Levels of a small molecule1 found only in humans and in other primates2 are lower in the brains of depressed3 individuals, according to researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Institute. This discovery may hold a key to improving treatment options for those who suffer from depression. Depression is a common cause of disability, and while viable4 medications exist to treat it, finding the right medication for individual patients often amounts to trial and error for the physician. In a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine, Dr. Gustavo Turecki, a psychiatrist5 at the Douglas and professor in the Faculty6 of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry7 at McGill, together with his team, discovered that the levels of a tiny molecule, miR-1202, may provide a marker for depression and help detect individuals who are likely to respond to antidepressant treatment.Using samples from the Douglas Bell-Canada Brain Bank, we examined brain tissues from individuals who were depressed and compared them with brain tissues from psychiatrically（精神病学地） healthy individuals, says Turecki, who is also Director of the McGill Group for Suicide Studies, We identified this molecule, a microRNA known as miR-1202, only found in humans and primates and discovered that it regulates an important receptor of the neurotransmitter glutamate（谷氨酸盐）.The team conducted a number of experiments that showed that antidepressants change the levels of this microRNA. In our clinical trials with living depressed individuals treated with citalopram, a commonly prescribed antidepressant, we found lower levels in depressed individuals compared to the non-depressed individuals before treatment, says Turecki. Clearly, microRNA miR-1202 increased as the treatment worked and individuals no longer felt depressed.Antidepressant drugs are the most common treatment for depressive episodes, and are among the most prescribed medications in North America. Although antidepressants are clearly effective, there is variability in how individuals respond to antidepressant treatment, says Turecki, We found that miR-1202 is different in individuals with depression and particularly, among those patients who eventually will respond to antidepressant treatment.The discovery may provide a potential target for the development of new and more effective antidepressant treatments, he adds.
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1 molecule n.分子，克分子 参考例句： A molecule of water is made up of two atoms of hygrogen and one atom of oxygen.一个水分子是由P妈f婘妈成的。 This gives us the structural formula of the molecule.这种方法给出了分子的结构式。
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