Cardiovascular risk factors, anxiety symptoms and inflammation markers: Evidence of association from a cross-sectional study

Introduction Anxiety disorders and Cardiovascular (CV) diseases, among the most common disorders in Western World, are often comorbid. A chronic systemic inflammatory state might be a shared underlining pathophysiological mechanism. Aims To investigate the association between anxiety symptoms, CV risks factors and inflammatory markers in an outpatient sample. Methods Cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: outpatients aged ≥40 years, attending colonoscopy after positive faecal occult blood test, negative medical history for cancer. Collected data: blood pressure, glycaemia, lipid profile, waist circumference, BMI, PCR (C Reactive Protein), LPS (bacterial Lipopolysaccharide). Psychometric tests: HADS, TCI, IMSA, SF36. Statistical analysis performed with STATA13. Results Fifty four patients enrolled (27 males, 27 females). Sixteen patients (30.19%) were positive for anxiety symptoms. Thirty-three patients (61.11%) had hypertension, 14 (25.93%) hyperglycaemia and 64.81% were overweight, with frank obesity (BMI≥ 30) in 11 subjects (20.37%). Anxiety symptoms were associated with low hematic HDL values (OR = 0.01; P = 0.01) and high concentration of triglycerides (OR = 0.023; P = 0.02) at the multiple regression model. At the univariate logistic analysis, anxiety was associated with LPS (OR = 1.06; P = 0.04). Conclusions Further evidence over the epidemiological link between common mental disorders and CV diseases was collected, with possible hints on pathophysiology and causative mechanisms related to inflammation. The importance of screening for anxiety and depression in medical populations is confirmed. Suggestions on future availability of screening tools based on inflammatory-related indicators should be the focus of future research

Changes of consultation-liaison psychiatry practice in Italian general hospitals: A comparative 20-year multicenter study

Introduction: Conducted under the auspices of the Italian Society of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (SIPC) the aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) activity in Italy (SIPC-2—2018) over the past 20 years by comparing with data from the first Italian nation-wide study (SIPC-1—1998). Methods: We collected data on CLP visits of 3,943 patients from 10 Italian hospitals over a period of 1 year. Data were compared with those from the SIPC-1 1998 study (4,183 participants). Patients were assessed with the same ad hoc 60-item Patient Registration Form recording information from five different areas: Sociodemographic, hospitalization-related, consultation-related, interventions and outcome. Results: Compared with participants from the previous study, SIPC-2-2018 participants were significantly older (d = 0.54) and hospitalized for a longer duration (d = 0.20). The current study detected an increase in the proportion of referrals from surgical wards and for individuals affected by onco-hematologic diseases. Depressive disorders still represented the most frequent psychiatric diagnosis, followed by adjustment and stress disorders and delirium/dementia. Also, CLP psychiatrists prescribed more often antidepressants (Φ = 0.13), antipsychotics (Φ = 0.09), mood stabilizers (Φ = 0.24), and less often benzodiazepines (Φ = 0.07). Conclusion: CLP workload has increased considerably in the past 20 years in Italy, with changes in patient demographic and clinical characteristics. A trend toward increase in medication-based patient management was observed. These findings suggest that the psychiatric needs of patients admitted to the general hospital are more frequently addressed by referring physicians, although Italian CLP services still deserve better organization and autonomy

How are personality traits and physical activity involved in colorectal carcinogenesis? A cross-sectional study on patients undergoing colonoscopy

Introduction Inflammatory state of the large bowel is a key factor for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). It has multifactorial aetiology, including psychological determinants. Physical activity may have a protective function against CRC via anti-inflammatory properties; on the contrary, personality traits correlate with an unhealthy and dangerous lifestyle. Objective To measure the association between personality traits, lifestyle and colonoscopy outcome. Methods Cross sectional study. Patients undergoing colonoscopy aged 40 or more, with a negative history for cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, were enrolled. Data collected: colonoscopy outcome, smoke, alcohol, physical activity, presence/absence of Metabolic Syndrome, personality traits assessed by the Temperament & Character Inventory (TCI). Results In a sample of 53 subjects (females = 24, 45.3%), the mean age was 60.66 ± 9.08. At least one adenoma was found to 23 patients (43.3%). Twenty patients were smokers (37.74%), 36 (67.92%) drank alcohol at least weekly; approximately 60% reported regular physical activity. At the multivariate regression, the outcome was associated to: TCI Self Transcendence domain (ST) (OR = 1.36, P = 0.04) and physical activity (OR = 0.14, P = 0.03). Conclusion People with ST's characteristic personality traits and sedentary life style are more likely to have precancerous colorectal lesions. This confirms the protective role of physical activity, and suggests to further explore the role of personality in cancerogenesis

An Italian observational study on subclinical cardiovascular risk factors and depressive symptomatology. A suggestion for the potential utility of a sinergic cardio-psychiatric perspective

Introduction Growing evidence has been collected over the complex, intertwined pathophysiological connection among subclinical cardiovascular (CV) disease, i.e. atherosclerosis, systemic low pro-inflammatory states and psychiatric disorders/symptomatology (anxiety, depression), with controversial results. Aim Aim of this study was to investigate the possible link between subclinical CV risk factors (atherosclerosis), depressive symptoms, and inflammation. Methods Cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: outpatients aged ≥40 years, attending colonoscopy after positive faecal occult blood test, negative medical history for cancer. Collected data: blood pressure, glycaemia, lipid profile, waist circumference, BMI, PCR (C reactive protein), LPS (bacterial lipopolysaccharide), ultrasound carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT). Psychometric tests: HADS, TCI, IMSA, SF36. Statistical analysis performed with STATA13. Results The 54 patients enrolled were equally distributed by gender. CV risk factors were common in the study population, with 33 patients (61.11%) with hypertension, 14 (25.93%) with hyperglycaemia, 20 (37.4%) with hypertriglyceridemia, 19 (35.19%) with low HDL and 64.81% with overweight. High levels of PCR were found in 24 subjects (44.44%). Right c-IMT was increased in 26.41% of the sample, and 11.32% had an atheromatous plaque. Left c-IMT was increased in 24.53% of patients, with a plaque in 7.55% of them. Clinically relevant depressive symptoms were found in the 18.87% of the sample and were statistically significantly associated with PCR (OR = 28.63; P = 0.01). Conclusions Evidence contributing to the so-called “inflammation theory” of depression and supporting the association between mood and CV disorders was here collected, supporting the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions, assuming a clinically-translated PNEI (psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunological) perspective

