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Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by several motor and phonic tics.In this study, we aimed to compare activated regulatory T cell (Treg) values between patients with TS/chronic tic disorder (CTD) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs).Patients with TS/CTD and age- and sex-matched HCs were included in the study. The severity of the disease was evaluated using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale. CD4The study included 48 patients diagnosed with TS/CTD (36 males and 12 females, mean age: 11.58 ± 2.61) and 24 HCs (18 males and 6 females, mean age: 11.63 ± 2.60). The TS/CTD group had significantly higher activated regulatory T percentile with respect to the T helper value compared to the HCs (Our results suggest that Tregs may have a role in the pathogenesis of TS/CTD.

Sahin, Berkan/0000-0003-4699-3418; Usta, Mirac Baris/0000-0002-1573-3165 WOS: 000424948600002 PubMed: 29171317 Objective: In literature, recent evidence has shown that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can be dysregulated in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and HPA axis hormones may predict the psychotherapy treatment response in patients with PTSD. In this study, it was aimed to investigate changing cortisol and DHEA-S levels post-eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and the relationship between treatment response and basal cortisol, and DHEA-S levels before treatment.Method: The study group comprised 40 adolescents (age, 12-18 years) with PTSD. The PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and Child Post-traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPSRI) and the blood cortisol and DHEA-S were measured with the chemiluminescence method before and after treatment. A maximum of six sessions of EMDR therapy were conducted by an EMDR level-1 trained child psychiatry resident. Treatment response was measured by the pre- to post-treatment decrease in self-reported and clinical PTSD severity.Results: Pre- and post-treatment DHEA-S and cortisol levels did not show any statistically significant difference. Pre-treatment CDI scores were negatively correlated with pre-treatment DHEA-S levels (r: -0.39). ROC analysis demonstrated that the DHEA-S/cortisol ratio predicts treatment response at a medium level (AUC: 0.703, p: .030, sensitivity: 0.65, specificity: 0.86).Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that the DHEA-S/cortisol ratio may predict treatment response in adolescents with PTSD receiving EMDR therapy. The biochemical parameter of HPA-axis activity appears to be an important predictor of positive clinical response in adolescent PTSD patients, and could be used in clinical practice to predict PTSD treatment in the future. Ondokuz Mayis UniversityOndokuz Mayis University [PYO.TIP.1904.16.002] The present study was sponsored by Ondokuz Mayis University with the project number PYO.TIP.1904.16.002.

WOS: 000373021800012 PubMed: 26634311 Objective We aimed to assess the risk factors associated with homicidal behaviour in male patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods In a period of 1 year, male schizophrenia cases between 18-65 years of age (n = 210) were included. The clinical evaluation included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). The patients were divided into three groups in terms of violent behaviour history: (1) homicide group (n = 30), (2) a violent act resulting in serious injury (n = 71), (3) control group (patients without a history of a violent act) (n = 109). Results Lower level of education, rural residence, being unemployed and living alone were found to be significantly more common in patients who had committed a violent act compared to the schizophrenia patients in the control group. In order to explore the predictive value of several factors associated with violent behaviour, a logistic regression model was used, and variables (shorter duration of education, living alone, and lack of insight) significantly predicted the presence of violent behaviour (murder and/or injury) (chi(2)=31.78, df = 12, p = 0.001). Conclusions In order to be able to determine causality of homicidal acts in schizophrenia patients, our significant findings between homicidal violence, non-homicidal violence and the control group would merit further attention and exploration in further studies.

WOS: 000345108400003 Objective: The effects of serotonin and/or noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors on memory have been investigated in various clinical and pre-clinical studies. However, contradictory results have been reported. In this study, the effect of the selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors atomoxetine and reboxetine, a tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline, and a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, paroxetine, on learning and memory were examined alone or in combination with scopolamine in mice using a passive avoidance task. Methods: Male Balb-C mice (25-30 g) were used. Reboxetine (10 mg/kg), atomoxetine (5 mg/kg), paroxetine (10 mg/kg) and amitriptyline (10 mg/kg) were investigated alone or in combination with scopolamine (1 mg/kg). A passive avoidance task was used to evaluate memory function. Acquisition time was recorded on the first day and retention time on the second (after 24 h). All drugs and saline were administered intraperitoneally 30 min prior to testing in order to evaluate retention time. Results: None of the drugs or saline impaired retention time when administered alone; however, scopolamine significantly impaired retention time (p=0.003). Reboxetine, atomoxetine and paroxetine all resulted in a marked improvement in retention time in combination with scopolamine. A combination of amitriptyline and scopolamine also significantly reduced retention time (p=0.013). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the effect of atomoxetine and reboxetine on improving memory deficit may be attributed to their inhibition of noradrenaline re-uptake. The effect of paroxetine on improving memory deficit may arise from enhanced serotonergic activity. Amitriptyline's lack of positive effect on memory deficit may be due to its own anticholinergic effect. Further studies using the same models and animal species are needed to clarify the mechanisms of the effects of each drug.

WOS: 000254627000009 PubMed: 24916497 Objective. In children and adolescents who were prescribed immediate-release methylphenidate (MPH-IR) for the first time, we aimed to investigate the effect of gender, psychiatric co-morbidity and the baseline severity of clinical symptoms on the short-term side-effects of the medication. Method. In a clinical sample, over a period of 6 months, all MPH-naive patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (N = 90; male, n = 73; female, n = 17) age: 9.0 +/- 2.2 years (5-16 years)) were included. Patients were prescribed MPH-IR 10-30 mg/day (17.6 +/- 4.95). The assessment included structured measurements, including the Turgay Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV)-Based Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S) (parents and teachers), Conners' Teacher Rating Scale for ADHD-Short version (teachers). Parents also completed the "Barkley Stimulants' Side Effects Rating Scale" (BSSERS) at baseline and on the third, seventh and 15th days of medication. Results. Repeated measures multiple ANOVA revealed an overall significant difference in BSSERS between the baseline measures and the 15th day (P < 0.01). On the 15th day, only the "loss of appetite" item severity scores increased (P=0.001), whereas the scores of "irritability", "proneness to cry", "anxiety", "nail biting" and "euphoria" items decreased significantly. In post hoc analyses, when subjects whose side effects increased and did not increase were compared, chi-square tests revealed a significant difference (P=0.029) only for the presence of co-morbidity, and no difference for the gender, age, dosage of MPH, and the baseline severity of inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity. Discussion. The only significant increase during MPH treatment was for the "loss of appetite" item on BSSERS. Our results suggest that some of the BSSERS items may represent both the ADHD symptoms and the side effects. When overall BSSERS item severity is considered, having a co-morbid diagnosis may be predictive of more severe adverse effects.