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Biomedical subjects

P Cosyns

Publications and source records attributed to P Cosyns.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Lower degree of esterification of serum cholesterol in depression: relevance for depression and suicide research.

Previous studies have suggested that depression and suicide are related to alterations in total cholesterol serum concentrations, and that an altered distribution of haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes in major depression indicates that variation on chromosome 16 may be associated with that illness. Lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT, EC 2.3.1.43), the enzyme that catalyzes the esterifying reaction of cholesterol in serum, is located close to the Hp gene. This study examined the serum concentrations of total and free cholesterol and the esterified cholesterol ratio in 26 healthy controls, 47 unipolar depressed subjects (16 minor, 14 simple major and 17 melancholic depressed subjects) and 12 relatives of melancholic subjects. Depressed subjects (regardless of subtype) and relatives of depressed subjects had a significantly lower esterified cholesterol ratio than normal controls. No significant differences in total or free cholesterol concentrations were found between the above study groups. In depressed subjects, there were no significant relationships between the esterified cholesterol ratio, total or free cholesterol and postdexamethasone adrenocorticotropic or cortisol values, Hp phenotypes, severity of illness or suicidal symptoms. It is hypothesized that lower esterification in serum cholesterol may constitute a vulnerability factor for depression through alterations in cell membrane microviscosity.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Synchronized annual rhythms in violent suicide rate, ambient temperature and the light-dark span.

To investigate whether violent and nonviolent suicide and homicide are related to atmospheric or geomagnetic activity, we investigated the relationships between weekly number of suicides or homicides for all Belgium for the period 1979-1987, and ambient temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, hours of sunlight and precipitation per day, wind speed and geomagnetic index. The occurrence of violent suicide was significantly and positively related to ambient temperature, sunlight duration, an increase in temperature over the few past weeks, and negatively to relative humidity. Higher ambient temperature and an increase in air temperature over the few past weeks were the most significant climatic predictors of violent suicide rate. A highly significant common annual rhythm with a common acrophase of 190 degrees was detected in violent suicide rate, ambient temperature and sunlight duration. No significant time-relationships between nonviolent suicide or homicide and any of the weather variables were found. It is concluded that i) violent suicide may be related to short-term fluctuations in the weather and in particular to temperature; and ii) the annual rhythm in violent suicide may be synchronized by the annual rhythms in ambient temperature and light-dark span.

Belgium↗
PubMed1994

Ultrasensitive assay for measuring the intact (1-39) ACTH molecule: an asset in depression research.

This study investigates the utility for depression research of an assay for intact (1-39) adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) versus that of a previously employed (i.e., 1-17, 1-24 sequences) ACTH assay. ACTH plasma levels were measured using two different ACTH assays (labeled as intact versus nonintact) in 10 minor and 27 major depressed subjects undergoing the combined dexamethasone suppression (DST) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) test. Intact--but not nonintact--ACTH values were significantly correlated with the severity of illness. Major depressed subjects exhibited significantly higher post-DST+CRH intact ACTH values than minor depressives, whereas nonintact ACTH values were not significantly different between these groups. Post-DST+CRH intact ACTH values were significantly more closely related to post-DST+CRH cortisol than nonintact ACTH values. It is concluded that the assay of the intact ACTH molecule is an asset in depression research and should replace the previous less specific and sensitive ACTH assays.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1994

Evidence for the existence of major depression with and without anxiety features.

Several studies have reported on comorbidity between depression and anxiety. The present study investigates the occurrence of anxiety symptoms during an episode of unipolar depression. The authors administered the 15-item Rating Scale for Anxiety States of Hamilton (HAM-A) to 73 depressed inpatients categorized according to DSM-III criteria into minor (300.40, 309.00), major depression without (296.X2) and with (296.X3) melancholia. Principal-component (PC) analysis revealed three interpretable PCs: a somatic anxiety, a depression-anxiety overlap, and an anxious mood-behavior factor. Subjects with major depression showed significantly higher ratings on total HAM-A score, the three above PCs, and on all HAM-A items (except general somatic muscular and genitourinary symptoms) than subjects with minor depression. A cluster analysis generated two stable, qualitatively distinct clusters: i.e. one with severe anxiety and one with no or minimal anxiety; the six most discriminating symptoms were: tension, behavior at interview (general or physiological), respiratory, genitourinary and autonomic symptoms. Up to 95.4% of patients allocated to the severe anxiety cluster were major depressives. The results suggest that major depression may be divided into two qualitatively distinct classes, i.e. major depression with and without anxiety features.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1994

Haptoglobin phenotypes and gene frequencies in unipolar major depression.

