Dissociative symptoms in female patients with mood and anxiety disorders: a psychopathological and temperamental investigation.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Dissociative symptoms are frequent among psychiatric patients and may considerably affect patients' psychopathological condition and treatment outcomes. The objectives of the study are to assess the presence of dissociative symptoms in female patients with mood and anxiety disorders, to investigate their correlation with the clinical severity of the disorders and to investigate those personality traits that are more frequent in patients with high levels of dissociation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 50 Caucasian females were enrolled in the study. Patients were assessed through the Self-Report Symptom Check-List, the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and rating scales for Depression and Anxiety. RESULTS: The mean DES score in the overall sample was 16.6. 32% of patients had a DES score > 20. Depressive symptoms positively correlated with the DES total scores. Dissociator patients presented some significantly different temperamental characteristics in comparison with non dissociator patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dissociative symptoms are highly present in patients with mood and anxiety disorders and correlate with the severity of depressive symptoms. Specific personality traits more frequently observed in dissociator people may represent predisposing factors; their early identification could be clinically relevant

Capgras-like syndrome in a patient with an acute urinary tract infection.

Delusional misidentification syndromes are a group of delusional phenomena in which patients misidentify familiar persons, objects, or themselves, believing that they have been replaced or transformed. In 25%-40% of cases, misidentification syndromes have been reported in association with organic illness. We report an acute episode of Capgras-like delusion lasting 8 days, focused on the idea that people were robots with human bodies, in association with an acute urinary infection. To our knowledge, this is the first case report associating urinary tract infection with Capgras-like syndrome. Awareness of the prevalence of delusional misidentification syndromes associated with acute medical illness should promote diligence on the part of clinicians in recognizing this disorder

Cathodoluminescence Study of Defects in III-V Substrates and Structures

Solid state detector cathodoluminescence studies of semiconducting and semi-insulating GaAs and InP crystals, were performed. The origin of the dislocation contrast in GaAs:Si doped substrates, in the carrier concentration range from 1016 to 6 · 1018 cm-3, were discussed. The image contrast was explained on the basis of the emission efficiency versus carrier concentration curve, obtained in the transmission mode. Single dislocations and dislocation arrangements in addition to growth striations, clusters and precipitate-like microdefects were evidenced. The above mentioned microdefects were detected in GaAs: Te, S and Si doped and InP: Sn doped specimens. Commercial InP:Sn and S doped crystals by different manufacturers were also tested in order to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the defect content. Finally, combining emission and transmission cathodoluminescence, Si and Ge detectors at different beam energies, the defect distribution of different layers in simple and double heterostructures was determined in a non-destructive way. MBE InGaAs/InP and LPE InGaAsP/InP structures, employed as semiconductor detectors and lasers, were investigated

Cathodoluminescence, Raman and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion system mapping to unravel the mineralogy and texture of an altered Ca-Al-rich inclusion in Renazzo CR2 carbonaceous chondrite

An altered fluffy type A Ca-Al-rich inclusion in the CR2 Renazzo carbonaceous chondrite was examined by combined Raman, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion system (SEM-EDS) and cathodoluminescence (CL) mapping. Blue CL at 450 nm and orange emission at 600 nm were related to anorthite and calcite, respectively. Raman spectra were highly fluorescent, and only the stronger peaks of anorthite, clinopyroxene and calcite were observed. Raman-induced fluorescence emission was measured using the 632-nm Raman laser source, up to 850 nm, and used to chart the mineral phases. A fluorescence structured peak at 690 nm, split in three subpeaks at 678, 689 and 693 nm, was found; it is likely related to the fluorescence emission of Cr3+ from a fassaitic pyroxene in anorthite. Secondary pyroxene in the Wark–Lovering rim does not show the peak at 690 nm; the different fluorescence emission from the secondary rim and the pyroxene patches within anorthite could be a marker to spot the primary pyroxene. From combined imaging, the events in the altered chondrite could be sequenced. Starting from a pristine assemblage of spinel and melilite, with little fassaite, several alteration episodes occurred. Alteration in secondary anorthite, which could be mapped by the blue CL emission at 450 nm, was followed by alkalization, with rims of sodalite and nepheline, and subsequent formation of secondary clinopyroxene, encircling the inclusion. Widespread calcite alteration, present also in the matrix between chondrules, was the last recorded event

When alarm bells ring: emergency tinnitus

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to develop a diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm for those suffering from tinnitus who seek emergency aid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review has been performed on articles from the last 30 years. RESULTS: It is important to activate medical or surgical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, in order to safeguard and rehabilitate the various functions affected. Psychiatric comorbidity is the most frequent pathological condition of those with serious or catastrophic tinnitus. In these cases, mortality risk is linked to suicide, morbidity to tinnitus-correlated distress. CONCLUSIONS: Tinnitus, mainly linked to loss of hearing, is a frequent symptom among the population at large. About 7% of those affected by tinnitus turn to their doctor to solve their problem, while between 0.5 and 2% request urgent medical assistance. Their cry for help may be the result of an acute onset of tinnitus or the rapid impairment of an already chronic condition. Tinnitus is not considered an urgent ear, nose and throat (ENT) condition by the Associazione Otorinolaringologi Ospedalieri Italiani (AOOI) [Italian Association of Hospital ENT], even though there are many pathological conditions, sometimes serious, associated with tinnitus and emergency action is necessary to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality

Growth of graphitic carbon layers around silicon carbide nanowires

© 2019 Author(s). We demonstrate the ability to synthesize graphitic carbon sheets around cubic silicon carbide nanowires via an alloy-mediated catalytic process. The transmission electron microscopy analysis shows multilayer graphitic carbon sheets with a large interatomic layer distance of ∼0.45 nm, suggesting the presence of oxygen in the graphitic system. Oxygen-related peaks observed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy further confirm the oxidation of the graphitic carbon layers. A detailed investigation of the Raman spectra reveals a turbostratic stacking of the graphitic carbon layers. The turbostratic nature and the presence of oxidation in the graphitic carbon surrounding the silicon carbide nanowires make them a suitable platform for further functionalization, of particular interest for biosensing, as both graphitic carbon and silicon carbide are biocompatible

FAbry STabilization indEX (FASTEX) : an innovative tool for the assessment of clinical stabilization in Fabry disease

Two disease severity scoring systems, the Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI) and Fabry Disease Severity Scoring System (DS3), have been validated for quantifying the disease burden of Fabry disease. We aimed to develop a dynamic mathematical model [the FASTEX (FAbry STabilization indEX)] to assess the clinical stability. A multidisciplinary panel of experts in Fabry disease first defined a novel score of severity [raw score (RS)] based on three domains with a small number items in each domain (nervous system domain: pain, cerebrovascular events; renal domain: proteinuria, glomerular filtration rate; cardiac domain: echocardiography parameters, electrocardiograph parameters and New York Heart Association class) and evaluated the clinical stability over time. The RS was tested in 28 patients (15 males, 13 females) with the classic form of Fabry disease. There was good statistical correlation between the newly established RS and a weighted score (WS), with DS3 and MSSI (R (2) = 0.914, 0.949, 0.910 and 0.938, respectively). In order to refine the RS further, a WS, which was expressed as a percentage value, was calculated. This was based on the relative clinical significance of each item within the domain with the panel agreeing on the attribution of a different weight of clinical damage to a specific organ system. To test the variation of the clinical burden over time, the RS was repeated after 1 year. The panel agreed on a cut-off of a 20% change from baseline as the clinical WS to define clinical stability. The FASTEX model showed good correlation with the clinical assessment and with clinical variation over time in all patients

Surface Functionalization of 3C-SiC Nanowires

One dimensional nanostrucures have potential applications in nanoscale electronic, optoelectronic or sensing devices. Core-shell nanowire (NW) structures of SiO2/β-SiC and SiC-NWs are interesting for fundamental studies and technological applications: 3C-SiC is particularly appealing because of its good physical, chemical properties and biocompatibility, offering opportunities for nano-scale devices operating in biological environment. Moreover, functionalized 3C-SiC nanowires have the potential to act as highly sensitive detector elements in bio-chemical field. Here, we report on the preliminary results of the functionalization of 3C-SiC nanowires with an optically active, thiophene-based, π-conjugated oligomer (PyT4). Oligothiophenes are semiconducting and fluorescent materials, widely used in organic electronics and biodiagnostic. SiC/SiO2 core/shell NWs grown by a Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) process on n-type Si (001) substrates, using carbon monoxide (CO) as the carbon source and nickel nitrate as the catalyst. The synthesis, performed at temperatures between 1050-1100?C. 3C-SiC NWs were grown in a home-made Vapor Phase Epitaxy (VPE) reactor using propane and silane as precursors (both diluted 3% in hydrogen) and a few nm of Ni as catalyst, deposited on Si(100) substrate using e-beam system. The nickel-deposited substrate is preheated at 1100?C for 5 minutes before introducing reagents for the grow time of 10 minutes. SiC/SiO2 core/shell NWs were then reacted with the triethoxysilane terminated with PyT4 to yield the hybrid NWs. The covalent grafting of the fluorophores was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The nanowires were further characterised by X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Cathodoluminescence and Transmission Electron Microscopy

Transmission Electron Microscopy, High Resolution X-Ray Diffraction and Rutherford Backscattering Study of Strain Release in InGaAs/GaAs Buffer Layers

Strain release and dislocation distribution in InGaAs/GaAs double heterostructures, step-graded and linear-graded buffer layers have been studied. A higher misfit dislocation density at the inner interface between the InGaAs layer and the substrate was found in all the samples. This corresponded to a strain release of the inner ternary layers much larger than predicted by equilibrium theories. The residual parallel strain of the external layers as a function of their thickness was found to follow a curve approximately of slope -0.5, in agreement with previous investigations on single InGaAs layers. This result has been interpreted as evidence that the elastic energy per unit interface area remains constant during the epilayer growth. The presence of numerous single and multiple dislocation loops inside the substrate was attributed to the strain relaxation occurring through dislocation multiplication via Frank-Read sources activated during the growth. A comparison with InGaAs/GaAs step-graded and linear-graded heterostructures is also shown and briefly discussed. Finally, lattice plane tilts between epilayers and substrates have been found due to the imbalance in the linear density of misfit dislocations with opposite component of the Burgers vector, b⊥eff, perpendicular to the interface