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Psychedelic drugs are a focus of interest in the treatment of depression and other disorders but there are longstanding concerns about possible adverse psychiatric consequences. Because the relevant literature is largely informal, the seriousness of these risks is difficult to evaluate.
Methods
Searches were made for case reports of schizophrenia-spectrum, affective or other psychiatric disorders after use of psychedelic drugs. Case reports of flashbacks were also searched for. Individuals with recent use of other drugs (apart from cannabis and alcohol) and/or a previous history of major psychiatric disorder were excluded. Symptoms were tabulated using the Syndrome Check List of the Present State Examination (PSE-9).
Results
We found 17 case reports of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 17 of affective disorder (depression, mania, or both), 3 cases of anxiety, 1 of depersonalization, and 1 of unclassifiable illness. The states could develop after a single use of the drug (5/17 schizophrenia; 6/17 affective disorder), and duration was highly variable. Recovery was the rule in cases of affective disorder but not in schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Twelve of 29 cases of flashbacks showed psychiatric symptomatology definitely outlasting the attacks, mainly anxiety (5 cases) and depression (8 cases). Flashback symptoms resolved within twelve months in approximately half of the cases but in a few persisted for years.
Conclusions
Reliable descriptions of schizophrenia spectrum disorder and major affective disorder after psychedelic drug use disorder exist but are relatively uncommon. Flashbacks are sometimes but not always associated with psychiatric symptomatology, mainly anxiety or depression.
Surgical treatments for people living with epilepsy have the potential to provide patients with an opportunity to achieve relief from seizures, thus improving their quality of life, but they are not free of complications. The psychiatric consequences are a significant concern because of the potential risks; however, psychotic illnesses have not received adequate research compared to anxiety and depression.
Objectives
To better identify the psychiatric side effects that can develop following epilepsy surgery, especially psychosis, and to take preventive measures to mitigate its occurrence.
Methods
Presentation of a patient’s case and reviewing existing literature regarding de novo psychosis following epileptic surgery.
Results
The case of interest is a 31-year-old male patient who, or his relatives, has had no history of psychiatric disorders. From age 21, the patient had focal to bilateral seizures, which were preceded by olfactory auras and could occur up to 4-5 times a week and was then diagnosed with epilepsy. In June 2021, the patient underwent a right anterior temporal lobectomy for his medically resistant seizures after a presurgical evaluation and had a notable decrease in the number of seizures, occurring only during periods of sleep every six months. In the fourth month following the operation, the patient began experiencing auditory hallucinations characterized by negative and judgmental voices. After that, he engaged in an aggressive act by holding a knife and assaulting another person in a public area. He was admitted to an inpatient psychiatry service for 12 days with a diagnosis of a psychotic episode. His symptoms significantly improved, and he was discharged with paliperidone 6 mg/daily treatment. After five months, he discontinued the medication, subsequently experiencing a recurrence of auditory hallucinations and aggression. The patient was admitted to the inpatient psychiatric clinic in June 2022 as a result of experiencing paranoid delusions and engaging in a suicide attempt by self-inflicted wrist laceration using a razor blade, which was consistent with the patient’s delusional beliefs. Following 13 days of hospitalization, he was discharged with amisulpride 800 mg/daily in addition to his antiepileptic treatment. After 15 months of discharge, he showed no signs of active psychotic features, and his functioning was moderate to good.
Conclusions
Current research and reporting of psychiatric outcomes are limited, and the predictive factors and prognosis of psychiatric symptoms in these patients remain obscure. Long-term follow-up is crucial, especially considering the possibility of psychiatric symptoms developing in the months following surgery, as demonstrated by the current case. In addition, preoperative and postoperative assessments may facilitate the management of psychiatric symptoms.
In this study, we investigated the high-pressure (HP) metamorphism of the Precambrian continental crust exposed in the Zheltau terrane in South Kazakhstan (Koyandy complex) and the Chu-Kendyktas terrane in the North Tien Shan of Kyrgyzstan (Aktyuz, Kemin and Kokdzhon complexes) within the SW part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. HP quartz–feldspar lithologies of the Koyandy complex consist of migmatized kyanite-bearing garnet–mica paragneisses, garnet–kyanite paragneisses and their derivatives associated with eclogites. Paragneisses demonstrate prograde evolution involving mica dehydration melting and producing magnesium-rich garnet, kyanite and K-feldspar at the near-peak to retrograde stages at pressures of 15–18.5 kbar and temperatures of 800–870°C. The widespread growth of micas in these rocks reflects lower stages of retrogression at P = 10–12 kbar and T = 720–770°C. The age distributions of the cores of detrital zircon grains from the paragneisses indicate a predominance of Neoproterozoic and minor occurrence of Mesoproterozoic and Palaeoproterozoic sources of their protoliths. The ages of ∼487–485 Ma obtained from the zircon rims of the paragneisses reflect the timing of their HP metamorphic re-equilibration. These age clusters are consistent with the age estimates obtained from the rims of zircons in the eclogite-bearing garnet gneisses of the adjacent Aktyuz complex in the North Tien Shan. The P–T paths and zircon ages obtained from the high-grade quartz–feldspar gneisses of the Zheltau and Chu-Kendyktas terranes are thus interpreted to indicate involvement of the crustal material derived from the Precambrian basement (magmatic zircons aged ca. 844 Ma) and its Ediacaran–Cambrian sedimentary cover (detrital zircons with maxima at 1 Ga and 800–600 Ma) in the latest Cambrian subduction processes induced by the closure of the oceanic basins assigned to the Palaeo-Asian Ocean.
Intentionally harming oneself with deliberate destruction of body parts without a suicidal purpose is defined as self-mutilative behavior. Genital Self-Mutilation is an extreme form of such action and usually seen as a result of an underlying psychiatric condition. Although schizophrenia spectrum disorders are the leading cause, substance use, personality disorders, and gender dysphoria may also result in GSM. Klingsor Syndrome, a rare clinical entity, was first described as GSM with religious delusions. Later, Schweitzer proposed expanding the term to include all psychotic disorders. (Veeder et al., Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2017;44:43-50)
Objectives
The aim of this piece is to report our case of a patient with psychosis performing genital self-mutilation in order to promote proper diagnosis and management of patients with similar conditions.
Methods
A 24-year-old male was brought to the psychiatric emergency unit after self-harming behavior causing numerous wounds throughout his face, trunk, and genital area. Penile and scrotal lacerations were prominent. The patient stated that he had inflicted these wounds upon command hallucinations. Examination also revealed disorganized speech, dysphoric mood, paranoid delusions. The wounds were healed and the patient was prescribed antibiotic medication. He was then admitted to the psychiatric ward. The patient’s first psychiatric visit was dating back to four years prior to his inpatient admission. However, symptoms of paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations had been more severe for about a year. Throughout his outpatient appointments during this time, olanzapine and aripiprazole were tried and a partial response was elicited but the patient generally was non-compliant with the treatment. Cannabis use history was also significant. On admission, the patient was put on amisulpride 800 mg daily, gradually increased to 1200 mg. Valproic acid 1000 mg/day was also added to the treatment in order to control impulsive behaviors. Care of the genital wounds was provided as per the recommendations of the urology department. Near total improvement of the psychiatric symptoms were achieved during the hospitalization. The final diagnosis of Klingsor Syndrome was concluded as the patient was discharged.
Results
The patient’s remission sustained during outpatient follow-ups. About a year after discharge, asymptomatic prolactinemia was detected and managed by reducing amisulpride dose and addition of aripiprazole 5 mg/day.
Conclusions
GSM is a dramatic form of self-harm. The severity of psychotic illness of patients often facilitates the conduction of such behaviors. Appropriate antipsychotic treatment and effective care may prevent patients from inflicting severe damage to themselves. Also, In cases of GSM in patients with underlying psychiatric conditions, an interdisciplinary approach is required.
Chronic heart failure causes serious mental problems in the life of the patient and caregiver due to symptoms and repeated hospitalizations.
Objectives
This study was conducted to investigate the levels of depression and interdependence in caregivers of patients with chronic heart failure and to examine the relationship of the patient’s depression level with caregiver depression and co-dependence scores.
Methods
The sample of the research, which is descriptive and relationship seeking, consists of 219 volunteer patients with chronic heart failure and caregivers who meet the research criteria. The data were collected using Personal Information Form, Beck Depression Scale and Co-Dependency Assessment Tool, and were evaluated with descriptive statistical analyzes, Kolmogorow-Smirnov, student-t, oneway ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and Mann Whitney U Test.
