Comparative effects of lifelong moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training on blood lipid levels and mental well-being in naturally ageing mice

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the impact of lifelong exercise, including both moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training, on blood lipid levels and mental behaviour in naturally ageing mice to identify effective exercise strategies for ageing-related health issues.

METHODS

Six-week-old male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to one of four groups: young control (YC), natural ageing control (OC), lifelong moderate-intensity continuous exercise (EM), and lifelong high-intensity interval exercise (EH) groups. The EM group was trained at a speed corresponding to 70 % of the maximum running speed, while the EH group was trained at a running speed alternating between 50 % of the maximum running speed, 70 % of the maximum running speed, and 90 % of the maximum running speed. All exercise sessions were conducted three times per week, with each session lasting 50 min. Behavioural tests and blood sample collection were conducted at 72 weeks of age.

RESULTS

Ageing in mice led to changes in muscle and fat mass. Both the EM and EH groups showed greater muscle mass and lower fat mass than did the OC group. Ageing was associated with elevated anxiety (fewer open arm entries, time spent in the central region) and depression (lower sucrose preference) indicators. However, these changes were reversed in both exercise groups, with no differences between the two exercise groups. Blood lipid levels, including total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and free fatty acid (FFA) levels, were greater in the OC group than in the YC group. Additionally, the OC group exhibited lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. However, both the EM and EH groups exhibited improved lipid profiles compared to those of the YC group.

CONCLUSION

Lifelong exercise, whether moderate-intensity continuous or high-intensity interval training, can preserve body health during ageing, prevent anxiety and depression, and maintain stable blood lipid levels. Both exercise types are equally effective, suggesting that exercise intensity may not be the critical factor underlying these beneficial adaptations.

The Relationships between Abnormal Serum Lipid Levels, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation According to Sex

(1) Background: Serum lipid levels affect not only nutritional status but also emotional state. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of various socio-demographic characteristics, abnormal cholesterol levels, and BMI indicators on depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in the Korean population. (2) Methods: A total of 23,692 people were surveyed using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) 2014, 2016, and 2018. Data from 11,653 patients were analyzed. Age, sex, chronic disease, smoking, alcohol consumption, total cholesterol (HDL, triglycerides), BMI, depression, and suicidal ideation were measured. (3) Results: According to sex, low HDL, high triglycerides, and suicidal ideation were significant, along with low education level, smoking, binge drinking, and high BMI. High triglyceride level was shown to significantly increase the risk of depression in males (OR = 1.535, 95% CI = 1.098-2.147). Factors affecting suicidal ideation in males were age, binge drinking, and depression, while blood lipid factors were not significant. (4) Conclusions: Of the types of serum lipid factors affecting depression and suicidal ideation, high triglycerides were found to be a risk factor for depression in men. Serum lipids can be used as biomarkers to reflect depressive symptoms in men depending on cholesterol level.

Association of Lipid Profile and Suicide Attempts in a Large Sample of First Episode Drug-Naive Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Several studies have reported a link between lipid disorders and suicidality. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between suicidal behavior and blood lipid profiles in patients with first-episode and drug-naive (FEDN) major depressive disorder (MDD). The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between plasma lipid profiles and suicide attempts in a large sample of FEDN MDD patients in the Chinese Han population, which has not been reported. A total of 1,718 MDD outpatients were recruited. Their clinical and demographic data as well as plasma lipid parameters were collected. We obtained suicide attempt data through interviews with patients and their family members. We rated the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) for all patients. The suicide attempt rate of MDD patients was 20.14%, of which 13.68% in the last month and 6.46% in the past. Further, compared with non-attempters, suicide attempters had significantly higher total levels of cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), higher HAMA and HAMD scores, but significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels. Logistic regression analysis showed that suicide attempts were correlated with higher TC, lower HDL-c, and higher HAMA and HAMD scores with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.35, 0.52,1.28, and 1.08, respectively (all p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that FEDN patients with MDD have a high rate of attempted suicide. In the early stage of MDD patients, certain blood lipid parameters and more severe symptoms of anxiety and depression are correlated with suicide attempts. However, due to the cross-sectional design of this study, it is impossible to draw a causal relationship between lipid profiles and suicide attempts. Moreover, an inverse correlation can also be considered, that is, high cholesterol may be the consequence of suicide attempts and depression.

Comparative risk of lipophilic and hydrophilic statins on incident depression: A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the risk of new-onset depression in a cohort of US adult patients initiating lipophilic statin therapy compared to hydrophilic statin therapy.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Large US commercial claims database PARTICIPANTS: 1:1 propensity score matched cohort of lipophilic (atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin) and hydrophilic (pravastatin and rosuvastatin) statin initiators between January 2009 to June 2015.

OUTCOME

New onset of depression.

RESULTS

In a propensity-score matched cohort of 299,298 statin initiators, the crude incidence of depression in the hydrophilic and lipophilic group was 136.6 and 142.8 per 10,000 person-years respectively. Compared to hydrophilic statin use, lipophilic statin use was not associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of depression, adjusted HR 1.05 (95% CI, 1.00-1.10, p = 0.078) and excess incidence of 6.3 (95% CI, -0.7-13.7) per 10,000 person-years. Findings were consistent across the subgroups of patients with history of psychiatric conditions HR 1.05 (95% CI, 0.94-1.16, p = 0.41), and those initiating statins for primary or secondary prevention, HR 1.03 (95% CI, 0.97-1.10, p = 0.33) and 1.07 (95% CI, 0.99-1.16, p = 0.10) respectively. Within individual lipophilic statins, only simvastatin was associated with a moderate increase in the risk of depression HR 1.09 (95% CI, 1.02-1.16, p = 0.003), followed by lovastatin HR 1.07 (95% CI, 0.93-1.24, p = 0.34) and atorvastatin HR 1.05 (95% CI, 0.97-1.13, p = 0.27).

LIMITATIONS

Findings are generalizable to patients with commercial insurance.

CONCLUSIONS

Lipophilic statin use was not associated with a significant increase in the risk of incident depression.

Exploring metabolic factors and health behaviors in relation to suicide attempts: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Suicide attempts are a serious public health concern with devastating global impact, thereby necessitating the development of an adequate prevention strategy. Few known risk factors of suicide attempts are directly modifiable. This study sought to investigate potential associations between health behaviors and suicide attempts, identifying novel opportunities for clinicians to help prevent suicidal behavior.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted to compare body weight, serum total cholesterol, physical activity, tobacco use, and dietary food groups among adults who had made a suicide attempt (n = 84) to psychiatric inpatients (n = 104) and community controls (n = 93) without history of suicide attempt. Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between metabolic risk factors and attempted suicide.

RESULTS

Psychiatric inpatients who had attempted suicide were less likely to be physically active [moderate/strenuous (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.95) and mild (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.16-0.76)] compared to controls. Psychiatric inpatients who attempted suicide were more likely to use tobacco (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.07-4.73) compared to controls. Contrary to prior research, obesity, serum total cholesterol, and diet were not significantly associated with risk of attempted suicide.

LIMITATIONS

Our study was limited by its cross-sectional design, which precludes the identification of causal or temporal relationships between the risk of attempted suicide and factors such as physical activity and tobacco use.

CONCLUSIONS

Study results suggest that a history of attempted suicide is associated with a decreased likelihood of being physically active and an increased risk of tobacco use. Further investigation is warranted to understand the role of exercise and tobacco use in suicide intervention and prevention strategies.

Do patterns of nutrient intake predict self-reported anxiety, depression and psychological distress in adults? SEPAHAN study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Despite the growing evidence about dietary patterns, this study aimed at the association between patterns of nutrients intake and psychological disorders.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, diet and psychological factors including anxiety, depression, and general health (GHQ) were assessed through self-administered questionnaires in 3846 Iranian adults. Daily intakes of 57 nutrients and bioactive compounds were calculated. Nutrient patterns (NPs) were derived using factor analysis.

