Impulsivity and self-harm behavior in patients with synthetic cannabinoids dependence.

BACKGROUND: Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) dependence is increasingly prevalent among young individuals globally, with limited understanding of their potential detrimental effects. Therefore, we conducted this comparative study to assess impulsivity and non-suicidal self-harm behavior in patients with SCs dependence. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We conducted this comparative, case-control study in the outpatient clinics of (Beni-suef University Hospital). We recruited 30 patients with SCs dependence and the 30 healthy subjects as a control group. Psychometric scales, including Addiction Severity Index (ASI), Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 (BIS-11), Deliberate Self-harm Inventory-Short Version (DSHI), SCID I, SCID II, and drug urine screen, were applied to compare the two study arms. RESULTS: DSHI-s scores were significantly higher between the two study arms (3.23 ± 4.97 vs. 0.0 ± 0.0, p < 0.001, for cases and controls, respectively). Similarly, the mean ± SD score of the BIS scale was significantly higher in cases 68.13 ± 9.75 compared to the control group (45.67 ± 5.12) with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Using the regression analysis, we observed a significant positive linkage between age, duration of substance use, DSHI-s, and the Barratt scale. CONCLUSION: Patients with synthetic cannabis addiction exhibited more impulsivity and self-harm behaviors compared to healthy controls. The adverse effects of substance use disorder escalated, notably in individuals classified as having severe addiction based on the Addiction Severity Index. Age and length of substance use were found to be potential factors influencing the level of impulsivity and self-harm actions.

Assessment of Behavioral Problems in Children Pre- and Post-Cochlear Implant: An Egyptian Study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to detect the behavioral problems pre- and post-cochlear implantation in comparison to normal hearing group to be able to manage these problems to get more benefit from using cochlear implants. METHODS: A case-control study included 53 children was done. They were divided into 2 groups, the control group included 28 healthy volunteers with normal hearing and the case group included 25 children with severe to profound hearing loss, fitted for cochlear implantation. The Arabic Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to detect different behavioral problems in both groups. Case group children were followed up and reassessed again by CBCL 3 months later after cochlear implantation. RESULTS: There were highly significant differences regarding total scores of internalizing and externalizing domains of empirically based CBCL between the control group and the case group after cochlear implants (p=0.001). There were non-significant differences in children within case group (pre- and post-cochlear implantation) regarding emotional and behavioral problems on both empirically based and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-based CBCL. CONCLUSION: For better results, it is necessary to include a specialist of psychosomatic medicine in the cochlear rehabilitation teamwork.

Maternal and neonatal risk factors for autism spectrum disorder: A case-control study from Egypt.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been increasing steadily in Egypt and worldwide. Detecting risk factors for ASD could help initiate screening and risk prevention approaches. Herein, this study aimed to detect several maternal and neonatal risk factors for ASD in Egypt. METHODS: In this case-control study, mothers of children with ASD who were visiting Beni-Suef University Hospital in Egypt (n = 268) were compared to mothers of children without ASD attending one primary school with a kindergarten (n = 504) regarding their preconception, conception, and postconception characteristics. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to investigate the possible associations between the collected data and the odds of ASD. RESULTS: In the multivariable-adjusted models, urban residence: OR (95% CI) = 2.33 (1.60-3.38), relative father: 2.63 (1.74-3.96), history of diabetes: 5.98 (1.99-17.97), previous abortion: 2.47 (1.20-13.38), assisted fertility: 4.01 (1.20-13.38), family history of ASD: 7.24 (2.00-26.24), multiple pregnancy: 11.60 (2.54-53.07), exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy: 2.95 (1.86-4.68), vaginal bleeding during pregnancy: 3.10 (1.44-6.67), hypertension with pregnancy: 3.64 (1.06-12.51), preterm labor: 2.64 (1.26-5.57), neonatal convulsions: 14.88 (5.01-44.20), and admission to neonatal intensive care unit 2.13: (1.21-3.74) were associated with the increased odds of ASD. On the other hand, the intake of vitamins during pregnancy: 0.09 (0.06-0.16) and C-section: 0.44 (0.27-0.70) were associated with the decreased odds of ASD. CONCLUSION: This study detected several maternal and neonatal risk factors for ASD in Egyptian children.

Toxoplasmosis in Schizophrenic Patients: Immune-diagnosis and Serum Dopamine Level.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite widely distributed all over the world. It has been associated with various psychiatric conditions as schizophrenia. This study aiming to evaluate the association between T. gondii infection and schizophrenia and to estimate the effect of T. gondii infection on the serum dopamine level among schizophrenic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted over 45 schizophrenic patients and 44 normal controls. Serum IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by a commercial ELISA Kit. The immunoblotting method was performed for the detection of IgG anti-Toxoplasma dopamine was detected by the human dopamine ELISA kit. RESULTS: Anti-T. gondii IgM was negative in all the 90 studied individuals. However, anti-T. gondii IgG was positive in 25 schizophrenic patients (55.6%) and 13 normal healthy controls (28.9%). Immunoblotting showed stronger specific reaction to proteins with molecular weights 50 and 60 kDa by +ve IgG schizophrenic patients. The serum dopamine level among schizophrenic patients was increased as compared to healthy controls (47.22 and 25.79%, respectively; p <0.001). In addition, the dopamine levels in +ve IgG were higher than those of -ve IgG schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that chronic T. gondii infection causes high dopamine levels that may lead to schizophrenia. About 55% of schizophrenic patients showed positive IgG reactions to Toxoplasma within this population, the dopamine levels were higher than seronegative population and revealed both 50 and 60 kDa proteins band specific to Toxoplasma.