Development and tests of a new prototype detector for the XAFS beamline at Elettra Synchrotron in Trieste

The XAFS beamline at Elettra Synchrotron in Trieste combines X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction to provide chemically specific structural information of materials. It operates in the energy range 2.4-27 keV by using a silicon double reflection Bragg monochromator. The fluorescence measurement is performed in place of the absorption spectroscopy when the sample transparency is too low for transmission measurements or the element to study is too diluted in the sample. We report on the development and on the preliminary tests of a new prototype detector based on Silicon Drift Detectors technology and the SIRIO ultra low noise front-end ASIC. The new system will be able to reduce drastically the time needed to perform fluorescence measurements, while keeping a short dead time and maintaining an adequate energy resolution to perform spectroscopy. The custom-made silicon sensor and the electronics are designed specifically for the beamline requirements.Comment: Proceeding of the 6YRM 12th-14th Oct 2015 - L'Aquila (Italy). Accepted for publication on Journal of Physics: Conference Serie

Mental Adaptation To Cancer, Depression And Blood Platelet Monoamine Oxidase Activity In Breast Cancer Patients

The psychological adaptation to cancer was determined in a group of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, after the communication of diagnosis and surgery, using the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scales (HADS). The analysis of regression indicates that MAC hopelessness-helplessness positively correlates with HADS depression, and negatively with MAC fighting spirit; HADS anxiety displays a positive correlation with MAC hopelessness-helplessness and anxious preoccupation. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was examined in blood platelets, and displays a positive regression coefficient with HADS depression score. The role of HADS anxiety and of MAO activity is further supported by the follow-up of the patients. In spite of the small number of subjects, MAO activity as a single covariate in Cox analysis is a marginally significant risk factor for survival; the model constructed for multivariate analysis considering MAO activity and the scores of the psychometric scales used indicates HADS anxiety as a significant risk factor. Further research may support the presently reported results, indicating MAO activity as a biological marker of difficulties in mental adaptation to cancer, and as a risk factor for the survival of the patients

5-HTTLPR polymorphism and anxious preoccupation in early breast cancer patients

Background. Difficulties in coping with cancer, and the accompanying anxious and depressive symptoms, have been shown to affect the mood and the quality of life in breast cancer patients. 5-Hydroxytryptamine Transporter Gene-linked Polymorphic Region (5-HTTLPR) functional polymorphism of serotonin transporter has been shown to influence the adaptation to stressful life events. The aim of this prospective study was therefore to examine the association of 5-HTTLPR with the mental adaptation to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Patients and methods. Forty eight consecutive patients with early mammary carcinoma were evaluated at enrollment and at follow up after one and three months. The patients were characterized psychometrically using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC); 5-HTTLPR allelic variants were determined using PCR-based techniques. Results. In women with early breast cancer, the mental adaptation to the disease was associated with high scores of avoidance and anxious preoccupation of Mini-MAC, which decreased with time at follow up. Anxious preoccupation decreased with time less in patients with the S/S and S/L genetic variant of 5-HTTLPR as compared with the L/L carriers (p=0.023), indicating gene - environment interactions. Conclusions. These results indicate that the characterization of 5-HTTLPR allows the identification of breast cancer patients in greater risk of mental suffering, for which specific intervention may be focused; in case of drug therapy, they provide indications for the choice of most appropriate agent in a pharmacogenetic perspective

Genetic polimorphism of serotonin transporter and Monoaine Oxidase and response to SSRI antidepressant drugs interminal cancer patients.

The Serotonin transporter (SERT) and monoaminooxidase play an important role in monoaminergic transmission and in mood regulation. The 5HTLTTPR polimorphism and the VNTR for MAO were studied among 73 terminal patients with depression. Citaloproam and sertraline were used to treat depression. Efficacy of the 2 drugs was higher in patients with the genetic polimorphism conferring high functional activity of MAO VNTR

Serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and response to citalopram in terminally ill cancer patients: report of twenty-one cases

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the SSRI antidepressant drug citalopram on anxiety, depression and mental adjustment to cancer in terminally ill cancer patients, considering also the 5-HTTLPR genetic polymorphism. A group of twenty-one consecutive patients admitted to the hospice of the Casa di Cura Pineta del Carso (Trieste, Italy) with different types of advanced cancer, who were clinically judged to require treatment with an antidepressive drug, was treated with citalopram for two weeks. The response was determined and related to 5-HTTLPR. Citalopram significantly reduced the scores on the depression and anxiety subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).When the effects of citalopram were analyzed in relation to the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, the HADS depression score was significantly decreased only in patients with the “l/l” allelic variant of the serotonin transporter conferring high functional activity, while the score of the Mini- MAC fatalism scale was significantly increased in patients carrying at least one “s” allele. These preliminary findings seem to indicate that two weeks of treatment with citalopram are effective in reducing depressive symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients. Moreover, the effects of citalopram on fatalism as a strategy of mental adaptation to cancer, and on depressive symptoms depend on the allelic variants of the 5-HTTLPR genotype of the patients. These results seem to encourage the examination of a larger patient sample and of different treatment schedules, as well as a more thorough characterization of fatalism as a coping strategy in cancer patients

Mental Adaptation to Cancer, Depression and Blood Platelet Monoamine Oxidase Activity in Breast Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Stress and depression were reported as negative prognostic factors in breast cancer patients and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was considered a marker of mental suffering. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MAO activity in platelets was determined in a group of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, after the communication of diagnosis and surgery, using the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scales (HADS). RESULTS: The analysis of regression indicated that hopelessness-helplessness positively correlated with depression, anxiety and anxious preoccupation. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity displayed a positive regression coefficient with depression score. At follow-up, Cox analysis of survival indicated that MAO activity was a marginally significant risk factor. CONCLUSION: Further research in a larger group of patients may support the present results, showing that MAO activity is a biological marker of difficulties in mental adaptation to cancer and is a risk factor for survival