bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blunted TSH response to TRH and seizure duration in ECT
Authors: Papakostas Y. G. , Markianos M. , Pehlivanidis A. , Zervas I. M. , Papadimitriou G. N. , Stefanis C.
Published: November 2007

The relationship between the thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) and the duration of seizures induced by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depressed patients was investigated. In a balanced‐order cross‐over design, 16 depressed women were given 0.4 mg TRH or placebo intravenously, 20 min before ECT in the first two sessions. In the third ECT session TRH was given just prior to ECT. Thyrotropin (TSH) levels at various sampling times, as well as the duration of seizures, were measured. There was a significant inverse correlation between plasma TSH concentrations 20 min after TRH administration (ΔTSH) and seizure duration, Furthermore, when patients were categorized according to their TSH response to TRH, the group with blunted responses (ΔTSH<6 μIU/mL, n = 7) had a longer seizure time during ECT than the group with non‐blunted responses (ΔTSH>6 μIU/mL, n = 9). Finally, the seizure duration in the group with blunted TSH responses was reduced significantly when TRH was co‐administered, while it remained unchanged in the group with non‐blunted TSH responses. It is concluded that a blunted TSH response to TRH might indicate a seizure susceptibility as measured by the duration of seizures induced by ECT. The fact that TRH pre‐administration had a reducing effect suggests that this substance might be involved in the pathophysiology of ECT‐induced seizures.
Cortical brain dysfunction in early schizophrenia: secondary pathogenetic hierarchy of neuroplasticity, psychopathology and social impairment
Authors: Hemmingsen R. , Madsen A. , Glenthøj B. , Rubin P.
Published: November 2007

Schizophrenia has the quality of a ‘top‐down’ disorder with perturbation of self, and malattuned appraisal of basic experience of the outside world, and of intentionality. There is dissonance between the faculties of consciousness. The neuronal cortical network displays distributed activation of the sensory cortices during perception, and retroactivation during recall. This multimodal organization is sensitive to aberrations of structure and informational content during the metabolically dynamic phases of expansion and pruning in childhood and adolescence. There is substantial evidence of deviant function of the cortical network in schizophrenia. This includes increased neuronal density, reduced prefrontal capacity for activation, impaired fronto‐temporal interaction during language production, defect monitoring of inner speech, activation of secondary sensory cortices during hallucinations, reduced cortical and thalamic volume, reduced thalamic activation (filtering) and sensitization of dopaminergic modulation. As a hypothesis the cortical defects lead to secondary causation of abnormalities at the levels of neuroplasticity, symptomatology and social competence. Suggestions for empirical testing are presented for the hypothesis that neocortical defects are primary, thalamic defects secondary and dopaminergic aberrations tertiary in the schizophrenic process. This testing of hypotheses involves prospective studies of patient groups at various ages of onset, as well as comparison of neurobiological measures in remitting vs. treatment‐resistant cases.
New methods for studying hallucinated ‘voices’ in schizophrenia
Authors: Hoffman R. E.
Published: November 2007

The mechanism of hallucinated speech or ‘voices’, a symptom commonly reported by schizophrenic patients, is poorly understood. We have undertaken two types of study to explore the hypothesis that this symptom arises from pathologically altered speech perception networks. The first consists of neural network computer simulations of narrative speech perception. We have shown that if these networks are partially disconnected or undergo a ‘monamine’ neuromodulatory disturbance, ‘hallucinated speech’ (speech percepts occurring in the absence of phonetic input) are simulated as well as specific speech perception impairments. The latter finding prompted us to conduct parallel studies of actual schizophrenic patients using a ‘masked speech tracking’ (MST) task. MST requires subjects to track narrative speech the phonetic clarity of which is reduced with superimposed multispeaker ‘babble.’ Hallucinators demonstrated speech perception impairments and experimentally induced perceptual ‘illusions’ which clearly differentiated them from non‐hallucinators and normal controls. Our results support the hypothesis that ‘voices’ are spurious products of altered speech perception networks.
Auditory hallucinations: phenomenology, neuropsychology and neuroimaging update
Authors: David A. S.
Published: November 2007

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are a cardinal feature of psychosis. Recent research is reviewed which has attempted to advance our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying this symptom. Phenomenological surveys have confirmed the importance of the content of such hallucinations and their meaning to the voice‐hearer. Psychological and neuroimaging studies of inner speech and source monitoring have provided a neuropsychological framework for AVHs as well as some novel therapeutic strategies. There have also been successful attempts to ‘capture’ neural activity coincident with the experience of hallucinations using PET, SPECT and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This body of knowledge in combination with work on in‐vivo receptor binding (dopamine and GABA) provides the beginnings of a cognitive and ncurophysiological understanding of this complex and intriguing phenomenon.
Visualizing fronto‐striatal circuitry and neuroleptic effects in schizophrenia
Authors: Buchsbaum M. S. , Hazlett E. A. , Haznedar M. M. , Spiegel‐Cohen J. , Wei T. C.
Published: November 2007