Etude du frittage et de la deformation plastique experimentale de plagioclases

SIGLECNRS T Bordereau / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

A transmission electron microscopic study of natural plastic deformation of calcic plagioclases (An 68-70)

Dislocations in calcic plagioclases An 68-70 deformed in retrograde amphibolite facies conditions have been studied. Four slip systems have been identified : [001] (010), [100] (001), 1/2[1-11] (011) and [101] (10-1). The glide system [001] (010) dominates the microstructure, with rectangular loops along [001] with trailing dipoles that suggest that interaction between two slip systems is the important mechanism for dislocation multiplication. [001] dislocations are dissociated by 50 nm in two partials 1/2[001], This suggests that the cross slip of [001] dislocations, sensitive to the hydrostatic pressure, may be the mechanism that controls the deformation of the lower crust of feldspathic composition.Nous avons étudié les dislocations de plagioclases calciques (An 68-70) déformés dans des conditions métamorphiques de faciès amphibolite rétrograde. Quatre systèmes de glissement ont été identifiés : [001] (010), [100] (001), 1/2[1-11] (011), [101] (101). Le système [001] (010) domine la microstructure avec des boucles rectangulaires allongées selon [001], et des dipôles. L'interaction entre deux systèmes de glissement apparaît donc comme un mécanisme de multiplication de dislocations important. Les dislocations [001] sont dissociées en 1/2[001] + 1/2[001] avec une séparation d'environ 50 nm ; ceci suggère que le glissement dévié, sensible à la pression hydrostatique, est le mécanisme qui contrôle la déformation de la croûte inférieure de composition feldspathique.Montardi Yvan, Mainprice David. A transmission electron microscopic study of natural plastic deformation of calcic plagioclases (An 68-70). In: Bulletin de Minéralogie, volume 110, 1, 1987. pp. 1-14

Retrospective Analysis of Factors Associated with Long-Stay Hospitalizations in an Acute Psychiatric Ward.

Purpose To evaluate the longest hospitalizations in an acute psychiatric ward [Service of Psychiatric Diagnosis and Treatment (SPDT)] and the related demographic, clinical and organizational variables to understand the factors that contribute to long-stay (LOS) phenomenon. The term "long stay" indicates clinical, social and organizational problems responsible for delayed discharges. In psychiatry, clinical severity, social dysfunction and/or health-care system organization appear relevant factors in prolonging stays. Patients and Methods We divided all the SPDT hospitalizations from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2015 into two groups based on the 97.5th percentile of duration: ≤36 day (n=3254) and >36 day (n=81) stays, in order to compare the two groups for the selected variables. Comparisons were made using Pearson's chi-square for categorical data and t-test for continuous variables, the correlation between the LOS, as a dependent variable, and the selected variables was analyzed in stepwise multiple linear regression and in multiple logistic regression models. Results The longest hospitalizations were significantly related to the diagnosis of "schizophrenia and other psychosis" (Pearson Chi2=17.24; p=0.045), the presence of moderate and severe aggressiveness (Pearson chi2=29; p=0.000), compulsory treatment (Pearson Chi2=8.05; p=0.005), parenteral or other route administration of psycho-pharmacotherapy (Pearson Chi2=12.91; p=0.007), poli-therapy (Pearson Chi2=6.40; p=0.041), complex psychiatric activities (Pearson Chi2=12.26; p=0.002) and rehabilitative programs (Pearson Chi2=37.05; p=0.000) during the hospitalization and at discharge (Pearson Chi2=29.89; p=0.000). Many demographic and clinical variables were statistically significantly correlated to the LOS at our multiple linear and logistic regression model. Conclusion In our sample, clinical illness severity and need for complex therapeutic and rehabilitative treatments were associated with prolonged psychiatric hospitalizations. Understanding this phenomenon can have not only economic but also clinical, ethical and social relevance

Aide à la détermination d’Hasarius adansoni (Savigny & Audouin, 1826) et de Plexippus paykulli (Audouin, 1826) dans le cadre de la quête INPN Espèces « Araignées sauteuses introduites »

Document d'aide à la détermination qui a pour objectif d'aider les contributeurs d'INPN Espèces à identifier les deux espèces ciblées par la quête "Araignées sauteuses introduites"À la suite d'une étude établissant une synthèse de la répartition de l'araignée Hasarius adansoni en France hexagonale, les scientifiques souhaiteraient avoir davantage de données sur celle-ci ainsi que sur une autre espèce de la même famille également introduite et fréquentant les mêmes milieux : Plexippus paykulli. Étant principalement importées via le transport de plantes, ces deux espèces se rencontrent principalement dans les serres et les jardineries (du moins en Hexagone). Des milieux peu prospectés par les arachnologues, ce qui explique en partie le faible nombre de données les concernant. L'objectif de cette quête INPN Espèces est ainsi de mieux comprendre la répartition de ces deux espèces d'araignées sauteuses sur l'ensemble des territoires français