Regulatory T cells in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are still not fully elucidated. Immune system dysregulation has emerged as a major etiological focus as a result of the high comorbidity of allergic disease, inflammatory biomarkers, and genetic research. The present study aimed to evaluate peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in children with ADHD. METHODS: This single-center cross-sectional case-control study assessed 49 children with ADHD and 35 age- and gender-matched healthy children aged 7-12 years (9.10 ± 2.37 and 9.45 ± 2.13, respectively). The participants were screened for psychopathology using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version, while the severity of ADHD symptoms was measured by means of the distracted-Continuous Performance Test. Peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations and Tregs were analyzed with flow-cytometry. RESULTS: There is no significant difference in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets between ADHD and control groups The children diagnosed with ADHD exhibited significantly higher levels of CD3+ CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ (Tregs) than the healthy control subjects (8.23 ± 2.09 vs. 6.61 ± 2.89; z = 2.965, p = .004). The Tregs cell (Exp(B) = 1.334; p = .042; CI = 1.011-1.761) levels were determined to be statistically significant according to regression analysis and were associated with an increased probability of ADHD. CONCLUSION: Elevated Treg levels were linked to an increased likelihood of ADHD. This study suggested that changes in immune regulatory cells represent an important part of research in treatment of ADHD.

Risky cyber behaviors in adolescents with depression: A case control study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare adolescents diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy adolescents with regard to cyberbullying, cyber victimization, internet addiction, and digital game addiction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in Selçuk University Hospital. The study sample consisted of 34 adolescents with MDD and 39 controls without any psychopathology. A socio-demographic data form, the Cyber bullying Scale (CBS), Cyber Victimization Scale (CVS), Cyber bullying Sensibility Scale (CBSS), Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), Digital Game Dependence Scale (DGA-7), and Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale-Refurbished (RCADS) were administered to all participants. RESULTS: CBS, CVS, IAS and DGAS-7 scores of the MDD group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The significant differences persisted even after controlling for confounding factors such as age, gender, socio-economic level, and parental educational levels with MANCOVA. A strong positive correlation existed between CBS and CVS scores, and higher IAS scores were associated with higher CBS scores in the MDD group. CBSS scores negatively correlated with DGAS-7 scores in the MDD group. LIMITATIONS: Due to the cross-sectional design of this study, conclusions about causality remain speculative. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the importance of assessing problems related to the online environment in the presence of depression in adolescents. Our results suggested that evaluating the use of technology with a view to the potential for cyber bullying and cyber victimization as well as internet addiction and addiction to digital games may be necessary as a holistic approach in the follow-up of adolescent depression.