SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER: A DIMENSIONAL APPROACH

Aim: Schizophrenia (SCH) and bipolar affective disorder (BAD) are currently classified separately according to the DSM (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) standardized diagnostic guidelines. However, the validity of this categorical approach is controversial because psychotic symptoms may be observed in both diagnoses. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and social characteristics in a sample group consisting of patients diagnosed with SCH or BAD to help demonstrate the basic difficulty in the current classification of SCH and BAD as two etiologically distinct diseases. Subjects and methods: The study sample group consisted of 102 patients diagnosed with SCH and 92 patients diagnosed with BAD. All of the participants were evaluated by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition with regard to beginning symptoms of the disease, the symptoms and signs of active disease period within total disease duration, continuining residual symptoms in intermediate period. The patients were administered the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Social Functioning Scale. Results: The SCH and BAD groups in this study were statistically similar in terms of sex, length of education, age at disease onset, attempted suicide, quality of life and social functioning. Conclusion: Our study findings indicated that the course of disease in patients with BAD-1, in which psychotic features predominate and which exhibits a recurring course, shares various characteristics with SCH. It can be concluded that further phenomenological and neurobiological evaluations are required for intermediate cases with similiar clinical characteristics with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders

Application of sucrose modulates the expressions of genes involved in proline and polyamine metabolism in maize seedlings exposed to drought

Sucrose, proline, and polyamines are compatible solutes accumulating in plant tissues and increasing cellular osmolarity under environmental stresses. These compatible solutes and hydrogen peroxide can function as signaling molecules in plants. There has been very little evidence how the supply of sucrose changes the biosynthesis of compatible solutes. This study aimed to assess the cross-talk among sucrose, H2O2, and compatible solutes on the expression of genes encoding key enzymes in the pathways of proline and polyamine metabolism in drought stressed maize seedlings. Drought stress (induced by polyethylene glycol solution) increased the expressions of genes encoding pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), arginine decarboxylase (ADC), and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), while decreased proline dehydrogenase (ProDH), diamine oxidase (DAO), and polyamine oxidase (PAO) expressions. Addition of sucrose to the stressed seedlings increased the P5CS, ADC and SAMDC expressions more than drought stress alone and reduced more the ProDH, DAO, and PAO expressions. Moreover, exogenous sucrose increased leaf water potential and the content of proline, polyamines, and total soluble sugars, whereas decreased H2O2 content and membrane damages under the drought stress conditions. Consequently, exogenous sucrose contributed to the preservation of water status and the amelioration of damage in maize seedlings under the drought stress

Inorganic and organic solutes in apoplastic and symplastic spaces contribute to osmotic adjustment during leaf rolling in Ctenanthe setosa

In Ctenanthe setosa we studied changes in apoplastic and symplastic sugar, proline, ions and organic acids under drought stress causing leaf rolling. Leaf extractions were made at visually judged leaf rolling stages (not rolled, slightly rolled, strongly rolled, completely rolled). Glucose and sucrose content increased in the symplast. Glucose declined during leaf rolling in the apoplast, and sucrose was not present. Symplastic and apoplastic proline content increased during leaf rolling; citrate increased in both compartments, and malate increased in the symplast but declined in the apoplast. Symplastic and apoplastic K+ declined during rolling. Ca2+ increased at slightly rolled stage but then began to decrease in both compartments. Na+ level increasing in the symplast but decreased in the apoplast. Cl- decreased in both compartments during rolling. Glucose, proline, Na+ and K+ are preferred for osmotic adjustment during leaf rolling under drought. © Polish Academy of Sciences and Jagiellonian University, Cracow 2010.105T354, COST FA 0605This work was supported by the Turkish National Science Foundation (COST FA 0605 Action, Project no. 105T354)

The relationship between the psychological resilience of patients with chronic kidney failure and post-traumatic growth and psychological symptoms

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the factors that may contribute to post-traumatic growth and resilience in chronic kidney failure (CKF) patients, the role of depression and anxiety symptoms as well as resilience in the emergence of post-traumatic growth. METHODS: 64 patients diagnosed with CKF and received dialysis were included in the study. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) were administered to all patients, respectively. RESULTS: Self-perception on PTGI (r= -0.70, r= -0.65), change in relationships with others (r= -0.57, r= -0.65), change in philosophy of life (r= -0.60, r = -0.57) subscales, and PTGI total score (r= -0.70, r= -0.66) were shown to have a moderately negative and statistically significant (p<0.001) relationship with BDI and BAI scores. A negative and statistically moderate significant relationship was found between BDI and BAI scores and perception of the future subscale (r= -0.51, r= -0.57), self-perception (r= -0.54, r= -0.59), social resources (r= -0.66, r= -0.60) subscales of RSA and total RSA score (r= -0.68, r= -0.71) (p<0.001). A weak statistically significant relationship was found between BAI and BDI scores, and structural style (r= -0.30, r= -0.40), family harmony (r= -0.43, r= -0.53) and social competence (r= -0.54, r= -0.50) subscales (p<0.001). A statistically significant (p<0.001) and moderately positive (r= 0.69) relationship between PTGI and RSA total scores was also determined. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Anxiety and depression symptoms observed in CKF patients impact the psychological resilience levels of patients and the development of post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth develops as psychological resilience increases. Thus, psychological interventions should be planned to support the psychological resilience levels and post traumatic growth development of CKF patients

A comparison of depot and oral atypical antipsychotics in terms of metabolic syndrome markers

