COMT rs4680 and DRD2 rs6275 variants and their association with YMRS scores in children with early-onset bipolar disorder

Background and objectives: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a clinical status with at least one manic, hypomanic or mixed attacks. Genetic factors take part significantly in early-onset BD (EOBD). Dopamine receptors (DRD) act in neurological mechanisms like motivation, learning, memory, and, control of neuroendocrine signaling. DRD2 receptor has been reported to influence the stability of DRD2 transcript. Catechol-O-Methyl transferase (COMT) inactivates catecholamines and Val158Met variation on COMT has effects on COMT activity. This study aims to explore DRD2 and COMT variants in the clinical development of EOBD.MethodsIn this case-control study, 102 EOBD patients and 168 healthy control subjects were used. DRD2 rs6275 and COMT Val158Met variations were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) was utilized to determine the EOBD severity.ResultsFor DRD2 rs6275 and COMT Val158Met polymorphisms, no significant relationship was observed in the genotype and allele frequencies between patient and control groups. Nevertheless, TT genotype carriers of DRD2 rs6275 polymorphism demonstrated significantly increased YMRS scores when compared with CC and CT genotype carriers (p = 0.039). Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed between COMT Val158Met genotypes and YMRS scores.ConclusionsWe suggest that the DRD2 rs6275 TT variant can be associated with symptom severity in children with EOBD and can have a clinical significance in EOBD pathogenesis. However, these results need to be confirmed with larger samples of patient and control groups. (AU)

Milestones of language development in Turkish children.

OBJECTIVES: Language delays are common in childhood, may be associated with delays in other areas of development, and can affect school performance. Various tests designed for general developmental screening or specifically for language are used to assess developmental status in preschool children. Knowledge of the probabilities of normal developmental milestones may simplify detection of problems and delays. The aim of this study was to determine the milestones of language development in Turkish children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed data from application of the Denver II Developmental Screening Test's Turkish standardization to 1,993 children, 976 (49.0%) boys and 1,017 (51.0%) girls aged 0.6-82.0 months. We used binary logistic regression to analyze the predicted probability of accomplishing the language items on the Denver II Developmental Screening Test. RESULTS: We determined the sequence of assessed language items and the ages associated with accomplishing those items, as well as the ages at which 25, 50, 75, and 100% of children passed the items. Language items followed a sequential route. Graphs had polynomial slopes. CONCLUSION: Curves for normal development allow detection of aberrations in the predicted course of language development, and may facilitate earlier diagnosis of delays in language.