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Aboouf MA, Thiersch M, Soliz J, Gassmann M, Schneider Gasser EM. The Brain at High Altitude: From Molecular Signaling to Cognitive Performance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10179. [PMID: 37373327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain requires over one-fifth of the total body oxygen demand for normal functioning. At high altitude (HA), the lower atmospheric oxygen pressure inevitably challenges the brain, affecting voluntary spatial attention, cognitive processing, and attention speed after short-term, long-term, or lifespan exposure. Molecular responses to HA are controlled mainly by hypoxia-inducible factors. This review aims to summarize the cellular, metabolic, and functional alterations in the brain at HA with a focus on the role of hypoxia-inducible factors in controlling the hypoxic ventilatory response, neuronal survival, metabolism, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa A Aboouf
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Thiersch
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jorge Soliz
- Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Max Gassmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edith M Schneider Gasser
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Kim E, Park S, Kim S, Choi Y, Cho JH, Kim G. Is altitude a determinant of the health benefits of nature exposure? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1021618. [PMID: 36504926 PMCID: PMC9732270 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1021618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nature exposure is a widely accepted option for promoting public health owing to the recent surge of scientific evidence. However, the actual settings to facilitate this initiative is yet to be extensively reviewed. In this systematic review, we have aimed to provide an up-to-date summary of interventional studies investigating the psycho-physiological effects of forests and urban forests, including details on their physical settings, and investigate an effect-modifying role of altitude and summarize data on the magnitude and shape of the association. Methods A keyword search using five electronic academic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus) was conducted to identify relevant articles published in English from the inception year to the end of February 2022. The methodological quality was evaluated using the ROBINS-I or ROB2 tool, depending on the study design. Meta-regression and random effects model were jointly used to examine the relationship between altitude and health outcomes. Results We included 27 eligible studies and 31 cases extracted from 19 studies were used for the meta-analysis. In the meta-regression, we observed a non-linear association between altitude and psycho-physiological effects. Altitude had a positive quadratic association with anxiety (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 96.79%), depression (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 98.78%), and fatigue (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 64.74%) alleviating effects. Conversely, altitude demonstrated a negative non-linear association with the blood pressure-lowering effect (p = 0.009, adjusted R 2 = 32.83%). Additionally, the thermal index (THI) and illuminance (lx) levels were significantly associated with effect sizes of psychological restoration. Discussion This review provides moderate-certainty evidence for an effect-modifying role of altitude. The meta-regression results suggested the optimal and minimal altitude ranges for psychological restoration and physiological relaxation, respectively. Despite some limitations, the study findings provide a significant basis for utilizing altitude, which is easily accessible and simple, to promote the health benefits of nature-based initiatives. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022310894, identifier: CRD42022310894.
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Ortiz-Prado E, Simbaña-Rivera K, Duta D, Ochoa I, Izquierdo-Condoy JS, Vasconez E, Carrasco K, Calvopiña M, Viscor G, Paz C. Optimism and Health Self-Perception-Related Differences in Indigenous Kiwchas of Ecuador at Low and High Altitude: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. High Alt Med Biol 2022; 23:26-36. [PMID: 35020475 DOI: 10.1089/ham.2021.0046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ortiz-Prado, Esteban, Katherine Simbaña-Rivera, Diego Duta, Israel Ochoa, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, Eduardo Vasconez, Kathia Carrasco, Manuel Calvopiña, Ginés Viscor, and Clara Paz. Optimism and health self-perception-related differences in indigenous Kiwchas of Ecuador at low and high altitude: a cross-sectional analysis. High Alt Med Biol 00:000-000, 2021. Background: Living at high altitude causes adaptive responses at every physiological and molecular level within the human body. Emotional and psychological short- or long-term consequences, including mood changes, higher mental overload, and depression prevalence, as well as increased risk to commit suicide have been reported among highlanders. The objective of this report is to explore the differences in self-reported dispositional optimism and health perception among sex-, age-, and genotype-controlled indigenous Kiwcha natives living at two different altitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the comparison of means of subscales and summary scores of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) self-reported questionnaire and the Life Orientation Test-Revised was conducted among 219 adults Kiwchas living at low (230 m) and high altitude (3,800 m) in Ecuador. Results: High-altitude dwellers presented lower scores in all the studied dimensions of SF-36 and the total score. Differences were found for the role limitation sphere due to vitality (p = 0.005), mental health (p = 0.002), and social functioning (p = 0.005). In all the cases, participants living at low altitudes scored higher than those living at high altitudes. Lowland women were more optimistic than their high-altitude counterparts. Conclusions: We observe that populations located at high altitudes have more unfavorable self-reported health states. Although our results depict the existence of significant differences in the health status of indigenous peoples living at different altitudes, further studies are needed to explain in depth the sociodemographic and/or environmental factors that might underlie these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Ortiz-Prado
