<p>Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio da se utvrdi nivo folne kiseline u serumu (fiziolo&scaron;ka vrednost je od 16,31 do 34,88 nmol/l) i proceni težina kliničke slike instrumentima kliničke procene (HAMD 17 i 21, MADRS i CGI skala) u populaciji bolnički lečenih pacijenata, koji boluju od te&scaron;ke depresivne epizode, ili rekurententog depresivnog poremećaja, i njihov odgovor na inicijalnu antidepresivnu terapiju sprovođenu prema smernicama nacionalnog vodiča. Odgovor na antidepresivnu terapiju je određivan nakon četiri i osam nedelja lečenja u odnosu na nivo folne kiseline i prema nadoknadi folne kiseline u dozi od 15 mg dnevno (kod pacijenata koji nisu adekvatno odreagovali na terapiju). Smatrano je da je antidepresivni odgovor adekvatan ukoliko je utvrđena redukcija skora na HAMD (17, 21) i MADRS za 50%. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo 102 pacijenata (69 osoba ženskog pola i 33 osobe mu&scaron;kog pola) starosti između 18 i 70 godina života. Utvrđeno je da je snižen nivo folne kiseline u krvi imalo 41,2% pacijenata.<em> X</em>² testom je ustanovljeno da postoje značajne razlike nivoa folne kiseline u krvi u odnosu na pol. Snižen nivo folne kiseline je zastupljeniji kod osoba mu&scaron;kog pola. Pacijenati sa sniženim nivoom folne kiseline su imali inicijalno značajno vi&scaron;e skorove na skalama kliničke procene i izostanak adekvatnog terapijskog odgovora u četvrtoj nedelji lečenja. U osmoj nedelji lečenja se ta razlika u terapijskom odgovoru izgubila. Utvrđena je statistički značajna razlika u skorovima na HAMD (17) i MADRS u tri merenja u zavisnosti od nivoa folne kiseline i nadoknade uz upotrebu vi&scaron;esmerne me&scaron;ovite analize varijanse (ANOVA). Utvrđeno je da postoji značajan glavni efekat merenja (skorovi se značajno razlikuju od merenja do merenja), i značajan efekat interakcije merenja i nadoknade.</p> / <p>The aim of this paper is to establish the levels of folic acid in serum (physiological values is from 16.31 to 34.88 nmol/l) and the assessment of seriousness of clinical picture by clinical assessment instruments (HAMD 17 and 21, MADRS and CGI scales) in the population of hospitalized patients suffering from severe depressive episodes, or recurrent depressive disorder, and their response to the initial anti-depressant therapy administered according to national guidelines. The response to anti-depressant therapy was determined after four or eight weeks of treatment in relation to the levels of folic acid and according to recuperation of folic acid in the dose of 15 mg daily (in patients who did not react adequately to the therapy). It was believed that the anti-depressive response was satisfying in case of the established score reduction on HAMD (17, 21) and MADRS for 50%. The research encircled 102 patients (69 of whom female patients and 33 males) aged between 18 and 70. A reduced level of folic acid in blood was found in 41.2% of the patients. By<em> X</em>² test determined that there were significant differences in the levels of folic acid in relation to the patient gender. A reduced level was more found in male patients. The patients with reduced levels of folic acid had initially significantly higher scores on clinical assessment scales and the lack of an adequate therapeutic response in the fourth week of the treatment. In the eighth week of the treatment that difference vanished in therapeutic response. A statistically significant difference was determined on HAMD (17) and MADRS during three measurements depending on the levels of folic acid and its recuperation by using a multiway diverse analysis of variance (ANOVA). It was determined that there is a significant central effect of measurements (scores significantly differ from measurement to measurement), as well as an effect of interaction of measurements and the recuperation.</p>

