Two small-volume electrochemical cells for the measurement of surface enhanced Raman scattering

Two electrochemical cells, for performing surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), with submillilitre volumes are presented. One of the cells is especially developed for use in a Raman microspectrometer. The smallest cell uses only 80 mu l of sample. SER measurements are performed on 2*10-3 M adenine

Working Memory, Jumping to Conclusions and Emotion Recognition: a Possible Link in First Episode Psychosis (Fep)

Introduction A large body of literature has demonstrated that people affected by psychotic disorders show deficits in working memory, in Emotion Recognition (ER) and in data-gathering to reach a decision (Jumping To Conclusions - JTC). Aims To investigate a possible correlation between working memory, JTC and ER in FEP. Methods 41 patients and 89 healthy controls completed assessments of working memory using WAIS shortened version, JTC using the 60:40 Beads Task and ER using Degraded Facial Affect Recognition Task. Results According to the literature, cases had poorer performance in working memory tasks (Digit Span: \u3bc7,72 [ds=2,98] vs \u3bc10,14 [ds=3,10], U=865,00, p=0,00; Digit Symbol: \u3bc5,36 [ds=2,43] vs \u3bc10,05 [ds=3,10], U=455,50, p=0,00; Arithmetic: \u3bc5,46 [ds=2,76] vs \u3bc8,74 [ds=3,24], U=865,50, p=0,00; Block Design: \u3bc4,82 [ds=2,72] vs \u3bc7,60 [ds=3,18], U=912,00, p=0,00), in Beads Task (81,6% vs 51,1%, \u3c72=10,27, p=0,001, \u3bc2,53 [ds=3,57] vs \u3bc4,23 [ds=4,77], U=1171,00, p=0,006) and in DFAR (total errors: \u3bc21,62 [ds=7,43] vs \u3bc16,58 [ds=8,69], U=554,50, p=0,002). Furthermore working memory tasks in cases group correlated significantly with JTC (Digit Span: rrho=0,276, p=0,003; Digit Symbol: rrho=0,275, p=0,002; Arithmetic: rrho=0,265, p=0,003; Block Design: rrho=0,292, p=0,001), but only Digit Span with ER (rrho=-0,239; p=0,021). In addition, we found that JTC and ER were significantly associated (rrho=-0,281; p=0,004). Conclusions Data show that working memory impairments, JTC style and dysfunctions in the facial emotions recognition are phenomena strongly correlated in the group of patients. Preliminary results suggest the importance of early rehabilitation as the impairments detected may lead to difficulties in social and relational adaptation in psychotic patients

Control methods for Dermanyssus gallinae in systems for laying hens: results of an international seminar

This paper reports the results of a seminar on poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae. Eighteen researchers from eight European countries discussed life cycle issues of the mite, effects of mites on hens and egg production, and monitoring and control methods for PRM in poultry facilities. It was determined that PRM probably causes more damage than envisaged, with the cost in The Netherlands alone reaching 11 million euro per annum. However a great deal is still unknown about PRM (e.g. reproduction, survival methods, etc.) and that PRM monitoring is an important instrument in recognising and admitting the problem and in taking timely measures. Currently, the most promising control method combines heating the hen house in combination with chemical treatments. Future areas of development which show promise include the use of entomopathogenic fungi, vaccination and predatory mites. The final aim is to solve the problem of D. gallinae in housing systems for laying hens

Losing Track of Lipids in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes:Towards Individualized Patient Care