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad De Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Katherine Simbaña-Rivera
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad De Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador.,Physiology Section, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Duta
- Family Medicine Department, Limoncocha Community Health Unit, Limoncocha, Ecuador
| | - Israel Ochoa
- Family Medicine Department, Oyacachi Community Health Unit, Oyacachi, Ecuador
| | | | - Eduardo Vasconez
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad De Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Kathia Carrasco
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad De Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Manuel Calvopiña
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad De Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Ginés Viscor
- Physiology Section, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Paz
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad De Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
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Zhu D, He B, Zhang M, Wan Y, Liu R, Wang L, Zhang Y, Li Y, Gao F. A Multimodal MR Imaging Study of the Effect of Hippocampal Damage on Affective and Cognitive Functions in a Rat Model of Chronic Exposure to a Plateau Environment. Neurochem Res 2022; 47:979-1000. [PMID: 34981302 PMCID: PMC8891211 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03498-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Prolonged exposure to high altitudes above 2500 m above sea level (a.s.l.) can cause cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions. Herein, we sought to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to plateau hypoxia on the hippocampus in a rat model by using voxel-based morphometry, creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CrCEST) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging techniques. 58 healthy 4-week-old male rats were randomized into plateau hypoxia rats (H group) as the experimental group and plain rats (P group) as the control group. H group rats were transported from Chengdu (500 m a.s.l.), a city in a plateau located in southwestern China, to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (4250 m a.s.l.), Yushu, China, and then fed for 8 months there, while P group rats were fed in Chengdu (500 m a.s.l.), China. After 8 months of exposure to plateau hypoxia, open-field and elevated plus maze tests revealed that the anxiety-like behavior of the H group rats was more serious than that of the P group rats, and the Morris water maze test revealed impaired spatial memory function in the H group rats. Multimodal MR imaging analysis revealed a decreased volume of the regional gray matter, lower CrCEST contrast and higher transport coefficient Ktrans in the hippocampus compared with the P group rats. Further correlation analysis found associations of quantitative MRI parameters of the hippocampus with the behavioral performance of H group rats. In this study, we validated the viability of using noninvasive multimodal MR imaging techniques to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to a plateau hypoxic environment on the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyong Zhu
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bo He
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Mengdi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yixuan Wan
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ruibin Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310030, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Molecular Imaging Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310030, China
| | - Yunqing Li
- Department of Anatomy and KK Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Fabao Gao
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, 610041, China. .,Molecular Imaging Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Sex-based changes in rat brain serotonin and behavior in a model of altitude-related vulnerability to treatment-resistant depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2867-2881. [PMID: 34159421 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05902-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Rates of depression and suicide increase with altitude. In our animal model, rats housed at moderate altitude vs. at sea level exhibit increased depressive symptoms in the forced swim test (FST) and lack of response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Depression and SSRI resistance are linked to disrupted serotonergic function, and hypobaric hypoxia may reduce the oxygen-dependent synthesis of serotonin. We therefore tested brain serotonin in rats housed at altitude. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were housed at altitude (4,500 ft, 10,000 ft) vs. sea level for 7-36 days. Brain serotonin was measured by ELISA, or behavior evaluated in the FST, sucrose preference (SPT), or open-field tests (OFT). RESULTS After 2 weeks at 4,500 ft or 10,000ft vs. sea level, serotonin levels decreased significantly at altitude in the female prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and brainstem, but increased with altitude in the male hippocampus and brainstem. Female brain serotonin decreased from 7 to 36 days at 4,500 ft, but males did not vary. At 2 weeks and 24 days, females at altitude exhibit lower brain serotonin and increased depressive symptoms in the FST and SPT, with motor behavior unaltered. In males, serotonin, passive coping in the FST and OFT immobility increased with altitude at 2 weeks, but not at 24 days. Male SPT behavior did not change with altitude. CONCLUSIONS Females may be more vulnerable to depressive symptoms at altitude, while males may be resilient. Chronic hypoxic stress at altitudes as low as 4,500 ft may cause a brain serotonin imbalance to worsen vulnerability to depression and SSRI resistance, and potentially worsen suicide risk.
