Article
Reproductive Biology
Mutaz Amin, Nicholas Horst, Rongling Wu, Claudia Gragnoli
Summary: Women with PCOS show increased HPA axis activation, pro-inflammatory mediators, and psychological distress in response to stressors. The study found that variants in CRHR1 and CRHR2 genes may contribute to the mental-metabolic risk for PCOS.
JOURNAL OF OVARIAN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Alice Pirastru, Sonia Di Tella, Marta Cazzoli, Fabrizio Esposito, Giuseppe Baselli, Francesca Baglio, Valeria Blasi
Summary: The study found that for an emotion-generation task, the reliability of fMRI signals under negative emotional valence conditions was higher than under positive conditions. Neural suppression may not be the primary cause of low signal reliability, with different neural strategies potentially playing a role instead.
Article
Biology
Alessandra Caruso, Alessandra Gaetano, Sergio Scaccianoce
Summary: CRH plays a role in regulating multiple biological systems, and is also associated with reproduction, neuropsychiatric, gastrointestinal, immune disorders, and tumor development. Further research on the physiological functions of CRH will help determine its role in human diseases and may serve as novel therapeutic targets.
Article
Immunology
You Zheng, Yan-Min Zhang, Zheng-Shan Tang, Jian-Kui Du, De-Wei Guo, Yong-Jun Xu, Hui Sheng, Jian-Qiang Lu, Xin Ni
Summary: Prenatal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids increases susceptibility to cognitive and affective disorders in postnatal life, with effects on CRHR1 and CXCL5 in the hippocampus of rats. The study demonstrates that CRHR1 and CXCL5 in the hippocampus are involved in spatial learning and memory deficits caused by prenatal sGC exposure.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xue Liu, Jiaqian Feng, Zhijing Jiang, Guangbo Zhang, Xiuwen Xu, Jixiu Wang, Jingwen Yang, Tianming Wang
Summary: In the neuroendocrine system, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) activates CRHRs and plays a vital role in the HPA/HPI axis. Two CRHR1 subtypes, LcCRHR1-1 and LcCRHR1-2, were identified in Larimichthys crocea genome and were found to be highly homologous to known teleost CRHRs. These receptors were found to be localized in the cell membrane and respond to LcCRH by increasing cAMP, Ca2+ and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. LcCRHR1s were expressed in various tissues, with high expression in the brain and ovaries, and shown to be specifically localized in ovarian follicle cells. This study suggests that the CRH/CRHR1 system may be involved in the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction in L. crocea.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alexandros N. Vgontzas, Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, Kristina Puzino Lenker, Maria Basta, Edward O. Bixler, George P. Chrousos
Summary: Insomnia, especially when associated with objective sleep disturbance, was found to be related to activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Men with insomnia demonstrated shorter total sleep time and lower sleep efficiency on polysomnography, as well as lower levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol after exposure to stress, suggesting a disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in this population.
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emily S. Barrett, Matthew Corsetti, Drew Day, Sally W. Thurston, Christine T. Loftus, Catherine J. Karr, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Kaja Z. LeWinn, Alicia K. Smith, Roger Smith, Frances A. Tylavsky, Nicole R. Bush, Sheela Sathyanarayana
Summary: Phthalates may disrupt the endocrine pathways in pregnant women, impacting pregnancy outcomes and fetal development. This study found associations between phthalate mixtures and changes in plasma pCRH levels, with differing effects observed among women with gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Cursano, Chiara R. Battaglia, Carolina Urrutia-Ruiz, Stefanie Grabrucker, Michael Schoen, Juergen Bockmann, Sonja Braumueller, Peter Radermacher, Francesco Roselli, Markus Huber-Lang, Tobias M. Boeckers
Summary: Elderly patients with severe physical trauma are prone to developing neuropsychiatric syndromes associated with the activation of the hippocampal CRH/NF-kappa B/BDNF pathway and subsequent loss of synaptic contacts. Intervention targeting these pathways can reverse the observed behavioral alterations in trauma-induced neuropsychiatric syndromes.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Hong Zhou, Aqin Chen, Weiqun Lu
Summary: The study showed that CRH is expressed in the zebrafish ovary and can partly inhibit steroidogenesis by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, resulting in reduced estradiol synthesis.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Gersende Maugars, Xavier Mauvois, Patrick Martin, Salima Aroua, Karine Rousseau, Sylvie Dufour
Summary: This study reveals the patterns of duplication and loss of CRH genes in different vertebrates, as well as the functional diversification of different CRH paralogs.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael H. Riad, Kwanghoon Park, Ines Ibanez-Tallon, Nathaniel Heintz
Summary: The study reveals the role of neuromodulatory substances in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). It shows that a specific class of mPFC interneurons releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to enhance excitability of pyramidal cells, leading to increased novelty exploration in male mice. The effect of CRH is influenced by sex and does not affect anxiety-related behaviors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Erin Faught, Mathilakath M. Vijayan
Summary: The study demonstrates that the CRH/CRHR1 system mediates stress-induced hyperactivity, while the temporal activation of cortisol production and associated GR/MR signaling are crucial for prolonging stressor-induced hyperactivity.
