Objective
To evaluate whether colchicine treatment was associated with the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in patients with COVID-19.
Methods
We present a post hoc analysis from a ...double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) on the effect of colchicine for the treatment of COVID-19. Serum levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome products—active caspase-1 (Casp1p20), IL-1β, and IL-18—were assessed at enrollment and after 48–72 h of treatment in patients receiving standard-of-care (SOC) plus placebo vs. those receiving SOC plus colchicine. The colchicine regimen was 0.5 mg tid for 5 days, followed by 0.5 mg bid for another 5 days.
Results
Thirty-six patients received SOC plus colchicine, and thirty-six received SOC plus placebo. Colchicine reduced the need for supplemental oxygen and the length of hospitalization. On Days 2–3, colchicine lowered the serum levels of Casp1p20 and IL-18, but not IL-1β.
Conclusion
Treatment with colchicine inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, an event triggering the ‘cytokine storm’ in COVID-19.
Trial registration numbers
RBR-8jyhxh
•Interoception is defined as the sense of the internal state of the body and dysfunctions in interoception are found in trauma-related conditions.•Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have been ...shown to influence interoceptive processes.•We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize data from randomized controlled trials that have investigated whether MBIs impact symptoms and interoception in trauma-related disorders and exposure to traumatic events.
Interoception is defined as the sense of the internal state of the body. Dysfunctions in interoception are found in several mental disorders, including trauma-related conditions. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have been shown to influence interoceptive processes. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated whether MBIs impact symptoms and interoception in patients with trauma-related disorders. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize these data. We included RCTs with an MBI arm which enrolled adult patients with trauma related-disorders or exposure to a traumatic experience, and addressed changes in interoception and trauma-related symptoms. A random-effects multivariate meta-analytic model was performed to quantify group differences in score change from baseline to follow-up. Twelve studies were included in the systematic review, and eleven in the meta-analysis. Overall, MBIs showed small to moderate positive effects on both interoception and symptoms. Despite a high heterogeneity in results, sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings. We conclude that the efficacy of MBIs on trauma-related symptoms and interoception is supported by randomised evidence. However, further research is needed to understand whether changes in interoception might underpin the effectiveness of MBIs in trauma-related disorders.
The type collection of Parmelia goebelii (Bulbothrix goebelii) was discovered to be a mixture of several different Bulbothrix species. The true identity of B. goebelii is established and problems ...regarding the variability of this species discussed. The species B. papyrina, B. scortella and B. subdissecta, synonymized with B. goebelii by Hale, are resurrected as valid taxa. A detailed description of B. goebelii is presented, its lectotype is selected, and the characteristics of all four species discussed.
•Lymnaea stagnalis, a reductionistic, yet sophisticated model to address fundamental questions in learning and memory.•Learning and memory in snails have been highly conserved.•The “molecular actors” ...memory are similar both across phylogenetic groups and learning paradigms.•Lymnaea stagnalis teach us the importance of context.•Lymnaea stagnalis to understand in what conditions we memorize, we eat, we memorize, we age.•Lymnaea is a valid and reliable model to move research from pond to bench to bedside.
The purpose of this review is to illustrate how a reductionistic, but sophisticated, approach based on the use of a simple model system such as the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L. stagnalis), might be useful to address fundamental questions in learning and memory. L. stagnalis, as a model, provides an interesting platform to investigate the dialog between the synapse and the nucleus and vice versa during memory and learning. More importantly, the “molecular actors” of the memory dialogue are well-conserved both across phylogenetic groups and learning paradigms, involving single- or multi-trials, aversion or reward, operant or classical conditioning. At the same time, this model could help to study how, where and when the memory dialog is impaired in stressful conditions and during aging and neurodegeneration in humans and thus offers new insights and targets in order to develop innovative therapies and technology for the treatment of a range of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
Disease-Induced Neuroinflammation and Depression Benatti, Cristina; Blom, Joan M C; Rigillo, Giovanna ...
CNS & neurological disorders drug targets,
01/2016, Volume:
15, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Progression of major depression, a multifactorial disorder with a neuroinflammatory signature, seems to be associated with the disruption of body allostasis. High rates of comorbidity between ...depression and specific medical disorders, such as, stroke, chronic pain conditions, diabetes mellitus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, have been extensively reported. In this review, we discuss how these medical disorders may predispose an individual to develop depression by examining the impact of these disorders on some hallmarks of neuroinflammation known to be impaired in depressed patients: altered permeability of the blood brain barrier, immune cells infiltration, activated microglia, increased cytokines production, and the role of inflammasomes. In all four pathologies, blood brain barrier integrity was altered, allowing the infiltration of peripheral factors, known to activate resident microglia. Evidence indicated morphological changes in the glial population, increased levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines or increased production of these mediators within the brain, all fundamental in neuroinflammation, for the four medical disorders considered. Moreover, activity of the kynurenine pathway appeared to be enhanced. With respect to the inflammasome NLRP3, a new target whose role in neuroinflammation is emerging as being important, accumulating data suggest its involvement in the pathogenesis of brain injury following stroke, chronic pain conditions, diabetes mellitus or in HIV associated immune impairment. Finally, data gathered over the last 10 years, indicate and confirm that depression, stroke, chronic pain, diabetes, and HIV infection share a combination of underlying molecular, cellular and network mechanisms leading to a general increase in the neuroinflammatory burden for the individual.
Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, has been associated with the transmission by the tick Amblyomma sculptum, and one of its main hosts, the capybara ...(Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris).
During 2015-2019, we captured capybaras and ticks in seven highly anthropic areas of São Paulo state (three endemic and four nonendemic for BSF) and in two natural areas of the Pantanal biome, all with established populations of capybaras.
The BSF-endemic areas were characterized by much higher tick burdens on both capybaras and in the environment, when compared to the BSF-nonendemic areas. Only two tick species (A. sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum) were found in the anthropic areas; however, with a great predominance of A. sculptum (≈90% of all ticks) in the endemic areas, in contrast to a slight predominance of A. dubitatum (≈60%) in the nonendemic areas. Tick species richness was higher in the natural areas, where six species were found, albeit with a predominance of A. sculptum (≈95% of all ticks) and environmental tick burdens much lower than in the anthropic areas. The BSF-endemic areas were characterized by overgrowth populations of A. sculptum that were sustained chiefly by capybaras, and decreased populations of A. dubitatum. In contrast, the BSF-nonendemic areas with landscape similar to the endemic areas differed by having lower tick burdens and a slight predominance of A. dubitatum over A.sculptum, both sustained chiefly by capybaras. While multiple medium- to large-sized mammals have been incriminated as important hosts for A. sculptum in the natural areas, the capybara was the only important host for this tick in the anthropic areas.
The uneven distribution of R. rickettsii infection among A. sculptum populations in highly anthropic areas of São Paulo state could be related to the tick population size and its proportion to sympatric A. dubitatum populations.
Introduction
Poor adherence to treatment is currently stated to be one of the causes of depression relapse and recurrence.
Objectives
Aim of the present study was to assess potential differences in ...terms of clinical and socio-demographic characteristics specifically related to adherence to treatment features, medical comorbidities, and substance abuse in a sample of patients diagnosed with Major Depression in an Italian psychiatric department.
Methods
Patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of Unipolar or Bipolar Major Depressive Episode, of either gender or any age were recruited from the Psychiatry Department of Luigi Sacco University Hospital in Milan. Main clinical and socio-demographic variables were collected reviewing patients’ medical records. Moreover, adherence to psychopharmacological treatment was assessed using the Clinician Rating Scale (CRS; Kemp et al, 1996; 1998). Adherence was defined as ratings of > or =5 on the CRS. Descriptive and association analyzes were performed, setting the significance level at p<.05.
Results
80 patients with a diagnosis of Unipolar Major depressive episode (48.9%) and Bipolar Major Depressive Episode (51.1%) were included. For the purposes of the study, the total sample was divided into two subgroups based on adherence to pharmacological treatment (A+ vs A-). Significantly higher rates of inpatients from psychiatric ward were A- compared to A+ patients (84.6% vs 48.1%, p=.011). A- patients were significantly more unemployed (57.9% vs 23.8%, p=.015), were mostly living in their family of origin (50% vs 21.4%, p=.027), and had fewer years of education compared to A+ subgroup (10.52±3.28 vs 12.2±3.1 years, p=.053). Higher rates of Bipolar Depression diagnosis and a prevalent manic polarity lifetime emerged in A- compared to the A+ group (73.1% vs 42.3%, p=.010; 30.8% vs 3%, p=.011, respectively). Moreover, A+ reported significantly higher rates of depressive prevalent polarity lifetime (72.7% vs 30.8%, p=.011). A- reported significantly higher rates of comorbidity with alcohol or other substance use disorders lifetime (46.2% vs 5.7%, p=.006) and almost one involuntary commitment lifetime (23.1% vs 11.1%, p=.013).
Conclusions
In our sample adherence to treatments showed significant differences in terms of clinical and socio-demographic characteristics. Low levels of adherence have been associated with higher hospitalization rates, involuntary commitments, greater comorbidity with alcohol or drugs. Our data therefore seem to suggest that less adherence leads to a worse disease course and a worse quality of life. It therefore appears useful to include an assessment of adherence in the clinical practice and implement interventions to improve therapeutic adherence and ensure a better quality of life.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared
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