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Prescot A, Huber R, Kanekar S, Kondo D, Prisciandaro J, Ongur D, Renshaw PF. Effect of moderate altitude on human cerebral metabolite levels: A preliminary, multi-site, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy investigation. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2021; 314:111314. [PMID: 34098247 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2021.111314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies show that altitude-of-residence is an independent risk factor for worsening rates of mood disorders, substance abuse, and suicide. Proton (1H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies in rodent models of moderate-to-high altitude exposure have documented significant alterations in total creatine, glutamate, and myo-inositol, neurometabolites involved in bioenergetic homeostasis and neuronal/glial cell function. This preliminary study utilized 3 Tesla 1H MRS to study anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and parietal-occipital cortex (POC) neurochemistry in healthy subjects residing in Utah (n = 19), Massachusetts (n = 10), and South Carolina (n = 10), to test the hypothesis that individuals residing at moderate altitude (Utah; 1,372 m) would show neurometabolite alterations vs. subjects living at sea level. Expressed as ratios to total N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), Utah participants showed lower ACC (p = 0.03) and POC (p < 0.01) total creatine, a trend towards lower ACC glutamate (p = 0.06), and lower POC myo-inositol (p = 0.02). Study limitations include small sample sizes and uncorrected multiple comparisons. To our knowledge, this is the first MRS investigation to identify potential neurochemical differences in individuals residing at moderate altitudes vs. sea level, warranting future 1H MRS studies in larger cohorts and across a range of altitudes-of-residence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Prescot
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| | - Rebekah Huber
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Shami Kanekar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), George E. Whalen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Douglas Kondo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), George E. Whalen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - James Prisciandaro
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States; Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Dost Ongur
- Psychotic Disorders Division, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Perry F Renshaw
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), George E. Whalen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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Kanekar S, Ettaro R, Hoffman MD, Ombach HJ, Brown J, Lynch C, Sheth CS, Renshaw PF. Sex-Based Impact of Creatine Supplementation on Depressive Symptoms, Brain Serotonin and SSRI Efficacy in an Animal Model of Treatment-Resistant Depression. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158195. [PMID: 34360959 PMCID: PMC8348220 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) increase with living at altitude. In our model, rats housed at moderate altitude (in hypobaric hypoxia) exhibit increased depression-like behavior, altered brain serotonin and a lack of antidepressant response to most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). A forebrain deficit in the bioenergetic marker creatine is noted in people living at altitude or with MDD. Methods: Rats housed at 4500 ft were given dietary creatine monohydrate (CRMH, 4% w/w, 5 weeks) vs. un-supplemented diet, and impact on depression-like behavior, brain bioenergetics, serotonin and SSRI efficacy assessed. Results: CRMH significantly improved brain creatine in a sex-based manner. At altitude, CRMH increased serotonin levels in the female prefrontal cortex and striatum but reduced male striatal and hippocampal serotonin. Dietary CRMH was antidepressant in the forced swim test and anti-anhedonic in the sucrose preference test in only females at altitude, with motor behavior unchanged. CRMH improved fluoxetine efficacy (20 mg/kg) in only males at altitude: CRMH + SSRI significantly improved male striatal creatine and serotonin vs. CRMH alone. Conclusions: Dietary CRMH exhibits sex-based efficacy in resolving altitude-related deficits in brain biomarkers, depression-like behavior and SSRI efficacy, and may be effective clinically for SSRI-resistant depression at altitude. This is the first study to link CRMH treatment to improving brain serotonin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shami Kanekar
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; (R.E.); (M.D.H.); (H.J.O.); (J.B.); (C.L.); (C.S.S.); (P.F.R.)
- VISN19 MIRECC, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
- Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-801-587-1477 or +1-801-585-5375
| | - Robert Ettaro
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; (R.E.); (M.D.H.); (H.J.O.); (J.B.); (C.L.); (C.S.S.); (P.F.R.)
| | - Michael D. Hoffman
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; (R.E.); (M.D.H.); (H.J.O.); (J.B.); (C.L.); (C.S.S.); (P.F.R.)
| | - Hendrik J. Ombach
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; (R.E.); (M.D.H.); (H.J.O.); (J.B.); (C.L.); (C.S.S.); (P.F.R.)
| | - Jadeda Brown
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; (R.E.); (M.D.H.); (H.J.O.); (J.B.); (C.L.); (C.S.S.); (P.F.R.)
| | - Cayla Lynch
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; (R.E.); (M.D.H.); (H.J.O.); (J.B.); (C.L.); (C.S.S.); (P.F.R.)
| | - Chandni S. Sheth
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; (R.E.); (M.D.H.); (H.J.O.); (J.B.); (C.L.); (C.S.S.); (P.F.R.)
| | - Perry F. Renshaw
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; (R.E.); (M.D.H.); (H.J.O.); (J.B.); (C.L.); (C.S.S.); (P.F.R.)