Results
The average age of caregivers was 47.36 ± 12.46 and 60.3% were women. The average age of the patients is 60.70 ± 16.30 and 57.1% are male. Depression was found in 85.8% of patients according to the Beck depression scale score. The presence of depression in the patient and the total depression score of the caregiver (p <0.001), total co-dependency score (p <0.001), self-value (p = 0.001), medical problem (p <0.001) and self neglect (p = 0.005) subscale scores were higher than those who did not have depression. Co-dependence and depression scores are related in caregivers (r=0.367).
Conclusions
There was a positive and significant correlation between the depression levels of the patients and caregivers and the codependence levels of the caregivers, and according to the presence of depression, the mean scores of co-dependence in the caregiver differ.
Aripiprazole 2-month ready-to-use 960 mg (Ari 2MRTU 960) is a new long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic formulation for gluteal administration every 2 months. This 32-week trial evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of multiple-dose administration of Ari 2MRTU 960 in clinically stable adults with schizophrenia or BP-I, versus that of aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400; an LAI indicated for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adult patients stabilized with oral aripiprazole and maintenance monotherapy treatment of BP-I [indication varies by country]). Safety and efficacy outcomes in the subpopulation of patients with BP-I are reported here.
Methods
Patients with BP-I were randomized to receive Ari 2MRTU 960 every 56±2 days or AOM 400 every 28±2 days. Safety and tolerability assessments included adverse event (AE) reporting, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores (scale range: 0–100) for patient-reported injection site pain, and extrapyramidal symptom (EPS) monitoring. Efficacy was assessed at Week 32 by Clinical Global Impression – Improvement (CGI-I), Clinical Global Impression – Bipolar Version (CGI-BP), Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic Treatment – Short Form (SWN-S), Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).
Results
Study completion rate was 72.5% (29/40 patients) in the Ari 2MRTU 960 group and 70.7% (29/41 patients) in the AOM 400 group. Demographics and baseline disease characteristics were generally well balanced between treatment groups. Treatment-emergent AE (TEAE) incidence was 82.5% with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 87.8% with AOM 400. The most frequent TEAEs were increased weight (Ari 2MRTU 960, 25.0%; AOM 400, 26.8%) and injection site pain (Ari 2MRTU 960, 25.0%; AOM 400, 7.3%). Mean (standard deviation [SD]) VAS score for pain after last injection was 1.2 (2.07) with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 1.3 (2.19) with AOM 400. Minimal change was seen in EPS in either group. At Week 32, mean (SD) CGI-I score was 3.1 [1.2] with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 3.2 [1.5] with AOM 400, and there was minimal mean (SD) change from baseline in CGI-BP score (Ari 2MRTU 960, -0.2 [1.0]; AOM 400, -0.6 [1.2]). Mean (SD) change from baseline in SWN-S Total score was 10.3 (16.1) with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 3.4 (21.4) with AOM 400. There was no clinically meaningful difference between the groups in MADRS Total score or YMRS Total score (difference of least squares mean change from baseline [95% confidence interval]: MADRS Total score -2.1 [-6.3, 2.1], p=0.3185; YMRS Total score 0.1 [-1.8, 2.1], p=0.8995).
Conclusions
In patients with BP-I, Ari 2MRTU 960 was generally well tolerated, and clinical stability was maintained during the study.
Funding
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Princeton, NJ, USA) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Valby, Denmark).
Emotional competencies such as attention to emotion and emotional clarity have been extensively studied in the literature. Depending on the context, their role shows different patterns of association with emotion regulation and psychopathological states.
Objectives
In the current study, we aim to understand when and how attention to emotion and emotional clarity are related to the co-occurrence of anxiety and depression.
Methods
Data were collected on attention to emotion, emotional clarity, anxiety, and depression. A sample of 258 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years (M = 14.6, SD = 1.7, 54.5% girls) was examined to investigate the moderating role of attention to emotion and emotional clarity on the relationship between anxiety and depression after controlling for age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Results
showed that high levels of attention to emotion and low levels of emotional clarity were associated with increased risk for anxiety and depression. Balanced levels of attention to emotion and emotional clarity were also associated with increased risk for anxiety and depression. However, low levels of attention to emotion and high levels of emotional clarity showed no statistically significant association with the occurrence of anxiety and depression.
Conclusions
Overall, this positive imbalance of low attention to emotion and high emotional clarity appears to be the most favorable emotional states for coping with internalizing problems, suggesting less harmful effects of attention to emotion.
