Lasering depression

khazaei @ Flickr

In a first, scientists have isolated hyperactive parts of the brain in depressed patients using a laser dissection microscope. They found differences at the molecular level relative to controls, which could explain the hyperactivity and pave the way for new therapeutic strategies. This is great stuff for Neuropsychiatry folks.

Reference
Wang, S-S, Kamphuis, W., Huitinga, I., Zhou, J-N & Swaab, D.F (in press). Gene Expression Analysis in the Human Hypothalamus in Depression by Laser Micro-Dissection and Real Time PCR: the presence of multiple receptor imbalances. Molecular Psychiatry