bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Audit of patients with intellectual disabilities accessing a specialist neuropsychiatry service for epilepsy management
Authors: Adetoki A.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Epilepsy is a frequent co-morbidity in patients with intellectual disabilities, some of whom require specialist services. The National institute for health and care excellence (NICE) has recommended that there should be equity of access to high quality of care regardless of the existence of a diagnosis of intellectual disability.

Objectives

To observe current practice with regards to NICE guidelines for epilepsy care in patients with intellectual disability.

Aims

To identify the level of compliance with NICE guidelines and provide evidence which may inform care planning processes.

Methods

A retrospective review of the electronic and paper-based records of a total sample of intellectually disabled patients who accessed a specialist neuropsychiatry service for the management of epilepsy during a six-month period was carried out.

Results

The records of 21 patients whose ages ranged from 20 to 58 years were audited. The waiting period ranged from 4 weeks to 46 weeks. There was evidence of Carer involvement in the management of 100% of the patients and seizure improvement since referral was documented in 66%. Non- medication treatment was offered in 67% of cases. Evidence of special considerations in view of patient's intellectual disability was recorded in 24%, best interest considerations in 24% and capacity assessment in 19%.

Conclusions

There is a significant improvement in the symptoms of 66% of patients in this audit. However there is room for improvement and a more specific plan for patients with intellectual disabilities should facilitate this.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
Health-related quality of life and work productivity of adults with ADHD: A UK web-based survey
Authors: Asherson P. , Kosmas C. , Patel C. , Doll H. , Joseph A.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

European data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the general population is sparse.

Aims and objectives

To report HRQoL in UK adults with ADHD.

Methods

UK residents aged 18–55 years with a diagnosis of adult ADHD completed an online, cross-sectional survey including questions on disease history, the EuroQol Five Dimensions questionnaire with five-levels (EQ-5D-5L) and the Work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire: general health (WPAI:GH). ADHD symptom severity was assessed by telephone using ADHD rating scale version IV with adult prompts (ADHD-RS-IV).

Results

The survey was completed by 233 participants (65.2% women; 77.3% white British), mean age 32.6 years (standard deviation [SD] 9.5), mean ADHD-RS-IV total score 43.46 (SD 7.88). Their mean EQ-5D-5L utility score of 0.74 (SD 0.21) was lower than the UK population norm of 0.86 (SD 0.23).[1] WPAI:GH scores indicated that health problems resulted in impairments of 32.04% in work productivity and 45.79% in regular daily activities. Regression analyses adjusting for gender, age and comorbidities demonstrated associations between EQ-5D-5L utility scores and gender (men had lower scores, P < 0.001), work impairment due to health problems (increasing impairment was associated with lower scores, P = 0.005) and age (for each additional year of age, scores decreased by 0.007, P = 0.010).

Conclusions

These results highlight the impact on health utility, work productivity and regular daily activities, and add to the description of the disease burden of adult ADHD in the UK.

This study was funded by Shire Development LLC.

Disclosure of interest

Kings College London research support account for Asherson received honoraria for consultancy to Shire, Eli-Lilly and Novartis educational/research awards from Shire, Lilly, Novartis, Vifor Pharma, GW Pharma and QbTech speaker at sponsored events for Shire, Lilly and Novartis.
Gender differences in overgeneralized autobiographical memory in survivors of torture with posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Giannouli V. , Popa S.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Persons suffering from PTSD show less episodic specificity in recalling autobiographical memories producing what is often referred to as “overgeneralized memories” as it is shown by scientific studies.

Objective

In this research, we are focusing our attention on whether this phenomenon is the same for both men and women or it shows gender specificity.

Method

The rehabilitation center for torture victims “Memoria” provided information about people who have recently experienced torture. Some of these victims of torture volunteered to participate in the current research. The participants were assessed with the Harvard trauma questionnaire in order to identify whether they suffer from PTSD or not. A sample of 40 torture survivors with PTSD was selected for the research–20 men and 20 women. The age range is between 20 and 45. On a computer screen, we presented the cue words with the task to recall a past event and time period (month or 5–20 years). The participants pressed a computer key indicating when an event had been recalled, and then, it was described in an audio recorder. The responses were scored 3 for a specific event, 2 a repeated over time event, 1 a general event, 0 none.

Results

Both sexes revealed a significant correlation between specificity for autobiographical memories and episodic simulations, only in case of women this correlation is higher compared with men (r = 0.83 P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Further research is needed in order to eliminate causalities and to extend the results on other populations.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The effectiveness of first-time-mother parent education for infant interaction and sense of parenting competence during the first year in Taiwan
Authors: Chung F.F. , Wan G.H. , Liu H.E.
Published: June 2017

Background

When new mothers do not understand how to interact with their newborn babies, they would increase anxiety, even decrease the quality of parent-infant interactions. Previous studies indicate that the postpartum parenting education for first-time-mothers can improve the quality of mother-infant interactions in first two months. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of parenting education for postpartum women during the first year.