- VISN19 MIRECC, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
- Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
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Gizewski ER, Steiger R, Waibel M, Pereverzyev S, Sommer PJD, Siedentopf C, Grams AE, Lenhart L, Singewald N. Short-term meditation training influences brain energy metabolism: A pilot study on 31 P MR spectroscopy. Brain Behav 2021; 11:e01914. [PMID: 33300668 PMCID: PMC7821578 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meditation is increasingly attracting interest among neuroimaging researchers for its relevance as a cognitive enhancement technique and several cross-sectional studies have indicated cerebral changes. This longitudinal study applied a distinct and standardized meditative technique with a group of volunteers in a short-term training program to analyze brain metabolic changes. METHODS The effect of 7 weeks of meditation exercises (focused attention meditation, FAM) was assessed on 27 healthy volunteers. Changes in cerebral energy metabolism were investigated using 31 P-MR spectroscopy. Metabolite ratios were compared before (T1) and after training (T2). Additional questionnaire assessments were included. RESULTS The participants performed FAM daily. Depression and anxiety scores revealed a lower level of state anxiety at T2 compared to T1. From T1 to T2, energy metabolism ratios showed the following differences: PCr/ATP increased right occipitally; Pi/ATP decreased bilaterally in the basal ganglia and temporal lobe on the right; PCr/Pi increased in occipital lobe bilaterally, in the basal ganglia and in the temporal lobe on the right side. The pH decreased temporal on the left side and frontal in the right side. The observed changes in the temporal areas and basal ganglia may be interpreted as a higher energetic state, whereas the frontal and occipital areas showed changes that may be related to a down-regulation in ATP turnover, energy state, and oxidative capacity. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study indicate for the first time in a longitudinal study that even short-term training in FAM may have considerable effects on brain energy state with different local energy management in specific brain regions. Especially higher energetic state in basal ganglia may represent altered function in their central role in complex cerebral distributed networks including frontal and temporal areas. Further studies including different forms of relaxation techniques should be performed for more specific and reliable insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke R Gizewski
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ruth Steiger
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Sergiy Pereverzyev
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Patrick J D Sommer
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian Siedentopf
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Astrid E Grams
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas Lenhart
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicolas Singewald
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Leopold Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria
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Greene E, Flees J, Dadgar S, Mallmann B, Orlowski S, Dhamad A, Rochell S, Kidd M, Laurendon C, Whitfield H, Brearley C, Rajaram N, Walk C, Dridi S. Quantum Blue Reduces the Severity of Woody Breast Myopathy via Modulation of Oxygen Homeostasis-Related Genes in Broiler Chickens. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1251. [PMID: 31632293 PMCID: PMC6781743 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of woody breast (WB) is increasing on a global scale representing a significant welfare problem and economic burden to the poultry industry and for which there is no effective treatment due to its unknown etiology. In this study, using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) coupled with iSTAT portable clinical analyzer, we provide evidence that the circulatory- and breast muscle-oxygen homeostasis is dysregulated [low oxygen and hemoglobin (HB) levels] in chickens with WB myopathy compared to healthy counterparts. Molecular analysis showed that blood HB subunit Mu (HBM), Zeta (HBZ), and hephaestin (HEPH) expression were significantly down regulated; however, the expression of the subunit rho of HB beta (HBBR) was upregulated in chicken with WB compared to healthy counterparts. The breast muscle HBBR, HBE, HBZ, and hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2) mRNA abundances were significantly down regulated in WB-affected compared to normal birds. The expression of HIF-1α at mRNA and protein levels was significantly induced in breasts of WB-affected compared to unaffected birds confirming a local hypoxic status. The phosphorylated levels of the upstream mediators AKT at Ser473 site, mTOR at Ser2481 site, and PI3K P85 at Tyr458 site, as well as their mRNA levels were significantly increased in breasts of WB-affected birds. In attempt to identify a nutritional strategy to reduce WB incidence, male broiler chicks (Cobb 500, n = 576) were randomly distributed into 48 floor pens and subjected to six treatments (12 birds/pen; 8 pens/treatment): a nutrient adequate control group (PC), the PC supplemented with 0.3% myo-inositol (PC + MI), a negative control (NC) deficient in available P and Ca by 0.15 and 0.16%, respectively, the NC fed with quantum blue (QB) at 500 (NC + 500 FTU), 1,000 (NC + 1,000 FTU), or 2,000 FTU/kg of feed (NC + 2,000 FTU). Although QB-enriched diets did not affect growth performances (FCR and FE), it did reduce the severity of WB by 5% compared to the PC diet. This effect is mediated by reversing the expression profile of oxygen homeostasis-related genes; i.e., significant down regulation of HBBR and upregulation of HBM, HBZ, and HEPH in blood, as well as a significant upregulation of HBA1, HBBR, HBE, HBZ, and PHD2 in breast muscle compared to the positive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Greene
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Joshua Flees
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Sina Dadgar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Barbara Mallmann
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Sara Orlowski
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Ahmed Dhamad
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Samuel Rochell
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Michael Kidd
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Caroline Laurendon
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Hayley Whitfield
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Brearley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Narasimhan Rajaram
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | | | - Sami Dridi
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
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10
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Hwang J, DeLisi LE, Öngür D, Riley C, Zuo C, Shi X, Sung YH, Kondo D, Kim TS, Villafuerte R, Smedberg D, Yurgelun-Todd D, Renshaw PF. Cerebral bioenergetic differences measured by phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy between bipolar disorder and healthy subjects living in two different regions suggesting possible effects of altitude. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73:581-589. [PMID: 31125152 PMCID: PMC6771782 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
AIM Increased oxidative stress in cerebral mitochondria may follow exposure to the systemic hypobaric hypoxia associated with residing at higher altitudes. Because mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in bipolar disorder (BD) pathophysiology, this may impact the cerebral bioenergetics in BD. In this study, we evaluated the cerebral bioenergetics of BD and healthy control (HC) subjects at two sites, located at sea level and at moderate altitude. METHODS Forty-three veterans with BD and 33 HC veterans were recruited in Boston (n = 22) and Salt Lake City (SLC; n = 54). Levels of phosphocreatine, β nucleoside triphosphate (βNTP), inorganic phosphate, and pH over total phosphate (TP) were measured using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the following brain regions: anterior cingulate cortex and posterior occipital cortex, as well as bilateral prefrontal and occipitoparietal (OP) white matter (WM). RESULTS A significant main effect of site was found in βNTP/TP (Boston > SLC) and phosphocreatine/TP (Boston < SLC) in most cortical and WM regions, and inorganic phosphate/TP (Boston < SLC) in OP regions. A main effect analysis of BD diagnosis demonstrated a lower pH in posterior occipital cortex and right OP WM and a lower βNTP/TP in right prefrontal WM in BD subjects, compared to HC subjects. CONCLUSION The study showed that there were cerebral bioenergetic differences in both BD and HC veteran participants at two different sites, which may be partly explained by altitude difference. Future studies are needed to replicate these results in order to elucidate the dysfunctional mitochondrial changes that occur in response to hypobaric hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeuk Hwang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Lynn E DeLisi
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, USA
| | - Dost Öngür
- Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, USA
| | - Colin Riley
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Chun Zuo
- Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, USA
| | - Xianfeng Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Young-Hoon Sung
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Douglas Kondo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Tae-Suk Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Rosemond Villafuerte
- Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, USA
| | - Diane Smedberg
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, USA
| | - Deborah Yurgelun-Todd
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Perry F Renshaw
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, USA
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11
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Kious BM, Kondo DG, Renshaw PF. Creatine for the Treatment of Depression. Biomolecules 2019; 9:E406. [PMID: 31450809 PMCID: PMC6769464 DOI: 10.3390/biom9090406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Depressed mood, which can occur in the context of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and other conditions, represents a serious threat to public health and wellness. Conventional treatments are not effective for a significant proportion of patients and interventions that are often beneficial for treatment-refractory depression are not widely available. There is, therefore, an immense need to identify novel antidepressant strategies, particularly strategies that target physiological pathways that are distinct from those addressed by conventional treatments. There is growing evidence from human neuroimaging, genetics, epidemiology, and animal studies that disruptions in brain energy production, storage, and utilization are implicated in the development and maintenance of depression. Creatine, a widely available nutritional supplement, has the potential to improve these disruptions in some patients, and early clinical trials indicate that it may have efficacy as an antidepressant agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent M Kious
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
| | - Douglas G Kondo
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
| | - Perry F Renshaw
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
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12
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Griffin JWD, Bradshaw PC. Effects of a high protein diet and liver disease in an in silico model of human ammonia metabolism. Theor Biol Med Model 2019; 16:11. [PMID: 31366360 PMCID: PMC6670211 DOI: 10.1186/s12976-019-0109-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After proteolysis, the majority of released amino acids from dietary protein are transported to the liver for gluconeogenesis or to peripheral tissues where they are used for protein synthesis and eventually catabolized, producing ammonia as a byproduct. High ammonia levels in the brain are a major contributor to the decreased neural function that occurs in several pathological conditions such as hepatic encephalopathy when liver urea cycle function is compromised. Therefore, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of human ammonia metabolism. The objective of this study was to predict changes in blood ammonia levels resulting from alterations in dietary protein intake, from liver disease, or from partial loss of urea cycle function. METHODS A simple mathematical model was created using MATLAB SimBiology and data from published studies. Simulations were performed and results analyzed to determine steady state changes in ammonia levels resulting from varying dietary protein intake and varying liver enzyme activity levels to simulate liver disease. As a toxicity reference, viability was measured in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells following differentiation and ammonium chloride treatment. RESULTS Results from control simulations yielded steady state blood ammonia