Relationship between neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with oxidative stress and psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia

Burak Kulaksizoglu,1 Sibel Kulaksizoglu2 1Psychiatry Department, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, 2Biochemistry Department, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey Introduction: The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), paraoxonase, and total thiol (T.thl) in schizophrenic patients compared to healthy control group and investigate the relationship between these parameters and psychopathological symptoms.Methods: The study population consisted of 61 healthy control subjects and 64 volunteer patients monitored in the outpatient clinics of psychiatry of Antalya Education and Research Hospital. Hemograms were determined by using a fully automated hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter LH780). Serum TOS, TAS, paraoxonase, and T.thl were measured using a novel automated colorimetric measurement method developed by Erel. Sociodemographic data forms were completed by the participants. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess the patients.Results: Neutrophils, NLR, TAS, and TOS significantly increased, whereas lymphocytes, T.thl, and T.thl/OSI ratio were significantly lower in the schizophrenia patient group compared to the control group. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between PANSS positive subscale with leukocytes and significantly negative relationships were found between PANSS positive subscale with lymphocytes and T.thl/OSI ratio. Significant positive relationships were found between PANSS total subscale with leukocytes and NLR. Statistically significant negative relationships were found between PANSS total subscale with lympho­cytes and T.thl/OSI ratio. In the group of patients with schizophrenia, a significant negative correlation was found between NLR with T.thl/OSI. In the group of patients with schizophrenia, a significant positive correlation was found between NLR with TOS and OSI.Conclusion: By measuring NLR, which is simple, inexpensive, and suitable for routine use, we can obtain information about oxidative stress and psychopathological symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Inflammation and oxidative stress are important in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and are closely related with the patients’ clinical symptoms. Keywords: oxidative stress, antioxidant status, PANSS, schizophreni

An adolescent in Istanbul with Munchausen's syndrome

This article presents the treatment period for a 16-year-old girl with Munchausen's syndrome. She was initially referred to the hospital with emphysema of the face, which turned out to be due to self-injection of air. She had an eight-month hospitalization period for the diagnosis of her condition. After the diagnosis was established she was treated by our psychiatric team and followed for 21 months successfully without recurrence

Genetic variations in interleukin 6 rs1800795 polymorphism and the association with susceptibility to Hashimoto's thyroiditis

WOS: 000418337000001Hashimoto's disease is a polygenic disorder with complex etiopathogenesis. The imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the etiology. We aimed to evaluate the relation between 174 promoter region of the interleukin 6 rs1800795 gene polymorphism in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). We studied 110 HT patients and 110 healthy controls. The evaluation of genotype for interleukin 6 rs1800795 gene polymorphism were performed by using PCR-RFLP method. The genotype of IL6 distribution did differ between the control group (CC 17.3%, GC 78.2%, GG 4.5%) and the HT patients (CC 29.1%, GC 46.4%, GG 24.5%) (p 0.05). Our results indicate that interleukin 6 rs1800795 polymorphism may be associated with susceptibility to HT in Turkish Patients. It is necessary to confirm the results and determine the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in further studies. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Fas/FasL gene polymorphism in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in Turkish population

PubMed ID: 27572459Objective: Hashimoto’s disease is a polygenic disorder with complex etiopathogenesis. Apoptosis is proposed as one of its mechanisms. The Fas/Fas ligand cascade represents a major pathway initiating apoptosis. This study aims to evaluate the influence of Fas and FasL gene polymorphism in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in Turkish population. Materials and methods: A total of 112 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and 112 cases of healthy control people were included in this study. The evaluation of genotype for Fas -670 A/G and FasL 843 C/T gene polymorphism was performed by using PCR-RFLP method. Results: The FAS genotype and gene allele frequency distribution did differ between the control group (AA 36.6 %, AG 50.0 %, GG 13.4 %, A 61.6 %, G 38.4 %) and the Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients (AA 21.4 %, AG 50.9 %, GG 27.7 %, A 46.9 %, G 53.1 %) (p  0.05). Conclusions: Gene polymorphism of Fas and G allele frequency may play a role in the regulation of apoptosis in thyroid autoimmune disorders. There is a need for further studies to clarify the genetic role of apoptosis in HT. © 2016, Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE)

DARK SIDE OF THE TOWN: DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN DISADVANTAGED SENIOR CITIZENS

Objectives: Depression is frequently overlooked in older adults. Detection of depressive symptoms (DS) is important in primary care. This study aimed to detect the rate, risk factors and effects of DS in a disadvantaged older population. Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Community based rehabilitation centers and Sehzadebasi medical center of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM). Participants: 1163 Consecutive patients at least 60 years old, and applied to IMM; mostly poor and/or without health insurance. Measurements: Detailed history and geriatric scales were obtained. Depressive symptoms (DS) were defined as 14 or more points in 30 item Geriatric Depression Scale. Relations of DS and ordinal variables were tested by Chi-square; DS and numeric variables by T-test. Multiple regressions followed. Results: Younger old and women subjects were in majority. The rate of DS was 52%, while 9,1 % have depression diagnosis in their history. After multiple regressions, lack of health insurance was found to be the strongest independent risk factor for DS (p<0,0001). Other variables that remained significant were: Limited mobility, lower Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Tinetti Balance scores, onset insomnia, nightly awakenings and reported dizziness (p values= 0,008; 0,021; 0,005; 0,022; 0,04 and 0,03 respectively). Conclusion: These results indicate the need for comprehensive geriatric assessment in primary care to detect DS, in addition to negative effect of DS on sleep and independency. Health insurance coverage of the senior citizens also is an important challenge