Disturbances in fronto‐striatal circuitry have been postulated to be important in schizophrenia. Positron emission tomography typically shows decreased metabolic rates in these areas relative to other brain areas in schizophrenia. After treatment with typical neuroleptics, striatal metabolic rates are increased, but other brain areas tend not to show significant changes. Atypical neuroleptics less markedly affect striatal metabolic rates, but show wider cortical effects. In order to examine fronto‐striatal circuitry, a technique for visualizing the correlations between metabolic rates in all brain areas was applied in 33 controls and 27 unmedicated schizophrenic patients. Correlation images revealed strong fronto‐striatal connections in controls, but weak fronto‐striatal links in schizophrenic patients. Changes in striatal circuits, also reflected in recent anatomical studies, may be important for understanding antipsychotic effects.
Mortality among discharged psychiatric patients in Finland
Authors: Sohlman B. , Lehtinen V.
Published: November 2007

No comprehensive study has yet been made of mortality among psychiatric patients in Finland. According to studies conducted in other parts of the world, the mortality rates of psychiatric patients are higher than those of the general population. The study population here consisted of all patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals during the year 1988 (n= 22 940). The register follow‐up of these patients extended up to the year 1992. In the course of the follow‐up a total of 3936 discharged psychiatric patients died (17.2%). The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of the patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals was almost four times higher than that of the general population. The proportion of unnatural causes of death, including accidents in the young age groups and especially the much higher suicide SMR among young women, is a particularly striking finding. Natural causes of death were also more prevalent among the study population than in the general population, the major causes being acute myocardial infarction and unspecified pneumonia. The results of this study confirm previous findings of increased mortality among psychiatric patients compared to the general population. On the basis of this study one cannot, however, conclude that the reason for the high mortality rate would be premature discharge. More attention needs to be paid to the care of young patients and to supporting the patient during the transition from the hospital to community care.
Patterns of comorbidity in relation to functioning (GAF) among general hospital psychiatric referrals
Authors: Alaja R. , Tienari P. , Seppä K. , Tuomisto M. , Leppävuori A. , Huyse F. J. , Herzog T. , Malt U. F. , Lobo A.
Published: November 2007

Improvement of services for physically ill patients with concurrent psychiatric problems is a noteworthy issue in general hospitals. Among 1249 general hospital in‐patients referred for psychiatric consultation, concurrent mental and behavioural disorders (ICD‐10) were diagnosed in 84% of cases. Any concurrent mental and behavioural disorder was associated with dramatically low functioning (GAF = 46), indicating serious psychosocial impairment. This is a striking new finding of clinical importance. The effect on functioning was similar for substance use disorders, other mental disorders, and combined mental and substance use disorders (dual diagnoses), with no gender differences. This finding highlights the need for specialized interventions among general hospital in‐patients referred for psychiatric consultation.
Criteria defining refractory schizophrenia
Authors: Hori A. , Tsunashirna K. , Takekawa Y. , Ishihara I. , Terada T. , Uno M.
Published: November 2007

To date there has been no agreement with regard to the criteria that define refractory schizophrenia. In this study, we intended to clarify the criteria which psychiatrists use to judge schizophrenic patients as being refractory in Japan. Based on 258 schizophrenic in‐patients (ICD‐10) and their likelihood of discharge, level of psychosocial functioning, mental state and use of medication, the common features of patients who are viewed as non‐dischargeable because of their severe mental state, compared to those of dischargeable patients, were extracted and used as the criteria. The criteria proposed necessitate (i) diagnosis of schizophrenia by standard operational criteria, (ii) continuous hospitalization for at least the past 2 years, (iii) a level of psychosocial functioning of ≤ 40 as measured by the Global Assessment Scale, and (iv) an intensity score of ‘marked’ or ‘severe’ on at least three of the six Manchester Scale items (flattened affect, psychomotor retardation, delusions, hallucinations, incoherence of speech and poverty of speech).
A long‐term follow‐up study of adolescent psychiatric in‐patients. Part II. Predictors of delinquency
Authors: Kjelsberg E. , Dahl A. A.
Published: November 2007

A total of 932 adolescent psychiatric in‐patients were followed up 15–33 years after hospitalization by record linkage to the National Register of Criminality. On the basis of the hospital records the patients were rediagnosed according to DSM‐IV and scored on data postulated to be predictors of later delinquency. The factors were investigated by KaplanMeyer survival analysis and Cox regression. Cox analysis showed that, in males, main diagnosis (relative risk (RR) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.0–4.2), verbal abuse at home (RR = 1.5, CI = 1.1–2.0), disciplinary problems at school (RR = 1.7, CI = 1.2–2.5), and violating ward rules during hospitalization (RR = 1.6, CI = 1.2–2.2) were strong and independent predictors of delinquency. In females, main diagnosis (RR = 2.6, CI = 1.6–4.2), concurrent psychoactive substance use disorder (RR = 2.9, CI= 1.9–4.2), verbal abuse at home (RR= 1.5, CI= 1.0–2.1), and disciplinary problems at school (RR=1.6, CI = 1.1–2.5) were strong and independent predictors of delinquency. Among males who violated ward rules and received a diagnosis of disruptive behaviour disorder, psychoactive substance use disorder or personality disorder at index hospitalization, as many as 77.6% had a criminal record at follow‐up.
Psychomotor retardation and anhedonia in depression
Authors: Lemke M. R. , Puhl P. , Koethe N. , Winkler T.
Published: November 2007

Anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure, and observed changes in psychomotor performance are frequent psychopathological phenomena in major depression with possible common neurobiological mechanisms. Interest, pleasure and reactivity to pleasurable stimuli contribute to movement generation and observable behaviour. Therefore the relationship between anhedonia and psychomotor retardation was studied in 48 depressed patients. Subjectively experienced anhedonia correlated with self‐rated but not with observer‐rated global severity of depression. There was a significant correlation between anhedonia and psychomotor retardation assessed with the Widlöcher Retardation Scale. The results suggest the existence of an empirical relationship between reduced ability to experience pleasure and observable psychomotor retardation in depression. Specific measures of psychomotor phenomena may provide further insights into the relationship between observable behaviour and self‐experienced symptoms in depression.
Tardive dyskinesia in psychosis: are women really more at risk?
Authors: van Os J. , Walsh E. , van Horn E. , Tattan T. , Bale R. , Thompson S.G
Published: November 2007

It is commonly held that women are more at risk of developing tardive dyskinesia (TD). However, recent evidence suggests that this may only be the case in samples of older patients, men being more at risk in the younger age groups. Abnormal movements were measured with the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) in a sample of 706 chronic psychotic patients aged not older than 65 years (median age 36 years). Female gender was associated with a lower risk of TD (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3–0.7). The effect of gender was independent of other risk factors such as older age, severity of negative symptoms and exposure to antipsychotic medication in the previous 2 years. There was no evidence that the effect of these risk factors differed between the sexes. In samples of relatively young patients with chronic psychotic illness, who typically represent the majority of patients in community programmes for the severely mentally ill, men are more at risk of TD than women.
Hallucinogen, opiate, sedative and stimulant use and abuse in a population‐based sample of female twins
Authors: Kendler K. S. , Karkowski L. , Prescott C. A.
Published: November 2007

Objective: Rates of illicit psychoactive substance use and abuse in women have increased substantially over the last 50 years. However, we understand little about the aetiology of these behaviors in women, and almost nothing about the role of familial‐environmental and genetic factors.

Methods: We obtained, by means of blind telephone interviews with 1934 individual twins from female‐female adult pairs ascertained through a population‐based registry, including both members of 500 MZ and 326 DZ pairs, a history of lifetime illicit use, abuse and dependence, as defined by DSM‐IV, of hallucinogens, opiates, sedatives and non‐cocaine stimulants.

Results: Lifetime prevalences for substance use ranged from 3.3% for opiates to 10.4%) for hallucinogens. Rates of abuse (ranging from 0.7% for opiates to 3.2% for stimulants) and dependence (ranging from 0.2% for hallucinogens to 1.4% for stimulants) were substantially lower. Significant twin resemblance was found for hallucinogen use, opiate use, sedative use and stimulant use, abuse and symptoms of dependence. The results of twin‐model fitting suggested that twin resemblance for hallucinogen and stimulant use was due to both genetic and familial environmental factors, while twin resemblance for opiate and sedative use as well as stimulant abuse and symptoms of dependence was solely the result of genetic factors. Heritability of liability ranged from 21% to 72%. Twin resemblance for substance use, abuse and dependence could not be explained by the similarity of the twins' environment in childhood, adolescence or adulthood.

Conclusion: Although limited by the rarity in women of these forms of substance use and misuse, our results none the less suggest that familial factors, which are at least in part genetic, strongly influence the vulnerability to hallucinogen, opiate, sedative and stimulant use and abuse in women.
Major mental disorders in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I. Schizophrenia, schizoaffective and cognitive disorders
Authors: Kebede D. , Alem A.
Published: November 2007

We report here on a survey conducted in Addis Ababa between September and December of 1994 to estimate the prevalence and socio‐demographic correlates of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and severe cognitive disorders. An Amharic version of the CIDI was used to collect data from a random community sample of 1420 individuals aged 15 and above. Weighted lifetime and one‐month prevalence were 0.4% and 0.3%, for schizophrenia, and 0.5%) and 0.4% for schizoaffective disorders, respectively. The prevalence of severe cognitive disorders was found to be 2.6%. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the risk of lifetime psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar disorders, and depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms) was significantly higher in the age group 25–44 years compared to the reference age group of 15–24 years: adjusted Odds Ratio and 95% confidence interval, OR (95%)CI)=2.41(1.01, 5.74); it was also significantly higher in the never married group compared to those married: OR (95%CI) = 3.01(1.08, 8.42). The risk was significantly lower in the employed compared to the unemployed: OR (95%CI)=0.42 (0.18, 1.00). There was a statistically significant trend of increasing risk of severe cognitive disorders with increasing age. The trend was in the reverse direction for educational status, the risk decreasing significantly with increasing educational attainment.
Childhood behavioural disorders in Arnbo district, western Ethiopia. I. Prevalence estimates
Authors: Tadesse B. , Kebede D. , Tegegne T. , Alem A.
Published: November 2007