Methods

The study recruited 81 healthy first-time-mother infant dyads from the medical center in Taipei city. The experimental and control groups received extra education by way of a 40-minute videotape and normal postpartum care, respectively. Data from around first week (T1), followed by the third (T2), sixth (T3), ninth (T4), and twelfth (T5) month postpartum are collected. Assessment scales such as the Edinburgh perinatal depression scale (EPDS), the Chinese version of the parenting sense of competence scale (C-PSOC), and the Nursing child assessment teaching scale (NCATS) used for videotaped mother-infant interactions measurement were used in the study.

Results

The analytical results show that the quality of mother-infant interaction increased at T2, T3, T4, and T5 in the experimental group (Fig. 1). No different change in maternal sense of competency was found in the experimental and control groups from T1 to T4. However, a positive change in sense of parenting competency at T5 was found in the experimental group (Fig. 2). No difference in postpartum depression was found between the two groups (Fig. 3).

Conclusions

The first-time-mothers parent education has long-term effectiveness in the mother-infant dyad interaction quality.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Investigation of chemical interactions of small peptides and vitamin substances at the developed dopamine D2 receptor models
Authors: Aslancan R. , Aksoydan B. , Kantarcioglu I. , Erol I. , Salmas R.E. , Durdagi S.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Dopamine receptors perform various functions essential to vertebrate central nervous systems and they are the major targets of antipsychotic drugs. Our recent studies pioneered to perform molecular modeling studies of the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), describing the mechanism and binding affinities of marketed antipsychotics into the active sites of the D2highR and D2LowR [1]. Another study provided significant information about changes of binding cavity properties of D2R [2].

Objectives

Since the marketed antipsychotics have serious side effects, we aim to explore ligands with better inhibition profiles on D2R with less unwanted outcomes. For this aim, we compare the effectiveness of the marketed drugs with small peptides and vitamin substances.

Aims

The main goal of the research is to explore novel small molecules that inhibit D2R to be used in schizophrenia.

Methods

In this study, we used a large number of endogen vitamins and peptides with dopamine D2R active-inactive forms in monomeric-dimeric patterns to understand their interactions at the active sites of targets. Nineteen of antipsychotic drugs, which are widely used in schizophrenia treatment are selected as reference molecules. Molecular docking, molecular screening and molecular modeling approaches were used.

Results

Some of these endogen molecules showed similar or better inhibition profiles on D2R compared to the known standard inhibitors of the target.

Conclusions

Proposed molecules may be potent for D2 receptor inhibition with less side effects for the use for schizophrenia.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Pharmacodynamic targets of psychotic patients treated with a long-acting therapy
Authors: Ventriglio A. , Petito A. , Gentile A. , Vitrani G. , Bonfitto I. , Cecere A.C. , Rinaldi A. , Dimatteo C. , D’Andrea G. , Maurizio M. , Bellomo A.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Given the poor compliance of schizofrenic patients to antipsychotic therapies, are been developed drugs in long-acting formulation that for their pharmacokinetic ensures prolonged therapeutic activities. Currently, we consider that their efficacy depends on hereditary tracts, influencing both pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters.

Objective

Investigate relationships between clinical efficacy and genetic polymorphims of long-acting drugs’ pharmacodynamic targets.

Methods

Seventy-eight psychotic patients, treated with atypical long-acting antipsychotics (olanzapine pamoate, paliperidone palmitate, risperidon and aripiprazole), were examined. We carried out a blood sampling to evaluate dopaminergic DRD2 and glutamatergic GRM3 genetic receptors polymorphisms. PANSS and BPRS scales were used to assess clinical condition.

Results

Regarding the GRM3 genes, the study of rs2228595 and rs6465084 polymorphisms showed a prevalence of wild type genotypic frequency of 81.2% and 56.2%, respectively. The prevalence of the patients with mutated heterozygote genotype (rs6465084 polymorphisms) resulted high (40.6%). Considering rs1989796 e rs274622 polymorphisms, the sample showed a prevalence of mutated heterozygote genotype in the 53.1% e 45.3%, respectively, with a percentage of 43.7% of patients with a mutation in homozygosis. Considering the rs146812 polymorphism, the 53.1% of patients resulted with a wild type genotype. Finally, findings showed a prevalence of 56.2% for the mutated heterozygote genotype in the DRD2 rs6277 polymorphism. The genotypic categorization analysis demonstrated a significative association between the GRM3 rs274622 polymorphism and higher BPRS scores.

