Condotte compulsive in paziente con sindrome di Aicardi. agenesia del corpo calloso

The corpus callosum, which is the largest white matter structure in the brain of all placental mammals, connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres. An alteration in its morphology, hypoconnectivity or hyperconnectivity is a common marker of various neuropsychiatric pathologies. One of these is Aicardi syndrome, which is characterized by a triad of callosal agenesis, infantile spasms and chorioretinal lacunae. Patients affected by Aicardi syndrome frequently display other malformations together with congenital defects of the eyes, ribs and vertebrae. Based on the current clinical knowledge, this syndrome is now recognized as a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that includes neurological and constitutional symptoms. However, literature data have not yet defined the presence of a particular set of symptoms in psychiatric patients with this condition. The present case is the first report in which an on-going compulsive behaviour focused on the insistence to order objects has been observed in Aicardi syndrom

Trends in peptic ulcer mortality in Italy, 1955-1985

Study objective-The aim was to analyse trends in mortality from peptic ulcer in Italy between 1955 and 1985, disentangling the role of age, cohort of birth, and period of death. Design-This was a descriptive epidemiological survey. Death certification numbers from peptic ulcer and estimates of the resident population were obtained from official sources. From these data, age specific and age standardised mortality rates from peptic ulcer were computed. A log-linear age, period, and cohort model with arbitrary constraints on the parameters was applied to the matrices of age specific rates between 25 and 74 years of age. Setting-This was a national survey. Main results-For males, overall peptic ulcer mortality was constant or moderately upwards (from 9.0 to 9.4/100 000, on the basis of World Standard Population) from 1955 to the mid-1970s, but declined considerably afterwards to 3.7/100 000 in 1985. Truncated (35-64 years) rates were slightly more favourable, even in earlier calendar periods, but a substantial drop was observed only from the late 1970s onwards. In 1985 the standardised rate was 3.3/100 000 compared to 18.3 in 1955-1959. For females, the time pattern was similar, although the extent of the decline was smaller in absolute terms (from 1.6 to 1.2/100 000, all ages; from 2.3 to 0.7, truncated). Age specific rates showed an earlier decline in the young, while the fall started only after the mid-1970s in older age groups. On the basis of a log-linear age, period, and cohort model, the Italian generations born in the first decade of this century had the highest risk of dying from peptic ulcer, with a substantial decline for each subsequent cohort. Period trends were stable between 1955 and the mid-1970s, but declined appreciably afterwards. Conclusions-In Italy the peak rate of peptic ulcer mortality was observed in the early 1970s, with a delay of around two decades in comparison with northern Europe and the USA. This can be related to the later process of industrialisation in Italy, with the consequent changes in lifestyle habits, and to a later pattern of rise and decline of cigarette smoking. A likely explanation of the falls in mortality on a period of death basis over the last decade is the introduction of new drugs (histamine-2 receptor antagonists) for the treatment of peptic ulcer, with a reduction of complications of the disease and related mortality. This decline in mortality from peptic ulcer corresponds to the avoidance of over 1500 deaths per year in the whole of Italy

New Magnetic Anomaly Map of the Antarctic

The second generation Antarctic magnetic anomaly compilation for the region south of 60 degrees S includes some 3.5 million line-km of aeromagnetic and marine magnetic data that more than doubles the initial map's near-surface database. For the new compilation, the magnetic data sets were corrected for the International Geomagnetic Reference Field, diurnal effects, and high-frequency errors and leveled, gridded, and stitched together. The new magnetic data further constrain the crustal architecture and geological evolution of the Antarctic Peninsula and the West Antarctic Rift System in West Antarctica, as well as Dronning Maud Land, the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, the Prince Charles Mountains, Princess Elizabeth Land, and Wilkes Land in East Antarctica and the circumjacent oceanic margins. Overall, the magnetic anomaly compilation helps unify disparate regional geologic and geophysical studies by providing new constraints on major tectonic and magmatic processes that affected the Antarctic from Precambrian to Cenozoic times.Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) programs, PM15040 and PE17050Germany's AWI/Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine ResearchFederal Institute for Geosciences and Natural ResourcesBritish Antarctic Survey/Natural Environmental Research CouncilItalian Antarctic Research ProgrammeRussian Ministry of Natural ResourcesU.S. National Science Foundation and National Space and Aeronautics AdministrationAustralian Antarctic Division and Antarctic Climate & Ecosystem Cooperative Research CentreFrench Polar InstituteGlobal geomagnetic observatories network (INTERMAGNET

