Vilazodone for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: Focusing on Its Clinical Studies and Mechanism of Action

ShengMin Wang,Changsu Han,SooJung Lee,Ashwin A Patkar,Prakash S Masand,Chi-Un Pae 대한신경정신의학회 2015 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.12 No.2

We tried to review and update clinical and preclinical studies evaluating vilazodone’s role as an antidepressant for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). In terms of its mechanism of actions, we sought to elaborate them mainly through preclinical animal studies. A data search was conducted in November 1, 2013, using the key terms “vilazodone” or “Viibryd,” in PubMed and Medline databases. All published and unpublished studies are included and citations from publications were also reviewed for additional references. Five unpublished, phase-II and two pivotal published phase-III clinical trials with nearly identical design (8-week, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled) investigated efficacy of vilazodone, were found for the treatment of patients with MDD. Two post-hoc studies and one long-term open study were also included. Data were thoroughly reviewed to incorporate the pharmacology, action mechanism, efficacy and safety for the vilazodone in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Vilazodone is an antidepressant with novel mechanism of action because its chemical structure is unrelated to conventional antidepressant, and it has a selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor and 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist profile. Vilazodone is an effective and safe treatment option with its novel action mechanisms for patients with depression. Its putative benefits compared with other antidepressants must be thoroughly studied in adequately-powered and well-designed future clinical trials.

Triterpenoid Saponins from Vaccaria segetalis

Shengmin Sang,Aina Lao,Hongcheng Wang,Zhongliang Chen,Jun Uzawa,Yasuo Fujimoto 한국생약학회 1998 Natural Product Sciences Vol.4 No.4

Two new triterpenoid saponins, named segetoside D and E, have been isolated from the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis. On the basis of chemical reactions and spectral data, structures of segetoside D and E have been established as: 28-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[5-O-acetyl-α-arabinofuranosyl(1→3)]-[4-O-acetyl-β-D-fucopyranosyl]-quillaic acid-3-O-[β-D-galactopyranosyl(1→2)]-6-O-methyl ester-β-D-glucuronopyranoside and 28-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[5-O-acetyl-α-arabinofuranosyl(1→3)]-[4-O-acetyl-β-D-fucopyranosyl]-quillaic acid -3-O-[β-D-galactopyranosyl(1→2)]-6-O-n-butyl ester-β-D-glucuronopyranoside, respectively.

Research trends in biomimetic medical materials for tissue engineering:commentary

박기동,Xiumei Wang,이재영,박경민,ShengMin Zhang,노인섭 한국생체재료학회 2016 생체재료학회지 Vol.20 No.1

We introduce our active experts’ communications and reviews (Part II) of 2015 Korea-China Joint Symposium on Biomimetic Medical Materials in Republic of Korea, which reflect their perspectives on current research trends of biomimetic medical materials for tissue regeneration in both Korea and China. The communications covered three topics of biomimetics, i.e., 1) hydrogel for therapeutics and extracellular matrix environments, 2) design of electrical polymers for communications between electrical sources and biological systems and 3) design of biomaterials for nerve tissue engineering. The reviews in the Part II will cover biomimetics of 3D bioprinting materials, surface modifications, nano/micro-technology as well as clinical aspects of biomaterials for cartilage.

Cloning and Characterization of Filamentous Fungal S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase from Aspergillus nidulans

( Yao Zhou ),( Shengmin Zhou ),( Haijun Yu ),( Jingyi Li ),( Yang Xia ),( Baoyi Li ),( Xiaoli Wang ),( Ping Wang ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2016 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.26 No.5

S-Nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) metabolizes S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and has been shown to play important roles in regulating cellular signaling and formulating host defense by modulating intracellular nitric oxide levels. The enzyme has been found in bacterial, yeast, mushroom, plant, and mammalian cells. However, to date, there is still no evidence of its occurrence in filamentous fungi. In this study, we cloned and investigated a GSNOR-like enzyme from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The enzyme occurred in native form as a homodimer and exhibited low thermal stability. GSNO was an ideal substrate for the enzyme. The apparent Km and kcat values were 0.55 mM and 34,100 min-1, respectively. Substrate binding sites and catalytic center amino acid residues based on those from known GSNORs were conserved in this enzyme, and the corresponding roles were verified using site-directed mutagenesis. Therefore, we demonstrated the presence of GSNOR in a filamentous fungus for the first time.

The Relationship between Depression, Anxiety, Somatization, Personality and Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Suggestive of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

JunSung Koh,HyoJung Ko,ShengMin Wang,KangJoon Cho,JoonChul Kim,SooJung Lee,ChiUn Pae 대한신경정신의학회 2015 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.12 No.2

This study investigated the relationship of personality, depression, somatization, anxiety with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). The LUTS/BPH patients were evaluated with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), 44-item Big Five Inventory (BFI), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the PHQ-15, and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). The LUTS/BPH symptoms were more severe in patients with depression (p=0.046) and somatization (p=0.024), respectively. Neurotic patients were associated with greater levels of depression, anxiety and somatisation (p=0.0059, p=0.004 and p=0.0095, respectively). Patients with high extraversion showed significantly low depression (p=0.00481) and anxiety (p=0.035) than those with low extraversion. Our exploratory results suggest patients with LUTS/BPH may need careful evaluation of psychiatric problem including depression, anxiety and somatization. Additional studies with adequate power and improved designs are necessary to support the present exploratory findings.