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lei Guo, Yang-Jian Qi, Hong Tan, Dan Dai, Rawien Balesar, Arja Sluiter, Joop van Heerikhuize, Shao-Hua Hu, Dick F. Swaab, Ai -Min Bao
Summary: Increased expression of OXT in PVN and OXTR in DLPFC are characteristic for male BD patients. Stimulation of PVN-OXT neurons induced mood changes in mice, in a pattern different from BD.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fang Zhang, Mert Icyuz, Trygve Tollefsbol, Paul Alan Cox, Sandra Anne Banack, Liou Y. Sun
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases involve changes in cognition, anxiety and autism-like behaviors, which are affected by epigenetic alterations. This study found that L-serine administration in GHRH-KO mice improved anxiety symptoms and behavioral deficits, while upregulating epigenetic markers and mRNA expression related to anxiety, cognition and autism-like behaviors. These findings offer new insights into the beneficial effects of L-serine intervention on neuropsychological impairments.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Emily S. Barrett, Tomomi Workman, Marnie F. Hazlehurst, Sophie Kauderer, Christine Loftus, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Morgan Robinson, Alicia K. Smith, Roger Smith, Qi Zhao, Kaja Z. LeWinn, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Nicole R. Bush
Summary: In this study, modest evidence of association was found between OH-PAHs, particularly 2-OH-PHEN, and pCRH levels. The associations tended to be stronger in early pregnancy. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate alternative mechanisms linking PAHs and timing of birth.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Elizabeth K. Wood, Ryno Kruger, Jaclyn P. Day, Stephen M. Day, Jacob N. Hunter, Leslie Neville, Stephen G. Lindell, Christina S. Barr, Melanie L. Schwandt, David Goldman, Stephen J. Suomi, James C. Harris, J. Dee Higley
Summary: Research on rhesus macaques suggests that early parental neglect and variation in the serotonin transporter genotype could play a role in the etiology of NSSI. NSSI subjects with different 5-HTT genotypes exhibited distinct behaviors, highlighting the complexity of NSSI typologies.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Scott A. Langenecker, Mindy Westlund Schreiner, Leah R. Thomas, Katie L. Bessette, Sophia R. DelDonno, Lisanne M. Jenkins, Rebecca E. Easter, Jonathan P. Stange, Stephanie L. Pocius, Alina Dillahunt, Tiffany M. Love, K. Luan Phan, Vincent Koppelmans, Martin Paulus, Martin A. Lindquist, Brian Caffo, Brian J. Mickey, Robert C. Welsh
Summary: Resting-state graph-based network edges can be integrated with RDoC constructs for accurate identification of mood disorder-related markers. However, prior network models may lack sufficient diagnostic clarity, and parcel-based edges may be insufficiently sensitive for these purposes.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY-COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Brian J. Mickey, Yarden Ginsburg, Erica Jensen, Daniel F. Maixner
Summary: The study found that better acute ECT response may be associated with lower medication resistance, shorter index episodes, and the presence of psychotic features. Long-term depression outcomes were predicted by acute therapeutic response to ECT rather than ECT adverse effects. Marital status and baseline severity were related to long-term depression outcomes, independent of other factors.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Javier Ballester, Anne K. Baker, Ilkka K. Martikainen, Vincent Koppelmans, Jon-Kar Zubieta, Tiffany M. Love
Summary: This study found that chronic pain patients at high risk for opioid misuse showed higher baseline MOR availability in the right amygdala, while patients at low risk for opioid misuse showed less pain-induced activation of MOR-mediated, endogenous opioid neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ariana Tart-Zelvin, Bethany A. Navis, Elena M. Lamping, Scott A. Langenecker, Kelly A. Ryan, Melvin G. McInnis, David F. Marshall
Summary: This study explored the hit rates for two frequently used Performance Validity Tests (PVTs) in individuals with and without histories of bipolar disorder (BD). The results showed that the majority of individuals obtained perfect PVT scores, with no differences in failure rates between BD and non-diagnosed individuals.
