Serum Copper and Ceruloplasmin Levels in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder seen in childhood. It is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that is inappropriate for the age and developmental level of the child. Although the number of studies investigating the neurobiological basis of ADHD is increasing, there is still no clear understanding of the mechanisms of the disorder. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels may play a role in the neurobiology of ADHD due to their effects on oxidative mechanisms and the dopaminergic-catecholaminergic system. However, the results of studies investigating the serum levels of copper in patients with ADHD are contradictory. Moreover, serum ceruloplasmin levels have not yet been studied. The aim of the current study was to compare the serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels in children and adolescents with ADHD to the levels found in healthy controls. Method: This study included 43 children and adolescents (32 males, 11 females) with ADHD, who did not have any neurological, systemic, or comorbid psychiatric disorders, except for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and 32 gender and age-matched healthy controls (23 males, 9 females). Levels of serum copper and ceruloplasmin were compared between the two groups. Approximately 47% of the children with ADHD had comorbid ODD. The level of serum copper was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and serum ceruloplasmin was measured using nephelometry. Results:The mean level of serum copper was 17.3 +/- 3.2 mu g/dL in the ADHD group, and 16.9 +/- 2.6 in the control group. This difference was not significant (p=0.538). The mean serum ceruloplasmin level was 37.6 +/- 6.9 mu g/dL in the group with ADHD, and 36.9 +/- 6.4 mu g/dL in the control group; this difference between groups was not significant (p=0.685). Moreover, no significant difference was observed between the groups with ADHD with or without ODD comorbidities and the control group for either levels of serum copper (p=0.845), or ceruloplasmin (p=0.878). Conclusion: This study showed that serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels do not differ between children and adolescents with ADHD compared with controls. Although our results suggest that serum ceruloplasmin and copper do not have a direct role in the neurobiology of ADHD, there is a need for future studies with larger patient groups.WoSScopu

Default Mode Network Connectivity Is Linked to Cognitive Functioning and Csf A Beta(1-42) Levels In Alzheimer'S Disease

Background: Changes in the default mode network (DMN) activity are early features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be linked to AD-specific A beta pathology. Methods: Cognitive profiles; DMN connectivity alterations; and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid beta (A beta)(1-42), total tau, phosphorylated tau 181, and alpha-synuclein levels were studied in 21 patients with AD and 10 controls. Results: DMN activity is altered in AD. Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) functional connectivity with other parts of DMN was related to cognitive function scores. The reduction of connectivity of the dorsal PCC with the retrosplenial cortex on the right side was closely related to decreased CSF A beta(1-42) levels in patients with AD. Conclusions: The dorsal PCC and retrosplenial cortex may have special importance in the pathogenesis and cognitive findings of AD. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Wo

Screening for hemochromatosis in Turkey

In this study we screened 3060 consecutive blood donors for an unbound iron-binding capacity level of <28 mu M and then performed HFE mutation analysis in these subjects. Sixty-five of the 75 subjects with a low initial unbound iron-binding capacity (all had normal ferritin levels) came back and only 5 (8%) had a low fasting unbound iron-binding capacity. Mutational analysis revealed H63D heterozygosity in two of five subjects. Four of five subjects had liver biopsy indication and none had increased liver iron. HFE genotyping of 60 subjects with a low initial but normal fasting unbound iron-binding capacity revealed heterozygote H63D in seven (11.6%). No allelic variant of position 282 or 63 was found in three previously diagnosed patients with hereditary hemochromatosis. In conclusion, full phenotypic expression of hereditary hemochromatosis is very rare in Turkey. The absence of HFE mutations in three patients with hereditary hemochromatosis suggests that hereditary hemochromatosis in Turkey occurs without common HFE mutations