Conclusions

The relationship between rs274622 polymorphism and worse clinical conditions could indicate a major resistance to long-acting antipsychotics in patients with genotypic frequency CT (mutated heterozygosis) for this polymorphism.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Analysis of ECT indications in the hospitalized psychiatric patients
Authors: Mihaljevic Peles A. , Bajs Janovic M. , Strucic A. , Janovic S.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been considered a treatment option for the treatment resistance, mania, depression, suicidality and schizophrenia. It has been still controversial due to the lack of controlled clinical trials and unknown biological basis but also because of the negative image from the history of the treatment.

Objective

Specifics of the clinical judgement on when and for which patients’ indications, ECT was a treatment choice.

Aim of the study was to evaluate indications for the ECT treatment in the hospitalized psychiatric patients at the psychiatric department.

Method

For all the patient cases in the last 7 years at the department (n = 326), data was analyzed regarding age, gender, number of hospitalizations, age of first episode, diagnose, previous treatment, leading indication for ECT and outcome after the ECT, regarding following treatment.

Results

The leading indication for ECT was psychosis and/or pharmacological treatment resistance, followed by suicidality. Patients with psychosis were younger than patients with other diagnoses when receiving ECT treatment. Regarding the results, indications for ECT had been partially differentiated from expected guidelines. Outcomes after the ECT were favorable in terms of better controlling the symptoms, lowering exacerbation frequency and intensity and partially, functioning.

Conclusion

Studies on ECT indications and outcome could provide further insight on efficacy of the treatment, and possible improvements in clinical assessment on eligible patients who could benefit from the ECT treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Art therapy for patients in acute psychotic episodes
Authors: Aladashvili T.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Evaluate the efficacy of art therapy during acute psychotic episodes.

Methods

Thirty-six inpatients with ICD-diagnoses of schizophrenia (F20.0–F20.9) age between 20–60 were randomised to either 12 twice-weekly sessions of psychodynamic group art therapy plus treatment as usual or to standard treatment alone. Art therapy was administered in 12 sessions of 90 minutes for 6 weeks. At 12 weeks, 55% of patients randomised to art therapy, and 66% of patients receiving treatment as usual were examined. Scales used: 17 – Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) for depression and Scale for the assessment of negative symptoms (SANS).

Interventions

The approach was non-directive – patients could choose to create whatever they wanted and use any available material. Interventions by the art therapist aimed at supporting the art process and helping to understand the image. The last 30 minutes of a session were reserved for a shared viewing and reflecting on the images.

Results

With post-treatment and follow-up scores of SANS and HRSD patients who had received AT had a significantly greater mean reduction of positive and negative and also depressive symptoms at 12-week follow-up than patients treated as usual. Social functioning was significantly higher in the AT group. There were no significant interactions between intervention group and gender.

Conclusion

Evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of AT in patients with schizophrenia is far from being conclusive and benefits might be limited to a subgroup of patients. Results of this study suggest AT can be implemented in routine hospital settings for patients experiencing acute psychotic states.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
The medical model of rehabilitation treatment of drug addicts with psychiatric comorbidity: Efficacy evaluation
Authors: Bereza Z.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The medical model assumes the professional psychotherapeutic assistance at all stages of the rehabilitation process and pharmacological treatment of comorbid mental disorders.

Aim

Evaluation of the efficacy of the medical model rehabilitation based on the clinical, psychological, and social characteristics of patients at the all stages of the treatment.

Subjects

Eighty-five drug-addicted patients with psychiatric comorbidity. The inclusion criteria were: age above 18 years, withdrawal status. The patients were examined four times:

– 1 – during the first weeks of treatment;

– 2 – after 45 days;

– 3 – after 6 months;

– 4 – after 12 months.

Results and conclusions

The primary evaluation the highest scores noted in the sections: “family and social connections”, “health status”, “psychiatric status” and “legal aspects” received lower scores. In the second measurement, the results established a significant improvement on the scale of “health status”, “mental status”, “alcohol”, “drug use” compared with original values. Early retired patients the most high-end performance observed on the scale of “drug alcohol using”, “job/livelihood”, “health status”, “legal aspects”, the “psychiatric status”, “family and social connections” recorded lower scores. Indicators on the scale of “drug use”, “alcohol” in this group of patients was significantly higher than patients who remain on treatment, which may indicate a possible updating of the attraction to the drugs. The third measurement showed a significant improvement ASI according to the all scales as compared to the previous ones. In the course of the rehabilitation process revealed positive changes in clinical, psychological and social characteristics of patients.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
Population attributable fraction (PAF) in repeated measures design: Childhood traumas as predictors of psychotherapy outcomes
Authors: Härkänen T. , Lindfors O. , Heinonen E. , Knekt P.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Population attributable fraction (PAF) represents the proportion of treatment failure, which could be avoided, if the individuals at high risk were similar to the individuals at low risk. The PAF, however, has not been available for repeated measures designs.

