Aim:The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in the antioxidant-oxidant balance (AO-OB) between schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals and to explore the relationship of AO-OB with illness subtypes and symptom profiles.Methods: After a 15-day drug-free period, schizophrenia patients (n = 50) in a clinical sample, and age-and sex-matched healthy subjects (n = 49) were enrolled. Total antioxidant potentials (TAOP) and total peroxide levels (TPEROX) of all participants were measured and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. The assessment included structured measurements, including the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).Results: TAOP had a significant positive correlation with age at onset of schizophrenia (P = 0.013), a negative correlation with the PANSS negative subscale scores (P = 0.008), a negative correlation with the PANSS total scores (P < 0.001), and a significant negative correlation with BPRS scores (P = 0.001). OSI had a significant negative correlation with age at onset (P = 0.046) and a significant positive correlation with PANSS negative subscale (P = 0.015). A multiple regression model indicated a significant linear combination of age, gender, duration of illness, subtype of schizophrenia, and PANSS scores, in which only the subtype of schizophrenia made a statistically significant contribution to predicting mean OSI (F[5,35] = 2.44, P = 0.04). Conclusion: Several parameters in the pathogenesisof schizophrenia, such as age of onset, level of negative symptoms, and subtype of illness, but not the presence of the illness itself, are associated with the level of oxidative stress.

ObjectiveWe investigated the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS), and the longitudinal effects of baseline serum bilirubin concentrations on MetS in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders undergoing atypical antipsychotics.MethodsThe sample of this study consisted of 131 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Waist circumference, blood pressure, and levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, and insulin were evaluated at baseline and at month six. Serum bilirubin levels were measured at baseline. Serum bilirubin levels of the patients with and without MetS criteria were compared. We also compared patients with high and low bilirubin levels (upper and lower 50th percentiles of serum bilirubin levels) in terms of MetS criteria, MetS frequency, and course of MetS.ResultsSerum direct bilirubin levels were more consistently related to MetS and MetS-related variables. The waist circumference and triglyceride criteria for MetS were significantly related to low serum direct bilirubin at baseline; waist circumference and fasting glucose criteria, and insulin resistance were associated with low serum direct bilirubin at follow-up. MetS diagnosis and the presence of the waist circumference criterion were more frequent at the baseline and the follow-up in low bilirubin group. At the end of the follow-up period, the rate of reverse MetS was significantly higher in the high bilirubin group.ConclusionOur results have suggested that serum direct bilirubin levels showed a more reliable and stable relationship with abdominal obesity for MetS components.in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders using antipsychotics. Further studies are required.

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Bağımlılık gelişiminde genetik, psikososyal ve çevresel faktörlerin rol oynadığı birincil, kronik nörobiyolojik bir hastalıktır. Bağımlılık psikofarmakolojisindeki gelişmeler psikiyatrinin diğer alanlarına göre daha yavaş bir seyir göstermiştir. Alkol ve madde bağımlılığı tedavisi uzun süre sadece sosyal ve davranışsal yaklaşımlar ile sürdürülmüştür. Yirminci yüzyılın sonuna kadar madde bağımlılığı tedavisinde onay almış tek ajan disülfiram olmuştur. Bağımlılığın oluşumu ve sürmesini sağlayan nörobiyolojik süreçlerin daha iyi anlaşılmaya başlanmasına paralel olarak farmakolojik tedavi seçeneklerinin sayısı da artmaya başlamıştır. Son yıllarda alkol ve opiyat bağımlılığı tedavisinde naltrekson, akamprosat, metadon ve buprenorfin gibi çeşitli ilaçların kullanımına izin verilmiştir. Nörotransmitter ve reseptör düzeyinde artan bilgiler ışığında, özellikle istek ve nükslerin önlenmesi konusunda halen pek çok çalışma yapılmakta, farklı bağımlılık tiplerinde kullanılmak üzere birçok farmakolojik ajanın geliştirme çabaları ve tedavi arayışları devam etmektedir. Bu yazıda alkol ve madde bağımlılığı psikofarmakolojisinde mevcut tedavi seçenekleri ve geliştirme aşamasında olan ilaçlar kısaca gözden geçirilmiştir.

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Radiological investigations had no significant impact on the decrease in anxiety and persuasion scores of the parents by themselves, while neurosurgical consultation had significant impact on them. Emergency physicians should tailor their strategy to institute effective communication with the parents of children to cut down unnecessary investigations in PBHI.

Olanzapine is a second-generation antipsychotic that may cause weight gain and metabolic syndrome in some cases. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma is an important gene in the progress of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In recent studies the polymorphism of the PPAR-gamma has been studied in type II diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovary syndrome, and insulin resistance syndrome. It is aimed to evaluate the association between polymorphism of PPAR-gamma gene and olanzapine-induced weight gain. Our study comprised 95 unrelated subjects who strictly met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria for schizophrenia, and all were of Turkish origin. All patients were evaluated with rating scales, and genetic analyses were performed. We found statistically significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment body mass index and weight change in Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPAR-gamma2. Our results suggest that genetic polymorphism of PPAR might be important in olanzapine-induced weight gain and that genetic variance of people might be considered in antipsychotic medication selection.

ObjectiveThe synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) gene is a presynaptic plasma membrane protein and an integral component of the vesicle docking and fusion machinery mediating secretion of neurotransmitters. Previously, several studies reported association between SNAP-25 and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated whether these SNAP-25 polymorphisms (MnlI T/G and DdelI T/C) were also associated with ADHD in the Turkish population.MethodsOur study comprised unrelated 139 subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD and 73 controls and all were of Turkish origin. Genetic analyses were performed and patients were evaluated with Wender-Utah Rating Scale and Adult ADD/ADHD DSM IV-Based Diagnostic Screening and Rating Scale.ResultsSNAP-25 DdelI polymorphism was not associated with ADHD but there was a statistically significant difference between ADHD patients and controls for SNAP-25 MnlI polymorphism. For SNAP-25 MnlI polymorphism patients with G/G genotype of the SNAP-25 gene MnlI polymorphism had higher Wender-Utah scores and higher scores in the 1st and 3rd parts of adult ADD/ADHD Scale.ConclusionWe detected a significant association of the MnlI polymorphism in our ADHD sample which was similar to previous findings. Our study also revealed that SNAP-25 MnlI polymorphism was also associated with symptom severity of ADHD. This study is also, the first report on the association of SNAP-25 with ADHD in the Turkish population.