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)

Much evidence indicates that urinary 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) is an insensitive measure of central norepinephrine metabolism. This conclusion, however, seems to apply mainly to total urinary MHPG, since previous findings point to the possibility that the major proportion of urinary MHPG sulfate originates in the CNS, while most urinary MHPG glucuronide originates in peripheral organs. To examine this hypothesis, experiments were performed by which we altered MHPG turnover in man at two different stages: firstly, strong physical exercise (ergometer) increased the urinary excretion rate of MHPG glucuronide and not that of MHPG-sulfate; secondly, ethanol (l g/kg), which is known to block the metabolism of MHPG to vanilmandelic acid in the liver, increases the urinary excretion rate of the glucuronide and not that of sulfate. Both experiments indicate that alteration of peripheral norepinephrine turnover changes the urinary excretion of MHPG glucuronide only and not that of sulfate, thus providing strong, albeit indirect, evidence for a primarily central origin of MHPG sulfate. Preliminary experiments in 32 depressed patients showed little difference in both MHPG fractions compared with healthy controls, apart from a slightly reduced excretion rate of glucuronide. These findings fail to provide any evidence of central, and only small changes in peripheral norepinephrine metabolism in depression.
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PMID:The evaluation of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol sulfate as a possible marker of central norepinephrine turnover. Studies in healthy volunteers and depressed patients. 285 49

To elucidate the influence of total sleep deprivation (TSD) on catecholaminergic neurotransmission, which is assumed to be disturbed in depression, 9 depressive patients collected consecutive 24-h urine samples prior to (baseline), during (TSD) and following total sleep deprivation (post-TSD). Urine samples were analysed for total MHPG (3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol), conjugates of MHPG (glucuronide and sulfate), excretion of HVA (homovanillic acid) and VMA (3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid). TSD increased the urinary excretion of MHPG-sulfate as a marker of the central norepinephrine metabolism and the excretion rates of VMA and HVA as indices of the peripheral catecholamine metabolism. Patients with higher VMA values prior to TSD reacted worse, and the VMA increase due to TSD was positively correlated with the response. The results demonstrate that TSD, besides acting as a stimulus on the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, influences central nervous noradrenergic neurotransmission, as reflected by the increase of MHPG-sulfate.
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PMID:The influence of total sleep deprivation on urinary excretion of catecholamine metabolites in major depression. 839 44

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is on the rise, especially among psychiatric patients. Acupuncture is considered a safe and effective treatment modality, and traditional Chinese medicine teaches that acupuncture harmonizes the body's energies. Scientific research has found that acupuncture increases a number of central nervous system hormones (ACTH, beta-endorphins, serotonin, and noradrenaline) and urinary levels of MHPG-sulfate, an adrenergic metabolite inversely related to the severity of illness in schizophrenics. Acupuncture can have positive effects on depression and anxiety, although evidence is still lacking as to its true efficacy for these conditions. To the authors' knowledge, no trials have been conducted for schizophrenia, and researchers evaluating acupuncture in cases of substance abuse have found conflicting results. Further research is warranted.
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PMID:Acupuncture for psychiatric illness: a literature review. 1868 38