The study was conducted between September 1994 and May 1995 in Ambo district, western Ethiopia. The prevalence of childhood behavioural disorder in children was found to be 17.7%. Behavioural disorder was found to be more common in boys than in girls. The prevalence increased with age. The most frequent symptoms reported were headache and nervousness. The least prevalent symptom was stealing things from home. As age increased, the risk of behavioural disorder increased. The increase in risk was statistically significant in the 15‐year‐old group when compared to the age group 5–7 years (adjusted Odds Ratio, OR =1.89, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.08–2.85). Childhood mental disorder was statistically significantly associated with parental age and with parental marital status. Children whose parents were 524 years old had a higher risk of having mental disorders (OR: 2.03, 95%CI: 1.30–3.16) compared to those children whose parents were in the 45+ age group. Children whose parents were categorized as unmarried, divorced, separated, or widowed had a higher risk of having behavioural disorders (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.70–2.91) than children whose parents were married. There was a statistically significant association between parental psychoneurosis and children's behavioural disorders; children whose mothers had psychoneuroses were at a higher risk of having behavioural disorders as compared to those whose mothers had no psychoneurosis (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.34–2.35).
Childhood behavioural disorders in Ambo district, western Ethiopia. II. Validation of the RQC
Authors: Tadesse B. , Kebede D. , Tegegne T. , Alem A.
Published: November 2007

We report here on a study conducted to measure the validity of an Amharic version of the Reporting Questionnaire for Children (RQC), that was used in a survey of childhood behavioural disorders in a predominantly rural district in western Ethiopia. Mothers of 196 children aged 5–15 years, who were initially interviewed by the RQC were re‐interviewed by a psychiatrist who was unaware of the RQC status of these children. The re‐interview was conducted using a DSM IV checklist. The study showed that a cut‐off point of one or more positive responses to any of the 10 questions on the RQC maximized sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (65%). The discriminatory power of each item was also computed, and the item dealing with wetting/soiling oneself was found to have the highest ability to identify cases from non‐cases. The item on abnormal speech was found to have the least discriminating power.
Family interventions in schizophrenia: an analysis of non‐adherence
Authors: Montero I. , Asencio A. P. , Ruiz I. , Hernández I.
Published: November 2007

Montero I, Asencio AP, Ruiz I, Hernández I. Family interventions in schizophrenia: an analysis of non‐adherence.

Acta Psychiatr Scand 1999: 100: 136–141. © Munksgaard 1999.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify baseline factors which may make it possible to predict non‐adherence to prescribed treatment.

Method: A total of 87 schizophrenic patients in a catchment area of Valencia (Spain) were randomly assigned to two family strategies. The characteristics associated with lack of adherence to the programmes were analysed in both the patients and their families.

Results: Older patients, those with a higher number of previous hospital admissions, those living in small households and those having relatives with little knowledge of schizophrenia at the time of the initial assessment were the main factors associated with a higher risk of dropping out of the interventions.

Conclusions: The findings of this study offer some guidance on suggesting intervention strategies that might reduce drop‐out rates in these types of programmes.
A retrospective study of clozapine and urinary incontinence in Chinese in‐patients
Authors: Lin C‐C. , Bai Y‐M. , Chen J‐Y. , Lin C‐Y. , Lan T‐H.
Published: November 2007

Lin C‐C, Bai Y‐M, Chen J‐Y, Lin C‐Y, Lan T‐H. A retrospective study of clozapine and urinary incontinence in Chinese in‐patients. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1999: 100: 158–161. © Munksgaard 1999.

Objective: This study investigated the incidence of clozapine‐associated urinary incontinence (UI) in schizophrenic patients, the percentage of these patients with persistent urinary incontinence (PUT), and the possible factors affecting the occurrence of UI.

Method: A total of 61 Chinese in‐patients with schizophrenia (according to DSM‐IV) treated with clozapine for more than 3 months were assessed retrospectively for the occurrence of UI. Patients who still had UI at the time of assessment were classified as having PUI. Patients whose UI had resolved at the time of assessment were classified as having self‐limited urinary incontinence (SUI). We compared the characteristics of UI and non‐UI cases and of PUI and SUI cases.

Results: The results showed that urinary incontinence developed at some time in 27 of 61 patients (44.3%), and that it was persistent in 15 of 61 patients (25%). There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, clozapine dose, duration of clozapine use, duration of index admission, duration of illness, age at onset of schizophrenia, or concurrent treatment with other psychiatric medications between the UT and non‐UI groups and between the PUI and SUI groups.

Conclusion: Clozapine‐associated urinary incontinence may be persistent in some patients, and it should be cautiously monitored in every patient taking clozapine.
Book Review
Authors: Bertelsen Aksel
Published: November 2007

Delusional disorder. Paranoia and related illnesses. By Alistair Munro. Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999.
Incidence of DIS/DSM‐IV social phobia in adults
Authors: Neufeld K. J. , Swartz K. L. , Bienvenu O. J. , Eaton W. W. , Cai G.
Published: November 2007

Neufeld KJ, Swartz KL, Bienvenu OJ, Eaton WW, Cai G. Incidence of DISIDSM‐IV social phobia in adults. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1999: 100: 186–192. © Munksgaard 1999.

Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the incidence of social phobia in the general population.

Method: The Baltimore cohort of 3481 subjects, sampled during the 1981 Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, was traced. A total of 1920 subjects were re‐interviewed from 1993 to 1996 using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). A subsample of 349 subjects was interviewed by psychiatrists using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry.

Results: The estimated incidence of DIS/DSM‐IV social phobia is 4–5/1000/year. New cases were found in all age groups, with the highest rates in subjects with baseline depressive and panic disorders. Psychiatric evaluations showed broad diagnostic concordance with DIS diagnoses in incident cases. However, validity indices were highly dependent on diagnostic thresholds. None of the psychiatrist‐ascertained social phobics had received treatment for the disorder, although the majority were considered likely to benefit from treatment.

Conclusion: New cases of social phobia occur in adults of all age groups, and are often secondary to other psychiatric conditions.
Fluvoxamine for phobia of storms
Authors: Balon R.
Published: November 2007

Balon R. Fluvoxamine for phobia of storms. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1999: 100: 244–246. © Munksgaard 1999.

Specific phobias are not usually treated unless they are disabling. Behavioural therapy is the treatment of choice for disabling specific phobias. Pharmacotherapy is generally not considered to be effective in specific phobias, and is therefore not used for this indication. However, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been reported to be effective in various anxiety disorders, and may be effective in specific phobias as well. This case report describes the successful treatment of phobia of storms with fluvoxamine in an 11 ‐year‐old boy. Fluvoxamine and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be a suitable option for treatment of disabling cases of specific phobia when behavioural therapy is not feasible for various reasons.
Nocturnal sweating and temperature in depression
Authors: Aver D. H. , Shah S. H. , Eder D. N. , Wildschindtz G.
Published: November 2007

Objective

Patients with depression may have altered thermoregulation, such as high nocturnal core temperatures, decreased daytime sweating and subjective complaints of nocturnal sweating. We sought to compare nocturnal sweating in depressed patients and non‐depressed controls, and to assess the impact of REM sleep on sweat rates.

Method

Nocturnal sweat rate, nocturnal temperature and REM sleep were measured during the night in 9 controls and 8 depressed subjects; 7 depressed patients were assessed during recovery.

Results

The nocturnal temperature was significantly higher in depressed patients compared to controls, and decreased significantly with recovery. The nocturnal sweat rates of depressed patients did not differ significantly from those of controls, but decreased significantly with recovery. Analyses of sweat rates before, during and after REM sleep indicated a trend for the entire sample to show a decrease in sweat rates during REM.

Conclusion

The nocturnal sweating rates in the depressed patients suggest that impaired sweating is not the cause of the high nocturnal temperature commonly found in depressed patients.
Personality disorder and the Temperament and Character Inventory in the elderly
Authors: Casey J. E. , Joyce P. R.
Published: November 2007

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of personality disorders in a group of elderly patients without an organic mental disorder and to examine the relationship between the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and personality disorder symptoms in psychogeriatric clinical practice.

Method

A total of 91 subjects completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐111‐R personality questionnaire and the 125‐item TCI.

Results

Of the 91 subjects, 34 individuals (31%) had at least one DSM‐111‐R personality disorder diagnosis, with avoidant, dependent and paranoid personality disorder being the most common. The trends and correlations between the temperament and character dimensions and the correlations between individual personality disorder symptoms and the dimensions were similar to those in the original model. The most significant findings were the strong negative correlations of the character scores of self‐directedness and co‐operativeness with the total number of personality disorder symptoms, and the fact that the self‐directedness scores predicted the number of personality disorder diagnoses.

Conclusion

The reported prevalence rate is comparable to studies of both younger and older patient populations using similar methodology. The TCI provides a useful framework for further research on personality disorders in the elderly.
Anorexia nervosa in a Spanish adolescent sample: an 8‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Pla C. , Toro J.
Published: November 2007

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the intermediate‐term outcome of a sample of Spanish children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Method

A total of 48 female patients were evaluated at a mean follow‐up time of 8 years by means of the Psychiatric Status Rating Scale, the Morgan and Russell Outcome Scale, a structured DSM‐III interview and several self‐report questionnaires. Their scores were compared with a sex‐ and age‐matched control group.

Results

Three patients (6%) still had AN, two (4%) had partial syndromes of anorexia, 11 patients (23%)) had recovered but still showed concern about foodlbody weight and 32 patients (67%) had recovered completely. The crude mortality rate was 2%).

Conclusion

The majority of this sample of children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa sample recovered. Perfectionism and interpersonal distrust were significantly more common in the anorexic patients than in the controls. Depression and phobias, including social phobia, were the most common comorbid psychiatric diagnoses at follow‐up.
Obsessive‐compulsive syndromes in older adolescents
Authors: Maina G. , Albert U. , Bogetto F. , Ravizza L.
Published: November 2007

Objective

This report presents data on the prevalence of both obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) and subthreshold obsessive‐compulsive syndrome (sOCS) in a representative sample of older male adolescents living in Piedmont, Italy.

Method

A total of 1883 recruits to the Italian Defence Force were interviewed using the OC portion of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. A diagnosis of sOCS was made for individuals who had obsessive and/or compulsive symptoms but who failed to meet one of the severity criteria of impairment.

Results

The point and lifetime prevalence rates of OCD were 2.0% and 2.6%, respectively. In total, 12.3% of the subjects received a current diagnosis of sOCS. No differences were found when examining prevalence rates according to area of residence or occupational status of the subjects.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that OCD is as common in older male adolescents as it is in adults, and that sOCS, being commonly endorsed in a general adolescent population, may represent a normal phenomenon in older adolescents.
A case of sequential anti‐stress medication in a patient with major depression resistant to amine‐reuptake inhibitors
Authors: Bech P. , Olsen L. Raabaek , Jarlφv N. , Hammer M. , Schütze T. , Breum L.
Published: November 2007

Bech P, Raabæk Olsen L, Jarlφv N, Hammer M, Schütze T, Breum L. A case of sequential anti‐stress medication in a patient with major depression resistant to amine‐reuptake inhibitors.

Acta Psychiatrica Scand 1999: 100: 76–78. © Munksgaard 1999.

One of the predictive factors of treatment‐resistant depression is the syndrome of relative insulin resistance, i.e. adipositas, mild hypertension and a family history of type‐2 diabetes. Such a case is here reported with a good outcome to anti‐stress medication, including ketoconazole and lithium.
Epitaxial growth of SrO on Si(001): Chemical and thermal stability
Authors: El Kazzi M. , Delhaye G. , Merckling C. , Bergignat E. , Robach Y. , Grenet G. , Hollinger G.
Published: November 2007

Heteroepitaxial SrO films grown on Si(001) are characterized by reflection high energy electron diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Special emphasis is put on the interface chemical, structural, and thermal stability because SrO films can be used as template layers for growing crystalline high-k oxides on Si(001). Ultrathin SrO layers of good crystalline quality with sharp interface with Si(001) can be grown at low temperature (50°C) and low partial oxygen pressure (<10−7Torr). In this case, plastic strain relaxation occurs rapidly at about one-monolayer SrO coverage. At higher temperature (500°C), both strontium and oxygen react with silicon to form a crystalline silicate with a composition close to Sr2SiO4. This silicate is thermodynamically unstable and, when annealed, transforms into a different silicate close to SrSiO3.
Polarized infrared reflectance study of wurtzite GaN thin film: The effects of angle of incidence on the optical phonon modes
Authors: Ng S. S. , Hassan Z. , Abu Hassan H.
Published: November 2007

We report on the polarized IR reflectance study of wurtzite GaN thin film grown on 6H-SiC substrate measured at various angles of incidence, namely, from 15° to 75°. Attention is focused on the effects of incident angles on the Brillouin zone center optical phonon modes of the GaN thin film. The reflection spectra are compared to the calculated spectra generated with a damped single harmonic oscillator model. Good agreement between the measured and calculated spectra has been obtained. Overall, the results revealed that the optical phonon modes of the GaN thin film and 6H-SiC substrate are independent of the angle of the incidence beam.
Factors influencing charge capacity of vanadium pentoxide thin films during lithium ion intercalation/deintercalation cycles
Authors: Alamarguy D. , Castle J. E. , Ibris N. , Salvi A. M.
Published: November 2007

The intercalation of vanadium pentoxide by lithium ions leads to a change in optical properties, a process that is of value in thin-film electrochromic devices. In this study, films of V2O5, deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass coupons by a sol-gel process, were challenged by increasing numbers of charge-discharge cycles ranging from 72 to 589 full cycles. The samples were characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and then examined in the deintercalated state by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). XPS enabled measurement of the thickness and composition of the solid-electrolyte interface and provided evidence of the residual V4+ concentration within the top few nanometers of the surface. The SIMS profile gave direct information on the thickness of the films and on the thickness loss caused by rinsing the samples after the electrochemical exposure. Determination, by SIMS, of the concentration of lithium ions has enabled a correction to be made for the amount of inactive material within the electrochemically active region of the film. The SIMS depth profiles for lithium in the four samples are similar, with a marked buildup of Li at the interface with the ITO. This interphase zone had a thickness of ∼27nm and was electrochemically inactive, enabling a further correction to be made. Thus, by means of the XPS and the SIMS results the chemistry and thickness of the films could be fully characterized. The remaining inconsistency between capacity (between 35% and 100% of the anticipated charge) and number of cycles is ascribed to edge effects arising from the method used for production of the coupons.
Temporal Regulation of Interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70) and IL-12-Related Cytokines in Splenic Dendritic Cell Subsets duringLeishmania donovaniInfection
Authors: Maroof Asher , Kaye Paul M.
Published: November 2007

