Mitochondrial dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

A comprehensive literature search was performed to collate evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) with two primary objectives. First, features of mitochondrial dysfunction in the general population of children with ASD were identified. Second, characteristics of mitochondrial dysfunction in children with ASD and concomitant mitochondrial disease (MD) were compared with published literature of two general populations: ASD children without MD, and non-ASD children with MD. The prevalence of MD in the general population of ASD was 5.0% (95% confidence interval 3.2, 6.9%), much higher than found in the general population (∼0.01%). The prevalence of abnormal biomarker values of mitochondrial dysfunction was high in ASD, much higher than the prevalence of MD. Variances and mean values of many mitochondrial biomarkers (lactate, pyruvate, carnitine and ubiquinone) were significantly different between ASD and controls. Some markers correlated with ASD severity. Neuroimaging, in vitro and post-mortem brain studies were consistent with an elevated prevalence of mitochondrial dysfunction in ASD. Taken together, these findings suggest children with ASD have a spectrum of mitochondrial dysfunction of differing severity. Eighteen publications representing a total of 112 children with ASD and MD (ASD/MD) were identified. The prevalence of developmental regression (52%), seizures (41%), motor delay (51%), gastrointestinal abnormalities (74%), female gender (39%), and elevated lactate (78%) and pyruvate (45%) was significantly higher in ASD/MD compared with the general ASD population. The prevalence of many of these abnormalities was similar to the general population of children with MD, suggesting that ASD/MD represents a distinct subgroup of children with MD. Most ASD/MD cases (79%) were not associated with genetic abnormalities, raising the possibility of secondary mitochondrial dysfunction. Treatment studies for ASD/MD were limited, although improvements were noted in some studies with carnitine, co-enzyme Q10 and B-vitamins. Many studies suffered from limitations, including small sample sizes, referral or publication biases, and variability in protocols for selecting children for MD workup, collecting mitochondrial biomarkers and defining MD. Overall, this evidence supports the notion that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with ASD. Additional studies are needed to further define the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in ASD

ABO blood groups and Rh factor are risk factors for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer?

WOS: 000495991100001Objective(s): The initial aim of this study is to research the allocation of blood types ABO and Rh factor antigens in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Design: Retrospective Setting: University Hospital (Tertiary center) Subjects: From the records at Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Faculty of Medicine Hospital in the period January 2010- June 2018, data on 100 EOC patients were obtained concerning blood groups ABO and Rh factor in 90 women. Intervention(s): The control group was constituted from the Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Blood Transfusion Center and included 17065 females, to make reliable comparison, same region-same gender. Main Outcome Measure(s): Blood types ABO and Rh factors, patients having EOC. Result(s): Data on 90 women with EOC and recorded blood types ABO and Rh factors were taken for retrospective analysis. Although, blood type O was seemingly related with higher risk of EOC, this difference was not statistically significant. Also, blood type B was seemingly allocated with low risk of EOC, albeit this difference was not statistically significant. Condusion(s): Most previous studies have reported increased cancer of the ovaries associated with the A blood type compared to the O group. Contrary to our data, Zhang et al found that, blood type O is allocated with lower risk of cancer of the ovaries. Our studies results show possible allocation between the O blood type and higher risk of EOC B blood type and decreased probability EOC

Is there any difference in lateralization in epithelial ovarian cancer cases?

WOS: 000449612300017Introduction: Whether there is a right or left lateralization difference in cancer involvement in double sided organs has become a topic of interest in recent years. In addition, the density of cancer metastasis to the right or left lymph nodes has become a subject of inquisition. Our aim in this study is to retrospectively investigate differences in right- or left-sided ovarian cancer incidence. Materials and methods: In the Gynaecological Oncology Clinic of Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, 96 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who were followed up between 2008 and 2017 were retrospectively noted as having right or left ovarian involvement or a tumour mass with right or left overgrowth. Results and discussion: A prominence of left ovarian involvement was observed in our study results. Especially when patients in the first stage of cancer, FIGO stage 1A, were examined, it was obvious that epithelial ovarian cancer tends to commence in the left ovary rather than the right ovary. Conclusion: There is a need for prospective studies with multidisciplinary studies including immunohistopathology to investigate hypotheses such as hormonal susceptibility, which can be postulated as an explanation for the higher frequency of left vs right ovary involvement in EOC

Prevalence, comorbidities and mediators of childhood anxiety disorders in urban Turkey: a national representative epidemiological study

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety disorders, its correlation with sociodemographic characteristics, its comorbidities with other psychiatric disorders and its predictors in school-aged children. Methods: This study is part of a representative, multi-centered national study that is planned by the Turkish Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health to evaluate the prevalence of psychopathology among elementary school students in Turkey between the years 2014–2015. Children are screened via Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children Present and Lifetime Version. Impairment is assessed by a 3-point Likert type scale independently by the parent and the teacher. The final sample included 5842 children with the mean age of 8.7 years. Results: The prevalence of any anxiety disorder without considering impairment is 16.7% and considering impairment is 5.2% in children according to our study. We found significant differences for comorbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Disruptive Behavior Disorder, Mood Disorders, Tic Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Enuresis Nocturna, Encopresis, and Intellectual Disability. Having a history of paternal physical disorder, living in the regions of Marmara, Mediterranean and Black Sea were found to be the main predictors of having childhood anxiety disorders according to the logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Better understanding of childhood anxiety disorders, comorbid conditions and predictors will result in earlier diagnosis and more appropriate treatment. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany