ABSTRACT
Objective@#Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with underlying pathogenesis and etiological factors not fully understood. We assumed that galectin-3, which is also linked with inflammatory responses, may play an important role in the ethiopathogenesis of ADHD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether serum galectin-3 levels are related to ADHD in childhood. @*Methods@#The current study consisted of 35 treatment-naive children with ADHD and 35 control subjects. The severities of ADHD and conduct disorder symptoms were assessed via parent- and teacher-rated questionnaires. The severity of anxiety and depression symptoms of the children were determined by the self-report scale. Venous blood samples were collected and serum galectin-3 levels were measured. @*Results@#The ADHD group had significantly higher serum Galectin-3 levels than the control group. To control confounding factors, including age, sex, and BMI percentile, one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test was also performed. Analyses revealed a significantly higher serum log- Galectin-3 levels in children with ADHD compared to controls. No association was found between the mean serum galectin-3 levels and sociodemographic characteristics and clinical test scores, except the oppositional defiant behavior scores. @*Conclusion@#Our research supports the hypothesis that serum levels of galectin-3 might be related to ADHD.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#Observations of sex differences have led some scientists to doubt whether the neuroendocrine system is involved in attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) etiology. One of the interesting study subjects in this context is prenatal steroid hormone exposure. The aim of the present study was to replicate and extend previous work by addressing two research questions: 1) Are second-tofourth digit (2D:4D) ratios lower in ADHD than in controls? 2) Is there a correlation between 2D:4D ratios and symptoms of ADHD, aggression and intelligence scores in boys with ADHD? @*Methods@#The study included 100 treatment-naive male children diagnosed with ADHD and 55 healthy male children. We measured the ratios of 2D:4D and administered a Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised to assess IQ scores, as well as behavioral rating scales, in children with ADHD and comparison individuals. @*Results@#We observed lower 2D:4D ratios in the right hand in ADHD in comparison to the control group. The left-hand ratios of 2D:4D, however, did not differ between ADHD and control groups. There were negative correlations between the left-hand 2D:4D ratios and the hyperactivity scores. However, no significant correlation was detected between right-hand 2D:4D ratios and the psychological questionnaire scores. @*Conclusion@#These results provide further evidence that fetal androgen exposure may contribute to the pathophysiology of ADHD, at least in boys.
ABSTRACT
This is a report of 2 hypertensive siblings with a history of carotid body tumors and subsequent benign adrenal pheochromocytomas [pheos] in a family where the mother had died of possible adrenal carcinoma. The first case was a 35-year-old woman with paroxysmal hypertensive attacks and a right adrenal mass. She had earlier undergone surgery to remove bilateral carotid body tumors. Investigation revealed excessive excretion of catecholamines and their metabolites in the urine. Abdominal MRI and 131I-MIBG scintigraphy revealed a right adrenal tumor. Right adrenalectomy was performed. The second case, the 45-year-old brother of the first case, was found to have a left adrenal mass on abdominal MRI. Catecholamines and their metabolites in the urine were found to be increased. He had also had surgery to remove bilateral carotid body tumors of the neck. Left adrenalectomy was performed. Both siblings showed no evidence of other familial syndromes, such as multiple neoplasia type 2, von Hippel-Lindau disease or neurofibromatosis type 1. Although the combination of familial carotid body tumors and pheo is rare, a patient who remains hypertensive after removal of a carotid body tumor deserves a careful evaluation to exclude pheo. Such tumors may be extra-adrenal or multifocal