A relatively prevalent and strong risk factor for many adulthood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are adversities and traumas experienced in childhood. Little is, however, known of their implications for common treatments such as psychotherapy.

Objectives

To develop PAF for repeated measures, and to provide a useful tool in various research fields to provide decision-makers results, which are easier to interpret.

This study will examine the relative importance of different childhood traumas as predictors of psychotherapy outcome in a patient population with depressive and anxiety disorders.

Methods

PAF was calculated using generalized linear mixed models and Bayesian predictive distributions.

The data is based on 326 outpatients, randomized in one long-term and two short-term psychotherapies by the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study. Patients were assessed up to 10 times during a 5-year follow-up. A combination of psychiatric symptoms measured, is used as the outcome measure.

Results

The repeated measures PAF will provide a useful aggregate measure over the follow-up time and over the patient population.

Conclusions

The repeated measures PAF will provide insight on the relative importance of the different domains of childhood traumas on therapy outcome. Associations of individual-level risk factors do not provide guidelines for policy decisions, which should acknowledge also prevalences of the risk factors in the patient population.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Treatment profiles in a Danish psychiatric university hospital department
Authors: Okkels N. , Mogensen R.B. , Crean L. , Skadhede S. , Vestergaard C.H. , Rasmussen C. , Shanmuganathan J.W.D. , Hansen K.B. , Munk-Jørgensen P.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Despite concerns about rising treatment of psychiatric patients with psychotropic medications and declining treatment with psychotherapy, actual treatment profiles of psychiatric patients is largely unknown.

Aims

To describe patterns in the treatment of patients in a large psychiatric university hospital department.

Methods

A descriptive mapping of treatment of in- and outpatients in a psychiatric department at Aarhus University Hospital Risskov, Denmark. Information was collected by health care staff using a 25-item survey form. The P-value was calculated with a Chi2 test and P < 0.05 was considered significant. The study was preceded by a pilot study on 41 patients.

Results

Over a 1 month period we assessed a total of 343 consecutive patients and hereof included 200 in the age range 18–90 years (mean 53.76); 86 men and 114 women. One hundred and eighty-eight patients (94%) used psychotropic medication, 37 (19%) as monotherapy and 148 (74%) in combination with non-pharmacological therapy. Ninety-seven (49%) had psychotherapy and 104 (52%) social support. Among inpatients, 21 (64%) had physical therapy, and 10 (30%) electroconvulsive therapy. In total, 163 (82%) had non-pharmacological therapy. Fifty-two (26%) patients had monotherapy and 148 (74%) polytherapy. Mean number of treatment modalities used pr. patient was 2.07 for all patients and 3.23 for inpatients.

Conclusions

In our department, polytherapy including non-pharmacological modalities is applied widely across all settings and patient categories. However, psychotropic medication clearly dominates as the most frequently applied treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
H-index may influence more than methodological variables for publication in high impact psychiatry journals – A systematic review
Authors: Carvalho Alves L. Primo de , Rodrigues A.A. , Moreira Lima F. , Janovik N. , Sanguinetti Czepielewski L. , Mendes Ceresér K.M. , Sica da Rocha N.
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The scientific community assumes that rigorous methodology research is more likely to be published in high impact psychiatry journals (HIJ). We aimed to test which methodological variables could predict publication in HIJ.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from 2013, January 1st to 2015, June 15th. Inclusion criteria were studies that were RCTs whose at least one arm of the study should be fluoxetine regarding adult patients (> 18 years old) with MDD. We performed logistic regression regarding the number of participants, intention-to-treat analysis, blinding, multicenter study, sample losses, positive result, sponsorship of pharmacy's industry, and h-index of the last author. A HIJ was considered if journal impact factor was above the median or 3rd quartile of our sample.

Results

Forty-two studies were considered for the final analysis. The results of the univariate logistic regression found no differences between HIJ and low impact psychiatry journals for all methodological variables, except the h-index of the last author. By considering HIJ when impact factor was above the mean, h-index had an odds ratio = 1.09 (1.01–1.17), P = 0.02; considering HIJ when impact factor was above the 3rd quartile, h-index had an odds ratio = 1.07 (1.01–1.14), P = 0.02.

Discussion

Our results indicate that the author productivity may be a relevant predictor for publication in a HIJ in the psychiatry/psychology field. Our study proposes that journals focus on identifying what are the relevant criteria for publication approval in the peer-review process.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Enhancement of flexible cognition in autism
Authors: Varanda C. , Fernandes F.D.M.
Published: June 2017

Autism is defined by qualitative deficits in communication, social interaction and restricted patterns of interests and behavior. There are also reported difficulties in the dynamic activation and modification of cognitive processes in response to changes in tasks demands. It is assumed that poor flexible cognition is related to those difficulties. This research aimed to assess and intervene in cognitive flexibility in subjects with autism.

