Evaluation of the prevalence of the most common psychiatric disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using the patient health questionnaire: results of the cross-sectional “DIA2PSI” study

Aims: Common Psychiatric Disorders (CPDs) are associated with the development of overweight and obesity, the strongest risk factors for the onset and maintenance of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2D). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the prevalence of CPDs in patients with T2D in Italy. Methods: This is a monocentric cross-sectional study; n = 184 T2D patients were screened for CPDs using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Primary outcome was to evaluate the prevalence of CPDs. To assess association between CPDs and risk factors, we have utilized univariable logistic regression models. Results: 64.1% were men, median age was 67 (59–64) and median BMI 27 (25–30) kg/m2. The 42.9% tested positive for one or more mental disorders, 25.6% for depression. Patients with higher BMI (p = 0.04) had an increased likelihood of testing positive to the PHQ. Patients who had implemented lifestyle changes (p < 0.01) and were aware that mental health is linked to body health (p = 0.07) had a reduction in the likelihood of testing positive. Conclusions: Prevalence of CPDs in T2D patients is higher than in the general population. Since CPDs favor the onset and subsistence of T2D, integrated diabetic-psychiatric therapy is required for improvement or remission of T2D in patients with comorbid CPDs

Magnesium hydride as high capacity negative electrode for lithium ion batteries

Conversion reactions in lithium batteries have been proved for several classes of materials, such as oxides, fluorides, sulphides, nitrides, phosphides and recently for hydrides. Metal hydrides can be electrochemically reduced to a highly conductive composite material consisting of nanometric metallic particles dispersed in an amorphous LiH matrix. Magnesium hydride undergoes a reversible conversion reaction and it has very good theoretical performances, i.e. a theoretical specific capacity of 2038 mA h g1 and a working potential of 0.5 V vs. Li+/Li. The purpose of our study is to investigate the MgH2 redox activity by evaluating the effect of ball milling pre-treatments and by studying the conversion reaction mechanism. Three materials, prepared by submitting bulk MgH2 to different ball milling procedures, are investigated. By coupling electrochemical tests, ex situ X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, we prove that the lithium incorporation does not follow a simple direct conversion path as it follows at least a sequence of four consecutive processes: (a) the hydride conversion reaction of MgH2 to give Mg and LiH, (b) the alloying of Li in hcp Mg and (c and d) the formation and lithium enrichment of a bcc Li–Mg solid solution. Furthermore some experimental clues suggest that the mechanism is probably even more complex as it can imply the formation of other unknown intermediate Li–Mg–H phases. Moreover large morphological changes occur upon lithium incorporation in the electrodes: in particular an extended sintering of the metal nanoparticles occurs upon cycling. This effect leads to electrode pulverization and capacity fading. On the other hand MgH2 shows a very limited potential hysteresis between discharge and charge and very promising kinetics at high current

Nanosized advanced materials for application in lithium-ion batteries

Lithium ion batteries are popular worldwide as power sources for wireless portable electronic devices. Intensive efforts are under way to further improve the technol. on the sides of performances, costs, environmental compatibility and safety. The aim of this effort is the open up of the application market of the Li-ion cells to new challenging fields (e.g. Automotive, green energy storage). "Going nano" has been shown to play a crit. role in the field of lithium-ion batteries. The reduced dimensions of the active cathode or anode materials allow increased lithium diffusion, enhanced electron transport, enlarged electrolyte wetting surfaces and modified lithium insertion thermodn. due to the relevant surface effects on chem. potentials. In this communication three examples of the use of innovative nanosized materials in Li-ion batteries are presented: (a) TiO2-based anodes; (b) LiCoPO4-based cathodes and (c) MgH2-based conversion anodes