The Relationship Between Bullying Victimization and Perpetration and Non-suicidal Self-injury: A Systematic Review

Experience of bullying may be a significant risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). This study had three aims: to systematically investigate the association between bullying and NSSI, analyze the possible mechanisms underlying the two phenomena, and evaluate any differences between bullying victimization and bullying perpetration with respect to NSSI. A systematic search about the association between bullying victimization and perpetration and NSSI was conducted using specific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct). The following keywords were used in all database searches: "bullying" AND "NSSI" OR "peer victimization" and NSSI. The searches in PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct revealed a total of 88 articles about bullying or peer victimization and NSSI. However, only 29 met our inclusion criteria and were used for the present review. Overall, all studies examined victimization; four studies also evaluated the effects of perpetration and one included bully-victims. According to the main findings, both being a victim of bullying and perpetrating bullying may increase the risk of adverse psychological outcomes in terms of NSSI and suicidality in the short and the long run. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to systematically evaluate the relation between bullying victimization/perpetration and NSSI. The main results support a positive association. Future research should evaluate the possible role of specific mediators/moderators of the association between experience of bullying and NSSI.

A specific “at risk” profile related to recent stressful life events in euthymic major depressive disorder

Introduction

Stressful life events (SLE) may influence the illness course and outcome.

Objectives

The present study aimed to characterize socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of euthymic major depressive disorder (MDD) outpatients with SLE relative to those without.

Methods

This sample included 628 (mean age=55.1 ± 16.1) currently euthymic MDD outpatients, among them 250 (39.8%) reported SLE and 378 (60.2%) did not.

Results

After univariate analyses, outpatients with SLE were most frequently widowed and lived predominantly with friends/others. Furthermore, compared to outpatients without SLE, those with SLE were more likely to have a family history of suicidal behavior, manifested melancholic characteristics and higher Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced (COPE) positive reinterpretation/growth and less likely to manifest a comorbid panic disorder, residual interepisodic symptoms, have used psychiatric medications, and use current antidepressant medications. After regression analyses, having a family history of suicide (OR=9.697; p=≤.05), history of psychotropic medications use (OR=2.888; p=≤.05), and reduced use of antidepressants (OR=.321; p=.001) were significantly associated with SLE. Mediation analyses demonstrated that the association between current use of antidepressants and SLE was mediated by previous psychiatric medications.

Conclusions

Having a family history of suicide, history of psychotropic medications use, and reduced use of antidepressants may confer a specific “at risk” profile related to the enhanced vulnerability to experience SLE.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

General Relativity and the AKSZ Construction

In this note the AKSZ construction is applied to the BFV description of the reduced phase space of the Einstein-Hilbert and of the Palatini-Cartan theories in every space-time dimension greater than two. In the former case one obtains a BV theory for the first-order formulation of Einstein-Hilbert theory, in the latter a BV theory for Palatini-Cartan theory with a partial implementation of the torsion-free condition already on the space of fields. All theories described here are BV versions of the same classical system on cylinders. The AKSZ implementations we present have the advantage of yielding a compatible BV-BFV description, which is the required starting point for a quantization in presence of a boundary.

Bullying victimization/perpetration and non-suicidal self-injury: A systematic review

Introduction

Experience of bullying may be a significant risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).

Objectives

This study had three aims: to systematically investigate the association between bullying and NSSI, to analyze the possible mechanisms underlying the two phenomena, and to evaluate any differences between bullying victimization and bullying perpetration with respect to NSSI.

Methods

A systematic search about the association between bullying victimization and perpetration and NSSI was conducted using specific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct). The following keywords were used in all database searches: “bullying” AND “NSSI” OR “peer victimization” and NSSI.

Results

The searches in PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct revealed a total of 88 articles about bullying or peer victimization and NSSI. However, only 29 met our inclusion criteria and were used for the present review. Overall, all studies examined victimization; 4 studies also evaluated the effects of perpetration and 1 included bully-victims. According to the main findings, both being a victim of bullying and perpetrating bullying may increase the risk of adverse psychological outcomes in terms of NSSI and suicidality in the short and the long run.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to systematically evaluate the relation between bullying victimization/perpetration and NSSI. The main results support a positive association. Future research should evaluate the possible role of specific mediators/moderators of the association between experience of bullying and NSSI.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Gravitational Constraints on a Lightlike Boundary

We analyse the boundary structure of general relativity in the coframe formalism in the case of a lightlike boundary, i.e. when the restriction of the induced Lorentzian metric to the boundary is degenerate. We describe the associated reduced phase space in terms of constraints on the symplectic space of boundary fields. We explicitly compute the Poisson brackets of the constraints and identify the first- and second-class ones. In particular, in the 3+1-dimensional case, we show that the reduced phase space has two local degrees of freedom, instead of the usual four in the non-degenerate case.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on suicidal behavior: A systematic review

