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“The ‘quality of life’ (QOL) for patients suffering from depression is affected by four factors: stigma, social support, mastery

and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to develop and empirically validate an appropriate path model for the QOL of patients suffering from major depression. We recruited a total of 237 patients suffering from depression from the outpatient psychiatry department of a university-affiliated hospital in northern Taiwan. The sample was predominantly female (74.3%), had at least a high school level of education (79.7%), had a mean age of 46.95 years, and were living with their families (87.3%). Path analysis was used to identify the ‘best fit’ model for the QOL of the patients in four domains: physical, psychological, social and environmental. The key determinant www.selleckchem.com/products/bay-1895344.html for all QOL domains is found to

be the intensity of the depressive symptoms, with social support also affecting QOL both directly and indirectly, whilst stigma is found to have an indirect effect on QOL mediated by the intensity of the depressive symptoms, mastery and social support. We conclude that more effective improvements in all aspects of QOL for patients suffering from depression could be achieved by the provision learn more of comprehensive intervention programs aimed at reducing stigma, as well as placing greater emphasis on a reduction in the patients’ depressive symptoms, and enhancements to their social support and mastery. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Morphine exposure during the neonatal period can promote changes in pain signaling Olopatadine pathways

that can be expressed as an increased nociceptive response in adult life. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in primary afferent terminals and plays a critical role in normal spinal excitatory synaptic transmission. Considering the importance of a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie nociceptive changes throughout the life course, the aim of this study was investigate the effects of repeated morphine administration at postnatal days 8 (P8) to 14 (P14) on glutamate uptake in spinal synaptosomes at P30 and P60. The morphine group showed decreased [3H]-glutamate uptake as compared to control groups in both P30 and P60. These findings suggest that morphine exposure in early life leads to changes in glutamatergic signaling at least until the 60th day of age, which may lead to increased levels of glutamate in the spinal synaptic cleft and, consequently, an increased nociceptive response in adult life. Thus, this study highlights the importance of conducting research in this field to provide a comprehensive knowledge of the long-term effects of early-life morphine treatment on nociceptive pathways. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.