Search Results (13)

The Junggar Basin basement comprises microcontinental blocks amalgamated through successive paleo-oceanic accretion events. Stratigraphic and provenance studies within the basin are crucial for reconstructing its evolution and understanding the closure of paleo-oceanic systems. This study presents an integrated petrographic and geochemical analysis of the Lower Jurassic Badaowan Formation sandstones in the Dongdaohaizi Depression, located in the eastern Junggar Basin. The results reveal a progressive decrease in lithic fragment content and an increase in quartz content from older to younger strata within the Badaowan Formation, indicating an increase in compositional maturity. Provenance analysis indicates that the sandstones are predominantly derived from tuffaceous rocks, granites, basalts, and minor metamorphic rocks. Heavy mineral assemblages, including zircon, chromian spinel, tourmaline, and garnet, suggest parent rocks consisting primarily of intermediate to acidic igneous rocks, mafic igneous rocks, and metamorphic rocks. Integrated petrographic and geochemical data from the surrounding areas of the Dongdaohaizi Depression confirm that the Badaowan Formation sandstones are primarily sourced from the eastern Kelameili Mountain. The continued uplift and migration of the Kelameili Mountain during the Early Jurassic played a dominant role in shaping the sedimentary provenance. LA-ICP-MS analyses reveal that the rare earth element (REE) concentrations in the Lower Jurassic sandstones are slightly lower than the average REE content of the upper continental crust. The sandstones exhibit weak differentiation between light and heavy REEs, reflecting a depositional environment characterized by anoxic reducing conditions. Geochemical results indicate a tectonic setting dominated by a passive continental margin and continental island arc in the source area. Synthesizing these findings with related studies, we propose that the Kelameili Ocean, as part of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, underwent a complex evolution involving multiple oceanic basins and microcontinental subduction–collision systems. From the Middle Ordovician to Late Silurian, the Kelameili region evolved as a passive continental margin. With the onset of subduction during the Middle Devonian to Early Carboniferous, the eastern Junggar Basin transitioned into a continental island arc system. This tectonic transition was likely driven by episodic or bidirectional subduction of the Kelameili Ocean. Full article

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic condition associated with treatment resistance, cognitive decline, structural brain changes, and an approximately 13-year reduction in life expectancy compared to the general population. Depression in BD substantially impairs quality of life, while neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity are thought to contribute to the recurrence of mood episodes and disease progression. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in neuronal growth and function, with its dysregulation being linked to various psychiatric disorders. This study is an extension of a previously published clinical trial and was conducted to assess the effects of three BDNF and BDNF-AS gene polymorphisms (rs1519480, rs6265, and rs10835210) on treatment outcomes and serum BDNF levels in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder depression (TRBDD) over an eight-week period. Methods: This study included 41 participants from a previously conducted randomized clinical trial, all of whom had available BDNF serum samples and genotype data. The participants, aged 21 to 65, were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and treatment-resistant depression was assessed using the Maudsley Staging Method. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either escitalopram plus a placebo (ESC+PBO) or escitalopram plus celecoxib (ESC+CBX) over an 8-week period. Statistical analyses included a mixed ANOVA and chi-square tests to compare the minor allele carrier status of three SNPs with treatment response and remission rates. Results: Non-carriers of the rs6265 A allele (p = 0.005) and carriers of the rs10835210 A allele (p = 0.007) showed a significantly higher response to treatment with adjunctive celecoxib compared to escitalopram alone. Additionally, remission rates after adjunctive celecoxib were significantly higher in both carriers and non-carriers across all three SNPs compared to escitalopram alone. However, remission rates were notably higher in non-carriers of the rs1519480 G allele and rs10835210 A allele, as well as in carriers of the rs6265 A allele. Conclusions: This study suggests that genetic variations in BDNF and BDNF-AS genes significantly influence treatment response to and remission with escitalopram and celecoxib in bipolar disorder. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sexual minority older adults (SMOAs) report greater subjective cognitive decline (SCD) than heterosexual older adults (HOAs). This study aimed to compare the impact of multiple psycho-social risk factors on objective and subjective cognitive decline in HOAs and SMOAs. Methods: Two samples of self-identified HOAs and SMOAs were selected from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Reliable change indices for episodic and semantic memory were created to assess cognitive decline. SCD was self-reported for memory and general cognition. Depressive symptoms, loneliness, marital status and socio-economic status were investigated as risk factors. Results: No between-group differences were found in cognitive decline. Higher depression was associated with greater SCD risk and worse semantic memory decline. The latter effect was stronger in SMOAs. The findings were largely replicated in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Poor mental health may represent the strongest driver of cognitive decline in SMOAs and to a greater extent than in HOAs. Full article