Heterogeneous melting near the Thwaites Glacier grounding line

Thwaites Glacier represents 15% of the ice discharge from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and influences a wider catchment. Because it is grounded below sea level, Thwaites Glacier is thought to be susceptible to runaway retreat triggered at the grounding line (GL) at which the glacier reaches the ocean. Recent ice-flow acceleration2,8 and retreat of the ice front and GL indicate that ice loss will continue. The relative impacts of mechanisms underlying recent retreat are however uncertain. Here we show sustained GL retreat from at least 2011 to 2020 and resolve mechanisms of ice-shelf melt at the submetre scale. Our conclusions are based on observations of the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf (TEIS) from an underwater vehicle, extending from the GL to 3 km oceanward and from the ice–ocean interface to the sea floor. These observations show a rough ice base above a sea floor sloping upward towards the GL and an ocean cavity in which the warmest water exceeds 2 °C above freezing. Data closest to the ice base show that enhanced melting occurs along sloped surfaces that initiate near the GL and evolve into steep-sided terraces. This pronounced melting along steep ice faces, including in crevasses, produces stratification that suppresses melt along flat interfaces. These data imply that slope-dependent melting sculpts the ice base and acts as an important response to ocean warming

TRENDS IN PEPTIC-ULCER MORTALITY IN ITALY, 1955-1985

Study objective-The aim was to analyse trends in mortality from peptic ulcer in Italy between 1955 and 1985, disentangling the role of age, cohort of birth, and period of death. Design-This was a descriptive epidemiological survey. Death certification numbers from peptic ulcer and estimates of the resident population were obtained from official sources. From these data, age specific and age standardised mortality rates from peptic ulcer were computed. A log-linear age, period, and cohort model with arbitrary constraints on the parameters was applied to the matrices of age specific rates between 25 and 74 years of age. Setting-This was a national survey. Main results-For males, overall peptic ulcer mortality was constant or moderately upwards (from 9.0 to 9.4/100 000, on the basis of World Standard Population) from 1955 to the mid-1970s, but declined considerably afterwards to 3.7/100 000 in 1985. Truncated (35-64 years) rates were slightly more favourable, even in earlier calendar periods, but a substantial drop was observed only from the late 1970s onwards. In 1985 the standardised rate was 3.3/100 000 compared to 18.3 in 1955-1959. For females, the time pattern was similar, although the extent of the decline was smaller in absolute terms (from 1.6 to 1.2/100 000, all ages; from 2.3 to 0.7, truncated). Age specific rates showed an earlier decline in the young, while the fall started only after the mid-1970s in older age groups. On the basis of a log-linear age, period, and cohort model, the Italian generations born in the first decade of this century had the highest risk of dying from peptic ulcer, with a substantial decline for each subsequent cohort. Period trends were stable between 1955 and the mid-1970s, but declined appreciably afterwards. Conclusions-In Italy the peak rate of peptic ulcer mortality was observed in the early 1970s, with a delay of around two decades in comparison with northern Europe and the USA. This can be related to the later process of industrialisation in Italy, with the consequent changes in lifestyle habits, and to a later pattern of rise and decline of cigarette smoking. A likely explanation of the falls in mortality on a period of death basis over the last decade is the introduction of new drugs (histamine-2 receptor antagonists) for the treatment of peptic ulcer, with a reduction of complications of the disease and related mortality. This decline in mortality from peptic ulcer corresponds to the avoidance of over 1500 deaths per year in the whole of Italy

Breast biphasic compression versus standard monophasic compression in X-ray mammography

Breast biphasic compression (22.5 degrees angled paddle, followed by progressive angle reduction) was compared with standard monophasic compression in x-ray mammography. The presence of the pectoral muscle was recorded for the craniocaudal (CC) view and the presence of the inframammary fold for the mediolateral oblique (MLO) view. The amount of breast in each study and image quality were assessed for both views. For all parameters, biphasic compression performed better than monophasic compression in both CC (P: <.006) and MLO (P: <.04) views

