A kynurenine pathway enzyme aminocarboxymuconate-semialdehyde decarboxylase may be involved in treatment-resistant depression, and baseline inflammation status of patients predicts treatment response: a pilot study.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) and inflammation are substantial in depression pathogenesis. Although there is a crosstalk between the KP, inflammation, and neurotrophic factors, few studies examine these topics together. Novel medications may be developed by clarifying dysregulations related to inflammation, KP, and neurotrophic factors in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We aimed to evaluate the serum levels of KP metabolites, proinflammatory biomarkers, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in healthy controls (HC) and the patients with TRD whose followed up with three different treatments. Moreover, the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on biomarkers was investigated. Study groups comprised a total of 30 unipolar TRD patients consisting of three separate patient groups (ECT = 8, rTMS = 10, pharmacotherapy = 12), and 9 HC. The decision to administer only pharmacotherapy or ECT/rTMS besides pharmacotherapy was given independently of this research by psychiatrists. Blood samples and symptom scores were obtained three times for patients. At baseline, quinolinic acid (QUIN) was higher in the patients with TRD compared to HC, whereas picolinic acid (PIC), PIC/QUIN, and PIC/3-hydroxykynurenine were lower. Baseline interleukin-6 (IL-6), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were higher in nonresponders and non-remitters. ECT had an acute effect on cytokines. In the rTMS group, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) decreased in time. PIC, QUIN, and aminocarboxymuconate-semialdehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD) enzyme may play a role in TRD pathogenesis, and have diagnostic potential. rTMS and ECT have modulatory effects on low-grade inflammation seen in TRD. Baseline inflammation severity is predictive in terms of response and remission in depression.

Turkish Validity-Reliability Study of the Celiac Disease-Specific Pediatric Quality of Life Scale.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by the presence of gluten. There are Celiac Disease Dutch-Child Quality of Life Scale, Celiac-Specific Pediatric Quality of Life Scale for children/adolescents patients to measure the quality of life. In this study, due to lack of quality of life scales for children with celiac in Turkey, we aimed at Turkish adaptation of the Celiac-Specific Pediatric Quality of Life Scale. METHODS: This methodological study was conducted in Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Cebeci Hospital Hospital between July 2019 and July 2020. A total of 192 children were included. Reliability was demonstrated by the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Structural validity was evaluated using explanatory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.0 and Amos were used in analyses. RESULTS: In 8-12 age groups; Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 in negative emotions dimension, 0.88 in school dimension, and 0.74 in enjoyment dimension. In explanatory factor analysis, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy value was 0.698, Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (P < .001). Variance explained was 75.8%. In confirmatory factor analysis, X2/df was 3.26, root mean square error of approximation value was 0.07, comparative fit index value was 0.96. In 13-18 age groups; Cronbach's alpha was 0.87 in social dimension, 0.84 in uncertainty dimension, 0.78 in isolation dimension, and 0.83 in limitations dimension. In explanatory factor analysis, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.684, Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (P < .001). Variance explained was 68.6%. In confirmatory factor analysis, X2/sd value was 3.78, root mean square error of approximation value was 0.061, and comparative fit index value was 0.961. CONCLUSION: Cronbach's alpha values of the groups were found to be above 0.70. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin values were above 0.5 in terms of sample size, Bartlett's tests for sphericity were significant in terms of correlations between variables, root mean square error of approximation values were below 0.08, comparative fit index and goodness of fit index values were above 0.95 in terms of model fit. If the scales have been found to be valid and reliable, it is recommended for use in Turkey.

Determination of epidemiological characteristics of addicts treated in drug addiction clinics in Kabul.

According to the Afghanistan Ministry of Health, 3.5 million people use drugs, 2.4 million of which are regular users. In this cross-sectional study, it was aimed to determine epidemiological characteristics of addicts in a treatment center in Kabul. Eight hundred people were included. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 22.0. The average age was 30.74 years, 88.9% were male, and 50.6% were married. Further, 35.9% have never been trained, 60.5% of participants were living in urban areas, 62.8% were refugees, 17.5% were unemployed, and 30.3% of them had monthly income below 147.1 USD. The average age of starting substance use was 19.9 years. "Friendship environment" was the leading reason to start (36.6%), followed by "reduce troubles" with 22.3%. The most preferred substance was cannabis (46.0%), followed by opium (25.3%) and heroin (17.0%). Heroin was the most commonly used substance lifelong (87.1%), followed by cannabis (66.3%) and opium (65.5%). When compared to individuals younger than 18, heroin use rates were 3.52 times higher in the 18-to-30 age range, 5.49 times higher in the 31-to-45 age range, and 1.86 times higher in urban residents than rural. Cannabis use was 12.24 times more among men than women, 2.79 times higher among divorced or widowed individuals than singles, 1.68 times higher among refugees than non-refugees, and 2.26 times higher among drug traffickers than non-traffickers. Opium use was 1.63 times higher for refugees than non-refugees and 3.24 times higher in those who worked in drug fields than those who did not. Periodic assessment of prevalence of drug use and the establishment of drug use monitoring systems are recommended.

COVID-19 Isolation and Contact Tracing with Country Samples: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 was first declared as an international public health emergency and then a pandemic by the WHO. In this systematic review, the importance of isolation and contact tracing has been explained, and what kinds of practices exist in different countries are mentioned. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines by searching articles from major medical databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL between Jan 1, 2020 and Apr 1, 2021. Observational and modeling studies written on contact tracing, screening, quarantine and isolation were included. RESULTS: 27 observational and modeling studies were included. It was seen that rapid contact tracing to reduce the basic reproduction number (R0) from 3.11 to 0.21. Additionally, each new case requires an average of 36 people to be monitored. Since screening programs missed 75% of cases, high-level contact tracing should also be done simultaneously. Wide quarantine would prevent 79.27% deaths and 87.08% infections. CONCLUSION: Effective, rapid contact tracing is the cornerstone of an effective public health response in outbreaks. Its success depends on quickly identifying cases, gathering information from them about their last contacts, and tracing and isolating those contacts.