RESULTS

Three NPs were identified: 1) high in individual amino acids, cobalamin, zinc, phosphorus, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol and pantothenic acid named as "omnivore"; 2) high in thiamin, folate, selenium, iron, starch, maltose, betaine, calcium, riboflavin, and niacin; named as "grains and dairy". Mono-unsaturated fats, vitamin E and polyunsaturated fats were inversely associated with this pattern; 3) "fruits and vegetables" NP high in copper, vitamin C, glucose, fructose, potassium, dietary fiber, sucrose, vitamin A, magnesium and vitamin K. After adjustment for confounders, men in the top tertile of the omnivore NP had lower anxiety score than those in the bottom tertile (P = 0.04). Men in the highest tertile of the first NP were less likely to be depressed (OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.26-0.96; P-trend = 0.04). Women in the highest tertile of this pattern had lower GHQ scores than those in the bottom tertile (P = 0.01) and had lower odds of psychological distress (OR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.57-0.99, P-trend = 0.0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

An "omnivore" like diet high in amino acids, cobalamin, zinc, phosphorus, saturated fat, cholesterol and pantothenic acid is associated with reduced psychological disorders. Prospective studies are recommended to confirm our results.

Evaluation of Cholesterol as a Biomarker for Suicidality in a Veteran Sample

A reduction in total cholesterol may alter the microviscosity of the brain-cell-membrane, reducing serotonin receptor exposure. The resulting imbalance between serotonin and dopamine may lead to an increased risk for suicidality. The objective of this research was to evaluate total cholesterol as a biological marker for suicidality in a sample of US military veterans. The study population consisted of veterans who received care at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and were included in the Suicide Prevention Coordinator's database for having suicidal ideation with evidence of escalating intent, a documented suicide attempt, or committed suicide between 2009 and 2015. The veterans' medical data were obtained from the facility's computerized patient record system. The final sample was 188 observations from 128 unique veterans. Veterans with total cholesterol levels below 168 mg/dl appeared to have a higher suicide risk than those with higher levels. The cholesterol levels of veterans reporting suicidal ideation or attempt were significantly lower than the group reporting neither [F(2, 185) = 30.19, p < .001]. When data from multiple visits were available, veterans reporting suicidal ideation or attempt had experienced a significant (20%) decrease in cholesterol levels from an earlier visit in which they did not report suicidality. A latent class analysis revealed that among other differences, suicidal veterans were younger, leaner, and had more anxiety, sleep problems, and higher education than those being seen for an issue unrelated to suicidality. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A cross-sectional study to investigate the correlation between depression comorbid with anxiety and serum lipid levels

BACKGROUND

Depression is a common psychological disorder that severely threatens human health. Its pathology remains unclear, but it has been suggested to be associated with abnormal blood lipid metabolism.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the changes in blood lipid levels in patients with depression accompanied or not by anxiety, and assess whether adjusting the clinical therapeutic strategy could be based on blood lipid test results, providing a novel insight into depression treatment.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. We assessed 60 outpatients and inpatients diagnosed with depression from January 2013 to January 2014 who met the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders version 3 (CCMD-3) criteria, with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-24) ≥20. They were grouped into depression with anxiety (n=29) and depression without anxiety (n=31) groups by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA).

RESULTS

TG levels were higher in the depression with anxiety group compared with patients without anxiety (P=0.045), which was confirmed by multifactorial analysis [P=0.017, OR=4.394, 95% CI (1.303-14.824)]. A negative correlation between anxiety score and HDL levels was observed in patients with depression (r=-0.340, P=0.046). Meanwhile, positive associations were obtained between retardation and LDL levels (r=0.307, P=0.017) as well as age at disease onset and total cholesterol levels (r=0.410, P=0.002).

CONCLUSION

TG levels differ in patients with depression accompanied by anxiety compared with those without anxiety.

