Evaluation of oxidant, antioxidant, and S100B levels in patients with conversion disorder

The effect of balneotherapy on the oxidative system and changes in anxiety behavior, enhanced by low doses of radon

PURPOSE

The aim of our research was to study the effect of radon hormesis balneotherapy using natural thermal waters of Tskaltubo spring, practically, its effect on oxidant and antioxidant systems and anxiety reactions in rats. Radon is a natural gas with radioactive properties, which can have a hermetic effect when used in small doses. Radon was used to activate antioxidant mechanisms in rats, which resulted an anxiolytic effect and positively enhanced the effect of balneotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To study the effect of radon in balneotherapy, groups of experimental animals (rats) were exposed to three different treatments. The radon-containing waters of Tskaltubo spring were inhaled in one group and 5 after taking the water in another group. Saline was used for inhalation in animals of the saline group. In animals of the control and sham control groups, inhalation was not used. To assess the anxiolytic effect of radon inhalation, the anxiety was induced and behavioral tests were performed (the open field and the elevated plus-maze test) after 24 h and 5 days of inhalation procedures.

RESULTS

The anxiety test results showed that exposure to low doses of radon led to a decrease in the level of anxiety in rats. The data show that the total distance traveled by rats in the open field test after inhalation of radon was significantly greater than that by animals in the sham control and control groups. During the open field and elevated plus-maze tests, rats that had inhaled radon spent more time in the central part of the open field and on the open arms of the maze than did the other groups of rats. In the group of rats that had not inhaled radon, an increase in anxiety was observed. The basis of this reaction was an increase in the glutathione concentration.

CONCLUSION

Based on our research, it can be concluded that the inhalation of small doses of radon, associated with treatments of waters from the Tskaltubo spring, activated the antioxidant systems of the body and enhanced the positive effect of balneotherapy. Clinically, this is expressed as a decrease in anxiety. Inhalation of small doses of radon activated antioxidant processes in the brain, causing an increase in glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio in the brain.

Biomarkers of Pathological Dissociation: A Systematic Review

Pathological dissociation is a severe, debilitating and transdiagnostic psychiatric symptom. This review identifies biomarkers of pathological dissociation in a transdiagnostic manner to recommend the most promising research and treatment pathways in support of the precision medicine framework. A total of 205 unique studies that met inclusion criteria were included. Studies were divided into four biomarker categories, namely neuroimaging, psychobiological, psychophysiological and genetic biomarkers. The dorsomedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral superior frontal regions, (anterior) cingulate, posterior association areas and basal ganglia are identified as neurofunctional biomarkers of pathological dissociation and decreased hippocampal, basal ganglia and thalamic volumes as neurostructural biomarkers. Increased oxytocin and prolactin and decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) are identified as psychobiological markers. Psychophysiological biomarkers, including blood pressure, heart rate and skin conductance, were inconclusive. For the genetic biomarker category studies related to dissociation were limited and no clear directionality of effect was found to warrant identification of a genetic biomarker. Recommendations for future research pathways and possible clinical applicability are provided.

Evaluation Of Mean Platelet Volume, Red Cell Distributed Width And Neutrophil To Lymphocyte Ratio In Conversion Disorder

BACKGROUND

The pathophysiology of conversion disorder (CD) is still not fully established. Many psychiatric disorders are known to be associated with inflammatory processes. We aimed to compare the routine hemogram values of CD patients with those of the participants in the healthy control group, to assess the inflammation levels of the two groups.

METHODS

This study was conducted with CD patients (n=158) and healthy controls (n=145). Routine hematological parameters were examined in each participant. Group comparisons were made with Mann-Whitney U-test and Student's t-test. Regression analysis and receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis were also performed for the analysis of independent predictors.

RESULTS

The comparisons revealed that while neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), platelet, neutrophil, red cell distribution width (RDW), and mean platelet volume (MPV) were significantly higher in CD group (P<0.05), lymphocyte was decreased in that group (P>0.05). Multivariate and ROC analyses showed MPV, RDW, and NLR as independent predictors (P<0.05). ROC curve showed that MPV values of 7.8 or above could predict the CD with 84% sensitivity and 85% specificity (area under curve [AUC]=0.878; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.817-0.939), RDW values of 11.0 or above could predict the CD with 82% sensitivity and 73% specificity (AUC=0.871; 95% CI: 0.815-0.926), and NLR values of 1.8 or above could predict the CD with 85% sensitivity and 78% specificity (AUC=0.865; 95% CI: 0.802-0.929).

CONCLUSION

CD is related to the acute inflammatory process. MPV, RDW, and NLR can reflect this inflammation. These parameters could be used in differential diagnosis; increased RDW and MPV levels can be used as a novel marker in CD.