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Tiffany Love, Andrey A. Shabalin, Rachel L. Kember, Anna R. Docherty, Hang Zhou, Vincent Koppelmans, Joel Gelernter, Anne K. Baker, Emily Hartwell, Jacob Dubroff, Jon-Kar Zubieta, Henry R. Kranzler
Summary: This study found a link between polygenic risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid system activity, particularly under stress. The association was most significant among females and may help explain the high comorbidity between MDD and OUD. The results also suggest that opioid-modulating interventions may be useful in treating MDD and OUD.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Psychiatry
Andrew J. Smith, Kotaro Shoji, Brandon J. Griffin, Lauren M. Sippel, Emily R. Dworkin, Hannah M. Wright, Ellen Morrow, Amy Locke, Tiffany M. Love, J. Irene Harris, Krzysztof Kaniasty, Scott A. Langenecker, Charles C. Benight
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Andrew J. Smith, Kotaro Shoji, Brandon J. Griffin, Lauren M. Sippel, Emily R. Dworkin, Hannah M. Wright, Ellen Morrow, Amy Locke, Tiffany M. Love, J. Irene Harris, Krzysztof Kaniasty, Scott A. Langenecker, Charles C. Benight
Summary: This study examined pathways to resilience in healthcare workers and confirmed the importance of received social support and coping self-efficacy in mitigating psychopathology risk.
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Tobin J. Ehrlich, Kelly A. Ryan, Katherine E. Burdick, Scott A. Langenecker, Melvin G. McInnis, David F. Marshall
Summary: Cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder is heterogeneous, with three subgroups identified, each associated with unique clinical characteristics. Over a five-year period, the low cognition subgroup showed improvement in auditory memory, the mid cognition subgroup showed improvement in visual memory, and the high cognition subgroup remained stable in inhibitory control.
ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jeesun Jung, Daniel L. McCartney, Josephin Wagner, Joyce Yoo, Andrew S. Bell, Lucas A. Mavromatis, Daniel B. Rosoff, Colin A. Hodgkinson, Hui Sun, Melanie Schwandt, Nancy Diazgranados, Alicia K. Smith, Vasiliki Michopoulos, Abigail Powers, Jennifer Stevens, Bekh Bradley, Negar Fani, Rosie M. Walker, Archie Campbell, David J. Porteous, Andrew M. McIntosh, Steve Horvath, Riccardo E. Marioni, Kathryn L. Evans, David Goldman, Falk W. Lohoff
Summary: The relationships between stress, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and premature aging are not well understood. A study found that using composite scores and DNA methylation markers to measure the impact of stress and alcohol consumption on aging can offer new insights into the pathophysiology of premature aging in AUD.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Melinda Westlund Schreiner, Alina K. Dillahunt, Summer B. Frandsen, Sophie R. DelDonno, Briana L. Schubert, Stephanie L. Pocius, Lisanne M. Jenkins, Michelle T. Kassel, Katie L. Bessette, Leah Thomas, Jonathan P. Stange, Sheila E. Crowell, Scott A. Langenecker
Summary: This study investigates neural processing in response to emotional stimuli based on mood disorder diagnosis, sex, and the presence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. The results reveal different patterns of neural responses related to mood disorder status, sex, and SITBs. Findings highlight the importance of considering heterogeneity within diagnoses and examining neurobiological features in the context of remission.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Anandi C. Ehman, Andrew J. Smith, Hannah Wright, Scott A. Langenecker, Charles C. Benight, Shira Maguen, Jeffrey M. Pyne, J. Irene Harris, Nathaniel Cooney, Brandon J. Griffin
Summary: This study explores the association between exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and mental health outcomes among frontline workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The results show that 20% to 30% of frontline workers reported exposure to PMIEs with moderate frequency and intensity. Exposure to more intense PMIEs was associated with greater psychological symptoms and functional impairment, especially among emergency responders who reported frequent exposure but also hospital workers who reported few exposures. Efforts to maintain the well-being of essential personnel should address critical incidents encountered by frontline workers with moral and ethical challenges.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA-THEORY RESEARCH PRACTICE AND POLICY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Leah H. Rubin, Deeya Bhattacharya, Joelle Fuchs, Abigail Matthews, Sarah Abdellah, Rebecca T. Veenhuis, Scott A. Langenecker, Kathleen M. Weber, Hans P. Nazarloo, Sheila M. Keating, C. Sue Carter, Pauline M. Maki
Summary: The study found that early life trauma may affect social processing in people with HIV, and oxytocin and C-reactive protein may be targets for improving social processing in individuals exposed to early life trauma.
PSYCHOSOMATIC MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Mindy K. Ross, Theja Tulabandhula, Casey C. Bennett, EuGene Baek, Dohyeon Kim, Faraz Hussain, Alexander P. Demos, Emma Ning, Scott A. Langenecker, Olusola Ajilore, Alex D. Leow
Summary: The treatment efficacy of mood disorders varies widely between individuals. Most current methods to monitor mood rely on subjective self-reports and clinical visits, which can be burdensome and may not accurately reflect individual experiences. This study proposed a novel approach of using smartphone accelerometer data to predict changes in depression severity, with approximately 95% accuracy and 97% area under the ROC curve.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Jack W. Silcox, Brian Mickey, Brennan R. R. Payne
Summary: Readers use prior context to predict features of upcoming words, and accurate predictions increase comprehension efficiency. This study investigates the role of the left inferior frontal cortex (LIFC) in word predictability and memory. The findings demonstrate that the LIFC plays a causal role in prediction during silent reading and is associated with memory benefits for predictable words.