OBJECTIVE: Studies from the authors' laboratory have shown that major depression is accompanied by significantly increased plasma concentrations of positive acute-phase proteins such as haptoglobin. Haptoglobin is characterized by a molecular variation with three known phenotypes (Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, and Hp 2-2). This study investigated haptoglobin plasma levels and phenotype and gene frequencies in unipolar major depression. METHOD: Haptoglobin plasma levels of 22 healthy volunteers, 32 patients with minor depression, and 72 patients with major depression were determined by means of a laser nephelometric method. Haptoglobin phenotyping of these 126 subjects and 200 healthy blood donors was also carried out. RESULTS: The patients with major depression exhibited significantly higher haptoglobin plasma levels than the healthy comparison subjects and the patients with minor depression. Subjects with the haptoglobin phenotype Hp 2-2 had significantly lower haptoglobin levels than the phenotype Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-1 carriers. The frequencies of haptoglobin phenotypes Hp 2-1 (61.1%) and Hp 2-2 (20.8%) in the patients with major depression were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than the frequencies in the normal population (i.e., the blood donors: 48.0% and 37.0%, respectively). The frequency of the Hp-1 gene was significantly greater in the patients with major depression (48.6%) than in the normal population (39.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Major depression is characterized by a hyperhaptoglobinemia that is largely independent of haptoglobin phenotypes. This altered distribution of haptoglobin phenotypes and genes suggests that genetic variation on chromosome 16 may be associated with that illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Relationships between increased haptoglobin plasma levels and activation of cell-mediated immunity in depression.

Recently, it was found that major depression is accompanied by an acute phase (AP) response with increased haptoglobin (Hp) plasma levels and various indices of systemic immune stimulation. The present study has been carried out in order to determine the relationships between hyperhaptoglobinemia and indices of systemic immune activation in severe depression. Toward this end, the authors investigated the relationships between Hp levels and number of leukocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and activated T lymphocytes (CD25+, HLA-DR+), in depression. Hp plasma levels were significantly higher in major depressed subjects as compared to healthy controls and minor depressives. There was a significant positive correlation between Hp levels and severity of illness. Hp plasma levels showed significant and positive relationships with the absolute number of leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, CD25+ and HLA-DR+ T cells. Up to 35% of the variance in Hp levels could be explained by the regression on the number of neutrophils and HLA-DR+ T cells. The results show that hyperhaptoglobinemia in major depression is significantly related to activation of cell-mediated immunity.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1993

The periodicities in and biometeorological relationships with bed occupancy of an acute psychiatric ward in Antwerp, Belgium.

Recently, some investigators have established a seasonal pattern in normal human psychology, physiology and behaviour, and in the incidence of psychiatric psychopathology. In an attempt to elucidate the chronopsy and meteotropism in the latter, we have examined the chronograms of, and the biometeorological relationships to bed occupancy of the psychiatric ward of the Antwerp University Hospital during three consecutive calendar years (1987-1989). Weather data for the vicinity were provided by a local meteorological station and comprise mean atmospheric pressure, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and minutes of sunlight and precipitation/day. The number of psychiatric beds occupied during the study period exhibited a significant seasonal variation. Peaks in bed occupancy were observed in March and November, with lows in August. An important part of the variability in the number of beds occupied could be explained by the composite effects of weather variables of the preceding weeks. Our results suggest that short-term fluctuations in atmospheric activity may dictate some of the periodicities in psychiatric psychopathology.

Bed Occupancy↗
PubMed1993

A SCAN-SADS comparison study of psychotic subjects and their first-degree relatives.

Two diagnostic interviews, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (lifetime version) (SADS-LA) and the Schedule for the Clinical Assessment of Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) were compared for main diagnoses and for their acceptibility to psychotic subjects and their psychiatrically well relatives. Broad agreement for DSM-III, DSM-III-R and draft ICD-10 diagnoses was good, although there were areas of disagreement between the two interviews which are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Sleep disorders and anxiety as symptom profiles of sympathoadrenal system hyperactivity in major depression.

Recently, it has been reported that major depression is accompanied by an increased sympathoadrenal system (SAS) activity. In order to study the psychopathological correlates of SAS activity in depression, the authors measured the 24 h urinary excretion of catecholamines (CA), i.e., noradrenaline (NE), adrenaline (E), dopamine (DA) and the NE/E metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in 80 unipolar depressed subjects. The excretion of these indices of SAS activity have been studied in relation to the depressive items of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III (SCID) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). There were significant positive correlations between the SCID item sleep disorders and the HDRS item middle insomnia, on the one hand, and NE, E and DA excretion, on the other. The MHPG excretion in 24 h urine was significantly and negatively related to somatic anxiety and hypochondriasis. It is suggested that these intertwined relationships between increased CA turnover, sleep discontinuity and anxiety may reflect the occurrence of a hyperarousal state in some major depressives that may be regarded as a coping response to various putative noxious stimuli.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1993

Relationships between interleukin-6 activity, acute phase proteins, and function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in severe depression.

