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Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) causes significant psychic distress and affects children's social and academic functioning. Approximately 80% of OCD cases begin in childhood. Earlier onset is associated with more severe OC symptoms, poorer treatment response, and a more unfavorable clinical course. A particular oxidative stress marker, thiol/disulfide homeostasis, using a new, comparatively inexpensive, easily calculated, easily accessible, repeatable, and fully automated method was investigated between pediatric patients diagnosed with OCD and a healthy control group in this study. This study is the first to address this subject in pediatric patients with OCD and aims to contribute to our knowledge of the etiopathogenesis and treatment of pediatric OCD. The study included children with OCD (n = 35, 52.2%) (drug free, comorbidity free) between 11 and 18 years of age and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 32, 47.8%). The total thiol (p = 0.025) and disulfide (p = 0.001) levels and the disulfide/native thiol (p = 0.001) and disulfide/total thiol ratios (p = 0.001) were significantly different between the groups. Also, in the patient group, biochemical analysis revealed that the disulfide level (p = 0.05) and the disulfide/native thiol (p = 0.034) and disulfide/total thiol ratios (p = 0.039) differed significantly according to the presence of a family history of psychiatric disorders. Consequently, the results of our study show that thiol/disulfide homeostasis may affect the etiopathogenesis of pediatric OCD and can be utilized as a new method when evaluating oxidative stress.

The biological mechanisms underlying obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) are not sufficiently elucidated. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress were shown to increase neopterin and decrease tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) levels by activating the neopterin–BH4 pathway. This study compared serum TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, neopterin, BH4, and nitric oxide (NO) levels between child and adolescent patients diagnosed with OCD and a healthy control group. The study included 29 patients diagnosed with OCD (comorbidity free, drug free) and 28 healthy children as an aged and sex matched control group. Serum samples were analyzed for TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, neopterin, and BH4 by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and NO concentrations were assessed by colorimetric method based on Griess reaction. All cytokine levels were found to be low, but this decrease was statistically significant only for TGF-β1. The neopterin and NO levels were significantly higher and BH4 significantly lower in children with OCD compared to the healthy control group. Also, a statistically significant correlation was found between NO, neopterin, and BH4 levels. The results of our study show that the levels of TGF-β1 and NO and the activation of the neopterin–BH4 pathway may be implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders, although disorders etiology and pathogenesis remains unknown, several theories about ADHD development have been proposed and many researchers believe that it is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. In this study we evaluated miR18a-5p, miR22-3p, miR24-3p, miR106b-5p, miR107, miR125b-5p and miR155a-5p levels in child and adolescent ADHD patients. The research sample consisted a group of 52 ADHD patients, and 52 healthy volunteer controls. There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups (p > 0.05). miRNA 18a-5p, 22-3p, 24-3p, 106b-5p and 107 levels were statistically significantly decreased in ADHD patients(p

Objective Breath-holding spells are common paroxysmal events in children. Although the spells have a benign prognosis in the long term, they may be complicated by loss of consciousness, tonic-clonic movements, and occasionally, seizures. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies investigating whether attacks of breath-holding spells may lead to neuronal damage. In addition, the neurotransmitters and neuropeptides related to seizures have not been previously measured in breath-holding spells. This study aimed to measure the levels of serum S-100B proteins and neuropeptide-Y in the blood of children who experience breath-holding spells. Methods This prospective study was performed at the Department of Pediatric Neurology, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, in Turkey. The study groups consisted of 45 patients (13 females, 32 males) with breath-holding spells and a control group of 32 healthy individuals (12 females, 20 males). The serum S-100B levels were measured by using commercially available ELISA kits and The neuropeptide-Y levels in the serum was measured with RayBio® Human/Mouse/Rat Neuropeptide Y ELISA kits. Results There were significant differences between the groups regarding to serum S-100B protein levels (P=0.025), while there was no statistically significant difference in neuropeptide-Y levels between the breath-holding spells group and control group (P=0.192). Conclusions In conclusion, frequent or lengthy breath-holding spells may lead to the development of neuronal damage which s most likely secondary to hypoxia. Therefore, breath-holding spells should be taken under the control as soon as possible.