Magnetic resonance imaging study of corpus callosum abnormalities in patients with different subtypes of schizophrenia

Background. Reductions in the size of the corpus callosum (CC) have been described for schizophrenia patients, but little is known about the possible regional differences in schizophrenia subtypes (paranoid, disorganised, undifferentiated, residual).  Methods. We recruited 58 chronically schizophrenic patients with different subtypes, and 31 age-and-gender matched healthy controls. The callosum was extracted from a midsagittal slice from T1 weighted magnetic resonance images, and areas of the total CC, its five subregions, CC length and total brain volume were compared between schizophrenia subtypes and controls. Five subregions were approximately matched to fibre pathways from cortical regions.  Results. Schizophrenia patients had reduced CC total area and length when compared with controls. Disorganised and undifferentiated schizophrenics had a smaller prefrontal area, while there was no significant difference for the paranoid and residual groups. The premotor/supplementary motor area was smaller in all schizophrenia subtypes. The motor area was smaller only in the disorganised group. A smaller sensory area was found in all subtypes except the residual group. Parietal, temporal and occipital areas were smaller in the paranoid and undifferentiated groups. Total brain volume was smaller in all schizophrenia subtypes compared with controls, but did not reach statistical significance.  Conclusion. These findings suggest that the heterogeneity of symptoms may lead to the different CC morphological characteristics in schizophrenia subtypes

Exposure to hypertonic solutions during pregnancy induces autism-like behaviors via the NFAT-5 pathway in offspring in a rat model

Objectives: to investigate the effects of hyperosmolar state (HS) on immune response and inflammation via the NFAT5 pathway and examine whether immune-mediated conditions trigger autism-like behavior in offspring. Methods: a pregnant rat model was performed by administering hyperosmotic solutions. Pregnant rats were divided into 2 main groups; control (group I) and hyperosmolar groups (group II). Control group rats were given % 0.25 NaCI (tap water) (n = 6), the Hyperosmolar (HO) group was further subdivided into 3 groups as; Group II a rats which were given % 3 hypertonic NaCl (n = 6), Group II b rats were given mineral water (% 3 NaH-CO3+magnesium+calcium content) (n = 6), and Group II c rats were given Ayran (% 0.8 NaCl content) (n = 6). Their offspring were examined for behaviors, biochemical and histological abnormality. Results: in offspring, TNF-alpha, IL-17, NFAT-5, and NGF levels in the brain were significantly higher in hyperosmotic solution groups than in control rats. Exposure of pregnant rats to hyperosmotic solution resulted in autism-like behaviors in their offspring. Through immunohistochemical methods, we found that CA1 and CA2 of the hippocampus indicated decreased number of neurons in hyperosmotic solution groups compared with the control group. Conclusions: our findings once again emphasized that the immune-mediated conditions involved in the pathophysiology of autism. NFAT5 pathway may be a key factor in the development of neuroinflammation by hyperosmotic solutions

METACOGNITION IN PATIENTS WITH PREMATURE EJACULATION AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Anxiety is the most common intrapsychic component in male sexual dysfunction. Metacognition is considered to be the way of thinking about "thinking" which could be associated with anxiety. The aim of the study was to investigate the metacognition level of patients with premature ejaculation. Forty patients with premature ejaculation and 40 with erectile dysfunction, and a matched number of healthy people participated. Participants were asked to fill out Meta-cognitions Questionnaire-30, Beck Depression and Beck Anxiety Inventories. The total metacognition score was significantly higher in patients with premature ejaculation (p .05). The positive beliefs, negative beliefs scores were significantly higher in patients with sexual disorders (p < .05). The cognitive self consciousness score was significantly higher in patients with premature ejaculation than erectile dysfunction group (p < .05) and healthy controls (p < .05). Patients with sexual disorders might endorse the metacognitive belief that worrying about worriable problems can have positive effects in solving problems and avoiding unpleasant situations, which may be associated with sexual disorder

Quality of life, problem solving, focus of control and anger tendency in the patients with acne

Ozturk, Ahmet/0000-0002-9854-7586WOS: 000348823600003Background and Design: in this study, we evaluated anxiety and depression levels, levels of problem solving, focus of control, tendency to anger and quality of life in patients with acne as well as the association between those parameters and the clinical features of acne. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients with mild to severe acne vulgaris and 46 healthy controls were enrolled. Acne severity was graded in all patients by a dermatologist. the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Problem Solving Inventory (PSI), the State-Trait Anger Scale (STAS), Rotter's Internal-External Focus of Control Scale (RIELCS) and the Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) were applied to all participants. Results: in our study, we found out that anxiety and depression scores were significantly higher in patients with acne vulgaris than in controls. in BSI, anxiety disorders, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, and paranoid thoughts scores were significantly higher in patients with acne than in controls. According to SF-36, physical role difficulty, general health and mental health scores were significantly lower in patients with acne. Conclusion: the results of our study support the previous findings suggesting that acne vulgaris leads to various psychiatric problems, such as depression and anxiety and, adversely affects quality of life of patients

Facial emotion recognition in male antisocial personality disorders with or without adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective: We aimed to investigate facial emotion recognition abilities in violent individuals with antisocial personality disorder who have comorbid attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or not

Impact of multimedia information on bronchoscopy procedure: is it really helpful?

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of written informed consent and comprehensive multimedia information on the anxiety level of patients, consumption of sedatives, difficulties during bronchoscopy, complications and duration of procedure. Methods: 150 patients undergoing bronchoscopy were included to this study. They were randomized into two groups Multimedia information group (MIG, n = 75) and written-informed consent group (WICG, n = 75)). Signed written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Patients in MIG group watched comprehensive multimedia presentation. State anxiety scores of all patients were evaluated with State and Trait anxiety inventory (STAI-S). Results: STAI-S score of patients in MIG (40.31 ± 8.08) was lower than patients in WICG (44.29 ± 9.62) (P = 0.007). Satisfaction level was higher in MIG (P = 0.001). Statistically higher difficulties during "passage through vocal cords" and "interventions during bronchoscopy" were present in WICG group (P = 0.013 and P = 0.043, respectively). Total midazolam dose during bronchoscopy, and duration of bronchoscopy were statistically lower in MIG patients (P < 0.001 and P = 0.045, respectively). Difficulties during "waiting period", "passage through nasal/oral route", "applications of local anesthesia" and "complication frequency" were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Besides reducing the state anxiety, multimedia information can reduce the dose of sedation, shorten the processing duration and reduce the difficulties during bronchoscopy

Complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with mental disorders in Turkey

Ozturk, Ahmet/0000-0002-9854-7586WOS: 000209440700009PubMed: 24199977Purpose: the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and the associated socio-demographic factors among patients with mental disorders in the Turkish community. Methods: One thousand and twenty-seven patients with a diagnosis of mental disorders who were attending psychiatric outpatient clinics in five Turkish cities were interviewed. A survey questionnaire, which included questions on socio-demographic characteristics and CAM use, was administered face-to-face by psychiatrists. Results: 22.2% of patients with mental disorders were using some form of CAM in the Turkish community. CAM and medication concurrent users had a higher level of education and income compared to CAM users only or medicine users only (p < 0.001). the most common type of CAM used was herbal therapy (n = 146, 64%). Conclusion: Use of CAM by patients with mental disorders should be investigated and taken into account by psychiatrists. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved