Is there a relationship between thyroid hormone levels and suicide attempt in adolescents?

Abstract Background: Thoughts about suicide are quite common in adolescent. While such thoughts can be caused by many reasons, the most well-known of these are mood disorders. There are studies related to coexistence of thyroid pathologies and mood disorders in adult. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the difference of thyroid hormone levels in between adolescents with suicide attempt history and normal population. Methods: The study was prospective and was designed as a case-control study. Demographic characteristics of the patients were obtained and Serum fT3, fT4 and TSH levels were examined. Results: 222 cases were included in the study, including 101 cases and 121 controls. As for TSH levels, the mean serum levels of the whole group was 1.96 ± 1.08 mU/L, while the mean serum levels of the control group was 2.33 ± 1.5 mU/L and the mean serum levels of the case group was 0.50 ± 0.3 mU/L which revealed that the mean serum levels of the case group was significantly lower (p<0.01). Conclusion: It was found that serum TSH levels were significantly lower in case group than control group and the individuals with subclinical hyperthyroidism had more suicide attempts than the ones in control group.

Salmonella typhimurium outbreak in a neonatal unit in Turkey.

Objective. To analyze an outbreak caused by a multipl resistant strain of S. typhimurium in a newborn unit in Turkey. Methods. The outbreak occured during the period 15 to 29 March,2005. A newborn infected with S. typhimurium was defined as a case. Newborns who were hospitalized during the outbreak period with no diagnosis of S. typhimurium infections (n=50) constituted the control group I (CG I). The matched patients of the control group II (CG II) (n=20) were selected from neonates without S. typhimurium infections during the period. Results. Of 22 infants who were affected two died. Cases developed diarrhea (n=20), septicemia (n=5) and meningtis (n=1). The strain was resistant to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, amikacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxasole and chloromphenicol, susceptible to meropenem. All of the infected neonates were treated with meropenem. The surveillance cultures were negative. The outbreak was controlled by approprite therapy and institution of effective control measures. The cases were more exposed to mechanical ventilation than CG I (p<0.05). The mean additional length of stay in cases was significantly different from CG II (14.9 days vs. 5.1 days, p<0.05). The mean charges was $1588.78 for a case and $506.94 for a control (P<0.05). Accommodation accounted for 44.5% of these extra charges. Conclusion. This study increases the understanding of the burden of multidrug-resistant S. typhimurium infection. Nosocomial outbreaks have a major effect on healthcare delivery, costs and outcomes.