Introduction:There are several theories concerning potential associations between depression and levels of vitamin B12 and folate.Aim of the study:To investigate the relationship between depression and vitamin B12, folate, and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C T polymorphism. To compare this associations, in anxiety and depression.Subjects and methods:90 subjects were randomly selected in a comparative cross sectional study. The sample consists of three groups: a group of depressive disorders without psychotic symptoms (n = 30), a group of anxiety disorders (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). The patients were recruited from psychiatric out- patient clinic. Patients were diagnosed according to DSMIV criteria. Beck depression Inventory for severity of depression, Hamilton rating scale of depression, Hamilton rating scale of anxiety. Laboratory: Simultaneous assay of vitamin B12 and folic acid by Radio-immune assay technique and analysis of MTHFR (C677T) by means of PCR and RFLP.Results:Both anxiety and depression groups has the same percentage of gene mutation (33.3%). Folic acid and Vitamin B 12 mean values were highest in control group followed by the anxiety group then the least was in depression. Within the depression group there is a negative correlation between the severity of depression and folic acid. Within the depression group, patients with mutant gene have lower level of both Folic acid and Vitamin B12 than patients with non mutant gene.Conclusion:Folic acid and Vitamin B12 were lower than normal in both anxiety and depression patients and this was combined with gene mutation.
Background: The ability of metabotropic glutamate receptors to modulate the neurotransmission of glutamate has attracted great attention for its role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and also for its potential ability to be a target for the development of novel antipsychotics. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 has a wide expression in the cortex, hippocampus, and other forebrain regions. It has an important role in short-term plasticity and multiple learning processes. Exploring the molecular changes and cellular genetic expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 gene is an essential step to know more about its real functioning in patients presenting with schizophrenia. Aim: Measuring the genetic expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 in patients presenting with schizophrenia and comparing it in healthy controls. Methods: Modeling of schizophrenia through human induced pleuripotent stem cells (hIPSc) through reprogramming of fibroblasts into pluripotent stem cells followed by neuronal differentiation. Real time Polymerase chain reaction was used for measurement of genetic expression. Results: There were lower means of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 gene expression in the patients group (0.843) than the control group (1.051) but with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0.241). Conclusion: There was no significant alteration of the genetic expression of metaboptric glutamate receptor in schizophrenic patients. However, further studies are needed with larger samples to verify its role in pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Introduction:School and academic performance are considered highly complex outcome. The pupil's intellectual capacities intervene, and other types of influencing factors can hinder or boost school performance. Aim of the work: To assess psychosocial variables including self-esteem, depression, anxiety symptoms and academic achievement in a selective sample of preparatory school students.Participants:This is a school based cross sectional study. The sample consisted of all students in the preparatory stage in a private school of both sexes, age ranged from 12–15 years. The sample was divided according to the academic performance of the student based on the overall grade of each student at the end of the school year into: Insufficient < 60%, Sufficient 60–70%, Good 70–80% and Very good >80%.Method:All students were given a questionnaire to assess personal data, family background, past history of medical or psychiatric condition, scholastic achievement and psychometric tools: including Porteus maze, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, Children Depression Inventory (CDI) and, the Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale.Results:The higher the grades of students, the higher the level of anxiety and this was statistically significant. Girls had higher levels of anxiety than boys and this reached a statistically significant difference. There was significant correlation between depression and academic achievement of students. Self-esteem was significantly correlated with academic achievement.Conclusion:Depression has a significant role in academic performance of adolescents. Self-esteem of adolescents is highly related to their academic achievement.
Background: Addiction is one of the most prevalent mental disorders in the world. It affects the individual and the population as a whole on the social, moral and economic levels. It manifests as drug seeking behavior in addition to drug use and persistent craving even after considerable periods of abstinence. Some theories suggested that the core of this disorder from the neuropsychological point of view is impaired cognition. Aim: assessment of different cognitive domains in opioids addicts comparing them with healthy controls. Methods: Multiple cognitive tests were used including Processing speed using the Digit Symbol task from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, visualspatial functions, constructional ability and visual memory by using -Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, visuoconstructive abilities by using block design task from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, auditory verbal working memory by using digit span task from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, abstraction and verbal concept formation by using similarities task from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and active attention in addition to speed of processing by using Trail A and Trail B making test. Results: There was no significant statistical difference in the digit symbol, block design, digit span and similarities between the two groups reflecting no significant impairment in attention, recent memory and abstraction. Conclusion: Addiction is not always associated with cognitive impairment. However, its presence leads to worsening of prognosis and more vulnerability to relapse. However, further studies are needed with larger samples to verify its role in the addictive process.
Introduction:Oxytocin (OT), a known hormone and neurotransmitter, has been lately known to be involved in the drug addiction cycle especially during developing tolerance, in relation to craving and during withdrawal. Objectives:The aim was to assess serum OT level in patients with active opiate dependency in comparison with abstinent patients and healthy controls, and its relation with craving among patients and abstinent patients. Materials and Methods:A consecutive sample of 30 opiate-dependent patients who fully meet the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for opiate dependence, in addition to 30 patients fulfilling DSM-5 criteria of opiate dependence with at least 6 months of abstinence were assessed regarding serum OT levels, craving levels using immunoassay kit and brief substance craving scale, respectively. They were compared with each other and with a sample of 30 healthy controls matching both groups. Results:There was a statistically significant difference between the patient and the control groups in serum OT levels (P<0.05) but not between the other 2 groups, that is, patient versus abstinent and abstinent versus controls. Craving levels showed a statistically significant difference between the patient and the abstinent groups (P<0.001). A negative correlation was found between OT level and craving in the abstinent group (P<0.05). Conclusions:The interaction between serum OT levels and craving should be considered when dealing with opiate-dependent patients as they affect and are affected by opiate dependence. Further studies regarding how to implement this during patients treatment should be considered.
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