New concepts in relation to urge and detrusor activity

Investigations of micromotion characteristics of bladder wall strips and pressure wave phenomena in total bladders in vitro and in vivo indicate that micromotion phenomena occur in the bladder wall. Local contractions can occur without an increase in tension or pressure, because other parts are in antiphase. Local contractions stretch surrounding tissues, which can stimulate fast stretch receptors. Synchronisation of these micromotion phenomena appears to be possible. Hence, above threshold levels urge can theoretically occur, even in the absence of a pressure increase. This hypothesis could explain the weak relation between urge and pressure. The distinction between motor and sensory urge could be artifactual based on a misunderstanding of fundamental bladder wall processes

Jumping to conclusions, general intelligence, and psychosis liability: Findings from the multi-centre EU-GEI case-control study

BackgroundThe 'jumping to conclusions' (JTC) bias is associated with both psychosis and general cognition but their relationship is unclear. In this study, we set out to clarify the relationship between the JTC bias, IQ, psychosis and polygenic liability to schizophrenia and IQ.MethodsA total of 817 first episode psychosis patients and 1294 population-based controls completed assessments of general intelligence (IQ), and JTC, and provided blood or saliva samples from which we extracted DNA and computed polygenic risk scores for IQ and schizophrenia.ResultsThe estimated proportion of the total effect of case/control differences on JTC mediated by IQ was 79%. Schizophrenia polygenic risk score was non-significantly associated with a higher number of beads drawn (B = 0.47, 95% CI-0.21 to 1.16, p = 0.17); whereas IQ PRS (B = 0.51, 95% CI 0.25-0.76, p < 0.001) significantly predicted the number of beads drawn, and was thus associated with reduced JTC bias. The JTC was more strongly associated with the higher level of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in controls, including after controlling for IQ (B =-1.7, 95% CI-2.8 to-0.5, p = 0.006), but did not relate to delusions in patients.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the JTC reasoning bias in psychosis might not be a specific cognitive deficit but rather a manifestation or consequence, of general cognitive impairment. Whereas, in the general population, the JTC bias is related to PLEs, independent of IQ. The work has the potential to inform interventions targeting cognitive biases in early psychosis

Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia

Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jäsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe

Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 315 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE), 1990�2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Background Healthy life expectancy (HALE) and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) provide summary measures of health across geographies and time that can inform assessments of epidemiological patterns and health system performance, help to prioritise investments in research and development, and monitor progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We aimed to provide updated HALE and DALYs for geographies worldwide and evaluate how disease burden changes with development. Methods We used results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 (GBD 2015) for all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, and non-fatal disease burden to derive HALE and DALYs by sex for 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2015. We calculated DALYs by summing years of life lost (YLLs) and years of life lived with disability (YLDs) for each geography, age group, sex, and year. We estimated HALE using the Sullivan method, which draws from age-specific death rates and YLDs per capita. We then assessed how observed levels of DALYs and HALE differed from expected trends calculated with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator constructed from measures of income per capita, average years of schooling, and total fertility rate. Findings Total global DALYs remained largely unchanged from 1990 to 2015, with decreases in communicable, neonatal, maternal, and nutritional (Group 1) disease DALYs offset by increased DALYs due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Much of this epidemiological transition was caused by changes in population growth and ageing, but it was accelerated by widespread improvements in SDI that also correlated strongly with the increasing importance of NCDs. Both total DALYs and age-standardised DALY rates due to most Group 1 causes significantly decreased by 2015, and although total burden climbed for the majority of NCDs, age-standardised DALY rates due to NCDs declined. Nonetheless, age-standardised DALY rates due to several high-burden NCDs (including osteoarthritis, drug use disorders, depression, diabetes, congenital birth defects, and skin, oral, and sense organ diseases) either increased or remained unchanged, leading to increases in their relative ranking in many geographies. From 2005 to 2015, HALE at birth increased by an average of 2·9 years (95 uncertainty interval 2·9�3·0) for men and 3·5 years (3·4�3·7) for women, while HALE at age 65 years improved by 0·85 years (0·78�0·92) and 1·2 years (1·1�1·3), respectively. Rising SDI was associated with consistently higher HALE and a somewhat smaller proportion of life spent with functional health loss; however, rising SDI was related to increases in total disability. Many countries and territories in central America and eastern sub-Saharan Africa had increasingly lower rates of disease burden than expected given their SDI. At the same time, a subset of geographies recorded a growing gap between observed and expected levels of DALYs, a trend driven mainly by rising burden due to war, interpersonal violence, and various NCDs. Interpretation Health is improving globally, but this means more populations are spending more time with functional health loss, an absolute expansion of morbidity. The proportion of life spent in ill health decreases somewhat with increasing SDI, a relative compression of morbidity, which supports continued efforts to elevate personal income, improve education, and limit fertility. Our analysis of DALYs and HALE and their relationship to SDI represents a robust framework on which to benchmark geography-specific health performance and SDG progress. Country-specific drivers of disease burden, particularly for causes with higher-than-expected DALYs, should inform financial and research investments, prevention efforts, health policies, and health system improvement initiatives for all countries along the development continuum. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY licens

