İbrahim Eren

Alterations of plasma magnesium, copper, zinc, iron and selenium concentrations and some related erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the status of plasma essential trace elements magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) concentrations and their some related antioxidant enzyme activities, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in patients with Alzheimers disease (AD). Fifty patients with AD and fifty healthy control subjects were included in this study. Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), plasma Mg and Fe concentrations by spectrophotometric methods and plasma Se concentrations by graphite furnace AAS were determined. Erythrocyte GPx, SOD and CAT activities were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Plasma Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe and Se levels and erythrocyte GPx, SOD and CAT activities were found to be significantly lower in patients with AD compared with controls. These results suggest that alterations in essential trace elements and their related enzymes may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of AD. Also, there is a defect in the antioxidant defense system, which may lead to oxidative damage in patients with AD. The changes in antioxidant enzyme activities may be secondary to the alterations in their cofactor concentrations.

Spinal Morphine Administration Reduces the Fatty Acid Contents in Spinal Cord and Brain by Increasing Oxidative Stress

It is well known that oxidative stress damages bimolecules such as DNA and lipids. No study is available on the morphine-induced oxidative damage and fatty acids changes in brain and spinal tissues. The aim of this work was to determine the effects of morphine on the concentrations and compositions of fatty acid in spinal cord segments and brain tissues in rabbits as well as lipid peroxidation (LP) and glutathione (GSH) levels in cortex brain.Twelve New Zealand albino rabbits were used and they were randomly assigned to two groups of 6 rabbits each. First group used as control although morphine administrated to rats in second group. Cortex brain and (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) samples were taken.The fatty acids between n:18.0 and 21.0 were present in spinal cord sections and n:10 fatty acids in control animals were present in the brain tissues. Compared to n:20.0–24.0 fatty acids in spinal cord sections and 8.0 fatty acids in the brain tissues of drug administered animals. The concentration and composition of the fatty acid methyl esters in spinal cord and brain tissues was decreased by morphine treatments. LP levels in the cortex brain were increased although GSH levels were decreased by the morphine administration.In conclusion, unsaturated fatty acids contents in brain and spinal cord sections and GSH were reduced by administrating spinal morphine although oxidative stress as LP increased. The inhibition oxidative damage may be a useful strategy for the development of a new protection for morphine administration as well as opiate abuse.

The Role of Arginine–Nitric Oxide Pathway in Patients with Alzheimer Disease

There is a reciprocal regulation of arginase and nitric oxide synthase in l-arginine-metabolizing pathways. There are various evidences of the role of nitric oxide in several neuropsychiatric disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is no study that has investigated the role of arginase as an important part of the arginine regulatory system affecting nitric oxide synthase activity in Alzheimer’s disease. This study aims to investigate arginase, manganese (a cofactor of arginase), and total nitrite levels (a metabolite of NO) and their relationship to the arginine–NO pathway in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Arginase activities, Mn, and total nitrite levels were measured in plasma from 47 patients with Alzheimer’s disease and 43 healthy control subjects. Plasma arginase activities and manganese were found to be significantly lower and total nitrite level higher in patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared with controls. Our results suggest that the arginine–NO pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lithium-induced lung toxicity in rats: the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on lithium (Li)‐induced lung toxicity. Methods: Twenty‐two adult male Wistar albino rats weighing between 280 and 300 g were used. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, Li and Li+CAPE groups. Li and CAPE were co‐administered intraperitoneally twice daily for 4 weeks. Control rats were given 0.9% NaCl during the same period. All the rats were allowed to feed ad libitum until midnight after they had received the proposed treatment. Results: In the Li group, peribronchial and intraparenchymal lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration were observed. Atypical type II pneumocytes, alveolar destruction and emphysematous changes were also detected. Lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration was significantly decreased in the Li+CAPE group compared with the Li group. Alveolar destruction, emphysematous changes and intraparenchymal mononuclear cell infiltration were also recovered to a level close to the control group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased in the Li group compared with the control group. CAPE administration decreased the MDA levels in the Li+CAPE group. Conclusions: CAPE was found to associate with histopathological changes recovery in the lungs and oxidative stress due to Li treatment.

Is pica in the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorders?

In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), pica is defined as the persistent eating of nonnutritive substances for at least one month [1]. Although the compulsive nature of this behavior is commented upon frequently in the literature [2,3], there is no single theory accepted universally to explain the phenomenon of pica [4]. The role of the most widely recognized factor, i.e., iron deficiency, is also controversial [2]. On the other hand, the developments in the knowledge of neurobiological factors in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has led to increased attention to a range of disorders including Tourette’s syndrome [5], kleptomania, and trichotillomania [6] within the notion of an obsessive-compulsive spectrum of disorders. Many disorders within the spectrum respond to selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI), as does OCD [7,8]. However, despite the presence of a compulsive behavior in pica, the link between OCD and pica is not studied much [2]. We report 3 cases of pica that responded to SSRI’s and discussed the possibility of the phenomenon to be involved in the obsessive-compulsive spectrum.

