Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011570 (depression)
 172,036 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report here evidence for endogenous NO signalling in long-term (>1 h) synaptic depression at the neuromuscular junction induced by 20 min of 1 Hz nerve stimulation. Synaptic depression was characterized by a 46% reduction in the end-plate potential (EPP) amplitude and a 21% decrease in miniature EPP (MEPP) frequency, but no change to MEPP amplitude, indicating a reduction in evoked quantal release. Both the membrane-impermeant NO scavenger cPTIO and the NOS inhibitor L-NAME blocked depression, suggesting that it is induced by NO originating from a source outside the terminal. The depression was dependent on activation of muscle-type, but not neuronal-type, nAChRs and was still observed when Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and muscle contraction were blocked with dantrolene. These data suggest that the depression depends on transmission, but not muscle contraction. The calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A and FK506, as well as ODQ, an inhibitor of NO-sensitive soluble guanylyl cyclase, Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS, an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase, and the calmodulin antagonist phenoxybenzamine also blocked depression. We propose that low frequency synaptic transmission leads to production of NO at the synapse and depression of transmitter release via a cGMP-dependent mechanism. The NO could be generated either directly from the muscle, or possibly from the Schwann cell in response to an unidentified muscle-derived messenger. We showed that the long-lasting depression of transmitter release was due to sustained activity of the NO signalling pathway, and suggest dephosphorylation of NOS by calcineurin as the basis for continued NO production.
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PMID:Postsynaptic production of nitric oxide implicated in long-term depression at the mature amphibian (Bufo marinus) neuromuscular junction. 1524 35

Although it has been postulated that adult neurogenesis, i.e. the generation of functional neurons from progenitor cells in the mammalian brain, is involved in both the pathogenesis of depressive disorders and the therapeutic effect of antidepressant drugs, its regulation is still poorly understood. Nitric oxide, a gaseous messenger molecule, represents a possible modulating agent as it is involved in learning and memory formation as well as synapto- and morphogenesis. Here we investigated whether adult neurogenesis is altered in mice lacking endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS-III). Compared to wild-type littermates, NOS-III-deficient mice showed a significant reduction in neuronal progenitor cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus, suggesting a role for NOS-III in the stimulation of neuroneogenesis. NeuN, beta-III-tubulin and GFAP double-immunolabelling demonstrated that proliferating progenitor cells differentiate preferentially into neurons but not into astrocytes. However, when the survival rate of newly formed cells was examined no difference between wild-type and NOS-III knockout mice was found, suggesting that NOS-III selectively exerts its effects on the proliferation of progenitor cells. This might be mediated by a decrease in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) transcripts in the hippocampus of knockout animals. At the behavioural level, while NOS-III knockout mice displayed better and faster learning in a learned helplessness paradigm, no depression-like behaviours were observed. In conclusion, our results indicated that NOS-III is involved in the proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells, although behavioural analysis does not provide evidence for a pro-depressive effect of reduced neuroneogenesis.
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PMID:Differential effect of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS-III) on the regulation of adult neurogenesis and behaviour. 1530 57

To compare long-term effectiveness and safety of risperidone versus olanzapine as adjunctive maintenance treatments of bipolar disorder. Retrospective observational chart review of 29 outpatients with bipolar or schizoaffective disorder (type I = 15, type II = 3, NOS = 5, schizoaffective = 6) who received risperidone or olanzapine added to lithium or valproate >3 months. Acute indications were depression (n = 8), manic/hypomanic/mixed states (n = 8), rapid cycling (n = 6), other indications (n = 6), and prophylaxis (n = 1). Logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors (i.e., severity of illness, comorbid substance abuse, diagnostic subtype). Overall duration of follow-up was 65.9+/-70.1 weeks. Mild to moderate response was similar in the risperidone and olanzapine groups after adjusting for potential confounders (OR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.05, 16.17]). Somewhat greater adjusted moderate to marked response (OR >3.60, 95% CI [0.31, >42.00]) and longer duration of treatment (HR = 0.52, 95% CI [0.22, 1.22]) occurred in the risperidone group, but were still compatible with the null hypothesis. Weight gain occurred more frequently with olanzapine (57%) than risperidone (13%). EPS was similar, and tardive dyskinesia did not occur. Risperidone and olanzapine appeared to have similar real-world maintenance effectiveness for bipolar disorder, but differed somewhat in side effects.
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PMID:Long-term observational comparison of risperidone and olanzapine in bipolar disorder. 1532