levels within normal physiological limits. Increasing dietary protein intake by 72% resulted in a 59% increase in blood ammonia levels. Simulations of liver cirrhosis increased blood ammonia levels by 41 to 130% depending upon the level of dietary protein intake. Simulations of heterozygous individuals carrying a loss of function allele of the urea cycle carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS1) gene resulted in more than a tripling of blood ammonia levels (from roughly 18 to 60 μM depending on dietary protein intake). The viability of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells was decreased by 14% by the addition of a slightly higher amount of ammonium chloride (90 μM). CONCLUSIONS Data from the model suggest decreasing protein consumption may be one simple strategy to decrease blood ammonia levels and minimize the risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy for many liver disease patients. In addition, the model suggests subjects who are known carriers of disease-causing CPS1 alleles may benefit from monitoring blood ammonia levels and limiting the level of protein intake if ammonia levels are high.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick C. Bradshaw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN USA
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13
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Kious BM, Bakian A, Zhao J, Mickey B, Guille C, Renshaw P, Sen S. Altitude and risk of depression and anxiety: findings from the intern health study. Int Rev Psychiatry 2019; 31:637-645. [PMID: 31084447 PMCID: PMC8530170 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2019.1586324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Multiple studies suggest that the risks of depression and suicide increase with increasing altitude of residence, but no studies have assessed whether changing altitude changes these risks. To address this gap, this study used data from the Intern Health Study, which follows students from the end of medical school through the first year of residency, recording depression via the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), anxiety via the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and multiple risk factors for these symptoms. Data from 3764 medical students representing 46 schools and 282 residencies were available. Odds ratios (OR) representing the effects of altitude on psychiatric symptoms were estimated using generalized linear models. After excluding participants with missing altitude data, 3731 medical students were analyzed. High altitude residence (> 900 m) was significantly associated with PHQ-9 total score (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.001-1.75, p < 0.05), and PHQ-9 suicidal ideation (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.08-0.02, p = 0.02). Moving from low to high altitude was significantly associated with PHQ-9 total score (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.087-1.98, p = 0.01), GAD-7 total score (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.0040-1.95, p < 0.05), and PHQ-9 suicidal ideation (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01-1.19, p = 0.02). The data suggest that moving from low to high altitude is associated with increasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent M. Kious
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Amanda Bakian
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Joan Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brian Mickey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Constance Guille
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Perry Renshaw
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Srijan Sen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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14
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Reno E, Brown TL, Betz ME, Allen MH, Hoffecker L, Reitinger J, Roach R, Honigman B. Suicide and High Altitude: An Integrative Review. High Alt Med Biol 2018; 19:99-108. [DOI: 10.1089/ham.2016.0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Reno
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Talia L. Brown
- Boulder County Public Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Marian E. Betz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Michael H. Allen
- Johnson Depression Center, Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Lilian Hoffecker
- Health Sciences Library, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jeremy Reitinger
- Altitude Research Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Robert Roach
- Altitude Research Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Benjamin Honigman
- Altitude Research Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
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15
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Intracellular pH Regulation in iPSCs-derived Astrocytes from Subjects with Chronic Mountain Sickness. Neuroscience 2018; 375:25-33. [PMID: 29438800 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS) occurs in high-altitude residents with major neurological symptoms such as migraine headaches, dizziness and cognitive deficits. Recent work demonstrated that highlanders have increased intracellular pH (pHi) in their brain cells, perhaps for the sake of adaptation to hypoxemia and help to facilitate glycolysis, DNA synthesis, and cell cycle progression. Since there are well adapted (non-CMS) and maladapted (CMS) high-altitude dwellers, it is not clear whether pHi is differently regulated in these two high-altitude populations. In this work, we obtained induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes from both CMS and non-CMS highlanders who live in the Peruvian Andes (>14,000 ft) and studied pHi regulation in these astrocytes using pH-sensitive dye BCECF. Our results show that the steady-state pHi (ss pHi) is lower in CMS astrocytes compared with non-CMS astrocytes. In addition, the acid extrusion following an acid loading is faster and the pHi dependence of H+ flux rate becomes steeper in CMS astrocytes. Furthermore, the Na+ dependency of ss pHi is stronger in CMS astrocytes and the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) inhibitors blunted the acid extrusion in both CMS and non-CMS astrocytes. We conclude that (a) NHE contributes to the ss pHi stabilization and mediates active acid extrusion during the cytosolic acidosis in highlanders; (b) acid extrusion becomes less pHi sensitive in non-CMS (versus CMS) astrocytes which may prevent NHE from over-activated in the hypoxia-induced intracellular acidosis and render the non-CMS astrocytes more resistant to hypoxemia challenges.