This study enrolled 291 patients diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia (F32, F33, and F20 according to ICD-10) and 227 ethnicity-matched control subjects. We analyzed the distribution of BDNF rs6265 and BDNF rs962369 genotypes, finding no significant associations between these and schizophrenia. We revealed a significant increase in the risk of single-episode major depression disorder (MDD) for rs962369 minor allele homozygotes (CC vs. TT+TC), an association that persisted after adjusting for age and sex (OR 3.47; 95% CI 1.36–8.85; p = 0.009). Furthermore, rs962369 genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrent MDD in a log-additive model (OR per C-allele 1.65; 95% CI 1.11–2.45; p = 0.013). A comparative analysis between MDD subtypes and between MDD subtypes and schizophrenia showed no significant differences for BDNF rs6265. Notably, the frequency of minor allele C of BDNF rs962369 varied across subgroups, with the highest frequency in patients with recurrent MDD (0.32) and the lowest in schizophrenia patients (0.20). The presence of genotypes with at least one minor allele C was significantly higher in the recurrent MDD patient group compared to the schizophrenia group. In conclusion, the BDNF rs962369 variant was associated with MDD but not with schizophrenia. Full article

Midazolam and fentanyl, in combination, are the most commonly used medications for conscious sedation in day aesthetic surgeries. Dexmedetomidine is popularly used in the sedation protocol of our hospital due to its reduced respiratory depression. However, its sedation benefits in facial aesthetic surgeries, like blepharoplasty, have not been well-evaluated. We retrospectively compared individuals sedated with midazolam and fentanyl bolus injection (N = 137) and those sedated with dexmedetomidine infusion (N = 113) to determine which is more suitable for blepharoplasty with a mid-cheek lift. The total amount of local anesthetic (p < 0.001), postoperative pain (p = 0.004), ketoprofen administration (p = 0.028), and the number of hypoxia episodes (p < 0.001) and intraoperative hypertension (p = 0.003) were significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group. Hypoxia severity (p < 0.001) and minor hematoma formation (p = 0.007) were also significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group. Sedation with dexmedetomidine infusion is associated with less hematoma formation than sedation with midazolam and fentanyl bolus pattern due to hemodynamic stability and analgesic effects. Dexmedetomidine infusion may be a good alternate sedative for lower blepharoplasty. Full article

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a controversially discussed inflammatory marker in major depressive disorder (MDD). While some studies show an association of high MIF protein levels with depression, animal models have yielded conflicting results. Thus, it remains elusive as to whether MIF plays an anti- or pro-depressive role. Therefore, we aimed to examine the potential of MIF at the genetic, expression and protein levels as a risk factor and biomarker to diagnose, monitor, or predict the course of MDD. Patients with a current major depressive episode (n = 66 with, and n = 63 without, prior medication) and remitted patients (n = 39) were compared with healthy controls (n = 61). Currently depressed patients provided a second blood sample after three weeks of therapy. Depression severity was assessed by self-evaluation and clinician rating scales. We genotyped for three MIF polymorphisms and analyzed peripheral MIF expression and serum levels. The absence of minor allele homozygous individuals in the large group of 96 female patients compared with 10–16% in female controls suggests a protective effect for MDD, which was not observed in the male group. There were no significant group differences of protein and expression levels, however, both showed predictive potential for the course of depression severity in some subgroups. While MIF protein levels, but not MIF expression, decreased during treatment, they were not associated with changes in depression severity. This project is the first to investigate three biological levels of MIF in depression. The data hint toward a genetic effect in women, but do not provide robust evidence for the utility of MIF as a biomarker for the diagnosis or monitoring of MDD. The observed predictive potential requires further analysis, emphasizing future attention to confounding factors such as sex and premedication. Full article

