCDS-ADRDA for AD. RESULTS: In allelic analysis, the OX2R SNP, rs2134294, showed an association of allele C with LOD (p =0.02, OR= 1.6) and AD (p=0.04, OR =1.5). The rs2134294 also showed a genotypic association C/C (p =0.01) for higher risk to develop LOD compared to the control group, with an odd's ratio of 2.7. The rs9370399 (OX2R) has also shown an association between A allele (p=0.03, OR= 1.4) and AD. These results do not persist after a 1,000 permutations test. For other markers of the OX2R gene and for all other markers of this study no association was found. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the present study found that the investigated Circadian Genes (PER2, PER3, CLOCK and OX2R) polymorphisms were not associated with LOD or AD.

Association of polymorphisms of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene with risk for bipolar disorder or suicidal behavior.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric illness characterized by the occurrence of elevated mood alternating with depressive episodes, having a estimated lifetime prevalence of 0.4-1.6% using DSM-IV criteria. Disturbances of the central serotonergic system has been associated with the pathophysiology of affective disorders and suicidal behavior. Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) which is a rate limiting enzyme in the serotonin synthesis is considered an important candidate gene associated with psychiatric disorders. Our sample consisted of 527 subjects (303 diagnosed with bipolar disorder and 224 healthy controls) which were genotyped for eight tagSNPs (rs4448731, rs4565946, rs11179000, rs7955501, rs10506645, rs4760820, rs1487275 and rs10879357) covering the whole gene of the human TPH2. Statistical analyses were performed using UNPHASED version 3.0.12 and Haploview((R)). Single markers, genotype and haplotype association analysis did not show significant genetic association with bipolar disorder or suicidal behavior. Our findings do not support the association between diagnosis of BD or suicidal behavior and TPH2 polymorphisms.

Tratamento da lombalgia através do dispositivo lombo abdominal e da reeducação postural global / Low Back Pain Treatment via Lumbar Abdominal Device and Global Postural Reeducation

O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar se o dispositivo lombo abdomonal (DAL) associado ao tratamento de Reeducação Postural Global (RPG) proporciona alteração significativa da lombalgia mensurada através da Escala Visual Analógica da dor (EVA) Foram selecionados para o estudo 32 voluntários, que foram divididos em dois grupos de 16 individuos, G1 e G2. O G1, grupo controle, foi submetido ao tratamento fisioterapêutico, utilizando a técnica de RPG, e o G2, grupo caso, além de ser tratado pela RPG, foi submetido ao uso continuo do DAL. Ao início e término de cada sessão, o voluntário foi questionado em relação à presença e intensidade de dor por meio da EVA. Quando realizada a análise intra grupo, os valores da EVA obtidos após tratamento foram significativamente menores em ambos os grupos (p<0.05). Ao compararmos os grupos não houve diferença estatisticamente significante na Eva pós tratamento. Tanto a RPG utilizada isoladamente, quanto associada ao DAL, apresenta diminuição significativa da dor após o tratamento.

The purpose of these research was to find out if the back abdominal devece (DAL) associated to a treatment fo Global Postural Reeducation (RPG) provides significance alteration of back studies measure thought Analogic Visual Scale of pain (EVA). It was selected to the study 32 volunteers that were divided in two groups of 16 individuals, G1 e G2. The G1, the control group, was submitted to physiotherapy treatment, using the technique of RPG, and the G2, the case group, besides the treatment of RPG, was submitted to the continue use od DAL. From the beginning to the end each session, the volunteer was questioned in relation to the presence and intensity of pain trought the EVA. The EVA, after treatment, wasn't different between the groups. When realized the analysis inside groups, the values of EVA obtained after treatment were minor expressive in both groups (p<0,05). As much as the RPG put in use isolated, as much as the DAL, shows significant decrease of pain after treatment.