Tıp Fakültesi / Faculty of Medicine

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11727/1403

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Item
    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.
  • Item
    Thiol/Disulphide Homeostasis in Men with Heroin Addiction
    (2017) Kotan, Vahap Ozen; Yilmaz, Fatma Meric; Neselioglu, Salim; Erel, Ozcan; Okay, Ihsan Tuncer; Kiral, Serkan; Bakirhan, Abdurrahim; Goka, Erol
    Objective: Heroin addicts have increased oxidative stress which can disturb thiol/disulfide (SH/SS) homeostasis, causing disulfide formation. No study has determined the serum thiol amount and blood disulfide amount in heroin addicts. The aim of the study was to investigate dynamic SH/SS homeostasis in heroin addicts. Methods: Serum SH/SS statuses of 31 heroin addicts and 31 healthy controls were compared to determine the changes in SH/SS homeostasis in heroin addicts. Blood serum native thiol and total thiol (ToSH) levels were measured and the disulfide bond amount was calculated as the half value of the difference between native thiol and ToSH levels. For comparison t-test was used. Results: SH and ToSH levels were significantly lower (p<0.001 for both) in heroin addicts than in the healthy group whereas disulfide levels were significantly higher (p<0.001). Heroin addicts had significantly higher SS/ToSH and SS/SH ratios and significantly lower SH/ToSH ratios than healthy individuals. Conclusion: The results showed that SH and ToSH levels were decreased in heroin addicts and SH/SS homeostasis was also disturbed with a shift to the disulfide bond formation side. Results of this study could contribute to the knowledge about pathogenesis of heroin addiction and also to its management. We suggest that replacement of the thiol gap and reduction of excess SS might have positive effects in treatment results.