Ten subjects diagnosed with autism by psychiatrists, aged 5y to 13y5m, were assessed in cognitive flexibility through WCST in pretest and in patterns of social interactions, behaviors and communication through ADI-R. An intervention program with 14 to 21 sessions designed to enhance cognitive flexibility through activities of local coherence inference, constructive praxis, attentional shifting, inhibitory control, besides drama games after reading stories. In posttest, they were assessed in WCST and ADI-R. Raw scores of categories completed and perseverative errors and responses were used.

Regarding flexible cognition, perseverative errors and responses were lower in posttest (P = 0.028). Categories completed were improved in posttest (P = 0.049). Total scores on ADI-R were lower in posttest (P = 0.051) and as well as scores on communication abilities (P = 0.033).

The qualitative improvement showed by the individuals of this research concerning flexible cognition and also patterns of restricted behavior, social interaction and communication abilities suggests that individuals with autism can benefit from the development of strategies for the rehabilitation of flexible cognition and more research is suggested with a larger sample among subjects on the autism spectrum.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The effect of aripiprazole on nicotine dependency in patients under methadone maintenance therapy
Authors: Zamir S.M. , Javdani H. , Massoudifar A. , Naghdipour M. , Mehrnami A.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The prevalence of smoking in patients under methadone maintenance therapy is high (85–98%). Most of these patients tend to quit smoking, but only a few of them receive treatment or referred to quit smoking. Recent study on aripiprazole, has been shown to reduce smoking.

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate aripiprazole on smoking in patients under methadone maintenance therapy.

Material and method

This study was a double-blind intervention study. Patients under Methadone maintenance therapy in 22 Bahman Hospital randomly divided into two intervention and control group. First with the FTQ questionnaire, nicotine dependency assessed in all patients. Then, 6-week aripiprazole administered to intervention group. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 21.

Results

The age range of patients was 67–25 years. Two groups were matched in demographic characteristics. Finally, mean number of FTQ questionnaire in case group before intervention was 8.9 ± 1.4 and after intervention was 8.4 ± 1.6. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.0007).

Conclusion

The study results show the aripiprazole effect in reducing the desire to smoke in patients under methadone maintenance therapy. The overall level of dependency on nicotine on the basis of test FTQ has decreased. By choosing aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy to quit smoking, by reducing the tendency of patients to smoking, can decrease cardiovascular complications and other problems caused by smoking and we can reduce the mortality rate of these patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Alcoholic psychoses and suicide trends in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
Authors: Razvodovsky Y.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The dramatic fluctuations in suicide mortality in the countries of the former Soviet Union (fSU) over the past decades have been widely discussed in the scientific literature and are still relatively unexplored. Accumulated evidence suggests that the mixture of cultural acceptance of heavy drinking, high rate of distilled spirits consumption, and binge drinking pattern is major contributor to the suicide mortality burden in fSU countries.

Aims

The present study aims to analyze whether binge drinking is able to explain the dramatic fluctuations in suicide mortality in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine from the late Soviet to post-Soviet period.

Method

Trends in alcoholic psychoses incidence and suicide rates from 1980 to 2015 in Russia Belarus and Ukraine were analyzed employing a Spearman's rank-order correlation analysis.

Results

The estimates based on the Soviet data suggest a strong positive association between alcoholic psychoses and suicide rates in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This positive relationship was less evident in the post-Soviet period.

Conclusion

Collectively, these findings indicate that alcohol has played an important role in the fluctuation of suicide mortality rates in the former Soviet republics during the last decades. Further monitoring of suicide mortality trends in the former Soviet countries and detailed comparisons with earlier developments in other countries remain a priority for future research.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
Neurocognitive functions in inpatient suicide attempters and non-attempters: A comparison
Authors: Sant’Angelo R.P. , Ambrosini F. , Pacetti M. , Raggini R. , Piraccini G.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

According to many studies, suicide attempters, compared to healthy general population, exhibit some neurocognitive deficits, which are considered promising endophenotype of suicidal behavior disorder. A similar pattern of impairment is widespread in individuals affected by psychiatric disorders.

Objectives

To compare neurocognitive functions of hospitalized suicide attempters (A) with those of an inpatient group without history of suicidal behavior (NA), likewise affected by psychiatric disorders.

Aims

The purpose of the study is to evaluate if neurocognitive impairment is associated to suicidal behaviors, regardless of underlying psychiatric diagnosis.

Methods

The whole sample is composed of 70 adult psychiatric inpatients (34 males, 36 females), divided into two groups (A and NA) of 35 patients with diagnosis of Psychotic, affective and personality disorders. Neurocognitive functions were assessed using Tower of London Test (TOL), Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (MCST), Stroop Test (ST) and Attentional Matrices (AM). Differences between A and NA groups were analyzed using U-test of Mann–Whitney and cross tabulations, taking into account the three diagnostic areas.