Recent studies from this laboratory have provided some evidence that major depression, in particular melancholia, may be accompanied by an immune response. The present study was designed to investigate whether severe depression is characterized by increased interleukin-6 (Il-6) activity and whether Il-6 production is related to altered levels of acute phase reactants and to abnormal function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Measurements were made in 8 healthy control subjects and 24 depressed inpatients of Il-6 production in culture supernatants of mitogen-stimulated peripheral leukocytes and plasma levels of haptoglobin (Hp), transferrin (Tf), and postdexamethasone cortisol. Il-6 activity was significantly higher in melancholic subjects than in healthy control subjects and in patients with minor depression or nonmelancholic major depression. Il-6 production was significantly correlated with Hp (positively) and Tf (negatively) plasma levels. There were significant and positive correlations between Il-6 activity and postdexamethasone cortisol values. The findings may suggest that increased Il-6 activity in severe depression is related to hypotransferrinemia, hyperhaptoglobinemia, and hyperactivity of the HPA axis.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1993

Psychomotor retardation, anorexia, weight loss, sleep disturbances, and loss of energy: psychopathological correlates of hyperhaptoglobinemia during major depression.

Recently, we have established that major depression is characterized by hyperhaptoglobinemia, which may be regarded as an index of an "acute" phase response in that illness. The present study investigates the psychopathological correlates of increased plasma concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp) in major depression. To this end, the authors studied the Hp levels in relation to depressive items of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III (SCID) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) in 90 depressed subjects. There was a significant positive relationship between the SCID symptoms anorexia/weight loss, sleep, and psychomotor disorders and Hp plasma concentrations. Hp plasma levels were significantly and positively correlated with overall severity of illness (HRSD). The HRSD symptom correlates of higher Hp levels were loss of interest, middle insomnia, and psychomotor retardation. Up to 31.4% of the variance in Hp plasma values could be explained by psychomotor disorders, anorexia, weight loss, middle insomnia, and less diurnal variation of mood. It is suggested that hyperhaptoglobinemia, as an index of an "acute" phase response in major depression, is related to the somatic dimension of depressive illness.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1993

Relationships between lower plasma L-tryptophan levels and immune-inflammatory variables in depression.

Despite much research, the pathophysiology underlying lower L-tryptophan (L-TRP) availability in major depression has remained elusive. The present study investigates whether lower L-TRP availability in major depression is related to immune activation which may occur in that illness and is known to modulate L-TRP metabolism. Toward this end, the authors have measured the following in depressed patients and normal control subjects: plasma levels of L-TRP, and the competing amino acids (CAA) valine, leucine, isoleucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, together with indices of immune function such as haptoglobin (Hp) and transferrin (Tf) plasma levels, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) serum activity, and mitogen-induced culture supernatant interleukin-6 (Il-6) production. Both plasma levels of L-TRP and the L-TRP/CAA ratio were significantly lower in major depressed subjects as compared with healthy control subjects. There were significant correlations between plasma L-TRP levels, on the one hand, and Tf plasma levels, DPP IV activity (both positive), Il-6 production, and Hp plasma levels (both negative), on the other. Up to 63.7% of the variance in L-TRP plasma concentrations could be explained by DPP IV, Hp, Il-6 values, and gender. Up to 50% of the variance in the L-TRP/CAA ratio could be explained by Hp values (negative correlation) and gender. It is hypothesized that lower plasma L-TRP availability in major depression may be related to the immune response in that illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Significantly increased expression of T-cell activation markers (interleukin-2 and HLA-DR) in depression: further evidence for an inflammatory process during that illness.