The efficacy and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in major depression is well-known and documented by existing studies. However, whether rTMS may be effective on suicidal behavior is unclear and needs to be further investigated. This systematic review is aimed to investigate the available literature about the effects of rTMS on suicidal behavior and provide a comprehensive overview of the available evidence. A systematic search regarding the association between rTMS and suicidal behavior was carried out. All relevant articles concerning this association were comprehensively searched on PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and PsycInfo databases. After a careful search, 16 articles (7 sham-controlled studies, 5 uncontrolled studies, 4 case-series) met inclusion criteria and were selected in this systematic review. Overall, the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was identified as the most frequent stimulation target by most studies. Unfortunately, actually it is not clear whether suicidal behavior reduction may be mediated, at least in some cases, by depression attenuation. While some methodological heterogeneity was found in terms of stimulation parameters (e.g., frequency, number of sessions, intensity of stimulation), most of the analyzed articles showed that rTMS is a safe, applicable, well tolerated and reproducible method in treating suicidal behavior. The most effective treatment seems to be the bilateral rTMS as well as the combination with antidepressants. Further longitudinal studies are required in order to replicate the mentioned study results.

Clinical and neurocognitive characteristics associated with treatment-resistant depression

Introduction

Treatment resistant depression (TRD) is a disabling condition associated with a relevant psychosocial impairment worldwide.

Objectives

This exploratory study is aimed to evaluate the main clinical and neurocognitive characteristics in a sample of 21 subjects admitted to the Psychiatric Clinic of University of Genoa as inpatients between 2015 and 2016 and diagnosed with TRD according to Thase and Rush staging method.

Methods

Patients have been assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). The Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Trial Making Test (TMT-A/B), Stroop Color Word Interference Test, Verbal Fluency Test, and Rey auditory-verbal learning test (RAVLT) have been administered as well.

Results

Subjects with early-onset (< 50 years) depression had a longer illness duration, higher depressive episodes and more impaired performance at RAVLT while individuals with late-onset (> 50 years) depression showed a higher severity of depressive symptoms and more anxiety symptoms. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.82; P = 0.00) and negatively with TMT-A/B (r = −0.56, P = 0.01), Stroop Color Word Interference Test (r = −0.72, P = 0.005 and r = −0.616, P = 0.008), and RAVLT (r = −0.60; P = 0.02) performances. According to regression analyses, anxiety symptoms were the only significant predictor of depression severity (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Early-onset depression is associated with more disability and worse neurocognitive performance whereas late-onset depression is linked to more anxiety symptoms and more depressive symptoms severity. Clinicians should closely monitor patients with TRD for the presence of anxiety symptoms that may represent a significant risk factor of poorer long-term outcome.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Recent Stressful Life Events in Euthymic Major Depressive Disorder Patients: Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics

BACKGROUND

Stressful life events (SLE) may influence the illness course and outcome. This study aimed to characterize socio-demographic and clinical features of euthymic major depressive disorder (MDD) outpatients with SLE compared with those without.

METHODS

The present sample included 628 (mean age=55.1 ± 16.1) currently euthymic MDD outpatients of whom 250 (39.8%) reported SLE and 378 (60.2%) did not.

RESULTS

After univariate analyses, outpatients with SLE were most frequently widowed and lived predominantly with friends/others. Moreover, relative to outpatients without SLE, those with SLE were more likely to have a family history of suicidal behavior, manifested melancholic features, report a higher Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced (COPE) positive reinterpretation/growth and less likely to have a comorbid panic disorder, residual interepisodic symptoms, use previous psychiatric medications, and currently use of antidepressants. Having a family history of suicide (OR=9.697; p=≤.05), history of psychotropic medications use (OR=2.888; p=≤.05), and reduced use of antidepressants (OR=.321; p=.001) were significantly associated with SLE after regression analyses. Mediation analyses showed that the association between current use of antidepressants and SLE was mediated by previous psychiatric medications.

CONCLUSION

Having a family history of suicide, history of psychotropic medications use, and reduced use of antidepressants is linked to a specific "at risk" profile characterized by the enhanced vulnerability to experience SLE.

Differential clinical characteristics and possible predictors of bipolarity in a sample of unipolar and bipolar inpatients

Major affective conditions including both unipolar (UD) and bipolar disorders (BD) are associated with significant disability throughout the life course. We aimed to investigate the most relevant socio-demographic/clinical differences between UD and BD subjects. Our sample included 180 inpatients, of which 82 (45.5%) participants were diagnosed with UD and 98 (54.5%) with BD. Relative to UD patients, BD individuals were more likely to report prior psychoactive medications, lifetime psychotic symptoms, nicotine abuse, a reduced ability to provide to their needs, gambling behavior, and fewer nonsuicidal self-harm episodes. Moreover, BD patients were more likely to report severe side effects related to medications, a younger age at illness onset and first hospitalization, higher illness episodes, and longer illness duration in years than UD subjects. In a multivariate logistic analysis accounting for age, gender, and socio-demographic characteristics, a significant positive contribution to bipolarity was found only for higher lifetime psychotic symptoms (β = 1.178; p ≤ .05) and number of illness episodes (β = .155; p ≤ .05). The present findings suggest that specific clinical factors may be used in order to better distinguish between UD and BD subgroups. Further studies are required to replicate these findings in larger samples.

Sensory profiles in unipolar and bipolar affective disorders: Possible predictors of response to antidepressant medications? A prospective follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Sensory processing patterns have been proposed as a stable dimension able to characterize individuals with major affective disorders, but to what extent specific impairments in sensory processing may be involved in the pathophysiology of these conditions is poorly understood. We aimed to explore which sensory profiles may better respond to psychoactive medications, with particular regard to antidepressants, according to depression, alexithymia, and hopelessness levels.

