Suleyman Salih Zoroglu

Suicide attempt and self-mutilation among Turkish high school students in relation with abuse, neglect and dissociation.

Abstract A questionnaire consisting of items about abuse, neglect, self‐mutilation and suicide attempt and the Turkish Version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale were given to 862 high school students. The rates of suicide attempt and self‐mutilative behaviors were 10.1% and 21.4%, respectively. Abused or neglected groups (34.3%) had 7.6‐fold higher suicide attempts and 2.7‐fold higher self‐mutilation behaviours. The logistic regression model showed that each type of trauma and dissociation contributed to suicide attempts and self‐mutilation, but dissociation was the most powerful. Suicidal and self‐destructive adolescents should precisely be evaluated for abuse, neglect and dissociation in clinical practice.

Elevated serum nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase in euthymic bipolar patients: impact of past episodes.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of many neuropsychiatric disorders. NO level was found high in acute manic inpatients. In this study, we aimed to assess NO level and activity of the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), in euthymic bipolar patients. Twenty-seven patients with bipolar disorder (BD) in euthymic phase, and 20 healthy volunteers were included in this study. A semi-structured form was used to note social, demographic and clinical parameters of the patients. NO level and SOD activity were studied in the serum samples obtained from the patients and controls. The mean serum NO level in BD was significantly higher than in controls. Mean serum SOD activity was found to be elevated in patients with BD compared to controls. Total number of the manic episodes correlated with NO levels, but not with SOD activity. In conclusion, the number of manic episodes is positively associated with NO levels. NO and SOD appear to have a pathophysiological role in BD, especially in Type I euthymic phase, and may be considered an available trait marker for BD.

Significance of Serotonin Transporter Gene 5-HTTLPR and Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Polymorphism in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and polymorphism of the two regions of the 5-HTT gene [variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and 5-HTTLRR] in a sample of Turkish children. Using the PCR technique, these polymorphisms were assessed in 71 patients with ADHD and 128 healthy controls. The 5-HTTLPR S/S genotype was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.018). Homozygous and heterozygous L variant predominated in the ADHD group. But the VNTR STin2.12/12 genotype was significantly less found in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the frequency of the short (S), long, 10, and 12 alleles of both groups. The lack of an S/S variant of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the STin2.12/12 variant of VNTR polymorphism appears to be associated with an increased risk of ADHD.

Possible role of nitric oxide and adrenomedullin in bipolar affective disorder.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. Adrenomedullin (AM) induces vasorelaxation by activating adenylate cyclase and also by stimulating the release of NO. AM immune reactivity is present in the brain, consistent with a role as neurotransmitter. Therefore, it is suggested that these two molecules may play a role together in the brain. We aimed to examine AM and NO in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Forty-four patients with BPAD and 21 healthy control subjects were included in this study. DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder (type I, manic episodes) was independently established by two psychiatrists and the Turkish version of the Bech-Rafaelson Mania Scale was administered. Also, a semistructured form was used to ascertain several sociodemographic and clinical variables of the patients. AM and NO were studied in plasma. The mean value of plasma NO levels in the BPAD group of 46.58 ± 13.97 µmol/l was significantly higher than that of controls (31.81 ± 8.14 µmol/l) (z = –4.15, p = 0.000). Mean plasma AM levels were found to be increased in patients with BPAD (35.13 ± 5.26 pmol/l) compared to controls (16.22 ± 3.02 pmol/l) (z = –6.16, p = 0.000). AM levels of BPAD patients were approximately 2-fold higher than controls. AM levels were positively correlated with the duration of hospitalization for the current episode and negatively correlated with the total duration of illness. Both NO and AM may have a pathophysiological role in BPAD (type I, manic episodes) and the clinical symptomatology and prognosis of BPAD.

Association between Ala–9Val polymorphism of Mn-SOD gene and schizophrenia

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been suggested to play an important role in physiopathology of schizophrenia. The major intracellular antioxidant enzymes, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase in the cytoplasm and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) in the mitochondria, rapidly and specifically reduce superoxide radicals to hydrogen peroxide. Polymorphisms in the genes encoding antioxidant enzymes should therefore result in predisposition to schizophrenia. The present study was performed to assess whether there is a genetic association between a functional polymorphism (Ala-9Val) in the human Mn-SOD gene in schizophrenic patients (n=153) and healthy controls (n=196) using a PCR/RFLP method. Significant differences in the genotypic distribution between schizophrenics and controls were observed. Genotypic distribution with 14 (9.2%) Ala/Ala, 106 (69.3%) Ala/Val and 33 (21.6%) Val/Val subjects in schizophrenia was different from those of controls with 46 (23.5%), 83 (42.3%) and 67 (34.2%), respectively (p<0.0001). When the patients with schizophrenia were divided into the subgroups as disorganized, paranoid and residual, there was a significant difference in genotypic distribution among the subgroups (chi2=11.35, df=4, p=0.023). This association between -9Ala Mn-SOD allele and schizophrenia suggests that -9Ala variant may have a contribution in the physiopathogenesis of schizophrenia. Further investigations are warranted in larger populations with other susceptible genes that might be associated with schizophrenia.

