Noropsikiyatri Arsivi-Archives of Neuropsychiatry最新文献

Introduction: Fatigue is a common symptom reported in epilepsy. The effect of fatigue on cognitive functions in patients with epilepsy (PWE) is unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between fatigue and cognitive functions in PWE.

Methods: Thirty-three PWE and twenty-two healthy controls participated in the study. Psychological examinations (Fatigue Impact Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Quality of Life) and cognitive tests (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Serial Digit Learning Test, Stroop Test, Raven's Progressive Matrices Test) were administered to the participants.

Results: The results revealed that fatigue scores were significantly higher in PWE compared to the control group (p< .001). Fatigue was found to be associated with anxiety (p<.001), depression (p<.001) and quality of life (p<.05). The results demonstrated a significant difference between the groups in terms of Raven scores (p<.001), and a significant correlation between fatigue and Raven scores in the general epilepsy group (p<.001). Fatigue was found to be correlated with Stroop Test (p<.05) and Raven's Test in the focal epilepsy group (p<.001).

Conclusion: In conclusion, PWE experience higher levels of fatigue compared to healthy controls and this fatigue has a relationship with visuospatial perception. Fatigue is also associated with attention and visuospatial perception in patients with focal epilepsy. However, it remains unclear whether cognitive impairments are a direct consequence of fatigue or whether cognitive impairments contribute to fatigue.

Inroduction: Communication skills are vital to social functioning. Patients with schizophrenia, who often exhibit impairments in social functioning, experience difficulties in both verbal and nonverbal communication. This study aimed to compare the influence of nonverbal sensitivity and verbal communication disturbance on the social functioning of schizophrenia patients.

Methods: The study included 38 schizophrenia patients (SCH) and 40 healthy controls (HC). Nonverbal and verbal abilities were assessed using the Mini Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity (Mini-PONS) and the Communication Disturbance Index (CDI), respectively. Social functioning was measured with the Social Functioning Scale (SFS), and symptom severity was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Results: Schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly lower nonverbal sensitivity and higher verbal communication disturbance compared to healthy controls. Mini-PONS and CDI scores were significantly correlated with SFS scores in the schizophrenia group but not in healthy controls. Regression models revealed that PANSS and Mini-PONS scores significantly predicted social functioning in schizophrenia patients. Furthermore, symptom severity fully mediated the relationship between verbal communication disturbance and social functioning.

Conclusion: Nonverbal communication impairments exert a more pronounced effect on the decline in social functioning among schizophrenia patients. These findings underscore the importance of addressing communication deficits to improve social outcomes in this population.

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a debilitating autoimmune condition that, without timely intervention, can lead to severe disability or even death. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by severe attacks such as optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. This study compared the short- and long-term effects of high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) and IVMP+plasma exchange (PLEX) treatment regimens.

Methods: The study evaluated changes in patients' Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores over a six-month follow-up period by using different ANOVA and linear regression methods.

Results: Both IVMP and IVMP+PLEX treatments resulted in clinical improvement, with the addition of PLEX showing a more significant reduction in EDSS scores, particularly during the long follow-up period. Moreover, seropositive patients (AQP4/MOG-IgG positive) demonstrated a better response to treatment. Age and baseline EDSS scores were identified as key factors influencing post-treatment improvement.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the addition of PLEX to IVMP treatment might be suitable especially for severe NMOSD attacks.

Introduction: Joint attention (JA) is a fundamental aspect of social interaction and a cornerstone of social communication. This study explores factors influencing JA in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using an interactive, dual eye-tracking paradigm during a tangram puzzle computer gameplay. The JA performance of adults with ASD and a typically developing non-clinical control group (TD-NCC) was assessed alongside partner familiarity (familiar / stranger), partner roles (presenter / operator) and gaze cue (present / absent). Two main objectives were: 1) to evaluate JA through gaze recurrence (GR) in adults with ASD, and 2) to examine the effect of partner familiarity on JA by comparing the performance in the task conducted with either a familiar or an unfamiliar partner (stranger).