METHODS

A total of 402 outpatients who received maintenance treatment and were in stable psychopathological conditions were recruited and completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), second version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) according to a longitudinal prospective study design including three time points of measurements.

RESULTS

Subjects with abnormally reduced sensory seeking, hypersensitivity, enhanced sensory avoidance, and lower ability to register information better responded to antidepressant medications according to their reduced depression levels. Similarly, participants with lower registration better responded to antidepressants as reported by lower hopelessness levels. Regression analyses revealed that the use of antidepressants was the first variable able to predict depression, hopelessness, and alexithymia levels at baseline, and after three and six months of treatment, respectively, but the pattern of sensory sensitivity contribute to the prediction of depression and hopelessness. This pattern together with low registration predicted changes in alexithymia levels.

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by the modest sample size at the follow-up assessment points.

DISCUSSION

Exploring sensory processing patterns may provide intriguing insights into specific illness characteristics and treatment response.

The Efficacy of Buprenorphine in Major Depression, Treatment-Resistant Depression and Suicidal Behavior: A Systematic Review

Although several pharmacological options to treat depression are currently available, approximately one third of patients who receive antidepressant medications do not respond adequately or achieve a complete remission. Thus, novel strategies are needed to successfully address those who did not respond, or partially respond, to available antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Research findings revealed that the opioid system is significantly involved in the regulation of mood and incentives salience and may be an appropriate target for novel therapeutic agents. The present study aimed to systematically review the current literature about the use of buprenorphine (BUP) for major depression, treatment-resistant depression (TRD), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior, and suicidal behavior. We investigated Pubmed and Scopus databases using the following keywords: "buprenorphine AND depression", "buprenorphine AND treatment resistant depression", "buprenorphine AND suicid*", "buprenorphine AND refractory depression". Several evidence demonstrate that, at low doses, BUP is an efficacious, well-tolerated, and safe option in reducing depressive symptoms, serious suicidal ideation, and NSSI, even in patients with TRD. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects, and relative efficacy of specific combinations (e.g., BUP + samidorphan (BUP/SAM), BUP + naloxone (BUP/NAL), BUP + naltrexone) over BUP monotherapy or adjunctive BUP treatment with standard antidepressants, as well as to obtain more uniform guidance about the optimal BUP dosing interval.

Abnormalities in Kynurenine Pathway Metabolism in Treatment-Resistant Depression and Suicidality: A Systematic Review

Treatment resistant depression (TRD) and suicidal behavior are among the most important public health problems and are commonly associated with significant disability and psychosocial impairment. Although there have been recent advances in identifying the neurobiological correlates of these complex conditions, their pathophysiology still remains unclear. Compared to non-suicidal subjects, higher mean concentrations of inflammatory mediators have been found in both the periphery and brain of individuals at risk for suicide. Several lines of evidence suggest that neuroinflammation is accompanied by a dysregulation of the kynurenine pathway (KP) in both TRD and suicidal individuals, resulting in an imbalance of neuroactive metabolites. In particular, neuroinflammation may trigger an increased production of the N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist quinolinic acid and a concomitant reduction of neuroprotective metabolites, potentially causing downstream effects in glutamatergic systems resulting in depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. This systematic review of the current literature is mainly aimed to summarize the most important evidence pertaining to KP metabolism abnormalities in TRD and suicidal behavior. Targeting the KP enzymes may provide innovative approaches in the management of both TRD and suicidality.

Irritable temperament and lifetime psychotic symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms in bipolar disorder

PURPOSE

Affective temperaments, hopelessness, alexithymia, and anxiety/agitation symptoms may play a significant role in the psychopathological characteristics of bipolar disorder (BD). Here, we aimed to investigate the eventual association between the mentioned explanatory variables and anxiety/agitation symptoms in BD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We recruited at the Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University of Genoa (Italy), 92 BD inpatients having a mean age of 52 (±13.8) years. Participants were assessed using specific psychometric instruments. Anxiety/agitation symptoms have been evaluated using the 11-item of the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II).

RESULTS

Overall, 53.8% of participants presented with anxiety/agitation symptoms and 46.2% without. The two groups significantly differed about socio-economic status, lifetime psychotic symptoms, and residual depressive symptoms between episodes. Anxiety/agitation symptoms significantly correlated with irritable affective temperament (r = 0.407; p = .01), hopelessness (r = 0.541; p ≤ .001), difficulty identifying feelings (r = 0.440; p ≤ .001), difficulty describing feelings (r = 0.437; p ≤ .001), and externally oriented-thinking (r = 0.393; p ≤ .001). After multivariate analyses, irritable affective temperament (OR = 2.457, p ≤ .01) and less lifetime psychotic symptoms (OR = 0.007, p ≤ .05) remained the only significant variables associated with anxiety/agitation symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The generalization of the main findings is limited by the small sample size and cross-sectional study design. Nevertheless, our results suggest that the careful assessment of affective temperaments and psychotic symptoms may help to early identify BD patients suffering from anxiety/agitation symptoms and may allow to perform targeted interventions in the clinical practice.