Is the Arginine-Nitric Oxide Pathway Involved in the Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia?

The reciprocal regulation of arginase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in L-arginine-metabolizing pathways has been demonstrated. There are various evidences of the role of the nitric oxide (NO) in several neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. However, there is no study which has investigated the role of arginase as an important part of the arginine regulatory system affecting NOS activity in schizophrenia. This study aims to investigate arginase, manganese (Mn) and total nitrite levels (a metabolite of NO) and their relationship to the arginine-NO pathway in patients with schizophrenia. Arginase activities, Mn and total nitrite levels were measured in plasma from 46 patients with schizophrenia and 32 healthy control subjects. Plasma arginase activities and Mn were found to be significantly lower and total nitrite level higher in patients with schizophrenia compared with controls. Our results suggest that the arginine-NO pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

The role of the arginine-nitric oxide pathway in the pathogenesis of bipolar affective disorder

Abstract.There is a reciprocal regulation of arginase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in L-arginine-metabolizing pathways. Nitric oxide (NO) may be involved in some psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, depression and bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). To our knowledge, there is no study in the literature in which the role of arginase, an important part of the arginine regulatory system affecting NOS activity, was investigated in BPAD. This study aims to investigate arginase, manganese (Mn) and total nitrite levels (a metabolite of NO) and their relationship to the arginine-NO pathway in patients with BPAD. Arginase activities, Mn and total nitrite levels were measured in plasma from forty-three patients with BPAD (Type one) and thirty-one healthy control subjects. Plasma arginase activities and Mn were found to be significantly lower and total nitrite level higher in patients with BPAD compared with controls. Our results suggest that the arginine-NO pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of BPAD.

No Evidence for an Association between the T102C and 1438 G/A Polymorphisms of the Serotonin 2A Receptor Gene in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a Turkish Population

Disturbances in the serotonergic neurotransmission system have been implicated in the etiology of attenion deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As the importance of genetic factors is well established, genes encoding for proteins of the serotonergic pathway are important candidates to unravel the underlying genetic contribution. We previously demonstrated that the polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene promoter and regions of variable number of tandem repeats were involved in the pathogenesis of ADHD. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between ADHD and two polymorphisms (T102C and 1438 G/A) in the 5-HT2A gene in a sample of Turkish children. Using the PCR technique, these polymorphisms were assessed in 70 patients with ADHD and in 100 healthy controls. There was no significant difference between the frequencies of the T, C, G and A alleles of both groups. No association was found between the studied polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A gene and ADHD in this sample consisting of Turkish children. Overall, our results suggest that the investigated 5-HT2A polymorphisms are not major susceptibility factors in the etiology of ADHD.

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the adolescent dissociative experiences scale

The Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A‐DES) is designed to measure dissociation in adolescents. The present study aimed to assess the reliability, validity, and psychometric characteristics of the Turkish version of the A‐DES. The Turkish version of the A‐DES was administered to 20 patients with a dissociative disorder, 24 patients with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 31 patients with anxiety disorder, 31 patients with mood disorder, 24 patients with attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 201 non‐clinical participants. The internal consistency and the test–retest correlation of the A‐DES were excellent. The mean total score of A‐DES was 6.2 in dissociative disorder, 3.9 in PTSD, 2.1 in anxiety disorder, 2.4 in mood disorder, 2.5 in ADHD groups and 2.4 in non‐clinical participants. There was a statistically significant difference between dissociative patients and other diagnostic groups on the A‐DES total score. The good psychometric characteristics of the A‐DES among Turkish participants support its cross‐cultural validity.

Risperidone treatment in preschool children with disruptive behavior disorders: a chart review study / Yıkıcı davranış bozuklukları olan okulöncesi çocuklarda risperidon tedavisi: Bir dosya tarama çalışması

Objective: To gather data about the efficacy and safety of risperidone in normally developing preschool children with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs).Methods: This is a retrospective chart rev...