We Restore Hope -

Scientists have developed the first blood test to diagnose major depression in teenagers. The blood test is also able to differentiate between at least two types of depression – major depression and major depression combined with anxiety disorder. Researchers at Northwestern University say a new blood test is able to identify certain ‘gene expression markers’ that can objectively diagnose depression in teenagers.
　
“For someone who is depressed, basically every aspect of his or her cognition, perception, mood and ability to interact socially is somewhat impaired,” said lead researcher Dr. Eva Redei, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “At the moment, diagnosis relies on a structured interview between the doctor and patient – which is not necessarily an objective description of what’s happening.”
　
The researchers do not expect that the blood test will replace the relationship between physician and patient, but it will change how medicine approaches the disease of depression, as well as how depression affects a patient’s physical health.
　
“The future is really personalized medicine for every disease, and depression is not an exception.”

A new study finds that being happy is definitely healthy. Scientists have known for a long time that people who are chronically angry, anxious or depressed have a higher risk of heart attacks, but now the flip side of that psychology concludes that being positive and optimistic may protect against heart disease.
　
“It might also be useful to focus on how we might bolster the positive side of things,” said lead researcher Julia Boehm of the Harvard University School of Public Health.
　
Boehm learned that people with a better sense of well-being tend to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, and are more likely to exercise, eat healthier food, get enough sleep and avoid smoking and abusing alcohol and drugs.
　
　

A five-year Canadian study has learned that teens who take ecstasy and amphetamine (“party drugs”) are “significantly” more likely to suffer from depression.
　
The study by scientists at the University of Montreal questioned almost 3,900 tenth grade students in the province of Quebec. Those students who had used both ecstasy and amphetamine had a 70 percent higher risk of suffering from depression a year later.
　
“Our results provide the first compelling evidence that recreational ecstasy and speed use places typically developing secondary school students at greater risk of experiencing depressive symptoms,” said co-author Frederic N. Briere.

The researchers admitted that the contribution of this kind of drug use was “relatively modest.” They did warn, however, that “modest contributions can have significant clinical implications from a population health perspective.”

A 54-year-old man was arrested this week after investigators from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office found about 200 marijuana plants at a “grow house” in the northern part of the county.
　
David Paul Sullivan was arrested on felony charges including cultivation of marijuana and trafficking marijuana, as well as a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Investigators said Sullivan told them the entire pot farming business was his, and that he had been doing it for some time to pay the bills. Investigators seized about two pounds of harvested marijuana. Some of the marijuana plants weighed about 23 pounds.
　
Sullivan is being held in St. Lucie County Jail in lieu of $83,250 bail.