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posted by martyb on Sunday February 18 2018, @01:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the improved-outlook-on-improving-outlooks dept.

New studies zero in on roots of depression and why ketamine reverses it

[There's] been significant progress in unravelling the confusion over ketamine, with researchers identifying a ketamine derivative that tackles depression with far fewer side effects. And this week, a team of researchers at China's Zhejiang University announced that they've figured out where in the brain ketamine acts when it blocks depression, a finding that gives us significant insights into the biology of the disorder.

The new studies rely on the work of a number of other labs, which have identified a specific structure deep in the brain that's associated with depression. Called the lateral habenula, it's been associated with a variety of activities, the most relevant of which seems to be the processing of unpleasant outcomes and punishment. Electrodes implanted there have been used to relieve depression in at least one instance.

To test whether this might be the site of ketamine's activity, one team of researchers infused the drug directly into the lateral habenula of rats with depression-like symptoms; it blocked them. So did a separate chemical that inhibits the same proteins that ketamine acts on. Tracking the activity in the area, the researchers were able to show that there are bursts of activity in rats with symptoms of depression that are absent in healthy rats. The drugs that blocked depression suppressed these bursts.

Ketamine blocks bursting in the lateral habenula to rapidly relieve depression (DOI: 10.1038/nature25509) (DX)

Astroglial Kir4.1 in the lateral habenula drives neuronal bursts in depression (DOI: 10.1038/nature25752) (DX)

Related: FDA Designates MDMA as a "Breakthrough Therapy" for PTSD; Approves Phase 3 Trials
Study Suggests Psilocybin "Resets" the Brains of Depressed People
Ketamine Reduces Suicidal Thoughts in Depressed Patients


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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Sunday February 18 2018, @05:56PM (5 children)

    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Sunday February 18 2018, @05:56PM (#639759) Journal

    Show me where mean mother Gaia invented air conditioning, indoor plumbing, sanitary surgery, etc. She and her abusive pimp boyfriend Malthus can fuck off and die. And when the resident stereotypical granola dyke with the gallon bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap is telling you your Mother Nature narrative is bullshit, you KNOW it's bullshit.

    --
    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
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  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 18 2018, @10:09PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 18 2018, @10:09PM (#639828)

    1st: If I’m not for me, who am I? Nobody! 2nd: Yet, if I’m only for me, what am I? Nothing! 3rd: If not now, when???!!! Once more, unless constructive-selfish I work hard perfecting first me, absolute nothing can help perfect me! 4th: Only
    hard work-God’s Law can save us, but if we teach only our clan, we’re all hated then! So, Hillel taught Jesus, we must teach friend & enemy, the whole Human race, the full-truth, hard-work, press-& profitsharing Moral ABC’s All-One-God-Faith, uniting the whole Human Race! For we’re All-One or None! As teach for 6,000 years the astronomers Abraham & Israel, since the year One! “LISTEN CHILDREN ETERNAL FATHER ETERNALLY ONE!!!” Exceptions Eternally? Absolute None!!!

    5th: Whatever unites mankind is better than whatever divides us! Yet, if absolute-unselfish I am not for me, I’m not but classless, raceless, starving masses, never free nor brave! Only if constructive-selfish I work hard perfecting first me, like arctic owls–penguin–pilot–cat–swallow–beaver–bee, can I teach The Moral ABC that the real Rabbi Hillel taught Jesus to unite all mankind free. 6th: Absolute cleanliness is Godliness! Balanced food for body-mind-soul-spirit is our medicine! Full truth our God, half-truth our enemy, hard work our salvation, unity our goal, Free Speech our weapon, All-One our soul, self-discipline the key to freedom, unity, love unites All-One above! For we’re All-One! As teach for 6,000 years astronomers Abraham & Israel: “LISTEN CHILDREN ETERNAL FATHER ETERNALLY ONE!” Exceptions Eternally? Absolute None!!! So, when your fellow man you measure, take him at his best: with that lever, lift him higher, overlook the rest! 7th: Each swallow works hard to be a perfect pilot-provider-builder-trainer-teacher-lover-mate, no half-true hate! Have courage & smile, my friend. Think & act 10 years ahead! Find the man without fault? He’s dead! Do one thing at a time, work hard! Get done! Then teach friend & enemy how to work-love-unite all mankind free! Uniting One! All-One! Face the world with a smile, life is always worthwhile! To the fearless are given jewels, keep out of the past, disappointments won’t last! Help unite mankind, or we’re wandering fools! Repetition is the key to knowledge! 8th: More good is caused by evil than by good, do what’s right! Enlarge the positive! Replace the negative with The Moral ABC’s eternally tremendous AII-One-God-Faith that unites the Human race! For we’re All-One or None! As teach all astronomers, for 6,000 years since the year One. “LISTEN CHILDREN ETERNAL FATHER ETERNALLY ONE!” Exceptions Eternally? Absolute None!

    9th: Free Speech is man’s only weapon against half-truth, that denies free speech to smear–slay–slander–tax–enslave. Full-truth, our only God, unites all mankind, if 10 men guard free speech, brave! “If ever one religion unites all mankind, it will be by omitting all irrelevancies & redundancies, added unto the Faith in One-Almighty, all-embracing, ever-loving, ever-evolving, ever-recreating Eternal God, and by ABSOLUTE NOTHING ELSE.” America’s founding father, Thomas Paine, 8 books suppressed since 1799! 10th: Thank God we don’t descend down from perfect Adam & Eve to sinful sinner, brother’s keeper, divided slave! United armed, loving, hard-working trained brave, from dust we ascend up! Thank God for that! Our brother’s teacher of The Moral ABC, mason, tent- & sandalmaker Hillel, taught carpenter Jesus to unite all mankind free! With it, every human being created on God’s Spaceship Earth can evolve united, inspired-raised-trained-skilled-disciplined, guided lighting-like by a new birth! Without it, we destroy God’s Spaceship Earth! Aknathan-Bahá’u’lláh-Buddha-Confucius-Moses-Hillel-Jesus-Mohammed, inspired every 76 years by the messenger of God’s Law, Halley’s Comet, teach: A fire, a mist, a planet, a crystal, a cell, a jellyfish, a dinosaur, caves where cavemen dwell! Then a sense for work-love-song-art-play-law-beauty, a face turned up from the sod!

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday February 19 2018, @03:44AM (3 children)

      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Monday February 19 2018, @03:44AM (#639948) Journal

      I don't know who Spam-modded you for that, but that right there is better religion than you will find in any holy book, anywhere, with the possible exception of some Buddhist scriptures :)

      --
      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
      • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Monday February 19 2018, @05:40AM

        by aristarchus (2645) on Monday February 19 2018, @05:40AM (#639982) Journal

        Not MikeeUsA, since there is no mention of pedophilia, or Hebrew Law, or perversion in general. Hmm, a new sentient form of like on SoylentNews? God-Damn!

      • (Score: 1) by gtomorrow on Monday February 19 2018, @07:08AM (1 child)

        by gtomorrow (2230) on Monday February 19 2018, @07:08AM (#640007)
        It's from the label [drbronner.com] of the aforementioned Dr. Bronner's soap [subgenius.com]. Or maybe you knew that already.
        • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday February 19 2018, @09:26PM

          by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Monday February 19 2018, @09:26PM (#640279) Journal

          Yup, I just brought the refill of the citrus-scented soap a couple of days ago :) The writings look insane if you're only paying attention to the surface details, but the meaning underlying them is crystal clear and universally true.

          --
          I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...