Erythropoietin and Erythropoietin Receptor Levels and Their Diagnostic Values in Drug-naïve Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Ergul Belge Kurutas(Ergul Belge Kurutas ) 대한정신약물학회 2023 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.21 No.2

Objective: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder. Diagnosis of GAD depends on subjective complaints of patients, thus the need for biological markers is constantly emerging. In this study, we aimed to the investigate diagnostic values of Erythropoietin (Epo) and its receptor (EpoR) levels in drug-naïve patients with GAD. Methods: This study included 45 newly diagnosed drug-naive patients with GAD, aged and sex-matched 30 healthy controls. Medical histories were obtained, and physical examinations and laboratory tests were conducted. Also, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) was used for all participants. Serum Epo and EpoR levels were measured by ELISA. Results: HAM-A score was significantly higher in GAD patients versus the controls (p < 0.05). While the levels of Epo in patients with GAD were lower than the control patients, EpoR levels were increased in these patients (p < 0.05). Epo/EpoR ratios were significantly lower in the patients with GAD than in the control subjects (p < 0.05). A positive significant correlation was observed between the EpoR level and the HAM-A score (r = 0.755, p < 0.001). However, there was a negative significant correlation between Epo levels and HAM-A score (r = −0.749, p < 0.001). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed high diagnostic performance for Epo and EpoR, areas under curves were 0.901 and 0.912, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first report to investigate the association between serum Epo and EpoR levels in GAD patients. Our results reveal possible diagnostic value of Epo and EpoR. Moreover, Epo therapy may be a good choice for GAD treatment.

Serum Levels of 8-Iso-Prostaglandin F2α and Raftlin in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Onur Hursitoğlu(Onur Hursitoğlu ),Ergül Belge Kurutas(Ergül Belge Kurutas ) 대한정신약물학회 2023 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.21 No.2

Objective: Although there are neurobiological studies of patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the topic is still open to research. Lipid peroxidation can generate new molecular signal sequences by altering protein amounts and activity. 8-Iso-Prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) is known to be an important lipid peroxidation marker. Raftlin, which is defined as a major lipid raft protein, is important for the regulation of signal transduction and inflammatory processes. Methods: Our aim in this study was to compare the 8-iso-PGF2α and Raftlin levels of forty patients diagnosed with GAD and 40 healthy controls (age-sex and body mass index-matched). Results: In the present study, increased serum 8-iso-PGF2α and Raftlin levels were found in patients with GAD compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine 8-iso-PGF2α and Raftlin levels in patients with GAD. These results expand our knowledge of oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in patients with GAD. Our study should be considered preliminary and further studies should be performed with larger sample groups comparing values before and after treatment.

Diagnostic Performance of Erythropoietin and Erythropoietin Receptors Levels in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Meltem Gungor,Ergul Belge Kurutas,Erkan Oner,Velid Unsal,Hatice Altun,Ali Erdinc Yalin,Serap Yalin,Ozlem Bozkus,Nilfer Sahin 대한정신약물학회 2021 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.19 No.3

Objective: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous, highly heritable, a common childhood neurobehavioural disorder resulting from complex gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. The erythropoietin (Epo)/erythropoietin receptors (EpoR) system turned out to have additional important functions in nonhematopoietic tissue. In this study, we aimed to investigate the levels of Epo and and EpoR, and also their diagnostic values in children with ADHD. Methods: A total of 70 children were included in the study, 35 drug-naive patients with ADHD (age: 6−12 years; male/female: 20/15) and 35 healthy controls (age: 6−12 years; male/female: 22/13). Serum Epo and EpoR levels was determined using a commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: The results indicated that the levels of Epo decreased in patients with ADHD compared to control (p < 0.05). On the other hand, EpoR levels increased in these patients (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the ratio of Epo/EpoR was significantly lower in ADHD patients than controls (p < 0.05). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed high diagnostic performance for Epo and EpoR, areas under curve were 0.980 and 1.000, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first report to investigate the association between serum Epo and EpoR levels in ADHD patients. Our results indicated that Epo may play a role in the etiology of ADHD, and Epo therapy may be beneficial in these disorders if given in addition to the routine treatment of children with ADHD. Furthermore, our results reveal possible diagnostic value of Epo and EpoR.

Increased Serum G Protein-coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 Levels and Its Diagnostic Value in Drug Naïve Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Ebru Findikli,Ergül Belge Kurutas,Mehmet Akif Camkurt,Mehmet Fatih Karaaslan,Filiz Izci,Hüseyin Avni Fındıklı,Selçuk Kardaş,Berat Dag,Hatice Altun 대한정신약물학회 2017 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.15 No.4

Objective: The facts that depression is more prevalent in females than in males and females are exposed to depression more commonly during certain hormonal fluctuating periods indicate the role of sex hormones in physiopathology. Estrogen acts over estrogen receptors alpha and beta and recently identified G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1). The present study aimed, for the first time, to evaluate serum GPER1 levels in drug-naïve major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. Methods: The study included 56 newly diagnosed drug-naïve MDD patients aged between 18 and 50 years and 42 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Medical history was obtained and physical examinations, laboratory tests, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) were performed. The serum GPER1 levels were measured. Results: The HAM-D score was significantly higher in the MDD patients than in the controls. The GPER1 level was significantly higher in the MDD patients than in the controls. A positive correlation was found with GPER1 levels and depression scores. The receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value as 82.1%, 90.5%, 92.0%, and 79.2%, respectively, for the presence of depression, when the serum GPER1 value was ≥0.16. Conclusion: This study demonstrated significantly higher serum GPER1 levels in the MDD patients than in the controls, a positive correlation was found between GPER1 levels and depression scores and serum GPER1 level was valuable in predicting the presence of depression.

The Levels of Vitamin D, Vitamin D Receptor, Homocysteine and Complex B Vitamin in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Hatice Altun,Ergül Belge Kurutaş,Nilfer Şahin,Olcay Güngör,Ebru Fındıklı 대한정신약물학회 2018 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.16 No.4

Objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental syndrome with an increasingly prevalent etiology, yet not fully understood. It has been thought that vitamin D, complex B vitamin levels and homocysteine are associated with environmental factors and are important in ASD. The aim of this study was to examine serum vitamin D, vitamin D receptor (VDR), homocysteine, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate levels in ASD. Methods: In this study, serum vitamin D and VDR, homocysteine, vitamins B6, B12 and folate levels were determined in 60 patients with ASD (aged 3 to 12 years) and in 45 age-gender matched healthy controls. In addition, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase, which are associated with vitamin D metabolism, were measured from serum in both groups. ASD severity was evaluted by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Results: Serum vitamin D and VDR were substantially reduced in patients with ASD in comparision to control group. However, homocysteine level was significantly higher and vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate were also reduced in patients with ASD. Total CARS score showed a positive association with homocysteine and a negative correlation with vitamins D,B6, B12, folate and VDR. Conclusion: This comprehensive study, which examines many parameters has shown that low serum levels of vitamins D, B6, B12, folate and VDR as well as high homocysteine are important in the etiopathogenesis of ASD. However, further studies are required to define the precise mechanism(s) of these parameters and their contributions to the etiology and treatment of ASD.

The Diagnostic Value of Malondialdehyde, Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Activity in Drug Naïve, First Episode, Non-Smoker Generalized Anxiety Disorder Patients

Ebru Fındıklı,Mehmet Akif Camkurt,Filiz İzci,Mehmet Fatih Karaaslan,Hüseyin Avni Fındıklı,Perihan Sümer,Ergül Belge Kurutaş 대한정신약물학회 2018 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.16 No.1

Objective: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common anxiety disorder. Although lots of research done to reveal neurobiological basis of GAD, it is still unclear. Diagnosis of GAD depends on subjective complaints of patients, thus the need for a biological marker is constantly emerging. In this study, we aimed to investigate diagnostic value of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in GAD. Methods: We evaluated MDA, SOD, and CAT levels in peripheral blood of 46 patients and 45 controls. MDA was measured with Ohkawa’s methods, SOD was measured with Fridovich method, and CAT was measured with Beutler’s method. Results: MDA was significantly increased in patients than controls, medians 4.05 nmol/mg and 1.71 nmol/mg respectively, p<0.001; SOD and CAT activity was significantly decreased in patients than controls, medians of SOD were 159.07 U/mg and 301.87 U/mg, p<0.001 respectively, medians for CAT were 138.47 U/mg and 160.60 U/mg respectively. We found high correlation between Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and SOD, MDA r values were 0.723 and 0.715 respectively, p<0.001 for both. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed high diagnostic performance for MDA and SOD, low diagnostic performance for CAT, areas under curve were 1.0, 1.0, and 0.648 respectively. Conclusion: Our results reveal possible diagnostic value of MDA, less likely of SOD but not CAT. Future studies should investigate diagnostic value of oxidants and antioxidantn enzymes in larger samples and include diagnostic value of these parameters.