Dendritic cells (DC) play an essential role in initiating and directing T-cell responses, in part by production of interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70), IL-23, and IL-27. However, comparative studies on the capacity for cytokine production of DC subsets are rare. Here, we compare splenic CD8α+, CD4+, and double-negative (DN) DC, isolated 5 h to 28 days afterLeishmania donovaniinfection, for (i) production of IL-12p70, (ii) accumulation of IL-12/23p40, IL-12p35, IL-23p19, and IL-27p28 mRNAs, and (iii) their capacity to direct CD4+T-cell differentiation. At 5 h, conventional DC (cDC) accumulated mRNA for IL-12/23p40 (CD8α>CD4>DN), IL-23p19 (CD4>CD8α>DN), and IL-27p28 (CD8α>CD4>DN), in an infection dose-dependent manner. IL-12p70 was restricted to CD8α+cDC, reflecting the subset-specific accumulation of IL-12p35 mRNA. In contrast, cDC from mice infected for 14 to 28 days accumulated little mRNA for IL-12p40 and IL-12p19, though IL-27p28 mRNA remained detectable (CD8α>DN>CD4). IL-12p70 secretion by CD8α+cDC was also absent, reflecting deficient IL-12/23p40, rather than IL-12p35, mRNA accumulation. The capacity of CD8α+cDC isolated early after infection to direct Th1 cell differentiation was mediated through IL-12/23p40, whereas this ability in CD4+and DN cDC was independent of IL-12/23p40 and did not result from overexpression of Delta 4 Notch-like ligand. However, DN cDC produced gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and also contained a rare population of CD11chiDX5+IFN-γ-producing cells. Our data illustrate the extensive diversity in, and temporal regulation of, splenic cDC subsets during infection and suggest caution in interpreting data obtained with unfractionated or minimally purified DC.
Macrophage-Elicited Osteoclastogenesis in Response to Bacterial Stimulation Requires Toll-Like Receptor 2-Dependent Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Production
Authors: Ukai Takashi , Yumoto Hiromichi , Gibson Frank C. , Genco Caroline Attardo
Published: November 2007

The receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and the proinflammatory cytokines are believed to play important roles in osteoclastogenesis. We recently reported that the innate immune recognition receptor, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), is crucial for inflammatory bone loss in response to infection by
Porphyromonas gingivalis
, the primary organism associated with chronic inflammatory periodontal disease. However, the contribution of macrophage-expressed TLRs to osteoclastogenesis has not been defined. In this study, we defined a requirement for TLR2 in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-elicited osteoclastogenesis in response to exposure to
P. gingivalis.
Culture supernatant (CS) fluids from
P. gingivalis
-stimulated macrophages induced bone marrow macrophage-derived osteoclastogenesis. This activity was dependent on TNF-α and occurred independently of RANKL, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6. CS fluids from
P. gingivalis
-stimulated TLR2
−/−
macrophages failed to express TNF-α, and these fluids induced significantly less osteoclast formation compared with that of the wild-type or the TLR4
−/−
macrophages. In addition,
P. gingivalis
exposure induced up-regulation of TLR2 expression on the cell surface of macrophages, which was demonstrated to functionally react to reexposure to
P. gingivalis
, as measured by a further increase in TNF-α production. These results demonstrate that macrophage-dependent TLR2 signaling is crucial for TNF-α-dependent/RANKL-independent osteoclastogenesis in response to
P. gingivalis
infection. Furthermore, the ability of
P. gingivalis
to induce the cell surface expression of TLR2 may contribute to the chronic inflammatory state induced by this pathogen.
STABILITY ANALYSIS OF IMPULSIVE COHEN-GROSSBERG NEURAL NETWORK WITH UNBOUNDED DISCRETE TIME-VARYING DELAYS
Authors: SONG QIANKUN , CAO JINDE
Published: November 2007

In this paper, the impulsive Cohen-Grossberg neural network with unbounded discrete time-varying delays is considered. By using the analysis method and inequality technique, several sufficient conditions are obtained to ensure the global exponential stability of the addressed neural network. These results generalize the existing relevant stability results. Two examples with simulations are given to show the effectiveness of the obtained results.
THE SHADOW OF LIGHT: CHALLENGING CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
Authors: CARDONE FABIO , MIGNANI ROBERTO
Published: November 2007

We review some optical experiments, carried out in the last decade, which evidence an anomalous behavior of photon systems. Their results are apparently at variance with both standard quantum mechanics (in the Copenhagen interpretation) and usual (classical and quantum) electrodynamics. In particular, they can be interpreted as a virtual interference involving the pilot waves associated to photons (according to Bohmian quantum mechanics). The anomalous effects exhibit a threshold behavior in energy and space, which agrees with results obtained on the electromagnetic breakdown of local Lorentz invariance. A possible connection between these seemingly unrelated implications of the observed phenomenon can be set by assuming that the pilot wave of a photon is a deformation of spacetime ("shadow of light").
STABILITY OF NONLINEAR TE SURFACE WAVES ALONG THE BOUNDARY OF LINEAR GYRODIELECTRIC MEDIA
Authors: MOUSA H. M. , SHABAT M. M.
Published: November 2007

The stability characteristics of nonlinear surface waves propagating at a linear gyrodielectric substrate and a nonlinear dielectric cover have been simulated numerically by using the perturbation method. The growth rate of perturbation is computed by solving the dispersion equation of perturbation. We found that the nonlinear surface waves are unstable when their growth rate of perturbation is real, and stable when their growth rate of perturbation is imaginary. The spatial evolution of the steady-state field amplitude is determined using a computer simulation method.
THERMAL TRANSPORT OF MgB2 SUPERCONDUCTORS: INTERPLAY BETWEEN ELECTRON AND LATTICE-IMPURITY SCATTERING
Authors: VARSHNEY DINESH , NAGAR M. , CHOUDHARY K. K.
Published: November 2007

We use the Kubo model to calculate the lattice contribution to the thermal conductivity (κph) in MgB 2 superconductors. The theory is formulated when heat transfer is limited by the scattering of phonons from defects, grain boundaries, charge carriers, and phonons. The lattice thermal conductivity in normal state of MgB 2 superconductors dominates and is an artifact of strong phonon-impurity and -phonon scattering mechanism. Later on, the electronic contribution to the thermal conductivity (κe) is calculated within relaxation time approximation for π and σ band carriers with s wave symmetry. Such an estimate sets an upper bound on κe and is about 30% of the total heat transfer at room temperature. The validity of the Wiedemann Franz law is also examined and an enhanced Lorenz number is obtained. Both these channels for heat transfer are clubbed and κ tot develops a broad peak at about 120 K, before falling off at higher temperatures weakly. The anomalies reported are well-accounted in terms of the scattering mechanism by phonon and electron with impurities. It is shown that the behavior of the thermal conductivity is determined by competition among the several operating scattering mechanisms for the heat carriers and a balance between electron and lattice contributions. The contribution of carriers toward κ is substantial and is due to the fact that the carriers are condensed and do not carry entropy. We include comparisons with other theoretical calculations on κe and available experimental data. The numerical analysis of heat transfer in the metallic phase of MgB 2 shows similar results as those revealed from experiments.
Variations in otolith elemental compositions of two clupeid species,

Stolothrissa tanganicae

and

Limnothrissa miodon

in Lake Tanganyika
Authors: Sako Aboubakar , O'Reilly Catherine M. , Hannigan Robyn , Bickford Nate , Johnson Ronald L.
Published: November 2007

Lake Tanganyika in East Africa has two primary basins (Northern and Southern) and borders four sovereign countries. Effective management of the fisheries of this lake requires sound biological understanding of the various fish stocks. The feasibility of fish stock identification within different basins and sub-basins of this lake was attempted through otolith elemental composition analysis. Element ratio signatures of whole sagittal otoliths (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca) of two commercially important clupeid species (
Stolothrissa
tanganicae
, n=18;
Limnothrissa
miodon
, n=32) were used to classify individual fish to their resident basins. No element ratios in
L. miodon
otoliths were significantly different between Southern sub-basins, yet Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios were significantly different for individuals from the Northern and Southern basins. Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios were also significantly different between otoliths of sympatric
L
.
miodon
and
S
.
tanganicae
in the Northern Bujumbura Sub-basin. Species differences may be due to ontogenetic and environmental variables. Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca element concentration ratios contributed greatly to basin classification of individual fish. Canonical discriminant analysis correctly classified 91% of
L. miodon
and 83.3% of
S. tanganicae
to the Bujumbura sub-basin, compared to 59.9% of
L. miodon
collected from the Southern Basin that were correctly classified to this basin. These classification rates are similar to those found for estuarine species. Our results of a limited study suggest that otolith element compositions can be used as a natural tag to identify fish stocks in Lake Tanganyika and assist in the implementation of a multi-national fisheries best management plan.
Determination of selected actinides (U, Pu and Am) in Belarus soils using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass and gamma spectrometry
Authors: Entwistle Jane A. , Flowers Alan G. , Greenwood Joanna C. , Mellor Antony , Nageldinger Guido
Published: November 2007

Depth distributions are presented for actinides and
137
Cs in soils in agricultural areas of SE Belarus, where Chernobyl fallout levels of
90
Sr and
137
Cs in the soil have led to the land being taken out of habitation and agricultural use. Both gamma spectroscopy and high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) are used to provide absolute values of soil activity concentrations of U, Pu and Am isotopes, and also to provide isotope ratios.

At our selected far-field locations (over 150 km from Chernobyl) the Chernobyl
137
Cs fission product contamination levels are comparable (at
c
. 10
5
Bq kg
−1
) to those at our exclusion zone sampling site at 15 km from Chernobyl. The levels of transuranium isotopes at the far-field locations are, however, significantly lower, at below 2% of those observed in the exclusion zone site, whilst the levels of anthropogenic
235
U are less than 10% of those naturally present.

Our exclusion zone site, in October 2001, had a residual total surface deposition level of
239+240
Pu of 23,780 Bq m
−2
, whilst the two far-field sites had
239+240
Pu at levels of 190 Bq m
−2
and 41 Bq m
−2
. The inhomogeneity of the transuranic isotope concentrations in these areas, and the decay of
241
Pu to
241
Am, may result in certain far-field locations with a long-term significant radiological hazard.