Methods: The sample consisted of 42 participants (21 adults with ASD; ages 18-50, 9 females and 12 males and 21 TD-NCC; ages 21-50, 11 females and 10 males). Two non-intrusive desktop eye trackers simultaneously recorded gaze during the JA tangram task. Gaze recurrence was used as an indicator of JA. The gaze cue (present/absent) was a semi-transparent indicator showing where to look. Additionally, to control for potential eye pathophysiology in JA, saccade and anti-saccade tasks were applied to the eye movements of each participant.

Results: The Linear Mixed Effect Model revealed that GR was significantly lower in the ASD group compared to controls. However, the presence of a gaze cue significantly improved the ASD group's GR, especially when interacting with a familiar partner under gaze-cue on conditions.

Conclusion: Understanding factors influencing JA in autism may foster further exploratory studies and significantly impact future research. Eye movements may serve as objective, quantitative, and non-invasive biomarkers for ASD, particularly in interactive gaming contexts.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease, attacks the central nervous system, causing inflammation and damage. Diagnosed in four forms, many clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients progress to relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). C1QA, a molecule linked to MS, might be a treatment target due to its abnormal activity in the disease. This study investigated mir-335-5p and its targeting C1QA expression as potential biomarkers for disease progression. This relationship was also evaluated from an epigenetic perspective between CIS, RRMS and control groups.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 18 CIS, 32 RRMS, and 16 control blood samples. RNA isolation and Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) were performed to detect the expression levels of C1QA and miR-335-5p, while C1QA protein levels were determined using ELISA.

Results: The data revealed significant increases in both C1QA gene expression (p=0.0291) and miR-335-5p expression (p=0.0196) in CIS patients compared to controls. Although increased expression levels were observed for both parameters in RRMS patients versus controls, they did not reach statistical significance. Patients with RRMS showed lower levels of C1QA and miR-335-5p compared to those with CIS. Notably, the decrease in miR-335-5p was statistically significant (p=0.0442). No significant difference in C1QA protein levels was observed among the groups (p >0.05).

Conclusion: miR-335-5p and C1QA emerge as potential biomarkers for MS progression, exhibiting significant upregulation in CIS compared to controls. miR-335-5p also shows significant downregulation in RRMS compared to CIS. These findings support the potential of miR-335-5p for distinguishing and understanding the progression of both CIS and RRMS.

Introduction: The increase in spatial learning and memory performance caused by music is called the 'Mozart effect'. Increased NMDA receptor (NMDAR) expression plays a role in this effect. Inhibition of NMDARs reduces Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) % values. The study aims to investigate the relationship between the Mozart effect and the NMDAR expression.

Methods: Rats were divided into 6 groups. Three groups listened to white noise (WN) while the other three groups listened to Mozart (M). After the rats were performed in the 8-arm radial maze test, one of the three groups in both sound environments was chosen as the control group and was injected with saline. For the remaining two groups, one was injected with ketamine and the other was injected with MK-801. Then all groups underwent the PPI protocol.

Results: It was found that Mozart groups had higher memory errors. The M+MK-801 group had lower PPI% values with 74 dB prepulse compared to the WN+Ketamine group.

Conclusions: While the Mozart effect was not observed, on the contrary, a decrease in memory performance was detected. The effect of music on NMDARs may be at levels that do not change PPI values. Considering that parameters like the duration and intensity of music may cause stress, repeating the experiment with different conditions may provide new clues.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of melatonin supplementation with serum element metabolism in pinealectomized rats.

Methods: The research was conducted on 32 adult male Spraque-Dawley rats. The study protocol was approved by the local animal ethics committee.Animals were divided into four equal groups. Control (Group 1), Melatonin (Group 2), Pinealectomy "Px" (Group 3), Pinealectomy+melatonin (Group 4). Animals in groups 2 and 4 were given intraperitoneal (ip) melatonin support (4 weeks/day; 3 mg/kg melatonin). Animals in groups 3 and 4 underwent pinealectomy under general anesthesia. At the end of the applications, serum element levels were determined by atomic emission (μg/dl) in the blood samples taken from the sacrificed animals.