Aim To assess 1) the prevalence of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) changing from low-risk into borderline-high-risk lipid levels or from borderline-high-risk into high-risk lipid levels ('lose track of lipids') and 2) the power of a risk score including the determinants HbA1c, body mass index (BMI), gender, age, diabetes duration and ethnicity in predicting which patients lose track of lipids. Methods 651 children and adolescents with T1D were included in this longitudinal retrospective cohort study. Lipid dynamics and the impact of the risk score on losing track of lipids were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate screening intervals. Results 31-43% percent of the patients had lost track of one or more lipids at the next lipid measurement. This happened more frequently in patients with a low-risk lipid level at start. Depending on the lipid parameter, 5% of patients with low-risk lipid levels lost track of lipids after 13-23 months. The risk score based on concomitant information on the determinants was moderately able to predict which patients would lose track of lipids on the short term. Conclusions A considerable number of children and adolescents with T1D loses track of lipids and does so within a 2-year screening interval. The predictive power of a risk score including age, BMI, gender, HbA1c, diabetes duration and ethnicity is only moderate. Future research should focus on another approach to the determinants used in this study or other determinants predictive of losing track of lipids on the short term

Cannabis consumption and the risk of psychosis

Summary Objectives: Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug globally and its use has been linked to an increased risk for psychotic disorders. An association between cannabis consumption and psychotic symptoms was consistently reported by several studies. This case-control study aimed to widen the current findings about the impact of cannabis exposure on the risk of psychosis, by investigating the pattern of cannabis consumption in a sample of first-episode of psychosis (FEP) patients compared to healthy controls. Material and methods: 68 individuals who presented for the first time to mental health services of Palermo (Italy) with an ICD-10 diagnosis of psychotic disorders and 74 healthy were enrolled as part of the Sicilian Genetics and Psychosis study. Psychopathological assessment and diagnosis were carried out by the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). Socio-demographic data were collected by the modified version of the Medical Research Council (MRC) socio-demographic scale. All participants were interviewed using the Cannabis Experience Questionnaire \u2013 Modified Version to obtain a detailed assessment of lifetime patterns of cannabis and other illicit drug consumption. Logistic regression was applied to investigate the relationships between various aspects of cannabis use (lifetime use, age at first use, duration, and frequency of use) and case-control status while controlling for potential confounders. Results: Patients started cannabis consumption about 3 years earlier than the control group (t = 3.1, p = 0.002) and were 8 times more likely to having started using cannabis before 15 years (adjusted OR = 8.0, 95% CI 2.4-27) than controls. Furthermore cases were more likely to smoke more frequently than controls (adjusted OR = 4.4, 95% CI 1.08-18). We did not find a difference in duration of cannabis use between cases and controls. Conclusions: The findings suggest that cannabis exposure, and especially daily cannabis consumption, is associated with the risk for psychosis; however, the retrospective study design does not allow drawing firm conclusions about causality

Validation of the Italian version of the Devaluation consumers' Scale and the Devaluation Consumers Families Scale

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Italian versions of the Devaluation of Consumers Scale (DCS) and the Devaluation of Consumer Families Scale (DCFS), two short-scales examining public stigma towards people with mental disorders and their relatives. Methods: The scales were administered to 117 individuals with a clinical diagnosis of affective or non-affective psychoses (ICD 10 criteria F20-29, F30-33). Translation procedures were carried out according to accepted standards. Internal reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Convergent validity was evaluated in terms of correlation with the Global Functioning Scale (GAF) and with the Questionnaire on Users' Opinions (QUO). Known-group validity was assessed comparing patients at first-episode of psychosis and patients with a history of psychosis of at least 3 years (long-term psychosis). Results: The overall Cronbach's alpha value was 0.85 for DCS and 0.81 for DCFS; subscales' alpha values ranged from 0.80 to 0.55 for DCS, and from 0.68 to 0.55 for DCFS. Negative correlations were found between the Italian DCS and the DCFS total score and the QUO affective problems (DCS -0.33; DCFS -0.235) and social distance subscales (DCS -0.290; DCFS -0.356). Moreover, the GAF positively correlated with some of the DCS and DCFS subscales. Patients with long-term psychosis had higher scores in most DCS and DCFS subscales. Conclusion: The Italian translation of DCF and DCFS showed good internal consistency, known-group validity, and convergent validity. These psychometric properties support their application in routine clinical practice in Italy as well as their use in international studies