Electronic Structure and Magnetic Exchange Coupling in Ferromagnetic Full Heusler Alloys

Density-functional studies of the electronic structures and exchange interaction parameters have been performed for a series of ferromagnetic full Heusler alloys of general formula Co$_2$MnZ (Z = Ga, Si, Ge, Sn), Rh$_2$MnZ (Z = Ge, Sn, Pb), Ni$_2$MnSn, Cu$_2$MnSn and Pd$_2$MnSn, and the connection between the electronic spectra and the magnetic interactions have been studied. Different mechanisms contributing to the exchange coupling are revealed. The band dependence of the exchange parameters, their dependence on volume and valence electron concentration have been thoroughly analyzed within the Green function technique.Comment: 9 figures, 6 table

Atomistic simulations of solid-state materials based on crystal–chemical potential concepts: applications for compounds, metals, alloys, and chemical reactions

Based upon a partitioning and potential concept for the chemical bonding in solids, we illustrate a number of crystal–chemical simulations for various kinds of structures and bonding types on the picosecond time scale using the aixCCAD computer program. These include ionic/covalent materials (NaCl, ZnO, AlN), ternary oxides (LiAlO2 and its crystallographic phases), main-group (Ga, Al) as well as transition (3d, 4d, 5d) metals, various intermetallics (b.c.c.- and f.c.c.-like), as well as complex Fe/AlN nano composites. The simulations give access to detailed energetics, ionic mobilities, crystallographic structures, bulk moduli, and questions of chemical reactivity

Aripiprazole Augmentation of Clomipramine Therapy in Treatment-Resistant

: Vaka serisi Obsesif-kompulsif bozukluk (OKB) yineleyen, istenmeyen düşünceler ve törensel davranışlarla giden, belirgin sıkıntı ve işlev kaybına neden olan kronik bir hastalıktır. Yapılan çalışmalarda OKB nöropatogenezinde serotonerjik ve dopaminerjik mekanizmaların rol oynadığına ilişkin çeşitli kanıtlar gösterilmiştir. Tedavisinde ilk tercih ilaç olarak Seçici Serotonin Geri Alım İnhibitörleri (SSGİ) kabul edilmektedir, ancak buna karşın SSGİ ile tedavi edilen hastaların yaklaşık %40-60'ında tedavi direnci görülebilmektedir. Tedaviye dirençli OKB'de antidepresanların atipik antipsikotiklerle augmentasyonu önemli bir tedavi seçeneğidir. Biz de bu yazımızda; tedaviye dirençli 5 OKB hastasının klomipramin tedavisine aripiprazolün 10-30mg/gün dozlarının eklenmesiyle tedavide olumlu yanıtlar elde ettiğimiz olgularını sunmayı amaçladıkObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts and repetitive rituals, causing significant distress and functional loss. Studies show evidence about serotonergic and dopaminergic mechanisms in neuropathogenesis of OCD. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) are considered first line treatment in OCDs, but treatment resistance may occur in 40-60% of cases treated with SSRIs. Augmentation of antidepressants with atypical antipsychotics is an important treatment option in treatment-resistant patients with OCD. In this article, we aimed to present five OCD cases with treatment-resistance in which we obtained good outcomes, with addition of aripiprazole 10-30mg per day to clomipramine therap

Mechanical prosthetic valve disease is related with an increase in depression and anxiety disorder

Aim Patients with organic disease can present with psychiatric symptoms. We hypothesized that since patients with prosthetic heart valve require frequent hospital followup and are at higher risk for complications, the incidence of depression and anxiety is higher in these patients. Methods This cross-sectional study prospectively studied 98 consecutive patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valve. All patients fulfilled prosthetic heart valve evaluation form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS). Complete blood count, basic metabolic panel and echocardiogram results were collected for all the patients. Results Using the BDI, there were 26 patients (27%) with no depression, 20 (20%) with mild depression, 38 (39%) with moderate, 4 (4%) with severe and 10 (10%) patients with very severe depression. Avarege score was 18.3±11.4 on BDI and 19.1±11.1 on HAS. The depression level was positively associated with prothrombin time (p<0.001) and international normalized ratio (INR) level (p<0.001). Hamilton Anxiety Scale was significantly correlated with comorbidities (r: 0.344; p=0.002), blood transfusion (r: 0.370; p<0.001), obesity (r: 0.319; p=0.007) and Beck Depression Scale was correlated with comorbidities (r: 0.328; p=0.002), in patients with prosthetic heart valve disease. Conlusion Patients with prosthetic heart valve have higher prevalence of depression and higher scores of anxiety and depression. Early recognition and appropriate treatment of depression and anxiety may decrease the morbidity in prosthetic heart valve disease. Besides, use of new oral anticoagulant agents that do not need INR check, could decrease anxiety and depression in the future

