The unusual case of dental pain with sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: a benign idiosyncrasy or diagnostic opportunity?

Abstract not availableBrenton Hordacre, Kristina Comacchio, G. Lorimer Mosele

Technology transfer offices as boundary spanners in the pre-spin-off process: the case of a hybrid model

Over the past decades, universities have increasingly become ambidextrous organizations reconciling scientific and commercial missions. In order to manage this ambidexterity, technology transfer offices (TTOs) were established in most universities. This paper studies a specific, often implemented, but rather understudied type of TTO, namely a hybrid TTO model uniting centralized and decentralized levels. Employing a qualitative research design, we examine how and why the two TTO levels engage in diverse boundary spanning activities to help nascent spin-off companies move through the pre-spin-off process. Our research identifies differences in the types of boundary spanning activities that centralized and decentralized TTOs perform and in the parties they engage with. We find geographical, technological and organizational proximity to be important antecedents of the TTOs’ engagement in external and internal boundary spanning activities. These results have important implications for both academics and practitioners interested in university technology transfer through spin-off creation

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-stroke depression: a randomised trial with neurophysiological insight

Objective: Despite high incidence of depression after stroke, few trials have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Here, we aimed to evaluate clinical benefit of delivering a higher dose of rTMS compared to previous stroke trials. Secondary aims were to document adverse effects and investigate the role of functional connectivity as a potential mechanism of clinical response to rTMS treatment. Methods: Eleven chronic stroke survivors were recruited to a double-blind, Sham-controlled, randomised trial to investigate 10 sessions of high-frequency rTMS for depression. Clinical assessments were obtained at baseline, after treatment and a 1-month follow-up. Adverse events were documented at completion of the treatment. Resting electroencephalography recordings were performed at baseline and after treatment to estimate functional connectivity. Results: There were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups (all p ≥ 0.42). Beck Depression Inventory scores decreased for the Active rTMS group from baseline to 1-month follow-up (p = 0.04), but did not change for the Sham group at post-treatment or follow-up (p ≥ 0.17). Stronger theta frequency functional connectivity between the left frontal cortex and right parietal cortex was associated with lower baseline depression (r = − 0.71, p = 0.05). This network strength increased following Active rTMS, with change in connectivity associated with improvement in BDI scores (r = 0.98, p = 0.001). Adverse events were transient and minor and were not statistically different between groups (p ≥ 0.21). Conclusions: Active rTMS significantly improved depression and was well tolerated. The mechanistic role of theta frequency functional connectivity appears worthy of further investigation.Brenton Hordacre, Kristina Comacchio, Lindy Williams, Susan Hillie

Carotidynia: New aspects of a controversial entity [Carotidodinia: Nuovi aspetti di un'entit\ue0 controversa]

Idiopathic carotidynia or Fay syndrome is a little known pathology, which in the past was the subject of much controversy. Even though carotydinia was removed as a pathological entity from the second International Headache Society classification in 2004, recent reports seem to confirm that the disease demonstrates unusual radiological findings. The presence of a typical amorphous enhancing soft tissue surrounding the carotid artery by MRI, CT and ultrasonography in patients with carotidynia has reopened discussion on the hypothesis that carotidynia may represent a distinctive inflammatory process. The aetiology of carotidynia is unknown. We report a case of carotidynia that developed after an upper airway infection, wherein MR studies demonstrated typical enhanced tissue surrounding the common carotid artery in contiguity with pathological enhancement in laryngeal tissue

Gender and 5-years course of psychosis patients: focus on clinical and social variables

Most studies on gender and psychosis have focused on gender differences at illness onset or on the long-term outcome, whereas little is known about the impact of gender on the first years after psychosis onset. A total of 185 first episode psychosis (FEP) patients were followed for 5 years after psychosis onset, and gender differences were explored in psychopathology (PANSS), needs for care (CAN), and insight (SAI-E). Male patients showed more negative symptoms than females over time, whereas female patients showed higher levels of depressive symptoms than males throughout the study period. In addition, female patients presented more functioning unmet needs for care, but higher levels of insight into illness than males. Therapy and rehabilitative programs for FEP patients should be gender-targeted, as gender has proved to impact on psychopathology, needs for care, and insight in the very first years following psychosis onset