INTRODUÇÃO: O Transtorno depressivo maior (TDM) acarreta malefícios na saúde física e na vida social do paciente levando-os ao isolamento, reduzindo sua capacidade física e profissional e aumentando o risco de morte. Sabe-se também da importância do exercício físico na manutenção da qualidade de vida e, mais recentemente sugerido como terapêutica adjuntiva na depressão. A maioria dos indivíduos deprimidos pode ser beneficiada com a prática de exercícios físicos, uma vez que sob o ponto de vista fisiológico, estes indivíduos apresentam uma capacidade aeróbica debilitada e alta propensão para a síndrome metabólica. Neste sentido, evidências apontam para o papel do exercício físico aeróbio como regulador dos níveis de monoaminas, cortisol e fatores neurotróficos, mecanismos semelhantes aos dos antidepressivos. Também são conhecidos seus efeitos na melhora de parâmetros cardiopulmonares, funções cognitivas, promoção da autoestima, interação social, entre outros benefícios na promoção do estado de saúde desses indivíduos. Entretanto, a maioria dos estudos realizados com objetivo de entender a real condição do exercício físico frente à melhora dos sintomas de depressão é criticada por falhas metodológicas e limitações, além de serem imprecisos quanto ao período e intensidade necessária de treino para que ocorram adaptações positivas. Portanto, este estudo propôs-se a minimizar estas críticas recorrentes avaliando uma amostra homogênea de pacientes com TDM e observando eventuais modificações em parâmetros biológicos, após treinamento físico aeróbio sistematizado associado à farmacoterapia. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia clínica do exercício físico supervisionado associado à farmacoterapia no tratamento da depressão maior. MÉTODOS: 40 pacientes de ambos os sexos (31 mulheres), idades entre 18 e 55 anos (38,65±9,96) iniciaram monoterapia com sertralina e foram avaliados por quatro semanas. A amostra foi dividida em grupo intervenção (GI- n=20) que foram medicados e participaram do treinamento físico aeróbio, e grupo controle (GC- n=20) que utilizou apenas a farmacoterapia. Os pacientes foram avaliados no início e fim do programa por meio da escala de Hamilton-17 itens (HAM-D-17), Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI), escala de Impressão Clínica Global (CGI) e parâmetros de aptidão cardiorrespiratória. Para se obter a melhor expressão dos índices de avaliação funcional dos pacientes de ambos os grupos usamos a ergoespirometria, teste que determinou as variáveis respiratórias, metabólicas e cardiovasculares de cada paciente. RESULTADOS: Após 4 semanas de exercício aeróbio supervisionado houve redução significativa (p < 0,05) nas escalas de HAM-D-17 e BDI, entre os momentos inicial e final, tanto no GI como no GC. Não foi encontrada diferença significante entre os grupos quanto à resposta ao tratamento (p > 0,99) ou remissão do episódio depressivo (p = 0,695). Entretanto, a redução dos sintomas de depressão foi mais acentuada no GI (- 43,2%) mesmo este grupo tendo utilizado uma dose de antidepressivo menor que o GC (p = 0,004). Houve alteração significativa dos parâmetros cardiopulmonares no GI [ (VO2máx- p < 0,001, PO2- p= 0,008, LV2 (VO2) - p=0,010) ]. Não foi encontrado correlação entre o delta HAM-D-17 e o delta VO2máx. (r = -0,179; p = 0, 270; n = 40), mas, uma correlação significativa (p < 0,05) foi observada entre as variáveis delta LV2 (VO2) e delta BDI, no GI (r = -0,458; p= 0,042). Quanto à predição de resposta, o índice de massa corpórea (IMC) inicial apresentou relação linear com o delta HAM-D-17 (p=0,01). CONCLUSÃO: Embora não tenha havido uma associação significativa entre o programa regular de exercício supervisionado e a melhora dos escores de depressão, estes dados preliminares mostraram efeitos diretos do exercício físico na aptidão cardiorrespiratória dos pacientes com TDM. Entretanto, cabe ressaltar que a diferença encontrada na dose de antidepressivo utilizada nos grupos (p=0,04) pode significar uma interferência positiva do exercício físico / INTRODUCTION: Major depressive disorder (MDD) causes harmful effects on physical health and social life of the patient taking them to isolation, reducing their physical and professional capacity and increasing the risk of death. It is also known the importance of supervised exercise in maintaining quality of life and, most recently as adjunctive therapy in depression. Most depressed individuals could have benefits with physical exercises training, once under the physiological point of view, these individuals have an impaired aerobic capacity and high propensity for metabolic syndrome. In this sense, evidences links the role of aerobic exercise as a factor regulating the levels of monoamines, cortisol and neurotrophic factors, mechanisms similar to those of antidepressants. It is also known its effects on improvement of cardiopulmonary parameters, cognitive functions, promoting self-esteem, social interaction, among other benefits in promoting health state of these individuals. However, most studies conducted in order to understand the underlying mechanisms of physical exercise to improve symptoms of depression is criticized for methodological flaws and limitations, in addition to inaccuracy about the period and intensity needed for training leading to positive adaptations. Therefore, this study proposed to minimize these criticisms by assessing a homogeneous sample of patients with MDD and evaluating changes in biological parameters, after systematized aerobic physical training associated with antidepressant pharmacotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of physical exercise associated with pharmacotherapy in the treatment of MDD. METHODS: 40 patients of both genders (31 women), aged between 18 and 55 years (38, 65 ± 9, 96), in monotherapy treatement with sertraline were evaluated for four weeks. The sample was divided into intervention group (IG n = 20) that receive exercise training and antidepressant pharmacotherapy, and control group (CG n = 20) only with pharmacotherapy. Patients were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the program by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - 17 items (HAM-D-17), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Global Clinical impression (CGI) and scale parameters of cardiorespiratory fitness. To obtain the best expression of functional evaluation indexes we used ergospirometry to determine respiratory, metabolic and cardiovascular each patient. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise, there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the scale of HAM-D-17 and BDI between the initial and final evaluations. There was no significant difference between groups regarding response to antidepressant pharmacotherapy (p > 0.99) and episode remission (p = 0.695). The reduction of symptoms of depression was more marked in the IG (-43.2 percent) even though this group having used a dose of antidepressant less than the CG (p = 0.004). There was a significant change of cardiopulmonary parameters in IG [(VO2max- p < 0.001, PO2- p = 0.008, LV2 (VO2) - p = 0.010)]. No correlation was found between the delta HAM-D-17 and delta VO2max. (r = -0.179; p = 0.270; n = 40), but a significant correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between variables delta LV2 (VO2) and delta BDI, in IG (r = -0.458 p=0.042). As for the prediction of response, initial body mass index presented linear relationship with the Delta HAM-D-17 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Although there has not been a significant association between regular supervised exercise program and improvement of depression scores, our results shows a direct effects of supervised physical exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness of patients with MDD. However, it is noteworthy that the difference found in the dose of an antidepressant used in the groups (p= 0.04) can be due to a positive interference of supervised physical exercise

Finally, the neuroprotective effects of TGP against corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, an in vitro experimental model of depression were studied. The results showed TGP treatment dose-dependently protected the cells against corticosterone-induced toxicity. The cytoprotection afforded by TGP treatment was shown to be associated with an enhanced antioxidant activity, and increased expressions of neurotrophins including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor and neurotrophin-3. / Secondly, the antidepressant-like effect of TGP was evaluated by a rat model of depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The results showed that a 5-week CUMS caused depression-like behavior in rats, as indicated by a significant decreases in sucrose consumption (assessed by sucrose preference test) and locomotor activity (assessed by open-field test), and an increase in immobility time (assessed by forced swim test). Intragastric administration of TGP during the five weeks of CUMS procedure significantly suppressed these behavioral changes induced by CUMS. / Taken together, the results confirmed the antidepressant-like effect of TGP. The antidepressive action of TGP may be mediated by the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, the inhibition of oxidative stress, and the up-regulation of neurotrophins, thereby leading to the neuroprotective effects. / The antidepressant-like effect of TGP was firstly evaluated by the behavioral despair test, forced swim test and tail suspension test. The results showed that intragastric administration of TGP caused a significant reduction of immobility time in both forced swim and tail suspension tests in mice. TGP treatment also significantly reduced