On status epilepticus and pins: A systematic content analysis

Status epilepticus (SE) can be defined as abnormally prolonged, persistent, or recurrent clinical and/or electrographic epileptic activity and, as such, is a challenging medical emergency requiring an aggressive treatment aimed at promptly terminating the seizures. It imposes a relevant clinical burden, both in terms of comorbidity and mortality. In the era of the Web 2.0, most people search the Web to obtain SE-related information. The current investigation aimed at qualitatively characterizing the pins related to SE: Pinterest, "the world's catalog of ideas", is a visual social networking site that enables users to freely upload visual material, to bookmark, and to share it (repin). Using SE as a keyword, 192 pins were extracted and analyzed on the basis of their content. Fifty-five were found to meet the inclusion criteria. Fifty-six point four percent of the pins reported at least one cause of SE, the most quoted of which being remote brain injuries (47.3% of the pins); 54.5% and 45.5% of the included pins reported SE symptoms and diagnosis, respectively; 72.7% and 40.0% of pins focused on SE treatment and on prognosis, respectively; and 50.9%, 30.9%, and 40.0% of the pins were intended for physicians, medical/nursing students, and lay people, respectively. Only 12.7% of pins were patient-centered and devoted to fund-raising and advocacy. In the field of neurological diseases, Pinterest, despite being a "pinstructive" tool, is too much overlooked and underused for advocacy purposes. Healthcare workers and stakeholders should be aware of the opportunities offered by Pinterest and exploit this visual social networking site for raising awareness of the life-threatening condition of SE, promoting fund-raising campaigns.

Environmental complexity of a port: Evidence from circulation of the water masses, and composition and contamination of bottom sediments

Ports are complex environments due to their complicated geometry (quays, channels, and piers), the presence of human activities (vessel traffic, shipyards, industries, and discharges), and natural factors (stream and torrent inputs, sea action, and currents). Taking these factors into consideration, we have examined the marine environment of a port from the point of view of the circulation of the water masses, hydrological characteristics, distribution of the sediment grain-size, mineralogical characteristics, and metal concentrations of the bottom sediments. Our results show that, in the case of the Port of Genoa (north-western Italy), the impact of human activities (such as a coal power-plant, oil depots, shipyards, dredging of the bottom sediments, etc.), natural processes (such as currents, fresh water and sediment inputs from the torrents), and the morphology of the basin, are important factors in the sediment, water, and metal distributions that have given rise to a complex environment.

The Relationship between Childhood Maltreatment and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with an increased risk of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behaviors. However, the exact nature of the association between CM and NSSI is currently unclear. The present review aimed to systematically investigate the association between CM and NSSI in adolescence and early adulthood.

METHODS

A systematic search of four major electronic databases covering both medical and social science research (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and PsycINFO) was conducted.

RESULTS

Overall, 20 cross-sectional studies including a total of 22,517 individuals, 3 longitudinal follow-up studies including 1,728 individuals, and 3 retrospective studies including 62,089 individuals were selected. It appears that CM is a significant risk factor for both NSSI and suicide attempts. The increased vulnerability to NSSI seems to be related to experiences of CM, particularly sexual abuse. Gender differences were also found. Generally, when compared to males, females who experienced CM seem to be more vulnerable to presenting with NSSI and suicidal behaviors.

CONCLUSION

There is a positive association between CM and NSSI. The importance of early detection and risk reduction of self-injurious behavior for adolescents is discussed.

Infodemiological data of West-Nile virus disease in Italy in the study period 2004-2015

Google Trends (GT) was mined from 2004 to 2015, searching for West-Nile virus disease (WNVD) in Italy. GT-generated data were modeled as a time series and were analyzed using classical time series analyses. In particular, correlation between GT-based Relative Search Volumes (RSVs) related to WNVD and “real-world” epidemiological cases in the same study period resulted r=0.76 (p<0.0001) on a monthly basis and r=0.80 (p<0.0001) on a yearly basis. The partial autocorrelation analysis and the spectral analysis confirmed that a 1-year regular pattern could be detected. Correlation between GT-based RSVs related to WNVD yielded a r=0.54 (p<0.05) on a regional basis. Summarizing, GT-generated data concerning WNVD well correlated with epidemiology and could be exploited for complementing traditional surveillance.

Evaluation of the boundary condition influence on PAH concentrations in the water column during the sediment dredging of a port

The mobilisation of sediments and related contaminants connected to dredging activities is one of the most critical issues to the environmental risk and exposure assessment of a dredging project. The aim of this paper was an investigation of the mobilisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to the dredging of the Port of Genoa (Italy) to identify the temporal and spatial extent of the contaminant transport, and the influence of the dredging and the boundary conditions on it. The results showed relatively low background PAH concentrations in the water column and confirmed the dredging as the primary rising factor of concentrations in the water column, but also showed a complex scenario in which the different environmental and dredging factors forced the concentrations at different levels and moments. The post dredging phase showed PAH values close to the background conditions and the concentrations remained relatively high only for a few PAHs.