[Biological basis of suicidal behavior]

Based on current clinical and classification concepts of suicidality, the biological parameters characteristic of suicidal behavior, completed and uncompleted suicides reported in the last few decades are discussed. The results obtained in the studies of neurotransmitter and other brain systems, immune system, lipid and other types of metabolism as well as data of neuroimaging brain studies and post-mortem investigation of brain structures are presented.

Association between body mass index and suicidal behaviors: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

Suicide is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Suicide attempts and suicidal ideation are more common than completed suicide and are associated with psychological distress. These behaviors are considered risk factors of completed suicide. Considering the psychosocial stigma and medical comorbidities associated with obesity, an accumulating body of studies have investigated body mass index (BMI) as a potential risk factor of suicide. However, several cohort studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between BMI and completed suicide, suggesting a protective effect of increasing BMI against completed suicide. The association between BMI and attempted suicide is more equivocal, with several studies reporting both positive and negative relationships between BMI and attempted suicide. The primary objective of this study is to systematically review the literature to determine the association between BMI and suicidal behavior (including completed suicide, attempted suicide, suicidal ideation) in an adult population (18 years and older). The secondary objective is to explore whether sex, age, and the method used in suicide modify the relationship between BMI and suicidal behavior.

METHODS/DESIGN

An electronic search will be conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and EMBASE using a predefined search strategy; databases will be searched from their inception. Two authors (SP and RE) will independently screen articles using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and will extract pertinent data using a pilot tested extraction form. At all levels of screening, discrepancies between the two authors will be resolved by consensus, and in the case of disagreement, by consulting a third author (ZS). The primary outcomes include the association between BMI and completed suicide, attempted suicide, and suicidal ideation. If appropriate, a meta-analysis will be conducted. Risk of bias and quality of evidence will be assessed.

DISCUSSION

The results of this systematic review will inform health care professionals and researchers about whether BMI has a significant role in suicidal behavior and psychological well-being.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42014014739 .

Serum triglycerides, but not cholesterol or leptin, are decreased in suicide attempters with mood disorders

BACKGROUND

Many peripheral biomarkers, including low cholesterol and its fractions, have been examined to identify suicidal behavior. Herein, we assessed serum lipid profile and some proteins putatively associated with suicidal behavior in subjects with mood disorder (bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder) with a recent suicide attempt and with no lifetime history of suicide attempts.

METHODS

Fifty subjects had presented an episode of attempted suicide during the last 15 days, and 36 subjects had no history of any suicide attempt. We measured total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides as well as serum leptin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), S100B and C-reactive protein (CRP).

RESULTS

Individuals that had attempted suicide presented decreased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. After adjusting for these confounders, we found that triglycerides were decreased in attempted suicide subjects. We found no differences among total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL or leptin, S100B, CRP and BDNF.

LIMITATIONS

This is a cross-sectional study, and we cannot therefore assess whether a decrease in triglycerides caused a mood episode with suicidal ideation that led to a suicide attempt or if the presence of a mood episode originated a loss of appetite and consequent loss of weight, therefore decreasing triglyceride levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These results do not support the hypothesis that lower levels of cholesterol are associated with suicidal behavior in a mood disorder sample. However, our data support the idea that adiposity is differentiated in these patients (reduced BMI, waist circumference and serum triglycerides), which could lead to an altered communication between the adipose tissue and brain.

Suicide history and mortality: a follow-up of a national cohort in the United States

Little is known about the cause-specific deaths among young suicide attempters from the general population, and the time window for intervention to reduce the elevated rate of death was unclear. We analyzed a nationally representative sample of young adults (17-39 years old) who participated in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994) and were followed up with vital status through December 31, 2006. The history of attempted suicide was associated with an increased rate for all-cause death (HR = 1.52 [95% CI = 0.92-2.52]) with borderline statistical significance. Previous suicide attempters experienced a 3-fold (HR = 2.68[=1.01-7.09]) increased rate for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and a 7-fold (HR = 7.10 [95% CI = 1.37-36.9]) increased rate of death due to completed suicide compared with non-attempters. The survival curves of the attempters declined rapidly for the first 3 years of follow-up, and the distance between curves remained consistent starting from the third year to the end of the follow-up. Prevention services should be tailored not only for suicide, but also for cardiovascular diseases among populations with suicidal tendency, and the service should be intensified within first 3 years after suicidal behaviors occur.