the duration of immobility time in the forced swim test in rats. / The root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Family: Ranunculaceae), commonly known as peony, is a component herb of many traditional formulae for the treatment of depression-like disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated the antidepressive effect of peony extract in mouse models of depression. Total glycosides of peony (TGP) is regarded as the major active ingredients of peony. The present study aims to confirm the antidepressive potential of TGP and evaluate its action mechanisms. / Thirdly, the neuroprotective effects of TGP on CUMS-treated rats and its possible mechanisms were investigated. The results showed that treatment with TGP for 5 weeks produced neuroprotective effects on the hippocampus of CUMS-treated rats. This effect was associated with the attenuation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivation (characterized by a decreased serum corticosterone level and an increased hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor expression), an inhibition of oxidative stress, and up-regulation of neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 in the hippocampus. / Mao, Qingqiu. / Adviser: Che Chun-Tao. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-01, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-186). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2009.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Orientador: Carlos Amilcar Parada / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T09:12:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sartori_CesarRenato_D.pdf: 2294209 bytes, checksum: 66e3c46b10c5f7fc7340e20469fb16aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A depressão é uma doença devastadora, com diagnóstico crescente nos tempos atuais e que tem importante impacto na qualidade de vida do indivíduo acometido e de seus familiares, além de conseqüências econômicas e sociais. Acredita-se que seja causada pela interação entre predisposição genética e fatores ambientais, tais como o estresse crônico. Embora o controle da depressão tenha um grande interesse clínico e farmacológico, os mecanismos moleculares envolvidos nesta doença ainda não estão esclarecidos. Foi proposta a "Hipótese Neurotrófica da Depressão" que postula que a redução dos níveis cerebrais do Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Cérebro (BDNF) pode contribuir para alterações plásticas cerebrais subjacentes à fisiopatologia da depressão. Suportando esta hipótese, diversos estudos relatam que o estresse diminui a expressão hipocampal de BDNF enquanto drogas antidepressivas revertem tal diminuição. No entanto, recentemente surgiram evidências de que o BDNF promove diferentes efeitos em diferentes regiões encefálicas envolvidas com os distúrbios do humor. O BDNF é sintetizado na sua isoforma precursora (pró-BDNF) que sofre clivagem proteolítica para gerar a isoforma madura (mad-BDNF) ou ainda uma isoforma truncada. Tem sido postulado que as isoformas precursora e madura exerçam efeitos biológicos opostos sobre a plasticidade neuronal. Paralelamente, estudos clínicos revelam evidente efeito antidepressivo do exercício físico. Embora não se conheça completamente os mecanismos neurobiológicos deste efeito, sabe-se que o exercício físico promove aumentos na expressão hipocampal do BDNF. Entretanto, são raros os estudos que abordam o efeito do exercício físico sobre a clivagem proteolíca do pró-BDNF. Portanto, este estudo teve como objetivo investigar os efeitos da atividade física voluntária sobre a expressão das isoformas precursora, truncada e madura do BDNF e relacioná-las com o efeito antidepressivo e cognitivo em camundongos. Camundongos C57Bl/6 com 8-9 semanas de idade tiveram acesso a uma roda de atividade, com livre curso ou travada, por 28 dias e foram submetidos ao Teste do Nado Forçado e ao Teste de Suspensão pela Cauda, para avaliação do comportamento tipo-depressivo; e ao Teste do Labirinto Aquático de Morris, para avaliação da capacidade de aprendizagem e memória. Seus hipocampos foram dissecados e analisados por Western blot para avaliação das isoformas da proteína BDNF, e por RT-PCR em tempo real para análise da expressão dos genes da p11 e tPA, moléculas envolvidas na clivagem do pró-BDNF. Atividade física voluntária realizada pelos camundongos, mas não a simples exposição a uma roda de atividade travada, induziu um robusto aumento nos níveis hipocampais de mad-BDNF e de RNA mensageiro para p11 e tPA, associado