Browsing by Author "Ozkaya, Guven"

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Differences in Sociodemographic Characteristics, Clinical Features and Serum Liver Function Tests of Male Cannabis and Synthetic Cannabinoid Users
(2017) Kotan, Vahap Ozan; Yucens, Bengu Baz; Kotan, Zeynep; Ozkaya, Guven; Okay, Ihsan Tuncer; Tikir, Baise; Goka, Erol
Objective: Synthetic cannabinoid (SC) use has recently become a growing substance abuse problem, with serious harmful clinical effects. Young males, especially cannabis (C) users, are at great risk of SC use. The aim of this study is to determine sociodemographic characteristics, clinical features and serum liver function tests of SC users and compare with those of C users. Methods: Out of 118 SC users applied to outpatient clinic of Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Center, 74 males included in this cross-sectional study. Patients with a concurrent use of any medication or substance other than C/SCs or patients with any physical illness which could affect serum liver function tests were excluded. 44.6% (n=33) of 74 patients were only SC users at least for last three months and 55.4% (n=41) were combined C and SC (C&SC) users. SC users were compared with 34 age and BMI-matched only C using males. Results: Rates of being single and divorced; rates of living with friends and alone were found to be higher in SC users. Adverse effects and withdrawal sypmtoms were found to be similar in C users and SC users. According to serum liver function test results, levels of gama-glutamil transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, total/direct bilirubin, albumin, prothrombin time and international normalized ratio were similar. Serum aspartate aminotransferase levels (31.2 +/- 22.0 IU/L and 41.5 +/- 21.5 IU/L respectively, p=0.026) and serum alanine aminotransferase levels (28.4 +/- 18.9 IU/L and 44.3 +/- 25.9 IU/L respectively, p=0.015) differed between C users and C&SC users. Results in this study revealed that increased serum levels of aminotransferases were especially associated with combined use of C and SCs. Conclusions: C abuse seems to be a precursor of SCs abuse, and risk of starting SCs use could be bigger for C users, who live alone or with friends, whereas living together with a family could be preventative. Combined use of C and SCs seem to increase the risk of hepatocellular injury compared to either C or SCs alone.
Serum glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor levels and impulsivity in heroin addiction: a cross-sectional, case-control study of 129 heroin addicts
(2018) Kotan, Vahap Ozan; Yuksel, Rabia Nazik; Kotan, Zeynep; Okay, Ihsan Tuncer; Topcuoglu, Canan; Ozkaya, Guven; Bayram, Senol; Goka, Erol
OBJECTIVE: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), being a protective of dopaminergic neurons, is reported to modulate addictive behaviours and have a role as a negative regulator for biochemical and behavioural adaptations to drug abuse. We aimed to reveal impulsivity and serum GDNF levels in patients with heroin addiction and investigate their relationships in order to contribute to the understanding of behavioural aspects and biological mechanisms in heroin addiction via this study. METHODS: This study was performed at the Department of Psychiatry of Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. We recruited 129 heroin-dependent patients and 90 age, sex, and smoking-matched healthy controls with no major psychopathology. Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and sociodemographic data form were applied to all participants. Laboratory analysis for serum GDNF levels was performed for each participant's blood sample. RESULTS: Total impulsivity scores and scores of Attentional Impulsivity, Motor Impulsivity, and Unplanned Impulsivity subscales were all higher in heroin addicts compared to the controls. Heroin addicts had also lower serum GDNF levels and lower GDNF levels were associated with high impulsivity and high HADS scores in heroin addicts. CONCLUSION: Decrement in GDNF levels in heroin addiction seems as to be an important data which could be associated with impulsivity, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. GDNF could find a prominent place among the target molecules in the treatment of heroin addiction.
Thiol/Disulphide Homeostasis in Bipolar Disorder
(2018) Erzin, Gamze; Kotan, Vahap Ozan; Topcuoglu, Canan; Ozkaya, Guven; Erel, Ozcan; Yuksel, Rabia Nazik; Urer, Emre; Aydemir, Makbule Cigdem; Goka, Erol; 29329041
Bipolar disorder (BD) patients have increased oxidative stress, which can disturb thiol/disulphide homeostasis, causing disulphide formation. The aim of the study is to investigate dynamic thiol/disulphide (SH/SS) homeostasis in BD patients, which is a novel evaluation method of oxidative status. Ninety-four BD patients (50 in the manic episode and 44 in remission) and 44 healthy controls were included in the study. Blood serum native thiol (SH) and total thiol (ToSH) concentrations were measured in a paired test. The half value of the difference between native thiol and total thiol concentrations was calculated as the disulphide (SS) bond amount. Serum native thiol levels of the mania group were found to be lower than the remission and the control groups. There was a significant difference between the remission group and the control group in terms of native thiol. Serum total thiol level was lower in mania group than the control group. Detection of oxidative molecules for BD could be helpful, especially in treatment, follow-up periods and reducing morbidity. The results of our study besides the data available in the literature support that thiol and disulphide levels are useful markers for BD and promising therapeutic targets in terms of future pharmacological modulation.