Cem Uysal

BDNF and cortisol levels in children with or without post-traumatic stress disorder after sustaining sexual abuse

OBJECTIVEnThere are studies reporting that cortisol and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) play a role in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, up-to-date no study evaluated the relationship between PTSD and the levels of cortisol and BDNF in children and adolescents who have sustained trauma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BDNF, cortisol and adrenocorticotropine (ACTH) levels differ between individuals who developed PTSD or not following a sexual trauma.nnnMETHODnThe study included 55 children aged between 6 and 17 years who sustained sexual assault (M/F: 13/42). The patients were divided into two groups, with or without PTSD based on the results of a structured psychiatric interview (K-SADS-PL and CAPS-CA). Of the participants, 49% (n=27) were diagnosed with PTSD. Cortisol, ACTH, and BDNF levels were evaluated using the ELISA method.nnnRESULTSnThere were no significant differences between patients with or without PTSD in terms of cortisol, ACTH, BDNF levels. There were no correlations between CAPS-CA scores and cortisol, ACTH, and BDNF levels in patients with or without PTSD. In patients with PTSD, decreased cortisol levels were found with increasing time after trauma, and no significant correlation was found with the cortisol levels in patients without PTSD.nnnCONCLUSIONnAlthough no significant association was found between biochemical parameters and the presence or severity of PTSD; decreasing cortisol levels with increasing time after trauma in patients with PTSD suggest that cortisol might have played a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.

Altered lipid peroxidation markers are related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and not trauma itself in earthquake survivors

The traumatic life events, including earthquakes, war, and interpersonal conflicts, cause a cascade of psychological and biological changes known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a reliable marker of lipid peroxidation, and paraoxonase is a known antioxidant enzyme. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between earthquake trauma, PTSD effects on oxidative stress and the levels of serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme activity, and levels of serum MDA. The study was carried out on three groups called: the PTSD group, the traumatized with earthquake exercise group, and healthy control group, which contained 32, 31, and 38 individuals, respectively. Serum MDA levels and PON1 enzyme activities from all participants were measured, and the results were compared across all groups. There were no significant differences between the PTSD patients and non-PTSD earthquake survivors in terms of the study variables. The mean PON1 enzyme activity from PTSD patients was significantly lower, while the mean MDA level was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group (pxa0<xa00.01 for both measurements). Similarly, earthquake survivors who did not develop PTSD showed higher MDA levels and lower PON1 activity when compared to healthy controls. However, the differences between these groups did not reach a statistically significant level. Increased MDA level and decreased PON1 activity measured in PTSD patients after earthquake and may suggest increased oxidative stress in these patients. The nonsignificant trends that are observed in lipid peroxidation markers of earthquake survivors may indicate higher impact of PTSD development on these markers than trauma itself. For example, PTSD diagnosis seems to add to the effect of trauma on serum MDA levels and PON1 enzyme activity. Thus, serum MDA levels and PON1 enzyme activity may serve as biochemical markers of PTSD diagnosis.

Examining the levels of BDNF and cortisol in children and adolescent victims of sexual abuse—a preliminary study

BACKGROUNDnPrevious reports have suggested the biological and psychological effects of trauma induced by cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The present study compared the levels of BDNF, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in children and adolescent victims of sexual abuse to those without a trauma history.nnnMETHODSnThe study was conducted in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Dicle University. The study included 44 children (M/F: 12/32) aged between 8 and 17years who experienced sexual abuse with 42 age-and gender-matched children who did not have a history of trauma. Cortisol, ACTH, and BDNF levels were measured using ELISA.nnnRESULTSnCortisol levels were higher and BDNF levels were significantly lower in the victims of sexual abuse compared to the control group. The mean time that elapsed from the initial sexual abuse occurrence until the date of examination was 22.7±21.7months. The evaluation of the relationship between this time span and cortisol levels revealed that cortisol levels decreased with increasing time after trauma. Cortisol and BDNF levels were lower in the victims who experienced multiple sexual assaults.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe results of the present study suggest that cortisol and BDNF could be biological molecular mediators of the effects of trauma on biological and psychological systems. This is the first report on the effects of cortisol and BDNF induced trauma in child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse.

Carbon monoxide-related deaths in Ankara between 2001 and 2011.

Abstract Objective: The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology of unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings (between 2001 and 2011) in Ankara, Turkey. Methods: Data were collected from the records of Ankara Branch of Council of Forensic Medicine and the licensed official institutes and hospitals for medico-legal autopsies. A total of 10u2009720 medico-legal autopsy reports were obtained and reviewed by the authors. Results: Among 622 fatal poisoning cases during the period, 380 deaths were due to unintentional CO poisoning. The mean CO saturation of the groups was 55.4u2009±u200913.4 (% saturation). The minimum and maximum levels of CO in blood was 3.6 and 86.5 (% saturation), respectively. Of all the fatal poisonings determined by Ankara Branch of Council of Forensic Medicine, CO poisoning was the most common mortality cause (61.1%). Among the cases, 301 (79.2%) were found to be death in their houses, 43 (11.3%) in hospitals, 15 (3.9%) in their workplaces and 11 (2.9%) in some public places such as park and garden. Most of the cases were from the capital city of Turkey, Ankara (nu2009=u2009203, 53.4%). When we compared the cities according to their population, it was realized that the highest death rate due to CO poisoning was in Kirikkale (12.3/100u2009000), followed by Karabuk (8.3/100u2009000), Cankiri (7.8/100u2009000) and Kirsehir (5.0/100u2009000). Discussion and conclusion: These findings add new data to the pool of knowledge in terms of the need of safety, proper heating system instructions and more education on CO poisoning in Turkey.