The evaluation of impact of collaborative research on robust design methodologies and methods is important to both academic and industry stakeholders. This paper introduces a framework for impact evaluation which combines the broader framework adopted for the academic research impact assessment with the organisation viewpoint centred on business results, process improvement and product development teams capability improvement. A large scale empirical study conducted with evidence from technical reports on workplace projects from an automotive OEM proved the validity of the proposed framework.
According to psychoanalytic theory performing circumcision on a boy in phallic phase may aggravate this fear and cause sexual dysfunctions later in life. However this hypothesis is an unverified common-view rather than a scientifically proven conclusion.
Objectives
We hypothesized that being circumcised during phallic phase is not a risk factor for sexual dysfunction. We also took a peak at how the experience of circumcision is being perceived and its psychological effects. Our secondary hypothesis was, sexual dysfunctions are more frequent among men who had a traumatic circumcision experience.
Methods
For this cross-sectional study, a total of 2768 sexually active, circumcised and voluntary men were recruited from 20 different urology outpatient clinics around Turkey.
Results
There was no significant difference for PEDT and IIEF scores between participants who were circumcised at different ages (Graph-1,2). When participants were divided into 3 groups according to their circumcision age in accordance with psychoanalytic theory (before, after and during phallic phase) mean IIEF and PEDT scores did not differ. PEDT scores did not differ either by which emotion the participant describe their experience of circumcision or how vividly he remembered it. However participants who remembered their circumcision experience more vividly and had who describe their circumcision experience with fear/anxiety had a higher IIEF score (Graph-3).
Conclusions
The age of circumcision does not affect the risk of PE. This is one of the very few studies that challenges psychoanalytic theory with a scientific method. Remembering the circumcision experience with fear or anxiety did not increase the risk of sexual dysfunctions.
To determine the prevalence and distribution of inner-ear malformations in congenital single-sided deafness cases, as details of malformation type are crucial for disease prognosis and management.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted of 90 patients aged under 16 years with congenital single-sided deafness. Radiological findings were evaluated using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Inner-ear malformations were identified and cochlear nerve status was determined in affected ears.
Results
Out of 90 ears, 42 (46.7 per cent) were found to have inner-ear malformation. Isolated cochlear aperture stenosis was the most common anomaly (n = 18, 20 per cent), followed by isolated cochlear aperture atresia (n = 11, 12.2 per cent) and cochlear hypoplasia (n = 7, 7.8 per cent). Cochlear nerve deficiency was encountered in 41 ears (45.6 per cent). The internal auditory canal was also stenotic in 49 ears (54.4 per cent).
Conclusion
Inner-ear malformations, especially cochlear aperture anomalies, are involved in the aetiology of single-sided deafness more than expected. The cause of single-sided deafness differs greatly between congenital and adult-onset cases. All children with single-sided deafness should undergo radiological evaluation, as the prognosis and management, as well as the aetiology, may be significantly influenced by inner-ear malformation type.
Although history of childhood trauma is present in nearly 50% of bipolar patients, the effects of childhood trauma on the course of bipolar disorder are rarely investigated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of childhood trauma on psychotic symptoms seen in patients with bipolar disorder.
Methods
One-hundred DSM-IV-TR diagnosed bipolar patients who were either manic or depressive were recruited from inpatient units of Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery. Patients were initially evaluated by Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Montgomery-Asperg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Scales for Assessment of Positive Symptoms. Patients were also evaluated by Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Dissociative Experiences Scale in euthymia which was defined by scores of < 7 in YMRS, < 4 in MADRAS
Results
There were no differences between the patients with and without a history of psychotic episode in terms of age at onset, duration of illness and episode characteristics. Patients with a history of psychotic episode were hospitalized more. CTQ physical abuse scores were higher in male comparing to female. CTQ sexual abuse scores were higher in female comparing to male. CTQ emotional abuse, physical neglect, physical abuse and total scores were higher in patients who had at least one psychotic episode in lifetime than in patients without a history of psychotic episode.
Conclusion
The history of childhood trauma should be investigated and therapeutic interventions for childhood trauma should be added to the standard treatment plan of bipolar patients.
Dikmen Valley is a slum district where the Municipality of Ankara intended to start an urban transformation project. Dikmen neighborhood includes nearly 1000 houses which the Municipiality attempted to pull down suddenly at night in the winter of 2007.
Residents of Dikmen Valley resisted and managed to stop this attempt. Whole event was experienced as an acute trauma as well as a continuous experience of anxiety because of ongoing risk of another attack.
Aim
The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychological consequences of the whole process.