[Is prophyilaxis necessary after urodynamic tests? Our experience]

Urodynamic studies should be performed only on patients with sterile urine. The use of prophylaxis after urodynamic investigation is debated (positive urinoculture in 9 to 15% of cases). The Units of Urodynamics at the Urological Clinic of the University of Genoa and of the Galliera Hospital of Genoa assessed the prevalence of bacteriuria on a sample of 336 patients (314 females and 22 males), average age 62.3, between January and December 2006. All patients with sterile urine before examination underwent a complete urodynamic test. Concomitant diseases were: diabetes (7.7%), multiple sclerosis (3.5%), Parkinson's disease (1.2%), urinary retention treated by autocatheterism (1.2 %). Urinoculture was performed seven days after the urodynamic study. All patients were asymptomatic; 40/336 urinocultures were positive (E. coli 80%, Proteus M. 10%, other 10%). The prophylaxis does not eliminate but only reduces post-urodynamic infections; we believe that the cost-benefit ratio is unfavorable.

Is Prophyilaxis Necessary after Urodynamic Tests? Our Experience

Urodynamic studies should be performed only on patients with sterile urine. The use of prophylaxis after urodynamic investigation is debated (positive urinoculture in 9 to 15% of cases). The Units of Urodynamics at the Urological Clinic of the University of Genoa and of the Galliera Hospital of Genoa assessed the prevalence of bacteriuria on a sample of 336 patients (314 females and 22 males), average age 62.3, between January and December 2006.

All patients with sterile urine before examination underwent a complete urodynamic test. Concomitant diseases were: diabetes (7.7%), multiple sclerosis (3.5%), Parkinson's disease (1.2%), urinary retention treated by autocatheterism (1.2 %). Urinoculture was performed seven days after the urodynamic study. All patients were asymptomatic; 40/336 urinocultures were positive (E. coli 80%, Proteus M. 10%, other 10%). The prophylaxis does not eliminate but only reduces post-urodynamic infections; we believe that the cost-benefit ratio is unfavorable.

Olanzapine treatment in adolescents with severe conduct disorder

The most severe forms of conduct disorder (CD) are highly stable and disabling disorders, more likely to persist in time and to evolve into disruptive or antisocial behaviors. One crucial issue in the prognosis of these forms of CD is the high resistance to both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments, with antipsychotic drugs being frequently used in refractory cases. Aim of this study was: (1) to explore efficacy and tolerability of olanzapine treatment in adolescents with severe CD; (2) to identify predictors of olanzapine treatment outcome. This was a retrospective study, based on clinical records of the first 23 adolescents diagnosed as having a CD, diagnosed with a clinical interview (K-SADS), either pure or with comorbid diagnoses, and treated with olanzapine. All these patients did not respond satisfactorily to non-pharmacological intervention and to adequate dosages of mood stabilizers (lithium and/or valproate). The sample consisted of 16 males and seven females, 16 inpatients and seven outpatients (mean age 13.6 +/- 1.9 years, range 11-17.2 years), followed-up for a period ranging from 6 to 12 months (mean 8.8 +/- 2.7 months). Outcome measures included the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) and Children Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). During the follow-up, all patients were involved in non-pharmacological treatments (psychotherapy, family therapy, or day-hospital group treatments). Based on both an improvement of at least 50% at MOAS and a score 1 or 2 at CGI-I, 14 out of 23 patients (60.9%) were classified as responders at the end of the follow-up. Significant improvement at the last observation was found in MOAS (P < 0.001) and CGAS (P < 0.001) scores. Olanzapine dosage was 8 +/- 3.2 mg/day (range 5-20 mg/day). Mean weight gain at the end of the follow-up was 4.6 +/- 3 kg. The predictors of a positive treatment response was an impulsive-affective versus controlled-predatory type of aggression. Age at onset of CD and comorbid disorders did not affect treatment response. These preliminary findings suggest that olanzapine may improve behavior in adolescents with severe and treatment-refractory CD and impulsive aggression.

Social adjustment in children with Down mental retardation (MRD) and Fragile-X mental retardation (MRX)

BACKGROUND

Since adjustment abilities became important in mental retardation (MR) diagnosis, it seemed interesting to study social adjustment in persons with MR Down (RMD) and MR Fragile-X (RMX). These two syndromes are the most common causes of MR of chromosomal origin. To evaluate the influence of temperament insofar as behavior and temperament are concerned in social adjustment, we studied temperamental dimensions (emotionality, activity, sociability and shyness) and social functioning (attention problems and withdrawal).

METHODS

Our study group was composed of 35 children with MR; 23 with RMD (F=14) age range 4 to 21, and 12 (F=1) with RMX age ranged from 5 to 19. #Social adjustment was evaluated by two scales: EAS and CBCL.

RESULTS

The six evaluated dimensions of adjustment functioning (emotionality, activity, sociability, shyness, attention problems and withdrawal) differ in the two MRD and MRX groups. MRX scores are all higher except for sociability; shyness, attention problems and emotionality show a significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

The RMX group is that one may have more difficulty in social adjustment. This is because they are characterized by hyperactivity, withdrawal, low attention, low social function and high emotionality that are all negative symptoms for a social adjustment. In our study group MRD have higher values in the sociability area and they don't show relevant behavioral disorders and they have got more adaptive abilities. We may hypothesize that this attitude is a part of their genetic structure, and also that the best social adjustment of Down persons may be linked to a better interaction with the environment.

