Suicide attempts and risk factors among children and adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of suicide attempts, and to identify the risk factors for suicide attempts in Turkish children and adolescents between the ages 10 and 20 years. Multi-step, stratified, cluster sampling was used. A stratified sample of 4256 students was selected as representative of the city's school children population. Data was obtained with a pair of structured questionnaires designed to evaluate the presence and risk factors of suicide attempts, both in the children and adolescents and their parents. These questionnaires investigated family environment, subject characteristics, and various risk factors for suicide attempts. Child Beck Depression Inventory (CBDI) was administered to all children and adolescents. After the data quality control process, the study sample was reduced to 4143 children and adolescents. Children and adolescents were divided two groups according to the experience or non-experience of suicide attempts: group 1 (n=80) and group 2 (n=4063), respectively. Three categories of independent variables were assessed: adolescent, family, and socioeconomic characteristics. Logistic regression models were based on the children and adolescents and on parent reports. The prevalence of suicide attempts as reported by the children and adolescents was 1.93% (n=80).The mean age of group 1 was higher than that of group 2 (p=0.002, t=-3.172), as was the mean score of CBDI (p=0.000, t=-9.083). Logistic regression analysis indicated that having problems with parents, using illicit drugs, and psychiatric problems in relatives best predicted suicide attempts in Turkish children and adolescents.     

Development of rapid and selective epoxidation of α-pinene using single-step addition of H2O2 in an organic solvent-free process

This study reports substantial improvement in the process for oxidising α-pinene, using environmentally friendly H₂O₂ at high atom economy (∼93%) and selectivity to α-pinene oxide (100%). The epoxidation of α-pinene with H₂O₂ was catalysed by tungsten-based polyoxometalates without any solvent. The variables in the screening parameters were temperatures (30–70 °C), oxidant amount (100–200 mol%), acid concentrations (0.02–0.09 M) and solvent types (i.e., 1,2-dichloroethane, toluene, p-cymene and acetonitrile). Screening the process parameters revealed that almost 100% selective epoxidation of α-pinene to α-pinene oxide was possible with negligible side product formation within a short reaction time (∼20 min), using process conditions of a 50 °C temperature in the absence of solvent and α-pinene/H₂O₂/catalyst molar ratio of 5 : 1 : 0.01. A kinetic investigation showed that the reaction was first-order for α-pinene and catalyst concentration, and a fractional order (∼0.5) for H₂O₂ concentration. The activation energy (E_a) for the epoxidation of α-pinene was ∼35 kJ mol⁻¹. The advantages of the epoxidation reported here are that the reaction could be performed isothermally in an organic solvent-free environment to enhance the reaction rate, achieving nearly 100% selectivity to α-pinene oxide.

Products obtained from the oxidation of α-pinene with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the presence of tungsten-based polyoxometalates (α-pinene 1, α-pinene oxide 2, pinanediol 3, campholenic aldehyde 4, sobrerol 5, verbenol 6 and verbenone 7).     

Risk factors for depression in the first postnatal year

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for depression and to estimate its prevalence in postnatal mothers. METHODS: This cross-sectional and multi-centre study was carried out on 1,350 Turkish women in their first postnatal year. Measures included a structured questionnaire and the Turkish version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). RESULTS: Of the women, 31.1% had a score of 13 or higher on the EPDS. The mean score and standard deviation was 9.8+/-5.7. In the multivariate analysis, EPDS scores were significantly associated with economic status, access to support from family members and close friends, emotional distress at the pregnancy, whether the pregnancy was planned, health problems during pregnancy, the perceived standard of baby care after delivery, and mental disorder before and during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of EPDS-based depression among Turkish women in postnatal the period was high, and was associated with several social, economic and demographical factors.     

Treatment of depression with E-10-hydroxynortriptyline — a pilot study on biochemical effects and pharmacokinetics

The major metabolite of nortriptyline, i.e. E-10-hydroxynortriptyline (E-10-OH-NT), was given as a racemate in increasing doses from 75 to 225 mg/day to five patients with major depressive episode. Plasma concentrations of both the (–)- and (+)-enantiomers were linearly related to the doses. The mean ratio between them was 3.6±0.53, indicating stereospecific kinetics during maintenance treatment. Lumbar punctures were performed in four of the patients before and after 3 weeks of E-10-OH-NT treatment. There was a 18% mean decrease (P<0.01) in the noradrenaline metabolite HMPG in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), supporting previous in vitro data showing that E-10-OH-NT inhibits noradrenaline uptake in vivo. During treatment, the median depression score measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale declined from 32 to 14 (P<0.05). As the study was open, the clinical outcome is not conclusive but does not contradict the hypothesis that E-10-OH-NT has antidepressant properties. If present at all, side effects were mild and did not interfere with the treatment.     

Disposition of single oral doses of E-10-hydroxynortriptyline in healthy subjects, with some observations on pharmacodynamic effects

The active and major metabolite of nortriptyline (NT), E-10-hydroxynortriptyline (E-10-OH-NT), was taken orally as the hydrogen maleate in single doses by nine healthy subjects. The doses (10 to 100 mg) were completely absorbed, as shown by the high urinary recovery of 86.1% +/- 9.9%. Of the given dose, 51.2% +/- 8.7% was recovered as conjugated E-10-OH-NT and 23.9% +/- 4.3% was recovered as unchanged compound. The plasma t1/2 of E-10-OH-NT was 8.0 +/- 1.2 hours and total plasma clearance was 47.5 +/- 10.3 L/hr. The rate of elimination varied little between individuals. There was no indication of dose-dependent elimination. The mean apparent volume of distribution was 7.7 +/- 2.1 L/kg. Single oral doses of 50 mg E-10-OH-NT significantly increased the plasma levels of norepinephrine in both the supine and standing positions (P less than 0.01). Pulse rate increased in the standing but not the supine position. These effects might result from inhibition of neuronal uptake of norepinephrine by E-10-OH-NT. Coupled with its low affinity for muscarinic receptors, these kinetic and pharmacodynamic features of E-10-OH-NT call for further phase I studies.     

Rubella seroprevalence in women in the reproductive period, Mersin, Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the rubella seroprevalence in women of reproductive age. This cross-sectional study was conducted on women aged 15-49 years. Serologic studies were performed by using the ELISA method. The number of women enrolled in the study was 607, the mean age was 30.7+/-9.3 years and 13.2% of the participants were living in the rural area. Rubella seroprevalence was 55.0%. This ratio was 77.5% in women living in the rural area (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant correlations between immunity to rubella and other socio-demographic characteristics. In conclusion, women in this age group are advised to have a single dose of rubella vaccination in order to avoid CRS before pregnancy.