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16
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An Open-Label Pilot Study of Combined Augmentation With Creatine Monohydrate and 5-Hydroxytryptophan for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor- or Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor-Resistant Depression in Adult Women. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2017; 37:578-583. [PMID: 28787372 PMCID: PMC5578880 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000000754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Many women with major depressive disorder (MDD) respond inadequately to standard treatments. Augmentation of conventional antidepressants with creatine monohydrate and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) could correct deficits in serotonin production and brain bioenergetics associated with depression in women, yielding synergistic benefit. We describe an open-label study of 5-HTP and creatine augmentation in women with MDD who had failed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) monotherapy. METHODS Fifteen women who were adequately adherent to an SSRI or SNRI and currently experiencing MDD, with a 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score of 16 or higher, were treated with 5 g of creatine monohydrate daily and 100 mg of 5-HTP twice daily for 8 weeks, with 4 weeks of posttreatment follow-up. The primary outcome was change in mean HAM-D scores. RESULTS Mean HAM-D scores declined from 18.9 (SD, 2.5) at pretreatment visits to 7.5 (SD, 4.4) (P < 0.00001), a decrease of 60%. Participants did not experience any serious treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Combination treatment with creatine and 5-HTP may represent an effective augmentation strategy for women with SSRI- or SNRI-resistant depression. Given the limitations of this small, open-label trial, future study in randomized, placebo-controlled trials is warranted.
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17
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Gould TD, Georgiou P, Brenner LA, Brundin L, Can A, Courtet P, Donaldson ZR, Dwivedi Y, Guillaume S, Gottesman II, Kanekar S, Lowry CA, Renshaw PF, Rujescu D, Smith EG, Turecki G, Zanos P, Zarate CA, Zunszain PA, Postolache TT. Animal models to improve our understanding and treatment of suicidal behavior. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1092. [PMID: 28398339 PMCID: PMC5416692 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, suicide is a leading cause of death. Although a sizable proportion of deaths by suicide may be preventable, it is well documented that despite major governmental and international investments in research, education and clinical practice suicide rates have not diminished and are even increasing among several at-risk populations. Although nonhuman animals do not engage in suicidal behavior amenable to translational studies, we argue that animal model systems are necessary to investigate candidate endophenotypes of suicidal behavior and the neurobiology underlying these endophenotypes. Animal models are similarly a critical resource to help delineate treatment targets and pharmacological means to improve our ability to manage the risk of suicide. In particular, certain pathophysiological pathways to suicidal behavior, including stress and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction, neurotransmitter system abnormalities, endocrine and neuroimmune changes, aggression, impulsivity and decision-making deficits, as well as the role of critical interactions between genetic and epigenetic factors, development and environmental risk factors can be modeled in laboratory animals. We broadly describe human biological findings, as well as protective effects of medications such as lithium, clozapine, and ketamine associated with modifying risk of engaging in suicidal behavior that are readily translatable to animal models. Endophenotypes of suicidal behavior, studied in animal models, are further useful for moving observed associations with harmful environmental factors (for example, childhood adversity, mechanical trauma aeroallergens, pathogens, inflammation triggers) from association to causation, and developing preventative strategies. Further study in animals will contribute to a more informed, comprehensive, accelerated and ultimately impactful suicide research portfolio.