Horseshoe-shaped marlex mesh for the treatment of pelvic floor prolapse

OBJECTIVE

Pelvic prolapse results from weakness or damage to the normal pelvic-support systems. The main support for the pelvic viscera is provided by the pelvic fascia, which is naturally reinforced by urethra-pelvic ligaments, cardinal ligaments and uterosacral ligaments. A polypropylene mesh (Marlex-Bard) was used as a genitourinary and rectal support in order to substitute the damaged pelvic fascia.

METHODS

Sixteen consecutive females suffering from severe genitourinary prolapse entered the study. Using the HWS (Baden-Walker) classification 10 patients presented a grade-IV and 6 patients a grade-III cystocele, 7 patients a grade-III and 1 a grade-IV rectocele. Hysterocele of grade IV was present in 2 patients and in 5 patients grade III. No enterocele was present at the pre-operative visit. Twelve patients suffered from stress incontinence; one had obstructive urinary symptoms with postvoiding residual urine of >200 ml. All patients underwent urodynamic tests and pre-operative cystography. The primary aim was prolapse reduction and continence. The operation, under general anesthesia, consisted of insertion and fixation of a horseshoe-shaped Marlex mesh between pubis and sacrum to close the area between the pelvic viscera and inferior pelvic hiatus. Three patients underwent hysterectomy.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The follow-up ranged between 12 and 29 months. In 15 patients the prolapse was completely resolved and 13 were dry at follow-up. One patient presented a complete recurrence at the 3-month follow-up. Nine cases of pre-operative constipation were recovered after surgery. This technique seems to give promising results in the repair of genitourinary prolapse and stress incontinence.

Familial mandibuloacral dysplasia: report of an additional Italian patient

Mandibuloacral dysplasia is a rare condition. Only 11 families have been reported and five of them were Italian, while consanguinity was found only in one report. We describe an additional Italian patient born from consanguineous parents.

Neuropsychological follow-up in early-treated congenital hypothyroidism: a problem-oriented approach

Screening programs for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) dramatically improved the neuropsychological prognosis in affected children. However, mild impairments in cognitive performances, poorer motor skills, defective language abilities, and learning problems have been reported in some studies of early-treated CH children. The occurrence of these defects makes neuropsychological follow-up mandatory. The aim of the present study was to identify those neuropsychological functions that are more frequently affected in early-treated CH children and that might require prompt rehabilitation treatment to prevent permanent defects. The study group involved 24 CH children. Levothyroxine (LT4) treatment (initial dose 8-10 microg/kg per day) was started at mean age of 28 days (range 15-45) and was then adjusted with the goal to keep thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroid hormone levels in the normal range. Cognitive evaluation was performed at 3, 5, and 7 years of age and did not significantly differ from that of controls. Mean neurological scores were lower in children 5 years of age than in controls. Children with severe neonatal hypothyroidism (serum thyroxine [T4] < 2 microg/dL) had significantly lower neurological scores compared to less affected CH children and normal controls. The most affected functions were balance, extremity coordination, fine motricity, quality of movements, associated movements, and head movements. Language disorders were observed in half of CH children at 3 and 5 years of age, but moderately severe defects were restricted to those with severe neonatal hypothyroidism. In conclusion, a problem-oriented, simplified neuropsychological follow-up of early-treated children with CH should not systematically include the frequent repetition of time-consuming and expensive psychometric tests because individual IQ scores are in the normal range of tests in almost all CH children and can be differentiated from those of normal controls only on a population-statistic basis. Selected tests of motor proficiency are indicated at 3 and 5 years of age to detect those defects in motor skills that appear to be more specifically affected in CH children. Language performances are at particular risk in CH children, and should be always checked at 3 and 5 years of age. Children with even mild language disorders or delayed language achievements should be regularly reevaluated at 6-month intervals and, if no spontaneous improvement is observed, they should receive specific rehabilitation treatment. No further motor and language evaluation is warranted in CH children with normal tests at age 5 years.

Single daily dose of cefodizime in patients with community-acquired pneumonia: an open-label, controlled, randomized study. The Italian Multicentre Community-Acquired Pneumonia Group

The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and bacteriologic efficacy and safety of cefodizime 1 g intramuscularly (IM) once daily (group A) versus cefodizime 1 g IM twice daily (group B) and versus ceftriaxone 1 g IM once daily (group C) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. A total of 298 patients, affected by bronchopneumonia or pneumonia with known or suspected bacterial cause, new focal signs on examination of chest, and radiographic evidence of a recent infiltrate, were randomized in three comparable groups. The infection was rated as mild, moderate, or severe. A total of 283 patients were assessable for efficacy: 95 in group A, 94 in group B, and 94 in group C. Mean (+/- SD) duration of treatment was 5.96 +/- 1.39 days in group A, 6.24 +/- 1.57 days in group B, and 6.66 +/- 1.95 days in group C. Symptoms such as purulent sputum, cough, and dyspnea improved significantly after treatment in all groups; temperature normalized by about day 3. Clinical efficacy was rated good in 94.74% of patients in group A, in 92.55% in group B, and in 87.23% in group C. Positive bacteriologic cultures were obtained before treatment from 144 patients: bacteriologic responses were rated good in 98.11%, 98.08%, and 92.80% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. No significant differences were found between the three treatment groups for any measures of clinical efficacy. No serious adverse event occurred in any of the groups. We conclude that cefodizime 1 g IM once daily is an effective dosing regimen in the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