Results

Statistically significant differences were found between A and NA with regard to the ability of categorization (MCST), planning, problem solving and inhibition of automatic response (TOL), which proved to be more preserved in A individuals. No significant differences were found on selective attention tasks (ST and AM).

Conclusions

These preliminary findings show statistically significant differences on executive functions between suicide attempters and psychiatric non-attempter individuals. Further research on larger samples is needed to investigate these associations.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Suicide risk assessment in the elderly
Authors: Smaoui N. , Baati I. , Dorsaf T. , Mkaouar S. , Abida I. , Masmoudi J.
Published: June 2017

Objectives

To assess suicide risk in elderly psychiatric outpatients and to identify potential suicide risk factors in this population.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, including 50 psychiatric outpatients, aged 65 years or more and attending the Hédi Chaker University Hospital, in Sfax (Tunisia), between November and December 2015. We used a hetero questionnaire including epidemiological and clinical data and three scales: the Suicidal Risk Assessment Scale of Ducher (RSD), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Results

The sex ratio (M/F) was 1. The average age of patients was 68.62 years. The majority of them were married (68%), unemployed (98%), living in urban area (58%) and within their family (88%); they had at most a primary degree (80%) and a low socioeconomic level (74%).

The prevalence of patients at risk of suicide (RSD ≥ 3) was 26%. This risk was high (RSD ≥ 7) in 18% of cases.

The presence of suicidal ideation (RSD ≥ 3) was correlated with: a family history of suicide attempt (58.3% vs. 15.8%; P = 0.003), a personal history of suicide attempt (80% vs. 12.5%; P < 0.001), depressive symptoms (HAD-D ≥ 11) (36.7% vs. 10%; P = 0.05) and anxiety (HAD-A ≥ 11) (52.4% vs. 6.9%; P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study showed that among older psychiatric outpatients, one in four had suicidal thoughts. This high rate encourages us to search systematically these suicidal thoughts in this population, especially in patients with risk factors such as a family history of suicide attempt, depressive or anxious symptoms.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Comparative analysis of suicidality in two Bulgarian regions
Authors: Stoychev K. , Nakov V. , Dekov D. , Baltov M. , Dinolova-Hodzhadzhikova R. , Ivanov K. , Stoimenova M. , Chumpalova P.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Suicidality is still an understudied problem in Bulgaria especially on a subnational (regional) level.

Objectives

To collect data on suicidality in two major regions of Bulgaria with a population over 250,000 each (Plovdiv and Pleven) for a six years period (2009–2015).

Aims

To analyze demographic, health-related and other characteristics associated with suicidal behavior as well as motives and methods of suicide.

Methods

Data were extracted from relevant documentation (medical records, public health reports, etc.) and statistically processed upon collection.

Results

Majority of suicide victims were males between 45 and 64 years while most suicide attempts occurred among 18–29 years old females.

Leading method of suicide was hanging, followed by jumping from high places and use of firearm.

Prevailing suicidal motives were psychotic symptoms, serious somatic illnesses and family problems. Depression accounted for 25% of all suicide cases and in another 25% motivation could not be identified because of insufficient data.

The proportion of unemployed among suicide committers was not significantly higher than that of employed and retired.

Conclusions

Severe mental disorders are a major trigger of suicidal behavior.

Personal relationships should be targeted by suicide prevention interventions.

Somatic illnesses are increasingly important suicide risk factor driven by the ongoing process of population aging.

Frontline healthcare professionals should be trained to explore underlying suicidal motives and actively probe for depression in each case of suicidal behavior.

Unemployment related suicide risk is most likely mediated through an adaptation crisis mechanism induced by the abrupt change of social status.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Giving up on elaborate dermal ossicles: a new genus of ossicleless Apodida (Holothuroidea)
Authors: Souto Camilla , Martins Luciana , Menegola Carla
Published: June 2017

In this paper we describe a new genus and a new species of Chiridotidae based on specimens collected in shallow water off the South-eastern Brazilian coast. Gymnopipina ikamiaba gen. nov. et sp. nov. is characterized by the complete absence of dermal ossicles in the body, and it differs from the other ossicleless apodids in the number of tentacles and of Polian vesicles, and in the morphology of the calcareous ring. Although not formally tested with a phylogenetic framework, apodids have apparently lost their dermal ossicles multiple times. If these reversions hold true, Gymnopipina gen. nov. represents the fourth independent loss of dermal ossicles in the class Holothuroidea. An identification key to the Brazilian apodid species is also provided.
Homemade Lava Flows Fuse Science with Art on Video
Authors: Lipuma Lauren , Sollosi Derek
Published: June 2017

