Specific Learning Disability, Healthy (Controls)
Conditions
Keywords
Specific learning Disorder, Glutamate, L-arginine, nitric oxide, molecualr docking
Brief summary
The aim of this clinical trial was to measure how specific neurotransmitter levels in children with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) change compared to controls. The relationship between these markers and the measured markers will be determined both theoretically and experimentally using various neuropsychological tests. The fundamental questions it aims to answer are Did neurotransmitter levels increase or decrease in the patient group? Are the neurotransmitter levels measured in the neuropsychological tests related? Can the measured neurotransmitters be used to predict the disease? Participants: A single visit to the clinic, a blood sample, and neuropsychological tests will be administered on the same day.
Detailed description
The purpose of this investigation was to assess the levels in serum of key neurotransmitters and their precursors (glutamate, L-arginine, and nitric oxide) in children with SLD and also to integrate these biochemical results with molecular docking analyses of their interactions with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and N-methyl D-aspartate receptors (NMDA), both of which play significant roles in learning function in these patients. The research group consisted of 20 children aged 7-14 years who had been diagnosed with SLD using DSM-5 criteria, as well as 20 age-matched, gender-matched, and educationally matched healthy controls. The children in the study group underwent the Stroop Test \[Total Error Scores, Total Time Scores, Total Correction\] and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) subtests, and the results were scored. The serum concentrations of glutamate, L-arginine, and nitric oxide (NO) were determined using ELISA. The diagnostic ability of the biomarkers was evaluated using ROC analysis. Additionally, the interactions of glutamate and L-arginine with the PLA2 enzyme and the NMDA receptor were examined using molecular docking analysis.
Interventions
PROCEDUREBlood Product
Collecting 5 ml blood samples from the left atrial vein, after that obtaining serum from it.
OTHERElisa test
Measurement of glutamate, nitric oxide, and L-arginine concentrations in the blood samples obtained using an ELISA test kit.
Sponsors
Dilara Ulger Ozbek
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Blood sample collection
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Years to 14 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Study group: no additional mental disorder except a specific learning disability, * The control group had no mental illness. * Having no head injury or neurological illness for all groups. * There is no drug that might possibly alter cognitive functions for all populations.
Exclusion criteria
* The study group had a mental disease other than a specific learning disability and ADHD. * The control group had any mental condition. * Having a head injury or neurological illness in all categories. * Using drugs that may impair cognitive functioning in all groups those with additional diseases
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) | 6 months | Change in Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) score from baseline to 6 months.oints on a scale (range: 40-160; higher scores indicate better performance) |
| Processing Speed Index (PSI) | 6 months | Change in Processing Speed Index (PSI) score from baseline to 6 months. Points on a scale (range: 40-160; higher scores indicate better performance). |
| Stroop Test Performance | 6 months | Change in Stroop Test total errors, total time, and total corrections from baseline to 6 months.Seconds (for time) and number of errors/corrections; lower scores indicate better performance. |
| Mesurment of serum neurotransmitters levels | 6 months | Serum Glutamate Levels (measured in µmol/L by ELISA at baseline) Serum L-Arginine Levels (measured in µmol/L by ELISA at baseline) Serum Nitric Oxide (NO) Levels (measured in µmol/L by ELISA at baseline) |
| Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) | 6 month | Change in Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) score from baseline to 6 months.Points on a scale (range: 40-160; higher scores indicate better performance) |
| Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) | 6 months | Change in Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) score from baseline to 6 months. Change in Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) score from baseline to 6 months. |
| Working Memory Index (WMI) | 6 months | Change in Working Memory Index (WMI) score from baseline to 6 months. Points on a scale (range: 40-160; higher scores indicate better performance) |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ROC analysis performance of biomarkers | 6 months | Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis will be performed to determine the diagnostic performance of selected biomarkers. Parameters include Area Under the Curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, cut-off value, and Youden Index. AUC value (range 0-1); higher values indicate better diagnostic performance. |
| Molecular docking analysis | 6 months | Binding affinity values (in kcal/mol) of Glutamate and L-Arginine ligands to NMDA receptor and PLA2 enzyme active sites will be evaluated using molecular docking analysis. Lower binding affinity (more negative kcal/mol) indicates stronger interaction.Lower (more negative) binding energy indicates a stronger binding affinity. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed