A public early intervention approach to first-episode psychosis: Treated incidence over 7 years in the Emilia-Romagna region

AimTo estimate the treated incidence of individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) who contacted the Emilia-Romagna public mental healthcare system (Italy); to examine the variability of incidence and user characteristics across centres and years. MethodsWe computed the raw treated incidence in 2013-2019, based on FEP users aged 18-35, seen within or outside the regional program for FEP. We modelled FEP incidence across 10 catchment areas and 7 years using Bayesian Poisson and Negative Binomial Generalized Linear Models of varying complexity. We explored associations between user characteristics, study centre and year comparing variables and socioclinical clusters of subjects. ResultsThousand three hundred and eighteen individuals were treated for FEP (raw incidence: 25.3 / 100.000 inhabitant year, IQR: 15.3). A Negative Binomial location-scale model with area, population density and year as predictors found that incidence and its variability changed across centres (Bologna: 36.55; 95% CrI: 30.39-43.86; Imola: 3.07; 95% CrI: 1.61-4.99) but did not follow linear temporal trends or density. Centers were associated with different user age, gender, migrant status, occupation, living conditions and cluster distribution. Year was associated negatively with HoNOS score (R = -0.09, p < .001), duration of untreated psychosis (R = -0.12, p < .001) and referral type. ConclusionsThe Emilia-Romagna region presents a relatively high but variable incidence of FEP across areas, but not in time. More granular information on social, ethnic and cultural factors may increase the level of explanation and prediction of FEP incidence and characteristics, shedding light on social and healthcare factors influencing FEP

Depth Profiling Photoelectron-Spectroscopic Study of an Organic Spin Valve with a Plasma-Modified Pentacene Spacer

[[abstract]]We report an enhanced magnetoresistance (MR) in an organic spin valve with an oxygen plasma-treated pentacene (PC) spacer. The spin valve containing PC without the treatment shows no MR effect, whereas those with moderately plasma-treated PC exhibit MR ratios up to 1.64% at room temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with depth profiling is utilized to characterize the interfacial electronic properties of the plasma-treated PC spacer which shows the formation of a derivative oxide layer. The results suggest an alternative approach to improve the interface quality and in turn to enhance the MR performance in organic spin valves.[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]電子

MR brain investigation in thirty-five children with Leber's congenital amaurosis

There are few literature reports of MR study in children with Leber's congenital amaurosis, a severe early onset autosomal recessive retinal dystrophy. We describe the clinical and neuroradiological findings in 35 patients. Of these, 22 had a normal brain MR scan, four showed mild dilatation of the cortical sulci, two had mild optic-chiasmatic thinning, three showed aspecific white matter changes not involving the primary visual pathway and four had ``molar tooth'' mesencephalic malformation. Our series confirms literature findings of normal signal and morphology of the primary optic pathway. Posterior cranial fossa abnormalities, defined as rhombencephaloschisis, was associated with a clinical picture different from that of the other patients. This abnormality is encountered in different malformations associating cerebellar, ocular and renal abnormalities. MR brain study in children with Leber's congenital amaurosis is recommended not only to assess the visual pathways, but also to analyse the posterior cranial fossa and cerebellum

Transsynaptic degeneration of lateral geniculate bodies in blind children: in vivo MR demonstration.

To investigate signal alterations in the thalamic lateral geniculate bodies of blind patients compatible with transsynaptic degeneration of these nuclei caused by pregeniculate or postgeniculate interruption of the visual pathway.Six patients were selected from a group of blind children in our care. Four had cerebral palsy caused by periventricular leukomalacia, one had infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, and one had Chiari I malformation and hydrocephalus, which was worsened by bilateral ischemic lesions of the occipital lobes. MR examinations (obtained at 0.5 T) were reviewed retrospectively by two neuroradiologists, with particular attention to the visual pathway.Symmetric, focal areas of T2 prolongation were found at the precise site of the lateral geniculate bodies.Anterograde (pregeniculate) and retrograde (postgeniculate) transsynaptic degeneration of the second neurons of the visual pathway produce alterations in MR signal

Cerebral visual impairment in periventricular leukomalacia: MR correlation.

To evaluate the involvement of central visual pathways in cases of periventricular leukomalacia, and to correlate the neuroradiologic findings with the degree of visual acuity.The MR brain examinations of 27 preterm children affected by cerebral palsy resulting from periventricular leukomalacia and without significant ophthalmologic lesions were reviewed retrospectively to search for possible involvement of the optic radiations and/or of the calcarine cortex. The data were compared with the degree of visual acuity estimated by means of the Teller Acuity Cards test.Seventeen (63\%) of the 27 patients had cerebral visual impairment, which correlated strongly with MR lesions. Quantitative reduction and signal hyperintensity of the peritrigonal white matter and atrophy of the calcarine cortex were present in the more severe cases. In two blind patients, an altered MR signal was detected in the lateral geniculate bodies.This study clearly establishes a relationship between specific MR findings and visual impairment in children with periventricular leukomalacia. The finding of hyperintensity in the lateral geniculate bodies was interpreted as an axonal reaction. MR imaging is useful for detecting potential visual impairment and for improving clinical diagnosis