Impacts of the Duration and Number of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Sessions on Clinical Course and Treatment of the Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

WOS: 000387949500001Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate impacts of the duration and number of electroconvulsive therapies on clinical course and treatment of the patients with major depressive disorder. Method: This study included 50 patients, who applied to psychiatry clinic of Erenkoy Mental Health and Neurology Training & Research Hospital for inpatient treatment due to the diagnosis of major depressive disorder and who displayed electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) indication. The patients were subjected to Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) for pre-ECT period and for 1st and 2nd weeks of ECT, and to Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGIS) for the period following application of ECT. Total durations of ECT convulsions were assessed. Furthermore, a data form identifying sociodemographic properties, previous ECT history and current ECT indications of the patients was filled in. Results: The patients were classified by ECT indications as Resistance to Treatment (+): Group I, Suicide Ideation (+): Group II; and no statistically significant difference was observed among groups in terms of sociodemographic properties, total number of ECT sessions, duration of ECT, and HRSD scores for pre-ECT period and for 1st and 2nd weeks of ECT (p>0.05). CGIS scores checked after each ECT statistically significantly decreased (p<0.001), while the number of patients with decreased CGIS scores obtained after application of ECT increased. 45.5% of the patients with ECT history and 82.9% of the patients without any ECT history were determined to have got into remission (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the data evaluated in this study, we can safely argue that if the patients with major depressive disorder displaying resistance to treatment, refusal to eat and drink and suicide ideation were allowed to have sufficient number of ECT sessions with sufficient duration, ECT would work as an effective treatment method affecting depression and clinical improvement levels. The fact that the patients with positive ECT history have lower rate of remission as compared to the patients without ECT history made the authors consider the possibility that the disease may have crossed into chronic stage or former ECT sessions may have decreased the susceptibility to treatment

Real Life Multicenter Comparison of 24-Month Outcomes of Anti-VEGF Therapy in Diabetic Macular Edema in Turkey: Ranibizumab vs. Aflibercept vs. Ranibizumab-Aflibercept Switch

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with aflibercept (AFB) or ranibizumab (RNB) only, and after switching from RNB to AFB. This was a retrospective, real-world, multicenter (7 cities) 24 month study. Overall, 212 eyes in the AFB group, 461 in the RNB group, and 141 in the RNB to AFB group were included. The primary endpoints were differences in visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from baseline to the final visit. The secondary outcomes were the percentage of eyes that achieved ≥10 letters gain and ≥10 letters loss in vision at month 12 and 24, and the percentage of eyes that achieved a thinning of ≥20% in CMT at month 3 and month 6. The results showed that VA did not significantly differ at baseline (AFB: 0.62 ± 0.38, RNB: 0.61 ± 0.36, RNB to AFB: 0.61 ± 0.38), at checkpoints, or at the final visit (AFB: 0.46 ± 0.38, RNB: 0.5 ± 0.37, RNB to AFB: 0.53 ± 0.36) (p > 0.05). Though the mean CMT at baseline was significantly thicker in the RNB to AFB group (479 ± 129.6 μm) when compared to the AFB (450.5 ± 122.6 μm) and RNB (442 ± 116 μm) groups (p < 0.01), similar measurements were obtained after 12 months. The percentages of eyes that gained or lost ≥10 letters in the AFB, RNB, and RNB to AFB groups at year 1 and 2 were similar, as was the percentages of eyes that demonstrated ≥20% CMT thinning at month 3 and 6. Our study showed similar visual improvements in non-switchers (AFB and RNB groups) and switchers (RNB to AFB group) through 2 years follow-up, however, AFB patients required fewer injections, visits, or need for additional treatments