com efeito tipo-antidepressivo e melhor desempenho de aprendizado e memória, quando comparado com a condição sedentária. Por outro lado, nenhuma diferença foi observada na expressão das isoformas pró-BDNF e truncada entre todas as condições experimentais. Os dados deste trabalho indicam que o exercício físico exerce efeito antidepressivo em parte por modular o processamento proteolítico póstraducional do precursor do BDNF, através do sistema p11/tPA, aumentando os níveis hipocampais da sua isoforma madura. Desta forma, o exercício pode estimular processos moleculares de neuroplasticidade subjacentes à maior resiliência a transtornos do humor induzidos por estresse, tais como a depressão, bem como, ao melhor desempenho de aprendizagem e memória / Abstract: Depression is a devastating disease with diagnosis increasing and that has important impact on quality of life of individuals affected and their relatives, as well as economic and social consequences. Depression is believed to be caused by the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as chronic stress. The "Neurotrophic Hypothesis of Depression" states that the reduction of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels may contribute to brain plastic changes underlying depression physiopathology. Supporting this hypothesis, several studies have reported that stress decreases the expression of hippocampal BDNF while antidepressant drugs reverse that decrease. However, new evidence emerged recently that BDNF promotes different effects in different brain regions involved with mood disorders. BDNF is synthesized as a precursor molecule (proBDNF) that undergoes proteolytic cleavage to generate a mature isoform (matBDNF) and a truncated isoform. Precursor and mature isoforms are assumed to elicit opposite biological effects on neuroplasticity. Besides these data, clinical studies have demonstrated an evident antidepressant effect of physical exercise. Although the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the antidepressive effect of physical exercise are not completely known, it is demonstrated that, similarly to antidepressant drugs, physical exercise increases BDNF expression in the hippocampus. However, few studies were addressed to verify the effect of physical exercise on post-translational proteolytic processing of pro-BDNF. Therefore, the present was addressed to investigate the effect of voluntary physical activity on precursor, truncated and mature BDNF isoforms expression in hippocampus, as well as whether the post-translational proteolytic processing of proBDNF is associated with an antidepressive and cognitive effect in mice. C57BL/6 mice, 8-9 weeks of age, had access to running wheel, freely mobile or locked, for 28 days and were subjected to the Forced Swimming Test and the Tail Suspension Test for evaluation of depressive behavior, and to the Morris Water Maze Test to assess learning and memory. Their hippocampi were dissected and analyzed by Western blot for evaluation of BDNF protein isoforms, and by real-time RT-PCR for expression of p11 and tPA, molecules involved in the cleavage of pro-BDNF. Voluntary physical activity performed by mice, but not the exposure to a locked running wheel, induced a robust increase in hippocampal levels of matBDNF and of p11 and tPA mRNA, associated with antidepressant effect and better cognitive performance compared with the sedentary condition. Furthermore, no difference was observed in the expression of proBDNF and truncated isoforms between all experimental conditions. In conclusion, data from this study suggests that exercise has antidepressant effects in part by modulating post-translational proteolytic processing of the precursor of BDNF, through the p11/tPA the system, increasing the levels of their mature isoform. Thus, exercise may stimulate molecular processes of neuroplasticity underlying the resilience to mood disorders induced by stress, such as depression, and the Best performance of learning and memory / Doutorado / Fisiologia / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

INTRODUÇÃO: O Transtorno depressivo maior (TDM) acarreta malefícios na saúde física e na vida social do paciente levando-os ao isolamento, reduzindo sua capacidade física e profissional e aumentando o risco de morte. Sabe-se também da importância do exercício físico na manutenção da qualidade de vida e, mais recentemente sugerido como terapêutica adjuntiva na depressão. A maioria dos indivíduos deprimidos pode ser beneficiada com a prática de exercícios físicos, uma vez que sob o ponto de vista fisiológico, estes indivíduos apresentam uma capacidade aeróbica debilitada e alta propensão para a síndrome metabólica. Neste sentido, evidências apontam para o papel do exercício físico aeróbio como regulador dos níveis de monoaminas, cortisol e fatores neurotróficos, mecanismos semelhantes aos dos antidepressivos. Também são conhecidos seus efeitos na melhora de parâmetros cardiopulmonares, funções cognitivas, promoção da autoestima, interação social, entre outros benefícios na promoção do estado de saúde desses indivíduos. Entretanto, a maioria dos estudos realizados com objetivo de entender a real condição do exercício físico frente à melhora dos sintomas de depressão é criticada por falhas metodológicas e limitações, além de serem imprecisos quanto ao período e intensidade necessária de treino para que ocorram adaptações positivas. Portanto, este estudo propôs-se a minimizar estas críticas recorrentes avaliando uma amostra homogênea de pacientes com TDM e observando eventuais modificações em parâmetros biológicos, após treinamento físico aeróbio sistematizado associado à farmacoterapia. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia clínica do exercício físico supervisionado associado à farmacoterapia no tratamento da depressão maior. MÉTODOS: 40 pacientes de ambos os sexos (31 mulheres), idades entre 18 e 55 anos (38,65±9,96) iniciaram monoterapia com sertralina e foram avaliados por quatro semanas. A amostra foi dividida em grupo intervenção (GI- n=20) que foram medicados e participaram do treinamento físico aeróbio, e grupo controle (GC- n=20) que utilizou apenas a farmacoterapia. Os pacientes foram avaliados no início e fim do programa por meio da escala de Hamilton-17 itens (HAM-D-17), Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI), escala de Impressão Clínica Global (CGI) e parâmetros de aptidão cardiorrespiratória. Para se obter a melhor expressão dos índices de avaliação funcional dos pacientes de ambos os grupos usamos a ergoespirometria, teste que determinou as variáveis respiratórias, metabólicas e cardiovasculares de cada paciente. RESULTADOS: Após 4 semanas de exercício aeróbio supervisionado houve redução significativa (p < 0,05) nas escalas de HAM-D-17 e BDI, entre os momentos inicial e final, tanto no GI como no GC. Não foi encontrada diferença significante entre os grupos quanto à resposta ao tratamento (p > 0,99) ou remissão do episódio depressivo (p = 0,695). Entretanto, a redução dos sintomas de depressão foi mais acentuada no GI (- 43,2%) mesmo este grupo tendo utilizado uma dose de antidepressivo menor que o GC (p = 0,004). Houve alteração significativa dos parâmetros cardiopulmonares no GI [ (VO2máx- p < 0,001, PO2- p= 0,008, LV2 (VO2) - p=0,010) ]. Não foi encontrado correlação entre o delta HAM-D-17 e o delta VO2máx. (r = -0,179; p = 0, 270; n = 40), mas, uma correlação significativa (p < 0,05) foi observada entre as variáveis delta LV2 (VO2) e delta BDI, no GI (r = -0,458; p= 0,042). Quanto à predição de resposta, o índice de massa corpórea (IMC) inicial apresentou relação linear com o delta HAM-D-17 (p=0,01). CONCLUSÃO: Embora não tenha havido uma associação significativa entre o programa regular de exercício supervisionado e a melhora dos escores de depressão, estes dados preliminares mostraram efeitos diretos do exercício físico na aptidão cardiorrespiratória dos pacientes com TDM. Entretanto, cabe ressaltar que a diferença encontrada na dose de antidepressivo utilizada nos grupos (p=0,04) pode significar uma interferência positiva do exercício físico / INTRODUCTION: Major depressive disorder (MDD) causes harmful effects on physical health and social life of the patient taking them to isolation, reducing their physical and professional capacity and increasing the risk of death. It is also known the importance of supervised exercise in maintaining quality of life and, most recently as adjunctive therapy in depression. Most depressed individuals could have benefits with physical exercises training, once under the physiological point of view, these individuals have an impaired aerobic capacity and high propensity for metabolic syndrome. In this sense, evidences links the role of aerobic exercise as a factor regulating the levels of monoamines, cortisol and neurotrophic factors, mechanisms similar to those of antidepressants. It is also known its effects on improvement of cardiopulmonary parameters, cognitive functions, promoting self-esteem, social interaction, among other benefits in promoting health state