Correlation between vaspin and PANSS scores in schizophrenia patients with obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic abnormalities such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, and abnormal levels of plasma adipokines have been observed in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the differences and correlations of plasma vaspin levels with metabolic parameters in patients with schizophrenia and to compare with healthy controls. METHOD: We measured plasma levels of vaspin and metabolic parameters of 100 patients with schizophrenia and 95 healthy controls. Patients with schizophrenia were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and The Global Assessment of Functioning. RESULTS: Mean levels of body mass index, waist circumference, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of the patients were statistically higher than those of the healthy controls (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p = 0.03, and p = 0.002, respectively). Plasma levels of vaspin were 0.96 ± 0.73 ng/ml in patients with schizophrenia and 0.29 ± 0.15 ng/ml in the healthy controls (p < 0.001). Plasma vaspin levels were statistically higher in patients with schizophrenia than healthy controls both in groups with and without metabolic syndrome and obesity (p < 0.001). Plasma vaspin levels showed a positive correlation with triglyceride in patients with schizophrenia (r = 0.26, p = 0.007). There were positive correlations between vaspin and PANSS scores in schizophrenia patients with obesity (PANSS Positive: r = 0.42, p = 0.01; PANSS Negative: r = 0.42, p = 0.01; PANSS General: r = 0.43, p = 0.01; PANSS Total: r = 0.47, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a significant relationship and positive correlation between vaspin and PANSS scores in schizophrenia patients with obesity. Vaspin may play an important role in the metabolic processes of patients with schizophrenia.

Psychiatric comorbidity in patients with conversion disorder and prevalence of dissociative symptoms.

The 1st objective of the current study was to investigate the frequency and types of dissociative symptoms in patients with conversion disorder (CD). The 2nd objective of the current study was to determine psychiatric comorbidity in patients with and without dissociative symptoms. A total of 54 consecutive consenting patients primarily diagnosed with CD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, criteria who were admitted to the psychiatric emergency outpatient clinic of Sisli Etfal Research and Teaching Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey) were included in the study. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Structured Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders, and Dissociative Experiences Scale were administered. Study groups consisted of 20 patients with a dissociative disorder and 34 patients without a diagnosis of any dissociative disorder. A total of 37% of patients with CD had any dissociative diagnosis. The prevalence of dissociative disorders was as follows: 18.5% dissociative disorder not otherwise specified, 14.8% dissociative amnesia, and 3.7% depersonalization disorder. Significant differences were found between the study groups with respect to comorbidity of bipolar disorder, past hypomania, and current and past posttraumatic stress disorder (ps = .001, .028, .015, and .028, respectively). Overall comorbidity of bipolar disorder was 27.8%. Psychiatric comorbidity was higher and age at onset was earlier among dissociative patients compared to patients without dissociative symptoms. The increased psychiatric comorbidity and early onset of conversion disorder found in patients with dissociative symptoms suggest that these patients may have had a more severe form of conversion disorder.

Metabolic syndrome and vaspin in patients with bipolar disorder.

Metabolic disorders and abnormal levels of circulating adipokines have been reported in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the correlations of vaspin plasma levels and metabolic parameters between two groups: patients with BD and mentally healthy persons. We measured plasma levels of vaspin, metabolic parameters, and metabolic syndrome (MS) in 101 patients with BD and 90 healthy control (HC) subjects. Patients with BD were evaluated with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) to assess manic symptoms and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) to assess depressive symptoms. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) was used to evaluate the general functions of the patients. Body mass index (BMI), weight, waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose, and triglyceride levels of the study group were statistically higher than those of the healthy controls (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.027, and p = 0.001 respectively). Plasma levels of vaspin were 0.978 ng/ml in patients with BD and 0.292 in the HC group (p < 0.001). Our study revealed associations between metabolic parameters/metabolic syndrome and vaspin plasma concentrations in patients with BD. Vaspin can play a specific role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders in these subjects and can be a specific indicator substance in BD.

