Are decreased cocaine- and amphetamine regulated transcript and Agouti- related peptide levels associated Eating behavior in medication-free children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder?

This study aimed to investigate plasma levels of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), agouti-related protein (AgRP), cholecystokinin (CCK) and peptide YY (PYY) and their relationship with eating behaviors among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and healthy controls. A total of 94 medication-free children with ADHD and 82 controls aged 8-14 years were included in this study. The Plasma levels of CART, AgRP, CCK and PYY were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) was used to assess eating behaviors in children. CART and AgRP levels were found to be significantly lower in the ADHD group than in the control group, while CCK levels were found to be significantly higher in the ADHD group than in the control group. However, there was no significant difference in PYY levels between the groups. Compared to controls, those with ADHD demonstrated significantly higher scores on the CEBQ subscales of food responsiveness, emotional overeating, desire to drink, enjoyment of food, and food fussiness, and significantly lower scores on the slowness of eating subscale. CART was significantly correlated with emotional overeating and enjoyment of food scores, while AgRP was significantly correlated with emotional undereating scores. Covariance analysis was performed by controlling potential confounders such as body mass index, age and sex, and the results were found to be unchanged. It was concluded that CART, AgRP, and CCK may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of ADHD.

Serum trimethylamine N-oxide and lipopolysaccharide binding protein levels among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

In the literature, there have been several studies available investigating the relationship between autism spectrum disorder and intestinal permeability. In this study, it is aimed to examine the relationship between the levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is a parameter associated with intestinal permeability, and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), which is a marker associated with bacterial translocation from the intestine, in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and healthy controls. Fifty-three children with ASD as the patient group and 30 healthy children as the control group have been included in the study. The diagnostic evaluation has been made according to DSM-5 criteria. According to the obtained results, there has been no significant difference between groups in terms of serum TMAO and LBP levels. Considering the existence of various studies that found different results on ASD and intestinal permeability, it is thought that the studies conducted in this field that did not find statistically different results will also make a contribution to the literature.

Serum sclerostin level and its relation to subclinical atherosclerosis in the polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes: A prospective controlled study

Objective

We aim to study the relationship between atherosclerosis and serum sclerostin levels in different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Materials and Methods

A total of 134 women with PCOS and 33 age-matched controls participated in this study. Women with PCOS were further divided into subgroups based on their PCOS phenotypes: phenotype A (n=35), phenotype B (n=33), phenotype C (n=31), and phenotype D (n=35). Metabolic parameters, hormonal parameters, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and sclerostin levels were compared among the PCOS phenotypes.

Results

Statistically significant differences occurred among groups regarding follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, Ferriman-Gallwey score, total testosterone, and free androgen index. The mean CIMT was statistically higher in all PCOS phenotypes than in controls. In subgroup comparison, phenotypes A and B had a higher body mass index (BMI) adjusted CIMT than other phenotypes, respectively (p=0.005). Serum sclerostin levels were higher in PCOS patients than in controls. A concentration of ≥6.297 ng/mL showed a sensitivity of 56% and a specificity of 69.7% to predict PCOS. The BMI-adjusted sclerostin level was significantly higher in phenotype C (20.3±0.7 ng/mL) than in other phenotypes.

Conclusion

Patients with phenotypes A and B seem to have an increased risk for atherosclerosis. Although sclerostin was higher in PCOS patients, we could not demonstrate the relation between sclerostin and atherosclerosis in different PCOS phenotypes.

Impact of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Leptin Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence that leptin regulation is altered in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Several potential mechanisms have been purported to explain how sleep apnea may alter leptin levels. We investigated whether repeated apneas, hypoxia, or excessive daytime sleepiness influenced the levels of leptin in OSAS patients. We also evaluated whether a 3-month continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment affected leptin levels in patients.

METHODS

Randomly selected 31 untreated, otherwise healthy male, overweight [body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m(2)] obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15] and 25 control (AHI <5) were included in this study. To confirm the diagnosis, all subjects underwent standard polysomnography. Serum samples were taken at 07:00-08:00 a.m. after overnight fasting. The OSAS patients that had regular CPAP treatment (n=26) were re-evaulated 3 months later.

RESULTS

Leptin levels (50.5±17.5 grams/L in OSAS and 56.3±25.5 grams/L in controls) and lipid profiles (TC, TGs, HDL-C, and LDL-C) between patient and control groups did not differ (P>0.05). Leptin levels were not correlated with the AHI, oxygen saturation, or excessive daytime sleepiness. CPAP treatment did not significantly change the (BMI), waist and neck circumference, or leptin levels in OSAS patients. Furthermore, we found no correlation between the decrease in serum leptin levels and parameters that were improved by CPAP treatment.

CONCLUSION

Leptin levels and lipid profile of overweight subjects with and without OSAS were not different, and our results suggest that OSAS-related parameters and CPAP treatment do not play a significant role in the serum leptin levels.