1. Recently, the authors have reported that severe depression may be accompanied by a systemic immune activation with an increase in the number of T cells expressing activation receptors. 2. The present large-scale study examines specific T (CD2+HLADR+ and CD7+CD25+) and B (CD7-CD25+) cell activation markers in depressed inpatients and normal volunteers together with the number of leukocytes and monocytes. 3. The authors have established that depression is characterized by a significantly increased expression of T cell activation receptors (CD7+CD25+) and by the appearance of previously unexpressed T cell surface markers (CD2+HLADR+). There was a significant and positive correlation between the number of CD7+CD25+ cells and monocytes, with the expression of the HLADR and CD25 T cell activation markers being significantly and positively correlated. Up to 64% of all depressed subjects exhibit an increased expression of these activation markers with a specificity of 91%. 4. The normal control group and the depressive sample constitute two discrete classes (i.e., qualitatively distinct groups) with respect to the expression of these activation markers and leukocytosis. 5. It is concluded that our results are compatible with the presence of T-cell activation in a considerable number of depressed patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

An evaluation of basal hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function in depression: results of a large-scaled and controlled study.

In order to evaluate the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT)-axis in unipolar depression, the authors measured basal 0800h plasma levels of free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by means of the new, ultrasensitive assays (TSH-IRMA) in 69 healthy controls, 62 minor, 101 simple major, and 57 melancholic depressed subjects. Basal HPT-axis hormone levels of almost all (96.8%) unipolar depressed patients fell within the normal, euthyroid range. None of the major depressed subjects showed subclinical hypothyroidism. It was found that 8.8% of the melancholic subjects exhibited some degree of subclinical hyperthyroidism. Basal TSH-IRMA values were significantly lower in melancholic patients than in healthy controls, minor and simple major depressed patients, and in major vs. minor depressed subjects. FT4 circulating levels were significantly higher in melancholic patients than in all other subjects. Basal TSH-IRMA and FT4 levels were significantly correlated with severity of illness. In depression, there was a significant and negative correlation between basal TSH-IRMA values and FT4 concentrations. No significant gender- or age-related differences in TSH-IRMA or thyroid hormones were detected in depression. It is argued that--in depression research--the assays of basal TSH-IRMA should replace thyrotropin releasing hormone tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Regional cerebral blood flow in unipolar depression measured with Tc-99m-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography: negative findings.

Recent studies have reported that patients with unipolar major depression may show a lower whole brain cerebral blood flow (CBF) and reduced regional CBF in frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. The present study used single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with the CBF marker Tc-99m-hexamethylpropyleneamineoxine (HMPAO) to measure the cortical CBF of six individual regions of interest (ROIs), total ROI, and left or right hemispheric total ROI in 43 unipolar depressed subjects and 12 normal control subjects. There were no significant differences in the distribution of Tc-99m-HMPAO uptake into total ROI, right or left global ROI, prefrontal, motor frontal, parietal, temporal, visual cortex, or associative visual cortex between patients with melancholic depression, simple major depression, or minor depression and healthy control subjects. There were also no significant differences in the right-left distribution of uptake between the patients and the control subjects. Hypoperfusion was observed in motor frontal and parietal cortex of patients who had been taking benzodiazepines during the study period. It is concluded that cortical CBF, as assessed with Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT, is relatively intact in the present sample of patients with severe depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Seasonality in violent suicide but not in nonviolent suicide or homicide.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have reported seasonal or monthly variation in suicide. The present study was conducted in order to determine seasonality and other significant rhythms in violent and nonviolent suicide, alone and together, and homicide. METHOD: Data on suicide, violent suicide, nonviolent suicide, and homicide (categorized according to ICD-9) for all of Belgium for the period 1979-1987 were analyzed by means of spectral analyses. RESULTS: There was a significant seasonality for suicide but not homicide. Seasonality was present in violent but not in nonviolent suicide. The number of violent suicides increased with age and was more prominent in men. The violent suicide chronograms of younger and elderly persons were quite distinct in the occurrence of peaks in March-April and August, respectively, and lows in December-January. There was no significant relationship between violent suicide and homicide. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonality in suicide is determined by significant circannual rhythms in violent suicides, which differ between younger and elderly persons.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

MMPI assessment of the DSM-III-R histrionic personality disorder.

This study investigated the MMPI characteristics of a group of 25 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev. [DSM-III-R]; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) histrionic personality disorder patients, contrasted with a mixed group of 57 other personality disorder patients. All patients were diagnosed by means of a semistructured interview (SCID-II; Spitzer, Williams, & Gibbon, 1987). Effects for diagnostic category were found for MMPI Scales 9 (Ma), 0 (Si) and for the HST scale, developed by Morey, Waugh, and Blashfield (1985) for the diagnosis of the histrionic personality disorder. Further analysis of the results revealed that these MMPI scales, and especially the HST scale, mainly assess a social introversion-extraversion dimension, on which histrionic inpatients can be differentiated from nonhistrionic inpatients. This study does not offer direct empirical support for the use of the HST scale as a measurement of the DSM-III-R histrionic personality disorder concept.

Adolescent↗