Results: While pinealectomy increased chromium and manganese levels in Group 3 (p<0.001), it caused significant suppression of magnesium, calcium and zinc levels (p<0.001). Melatonin supplementation in pinealectomized animals (Group 4) treated the impairments in the mentioned parameters.

Conclusion: The results of the current study show that the melatonin hormone secreted from the pineal gland has a regulatory effect on serum element metabolism. This study is the first to examine the relationship between the pineal gland and element metabolism as a whole.

Introduction: Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer is traumatic for both patients and their relatives. It is crucial to understand the factors that enhance the psychological resilience of breast cancer survivors. This study aims to investigate posttraumatic growth following breast cancer and its relationship with psychiatric disorders, social support, and stigma.

Methods: The study included 100 female breast cancer patients and 100 relatives. Patients underwent a DSM-5-based structured psychiatric interview and were assessed with the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS), the Cancer Patient Perceived Social Support Scale (CPPSSS), and Cancer-related Attitudes Measurement Questionnaire (CRAMQ)-patient version. The patient's relatives were administered the PTGI, HADS, and CRAMQ-community versions.

Results: Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 40% of individuals with breast cancer, most commonly major depressive disorder (22%). Posttraumatic growth demonstrated a negative correlation with age and a positive association with being employed. The presence of psychiatric disorders and elevated anxiety levels are associated with reduced personal growth. Perceived emotional/confidence social support were associated with increased growth. A subscale of stigma 'impossibility of recovery', led to a positive shift in life philosophy and interpersonal relationships. Additionally, both patients' age and the level of growth in their relatives were found to predict posttraumatic growth in the patients (B=-0.499, p=0.021; B=0.211, p=0.044, logistic regression).

Conclusion: Posttraumatic growth is negatively associated with age and the presence of a psychiatric disorder, and positively associated with employment and social support. Additionally, relatives' posttraumatic growth and patients' age predict posttraumatic growth in patients. Stigmatising the perception of "impossibility of recovery" is associated with positive psychological change, possibly reflecting a more traumatic perception of the cancer diagnosis, a reduction in denial, and increased acceptance of the illness. This acceptance of mortality may lead to deeper personal transformation for a more meaningful life and improved interpersonal relationships.

Introduction: Anxiety disorders (AD) constitute a significant part of mental health problems; however, their pathogenesis remains not fully elucidated. The balance between the oxidative and antioxidative systems are disrupted in children with AD. The total oxidant/antioxidant status (TOS/TAS) and thiol/disulphide homeostasis (TDH) show oxidative stress through different mechanisms. To date, research in this context has tended to focus on adults rather than children. Despite this, understanding oxidative stress in pediatric populations is increasingly emphasized. Therefore, this research aims to investigate TOS/TAS and TDH in children with AD.

Methods: The study included 40 treatment-naive children with AD and 40 healthy controls matched by age and sex. Sociodemographic data and The Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) were used for assessment.

Results: The results showed that TOS and the Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were elevated, and TAS was reduced in children with AD compared to controls. However, when evaluated in terms of TDH, there was no significant difference. Logistic regression analysis identified TOS as a significant predictor of AD (p=0.027; OR=5.49, 95% CI: 1.21-24.84). Although dynamic-disulphide level improved the model's predictive accuracy, they did not reach statistical significance (p=0.063).

Conclusion: These findings suggest a potential oxidative dysfunction in AD. The study highlights the potential utility of TOS as a robust biomarker for distinguishing pediatric AD from HC. Furthermore, the absence of significant changes in TDH suggests that oxidative stress in pediatric AD may primarily involve alternative pathways. This may involve a complex interplay of DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation processes contributing to the oxidative stress observed in AD. To explore the potential for using oxidative stress markers as novel targets for treatment and diagnostic tools for AD, prospective, large-scale, randomized trials are required.