An artist’s impulse to recreate natural landscapes leads to fiery scientific explorations that elucidate the behavior of erupting lava and the solid shapes it becomes.
Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1beta enhances the stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through activation of the Notch pathway
Authors: Zhu Jing-Ni , Jiang Lu , Jiang Jing-Hua , Yang Xue , Li Xiao-Yong , Zeng Jian-Xin , Shi Rong-Yu , Shi Yang , Pan Xiao-Rong , Han Zhi-Peng , Wei Li-Xin
Published: June 2017

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1beta plays an important role in the development and progression of liver cancer. In recent years, the expression of HNF-1β has been reported to be associated with risk for a variety of cancers. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the expression of HNF-1β promotes the malignancy of HCC and its mechanism. We retrospectively investigated the expression of HNF-1β in 90 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and found that the high expression of HNF-1β indicated poor prognosis. We overexpressed HNF-1β in liver cancer cell lines and found the expression of liver progenitor cell markers and stemness were upregulated. The invasion ability and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated genes were also significantly higher in liver cancer cells overexpressing HNF-1β than in the control group. A mechanistic study suggested the activation of the Notch signalling pathway probably plays a key role downstream of HNF-1β. More importantly, HNF-1β promoted tumourigenesis of HCC cells in vivo. In conclusion, high expression of HNF-1β not only promoted the de-differentiation of HCC cells into liver cancer stem cells through activating the Notch pathway but also enhanced the invasive potential of HCC cells and EMT occurrence, which would contribute to the enhancement of cell migration and invasion.
Tumoral expression of drug and xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in breast cancer patients of different ethnicities with implications to personalized medicine
Authors: Li Yan , Steppi Albert , Zhou Yidong , Mao Feng , Miller Philip Craig , He Max M. , Zhao Tingting , Sun Qiang , Zhang Jinfeng
Published: June 2017

Drug and xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (DXME) play important roles in drug responses and carcinogenesis. Recent studies have found that expression of DXME in cancer cells significantly affects drug clearance and the onset of drug resistance. In this study we compared the expression of DXME in breast tumor tissue samples from patients representing three ethnic groups: Caucasian Americans (CA), African Americans (AA), and Asian Americans (AS). We further combined DXME gene expression data with eQTL data from the GTEx project and with allele frequency data from the 1000 Genomes project to identify SNPs that may be associated with differential expression of DXME genes. We identified substantial differences among CA, AA, and AS populations in the expression of DXME genes and in activation of pathways involved in drug metabolism, including those involved in metabolizing chemotherapy drugs that are commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer. These data suggest that differential expression of DXME may associate with health disparities in breast cancer outcomes observed among these three ethnic groups. Our study suggests that development of personalized treatment strategies for breast cancer patients could be improved by considering both germline genotypes and tumor specific mutations and expression profiles related to DXME genes.
Polysulfide Na2S4 regulates the activation of PTEN/Akt/CREB signaling and cytotoxicity mediated by 1,4-naphthoquinone through formation of sulfur adducts
Authors: Abiko Yumi , Shinkai Yasuhiro , Unoki Takamitsu , Hirose Reiko , Uehara Takashi , Kumagai Yoshito
Published: June 2017

Electrophiles can activate redox signal transduction pathways, through actions of effector molecules (e.g., kinases and transcription factors) and sensor proteins with low pKa thiols that are covalently modified. In this study, we investigated whether 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ) could affect the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)–Akt signaling pathway and persulfides/polysulfides could modulate this adaptive response. Simultaneous exposure of primary mouse hepatocytes to Na2S4 and 1,4-NQ markedly decreased 1,4-NQ-mediated cell death and S-arylation of cellular proteins. Modification of cellular PTEN during exposure to 1,4-NQ was also blocked in the presence of Na2S4. 1,4-NQ, at up to 10 µM, increased phosphorylation of Akt and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). However, at higher concentrations, 1,4-NQ inhibited phosphorylation of both proteins. These bell-shaped dose curves for Akt and CREB activation were right-shifted in cells treated with both 1,4-NQ and Na2S4. Incubation of 1,4-NQ with Na2S4 resulted in formation of 1,4-NQ–S–1,4-NQ-OH. Unlike 1,4-NQ, authentic 1,4-NQ-S-1,4-NQ-OH adduct had no cytotoxicity, covalent binding capability nor ability to activate PTEN-Akt signaling in cells. Our results suggested that polysulfides, such as Na2S4, can increase the threshold of 1,4-NQ for activating PTEN–Akt signaling and cytotoxicity by capturing this electrophile to form its sulfur adducts.
Energetics and structure of grain boundary triple junctions in graphene
Authors: Hirvonen Petri , Fan Zheyong , Ervasti Mikko M. , Harju Ari , Elder Ken R. , Ala-Nissila Tapio
Published: June 2017

