Differential physical and mental benefits of physiotherapy program among patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls suggesting different physical characteristics and needs

In contrast to several other severe illnesses marked by inflammation and autoimmunity that now have potent and efficient treatments and even cures, schizophrenia (SCZ) is a disease still associated with poor outcome, incapacity, and social burden. Even after decades of research on the brain and behavior, this illness is still associated with profound effects on both mental health and physical health, with recent studies showing that treatment is more efficient when associating drugs with psychological and physical treatments. Most of the studies measured the effects of physical intervention compared with usual care and demonstrated a positive effect as an add-on treatment. What remains unclear is the different effects of the same intervention in normal subjects in a sample of patients with the illness. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical intervention over motor functional capacity and mental health in patients with SCZ compared with healthy controls (HC). The outcomes were (a) functional capacity [by 6-min walk test (6MWT)], (b) body flexibility index (Wells’ bench), (c) disease severity [by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)], (d) quality of life [by 36-ItemShort Form(SF-36) questionnaire], and (e) physical activity [Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ)]. The intervention was associated with significant decrease of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, disease severity, and improvement in daily life activities. Unexpectedly, it was observed that schizophrenics, compared with matched HC, were at a lower level of performance in the beginning, remained below HC over the studied time despite similar physical intervention, and had different changes. The intervention had lower effects over physical capacity and better effects over quality of life and disease severity. The results confirm previous studies comparing patients receiving physical intervention but suggest that they may receive different types of intervention, suited for their different baseline fitness, motivation, and capacity to engage in physical effort over sustained time. Additionally, they point to extended time of intervention of multidisciplinary treatment (physical and psychological–cognitive techniques) to improve outcomes in SCZ

Conjugating precision and acquisition time in a Doppler broadening regime by interleaved frequency-agile rapid-scanning cavity ring-down spectroscopy

We propose a novel approach to cavity-ring-down-spectroscopy (CRDS) in which spectra acquired with a frequency-agile rapid-scanning (FARS) scheme, i.e., with a laser sideband stepped across the modes of a high-finesse cavity, are interleaved with one another by a sub-millisecond readjustment of the cavity length. This brings to time acquisitions below 20 s for few-GHz-wide spectra composed of a very high number of spectral points, typically 3200. Thanks to the signal-to-noise ratio easily in excess of 10 000, each FARS-CRDS spectrum is shown to be sufficient to determine the line-centre frequency of a Doppler broadened line with a precision of 2 parts over 1011, thus very close to that of sub-Doppler regimes and in a few-seconds time scale. The referencing of the probe laser to a frequency comb provides absolute accuracy and long-term reproducibility to the spectrometer and makes it a powerful tool for precision spectroscopy and line-shape analysis. The experimental approach is discussed in detail together with experimental precision and accuracy tests on the (30 012) â\u86\u90 (00 001) P12e line of CO2at â\u88¼1.57 μm

Data Rate vs. Maximum Reach in a Data Center Interconnect Scenario Exploiting Wideband InP Mach-Zehnder Modulators

A new Mach-Zehnder DP-IQ ultra-wideband indium phosphide modulator with integrated optical semiconductor amplifiers has been characterized for time domain simulations to investigate data rate versus maximum range in a DCI scenario

Machine Learning Aided Control of Ultra-Wideband Indium Phosphide IQ Mach-Zehnder Modulators

A digital model of a dual-polarization IQ ultra-wideband indium phosphide Mach-Zehnder modulator is obtained through machine learning techniques. The model is used to test optimization algorithms that automatically set the modulator control voltages under different operative conditions finding the optimum bias point

Inverted Solution Processable OLEDs Using a Metal Oxide as an Electron Injection Contact

A new type of bottom-emission electroluminescent device is described in which a metal oxide is used as the electron-injecting contact. The preparation of such a device is simple. It consists of the deposition of a thin layer of a metal oxide on top of an indium tin oxide covered glass substrate, followed by the solution processing of the light-emitting layer and subsequently the deposition of a high-workfunction (air-stable) metal anode. This architecture allows for a low-cost electroluminescent device because no rigorous encapsulation is required. Electroluminescence with a high brightness reaching 5700 cd m–2 is observed at voltages as low as 8 V, demonstrating the potential of this new approach to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices. Unfortunately the device efficiency is rather low because of the high current density flowing through the device. We show that the device only operates after the insertion of an additional hole-injection layer in between the light-emitting polymer (LEP) and the metal anode. A simple model that explains the experimental results and provides avenues for further optimization of these devices is described. It is based on the idea that the barrier for electron injection is lowered by the formation of a space–charge field over the metal-oxide–LEP interface due to the build up of holes in the LEP layer close to this interfac

Mala adherencia terapéutica en un paciente de edad avanzada, deterioro cognitivo y polimedicado con diabetes mellitus tipo 2

A 84-years-old woman with long-duration type 2 diabetes, severe cognitive impairment, frailty and polypharmacy came with episodes of dizziness and palpitations that improved after eating, but occasionally causing secondary falls. Frequently, the caretaker did not give her the antidiabetic medication, suspecting drug-induced hypoglycemia. After antidiabetic treatment optimization, the hypoglycemias were avoided and the therapeutic adherence was safely improved.Mujer de 84 años con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 de larga duración, deterioro cognitivo severo, fragilidad y polimedicación que consultaba por presentar episodios de mareos y palpitaciones que mejoraban con la ingesta de alimentos, pero provocando algunas veces caídas traumáticas secundarias. La cuidadora frecuentemente no le daba la medicación por sospecha de hipoglucemias asociadas al tratamiento antidiabético. Tras la optimización del tratamiento antidiabético, se consiguieron evitar las hipoglucemias y mejorar de forma segura la adherencia terapéutica.