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Affiliation(s)
- T D Gould
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P Georgiou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - L A Brenner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA
- Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - L Brundin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - A Can
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychology, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P Courtet
- Department of Emergency Psychiatry and Post Acute Care, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier, Inserm U1061, Montpellier, France
| | - Z R Donaldson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Y Dwivedi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - S Guillaume
- Department of Emergency Psychiatry and Post Acute Care, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier, Inserm U1061, Montpellier, France
| | - I I Gottesman
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - S Kanekar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - C A Lowry
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA
- Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - P F Renshaw
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - D Rujescu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - E G Smith
- Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - G Turecki
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - P Zanos
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - C A Zarate
- Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - P A Zunszain
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - T T Postolache
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA
- Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
- VISN 5 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Baltimore MD, USA
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18
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Rozentryt P, Niedziela JT, Hudzik B, Lekston A, Doehner W, Jankowska EA, Nowak J, von Haehling S, Partyka R, Rywik T, Anker SD, Ponikowski P, Poloński L. Higher serum phosphorus is associated with catabolic/anabolic imbalance in heart failure. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2015; 6:325-34. [PMID: 26672973 PMCID: PMC4670741 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A higher serum phosphate level is associated with worse outcome. Energy-demanding intracellular transport of phosphate is needed to secure anion bioavailability. In heart failure (HF), energy starvation may modify intracellular and serum levels of phosphate. We analysed determinants of serum phosphates in HF and assessed if catabolic/anabolic balance (CAB) was associated with elevation of serum phosphate. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed data from 1029 stable patients with HF and have calculated negative (loss) and positive (gain) components of weight change from the onset of HF till index date. The algebraic sum of these components was taken as CAB. The univariate and multivariable predictors of serum phosphorus were calculated. In quintiles of CAB, we have estimated odds ratios for serum phosphorus above levels previously identified to increase risk of mortality. As a reference, we have selected a CAB quintile with similar loss and gain. RESULTS Apart from sex, age, and kidney function, we identified serum sodium, N-terminal fragment of pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide, and CAB as independent predictors of serum phosphorus. The odds for serum phosphorus above thresholds found in literature to increase risk were highest in more catabolic patients. In most catabolic quintile relative to neutral balance, the odds across selected phosphorus thresholds rose, gradually peaking at 1.30 mmol/L with a value of 3.29 (95% confidence interval: 2.00-5.40, P < 0.0001) in an unadjusted analysis and 2.55 (95% confidence interval: 1.38-2.72, P = 0.002) in a fully adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS Metabolic status is an independent determinant of serum phosphorus in HF. Higher catabolism is associated with serum phosphorus above mortality risk-increasing thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Rozentryt
- Third Department of Cardiology, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Medical University of Silesia Zabrze, Poland
| | - Jacek T Niedziela
- Third Department of Cardiology, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Medical University of Silesia Zabrze, Poland
| | - Bartosz Hudzik
- Third Department of Cardiology, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Medical University of Silesia Zabrze, Poland
| | - Andrzej Lekston
- Third Department of Cardiology, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Medical University of Silesia Zabrze, Poland
| | - Wolfram Doehner
- Centre for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité Medical School Berlin, Germany
| | - Ewa A Jankowska
- Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Nowak
- Third Department of Cardiology, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Medical University of Silesia Zabrze, Poland
| | - Stephan von Haehling
- Division of Innovative Clinical Trials, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robert Partyka
- Clinical Division of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy of the Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Treatment and Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Silesia Zabrze, Poland
| | - Tomasz Rywik
- Department of Heart Failure and Transplantology, Institute of Cardiology Warsaw, Poland
| | - Stefan D Anker
- Division of Innovative Clinical Trials, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) Göttingen, Germany
| | - Piotr Ponikowski
- Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Lech Poloński
- Third Department of Cardiology, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Medical University of Silesia Zabrze, Poland
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19
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Cichocka M, Kozub J, Urbanik A. PH Measurements of the Brain Using Phosphorus Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ((31)PMRS) in Healthy Men - Comparison of Two Analysis Methods. Pol J Radiol 2015; 80:509-14. [PMID: 26692912 PMCID: PMC4659444 DOI: 10.12659/pjr.895178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intracellular pH provides information on homeostatic mechanisms in neurons and glial cells. The aim of this study was to define pH of the brain of male volunteers using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31PMRS) and to compare two methods of calculating this value. Material/Methods In this study, 35 healthy, young, male volunteers (mean age: 25 years) were examined by 31PMRS in 1.5 T MR system (Signa Excite, GE). The FID CSI (Free Induction Decay Chemical Shift Imaging) sequence was used with the following parameters: TR=4000 ms, FA=90°, NEX=2. Volume of interest (VOI) was selected depending on the size of the volunteers’ brain (11–14 cm3, mean 11.53 cm3). Raw data were analyzed using SAGE (GE) software. Results Based on the chemical shift of peaks in the 31PMRS spectrum, intracellular pH was calculated using two equations. In both methods the mean pH was slightly alkaline (7.07 and 7.08). Results were compared with a t-test. Significant difference (p<0.05) was found between these two methods. Conclusions The 31PMRS method enables non-invasive in vivo measurements of pH. The choice of the calculation method is crucial for computing this value. Comparing the results obtained by different teams can be done in a fully credible way only if the calculations were performed using the same formula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Cichocka
- Department of Radiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Justyna Kozub
- Department of Radiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Andrzej Urbanik
- Department of Radiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
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