An investigation of scapular dyskinesis in recreational surfers and non-surfers

Summary: Recreational surfers frequently present with shoulder injuries yet there has been little research into factors that might increase injury risk in this population. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the presence of scapular dyskinesis in a group of surfers and non-surfers. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: A total of 215 participants (108 surfers, 107 non-surfers) were video recorded while performing unweighted, bilateral shoulder flexion and abduction. Videos were assessed by three clinicians to evaluate scapular dyskinesis. Participants were grouped along several different variables including age, sex, participation in other overhead sports, pain, dominant arm, injury history, skill level, surf experience, and the percent of participants exhibiting scapular dyskinesis was calculated for each category. Results: Surfers and non-surfers both presented with 48% positive scapular dyskinesis tests (OR ​= ​1.018, 95% CI: 0.596–1.738). No significant differences were detected among groups divided along any of the variables analyzed. Percentage of agreement between clinicians was 72% (Fleiss’ kappa = 0.46). Conclusions: These findings suggest that recreational participation in the sport of surfing has a minimal impact on the likelihood of exhibiting scapular dyskinesis. The interrater reliability of an assessment protocol using video recordings was fair to moderate

KRT1/LGV1 Season Field Report

Building on UTIG’s 20 years of experience with fixed-wing aerogeophysical operations, UTIG and KOPRI have collaborated to migrate the UTIG DC-3T instrument suite to two AS-350 helicopters. UTIG’s typical instrument suite consists of a VHF ice-penetrating radar, a laser altimeter, camera, magnetometer, and gravimeter, along with a number of GPS units and an Inertial Navigation System (INS) for accurate positioning. This platform migration required miniaturizing many of the acquisition electronics, designing entirely new antennas for the radar system, as well as substantial software customizations. UTIG and KOPRI first collaborated during the 2015-2016 season to test helicopter gravimetry, a project that represented the first ever deployment of a gravimeter from an icebreaker in Antarctica. The 2016-207 season marks the first time a UTIG-designed VHF radar sounder has been flown on a helicopter. Compared to fixed-wing, the helicopters offer a particularly versatile platform for aerogeophysical survey due to the much lower infrastructure requirements, the ability to operate from an icebreaker, and the technical possibilities afforded by using a more maneuverable platform.Description of a dual helicopter aergeophysical survey from Jang Bogo Station, Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica that took place in 2016-2017, supported by UTIG graduate student assistants and engineers. Ice penetrating radar and laser altimetry over David Glacier and Nansen Ice Shelf were collected by one helicopter as part of the KRT1 campaign, while gravity data was collected over Nansen Ice Shelf as part of the LGV1 campaign on a second helicopter.Korean Polar Research Institute; K-ROUTE project; G. Unger Vetlesen FoundationInstitute for Geophysic

Comparison of facial expression in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia using the Facial Action Coding System: a preliminary study

Giuseppe Bersani,1 Francesco Saverio Bersani,1,2 Giuseppe Valeriani,1 Maddalena Robiony,1 Annalisa Anastasia,1 Chiara Colletti,1,3 Damien Liberati,1 Enrico Capra,2 Adele Quartini,1 Elisa Polli11Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, 2Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 3Department of Neuroscience and Behaviour, Section of Psychiatry, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyBackground: Research shows that impairment in the expression and recognition of emotion exists in multiple psychiatric disorders. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the way that patients with schizophrenia and those with obsessive-compulsive disorder experience and display emotions in relation to specific emotional stimuli using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS).Methods: Thirty individuals participated in the study, comprising 10 patients with schizophrenia, 10 with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and 10 healthy controls. All participants underwent clinical sessions to evaluate their symptoms and watched emotion-eliciting video clips while facial activity was videotaped. Congruent/incongruent feeling of emotions and facial expression in reaction to emotions were evaluated.Results: Patients with schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder presented similarly incongruent emotive feelings and facial expressions (significantly worse than healthy participants). Correlations between the severity of psychopathological condition (in particular the severity of affective flattening) and impairment in recognition and expression of emotions were found.Discussion: Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia seem to present a similarly relevant impairment in both experiencing and displaying of emotions; this impairment may be seen as a chronic consequence of the same neurodevelopmental origin of the two diseases. Mimic expression could be seen as a behavioral indicator of affective flattening. The FACS could be used as an objective way to evaluate clinical evolution in patients.Keywords: schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, facial expression, Facial Action Coding Syste