Search

Background: Patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) commonly demonstrate lower performance across multiple cognitive domains. Cognitive impairment is an intrinsic characteristic of MDD status and is often influenced by genetic factors. microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have been shown to have important implications in the etiology of MDD. Therefore, we aimed to identify and analyze the impact of expression and genetic variation of miR-34b/c on cognitive dysfunction in MDD. Methods: First, we analyzed miR-34c-5p expression in 48 cases of MDD and 54 healthy controls in a Chinese population using qRT-PCR. We assessed the relationship between the level of miR-34c-5p expression and cognitive performance by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Trail Making Test (TMT). Second, in order to characterize allelic effects of miR-34b/c on cognitive performance in MDD patients, we performed genetic association analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci of the MIR34B/C genes with cognitive function in a second group consisting of 531 MDD patients and 267 healthy controls. Results: We found a significant negative correlation between the level of miR-34c-5p expression and both the language and delayed memory index scores in patients with MDD. We also found a significant positive correlation between the level of miR-34c-5p expression and the time required to complete tests A and B of the TMT. The interaction between the rs2187473 genotype and the disease was significant for both immediate memory and delayed memory. In the patient group, the rs2187473 CC genotype was significantly associated with higher performance on immediate memory (F = 6.683, p < 0.05) and delayed memory tasks (F = 4.221, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that changes in miR-34c expression level have important impacts on cognitive function in patients with MDD. In particular, the polymorphism rs2187473 is a potential genetic risk factor for cognitive function in MDD, which may be of clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of emotional freedom techniques (EFT) on anxiety and depreesion in elderly patients with coronary heat disease. Methods Totally 52 patients with coronary heat disease were divided into observation group (n = 25) and control group (n = 27). All patients received comprehensive treatment and health guidance, and those in the observation group were given EFT three times a day for 4 weeks. The scores of Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depreesion Scale (SDS) before and after intervention were compared between the two groups. Results After 4 weeks of intervention, the SAS and scores were decreased in both two groups, and were lower in the observation group than those in the control group (P < 0. 05). Conclusion EFT can effectively release the anxiety and depreesion in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and improve their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patients with BD showed significant decreased GMV and increased fALFF values in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus. • Significantly reduced fALFF values in the lingual gyrus were observed in the patients with BD. • Significant negative correlations were observed between GMV values in the left SFG and vocabulary memory. We used fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and gray matter volume (GMV) jointly to explore the mechanism of brain function and structure in unmedicated patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Thirty first episode drug-naive patients with and thirty healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in this study; All the subjects underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning and performed the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), all the patients with MDD finished the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17). Data Processing and Analysis for Brain Imaging (DPABI) and SPM8 were used to find potential differences in fALFF and GMV between the two groups. A Pearson correlation model was used to analyze associations of functional and morphometric changes with clinical symptoms and cognitive tests. Compared to healthy controls, the BD group had significantly reduced fALFF values in the lingual gyrus and increased fALFF values in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus. With regards to VBM, patients with BD showed significant GMV decreases in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus and precuneus. Additionally, we found an overlap of brain regions focused on the left SFG. Significant negative correlations were observed between abnormal GMV values in the left SFG and vocabulary memory. The superior frontal gyrus was the site of the most robust and reliable abnormality, with an overlap of abnormal structural and functional MRI features that play an important role in pathology in BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]