Mario Catena Dell'Osso

Publications (83) View all

• Article: Plasma Amyloid-β Levels in Drug-Resistant Bipolar Depressed Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy.

  Armando Piccinni, Antonello Veltri, Chiara Vizzaccaro, Mario Catena Dell'osso, Pierpaolo Medda, Luciano Domenici, Federica Vanelli, Marta Cecchini, Caterina Franceschini, Ciro Conversano, Donatella Marazziti, Liliana Dell'osso
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  ABSTRACT: Aims: Alterations of plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides have been related to a high risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. The present study aimed to measure plasma Aβ peptides (Aβ40, Aβ42) and the Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio in a sample of drug-resistant bipolar depressed patients, as well as to explore the possible correlation between biological parameters and clinical changes along an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) course. Methods: Aβ40 and Aβ42 were measured by means of an ELISA assay in 25 drug-resistant bipolar depressed patients before (T0) and 1 week after (T1) the end of ECT. The patients were clinically evaluated by means of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 21-item (HRSD-21), the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness Scale. Results: Plasma Aβ levels and the Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio were similar at T0 and T1. The Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio correlated positively with the HRSD total score at both T0 and T1. At T0, a negative correlation was found between the Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio and the improvement of depressive and cognitive symptoms. Moreover, remitters (n = 9; HRSD ≤10) showed a significantly lower Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio at T0 than nonremitters. Conclusion: The present data suggest that a low Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio might characterize a subgroup of depressed patients who respond to ECT, while higher values of this parameter seem to be typical of more severe cases of patients with cognitive impairment.
  Neuropsychobiology 04/2013; 67(4):185-191. · 2.67 Impact Factor
• Article: Inflammation, Serotonin and Major Depression.

  Mario Catena-Dell'osso, Francesco Rotella, Adriana Dell'osso, Andrea Fagiolini, Donatella Marazziti
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  ABSTRACT: The understanding of the neurobiological processes leading to major depressive disorder (MDD) is an active field of research in the scientific community. For years, the alteration of monoamine neurotransmission, in particular serotonin (5-HT), has been considered the most significant pathophysiological mechanism of the disorder. However, biological data supporting the postulated MDD-related monoamine alterations have been inconclusive, and the use of monoaminergic antidepressants has not yielded the expected results. In the last few years, it has been demonstrated that inflammatory pathways have a significant role in the pathophysiology of MDD. According to the cytokine hypothesis, the disorder would be due to a stress-related increased production of cytokines, including interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon- α and γ. These, in turns, would cause the activation of the indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), with subsequent production of tryptophan (TRP) catabolites along the IDO pathway (TRYCATs) and decreased availability of TRP and 5-HT. Besides monoamines, other molecular mechanisms, as those within the inflammatory pathways, should be taken into account in the attempt to clarify the pathophysiology of MDD and to improve its treatment.
  Current drug targets 03/2013; · 3.93 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Alessandro Del Debbio

  Dataset: Diurnal variation of plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in humans - an analysis of sex differences

  Armando Piccinni, Donatella Marazziti, Alessandro Del Debbio, Carolina Bianchi, Isabella Roncaglia, Claudio Mannari, Nicola Origlia, Mario Catena Dell'Osso, Gabriele Massimetti, Luciano Domenici, Liliana Dell'Osso
• Article: The relationship between epilepsy and depression: An update.

  Mario Catena Dell'osso, Anna Caserta, Stefano Baroni, Cristiana Nisita, Donatella Marazziti
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  ABSTRACT: Several population-based studies and clinical data suggest the presence of strict relationships between epilepsy and depression. The incidence of depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy is significantly higher than in the general population or in patients with other neurological disorders or chronic diseases, a shown by the majority, albeit not all, findings . Even the rate of suicide is higher in epileptic patients than in the general population. Such observations suggest the existence of common neurobiological substrates shared by the two conditions involving hyperactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, as well as disturbances of different neurotransmitter systems, particularly serotonin and norepinephrine. The aim of this paper is to review the current literature on the prevalence, clinical manifestations and etiology of depression in epilepsy, with a particular focus on the possible pathophysiological mechanisms shared by the two conditions. In spite of the large amount of data, several questions remain open and further studies are necessary to explore more thoroughly the complex and bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and depression.
  Current Medicinal Chemistry 03/2013; · 4.86 Impact Factor
• Article: Prevalence, chronicity, burden and borders of bipolar disorder.

  Andrea Fagiolini, Rocco Forgione, Mauro Maccari, Alessandro Cuomo, Benedetto Morana, Mario Catena Dell'osso, Francesca Pellegrini, Alessandro Rossi
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  ABSTRACT: Bipolar disorder (BD) has traditionally been thought of as an episodic condition, characterized by periods of hypomania/mania and depression. However, evidence is accumulating to suggest that this condition is associated with significant chronicity. For a large proportion of patients with BD, residual, sub-syndromal symptoms persist between major syndromal episodes, and studies have shown that many patients with bipolar disorder are symptomatic for approximately 50% of the time over follow-up periods of greater than 10 years. Moreover, while the prevalence of BD has been estimated to be around 1-2%, there is growing evidence that this may be a substantial underestimation. There are a number of reasons for this potential underestimation, including difficulties in diagnosis. Adding to the burden of BD is the issue of comorbidity, with an increased prevalence of many chronic conditions in those with a primary diagnosis of BD. Conversely, for many patients with chronic conditions, both medical and psychiatric, BD frequently exists as a comorbid secondary diagnosis. This issue of comorbidity complicates estimates of use of pharmaceutical agents for BD, such as mood stabilizers, which are known to be used off-label in conditions such as borderline personality or substance use disorder. We speculate that such off-label prescribing may not be truly off-label but may be instead fully justified by an overlooked secondary diagnosis of BD. Finally, we discuss the association of bipolar disorder with a significant economic burden, to the individual and to society, both due to the direct costs of medical expenditure and indirect costs such as loss of productivity and increased mortality.
  Journal of affective disorders 03/2013; · 3.76 Impact Factor