Assessment of psychiatric morbidity and quality of life in children and adolescents with cutaneous leishmaniasis and their parents.

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a common parasitic infectious disease caused by different species of the leishmania genus. The skin lesions are usually found on exposed areas, especially the face, arms and legs. Although the disease does not cause significant morbidity, the lesions can be troublesome and unsightly. The disease have negative impacts in areas such as patients' psychological well-being, social life and daily activities in adults. AIM: To determine the frequency of psychiatric morbidity in children and adolescents who have cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and to determine the effect of CL on their levels of depression and anxiety and on their quality of life (QoL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with CL (29 males and 25 females), who were 7 to 18 years of age, were assessed with the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children (STAIC). The patients and their mothers were assessed with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Parent and Child Versions (PedQL-P and C, respectively). This questionnaires were filled in by the control group consisting of 40 healthy children and adolescents (20 males and 20 females) and their parents from the local community matched for age, gender, and education level of the parents. RESULTS: Both the patient group and the control group had high scores on the depression measurement scale (t = 5.36, p < 0.05). These measurements also show significant differences between children and adolescents, who were defined as 12 years of age and under as well as older than 12 years, respectively (12 years of age and under (t = 3.14, p = 0.04); over 12 years (t = 5.37, p < 0.001)). However, there was no significant difference between the anxiety scores of the general patient group and the control group when classified according to age. The anxiety sensitivity index scores did not differ in either group from those of the control group. The patients' and the mothers' QoL scores for all of the scales, including all subscale scores, were significantly different from those of the control group (both 12 years of age and under as well as older than 12 years). CONCLUSIONS: The results have shown that the frequency of depressive symptoms is much higher in patients who have CL than in healthy controls. In addition, the QoL of children and adolescents with CL and of their mothers was found to be much lower than that of the control group. Therefore, the follow-up for patients with CL who are referred to dermatology clinics should include a psychiatric evaluation. If necessary, they should be referred for psychiatric support.

MicroRNA dysregulation in manic and euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a major psychiatric disorder with an unclear pathophysiology. Peripheral blood samples are easily drawn, making them are good candidates for diagnosing diseases. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA transcripts that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3'- UTR of mRNAs and directing their degradation. The aim of this study was to use blood plasma to investigate microRNA dysregulations in bipolar manic and euthymic patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 58 patients with bipolar I disorder (19 manic, 39 euthymic) and 51 healthy controls. RESULTS: Four microRNAs (miR-29a-3p, p = 0.035; miR-106b-5p, p = 0.014; miR-107, p = 0.011; and miR-125a-3p, p = 0.014) were upregulated in the entire bipolar group, compared to the healthy controls. Seven microRNAs (miR-9-5p, p = 0.032; miR-29a-3p, p = 0.001; miR-106a-5p, p = 0.034; miR-106b-5p, p = 0.003; miR-107, p < 0.001; miR-125a-3p, p = 0.016; and miR-125b-5p, p = 0.004) were more upregulated in bipolar manic patients compared to the healthy controls, and two microRNAs (miR-106a-5p, p = 0.013, and miR-107, p = 0.021) showed statistically significant upregulation in the manic patients compared to the euthymic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed greater miRNA dysregulation in the manic patients than in the euthymic patients. Two microRNAs could be more selective for bipolar manic episodes. Future studies should include depressive patients along with euthymic and manic patients.

Evaluation of oxidant, antioxidant, and S100B levels in patients with conversion disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Various psychodynamic, neurobiological, genetic, and sociocultural factors are believed to be involved in the etiology of conversion disorder (CD). Oxidative metabolism has been shown to deteriorate in association with many health problems and psychiatric disorders. We evaluated oxidative metabolism and S100B levels in the context of this multifactorial disease. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with CD (25 females and 12 males) and 42 healthy volunteers (21 females and 21 males), all matched for age and sex, were included in this study. The total oxidant status, total antioxidant status, oxidative stress index, and S100B levels were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, and S100B levels were significantly higher in patients with CD than in the control group, whereas the total antioxidant status was significantly lower. CONCLUSION: CD is associated with deterioration of oxidative metabolism and increased neuronal damage.

Investigation of Dysregulation of Several MicroRNAs in Peripheral Blood of Schizophrenia Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of schizophrenia is 1%, and it is a debilitating disorder that often results in a shortened lifespan. Peripheral blood samples are good candidates to investigate because they can be easily drawn, and they are widely studied in psychiatric disorders. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA transcripts. They regulate the expression of genes by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs and pointing them to degrade. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of miR-9-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-106-5p, miR-106b-5p, miR-107, miR-125a-3p, and miR-125b-3p in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. METHODS: We collected blood samples from 16 patients with schizophrenia and 16 healthy controls. MicroRNAs were measured with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Schizophrenia patients showed statistically significant upregulation of five microRNAs: miR9-5p (p=0.002), miR29a-3p (p＜0.001), miR106b-5p (p=0.002), miR125a-3p (p＜0.001), and miR125b-3p (p=0.018). CONCLUSION: Our results increased the value of the miR106 and miR29 families as potentially and consistently dysregulated in psychiatric disorders. Our results should be considered preliminary, and they need confirmation in future studies with larger sample sizes.

Evaluation of Oxidative Metabolism in Child and Adolescent Patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative metabolism is impaired in several medical conditions including psychiatric disorders, and this imbalance may be involved in the etiology of these diseases. The present study evaluated oxidative balance in pediatric and adolescent patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: The study included 48 children and adolescents (34 male, 14 female) with ADHD who had no neurological, systemic, or comorbid psychiatric disorders, with the exception of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and 24 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (17 male and seven female). RESULTS: TAS was significantly lower, and TOS and OSI were significantly higher in patients with ADHD than in healthy controls. Total antioxidant levels were lower in patients with comorbid ODD than in those with no comorbidity. No difference was found in TOS or OSI among the ADHD subtypes; however, TAS was higher in the attention-deficient subtype. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that oxidative balance is impaired and oxidative stress is increased in children and adolescents with ADHD. This results are consistent with those of previous studies.

Microribonucleic acid dysregulations in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

AIM: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Although disorder etiology and pathogenesis remains unknown, several theories about OCD development have been proposed, and many researchers believe that it is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. In the current study, our aim was to investigate miRNA levels in OCD. METHODS: In the current study, we evaluated miR18a-5p, miR22-3p, miR24-3p, miR106b-5p, miR107, miR125b-5p, and miR155a-5p levels in child and adolescent OCD patients. The research sample consisted of a group of 23 OCD patients and 40 healthy volunteer controls. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups (P>0.05). The levels of miR22-3p, miR24-3p, miR106b-5p, miR125b-5p, and miR155a-5p were significantly increased in the OCD subjects (P≤0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in miR18a-5p or miR107 levels between groups (P≥0.05). CONCLUSION: There could be a close relationship between levels of circulating miRNAs and OCD. If we could understand how the signaling pathways arranged by miRNAs impact on central nervous system development, function, and pathology, this understanding could improve our knowledge about OCD etiology and treatment.

Evaluation of several micro RNA (miRNA) levels in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders, although disorders etiology and pathogenesis remains unknown, several theories about ADHD development have been proposed and many researchers believe that it is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. In this study we evaluated miR18a-5p, miR22-3p, miR24-3p, miR106b-5p, miR107, miR125b-5p and miR155a-5p levels in child and adolescent ADHD patients. The research sample consisted a group of 52 ADHD patients, and 52 healthy volunteer controls. There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups (p>0.05). miRNA 18a-5p, 22-3p, 24-3p, 106b-5p and 107 levels were statistically significantly decreased in ADHD patients(p<0.05). miRNA 155a-5p levels were increased in patients group (p<0.05). The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value of miR107 was estimated for the cutoff point of 0.4480. PPV was 70% and NPV was 86.5% for the taken cut off point. There could be a close relationship between levels of circulating miRNAs and ADHD. If we could understand how the signaling pathways arranged by miRNAs, impact on CNS development, function and pathology this can improve our knowledge about ADHD etiology and treatment.