Is female predominance in irritable bowel syndrome related to fibromyalgia

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are common functional diseases in adult women. The aim of this study was to investigate whether female predominance in IBS is related to FM. Fifty patients with IBS and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. All participants answered questionnaires including personal and medical history. In addition, psychiatric interviews were conducted. Patients were divided into two groups according to the coexistence of FM ( IBS+FM or IBS only). The data obtained from patients with or without FM and the control group were compared. There was a significant female predominance in patients with IBS+FM (83.4%, F:M=5:1), but IBS-only patients consisted mainly of males (59.4%, F:M=2:3) (P<0.01). Comparison of IBS+FM and IBS-only patients showed no significant difference in depression and anxiety status. However, both anxiety and depression scores were found to be higher in female IBS patients than their male counterparts (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Our findings suggest that the female predominance in IBS patients may result from coexisting FM.

Psychological Symptoms Are Greater in Caregivers of Patients on Hemodialysis Than Those of Peritoneal Dialysis

Background:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare psychosocial characteristics in caregiving relatives (caregivers) of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Increased Neutrophil-lymphocyte and Platelet-lymphocyte Ratios in Male Heroin Addicts: A Prospective Controlled Study

Objective The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are markers that can determine the presence of systemic inflammatory response. In this study, we examined the NLR and PLR levels in patients with heroin dependence compared to healthy controls. Methods The study sample included 90 male patients with heroin dependence aged 18 to 45 years and 60 healthy subjects who had similar socio-demographic characteristics as the patient group. The diagnoses of heroin dependence and other Axis I psychiatric disorders in the patient and control groups were screened with the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (SCID-I). The extent of heroin addiction was assessed with the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Results The mean NLR and PLR levels of patients with heroin dependence were significantly higher than the control subjects (p=0.031 and p<0.001, respectively). Positive correlations were found between NLR, PLR and duration of the disorder. Conclusion Our results indicate that inflammatory processes may play a role in the pathophysiology of heroin dependence.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratios in all mood states of bipolar disorder

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aims at researching the inflammatory cells and their ratios as inflammation markers in different phases of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: In this retrospective study, 79 manic, 61 depressed, 59 euthymic drug-naive patients with BD, and 86 control subjects have been evaluated for their complete blood count. Results: Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was found to be significantly higher in manic, euthymic, and depressed patients with BD compared to control group. However, no difference was found between all patient and control groups regarding platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR). There was no difference among different phases of patient groups in terms of NLR and PLR. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that inflammatory process may have a role in all mood episodes of BD and NLR may be a useful trait inflammation marker for BD independent of mood episodes. However, further studies need to be conducted on the effect of inflammatory mechanisms on mood states of BD.

Amniyosentez öncesi anksiyete ve depresyon risk düzeyi

Calismanin amaci Amniyosentez yapilacak gebelerde anksiyete ve depresyon risk duzeylerini belirlemektir. Bu calisma Nisan 2016 - Aralik 2016 tarihleri arasinda Necmettin Erbakan Universitesi, Meram Tip Fakultesi Hastanesi, Kadin Hastaliklari ve Dogum Anabilim Dali, Perinatoloji Unitesinde amniyosentez yapilan toplam 109 gebe uzerinde yapilmistir. Islemden bir gun once hastalara sosyodemografik veri formu ve Hastane Anksiyete Depresyon Olcegi (HADO) formu doldurulmustur. Amniyosentez oncesi gebelerin anksiyete olcegi (HADO-A) ortalamasi 11.18 ± 2.36 ( range: 2-20) olarak bulunmustur. Kesme noktasi 10 olarak alindiginda gebelerin %72.5’u anksiyete yonunden risk altinda olduklari saptanmistir. Depresyon olcegi (HADO-D) ortalamasi ise 7.75 ± 2.19 (range: 2-19) olarak bulunmustur. Kesme noktasi 7 olarak alindiginda gebelerin %74.2’u depresyon yonunden risk altinda olduklari saptanmistir. Bu calismada amniyosentez oncesi gebelerin anksiyete ve depresyon duzeylerinin anlamli sekilde yuksek oldugu gorulmustur. Amniyosentez yapilacak kadinlarin psikiyatrik destege ihtiyaci olabilir.