Serpil Erşan

Examination of free radical metabolism and antioxidant defence system elements in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder

Free radicals and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a natural product of lipid peroxidation in all mammalian cells. Vitamins C and E are nonenzymatic antioxidant structures. Our study investigated the role of free radicals in the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The participants were 30 patients with OCD that were drug-free at least for a month and a control group of 30 healthy subjects, matched with respect to age and sex. In both groups, the levels of erythrocyte malondialdehyde and the plasma vitamin C and E concentrations were measured. The levels of malondialdehyde were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p<.01). The levels of plasma vitamin E were significantly lower in the patient than in the control group (p<.02). Although our patient group had slightly lower concentrations of plasma vitamin C compared to our control group, the difference between these two groups was not statistically significant. There was a significant correlation between increasing malondialdehyde levels and decreasing vitamin E concentrations. This study shows the presence of a significant relationship of OCD and oxidative stress, and consequently, an involvement of free radicals and of the antioxidant defence. Biochemical studies may contribute to the understanding of OCD and its treatment.

Serum selenium and plasma malondialdehyde levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

There is mounting evidence indicating that reactive free radical species are involved in initiation and development of many different forms of human pathologies including psychiatric disorders. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether serum selenium (Se), antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px, superoxide dismutase, SOD, and catalase, CAT) activities, and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a product of lipid peroxidation, were associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The participants were 28 patients with OCD that were drug-free at least for a month and a control group (n=28) of healthy subjects, matched with respect to age and sex. In both groups, the levels of the erythrocyte MDA, GSH-Px, SOD, Se, and the CAT were measured. The levels of MDA and SOD were statistically significantly higher (p<0.01, p<0.05 respectively) in patients than controls. The activities of CAT, GSH-Px, and serum Se levels were statistically significantly lower (p<0.0001, p<0.001, and p<0.001 respectively) in patients than controls. There was a positive correlation in patients between plasma GSH-Px activity and Se concentration (r=52, p=0.001). However, in patients with OCD, CAT and SOD activities were significantly and negatively correlated with MDA levels (r=-0.45, p=0.017 for CAT and r=-0.54, p=0.020 for SOD). The study shows the presence of a significant relationship of OCD and oxidative stress, and consequently, an involvement of free radicals and of the antioxidant defence.

INCREASED IRISIN CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRAGIC FEVER

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a life-threatening viral infection. The pathogenesis of the disease is not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine the change in irisin concentrations in patients with CCHF. The study included a total of 30 patients with CCHF and 30 control participants. Irisin concentrations were determined using a commercial ELISA kit. Median irisin concentrations were 9.03 (5.81-12.22) μg/mL and 4.2 (3.39-7.62) μg/mL, respectively, in each group. There was no correlation between irisin and disease severity. Any correlations between irisin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), international normalization ratio (INR), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), platelets, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), D-dimer and hemoglobin, were also investigated. There were statistically significant positive correlations between the values of irisin, and platelet (p = 0.005, r: 0.369), ALT (p = 0.049, r: 0.261), INR (p = 0.006, r: 0.359) and aPTT values (p = 0.002, r: 0.405). A negative correlation was also found between the values of irisin and LDH (p = 0.008, r: －0.348). No correlations were determined between the values of irisin, and AST, hemoglobin and D-dimer. These results suggest that irisin may have a role in CCHF.

Thiol Disulfide Homeostasis in Schizophrenic Patients Using Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs

Objective Schizophrenia is a severe, debilitating mental disorder characterized by behavioral abnormalities. Although several studies have investigated the role of oxidative stress and the effects of antipsychotic drugs on oxidative markers in schizophrenia, adequate information is not available on these issues. The aim of this study is to determine the changes in oxidative status and thiol disulfide homeostasis in schizophrenic patients using atypical antipsychotic drugs. Methods Thirteen schizophrenic patients using atypical antipsychotic drugs and 30 healthy controls were included this study. The concentrations of total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels were determined in the study population. Results The TAS (p=0.001), total thiol, and native thiol levels (p<0.001) were higher in the patients compared to the controls, whereas the TOS and disulfide levels were lower in the patients than in the controls (p<0.001). Conclusion These results may suggest that atypical antipsychotic drugs have a useful therapeutic effect by reducing oxidative stress via the inhibition of the formation of disulfide bonds. The study population number was one of the limitations of this study. Therefore, further studies are needed to establish the association between thiol disulfide homeostasis in schizophrenic patients using atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Xanthine oxidase, adenosine deaminase and vitamin E levels in patients with schizophrenia -

Objective: Neuronal damage caused by free radicals is believed to be effective in pathogenesis of several psychiatric disorders. This belief is due to the toxic effects of free radicals that play a role in oxidative stress. Considering that the brain is one of the most sensitive organs to the oxidative damage, the importance of oxidative stress in psychiatric disorders will become more apparent. Additionally, high oxygen use in the brain, and its structure rich in lipid, which is one of the most sensitive molecules to the free radical damage, and its having the average antioxidant system yield support oxidative stress theory in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to determine xanthine oxidase (XO), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and vitamins E levels in patients with schizophrenia and control groups, and to investigate the relationship between schizophrenia and the parameters by comparing the measured parameters with each other. Methods: Our study sample included 30 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The control group consisted of 30 healthy volunteers matched by sex with similar age and smoking habits. In the patient group and the control group, adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, and vitamin E were measured manually using spectrophotometric methods. Results: Serum xanthine oxidase levels in the schizophrenic group were significantly higher than the control group levels. Serum vitamin E and adenosine deaminase levels in the schizophrenia group were significantly lower than the levels of the control group. Discussion and Conclusion: The fact that mechanism of schizophrenia pathogenesis which has a wide variety of clinical symptoms and a disease process is yet to be elucidated reveals the importance of this kind of studies. In this study, low levels of antioxidant vitamin E and adenosine deaminase, and high levels of xanthine oxidase suggest that oxidative stress-mediated neuronal damage may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Therefore, we believe that further research with larger sample groups should be conducted.