Suicidal behaviour and lipid levels in unipolar and bipolar depression

INTRODUCTION

Evidence for a possible association between a low level of cholesterol and increased suicidal behaviour has accumulated in the recent 3 decades. The present study investigates whether lipid levels can make state-dependent markers of suicidal behaviour in Polish patients with mood disorder recently admitted to a psychiatric hospital owing to an acute depressive episode.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted on 223 patients (73 male and 150 female) with unipolar (n=171) and bipolar (n=52) depression. They were interviewed to assess any occurrence of suicidal thoughts, suicidal tendencies and/or suicidal attempts during the 3 months before admission. Laboratory measurements [total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipids] were obtained within 24-72 h after hospital admission.

RESULTS

Suicidal thoughts, tendencies, and attempts were associated with low total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and total lipids in both male and female patients, in both diagnostic categories. Triglycerides were significantly lower in male and female patients with suicidal thoughts compared with their non-suicidal counterparts. No association with suicidality was found with HDL cholesterol.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study support a majority of research showing the association in depressed patients between suicidal behaviour and low levels of total and LDL cholesterol. In addition, the data suggest a similar association with low total lipids, and in some instances, with low triglycerides.

Suicidal behavior in schizophrenia may be related to low lipid levels

Background

Lifetime suicide mortality in people with schizophrenia is approximately 4–5%, which is higher than in the general population. In mood disorders, many studies and meta-analyses have shown a link between suicidal behavior and low lipid levels, especially that of cholesterol, and some studies have also suggested such a relationship in schizophrenia. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate a possible correlation between suicidal behavior and lipid levels in schizophrenia patients recently admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Material/Methods

Our study included 148 (69 males, 79 females) schizophrenia patients with a mean age of 32±10 years, all recently admitted due to acute exacerbation of their mental illness. Psychometric and laboratory assessments were made within 24–72 hours after hospital admission. The main purpose of the interview was to assess occurrence of any suicidal thoughts, suicidal tendencies, and/or suicide attempts during the 3 months prior to admission. Serum total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides and total lipids were measured.

Results

A significant association was found between suicidal thoughts and attempts and low total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total lipids, in both male and female patients. In male patients with suicidal tendencies, correlation with low LDL cholesterol and triglycerides did not reach statistical significance. No association with suicidality was found with HDL cholesterol in subjects studied.

Conclusions

The results obtained suggest that, similar to depressed patients, low total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total lipids can be state-dependent risk factors for suicidal behavior in Polish patients with schizophrenia.

Cholesterol as a causative factor in Alzheimer's disease: a debatable hypothesis

High serum/plasma cholesterol levels have been suggested as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Some reports, mostly retrospective epidemiological studies, have observed a decreased prevalence of AD in patients taking the cholesterol lowering drugs, statins. The strongest evidence causally linking cholesterol to AD is provided by experimental studies showing that adding/reducing cholesterol alters amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid beta-protein (Ab) levels. However, there are problems with the cholesterol-AD hypothesis. Cholesterol levels in serum/plasma and brain of AD patients do not support cholesterol as a causative factor in AD.Prospective studies on statins and AD have largely failed to show efficacy. Even the experimental data are open to interpretation given that it is well-established that modification of cholesterol levels has effects on multiple proteins, not only amyloid precursor protein and Ab. The purpose of this review, therefore, was to examine the above-mentioned issues, discuss the pros and cons of the cholesterol-AD hypothesis, involvement of other lipids in the mevalonate pathway, and consider that AD may impact cholesterol homeostasis.

Cross-talk between liver and intestine in control of cholesterol and energy homeostasis

A major hurdle for organisms to dispose of cholesterol is the inability to degrade the sterol nucleus which constitutes the central part of the molecule. Synthesis of the sterol nucleus requires a complex, energy costly, metabolic pathway but also generates a diverse array of intermediates serving crucial roles in cellular energy metabolism and signal transduction. This may be the reason why this complex pathway has survived evolutionary pressure. The only way to get rid of substantial amounts of cholesterol is conversion into bile acid or direct excretion of the sterol in the feces. The lack of versatility in disposal mechanisms causes a lack of flexibility to regulate cholesterol homeostasis which may underlie the considerable human pathology linked to cholesterol removal from the body. Export of cholesterol from the body requires an intricate communication between intestine and the liver. The last decade this inter-organ cross talk has been focus of intense research leading to considerable new insight. This novel information on particular the cross-talk between liver and intestine and role of bile acids as signal transducing molecules forms the focus of this review.

Alexithymia, suicidal ideation, and serum lipid levels among drug-naïve outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

OBJECTIVE

As obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a relatively common psychiatric disorder with a significant suicide risk, the individuation of potential biomarkers of suicidality, such as cholesterol levels, may enable recognition of at-risk subjects. Therefore, the aims of this study were to: 1) evaluate potential differences in clinical and laboratory parameters between patients with and without alexithymia and compare them with healthy controls; and 2) investigate which clinical and laboratory variables were associated with suicidal ideation.

METHODS

79 drug-naïve adult outpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of OCD were recruited. Alexithymia was measured with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), suicidal ideation was assessed with the Scale for Suicide Ideation, and depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Serum lipid levels of 40 healthy controls were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Alexithymic patients had altered serum lipid levels in comparison with non-alexithymics and healthy controls. Using a linear regression model, the presence of symmetry/ordering obsessions and compulsions, lower HDL-C levels, and difficulty in identifying feelings dimension of the TAS-20 were associated with higher suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSIONS

Alexithymic individuals with OCD may exhibit dysregulation of the cholesterol balance, which in turn may be linked to suicidal ideation. Further prospective studies are required to elucidate this potential association.

Therapeutic Action of Fluoxetine is Associated with a Reduction in Prefrontal Cortical miR-1971 Expression Levels in a Mouse Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that have recently emerged as epigenetic modulators of gene expression in psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia and major depression. So far, miRNAs have neither been studied in patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) nor in PTSD animal models. Here, we present the first study exploring the connection between miRNAs and PTSD. Employing our previously established PTSD mouse model, we assessed miRNA profiles in prefrontal cortices (PFCs) dissected from either fluoxetine or control-treated wildtype C57BL/6N mice 74 days after their subjection to either a single traumatic electric footshock or mock-treatment. Fluoxetine is an antidepressant known to be effective both in PTSD patients and in mice suffering from a PTSD-like syndrome. Screening for differences in the relative expression levels of all potential miRNA target sequences of miRBase 18.0 by pairwise comparison of the PFC miRNA profiles of the four mouse groups mentioned resulted in identification of five miRNA candidate molecules. Validation of these miRNA candidates by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) revealed that the therapeutic action of fluoxetine in shocked mice is associated with a significant reduction in mmu-miR-1971 expression. Furthermore, our findings suggest that traumatic stress and fluoxetine interact to cause distinct alterations in the mouse PFC miRNA signature in the long-term.

The Relationships between Cholesterol and Suicide: An Update

Cholesterol is a core component of the central nervous system, essential for the cell membrane stability and the correct functioning of neurotransmission. It has been observed that cholesterol may be somewhat associated with suicidal behaviours. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to elucidate current facts and views about the role of cholesterol levels in mood disorders. The majority of the studies reviewed in the present paper suggest an interesting relationship between cholesterol (especially lower levels) and suicidality. On the other hand, particularly during the last years, relationships between serum cholesterol and suicidality were doubted on the basis of some recent studies that have not found any correlation. However, the debate on relationships between cholesterol and suicide is open and longitudinal studies on a larger sample of patients are needed to further clarify this important issue.