[The postoperative prevention of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism with defibrotide versus heparin-calcium: a randomized clinical multicenter study of 1296 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery]

Postoperative thromboembolic complications do present an underestimated problem whenever their detection simply relies upon individual clinical judgement. Major abdominal operations are at increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), mostly in advanced age, overweight subject, and in patients with cardiac or malignant diseases, or with previous venous diseases. Such patients may benefit from a peri- and postoperative prophylaxis with chemical or mechanical procedures, as a recent meta-analysis seems to suggest. In our experience, a randomized, multicentric clinical trial with defibrotide (DF) versus calcium-heparin (CH) was realized with the aim of evaluating their effectiveness and side effects in the prophylaxis of PE and DVT after major abdominal surgery; 1296 patients were randomly assigned to i.v. DF (400 mg.) or subcutaneous CH (0.2 ml. = 5000 U.I.) given one hour prior to operation and twice daily for seven days postoperatively. Definitive evaluation was carried out on 1212 patients (610 patients in DF and 602 in CH group, respectively) who completed the prophylaxis and monitoring schedule acceptably. One PE (0.16%) and 38 DVT (6.2%) were detected in DF group while 2 PE (0.33%) and 40 DVT (6.6%) were reported in CH treated patients. Post-operative blood loss was 578 +/- 150 cc. (median +/- S.E.M.) in DF group and 604 +/- 123 in CH group (p = n.s.). Wound hematoma was observed in 69 patients (5.7%): 20 (3.2%) in DF and 49 (8.1%) in CH group of patients (CHI-Square = 12.44; p = 0.0005); a significant post-operative decrease of RBC, WBC, Platelet count, and Fibrinogen was computed in both groups (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A retrospective study on the efficacy of the treatment of functional dyspepsia. An evaluation of 166 cases]

A retrospective study is reported carried out on a group of 166 patients affected by dyspeptic syndrome who presented at least 3 of the 9 symptoms which characterise this pathology. One hundred and twenty-eight patients underwent prokinetic drug therapy and 38 received placebo. Clinical parameters were evaluated following one month of therapy all patients in order to compare them to basal values. The results obtained confirm a satisfactory efficacy of the prokinetic treatment in improving dyspeptic symptoms. Although administered to a smaller number of patients, placebo was also found to play an important role in the multifactorial etiopathogenesis of the dyspeptic syndrome on a functional basis.

Different effects of atropine and cimetropium bromide on gastric emptying of liquids and antroduodenal motor activity in man

Atropine (1 mg intravenously) and a new antimuscarinic compound, cimetropium bromide (5 mg intravenously), as well as placebo (physiological saline) were tested for their effects on gastric emptying and antroduodenal motility in healthy humans. In a first single-blind cross-over study, the emptying rate was assessed in 12 subjects by measuring paracetamol absorption. In a second single-blind parallel-group study, antroduodenal motor activity was measured in 20 subjects through four perfused open tip catheters with orifices positioned in the antroduodenal region. Atropine, unlike cimetropium bromide, significantly delayed gastric emptying. Antral and duodenal motility index was reduced significantly by atropine, but not by cimetropium bromide. Heart rate significantly increased only after atropine. Three subjects taking atropine complained of dry mouth and one of blurred vision. In conclusion, the results of these studies show that atropine, unlike cimetropium bromide, strongly inhibits gastric emptying of liquids and reduces antroduodenal motor activity in man.

[Verification of indications and validity of consent to surgical treatment by transsexuals]

The authors analyze some medico-legal aspects concerning the surgical therapy of transsexualism, as it is regulated by the Law N. 442/1982. At first they examine the problems related to the verification of the indications for the surgical treatment, with particular reference to nosography, differential diagnosis and clinical criterions suitable to evaluate the usefulness of this intervention. Afterward they analyze the problem of the validity of the consent, considering the particular kind of treatment and the psychological connotations of these patients.

[Prosthesis replacement of the inferior vena cava]

The development of reconstructive venous surgery has been hampered by the lack of suitable graft materials. Fourteen carbon fibre grafts (phi: 8 mm), 30 glutaraldehyde treated ovine collagen grafts and 29 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts were used to replace a 35 mm segment of infrarenal inferior vena cava in pigs. Prostheses were removed 1 hour and 7, 14, 28, 56 and 112 days after implantation. All specimens were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The 112 day patency rate was 67% for ovine collagen grafts, while all carbon and PTFE grafts thrombosed. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). During the first hour after implantation, a thick (800-900 microns) thrombotic layer deposited on the inner surface of carbon grafts. This layer possibly caused the subsequent complete occlusion of the tubular segments. A thin neointima (less than 200 microns) developed on the flow surface of ovine collagen prostheses. This favoured complete endothelialization of the graft inner surface as soon as four weeks after surgery. In conclusion, glutaraldehyde treated ovine collagen would represent the first sound material to be used as venous substitute.

