IL-6 and CRP levels were elevated among those with lifetime depression and, among those with depression only, IL-6 methylation showed an inverse correlation with circulating IL-6 and CRP.
Conclusions. Genome-wide methylation profiles distinguish individuals with versus without lifetime depression in a community-based setting,
and show coordinated signals with pathophysiological mechanisms previously implicated in TGF-beta inhibitor the etiology of this disorder. Examining epigenetic mechanisms in concert with other dynamic markers of physiologic functioning should improve our understanding of the neurobiology of depression.”
“This study considers an optimal intervention strategy for influenza outbreaks. Variations in the SEIAR model are considered to include seasonal forcing and age structure, and control strategies include vaccination, antiviral treatment, and social distancing such as school closures. We formulate an optimal control problem by minimizing the PF-6463922 in vivo incidence of influenza outbreaks while considering intervention costs. We examine the effects of delays in vaccine production, seasonal
forcing, and age-dependent transmission rates on the optimal control and suggest some optimal strategies through numerical simulations. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is under-researched despite its high prevalence and large impact on the healthcare system. There is a paucity of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that explore the neural correlates of emotional processing in GAD. The present study investigated the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response to processing positive and negative facial emotions in patients with GAD.
Method. A total of 15 female GAD patients and 16 female controls undertook an implicit face emotion task during
fMRI scanning. They also performed a face emotion recognition task outside the scanner.
Results. The only behavioural difference observed in GAD patients was less accurate detection of sad facial expressions compared with control participants. However, GAD patients showed an attenuated BOLD signal in the prefrontal cortex to fearful, sad, angry and happy facial expressions find more and an attenuated signal in the anterior cingulate coztex to happy and fearful facial expressions. No differences were found in amygdala response.
Conclusions. In contrast with previous research, this study found BOLD signal attenuation in the ventrolateral and medial prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex during face emotion processing, consistent with a hypothesis of hypo-responsivity to external emotional stimuli in GAD. These decreases were in areas that have been implicated in emotion and cognition and may reflect an altered balance between internally and externally directed attentional processes.”
“Nitric oxide (NO) consumption by red blood cell (RBC) hemoglobin (Hb) in vasculature is critical in regulating the vascular tone.