THE ROLE OF FOLIC ACID IN THE TREATMENT OF MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Objective: Depressive symptoms are the most common neuropsychiatric manifestation of folic acid deficiency. The objective of this research is to determine the role of folic acid in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Method: 60 outpatients with MDD and matched 30 healthy controls constituted the sample. The Personal Information Form was used to determine the sociodeniographic features of the patient and the control groups. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the criteria of MDD of DSM-IV were used to diagnos the MDD. 30 of the outpatients randomly selected as first group they were given fluoxetine (20 mgs per day), the remainders we given fluoxeline (20 mgs per day) and folic acid (5 mgs per day) as the second group. HDRS was applied lo the patients in 7^th, 14^th, 28^th, 42^th days and to the three groups at the beginning, and was measured serum folic acid levels 0 ^th, 14^th,. 28 ^th, 42^th days. After calculating HDRS scores and serum folic acid levels, the data were run on SPSS. The following statistical analyses were used in order to evaluate the data: variance analysis, student's t test. Mann-Whitney U test and Tukey's test. Result At the beginning, HDRS scores of first, second and control groups were 29.10, 26.93, 7.90 respectively. The mean serum folate levels were lower in the first and the second groups than It, controls. The decrease of HDRS scores were found to be faster in the second group than the first group. However, in 42^nd day, the difference between HDRS scores of the two groups was not significant statistically. Conclusion: As a result, one can say that adding folate to the treatment of MDD may reduce the occurrence and duration of MDD and increase the efficiency of antidepressant treatment

Determination of the carrier concentration in InGaAsN∕GaAs single quantum wells using Raman scattering

Raman scattering from longitudinal optical phonon-plasmon coupled mode was observed in a series of InGaAsN∕GaAs single quantum well samples grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The phonon-plasmon mode spectra were fitted with the dielectric constant function based on Drude model that contains contributions from both lattice vibrations and conduction electrons. The carrier concentration is calculated directly from the plasmon frequency, which is obtained from the fitting procedure. An empirical expression for the electron concentration, [n], in InGaAsN∕GaAs samples is determined as [n]≈{2.35×1016(ωm−502)}cm−3, where ωm is the peak of the upper frequency branch, L+, of the phonon-plasmon mode measured in unit of cm−1. The phonon-plasmon coupled mode was also investigated in rapid thermally annealed samples

A new hope for obesity management: Boron inhibits adipogenesis in progenitor cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

© 2017Obesity is a worldwide medical problem resulting in serious morbidity and mortality involving differentiation of pre-adipocytes into mature adipocytes (adipogenesis). Boron treatment has been reported to be associated with weight reduction in experimental animals; however, its effects on pre-adipocyte differentiation and anti-adipogenic molecular mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we demonstrate the inhibitory activities of boric acid (BA) and sodium pentaborate pentahydrate (NaB) on adipogenesis using common cellular models. Boron treatment repressed the expression of adipogenesis-related genes and proteins, including CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, by regulating critical growth factors and the β-catenin, AKT, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathways. In addition, although boron treatment did not induce apoptosis in pre-adipocytes, it depressed mitotic clonal expansion by regulation of cell cycle genes. Overall, these data offer promising insights into the prevention/treatment of obesity and associated diseases

Turner syndrome and associated problems in turkish children: A multicenter study

Objective: Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder caused by complete or partial X chromosome monosomy that manifests various clinical features depending on the karyotype and on the genetic background of affected girls. This study aimed to systematically investigate the key clinical features of TS in relationship to karyotype in a large pediatric Turkish patient population. Methods: Our retrospective study included 842 karyotype-proven TS patients aged 0-18 years who were evaluated in 35 different centers in Turkey in the years 2013-2014. Results: The most common karyotype was 45,X (50.7%), followed by 45,X/46,XX (10.8%), 46,X,i(Xq) (10.1%) and 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) (9.5%). Mean age at diagnosis was 10.2±4.4 years. The most common presenting complaints were short stature and delayed puberty. Among patients diagnosed before age one year, the ratio of karyotype 45,X was significantly higher than that of other karyotype groups. Cardiac defects (bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosi) were the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in 25% of the TS cases. This was followed by urinary system anomalies (horseshoe kidney, double collector duct system and renal rotation) detected in 16.3%. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was found in 11.1% of patients, gastrointestinal abnormalities in 8.9%, ear nose and throat problems in 22.6%, dermatologic problems in 21.8% and osteoporosis in 15.3%. Learning difficulties and/or psychosocial problems were encountered in 39.1%. Insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose were detected in 3.4% and 2.2%, respectively. Dyslipidemia prevalence was 11.4%. Conclusion: This comprehensive study systematically evaluated the largest group of karyotype-proven TS girls to date. The karyotype distribution, congenital anomaly and comorbidity profile closely parallel that from other countries and support the need for close medical surveillance of these complex patients throughout their lifespan. © Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology

Solar-like oscillations in KIC11395018 and KIC11234888 from 8 months of Kepler data

We analyze the photometric short-cadence data obtained with the Kepler Mission during the first eight months of observations of two solar-type stars of spectral types G and F: KIC 11395018 and KIC 11234888 respectively, the latter having a lower signal-to-noise ratio compared to the former. We estimate global parameters of the acoustic (p) modes such as the average large and small frequency separations, the frequency of the maximum of the p-mode envelope and the average linewidth of the acoustic modes. We were able to identify and to measure 22 p-mode frequencies for the first star and 16 for the second one even though the signal-to-noise ratios of these stars are rather low. We also derive some information about the stellar rotation periods from the analyses of the low-frequency parts of the power spectral densities. A model-independent estimation of the mean density, mass and radius are obtained using the scaling laws. We emphasize the importance of continued observations for the stars with low signal-to-noise ratio for an improved characterization of the oscillation modes. Our results offer a preview of what will be possible for many stars with the long data sets obtained during the remainder of the mission.Comment: 39 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Asteroseismology from multi-month Kepler photometry: the evolved Sun-like stars KIC 10273246 and KIC 10920273

The evolved main-sequence Sun-like stars KIC 10273246 (F-type) and KIC 10920273 (G-type) were observed with the NASA Kepler satellite for approximately ten months with a duty cycle in excess of 90%. Such continuous and long observations are unprecedented for solar-type stars other than the Sun. We aimed mainly at extracting estimates of p-mode frequencies - as well as of other individual mode parameters - from the power spectra of the light curves of both stars, thus providing scope for a full seismic characterization. The light curves were corrected for instrumental effects in a manner independent of the Kepler Science Pipeline. Estimation of individual mode parameters was based both on the maximization of the likelihood of a model describing the power spectrum and on a classic prewhitening method. Finally, we employed a procedure for selecting frequency lists to be used in stellar modeling. A total of 30 and 21 modes of degree l=0,1,2 - spanning at least eight radial orders - have been identified for KIC 10273246 and KIC 10920273, respectively. Two avoided crossings (l=1 ridge) have been identified for KIC 10273246, whereas one avoided crossing plus another likely one have been identified for KIC 10920273. Good agreement is found between observed and predicted mode amplitudes for the F-type star KIC 10273246, based on a revised scaling relation. Estimates are given of the rotational periods, the parameters describing stellar granulation and the global asteroseismic parameters $\Delta\nu$ and $\nu_{\rm{max}}$.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, to be published in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Conspiracy theory as spatial practice: the case of the Sivas arson attack, Turkey

This article discusses the relationship between conspiratorial thinking and physical space by focusing on the ways conspiracy theories regarding political violence shape and are shaped by the environments in which it is commemorated. Conspiratorial thinking features space as a significant element, but is taken to do so mainly figuratively. In blaming external powers and foreign actors for social ills, conspiracy theorists employ the spatial metaphor of inside versus outside. In perceiving discourses of transparency as the concealment rather than revelation of mechanisms of governance, conspiracy theorists engage the trope of a façade separating the space of power’s formulations from that of its operations. Studying the case of an arson attack dating from 1990s Turkey and its recent commemorations, this article argues that space mediates conspiracy theory not just figuratively but also physically and as such serves to catalyze two of its deadliest characteristics: anonymity and non-linear causality. Attending to this mediation requires a shift of focus from what conspiracy theory is to what it does as a spatial practice