Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Approach for the Synthesis of Azoxybenzenes from the Reductive Dimerization of Nitrosobenzenes and the Oxidation of Anilines.

This study demonstrates a comparative synthesis of azoxybenzenes through the reductive dimerization of nitrosobenzenes and the oxidation of anilines. Utilizing the cost-effective DIPEA catalyst at room temperature with water as a green solvent, the one-pot procedure involves in situ generation of nitrosobenzene derivatives from anilines in the presence of oxone, followed by DIPEA addition. Both methods yield azoxybenzenes with high selectivity, showcasing the versatility of DIPEA in facilitating the synthesis of azoxybenzenes with various substituents in ortho, meta, and para positions, encompassing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups. The use of DIPEA proves pivotal in achieving moderate to high yields, emphasizing its significance in this environmentally friendly synthesis.

Analysis of Differences in DNA Damage and Repair Efficacy in Lymphocytes of Patients with Bipolar Disorder. / Bipolar Bozukluk Tanili Hastalarin Lenfositlerinde DNA Hasari ve Tamir Etkinligindeki Farkliliklarin Incelenmesi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine DNA damage during euthymic and attack periods, and the oxidative metabolism states that may cause this damage in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. The role of DNA repair mechanisms in this process was also investigated. METHOD: The study included a total of 90 patients aged between 18-65 years who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder according to DSM- 5 diagnostic criteria, with 30 patients in euthymic, 30 in manic and 30 in depressive periods. A control group was formed of 30 healthy subjects matched to the patients by age, gender, body mass index and smoking status and/or alcohol consumption. Oxidative metabolism was investigated using the Comet Assay technique to assess DNA damage, according to the oxidant/antioxidant status in the technique developed by Erel with the Rel ASSAY Diagnostics kit (Turkey). The control and patient groups were compared in respect of gene expression levels of OGG1 and NEIL1 repair genes at mRNA level with Real-Time PCR. RESULTS: Increased DNA damage was found in the euthymic and manic groups and decreased NEIL1 gene expression in the depressive group. The oxidative stress index was found to be decreased in the patient groups compared to the healthy control group. CONCLUSION: Oxidative imbalance and DNA damage and repair disorders may be effective in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Further studies on this subject are required to clarify the etiology and new treatment goals.

Efficient catalyst-free direct amidation of non-activated carboxylic acids from carbodiimides.

A novel and efficient catalyst- and activating agent-free amidation method via direct amidation of carboxylic acids where carbodiimides act as a reagent instead of an activating agent is reported. The reaction is conducted under non-traditional coupling conditions where a higher temperature is employed. Besides not using stoichiometric ratios of activating agent or catalyst, this approach is made even more attractive by occurring in the presence of the environmentally friendly and recyclable non-toxic solvent of DMSO. A wide variety of benzylic, aliphatic, α,ß-unsaturated and aromatic carboxylic acids provide related amides in up to 95% yield. The excellent yield from a gram-scale reaction shows that this application is particularly convenient for larger-scale synthesis applications.

Iconic Memory in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. / Obsesif Kompulsif Bozuklukta Ikonik Bellek.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is a fast decay in the iconic memory of patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) compared to healthy individuals by taking into consideration the clinical OCD subtypes. METHOD: The study included 74 patients diagnosed with OCD on the basis of the DSM 5 criteria and 63 healthy individuals. The OCD patients were grouped as washers, checkers, both washers and checkers, and non-washers and non-checkers. All participants took a partial report test (PRT) to compare iconic memory performance between the healthy control group and the OCD group as a whole and in OCD subgroups. RESULTS: Loss of iconic memory did not differ between OCD group and the controls. The iconic memory scores, expressed as the d' values, at specified time points correlated negatively with age and positively with education duration in all groups. When the subgroup data were analyzed by controlling for age, the d1'value showing formation of iconic information was lower in the washers subgroup in comparison to the checkers subgroup and the nonwashers and non-checkers subgroup. The d7' value was also lower in the washers subgroup than in the the non-washers and non-checkers subgroup and the healthy control group. The iconic decay rate of the washers subgroup between the time points d6' and d7' was significantly higher in comparison to the healthy control group. The scores of OCD patients on the washing subscale of the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) showed negative correlations with the iconic memory scores at all time points. CONCLUSION: This study showed that washer OCD patients may have impaired iconic formation and fast iconic decay, which could significantly affect the amount of information transferred to visual memory.

Iconic Memory in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. / Obsesif Kompulsif Bozuklukta Ikonik Bellek.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is a fast decay in the iconic memory of patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) compared to healthy individuals by taking into consideration the clinical OCD subtypes. METHOD: The study included 74 patients diagnosed with OCD on the basis of the DSM 5 criteria and 63 healthy individuals. The OCD patients were grouped as washers, checkers, both washers and checkers, and non-washers and non-checkers. All participants took a partial report test (PRT) to compare iconic memory performance between the healthy control group and the OCD group as a whole and in OCD subgroups. RESULTS: Loss of iconic memory did not differ between OCD group and the controls. The iconic memory scores, expressed as the d' values, at specified time points correlated negatively with age and positively with education duration in all groups. When the subgroup data were analyzed by controlling for age, the d1'value showing formation of iconic information was lower in the washers subgroup in comparison to the checkers subgroup and the nonwashers and non-checkers subgroup. The d7' value was also lower in the washers subgroup than in the the non-washers and non-checkers subgroup and the healthy control group. The iconic decay rate of the washers subgroup between the time points d6' and d7' was significantly higher in comparison to the healthy control group. The scores of OCD patients on the washing subscale of the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) showed negative correlations with the iconic memory scores at all time points. CONCLUSION: This study showed that washer OCD patients may have impaired iconic formation and fast iconic decay, which could significantly affect the amount of information transferred to visual memory.

Multifaceted impulsivity in obsessive-compulsive disorder with hoarding symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Hoarding is common in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and OCD with hoarding may have poorer prognostic features than OCD without hoarding. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between multifaceted impulsivity and hoarding symptoms in individuals with OCD. This relationship is important to be able to understand the psychopathological mechanisms of hoarding symptoms in OCD patients. METHODS: The study included 136 individuals with OCD classified as OCD with high hoarding symptoms (OCDwHH, n = 41) and OCD with low/none hoarding symptoms (OCDwLH, n = 95), together with 94 healthy control subjects. All the participants completed the Hoarding Rating Scale-Interview, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, Yale-Brown Obsessions and Compulsions Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. RESULTS: The OCDwHH group had more severe anxiety (p = 0.016) and attentional impulsivity (p = 0.002) than OCDwLH. Attentional impulsivity scores were positively correlated with hoarding symptom scores (p < 0.001). Both attentional and motor impulsivity scores were positively correlated with anxiety levels (p = 0.037, p = 0.045, respectively). In partial correlation analysis, motor impulsivity was positively correlated with the severity of hoarding symptoms controlling for anxiety severity (p = 0.045). In hierarchical linear regression analysis, only attentional impulsivity predicted the severity of hoarding symptoms independently of anxiety, severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and motor impulsivity (ß = 0.268, Adjusted R2 = 0.114, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Attentional impulsivity is associated with hoarding symptoms in OCD. Future studies that reveal this relationship may contribute to treatment modalities for the OCD patients with hoarding symptoms.

Modafinil Dependence: A Case with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Modafinil is generally known as a drug with low addiction potential. There are few case reports in the literature demonstrating that Modafinil, stated being capable of diminishing symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), causes addiction. In the present article a Modafinil addicted ADHD case, consuming usurious doses (5,000 mg/per day) of Modafinil is presented. The case presented to our psychiatry outpatient clinic due to: requirement of in taking high dose Modafinil in order to achieve the initial effects, difficulty in obtaining the drug, irritability, anxiousness, sleep irregularities, fatigue and unpleasant vivid dreams when he did not use the drug. It was realized that the patient, himself increased doses of Modafinil incrementally, in order to keep its effects on attention symptoms at the same level. It has to be kept in mind that ADHD patients can develop Modafinil addiction. It is necessary to carry out systemic studies on this subject.