Violence is not uncommon in the contemporary world. The consequences of harmful experiences in childhood are often educational problems, difficult behavior, failure to cope in adulthood, duplication of learned, negative behavior patterns and disorders in various spheres/areas of life. The experience of childhood violence is associated with the occurrence of about half of mental disorders with onset in childhood and one third of disorders that appear later in life. Various emotional and behavioral disorders are mentioned among the psychological effects of violence against a child, including depressive disorders. Regarding experiences of violence, there is strong evidence that exposure to sexual or physical violence is a predictor of depressive episodes and depressive symptoms in adolescents. Among adolescents, the impact of violence on depression has been shown to be sustained. Accordingly, evidence suggests that elevated depressive symptoms and episodes of depression may even persist for up to two years after experiencing cases of violence. Due to the destructive consequences of such behavior, international and national law devote much attention to the protection of children’s rights. Under Polish law, there are regulations describing measures of reaction within the family, as well as provisions sanctioning violent behavior. Therefore, the study discusses the family and criminal law aspects of violence against minors. The whole study is imbued with considerations of the so-called the obligation to denounce, i.e., to notify about the disclosure of a prohibited act committed to the detriment of minors. This issue was presented in the context of medical secrets and its type—psychiatric discretion. Full article

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) studies have reported abnormalities in emotion regulation circuits in BD; however, no study has examined the contribution of previous illness on these mechanisms. Using global probabilistic tractography, we aimed to identify neural correlates of previous BD illness and the extent to which these can help predict one-year recurrence of depressive episodes. dMRI data were collected in 70 adults with early-onset BD who were clinically followed for up to 18 years and 39 healthy controls. Higher number of depressive episodes during childhood/adolescence and higher percentage of time with syndromic depression during longitudinal follow-up was associated with lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in focal regions of the forceps minor (left, F = 4.4, p = 0.003; right, F = 3.1, p = 0.021) and anterior cingulum bundle (left, F = 4.7, p = 0.002; right, F = 7.0, p < 0.001). Lower FA in these regions was also associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms at scan. Remarkably, those having higher FA in the right cluster of the forceps minor (AOR = 0.43, p = 0.017) and in a cluster of the posterior cingulum bundle (right, AOR = 0.50, p = 0.032) were protected against the recurrence of depressive episodes. Previous depressive symptomatology may cause neurodegenerative effects in the forceps minor that are associated with worsening of BD symptomatology in subsequent years. Abnormalities in the posterior cingulum may also play a role. Full article

Both minor and major depression have high prevalence and are important causes of social burden worldwide; however, there is still no objective indicator to detect minor depression. This study aimed to examine if voice could be used as a biomarker to detect minor and major depression. Ninety-three subjects were classified into three groups: the not depressed group (n = 33), the minor depressive episode group (n = 26), and the major depressive episode group (n = 34), based on current depressive status as a dimension. Twenty-one voice features were extracted from semi-structured interview recordings. A three-group comparison was performed through analysis of variance. Seven voice indicators showed differences between the three groups, even after adjusting for age, BMI, and drugs taken for non-psychiatric disorders. Among the machine learning methods, the best performance was obtained using the multi-layer processing method, and an AUC of 65.9%, sensitivity of 65.6%, and specificity of 66.2% were shown. This study further revealed voice differences in depressive episodes and confirmed that not depressed groups and participants with minor and major depression could be accurately distinguished through machine learning. Although this study is limited by a small sample size, it is the first study on voice change in minor depression and suggests the possibility of detecting minor depression through voice. Full article

Although religiosity is part and parcel of life of most Indians, no standardized scale is available in local language which can make findings comparable with other countries’. This study aims to present the adaptations required in the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS, CRSi-20) for the Indian population. Additionally, the study aimed to compare the religiosity as assessed by using CRS among healthy subjects and those with first-episode depression. CRS was translated to Hindi by following the methodology suggested by the World Health Organization. During the process of translation, the scale was adapted to suit to the sociocultural milieu of India. The adapted Hindi version of the scale was used in 80 healthy subjects and 80 patients with first-episode depression. During the process of translation, 14 out of 20 items required adaptations to suit the religious practices in India. The adaptation primarily involved elaboration on certain aspects of religious services and practices, keeping in mind the polytheistic religious beliefs in India. When the adapted Hindi version of CRS was used in both the study groups, there was no significant difference between the two groups, in terms of CRS total scores (t = 1.12; p = 0.26). In terms of various domains of CRS, a significantly higher score was observed in the depression group for the ideology domain (t = 2.02; p = 0.04 *), whereas the healthy group had a significantly higher score for the domain of public practice (t = 2.90; p = 0.004 **). Use of CRS in the Indian context requires some adaptations to suit the religious practices. There are minor differences in the religiosity of patients with depression and healthy subjects. Full article