Our eight-year experience with human umbilical vein grafts

From 1977 through 1984, 58 arterial reconstructions using glutaraldehyde-tanned human umbilical vein (H.U.V.) grafts were carried out: 41 femoropopliteal, 4 composite aortopopliteal (a Dacron graft was inserted proximally), 5 femorotibial, 6 axillofemoral, 1 femorofemoral, and 1 iliofemoral bypass. Autogenous saphenous vein was absent or inadequate in all patients. Limb salvage was the primary indication for surgery (89.7%). Five and 8 years cumulative patency rates were 42.8% and 35.1% respectively for all H.U.V. by-passes and 52.4% and 41.9% respectively for femoropopliteal by-passes. Four out of the 5 femorotibial by-passes failed during the first month following surgery. Two of the 6 axillofemoral and 3 of the 4 composite aortopopliteal by-passes thrombosed within 1 and 3 years after surgery, respectively. Perioperative mortality was 5.1%, while overall mortality was 17.2%. The following conclusions can be drawn from these results: H.U.V. grafts did not achieve cumulative patency rates superior to those reported with autogenous saphenous vein, in limb salvage situations, when the saphenous vein is not available, the H.U.V. graft offers acceptable salvage rates, results from the 8-year follow-up period demonstrate the durability and long-term patency of H.U.V. grafts.

Multiple aneurysmal dilatations in a knitted dacron velour graft

The formation of multiple aneurysms in the midportion of Dacron grafts has been reported only twice in the surgical literature. In the present case, three aneurysmal dilatations developed 6 years following an orto-femoral Dacron graft implantation. Multiple structural defects in the Dacron prosthesis appear to be the most likely cause of the graft failure.

The effects on colonic mucosa of transposition to the stomach

In order to investigate the morphological and functional changes produced in the colonic mucosa after prolonged exposure to gastric juices, 24 colonic patches were implanted on the gastric body and the gastric antrum. The specimens were removed, two, four or six months after surgery, and several morpho-functional changes were observed. These included a gastric-like transformation of the superficial epithelial cells, the presence, exclusively in the colonic patches implanted in the gastric body, of cells with large osmiophilic cytoplasmic granules and a progressive increase in sialomucin secretion with an almost complete disappearance of sulfomucins.

Monthly fluctuations of active duodenal ulcers

In an attempt to verify whether the periodicity of ulcer-related symptoms would be confirmed by a spring and fall exacerbation of peptic ulcers, we have analyzed the monthly variation of active duodenal ulcers found at endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract in the years 1979-1981. Control diagnoses were active gastric ulcers, gastric and rectal adenocarcinomas, and rheumatoid arthritis. Data were also available on hospital admission for perforated ulcers. The calendar fluctuation of active duodenal ulcer is characterized by a significant fall in August which is associated with July and fall peaks. This pattern of variation for duodenal ulcer was evident in both sexes and across the different decades of age. Duodenal ulcer diagnosis and hospitalization for perforated ulcer fluctuated in a similar way. The shape of monthly variation for active duodenal ulcer was not paralleled by similar changes in gastric ulcers and in the control diagnoses, gastric and rectal carcinomas, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Atherosclerotic aneurysm of the deep femoral artery

A rare case of acutely thrombosed atherosclerotic aneurysm of the deep femoral artery is herein described. A review of the literature revealed 12 other reported cases of deep femoral aneurysm. However none were treated by resection and replacement using a human umbilical vein graft which was chosen in the present case because the autogenous saphenous vein was not available.

Candida overgrowth in gastric juice of peptic ulcer subjects on short- and long-term treatment with H2-receptor antagonists

Candida overgrowth in gastric juice of peptic ulcer subjects under therapy with H2-receptor (H2-R) antagonists has been detected in 21.4 and 53.8% of cases after short- and long-term treatment respectively, and in 8% of controls. Both types of H2-R antagonists, ranitidine and cimetidine, were equally associated with production of yeasts. The location of ulcers, whether gastric or duodenal, seems to have no influence on fungal growth. Females were more susceptible than males to develop Candida in gastric juice. In the short-term course with H2-R blockers fungal colonization of gastric juice was associated with delay of the rate of ulcer healing. Fungal detection in gastric juice was not associated with mucosal invasion by Candida since in none of the patients who had a biopsy for gastric ulcer was Candida detected by histology.

[Case reports of emergency exeresis for intractable pulmonary hemorrhages]

Five cases of surgically treated unrestrainable pulmonary haemorrhage are described. The satisfactory results obtained show that pulmonary exeresis, in some cases of haemorrhages, is the only effective method for saving the patient's life and removing the anatomic cause of the haemorrhage.

[Release on trust in social service as an alternative to imprisonment: criminological problems]

The Authors, after synthetic outline of the new regulations concerning "the release on trust in social service", an alternative measure to that of imprisonment according to law no. 354 of 26 July 1975, take into consideration some of the problems and difficulties which have emerged in the first months of application of this law. This examination is followed by a review of the results of criminological research on the period of probation and of the present aims emerging with regard to this measure, in the countries where it has been tested for some time. The Authors conclude with a critical evaluation of the present regulations and a series of proposals aimed at improving the application of the probation system in social service.