Variation in catechol-O-methyltransferase val 158 met genotype associated with schizotypy but not cognition: A population study in 543 young men

Increased catechol-O-methyltransferase activity associated with variation in catechol-O-methyltransferase valine 158 methionine genotypesmay result in reduced dopamine neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex and thus contribute to the poor performance of frontally mediated cognitive tasks and the occurrence of associated negative symptoms observed in patients with schizophrenia; however, reported associations between catechol-O- methyltransferase valine 158 methionine genotypes and measures of cognition have not been consistent. Catechol-O-methyltransferase genotyping, measures of schizotypy, cognitive measures of memory and attention, as well as the antisaccade eye movement task, a measure sensitive to prefrontal cortical function, were obtained in a sample of 543 young men representative for that age group (mean age 21 years). None of the cognitive measures was associated with catechol-O-methyltransferase valine 158 methionine genotypes; however, there was an effect of high-activity allele loading on schizotypy, in particular the negative and disorganization dimensions. Previously reported inconsistencies in the relationship between catechol-O-methyltransferase valine 158 methionine genotypes and cognition were not resolved; however, catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype may affect expression of negative schizotypy by direct or indirect effects on central dopamine neurotransmitter signaling

Reduction of spray pressure leads to less emission and better deposition of spray liquid at high-volume spraying in greenhouse tomato

In an experimental greenhouse, growing a tomato crop, it was investigated if a reduction in spray pressure could improve the spray result, while, simultaneously, emission to the ground could be reduced. Spray deposition on the leaves and the emission to the ground was evaluated at different spray pressures (2.5, 5, 10 and 15 bar). An Empas vertical spray mast with 6x2 Teejet XR8002VK flat fan nozzles was used to spray the tomato crop in three stages of crop growth, respectively 0.75, 2.25 and 2.80 m height, spraying 500-1500 l ha-1 (stage 1) and 1000-3000 l ha-1 (stage 2 and 3) depending on the spray pressure. Flow rate ranged from 0.74 to 1.80 l min-1 at an increasing spray pressure from 2.5 to 15 bar. The VMD (Volume Median Diameter) decreased in the same pressure range from 207 to 124 µm. The emission of spray liquid to the ground was measured in the spraying path and beneath the plants between the rows closest to the spray mast. The highest emission to the ground appeared closest to the spray mast, and increased at higher spray pressures. In crop growth stage 1 and 2 about 35% of the spray volume emitted to the ground, in stage 3 only 15%. The direction of the nozzles (upwards directed with an angle of at least 400) appeared to be of great importance. The deposition of spray liquid on the leaves was measured at two rows (A: closest to the sprayer, B: the next row behind it) at one, two or three heights depending the stage of the crop. Highest spray deposition could be found in row A, at the upper side of the leaf and at a higher working pressure. Differences were smaller in the next row and at greater height in the plant. Finally it could be concluded that a decrease in spray pressure to 5 bar gave an adequate deposition on the leaves in µl cm-2, and a decrease in emission to the ground

Reduction of spray pressure leads to less emission and better deposition of spray liquid at high-volume spraying in greenhouse tomato

In an experimental greenhouse, growing a tomato crop, it was investigated if a reduction in spray pressure could improve the spray result, while, simultaneously, emission to the ground could be reduced. Spray deposition on the leaves and the emission to the ground was evaluated at different spray pressures (2.5, 5, 10 and 15 bar). An Empas vertical spray mast with 6x2 Teejet XR8002VK flat fan nozzles was used to spray the tomato crop in three stages of crop growth, respectively 0.75, 2.25 and 2.80 m height, spraying 500-1500 l ha-1 (stage 1) and 1000-3000 l ha-1 (stage 2 and 3) depending on the spray pressure. Flow rate ranged from 0.74 to 1.80 l min-1 at an increasing spray pressure from 2.5 to 15 bar. The VMD (Volume Median Diameter) decreased in the same pressure range from 207 to 124 µm. The emission of spray liquid to the ground was measured in the spraying path and beneath the plants between the rows closest to the spray mast. The highest emission to the ground appeared closest to the spray mast, and increased at higher spray pressures. In crop growth stage 1 and 2 about 35% of the spray volume emitted to the ground, in stage 3 only 15%. The direction of the nozzles (upwards directed with an angle of at least 400) appeared to be of great importance. The deposition of spray liquid on the leaves was measured at two rows (A: closest to the sprayer, B: the next row behind it) at one, two or three heights depending the stage of the crop. Highest spray deposition could be found in row A, at the upper side of the leaf and at a higher working pressure. Differences were smaller in the next row and at greater height in the plant. Finally it could be concluded that a decrease in spray pressure to 5 bar gave an adequate deposition on the leaves in µl cm-2, and a decrease in emission to the ground