MAY PPAR GAMMA BE SIGNIFICANT IN BIPOLAR DISORDER ONLY IN THE PRESENCE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME?

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has a key role in regulating both neurogenesis and various metabolic processes, including adipogenesis and glucose homeostasis. In this study, it was aimed to compare the serum PPARγ levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) parametres of patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) diagnosed manic-depressive-euthymic episodes with those of healthy subjects. Subjects and Methods: We included 121 male patients with BD type I, 44 in mania, 35 in depression and 42 in euthymic state, and 41 healthy controls. Serum PPARγ levels, inflammation indicators (CRP, neutrophil, leukocyte, and albumin) and Mets parametres were measured. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of PPARγ values. PPARγ serum level is highest in the control group and then euthymic, manic and depressive episodes continue to decrease, respectively. However, there was a significant difference between the depressive group with MetS and without MetS in terms of serum PPARγ levels. A statistically significant correlation was found between PPARγ and the other serum markers such as low-density lipoprotein (p=0.022), HbA1c (p=0.002), neutrophils levels (0.001), white blood cell (p=0.025), and clinical features such as age at first treatment (p=0.024), age at first episode (p=0.039), and smoking (0.013). Conclusions: We suggest that PPARγ may be a key factor in the BD depressive group with MetS. Not finding any relationship between the PPARγ levels and the episode of BD may be related with the absence of MetS in the individuals. MetS parametres must also be considered if PPARγ is to be evaluated in the future investigations

Role of Adipokines and Hormones of Obesity in Childhood Asthma

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin in obese and non-obese children with asthma and in healthy non-asthmatic children, and analyze their relationships with clinical outcomes. Methods: This study enrolled 40 obese and 51 non-obese children with asthma and 20 healthy children. Body mass index and serum leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin levels were determined in all children. Asthma symptom scores and lung function test results were recorded for subjects with asthma. Results: Serum leptin levels (11.8 +/- 7.9, 5.3 +/- 6.8, and 2.1 +/- 2.4 ng/mL in the obese asthmatic, non-obese asthmatic, and control groups, respectively) and adiponectin levels (12,586.2 +/- 3,724.1; 18,089.3 +/- 6,452.3; and 20,297.5 +/- 3,680.7 ng/mL, respectively) differed significantly among the groups (P<0.001 for all). Mean ghrelin levels were 196.1 +/- 96.8 and 311.9 +/- 352.8 pg/mL in the obese and non-obese asthmatic groups, respectively, and 348.8 +/- 146.4 pg/mL in the control group (P=0.001). The asthma symptom score was significantly higher in the obese children with asthma than in the non-obese children with asthma (P<0.001). Leptin and adiponectin levels were correlated with the asthma symptom score in non-obese children with asthma (r=0.34 and r=-0.62, respectively). Conclusions: Obesity leads to more severe asthma symptoms in children. Moreover, leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin may play important roles in the inflammatory pathogenesis of asthma and obesity co-morbidity

Turkish Version of the Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report (TGI-SR): Validity and reliability

This study aimed to adapt the Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report (TGI-SR) to Turkish in a sample of 403 bereaved individuals. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a correlated two-factor structure for the 18-item version. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .94 for the entire scale. Correlation analysis indicated that the TGI-SR was positively correlated with grief-related symptoms. To test discriminant validity, Latent Profile Analysis was performed, and profiles significantly differed from each other in terms of the impact of event, depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Findings showed that the Turkish version of the TGI-SR is a valid and reliable tool

Waste glass aggregate for cementitious and polymer concrete

WOS: 000386109100008Glass waste is produced in considerable amounts annually. Due to the disadvantageous nature of its recycling process, its reuse gains importance. Given the high reactivity level of glass-incorporating mixtures, the reuse of waste glass as aggregate in polymer concrete was investigated. Polymer concrete mixtures, including unsaturated polyester resin, hardener and accelerator, waste glass aggregate (up to 8 mm) and glass fabrics, were prepared for the investigation of mechanical properties. The composite specimens were reinforced by means of glass fabrics in various types (woven or mat), amounts (single or double layer) and orientation (perpendicular or parallel to loading direction). The mechanical properties of polymer concretes were tested for flexural tensile strength and compressive strength. In addition, thermal conductivity and residual strength after elevated temperatures were determined. It was concluded that these composites with easy preparation techniques have superior mechanical and thermal insulation properties compared with their counterparts available for use and their mechanical properties were mainly affected by the amount, type and orientation of the glass fabric reinforcement.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [110M569]; EBILTEMEge University [2012-BIL-023]The financial support of Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under grant no. 110M569 and EBILTEM under grant no. 2012-BIL-023 are greatly acknowledged. The authors would like to thank Bugra Yigit Cetin, Begenc Saveliyev and Leyla Kokcu for their help in this experimental study

Electroconvulsive therapy combined with antipsychotic therapy in the treatment of acute schizophrenia inpatients: symptom profile of the clinical response

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) combined with antipsychotic (AP) medication on symptom profile in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who had received acute psychiatric inpatient treatment. METHODS: In this prospective study, patients were evaluated for inclusion in the study who were diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and were to receive ECT. The patients were evaluated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and Clinical Global Impression – Improvement (CGI-I) sub-scale before the first session ECT, once following every two subsequent sessions and after the final session. RESULTS: The patients showed significant improvements in BPRS scores at each evaluation compared with their scores at baseline, and a significant clinical improvement was found on the CGI-I sub-scale at the end of treatment. Across all SAPS sub-scores, significant decreases were found, and the symptoms related to hallucinations and positive formal thought disorder showed the most rapid response to treatment. Across all SANS sub-scores, significant decreases were found, and affective flattening or blunting symptoms responded most rapidly to treatment. CONCLUSION: One of the most important findings in the present study of hospitalized patients with acute schizophrenia was the good response to treatment, which provided significant improvements in both positive and negative symptoms. The most rapid response to treatment was found for hallucinations, positive formal thought disorder, and affective flattening or blunting symptoms. The most important limitation of our study may be the small number of cases. In future, well-standardized studies using a double-blinded, comparative, prospective design and including a sufficient number of patients are needed

Ultrasound-Assisted Desorption Of Co2 From Carbon Dioxide Binding Organic Liquids

CO2 absorption/desorption performance of 2-tert-Butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (BTMG) and 1-Hexanol blend, which is a novel carbon dioxide binding organic liquid (CO2BOL) system, was studied in order to investigate the behavior of ultrasoundassisted desorption. Pure CO2 was first absorbed into a 10 wt percent BTMG solution in a semi-batch stirred reactor at 303 K and at 2 atm until equilibrium was reached, followed by ultrasound-assisted desorption at 353 K under nitrogen atmosphere. Experiments were repeated in the absence of ultrasound, keeping everything else the same. The CO2 loading of BTMG: 1-Hexanol solvent system was found to be a very favourable ratio of 1.05 mol CO2/mol BTMG. When compared with conventional desorption, ultrasound-assisted desorption resulted in enhanced desorption rate so that the solvent regeneration time was significantly shortened. Enhancement of desorption rate was most significant/vigorous at the initial stages of desorption process. Further, regeneration of this CO2BOL was possible at 353 K without any phase change. Experimental results clearly show that the ultrasound-assisted desorption is an effective process intensification tool leading to significantly minimised energy consumption for regeneration. To ensure effectiveness of regeneration, reversibility of the solvent system was also investigated by using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.WoSScopu