Antidepressant-like Effects of Representative Types of Food and Their Possible Mechanisms

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by low mood, lack of motivation, negative cognitive outlook, and sleep problems. Suicide may occur in severe cases, although suicidal thoughts are not seen in all cases. Globally, an estimated 350 million individuals grapple with depression, as reported by the World Health Organization. At present, drug and psychological treatments are the main treatments, but they produce insufficient responses in many patients and fail to work at all in many others. Consequently, treating depression has long been an important topic in society. Given the escalating prevalence of depression, a comprehensive strategy for managing its symptoms and impacts has garnered significant attention. In this context, nutritional psychiatry emerges as a promising avenue. Extensive research has underscored the potential benefits of a well-rounded diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat in alleviating depressive symptoms. However, the intricate mechanisms linking dietary interventions to brain function alterations remain largely unexplored. This review delves into the intricate relationship between dietary patterns and depression, while exploring the plausible mechanisms underlying the impact of dietary interventions on depression management. As we endeavor to unveil the pathways through which nutrition influences mental well-being, a holistic perspective that encompasses multidisciplinary strategies gains prominence, potentially reshaping how we approach and address depression.

Rasd2 Mediates Acute Fasting-Induced Antidepressant-Like Effects via Dopamine D2 Receptor Activation in Ovariectomized Mice

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that estrogen and acute fasting for 9 hours have antidepressant-like effects by reducing immobility time in the forced swimming test. Estrogen and acute fasting share a common regulatory gene, Rasd2. RASD2 regulates dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) transmission, but the role of Rasd2 in the DRD2-mediated antidepressant-like effect of acute fasting has not been examined.

METHODS

In this study, open field test, forced swimming test, tail suspension test and sucrose preference test were used for behavioral assessments. RNA-seq, western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and co-immunoprecipitation were used to explore the role of Rasd2 in a depression model induced by ovariectomy and the antidepressant-like effects of 9-hour fasting.

RESULTS

The RNA seq results showed that acute fasting induced a significant change in Rasd2 gene expression. Depression-like behaviors induced by ovariectomy were associated with decreased RASD2 and DRD2 protein levels in the hippocampus, and Rasd2 overexpression in the hippocampus alleviated depression-like behaviors and increased DRD2 expression. Nine-hour fasting had antidepressant-like effects in ovariectomized mice by upregulating the protein levels of RASD2, DRD2, CREB-BDNF, Akt, and estrogen receptor beta, and these effects can be blocked by DRD2 antagonists.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that Rasd2 and DRD2 play pivotal roles in depression-like behavior induced by ovariectomy. Rasd2 regulates DRD2-mediated antidepressant-like effects of acute fasting in ovariectomized mice. Rasd2 can therefore be postulated to be a potential therapeutic target for depression and perhaps also a potential predictive marker for depression.

Transcription factors are potential therapeutic targets in epilepsy

Academics generally believe that imbalance between excitation and inhibition of the nervous system is the root cause of epilepsy. However, the aetiology of epilepsy is complex, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Many studies have shown that epilepsy is closely related to genetic factors. Additionally, the involvement of a variety of tumour‐related transcription factors in the pathogenesis of epilepsy has been confirmed, which also confirms the heredity of epilepsy. In this review, we summarize the existing research on a variety of transcription factors and epilepsy and present relevant evidence related to transcription factors that may be targets in epilepsy. This information is of great significance for revealing the in‐depth molecular and cellular mechanisms of epilepsy.

Dopamine Receptors: Is It Possible to Become a Therapeutic Target for Depression?

Dopamine and its receptors are currently recognized targets for the treatment of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, some drug use addictions, as well as depression. Dopamine receptors are widely distributed in various regions of the brain, but their role and exact contribution to neuropsychiatric diseases has not yet been thoroughly studied. Based on the types of dopamine receptors and their distribution in different brain regions, this paper reviews the current research status of the molecular, cellular and circuit mechanisms of dopamine and its receptors involved in depression. Multiple lines of investigation of these mechanisms provide a new future direction for understanding the etiology and treatment of depression and potential new targets for antidepressant treatments.

Hyperprogressive disease after radiotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 therapy in renal cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Studies have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have limited efficacy and can even increase tumour burden in short time periods. This is usually called hyperprogressive disease (HPD). To date, there are few reports regarding HPD; fewer have analysed the relationship between HPD and radiotherapy combined with ICIs, and their conclusions are controversial.

Case presentation

A 42-year-old woman was diagnosed with stage IV renal clear cell carcinoma. The patient had previously received sorafenib and pazopanib as first- and second-line therapies, respectively. She received radiotherapy combined with nivolumab. Eighteen days after administration of the third dose of nivolumab, the patient’s general condition deteriorated; this was associated with immune-related adverse events. Computed tomography showed that the diameter of left lung metastases had sharply increased. A biopsy of the lung metastasis showed no infiltration of lymphocytes. The patient’s general condition worsened and she died of the disease on the 70th day after administration of the third dose of nivolumab.

Conclusions

This report describes the development of HPD following the administration of radiotherapy combined with ICIs in a case of advanced renal cell carcinoma. The case indicates that radiotherapy may show bidirectional regulation effects on anti-tumour immune response. If the immunosuppressive function of radiotherapy is dominant, combined with ICIs, it could result in HPD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12894-021-00813-8.

MELD and Child-Pugh Scores Are Related to Immune Status of Intrahepatic Natural Killer Cells in Liver Transplant Candidates

BACKGROUND

The role and phenotypic alterations of intrahepatic natural killer (NK) cells in liver disease were investigated. Although intrahepatic NK cells reportedly functionally deteriorate in the fibrotic liver, it remains unclear how the clinical severity of liver disease affects intrahepatic NK cells in patients with advanced liver failure.

METHODS

We analyzed the phenotypic properties of intrahepatic NK cells by using mononuclear cells extracted from ex vivo liver perfusate effluents from patients who underwent liver transplantation. The relationship between the clinical severity of liver disease and the phenotype of intrahepatic NK cells in these patients was also evaluated. To estimate the immunological responsiveness of intrahepatic NK cells, phenotypic enhancement after interleukin-2 stimulation was analyzed.

RESULTS

Intrahepatic NK cells from patients with advanced liver failure exhibited down-regulated monomodal expression of NKp46, a major activating molecule. Notably, the expression level of NKp46 decreased depending on the severity of liver disease, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, and Child-Pugh score rather than the etiology. After in vitro recombinant interleukin-2 stimulation, the enhancement of expression of cytotoxic molecules, NKp44, and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand was significantly impaired in intrahepatic NK cells from patients with liver failure, concurrently with decreased expression of CD122 and interleukin-2 receptor beta.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that terminal deterioration of liver environments by chronic liver disease impairs the potential of local NK cells, depending on the severity of the deterioration. These influences of advanced liver failure on intrahepatic NK cells may be attributed to multicentric carcinogenesis in patients with liver failure.

HPV16 E6 mutations and p53 codon72 polymorphism among women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 and 3 in China

OBJECTIVE

To study the distribution of HPV16 E6 gene mutations and p53 codon72 polymorphism among women with HPV16+ cervical precancerous lesions and explore their relationship with the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2, 3. Materials and Meth- ods: This study analyzed a total of 112 cases of exfoliated HPV16+ cervical cell specimens which were divided into group I (normal and CIN1, 55 cases) and group2 (CIN2, 3, 57 cases). Among the 112 specimens, 85 cases were successfully amplified for HPV E6 gene by PCR and the PCR products were sequenced directly. P53 codon72 region was also amplified from the 112 specimens and the PCR products were sequenced directly and compared with the standard sequence.

RESULTS

Among the 85 amplified HPV sequences, point mutations such as T178G, T350G, G132A, A442C, T310G, G94T, C551A, etc. were found, among which, T178G showed the highest rate (51.76%). The rate of HPV16 E6 mutation T178G in CIN2, 3 group was significantly higher than that in normal and CINI group, i.e., in the 112 amplified p53 codon72 sequences, the distribution of Pro/Pro genotype in normal, and CIN1 group was significantly different from that in CIN2, 3 groups, and the disease risk of Pro/Pro genotype was much higher than that of Arg/Arg and Arg/Pro genotypes.

CONCLUSION

HPV16 E6 T178G mutation increases the disease risk of CIN2, 3. Meanwhile, compared with Arg/Arg and Arg/Pro genotypes, p53 codon72 Pro/Pro genotype more associated with the disease risk of CIN2, 3.