Methods
The study sample consisted of 201 individuals from 106 households, and a total of 178 individuals from 102 households was taken as comparison group from another slum neighborhood where residents did not experience any threat to their houses. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale were used for assessment.
Results
Dikmen sample was found to have a statistically significant higher mean score of anxiety and depression compared to the comparison group. Dikmen had a higher level of general self-efficacy belief than the comparison group after controlling for depression and anxiety scores.
Conclusions
Although the traumatic process after an attack of pulling down and the threat of losing one's house resulted with a depressive state and anxiety in Dikmen residents, unexpectedly they had a high level of general self-efficacy. To the researchers’ observations, a social transformational process has been realized resulting with an overall high general self-efficacy level in Dikmen neighborhood.
Patients with schizophrenia commonly show deficits in executive functioning that allow a person to make plans, solve problems, do many tasks simultaneously and adapt to unexpected conditions. Executive dysfunction is associated with very simple and automatic activities, such as walking in schizophrenia patients. However, no study exists about its relation to postural control in these patients.
Aim
To investigate the effect of executive functioning on postural control using dual task paradigms.
Methods
Fifteen clinically stable schizophrenia outpatients and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Postural control was assessed with bilateral stance test using the Balance Master system under three different conditions with eyes open and eyes closed (EC): without a task, during a cognitive task (verbal fluency) and during a motor task (holding a cup of water).
Results
Standing on a foam surface with EC resulted in higher postural sway velocities in schizophrenia patients under all conditions (P = 0.009, P = 0.032, P = 0.013). During a cognitive task, both schizophrenia patients and healthy controls showed higher velocities on firm surface with EC in comparison to the condition without a task (P = 0.023). Both schizophrenia patients and healthy controls did not show higher postural sway velocities during the motor task.
Conclusion
The effect of verbal fluency on postural sway shows the relationship between executive functioning and postural control in schizophrenia patients. Foam surface also higher postural sway velocities in schizophrenia patients in EC condition suggesting the difficulties in integrating the proprioceptive information in the absence of visual input.
Disclosure of interest
The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The aim of this study was to examine whether melatonin is involved in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.
Method
This study included 29 patients with nasal polyposis and undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery. As a control group, 26 patients who had been operated on for a deviated nasal septum and concha bullosa were enrolled. Samples were taken from the nasal polyp tissue and from the resected middle concha bullosa mucosa of the control group. Serum samples were taken from all patients.
Results
It was found that the tissue and serum melatonin levels in the nasal polyp group were significantly lower compared with the tissue and serum melatonin levels in the control group.
Conclusion
In nasal polyposis, the melatonin level in the serum and tissue is lower than in individuals without polyposis. This deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.
Scholars have recently investigated the efficacy of applying globalisation models to ancient cultures such as the fourth-millennium BC Mesopotamian Uruk system. Embedded within globalisation models is the ‘complex connectivity‘ that brings disparate regions together into a singular world. In the fourth millennium BC, the site of Çadır Höyük on the north-central Anatolian plateau experienced dramatic changes in its material culture and architectural assemblages, which in turn reflect new socio-economic, sociopolitical and ritual patterns at this rural agro-pastoral settlement. This study examines the complex connectivities of the ancient Uruk system, encompassing settlements in more consistent contact with the Uruk system such as Arslantepe in southeastern Anatolia, and how these may have fostered exchange networks that reached far beyond the Uruk ‘global world‘ and onto the Anatolian plateau.
Ibuprofen is used widely to close patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants. The anti-inflammatory activity of ibuprofen may also be partly due to its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. We evaluated the interaction between oxidative status and the medical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus with two forms of ibuprofen.
Materials and methods
This study enrolled newborns of gestational age ⩽32 weeks, birth weight ⩽1500 g, and postnatal age 48–96 hours, who received either intravenous or oral ibuprofen to treat patent ductus arteriosus. Venous blood was sampled before ibuprofen treatment from each patient to determine antioxidant and oxidant concentrations. Secondary samples were collected 24 hours after the end of the treatment. Total oxidant status and total antioxidant capacity were measured using Erel’s method.
Results
This prospective randomised study enrolled 102 preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus. The patent ductus arteriosus closure rate was significantly higher in the oral ibuprofen group (84.6 versus 62%) after the first course of treatment (p=0.011). No significant difference was found between the pre- and post-treatment total oxidant status and total antioxidant capacity in the groups.
