Mehmet Asoglu

Homocysteine Levels and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Patients With Adult ADHD

Objective: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the plasma homocysteine levels and oxidative stress parameters in patients with adult ADHD (A-ADHD). Method: Blood samples were taken from 32 A-ADHD patients and 32 controls enrolled in the study and plasma homocysteine, serum folate, vitamin B12, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined. Results were compared between the groups. Results: Patients’ plasma homocysteine level was significantly lower and serum folate level was significantly higher than the controls. The means of plasma homocysteine and folate levels were statistically significantly different between the groups (p < .05). However, a statistically significant difference was not detected between groups for mean serum vitamin B12, TAS, TOS, and OSI levels (p > .05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that oxidative balance is not impaired in A-ADHD, and contrary to other psychiatric disorders, homocysteine levels were found to be lower.

Pain perception: predictive value of sex, depression, anxiety, somatosensory amplification, obesity, and age.

Objective Factors affecting pain sensation are still being investigated. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of sex, age, body mass index (BMI), somatosensory amplification, anxiety, and depression on the perception of pain. Methods Venipuncture was performed on 140 healthy individuals. All the cases completed a sociodemographic data form, visual analog scale (VAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory, and Somatosensory Amplification Scale. Height and weight were also measured. Results When both the sexes were compared, there was no difference in terms of VAS, BMI, age, and Beck Depression Inventory, but Somatosensory Amplification Scale and BAI were found to be higher in females. A correlation was found among VAS points, BAI, and BMI. The results of a regression analysis show that the BAI score is a predictor for the VAS score. Conclusion These results indicate that anxiety may be a predictor of pain, whereas sex, depression, somatosensory amplification, age, and weight do not appear to influence the perception of pain.

Mean platelet volume and red cell distribution width levels in initial evaluation of panic disorder

Background As the relationship between psychological stress and platelet activation has been widely studied in recent years, activated platelets lead to certain biochemical changes, which occur in the brain in patients with mental disorders. However, data relating to the mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with panic disorder (PD) are both limited and controversial. Herein, we aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the red cell distribution width (RDW) levels combined with MPV levels in patients with PD. Patients and methods Between January 2012 and June 2015, data of 30 treatment-naïve patients (16 females, 14 males; mean age: 37±10 years; range: 18–59 years) who were diagnosed with PD and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (10 females, 15 males; mean age: 36±13 years; range: 18–59 years) (control group) were retrospectively analyzed. The white blood cell count (WBC), MPV, and RDW levels were measured in both groups. Results The mean WBC, MPV, and RDW levels were 9,173.03±2,400.31/mm3, 8.19±1.13 fl, and 12.47±1.14%, respectively, in the PD group. These values were found to be 7,090.24±1,032.61, 6.85±0.67, and 11.63±0.85, respectively, in the healthy controls. The WBC, MPV, and RDW levels were significantly higher in the patients with PD compared to the healthy controls (P=0.001, P=0.001, and P=0.003, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in the platelet number between the patients with PD and healthy controls (P>0.05). Conclusion Our study results are the first to demonstrate that the RDW levels combined with MPV levels significantly increase among patients with PD. We believe that increased RDW and MPV levels can be used as a novel marker for PD.

Effect of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Hematological Parameters

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a method of psychiatric treatment based on the establishment of generalized convulsions, results in a controlled stimulation of the brain tissue by an electrical current. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the ECT treatment on hemogram parameters. Although the most common areas of use are depressive episodes that do not respond to medication, it is also effective in the treatment of many diseases such as mania, catatonia, schizophrenia with affective disorders, parkinsons disease and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Though full blood count before ECT routine, there is no hematologic contraindication for ECT. Methods: This study included 30 patients who were admitted to the Department of Psychiatry of Harran University Medical Faculty and who underwent ECT. Hemogram parameters were recorded before and after treatment of patients. Results: Of the 25 patients included in the study, 19 (76%) were female, 6 (24%) were male. The ages of the patients ranged from 16 to 56, and the mean age was 33.12±12.06. The mean number of the ECT seances was 9.04±3.12. Number of red blood cells (RBC) and mean hemoglobin amount in erythrocyte cells (MCH) were found to be significantly changes, according to the results of statistical analysis of hemogram parameters before and after ECT. The RBC average value appeared to decline from 4.90 to 4.68 (p=0.018). But the average value of the MCH increased from 27.37 to 27.85 (p=0.036). The changes in the other hemogram parameters were statistically in significant. Conclusion: ECT is a safe and an effective and easily applicable treatment method with few adverse effects. This study shows that ECT did not produce any significant statistical changes on many hemogram parameters. Two parameters (RBC and MCH) were found that showed significant changes in our study. More studies are needed to clearly understand how ECT changes the red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels.

Evaluation of oxidant, antioxidant, and S100B levels in patients with conversion disorder

Introduction Various psychodynamic, neurobiological, genetic, and sociocultural factors are believed to be involved in the etiology of conversion disorder (CD). Oxidative metabolism has been shown to deteriorate in association with many health problems and psychiatric disorders. We evaluated oxidative metabolism and S100B levels in the context of this multifactorial disease. Methods Thirty-seven patients with CD (25 females and 12 males) and 42 healthy volunteers (21 females and 21 males), all matched for age and sex, were included in this study. The total oxidant status, total antioxidant status, oxidative stress index, and S100B levels were compared between the two groups. Results The total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, and S100B levels were significantly higher in patients with CD than in the control group, whereas the total antioxidant status was significantly lower. Conclusion CD is associated with deterioration of oxidative metabolism and increased neuronal damage.