Depression and Somatic Symptoms May Influence on Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A Preliminary Study

JunSung Koh,HyoJung Ko,ShengMin Wang,KangJoon Cho,JoonChul Kim,SooJung Lee,ChiUn Pae 대한신경정신의학회 2014 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.11 No.4

The present study is the first one to investigate the impacts of depression and somatization on the disease severity and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). The Korean version of National Institutes of Health (NIH)- Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) for severity of CP/CPPS. Korean version of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, Korean version of Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) for somatization, and Korean version of EuroQol Questionnaire-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D)- [(EQ-5D utility index and visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS)] for QoL, were administered. Eighty patients were enrolled. The NIH-CPSI total scores were significantly higher in those with depression (25.3%, p=0.01) or somatization (23.2%, p=0.03) than in those without. These trends toward significantly negative influence of depression and somatic symptoms on QoL were also observed. Our preliminary results indicate that depression and somatization may have negative influence on the symptom severity and QoL in patients with CP/CPPS. However, adequately-powered and more well-designed studies are mandatory to prove our results.

Peroxiredoxin System of Aspergillus nidulans Resists Inactivation by High Concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide-Mediated Oxidative Stress

( Yang Xia ),( Haijun Yu ),( Zhemin Zhou ),( Naoki Takaya ),( Shengmin Zhou ),( Ping Wang ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2018 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.28 No.1

Most eukaryotic peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are readily inactivated by a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) during catalysis owing to their “GGLG” and “YF” motifs. However, such oxidative stress sensitive motifs were not found in the previously identified filamentous fungal Prxs. Additionally, the information on filamentous fungal Prxs is limited and fragmentary. Herein, we cloned and gained insight into Aspergillus nidulans Prx (An.PrxA) in the aspects of protein properties, catalysis characteristics, and especially H₂O₂ tolerability. Our results indicated that An.PrxA belongs to the newly defined family of typical 2-Cys Prxs with a marked characteristic that the “resolving” cysteine (C_R) is invertedly located preceding the “peroxidatic” cysteine (C_P) in amino acid sequences. The inverted arrangement of C_R and C_P can only be found among some yeast, bacterial, and filamentous fungal deduced Prxs. The most surprising characteristic of An.PrxA is its extraordinary ability to resist inactivation by extremely high concentrations of H₂O₂, even that approaching 600 mM. By screening the H₂O₂-inactivation effects on the components of Prx systems, including Trx, Trx reductase (TrxR), and Prx, we ultimately determined that it is the robust filamentous fungal TrxR rather than Trx and Prx that is responsible for the extreme H₂O₂ tolerence of the An.PrxA system. This is the first investigation on the effect of the electron donor partner in the H₂O₂ tolerability of the Prx system.

Standardization Study of the Korean Version of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale for Smoking Cessation (K-SOCRATES-S) and Its Predictive Validity

JaeWoo Park,KeeHwan Park,KeunHo Joe,SookHee Choi,InJae Lee,JuHee Hwang,Min Kwon,ShengMin Wang,DaiJin Kim 대한신경정신의학회 2012 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.9 No.3

Objective-The purpose of the study was to develop the Korean version of the Stage of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale for Smoking Cessation (K-SOCRATES-S) based on the Korean version of the Stages of Readiness for Change and Eagerness for Treatment scale (K-SOCRATES). This paper also demonstrates its reliability and validity among patients with nicotine dependence in South Korea. Methods-At seven healthcare promotion centers in Gyeonggi-do, 333 male smokers aged 20 to 70 who visited smoking cessation clinic were recruited for this study and the K-SOCRATES-S was administered. After three months, the number of respondents who successfully stopped smoking was assessed by testing their urine cotinine level. Subsequently, exploratory factor analysis was performed to verify the reliability and validity of the K-SOCRATES-S. Also, a logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the variables that can predict the successful cessation of smoking on subscales of the K-SOCRATES-S. Results-Exploratory factor analysis of the K-SOCRATES-S showed that the scale consisted of three factors: Taking Steps, Recognition, and Ambivalence. The scales measuring Taking Steps and Recognition in this scale had a significantly positive correlation with the scores observed on Kim’s smoking cessation motivation scale. The scales measuring Taking Steps and Recognition had a significantly negative correlation with Ambivalence. Overall, the results indicate that the K-SOCRATES-K scale showed high validity. Conclusion-The K-SOCRATES-S developed in the present study is highly reliable and valid for predicting a patient’s likelihood of success in quitting smoking among patients who want to cease smoking.