Effect of chronotype on emotional processing and risk taking

This is an original manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Chronobiology International on 30 March 2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.3109/07420528.2016.1146739© 2016 Taylor & Francis. There is increasing evidence to suggest that late chronotypes are at increased risk for depression. The putative psychological mechanisms underpinning this risk, however, have not been fully explored. The aim of the present study was to examine whether, similar to acutely depressed patients and other "at risk" groups, late chronotype individuals display biases in tasks assaying emotional face recognition, emotional categorisation, recognition and recall and attention. Late chronotype was associated with increased recognition of sad facial expressions, greater recall and reduced latency to correctly recognise previously presented negative personality trait words and reduced allocation of attentional resources to happy faces. The current results indicate that certain negative biases in emotional processing are present in late chronotypes and may, in part, mediate the vulnerability of these individuals to depression. Prospective studies are needed to establish whether the cognitive vulnerabilities reported here predict subsequent depression

Conversion paralysis after cervical spine arthroplasty: A case report and literature review

AbstractWe report a case of conversion paralysis after cervical spine arthroplasty performed in a 45-year-old woman to treat cervico-brachial neuralgia due to a left-sided C6–C7 disc herniation. Upon awakening from the anaesthesia, she had left hemiplegia sparing the face, with normal sensory function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain ruled out a stroke. MRI of the spinal cord showed artefacts from the cobalt-chrome prosthesis that precluded confident elimination of mechanical spinal cord compression. Surgery performed on the same day to substitute a cage for the prosthesis ruled out spinal cord compression, while eliminating the source of MRI artefacts. Findings were normal from follow-up MRI scans 1 and 15days later, as well as from neurophysiological testing (electromyogram and motor evoked potentials). The deficit resolved fully within the next 4days. A psychological assessment revealed emotional distress related to an ongoing divorce. The most likely diagnosis was conversion paralysis. Surgeons should be aware that conversion disorder might develop after a procedure on the spine, although the risk of litigation requires re-operation. Familiarity with specific MRI sequences that minimise artefacts can be valuable. A preoperative psychological assessment might improve the detection of patients at high risk for conversion disorder

Long-term outcomes of tension band wiring with a single K-wire in Rockwood type IV/V acute acromio-clavicular dislocations: 25 cases

International audienceBACKGROUND:Our objective was to evaluate the long-term functional and radiological outcomes of tension band wiring with a single K-wire for acute Rockwood types IV and V acromio-clavicular dislocation (ACD).METHODS:Single-centre cross-sectional non-randomised observational cohort study of 25 shoulders treated surgically between January 2002 and December 2004, in 25 patients, 23 males and 2 females, with a mean age of 35±11years (24-46). The evaluation criteria were the absolute and weighted Constant scores, QuickDASH score, subjective shoulder value (SSV), visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score at rest and during activities, and radiographic features in clinically symptomatic patients.RESULTS:Mean values were as follows: follow-up, 150±17months (133-167); absolute Constant score, 88±17 (71-105); weighted Constant score, 92.5±12.5 (80-105); QuickDASH, 15.5±7 (8.5-22.5); SSV, 88±17% (71-105); VAS pain score at rest, 0.2±0.7 (0-0.9); and VAS pain score while active, 1.4±2.3 (0-3.7). The weighted Constant score was less than 70% in only 8% of patients. Of the 17 patients for whom radiographs were obtained, 8 had acromio-clavicular osteoarthritis. Mean coraco-clavicular distance was 12.3±4.3mm (8-16.6) and mean acromio-clavicular distance was 5±5mm (0-10). The recurrence rate was 8%.CONCLUSION:Tension band wiring with a single K-wire for acute acromio-clavicular dislocation reliably provides good long-term functional outcomes. Recurrences are uncommon and few patients experience symptoms (8%).LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:IV, retrospective study

Two-dimensional simulation of the effects of grain boundaries on the C-V characteristics of P+N polysilicon diodes

International audienc