Grain boundary triple junctions are a key structural element in polycrystalline materials. They are involved in the formation of microstructures and can influence the mechanical and electronic properties of materials. In this work we study the structure and energetics of triple junctions in graphene using a multiscale modelling approach based on combining the phase field crystal approach with classical molecular dynamics simulations and quantum-mechanical density functional theory calculations. We focus on the atomic structure and formation energy of the triple junctions as a function of the misorientation between the adjacent grains. We find that the triple junctions in graphene consist mostly of five-fold and seven-fold carbon rings. Most importantly, in addition to positive triple junction formation energies we also find a significant number of orientations for which the formation energy is negative.
Competitive interactions affect working memory performance for both simultaneous and sequential stimulus presentation
Authors: Ahmad Jumana , Swan Garrett , Bowman Howard , Wyble Brad , Nobre Anna C. , Shapiro Kimron L. , McNab Fiona
Published: June 2017

Competition between simultaneously presented visual stimuli lengthens reaction time and reduces both the BOLD response and neural firing. In contrast, conditions of sequential presentation have been assumed to be free from competition. Here we manipulated the spatial proximity of stimuli (Near versus Far conditions) to examine the effects of simultaneous and sequential competition on different measures of working memory (WM) for colour. With simultaneous presentation, the measure of WM precision was significantly lower for Near items, and participants reported the colour of the wrong item more often. These effects were preserved when the second stimulus immediately followed the first, disappeared when they were separated by 500 ms, and were partly recovered (evident for our measure of mis-binding but not WM precision) when the task was altered to encourage participants to maintain the sequentially presented items together in WM. Our results show, for the first time, that competition affects the measure of WM precision, and challenge the assumption that sequential presentation removes competition.
Characterization of transcriptional modules related to fibrosing-NAFLD progression
Authors: Lou Yi , Tian Guo-Yan , Song Yu , Liu Yin-Lan , Chen Yi-Dan , Shi Jun-Ping , Yang Jin
Published: June 2017

Based on the severity of liver fibrosis, low or high-risk profile of developing end-stage liver disease was present in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanisms inducing transition from mild to advanced NAFLD are still elusive. We performed a system-level study on fibrosing-NAFLD by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify significant modules in the network, and followed by functional and pathway enrichment analyses. Moreover, hub genes in the module were analyzed by network feature selection. As a result, fourteen distinct gene modules were identified, and seven modules showed significant associations with the status of NAFLD. Module preservation analysis confirmed that these modules can also be found in diverse independent datasets. After network feature analysis, the magenta module demonstrated a remarkably correlation with NAFLD fibrosis. The top hub genes with high connectivity or gene significance in the module were ultimately determined, including LUM, THBS2, FBN1 and EFEMP1. These genes were further verified in clinical samples. Finally, the potential regulators of magenta module were characterized. These findings highlighted a module and affiliated genes as playing important roles in the regulation of fibrosis in NAFLD, which may point to potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
Plasmonic Microcantilever with Remarkably Enhanced Photothermal Responses
Authors: Gao Naikun , Zhao Dongfang , Jia Ran , Zhang Dongdong , Liu Duo
Published: June 2017

Plasmonic nanostructures exhibit abundant optoelectronic properties. We explore here the technological potentials of plasmonic nanostructures as active component to actuate microcantilever sensors. We find that the photothermal excitation of microcantilevers can be greatly enhanced by Au nanoparticle (NPs). A detailed investigation reveals that the enhancement is wavelength dependent and can be attributed to selective excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The associated effects are discussed based on a thorough examination of the geometric aspects of Au NPs, microcantilever lengths, and incident optical power. Some technological advantages offered by this method are also discussed.
Weigh Biomaterials by Quantifying Species-specific DNA with Real-time PCR
Authors: Chen Rong , Wang Jiayu , Yuan Yi , Deng Yun , Lai Xianrong , Du Feng , Dong Juan , Huang Xin , Cui Xin , Tang Zhuo
Published: June 2017

What’s on the label is not what’s in the bottle, from food products to herbal medicinal products (HMPs), economically-motivated biomaterials adulteration is a long-term problem affecting the food and drug industry. Accurate identification of the biomaterial ingredients in processed commodities is highly desirable. In this field, DNA-based techniques have proved to be powerful tools to overcome qualitative challenges. However, is it possible to quantify the weight of biological materials with PCR? Therefore, a basic scientific question needs to be answered: what’s the relationship between DNA content and the mass of biological materials? Is DNA content directly proportional to the mass of biological materials as most of the researchers previously thought? In this study, we firstly found that there exists a linear relation between DNA contents and the weight of biomaterials indeed when the analytical practices are fully controlled. In this case, the mass of targeted biomaterials in the highly processed commercial products can also be calculated by quantifying the species-specific DNA through classic real-time PCR with a good reproducibility.