An assessment of marital adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim To investigate marital adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and factors affecting this. Methods A total of 32 patients diagnosed with Steinbrocker class 1-2 rheumatoid arthritis and 32 healthy individuals from a similar age group were included. Sociodemographic characteristics, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), short-form 36(SF-36) and the dyadic adjustment scale (DAS) were evaluated in both groups. A visual analogue scale (VAS), the disease activity score 28(DAS28) and a health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were also investigated in the patient group. Results Mean ages were 46.5±9.2 years in the patient group and 47.7±8.1 in the control group (p=0.5). No significant difference was determined between the two groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics. No statistically significant correlation was observed between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), patient and physician global VAS, DAS28, HAQ and morning stiffness and DAS total score. Comparison of DAS subunits revealed a significant difference in dyadic satisfaction and affectional expression in the patient and control groups (p=0.046 and p=0.037). A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between duration of the disease and marital adjustment (p=0.01;r= -0.58). Conclusion Due to its progressive and prolonged course rheumatoid arthritis can also affect individuals' social relationships besides restricted daily living activities. Activation of rheumatoid arthritis did not affect marital adjustment in this study, but adjustment decreased with duration of the disease.

Diclofenac- and Pantoprazole-Induced Rhabdomyolysis: A Potential Drug Interaction.

BACKGROUND: Drugs represent one of the etiologic causes of acute rhabdomyolysis (AR) with drug-induced rhabdomyolysis most commonly associated with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. AR etiology can also result from the use of diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor. Cases of AR triggered by pantoprazole have never before been reported, although it has been observed that its inclusion in multiple drug therapies can result in muscle events. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old man presenting with complaints of fatigue and extensive body pain was diagnosed with acute rhabdomyolysis. His symptoms started on the fourth day of the concomitant use of diclofenac and pantoprazole. The patient was using diclofenac 50-mg tablets once daily for 1 month and pantoprazole 40-mg tablets once daily during the previous week for headaches and pyrosis, resulting in an increase in his creatinine kinase levels to 3114 IU/L (reference range 24-190 IU/L) on the fifth day of concomitant use. His creatinine kinase levels returned to normal and his complaints disappeared after the seventh day of discontinuation of both treatments. DISCUSSION: A third case of diclofenac-induced rhabdomyolysis was defined in which, different from previous cases, AR was detected during the concomitant use of diclofenac and pantoprazole. The timing of the symptom development and the limited number of AR cases induced by diclofenac and pantoprazole suggested a drug interaction. CONCLUSION: The close relationship between diclofenac and pantoprazole, and the cytochrome P450 and P-glycoprotein systems offers a strong indication that a drug interaction may be occurring. While evaluating the side effects of drugs in patients undergoing monotherapy, clinicians should also consider the mechanisms that play a part in drug absorption and distribution.

Evaluation of affective temperament and anxiety-depression levels of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are reported to experience depressive episodes at a higher rate than healthy controls (HC). Affective temperament features are psychiatric markers that may help to predict and identify vulnerability to depression in women with PCOS. Our aim was to evaluate the affective temperaments of women with PCOS and to investigate the association with depression and anxiety levels and laboratory variables in comparison with HC. METHODS: The study included 71 women with PCOS and 50 HC. Hormonal evaluations were performed for women with PCOS. Physical examination, clinical history, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and TEMPS-A were performed for all subjects. Differences between groups were evaluated using Student's t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. Correlations and logistic regression tests were performed. RESULTS: All temperament subtype scores, except hyperthymic, and HADS anxiety, depression, and total scores were significantly higher in patients with PCOS compared to HC. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between BMI and irritable temperament, and insulin and HADS depression scores in patients with PCOS. Additionally, hirsutism score and menstrual irregularity were correlated with HADS depression, anxiety and total scores in PCOS patients. In logistic regression analysis, depression was not affected by PCOS, hirsutism score or menstrual irregularity. However, HADS anxiety score was associated with hirsutism score. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to evaluate the affective temperament features of women with PCOS. Consequently, establishing affective temperament properties for women with PCOS may help clinicians predict those patients with PCOS who are at risk for depressive and anxiety disorders.