Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Biomarkers in People with Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Objective@#This study aimed to investigate the blood serum levels of biomarkers specifying oxidative stress status and systemic inflammation between people using methamphetamine (METH) and the control group (CG). Serum thiol/disulfide balance and ischemia-modified albumin levels were studied to determine oxidative stress, and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and complete blood count (CBC) were to assess inflammation. @*Methods@#Fifty patients with METH use disorder (MUD) and 36 CG participants were included in the study. Two tubes of venous blood samples were taken to measure oxidative stress, serum thiol/disulfide balance, ischemia-modified albumin, and IL-6 levels between groups. The correlation of parameters measuring oxidative stress and inflammation between groups with sociodemographic data was investigated. @*Results@#In this study, serum total thiol, free thiol levels, disulfideative thiol percentage ratios, and serum ischemia-modified albumin levels of the patients were statistically significantly higher than the healthy controls. No difference was observed between the groups in serum disulfide levels and serum IL-6 levels. Considering the regression analysis, only the duration of substance use was a statistically significant factor in explaining serum IL-6 levels. The parameters showing inflammation in the CBC were significantly higher in the patients than in the CG. @*Conclusion@#CBC can be used to evaluate systemic inflammation in patients with MUD. Parameters measuring thiol/disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin can be, also, used to assess oxidative stress.

Following the White Vulture: Ethno-ornithology along the Flyway of the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus).

Vultures constitute globally the most rapidly declining group of birds. Across their wide distribution range, they share common ecological functions and unfavourable conservation status while being associated with varying habitats, lifestyles, cultural standing, and threats. We reveal conceptualisations about the emblematic yet critically endangered Egyptian vulture along its migratory flyway from the Balkans through the Middle East to Africa. Information was gathered through interviews, focus group discussions, and market surveys, with 420 people in 11 participating countries contributing overall. Our results showed that all vultures are recognised primarily for the environmental cleaning services, but the level of awareness differs between countries. Τhe Egyptian vulture has some perceptual advantages based on its white color, migratory nature, and endangered conservation status. This underlines its suitability as a charismatic flagship species that can potentially benefit other vulture species and thus enforce broader vulture conservation initiatives. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10745-022-00340-6.

Relationship between Suicide Attempt History and Borderline Personality Disorder, Aggression, Impulsivity, and Self-Mutilative Behavior among Male Inpatients with Substance Use Disorder.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lifetime history of suicide attempt (HSA) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), aggression, impulsivity, and self-mutilative behavior (SMB) in a sample of male inpatients with substance use disorder (SUD). Method: The sample included 132 male inpatients with alcohol or opioid use disorder. The participants were evaluated using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, the Short Form of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11-SF), and a structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II) for BPD. Results: The mean age was lower in the group with HSA (n = 52, 39.4%) compared to the group without HSA (n = 80, 60.6%), whereas no difference was found between the groups in terms of duration of education, alcohol or opioid use disorder, marital status, and employment status. The rate of BPD and SMB and aggression and impulsivity scores were higher among those with lifetime HSA. According to linear regression analysis, although BPD, anger, and non-planning impulsivity predicted HSA, when SMB was included in the analysis BPD was no longer a predictor. SMB, on the other hand, predicted HSA together with anger and non-planning impulsivity. Conclusion: While BPD and HSA are associated, SMB seems to have a mediating role in this relationship. In addition, anger and non-planning impulsivity may have a partial mediating role in the relationship between BPD and HSA among patients with SUD.

Higher efficiency of frozen embryo transfer in male infertility cases in in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to analyze the success rates of frozen and fresh embryo transfer methods in different patient groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 453 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The patients were further divided into three groups as male factor, tubal/ovarian/uterine factor, and other factors. IVF treatment was performed through either fresh or frozen embryo transfer (FET). Of the 453 patients, 298 had fresh embryo transfer, and 155 received FET. The implantation and live-birth rates of FET were compared with fresh transfer approach, focusing on the effects of male infertility. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the pregnancy ratios of patients who underwent fresh embryo transfer versus patients who underwent FET. In patients who were receiving IVF treatment due to male factors, the pregnancy rate was 49.32% in the fresh embryo transfer group, whereas it was 69.70% in the FET group, revealing a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.0321). Although the live-birth ratios were higher in the FET group both among all patients who underwent IVF due to male factor, the differences between the groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We observed higher pregnancy rates in FET patients compared with fresh embryo transfer in the study group. The differences in pregnancy rates and live-birth rates were especially evident in IVF cases where male factor was the reason for the treatment.

Relationship of Probable Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with Severity of Psychopathology and Impulsivity in a Sample of Male Patients with Opioid Use Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate relationship of probable attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with severity of psychopathology and the effect of impulsivity on this relationship in a sample of male patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). METHODS: Participants included 234 patients (115 inpatients and 119 outpatients) with OUD. Participants were evaluated with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1), the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) and the Short Form of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11-SF). RESULTS: Psychopathology and impulsivity scores were higher among those with the probable ADHD. ADHD scores were midly to moderately correlated with impulsivity and psychopathology scores. In logistic regression analyses, while severity of general psychopathology and impulsivity predicted probable ADHD in the first Model, in the second Model, among dimensions of psychopathology obsessive compulsive (OC) dimension, whereas among dimensions of impulsivity non-planning and motor impulsivity predicted probable ADHD. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that probable ADHD is related with the severity of psychopathology, particularly OC dimension, while the severity of impulsivity may have an partial mediator (particularly non-planning and motor impulsivity) effect on this relationship among patients with OUD.

Annular hymenotomy for imperforate hymen.

AIM: Imperforate hymen is the most common obstructive anomaly of the female genital tract. Conventional surgical treatment for this condition is the cruciate incision made on the hymen. The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel technique that preserves virginity after hymenotomy using electrocautery. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with imperforate hymen and treated with annular hymenotomy between 2009 and 2013 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Annular incision was done using electrocautery on the hymen whilst sparing the intact hymenal tissue circumferentially at least 5 mm from the base. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 14.2 ± 2.2 years. The median operation time was 5 min (3-9 min). No complications occurred. During the follow-up examinations, none of the patients had hymenal closure and all had regular menstrual bleeding. CONCLUSION: This novel technique showed complete success without any observed complication. This technique might be a good alternative for patients seeking to preserve virginity after surgery.

Long-Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Bean Vaginoplasty (Modified Vecchietti Procedure) for Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study is to evaluate the long-term results of laparoscopic bean vaginoplasty (LBV), which we previously described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2002 to September 2013, 62 patients, who were diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome and underwent LBV in Cukurova University School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology were included in the study. Operative data, complication rates, vaginal length, and sexuality of patients during the follow-up period were evaluated. Sexuality of the patients were evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. The FSFI scores were compared with age-matched 65 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Mean age of patients in case and control groups were 23.9 ± 5.1 (18-32) and 25.1 ± 4.2 (18-31), respectively (P = .69). Median length of follow-up after surgery was 48 months (24-144 months). No complications occurred during the operations. No vaginal adhesions occurred during the follow-up periods. Median vaginal length during the last follow-up was 7 cm (6-9 cm). FSFI scores were similar with the control group. CONCLUSION: LBV is a successful modification of Vecchietti procedure, without any reported complication. However, the procedure should still be compared with the other methods in randomized trials.

Plasma concentrations of soluble cytokine receptors in euthymic bipolar patients with and without subsyndromal symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence suggests that high concentrations of pro-inflammatory markers are associated with bipolar disorder characterized by severe impairment during inter-episodic periods, reduced treatment response and persistent subsyndromal symptoms. We tested whether persistent subsyndromal symptoms in euthymic bipolar patients were associated with markers of an ongoing chronic pro-inflammatory process. METHODS: Forty-five euthymic bipolar patients (22 with subsyndromal symptoms (BD+) and 23 without subsyndromal symptoms (BD-) and 23 well controls (WC) were recruited for assessment of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (sTNF-R1), soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) concentrations. Soluble cytokine receptor concentrations were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In comparison to WC, sTNF-R1 concentration was higher in both BD- and BD+ (age and sex adjusted standardized ß, respectively: ß = 0.34, p = 0.012 and ß = 0.41, p = 0.003). Similarly, compared to WC, sIL-6R concentration was higher in both BD- and BD+ (age and sex adjusted standardized ß, respectively: ß = 0.44, p = 0.001 and ß = 0.37, p = 0.008). There was no difference between BD- and BD+ in the concentration of either sTNF-R1 or sIL-6R; plasma concentration of sIL-2R was not analyzed as 75% percent of the samples were non-detectable. CONCLUSIONS: Although bipolar patients present with a pro-inflammatory shift compared to well controls, subsyndromal symptoms are not associated with additive increasing effects. Longitudinal studies with larger samples are required to clarify the relationship between illness course and inflammatory markers in bipolar disorder.

Relationship of defense styles with history of childhood trauma and personality in heroin dependent inpatients.

In the present study the defense styles were assessed in heroin dependent inpatients to verify whether they used less adaptive defense mechanisms compared to healthy controls and to evaluate if immature defense styles are related with childhood traumas, while controlling the effect of age, temperament and character on this relationship in male heroin dependent inpatients. Participants were consecutively admitted 109 male heroin dependent inpatients and 60 healthy controls. Patients were investigated with the Defense Style Questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and Temperament and Character Inventory. Heroin dependent patients were using immature defense style more, particularly acting-out and splitting, than the control group. Together with lower age, immature defense style discriminated heroin dependents from control group (lower age, and higher devaluation and splitting in second regression model). Lower physical neglect score was related with a mature defense style, whereas higher cooperativeness (C) and self-transcendence (ST) were related with a neurotic defense style and lower reward dependence (RD), self-directedness (SD) and higher ST and emotional abuse were related with immature defense style. These suggest that heroin dependents are using maladaptive immature defense styles more, which can be taken into account in the development of therapeutic programs for these patients. Also, immature defense style may mediate the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and some personality dimensions (lower RD, SD and higher ST) in heroin dependent inpatients.

Relationship between defense styles, alexithymia, and personality in alcohol-dependent inpatients.

In the present study, the defense styles were assessed in alcohol-dependent patients to verify whether they used less adaptive defense mechanisms compared with healthy controls and to evaluate if immature defense styles (IDSs) are related with alexithymia, while controlling the effect of age, temperament, and character on this relationship in male alcohol-dependent inpatients. Participants were consecutively admitted 118 male alcohol-dependent inpatients and 60 healthy controls. Patients were investigated with the Defense Style Questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Temperament and Character Inventory. The alcohol-dependent patients were using neurotic defense style, some IDSs (projection, acting out, splitting, and somatization) more, and the mature defense style humor less than the control group. Together with higher age, IDS discriminated alcohol dependents from the control group (higher age, acting out, and splitting and lower humor in the second regression model). Immature defense style was positively correlated with novelty seeking, harm avoidance, self-transcendence, difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF), difficulty in describing feelings, external oriented thinking, and total alexithymia score in the present study, whereas it was negatively correlated with self-directedness and cooperativeness. Mean scores of neurotic and IDS were higher in the alexithymic group than the nonalexithymic group, and alexithymia was correlated with some IDSs. Higher difficulty in describing feelings predicted mature defense style, higher harm avoidance and DIF predicted neurotic defense style, and lower cooperativeness and self-transcendence and higher DIF predicted IDS. These suggest that alcohol dependents are using maladaptive IDS more, which can be taken into account in the development of therapeutic programs for these patients. In addition, IDS seems to be related with alexithymia, particularly DIF factor, whereas low cooperativeness and high self-transcendence are significant covariants. Thus, these results could indicate the use of specific strategies in the clinical and psychotherapeutic management of patients with alexithymic feature and IDS.

Cytokine levels in euthymic bipolar patients.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder is not thoroughly understood. Several studies have investigated the possible role of cytokines in psychiatric disorders, based on their role in neuro-immune modulation; however, findings in studies on bipolar disorder remain limited and contradictory, and most studies have focused on either manic or depressive episodes. These studies suggest that both manic and depressive episodes could be pro-inflammatory states. The present study aimed to determine whether there are enduring differences in cytokine levels-unrelated to the effects of medication-between euthymic bipolar patients and healthy controls. METHODS: The study included 31 euthymic bipolar patients-16 medication-free (MF) and 15 on lithium monotherapy (LM) and 16 healthy volunteers in whom serum cytokine levels were measured. The 3 groups were homogenous in terms of age, gender, and ethnicity. IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 levels were measured in all groups using flow cytometry. RESULTS: There were no differences in cytokine levels between MF euthymic bipolar patients and healthy controls. TNF-α and IL-4 levels in LM euthymic bipolar patients were higher than in both the MF euthymic bipolar patients and controls. LIMITATIONS: The small and strictly selected study sample could limit the generalizability of the findings. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokine production in MF euthymic bipolar patients was similar to that in healthy controls. The present study shows that the pro-inflammatory state resolves in euthymia and that lithium had an influence on the cytokine profile, which could create a confounding factor while investigating disease- related immunopathology of bipolar disorder.

Executive function and cognitive subprocesses in first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenia: an analysis of N-back performance.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated changes in the cognitive architecture of N-back performance in schizophrenia. METHOD: N-back performance of 12 patients with first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenia and matched healthy comparison subjects was studied in a reaction-time decomposition paradigm. RESULTS: Imposition of a working memory load led to a significant drop in response accuracy in patients. Reaction-time decomposition suggested slowing of visuomotor and choice reaction processing as well as an inability of parallel processing directed by working memory. DISCUSSION: Although N-back tasks validly access working memory function as a neurocognitive trait in the illness, several additional subprocesses and the ability for cognitive parallel processing are altered and require further study in schizophrenia.

The effects of ovulation induction during infertility treatment on gingival inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Ovulation induction is the most common method of infertility treatment in which the ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple follicles. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of three drug protocols of ovulation induction: clomiphene citrate (CC) alone, CC combined with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and CC combined with human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) on the gingival tissues of women who were undergoing infertility treatment. METHODS: Study population was composed of 18 women using CC for three menstrual cycles or less and 16 women using CC for more than three cycles; 21 women using CC-FSH; and 24 women using CC-HMG who had at least four cycles of CC alone the previous year. All subjects were clinically examined for plaque levels (plaque index), gingival inflammation (gingival index), bleeding on probing, and gingival crevicular fluid volume. The results were compared with a control group of 20 women matched for age, educational and professional level, and oral habits and who had never used ovulation drugs. RESULTS: Despite similar plaque levels (P>0.05), women using CC for more than three cycles and combined protocols of CC-FSH and CC-HMG had higher levels of gingival inflammation (P<0.01, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), bleeding (P<0.001), and GCF volume (P<0.001) when compared to the control group and to the users of CC for three cycles or less. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study have shown that ovulation induction, which is the most common method in the management of infertility, exacerbates gingival inflammation, bleeding, and GCF volume and that the duration of the usage of these drugs is strongly associated with the severity of gingival inflammation.