Discussion
Ibuprofen treatment does not change the total oxidant status or total antioxidant capacity. We believe that the effect of ibuprofen treatment in inducing ischaemia overcomes the scavenging effect of ibuprofen.
This study evaluated type D personality, anxiety, depression and personality traits in patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal.
Method:
A hundred consecutive out-patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal and 100 controls were enrolled in the study. The Type D Scale, the abbreviated form of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used for data collection. Patients were also evaluated using the Modified Itch Severity Scale.
Results:
In all, 43 per cent of patients and 15 per cent of controls met the criteria for a type D personality. Patients with a type D personality had higher anxiety and itching severity but lower extraversion compared with those without a type D personality. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that extraversion and type D personality were independently associated with itch severity.
Conclusion:
These data suggest that clinicians should consider psychological and personality features when evaluating and treating patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal.
To explore the influences of migration to a Western country on obesity and related risk factors by comparing measures of body composition and energy balance-related behaviours between Turkish adolescents in Turkey (TR-TR) and adolescents from Turkish immigrant ethnicity in the Netherlands (TR-NL).
Design
Cross-sectional survey or baseline intervention data from six Dutch school-based studies and one Turkish study.
Setting
Primary and secondary schools.
Subjects
A total of 915 (49 % girls; mean age 13·1 (sd 0·8) years) TR-TR adolescents and 433 (51 % girls; mean age 11·7 (sd 1·3) years) TR-NL adolescents were included. Outcome measures were self-reported sugar-containing beverage consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, screen time, physical activity, measured body height and weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, and skinfold thicknesses.
Results
Our data showed that more TR-NL adolescents were overweight (31 % v. 26 %) and obese (9 % v. 6 %) and had significantly higher mean BMI (21·1 v. 20·0 kg/m2), waist circumference (72·2 v. 71·3 cm) and suprailiac skinfold thickness (19·8 v. 13·1 mm) than TR-TR adolescents. TR-NL adolescents reported significantly higher sugar-containing beverage consumption (1173 v. 115 ml/d), less fruit and vegetable intake (295 v. 647 g/d), less screen time (253 v. 467 min/d) and higher physical activity levels (61 v. 27 min/d) than TR-TR adolescents.
Conclusions
Immigrant adolescents in the Netherlands were more often overweight and had a less favourable dietary pattern than their peers in Turkey, while their physical activity and screen time patterns were more favourable. These results suggest that adolescents from Turkish immigrant ethnicity in the Netherlands have adopted lifestyles towards the host culture.
To evaluate the safety of low-dose transtympanic methotrexate in a rat model.
Design:
Experimental animal study.
Setting:
Tertiary training and research hospital.
Methods:
Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three study groups. Diluted methotrexate solution was administered transtympanically to fill the middle-ear cavity, twice a week in group one and three times a week in group two. Ringer lactate solution was administered transtympanically three times a week in the control group.
Main outcome measures: Local and systemic effects of low-dose transtympanic methotrexate.
Results:
In the methotrexate groups, middle-ear mucosal oedema was present in all animals. Auditory brainstem response thresholds indicated no inner-ear dysfunction in any group. Liver function and serum haemoglobin levels showed no statistically significant difference in any group. However, liver biopsies from groups one and two showed mild portal hyperaemia.
Conclusion:
These findings are encouraging, and support further investigation of the topical application of methotrexate in autoimmune hearing diseases, as an alternative or adjunct to transtympanic steroids.
Sweet cherries can be grafted on a wide range of rootstocks belonging to Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus, Prunus mahaleb, Prunus angustifolia or hybrids of different Prunus species. Identification of Prunus rootstocks using morphological traits is almost impossible particularly during the dormant season. However, molecular analysis carried out on actively growing shoot tips, leaves or dormant buds provides good opportunity to reliably distinguish rootstocks. In this study, DNA was extracted from the leaves of a total of 184 sweet cherry rootstock candidates belonging to P. avium L., P. cerasus L., P. mahaleb L. and P. angustifolia L. previously selected from the north-western part of Turkey. The rootstock candidates were tested with ten simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers, developed for the Prunus genus. The primers successfully identified all rootstock candidates. The results showed that the number of alleles per locus ranged from 10 (UDAp-401, UCD-CH21 and CPSCT010) to 20 (UCD-CH31) with an average of 13.3 alleles per locus, indicating that the SSRs were highly informative. Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic mean analysis demonstrated that P. avium accessions are closely related to P. cerasus. The reference rootstocks were clustered with their associated botanical species.