The influence of NO on the efficiency of oxygen usage by a skeletal muscle under fatigue of dog's gastrocnemius muscle was investigated. In control experiments was shown, that 10 short-term (30") electrical stimulation (8 Hz, 5 ms, 20 V) with 5" interval resulted in significant reduction of the muscle contraction force (more than 40%) and increased considerably oxygen cost of muscle gastrocnemius work (more than 130%) compared to the initial parameters. The registered depression of the muscle contraction force testified to development of gastrocnemius muscle fatigue, accompanied by mitochondrial factor (MF) appearance in blood from femoralis vein, which, as shown by us earlier, is a marker of the mPTP opening. Injection of L-NMMA, a NOS inhibitor (2.7 mg/kg, i.a.) resulted in pronounced fall (more than 1.5 times) of the initial force parameters, in comparison with the control experiments. Under these conditions the magnitude of oxygen cost of gastrocnemius muscle work exceeded control parameters considerably. The development of gastrocnemius muscle fatigue under L-NMMA action was accompanied, as well as in the control condition by the mPTP opening. The preliminary injection of sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor (0.2 mg/kg, i.v.) prevented a fall of muscle contractions force and considerable inhibition of oxygen usage efficiency by gastrocnemius muscle under conditions similar to control. Furthemore, gastrocnemius muscle fatigue was not developed, and MF concentration in blood from femoralis vein was much lower, than in the control experiments, that testified to absence of the mPTP opening. Apparently, preliminary short-term (30") electrical stimulation (8 Hz, 5 ms, 20 V) with 2' interval, created the precondition effect and raised the level of authentic NO. Under these conditions, as well as under preliminary injection of the NO donor, we did not register the marked inhibition of oxygen usage efficiency and development of gastrocnemius muscle fatigue. At the same time, MF in blood from v. femoralis was practically absent, that testify to absence of the mPTP opening. Thus, NO in physiological concentration by inhibition of mPTP opening, can prevent decrease of oxygen usage efficiency and development of the working skeletal muscle fatigue.
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PMID:[Effect of nitric oxide on the efficiency of oxygen consumption by the working skeletal muscle in fatigue]. 1580 Nov 98

The neuromodulator systems mediating the central component of the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) during development are complex and diverse. The early component of the HVR is mediated through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors in the caudal brainstem. The intracellular downstream signal transductions of the NMDA receptors involve protein kinase C (PKC), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and tyrosine kinase (TK). Activation of NMDA receptors will also lead to activation of the early gene transcription factors including AP-1 (c-fos, c-jun) and NF-kappaB which may play a role in modulation of the subsequent response to hypoxia. NMDA receptors in the caudal brainstem play a critical role in the development of the HVR and increasing dependency on NMDA receptors emerges over time. Similarly, hypoxia-induced PKC, NOS and c-Fos activation in the caudal brainstem is relatively weak in the immature animals, but this activation increases with age and the strength of the response appears to increase concomitantly with the appearance of NMDA expression. Several neurotransmitters including adenosine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin and opioids are involved in the late component of the HVR. In addition, the late phase of the HVR is mediated in part through platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-beta receptors. PDGF-beta receptor activation is an important contributor of the hypoxic ventilatory depression at all postnatal ages, but its role is more critical in the developing animals. Maturation of these neuromodulators, especially the NMDA and PDGF-beta receptors-mediated pathways, occurs primarily during the early postnatal period. Perturbation of these developmental processes may result in short-term or sustained alterations to the HVR and may also affect neuronal survival during hypoxia.
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PMID:Maturational changes in neuromodulation of central pathways underlying hypoxic ventilatory response. 1595 May 54

Current guidelines for the treatment of bipolar type II (BP II) major depressive episode (MDE) recommend using either mood stabilizer monotherapy or the combination of a mood stabilizer with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). These guidelines are the result of concern over SSRI-induced manic switch episodes. We previously showed that fluoxetine monotherapy may be effective as an initial treatment for BP II and BP NOS MDE with a low manic switch rate. We now present the results of a double-blind, placebo-substitution continuation study of fluoxetine monotherapy in BP II and BP NOS patients who have recovered from their MDE. This was a two-phase study. In study phase I, patients received open-label fluoxetine monotherapy 20 mg daily for up to 8 weeks. Responders with a final 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score < or =9 were enrolled into study phase II which consisted of double-blind, placebo-substitution continuation therapy with fluoxetine 20 mg daily for up to 6 months. Outcome measures included the 17-item HAM-D and Young Mania Rating (YMR) scales. Changes in YMR scores were assessed using generalized estimating equation analysis. Relapse was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Fisher's exact test. In study phase II, 43% of fluoxetine-treated patients and 100% of placebo-treated patients relapsed during continuation therapy (P=0.08). The mean increase in YMR score in study phase II was slightly higher in the fluoxetine-treated patients (3.0+/-1.8) versus placebo-treated patients (0.2+/-0.4) (P=0.01). However, this difference was not clinically meaningful. No hypomanic switch episodes were observed during study phase II. Despite the limited sample size resulting in insufficient power to detect statistical significance in relapse rates or change in YMR scores between treatment conditions, these preliminary data appear to support previous observations demonstrating that initial and continuation fluoxetine monotherapy may be safe and effective for some patients with BP II or BP NOS MDE with a low manic switch rate. Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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PMID:Fluoxetine monotherapy of bipolar type II and bipolar NOS major depression: a double-blind, placebo-substitution, continuation study. 1609 16

The study subject was the white rat-males Wistar after intra-peritoneal injection of the mixture of St. aureus and B. pyocyaneus daily cultures in the dose calculated as 1 milliard microbial organisms of each species per 100 g b.w., as well as the vascular preparations isolated from aortas of those rats. The aim is to study nitric oxide role in the development of resistant hypotension under generalization of the purulent infection. Infection of the animals with a mixture of gram-positive and gram-negative cultures led to the development of the pathological process, which can be considered as a septic (bacterial) shock. A primary lowering of the vascular tone caused by depression of the myocardial pump and contractile functions was observed. Injection of methylene blue or NOS blockers (L-NAME, S-methyl-thiourea) to the infected animals in the moment of hypotension development caused only a short-term rise in blood pressure. Survival rate in such animals was significantly lower compared to the control infected animals. Repeated injections of those agents hastened death of the experimental animals. The experiments in vitro revealed no dilatory effect of acetylcholine with preserved sensitivity of the vascular preparations to adrenomimetics and exogenous nitric oxide in both control infected animals and animals injected with methylene blue or NOS blockers. The data obtained suggested that resistant hypertension in terminal stages of septic shock is nitric oxide-independent.
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PMID:[Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis during bacterial shock does not prevent development of resistant hypotension and death in rats]. 1610 24

Depression is frequently associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which leads to repeated episodes of hypercortisolemia. Hypothalamic paraventricular neurons are believed to trigger these processes by aberrant generation and/or release of corticotropin releasing hormone, oxytocin, vasopressin, and nitric oxide (NO). Recent findings from two independent laboratories have demonstrated that the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which in part controls the cellular activity of paraventricular neurons (PVN), is also involved in affective disorder. The aim of the present study was to elucidate by stereological analysis, whether suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) nitric oxide synthase and neurophysin generating neurons are affected in neuropsychiatric disorders. We show that compared to controls the number of nitric oxide synthase immunoreactive neurons is greatly reduced both in depression and in schizophrenia. In subjects with affective disorder there was a correlation between the number of NOS-expressing cells and duration of treatment with antidepressants. The number of neurophysin-expressing SCN neurons was also fewer in cases with mood disorder. It is concluded that SCN-derived NO may be a relevant pathophysiological factor in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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PMID:Hypothalamic nitric oxide synthase in affective disorder: focus on the suprachiasmatic nucleus. 1619 95

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) adsorb to ice crystals and inhibit their growth, leading to non-colligative freezing point depression. Crops like spring wheat, that are highly susceptible to frost damage, can potentially be made frost tolerant by expressing AFPs in the cytoplasm and apoplast where ice recrystallisation leads to cellular damage. The protein sequence for HPLC-6 alpha-helical antifreeze protein from winter flounder was rationally redesigned after removing the prosequences in the native protein. Wheat nuclear gene preferred amino acid codons were used to synthesize a recombinant antifreeze gene, rAFPI. Antifreeze protein was targeted to the apoplast using a Murine leader peptide sequence from the mAb24 light chain or retained in the endoplasmic reticulum using C-terminus KDEL sequence. The coding sequences were placed downstream of the rice Actin promoter and Actin-1 intron and upstream of the nopaline synthase terminator in the plant expression vectors. Transgenic wheat lines were generated through micro projectile bombardment of immature embryos of spring wheat cultivar Seri 82. Levels of antifreeze protein in the transgenic lines without any targeting peptide were low (0.06-0.07%). The apoplast-targeted protein reached a level of 1.61% of total soluble protein, 90% of which was present in the apoplast. ER-retained protein accumulated in the cells at levels up to 0.65% of total soluble proteins. Transgenic wheat line T-8 with apoplast-targeted antifreeze protein exhibited the highest levels of antifreeze activity and provided significant freezing protection even at temperatures as low as -7 degrees C.
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PMID:Targeted expression of redesigned and codon optimised synthetic gene leads to recrystallisation inhibition and reduced electrolyte leakage in spring wheat at sub-zero temperatures. 1684 28

Behavioral symptomatology was compared in 26 children and adolescents with Autistic Disorder ("autism") and 25 children and adolescents with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified ("PDD-NOS"). Relative to individuals with PDD-NOS, those with autism had more symptoms of depression, social withdrawal, atypical behavior, and immature social skills--and fewer family problems. These differences remained even when group differences in intellectual ability were statistically controlled. No group differences emerged in somatization, anxiety, or hyperactivity. Findings suggest that although both groups demonstrate considerable evidence of behavioral and emotional problems, those with autism are at particularly high risk for comorbid behavioral and emotional disabilities.
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PMID:A comparison of behavioral and emotional functioning in children and adolescents with Autistic Disorder and PDD-NOS. 1691 76


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