Urinary neopterine levels in patients with major depressive disorder: alterations after treatment with paroxetine and comparison with healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: A close relationship has been shown between mood disorders and pteridine levels. The aim of this study was to examine alterations in the urine neopterine levels of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who responded to paroxetine during the initial treatment and to compare their levels to those of healthy controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with major depression and 19 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. In order to assess depression severity levels, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered. Urinary neopterine values that were measured using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) were compared using non-parametric tests for the MDD patients before and after treatment. Urine neopterine levels in MDD patients before and after treatment were compared to those of the healthy control group. RESULTS: Urinary neopterine levels were recorded as follows: For the MDD group before treatment the mean level was 187.92±54.79 µmol/creatinine. The same group under treatment at 4 to 8 weeks was at 188.53±4962 µmol/creatinine, and the healthy control group showed 150.57±152.98 µmol/creatinine levels. There was no statistically significant difference in the urinary neopterine levels among the MDD patients before and after treatment (p=0.938). When urine neopterine levels in MDD patients before and after treatment were compared to those of the healthy control group, levels in the MDD group were found to be significantly higher (p=0.004 and p=0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the current study suggest that despite treatment response, depression is related to higher levels of urine neopterine. Paroxetine treatment has no significant effect on urine levels of neopterine in MDD patients.

State and trait anxiety levels of adolescents in a changing society, Kirikkale city, Turkey.

Adolescents face rapidly changing challenges. Psychosocial health problems during adolescence are relatively common in all cultures. This study was designed to evaluate the state and trait anxiety status and influencing sociodemographic and other factors, thought to pertain to youth, on anxiety among school children in Kirikkale. It was carried out at three public primary and two high schools representative of two different socioeconomic statuses. 430 Turkish school children (246 girls, 184 boys) were asked voluntarily to answer a set of questionnaires in their classrooms at the beginning of a training programme. Then the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children was administered. Mean age of the students was 14.16 ± 1.87 years. The mean total STAI-CS and STAI-CT scores were 40.24 ± 11.64, and 44.71 ± 9.64, respectively. There were no differences in STAI-CS and STAI-CT scores between boys and girls in both schools and in all age groups. Among girls, a positive body image had a significant effect on state anxiety scores. There was a positive correlation between age and anxiety scores (r = .17, F:12.176, p < .001). Students identifying their families SES as bad and/or moderate scored significantly higher in comparison to the other groups (p < .05). STAI-CS scores were higher for lower educational grade, higher body weight and sleep problems. In Kirikkale, a city faced with substantial changes in cultural and traditional norms, adolescents could be expected to be under stress and appear to be responding to stress with anxiety.

Children with fractures show higher levels of impulsive-hyperactive behavior.

Children with fractures have been reported to have impulsive-hyperactive behavior problems although whether they exhibited such behavior more often than children with other orthopaedic conditions is unknown. We investigated whether impulsivity-hyperactivity was more prominent in children with extremity fractures than in children with orthopaedic conditions not involving a fracture. From outpatient clinical intakes, we recruited 39 consecutive children with extremity fractures and 33 children with orthopaedic conditions not involving a fracture. We used the Conners' Parent Rating Scale to detect behavioral symptoms in children with and without extremity fractures. Children who were treated for extremity fractures had higher mean scores for impulsivity-hyperactivity than those treated for nontrauma-related reasons. Additionally, more children in the fracture group reached impulsive-hyperactive behavior scores high enough to warrant additional psychiatric evaluation. In terms of injury prevention, the orthopaedic surgeon should be familiar with problem behaviors of children, particularly impulsivity and hyperactivity, to be able to make appropriate referrals for psychiatric evaluation and treatment.