OBJECTIVES: The duration of life of patients with schizophrenia is shorter than that of the general population for various reasons. Especially cardiovascular diseases are one of the most important causes of death in patients with schizophrenia. Our aim in this study is comparison of second-generation depot antipsychotics and second-generation oral antipsychotics used in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia in terms of metabolic syndrome criteria. METHODS: We included 39 patients treated with second-generation depot antipsychotics and 124 patients treated with second-generation oral antipsychotics, who were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was applied to all the patients and blood pressure, weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride level, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were recorded. RESULTS: In terms of metabolic syndrome criteria, the waist circumference and triglyceride levels of the patients treated with the second-generation depot antipsychotics were lower than those of the patients treated with second-generation oral antipsychotics, and the HDL levels were statistically significantly higher. CONCLUSION: In this study, second-generation depot antipsychotics used in the treatment of schizophrenia patients were found to be associated with more positive results in terms of metabolic syndrome criteria than oral antipsychotic drug forms

Pulmonary thromboembolism associated with quetiapine: a case report

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), which includes pulmonary embolism and deep-vein thrombosis is also a potentially fatal adverse drug reaction and little attention has been focused on this topic. Atypical antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of pulmonary embolism. In this case we want to show pulmonary thromboembolism associated with quetiapine. A 36-year-old man with bipolar disorder, presented to the Emergency Department complaining of epileptic seizure, general weakness, mild fever, and dizziness. Pulmonary thromboembolism was considered as the result of clinical evaluation. There were no risk factors such as age, smoking, trauma, immobilization, surgery, heart disease, and genetic risk factors to explain pulmonary embolism. In this case we see that the pulmonary embolism was associated with quetiapine. We should be more careful about pulmonary thromboembolism. Physicians and individuals must be aware of this potentially fatal, though treatable, adverse drug reaction when starting treatment, especially in patients who have other risk factors for VTE

Heliotropium thermophilum, an extreme heat tolerant species,promises plants about adaptation to high soil temperatureconditions

To understand high temperature tolerance, Heliotropium thermophilum, a flowering plant thriving in a geothermal field with a soil temperature ranging between 55 and 65 °C, was grown in controlled laboratory conditions and two different soil temperatures were applied to the plants. One of them was the control group (CT 25 ± 3 °C) and the other was the high temperature group (HT 60 ± 4 °C). Water potential, dry weight, cell membrane injury (CMI), lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, chlorophylls, carotenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proline and total soluble sugar contents were measured. Contents of total soluble sugars, phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proline were found to be higher in HT group than CT while CMI was opposite. Moreover, no difference was determined in water potential, dry weight, lipid peroxidation, total chlorophyll and carotenoids between CT and HT. H. thermophilum plants adapted to high temperature under laboratory conditions through changing membrane lipid saturation, accumulating osmotically active compounds to save water or increase its uptake and inducing antioxidants such as phenolic compounds to keep reactive oxygen species under control. In conclusion, this study showed that H. thermophilum plant was highly resistant to high soil temperature under optimized laboratory conditions. Moreover, a plant that can withstand 60 °C for a long period of time up to 60 days under laboratory conditions was reported for the first time.This work was supported by Karadeniz Technical University Scientific Research Projects Unit through Project No. FYL-2017-6918. Authors also want to thank to KERMAK Company for construction of the heating units

Paraquat applied under osmotic stress interferes with proline and polyamine metabolisms in Zea mays L.

The impact of herbicide applications during osmotic stress on plant metabolism is not yet well understood. In this study, the relationship between paraquat-induced oxidative stress (PQ) and polyethylene glycol-induced osmotic stress (PEG) was evaluated in terms of changes in proline and polyamine metabolisms. Metabolic changes were investigated in maize seedlings treated with PQ and PEG separately and PQ in combination with PEG. Relative to all treatments, the combination of PQ and PEG further increased damage to the membranes, hydrogen peroxide and proline content, reducing the water potential of the leaves. The PEG treatment significantly increased the putrescine and spermidine contents compared to all treatments, but did not significantly change the spermine content compared to controls and combinations. The expression of gene encoding pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase increased after PQ treatment in combination with PEG compared to the singular stresses, while the expression of gene encoding proline dehydrogenase decreased. Gene expression levels of arginine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, responsible for polyamine biosynthesis, were highest in PEG-treated seedlings. Furthermore, the gene expression levels of polyamine oxidase and copper amine oxidase, which cause polyamine degradation, decreased in all treatments compared to the control. In conclusion, paraquat applied during osmotic stress may increase the H2O2 content and, therefore, further damage the maize seedling membrane. Increased membrane damage and production of H2O2 may play a role in the induction of genes coding for key enzymes in proline and polyamine metabolism pathways

Copper Stress and Responses in Plants

Copper is a micronutrient necessary for normal plant growth and development; however, its deficiency and redundancy result in some defects in plant metabolism, especially photosynthesis. Plants are evolved to counterattack the adverse effects of copper by developing protective mechanisms, one of which is exclusion of copper ions from the cells by sequestration, which is a kind of isolation Cu from cellular components. The other way is reduction of ion uptake by roots. When the roots are exposed to excess copper, then detoxification strategies such as metal chelation and transport and activation of signal mechanisms, hormones, proteins, and antioxidant system are induced. This chapter gives an overview of the effect of copper stress on plant growth, photosynthesis, and the antioxidant system. We present insight into genetic and molecular aspects of signal transduction in response to copper stress. © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved