Süleyman Demir

Diagnostic performance of increased prolidase activity in schizophrenia.

We investigated whether prolidase activity has a diagnostic test value in schizophrenia and assessed the relation between prolidase activity and sociodemographic-clinical characteristics of patients with schizophrenia. Fifty patients with schizophrenia (diagnosed as schizophrenia according to DSM-V criteria) and 50 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Case and control groups had a similar distribution in age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status. Serum prolidase activity was measured in both groups and was determined to be significantly higher in the patient group (509.706±41.918) compared to the control group (335.4±13.6; t=6.231; p=0.0001). A cut-off point of 392.65U/L prolidase was determined for diagnostic measures from the plotted ROC curve. The area under the ROC curve was 1.000, which was significant (p<0.0001). Higher values were assigned as the disease state. Both positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 100% at the cut-off point of 392.650U/L. The prolidase levels of the control group were all below the cut-off point. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, gender, or BMI (p>0.05), and no correlation was found between mean prolidase activity and age of onset of the disease, family history, disease duration, number of hospitalizations, subtypes of schizophrenia, PANSS scores or sub-scores, CGI-S scores, S-A scale scores, and the antipsychotic treatment (p>0.05). The results of this study indicate that serum prolidase activity may be a useful diagnostic test for schizophrenia; however, further studies are needed to verify this.

Oxidative metabolism may be associated with negative symptoms in schizophrenia

ABSTRACT Objective: In the present study, we aimed to examine the relationship between the oxidative metabolism with disease severity, sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics in the patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Seventy-one patients with schizophrenia and 76 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Plasma total antioxidant level (TAL) and total oxidant level (TOL) were analyzed, and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in TOL and OSI and decrease in TAL in the patients with schizophrenia compared to the controls (pu2009<u2009.05). There were positive, mild, statistically significant correlations between TOL, OSI, and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-Total scores (pu2009=u2009.01, pu2009=u2009.01, respectively), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-Negative scores (pu2009=u2009.002, pu2009=u2009.001, respectively), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale Global Psychopathology scores (pu2009=u2009.03, pu2009=u2009.03, respectively), and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale scores (pu2009=u2009.008, pu2009=u2009.009 respectively). OSI levels were significantly lower in the patients who were on treatment with atypical antipsychotics (AAP) compared to the patients who were on typical antipsychotics (TAP) and combined antipsychotic (CAP) agents (pu2009=u2009.032). Conclusions: Oxidative stress was higher in schizophrenia patients. The increased severity of negative symptoms was in line with the disruption in oxidative balance. Oxidative stress is quite lower in AAP users compared to the TAP and CAP users. One of the mechanisms underlying the fact that AAPs are more effective on negative symptoms than typical agents may be the positive effect on the oxidative stress.

Evaluation of Risk Factors for ADHD and Co-Morbid Psychiatric Disorders Among the Parents of Children With ADHD.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of ADHD and other psychiatric disorders among parents with at least one child with ADHD relative to parents with children who do not have ADHD. Method: Eighty five parents of children with ADHD with 68 control parents who had healthy children without ADHD were interviewed for participation in present study. Each parent was evaluated for co-existing psychiatric disorders using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM IV Axis I Disorders (SCID I). Results: We found that ADHD and co-morbid psychiatric symptoms were increased in the parents of children with ADHD in comparison with the healthy control group. Conclusion: Psychiatric co-morbidity was more common among the parents of patients with inattentive and combined presentations. Adult ADHD is associated with psychiatric co-morbidities including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and somatoform disorders as well as substantial role impairment.

Evaluation of Paraoxonase, Arylesterase and Malondialdehyde Levels in Schizophrenia Patients Taking Typical, Atypical and Combined Antipsychotic Treatment

Objective Human serum paraoxonase (PON1) prevents lipids from peroxidation and functions as an antioxidant mechanism. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) is the final product of lipid peroxidation and can be used as an indicator of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate PON1, MDA, and arylesterase (ARY) levels in schizophrenic patients who are taking typical, atypical, or combined (typical and atypical) antipsychotic drug treatment, with respect to those of healthy controls. Methods We evaluated 41 patients (11 taking typical antipsychotics, 19 taking atypical antipsychotics, 11 taking combined anti-psychotics) and 43 healthy controls. Results MDA levels were higher in schizophrenic patients taking typical antipsychotics compared with healthy controls (p=0.001). ARY levels were higher in patients taking atypical antipsychotics compared with healthy controls (p=0.005). PON1 activity was similar in all groups. Conclusion Our results indicate that treatment with typical antipsychotic drugs could be related to increased MDA levels; and antipsychotic medication may increase PON1 levels in schizophrenic patients.

Decreased Prolidase Activity in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Objective Many neurochemical systems have been implicated in the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The prolidase enzyme is a cytosolic exopeptidase that detaches proline or hydroxyproline from the carboxyl terminal position of dipeptides. Prolidase has important biological effects, and to date, its role in the etiology of PTSD has not been studied. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate prolidase activity in patients with PTSD. Methods The study group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with PTSD after the earthquake that occurred in the province of Van in Turkey in 2011 (n=25); the first control group consisted of patients who experienced the earthquake but did not show PTSD symptoms (n=26) and the second control group consisted of patients who have never been exposed to a traumatic event (n=25). Prolidase activities in the patients and the control groups were determined by the ELISA method using commercial kits. Results Prolidase activity in the patient group was significantly lower when compared to the control groups. Prolidase activity was also significantly lower in the traumatized healthy subjects compared to the other healthy group (p<0.01). Conclusion The findings of the present study suggest that the decrease in prolidase activity may have neuroprotective effects in patients with PTSD.