About half of the patients with fibromyalgia (FM) had a lifetime major depression episode and one third had a panic disorder (PD). Because the co-morbidity between bipolar disorder (BD) and PD marks a specific subtype of BD we aimed to investigate if co-morbid BD/PD (comBD/PD) occurs more frequently than the single disorder in FM patients and evaluate the clinical significance and timing of this co-morbidity. Further, we explored the role of co-morbid subthreshold BD and PD. In 118 patients with FM, lifetime threshold and sub-threshold mood disorders and PD were diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) Clinical Interview. Demographic and clinical variables were compared in co-morbid BD/PD (comBD/PD) and not co-morbid BD/PD (nocomBD/PD) subgroups. The co-morbidity BD/PD was seen in 46.6% of FM patients and in 68.6% when patients with minor bipolar (MinBD) and sub-threshold panic were included. These rates are higher than those of the general population and BD outpatients. There were no statistically significant differences between threshold and sub-threshold comBD/PD and nocom-BD/PD subgroups in demographic and clinical parameters. In the majority of patients (78.2%), the onset of comBD/PD preceded or was contemporary with FM. These findings support the hypothesis that comBD/PD is related to the development of FM in a subgroup of patients. Full article

The adolescent depressive prodrome has been conceptualized as an early integrated sign of depressive symptoms, which may develop to a first episode of depression or return to normal for the adolescents. In this study, depressive prodrome presented the early self-rated depressive symptoms for the sample participants. By referring to the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale and the psychometric characteristics of the Adolescent Depression Scale (ADR), we proposed a self-rated questionnaire to assess the severity of the depressive symptoms in adolescents before and after attending the jogging program on a high school campus in Taiwan. With the parental co-signature and self-signed informed consent form, 284 high school students under the average age of 15 years, participated in this study in March 2019. Through the software of IBMSPSS 25, we used a binary logistic model, principal component analysis (PCA), multiple-dimensional analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) to analyze the severity of the depressive prodrome via the threshold severity score (SC) and false positive rate (FPR). Findings revealed that attending the 15-week jogging program (3 times a week, 45 min each) on campus can change the severity status and reduce the prevalence of moderate-severe depressive prodrome by 26%. The two-dimensional approach identified three symptoms, which were the crying spell, loss of pleasure doing daily activities, and feeling the decline in memory. They kept being invariant symptoms during the course of depressive prodrome assessment for sample participants. In this study, the campus jogging program appeared to be able to affect the FPR of the measure of depressive prodrome. Compared with the subthreshold depression, the depressive prodrome emphasized the assessment from the view of the secondary prevention by representing the change from a person’s premorbid functioning up until the first onset of depression or returning to normal. However, the subthreshold depression is a form of minor depression according to DSM-5 criteria varying on the number of symptoms and duration required, highly prevalent in the concern of primary care. Full article

This study investigates synthetic aperture radar (SAR) time series of the Sentinel-1 mission acquired over the Atacama Desert, Chile, between March 2015 and December 2018. The contribution analyzes temporal and spatial variations of Sentinel-1 interferometric SAR (InSAR) coherence and exemplarily illustrates factors that are responsible for observed signal differences. The analyses are based on long temporal baselines (365–1090 days) and temporally dense time series constructed with short temporal baselines (12–24 days). Results are compared to multispectral data of Sentinel-2, morphometric features of the digital elevation model (DEM) TanDEM-X WorldDEM™, and to a detailed governmental geographic information system (GIS) dataset of the local hydrography. Sentinel-1 datasets are suited for generating extensive, nearly seamless InSAR coherence mosaics covering the entire Atacama Desert (>450 × 1100 km) at a spatial resolution of 20 × 20 meter per pixel. Temporal baselines over several years lead only to very minor decorrelation, indicating a very high signal stability of C-Band in this region, especially in the hyperarid uplands between the Coastal Cordillera and the Central Depression. Signal decorrelation was associated with certain types of surface cover (e.g., water or aeolian deposits) or with actual surface dynamics (e.g., anthropogenic disturbance (mining) or fluvial activity and overland flow). Strong rainfall events and fluvial activity in the periods 2015 to 2016 and 2017 to 2018 caused spatial patterns with significant signal decorrelation; observed linear coherence anomalies matched the reference channel network and indicated actual episodic and sporadic discharge events. In the period 2015–2016, area-wide loss of coherence appeared as strip-like patterns of more than 80 km length that matched the prevailing wind direction. These anomalies, and others observed in that period and in the period 2017–2018, were interpreted to be caused by overland flow of high magnitude, as their spatial location matched well with documented heavy rainfall events that showed cumulative precipitation amounts of more than 20 mm. Full article