Childhood obesity and its health consequence in China

Analyses of data from the representative 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey were used to assess the likelihood of metabolic complications of overweight and obesity in Chinese children aged 7-17 years. Chinese criteria for body mass index classification were used for overweight and obesity with the 75th percentile US adolescent values for waist circumferences and all the metabolic criteria for blood pressure, lipids, fasting glucose established for US adolescents. Diabetes in 7-12-year-olds was 0.2% and 0.4% in children aged 12-18 years. Prevalences of dyslipidaemia (61.9%), hypertriglyceridaemia (18.2%) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (56.1%) were high and 16.0% of 15-18 years had hypertension. The overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 3.3% with more than half the children having at least one metabolic abnormality and 19.8% having at least two. All the metabolic parameters were significantly elevated in the overweight and obese children except high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These data emphasize the marked sensitivity of Chinese children to the metabolic complications of overweight and obesity and amplify the need for early preventive measures.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Chinese adolescents

Since national figures on the occurrence of metabolic syndrome among Chinese adolescents are lacking, this study aims to estimate its prevalence and distribution among Chinese youngsters. The 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey is a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Applying the criteria for US adolescents, we estimated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among 2761 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Chinese adolescents overall was 3.7 % (10 % in US adolescents). It was 35.2 %, 23.4 % and 2.3 % among adolescents who were overweight (BMI > or = 95th percentile), at risk of overweight (BMI between 85th and 95th percentile) and normal weight (BMI below the 85th percentile), respectively. Urban boys had the highest rate (5.8 %) compared with girls and rural youngsters. Among adolescents who had a BMI > or = 85th percentile and one or two parent(s) with metabolic syndrome, the prevalence was 46.4 %. A total of 96 % of overweight adolescents had at least one and 74.1 % overweight adolescents had at least two abnormalities of metabolic syndrome. Based on these figures, it is estimated that more than three million Chinese adolescents have metabolic syndrome. Both overweight and metabolic syndrome prevalence among adolescents are still relatively low in China, but the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Chinese overweight adolescents is similar to those living in the USA.

[Indicators for the assessment of iodine nutritional status]

Selecting appropriate evaluation indicators for surveying and monitoring iodine nutritional status is needed. The indicators, which are used commonly in recent literature, are urinary iodine, thyroid volume, dietary iodine intake, thyroid function parameters and intelligence quotient. These indicators are summarized on their clinical significance, application range, expression method and so on. The purpose of this review is to provide some scientific references for people who are working on prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders.

[Research on some enzyme activities in the assessment of zinc nutritional status of growing rats]

Male weaning rats were divided randomly into five groups. They were fed with diets containing zinc deficient(DZ), high zinc(HZ), normal zinc (NZ) and high zinc pair-fed with zinc deficient group(HZP) respectively. The rats in DZ and HZ groups were exchanged diets after 20 days. A part of rats in each group were killed at days 20, 50 and 70. The activities of alkaline phosphatase(ALP), 5'-nucleotidase(5'-NT) and copper-zinc-superoxidase dismutase(Cu-Zn-SOD), the zinc concentration in plasma and kidney were determined to assess the better indices for zinc nutrition. The results indicted that: The activities of ALP in DZ group at 20 d was significantly lower than that in the same group at the beginning, in the HZ group and in the HZP group, and increased significantly after the diet was changed to HZ diet after 30 days. The activities of 5'-NT in DZ group rats was decreasing with the extension of experimental period. These results indicated that the activities of ALP and 5'-NT were sensitive to zinc supplementation even though they were changed a little during zinc exhausted. The activity of ALP was decreasing with growing, and the activity of 5'-NT was increased with growing. Zinc concentration in plasma of DZ group was significantly lower than that of other groups which include DZ-HZ group at the 50th day, and it was also the lowest among groups at the end of experiment. Zinc concentration in the kidney of HZ-DZ group was significantly lower than that of HZ and DZ-HZ groups by the end of experiment. There were little changes of the activity of Cu-Zn SOD and the zinc content in kidney during the experiment period. These results indicated that the activities of both ALP and 5'-NT and plasma zinc were sensitive to zinc supplementacior and zinc deficiency.

[Priority of selenium incorporation into selenoproteins during selenium depletion in rats]

Male weanling Wistar rats were fed with either a basal selenium deficient diet (a Torula yeast based semisynthetic diet, containing Se 0.01 mg/kg) or a selenium sufficient diet supplemented with Se as Na2SeO3 (containing Se 0.5 mg/kg). Rats were killed after different weeks(0,1,2,4,8,12,15,17,19,20 and 24 respectively). Their organs were taken to observe the kinetic change of selenium concentration, the activities of intracellular glutathione peroxidase (cGPX), extracellular glutathione peroxidase (eGPX), and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) in different organs. The results showed that selenium levels and the activities of selenoenzyme in testis and pituitary were more resistant to selenium deficiency than other organs. During selenium deficiency, the utilization of selenium by PHGPX and deiodinase was prior to eGPX and cGPX, which suggested that the function of PHGPX and deiodinase were more important than that of eGPX and cGPX.