of these individuals. However, most studies conducted in order to understand the underlying mechanisms of physical exercise to improve symptoms of depression is criticized for methodological flaws and limitations, in addition to inaccuracy about the period and intensity needed for training leading to positive adaptations. Therefore, this study proposed to minimize these criticisms by assessing a homogeneous sample of patients with MDD and evaluating changes in biological parameters, after systematized aerobic physical training associated with antidepressant pharmacotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of physical exercise associated with pharmacotherapy in the treatment of MDD. METHODS: 40 patients of both genders (31 women), aged between 18 and 55 years (38, 65 ± 9, 96), in monotherapy treatement with sertraline were evaluated for four weeks. The sample was divided into intervention group (IG n = 20) that receive exercise training and antidepressant pharmacotherapy, and control group (CG n = 20) only with pharmacotherapy. Patients were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the program by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - 17 items (HAM-D-17), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Global Clinical impression (CGI) and scale parameters of cardiorespiratory fitness. To obtain the best expression of functional evaluation indexes we used ergospirometry to determine respiratory, metabolic and cardiovascular each patient. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise, there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the scale of HAM-D-17 and BDI between the initial and final evaluations. There was no significant difference between groups regarding response to antidepressant pharmacotherapy (p > 0.99) and episode remission (p = 0.695). The reduction of symptoms of depression was more marked in the IG (-43.2 percent) even though this group having used a dose of antidepressant less than the CG (p = 0.004). There was a significant change of cardiopulmonary parameters in IG [(VO2max- p < 0.001, PO2- p = 0.008, LV2 (VO2) - p = 0.010)]. No correlation was found between the delta HAM-D-17 and delta VO2max. (r = -0.179; p = 0.270; n = 40), but a significant correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between variables delta LV2 (VO2) and delta BDI, in IG (r = -0.458 p=0.042). As for the prediction of response, initial body mass index presented linear relationship with the Delta HAM-D-17 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Although there has not been a significant association between regular supervised exercise program and improvement of depression scores, our results shows a direct effects of supervised physical exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness of patients with MDD. However, it is noteworthy that the difference found in the dose of an antidepressant used in the groups (p= 0.04) can be due to a positive interference of supervised physical exercise

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Depression and stimulant drug addiction each result in massive losses of health, productivity and human lives every year. Despite decades of research, current treatment regimes for depression are ineffective in approximately half of all patients. Therapy available to stimulant drug addicts is largely ineffective and moreover, dedicated treatments for drug dependence (including abuse of cocaine) are non-existent. Thus, there is a pressing need to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders in order to develop novel, targeted therapeutic strategies. Chromatin remodeling, including changes in histone acetylation, has been proposed to play a role in both the etiology and treatment of depression and stimulant abuse. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate numerous cellular processes, including transcription, cell cycle progression and differentiation. Moreover, histone acetylation has been shown to regulate hippocampal neurogenesis, a cellular response associated with the pathogenesis and treatment of depression and stimulant abuse (Hsieh et al., 2004, Yamaguchi et al., 2004, Fischer et al., 2007). Ultimately, such basic cellular processes impact higher order function, namely cognition and emotion. Indeed, recent studies suggest that HDAC activity in selected forebrain regions, including ventral striatum and hippocampus, modulate stimulant- and antidepressantinduced behavior (Kumar et al., 2005, Tsankova et al., 2006a, Fischer et al., 