The Levels of Cortisol and Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage in Child and Adolescent Victims of Sexual Abuse with or without Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether cortisol and oxidative stress levels and DNA damage differ between individuals who developed PTSD or not following a sexual trauma. Methods The study included 61 children aged between 5 and 17 years who sustained sexual abuse (M/F: 18/43). The patients were divided into two groups: patients with PTSD and patients without PTSD based, based on the results of a structured psychiatric interview (K-SADS-PL and CAPS-CA). Cortisol, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), coenzyme Q, 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were all evaluated by the ELISA method. Results Our evaluation revealed a diagnosis of PTSD in 51% (n=31) of victims. There was no significant difference between the groups with or without PTSD in terms of cortisol, GPx, SOD, coenzyme Q, and 8-OHdG levels. There was no correlation between CAPS scores and GPx, SOD, coenzyme Q, and 8-OHdG levels between patients with or without PTSD. In patients with PTSD, both cortisol and 8-OHdG levels decreased with increasing time after trauma, and there was no significant correlation with cortisol and 8-OHdG levels in patients without PTSD. Conclusion Although the present study did not find any difference between the groups in terms of 8-OHdG concentrations, the decreases in both cortisol and 8-OHdG levels with increasing time after trauma is considered to indicate a relationship between cortisol and DNA damage.

The levels of cortisol, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in the victims of childhood sexual abuse: a preliminary study

ABSTRACT In this study we aimed to investigate serum cortisol, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in children who are sexual abuse victims. The study included 38 children who sustained child sexual abuse and 38 age- and gender-matched children who did not have a history of trauma. Cortisol levels reflecting the status of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, anti-oxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, natural anti-oxidant coenzyme Q, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine as the indicator of DNA damage were analyzed in serum samples using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the child sexual abuse group compared to the control group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of oxidative stress and DNA damage. Cortisol and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels decreased as the time elapsed since the sexual abuse increased. Coenzyme Q level was lower in victims who sustained multiple assaults than in the victims of a single assault. Cortisol and superoxide dismutase levels were lower in the victims of familial sexual abuse. Decreases in cortisol and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels as time elapsed may be an adaptation to the toxic effects of high cortisol levels over a prolonged period of time. Child sexual abuse did not result in oxidative stress and DNA damage; however, some features of sexual abuse raised the level of oxidative stress.

Serum total oxidant and antioxidant status in earthquake survivors with post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective Oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although there are some studies on oxidative stress and PTSD, there is no report available on the serum total oxidant and antioxidant status in earthquake survivors with PTSD. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the serum total oxidant and antioxidant status in earthquake survivors with chronic PTSD. Material and Methods The study group included 45 earthquake survivors with PTSD and 40 earthquake survivors without PTSD. The oxidative status was determined using the total antioxidant status and total oxidant status (TOS) measurements and by calculating the oxidative stress index (OSI). Results There were no statistically significant differences in the total antioxidant status, TOS, or OSI when comparing individuals with and without PTSD (all, p>0.05). There were no correlations between Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale scores and oxidant and antioxidant stress markers (all, p>0.05). Conclusions Our results suggest that the total oxidant and antioxidant status may not affect earthquake survivors with PTSD. This is the first study to evaluate the oxidative status in earthquake survivors with PTSD. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

The effect of intermediate targets on the spread of pellets from shotguns

The distribution pattern of pellets due to shotguns is an important criterion for the determination of shooting distance. Many factors affect the distribution range, such as characteristics of the gun, the presence and type of intermediate targets, factors related to distance, and the physical variables of the environment. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of different intermediate targets on the distribution range of pellets from a shotgun. Glass, mica auto glass, tempered auto glass, fibreboard, flat iron, aluminium, and grey cotton fabric were used as intermediate targets. The intermediate target was placed one metre away from the main target and shotgun. The spread of pellets was evaluated on the main target with seven shots by using either cartridge numbers 0 or 9. The spread of pellets was significantly larger in the presence of all intermediate targets tested with cartridge number 9 (p < 0.05) but not in the presence of grey cotton fabric (p = 0.33) with cartridge number 0. The distribution range of pellets increased in the presence of intermediate targets. This difference was more pronounced in higher density intermediates. In crime scene investigations, the presence and/or type of intermediate target should be taken into account to make information more accurate.

TÜRKİYE’DE ÇOCUK CİNSEL İSTİSMARI: GÖZDEN GEÇİRME ÇALIŞMASI

Objective Sexual abuse continues to be a major problem in the world. In our country the numbers of these types of studies are increasing in recent years. In this study our aim is to review literature which concerns with sociodemographic characteristics of sexual abuse victims and types of sexual abuse. Methods The studies on sexual abuse conducted within the last 10 years in Turkey were scanned using the