2007). These reports highlight an association between chromatin remodeling and diverse behavioral changes, including changes induced by the pleiotropic HDAC inhibitor, sodium butyrate (SB), (Kumar et al., 2005, Tsankova et al., 2006a, Fischer et al., 2007). However, behavioral, brain-metabolic and molecular effects of SB treatment in the context of rodent models of depression, dopaminergic sensitization and repeated cocaine administration remained unclear. The work described in this thesis illustrates the potential for chromatin modifying drugs in mechanisms underlying the experimental pharmacology of depression and stimulant addiction. Specifically, the data presented here support the view that treatment with the short chain fatty acid, sodium butyrate enhances: (1) antidepressant-like behavioral effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), fluoxetine (2) locomotor sensitization induced by repeated administration of the dopamine D1/D5 receptor agonist SKF82958; and(3) brain metabolic activation upon repeated cocaine administration as evidenced by fMRI in awake rats. Furthermore, this report provides evidence that these treatment paradigms will result in chromatin modification changes associated with active transcription, in addition to increased mRNA levels of plasticity-associated genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) at key brain regions implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and stimulant addiction. To date, little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms of action mediating the enhancing effects of sodium butyrate on the various antidepressant- and stimulantrelated paradigms. Our findings underscore the potential of chromatin-modifying drugs to profoundly affect the behavioral response of an animal to antidepressant and stimulant drugs and warrants consideration in the context of developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Background: Major depression is one of the most prevalent, disabling, and costly illnesses worldwide. Despite a 400% increase in antidepressant medication use since 1988, fewer than half of treated depression patients experience a clinically meaningful reduction in symptoms and uncertainty exists regarding how to successfully obtain symptom remission. Identifying homogenous subgroups based on clinically observable characteristics could improve the ability to efficiently predict who will benefit from which treatments. Methods: Latent class analysis and latent transition analysis (LTA) were applied to data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study to explore how to efficiently identify subgroups comprised of the multiple dimensions of depression and examine changes in subgroup membership during treatment. The specific aims of this dissertation were to: 1) evaluate latent depression subgroups for men and women prior to antidepressant treatment; 2) examine transitions in these subgroups over 12 weeks of citalopram treatment; and 3) examine differences in functional impairment between women’s depression subgroups throughout treatment. Results: Four subgroups of depression were identified for men and women throughout this work. Men’s subgroups were distinguished by depression severity and psychomotor agitation and retardation. Severity, appetite changes, insomnia, and psychomotor disturbances characterized women’s subgroups. Psychiatric comorbidities, especially anxiety disorders, were related to increased odds of membership in baseline moderate and severe depression subgroups for men and women. After 12 weeks of citalopram treatment, depression severity and psychomotor agitation were related to men’s chances of improving. Severity and appetite changes were related to women’s likelihood of improving during treatment. When functional impairment was incorporated in LTA models for women, baseline functional impairment levels were related to both depression subgroups at baseline and chances of moving to a different depression subgroup after treatment. Conclusion: Depression severity, psychomotor disturbances, appetite changes, and insomnia distinguished depression subgroups in STAR*D. Gender, functional impairment, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and likelihood of transitioning to subgroups characterized by symptom improvement differed between these subgroups. The results of this work highlight how relying solely on summary symptom rating scale scores during treatment obscures changes in depression that might be informative for improving treatment response.