Novel psychoactive substance consumption is more represented in bipolar disorder than in psychotic disorders : A multicenter-observational study

© 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Acciavatti, T, Lupi, M, Santacroce, R, et al. Novel psychoactive substance consumption is more represented in bipolar disorder than in psychotic disorders: A multicenter‐observational study. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp. 2017; 32:e2578. which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2578. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.OBJECTIVE: Comorbidities between psychiatric diseases and use of traditional substances of abuse are common. Nevertheless, there are few data regarding the use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) among psychiatric patients. Aim of this multicentre survey is to investigate the consumption of a number of psychoactive substances in a young psychiatric sample. METHODS: Between December 2013 and September 2015, a questionnaire was administered in 10 Italian psychiatric care facilities to a sample of 671 patients, aged 18-26 (mean age 22.24; SD 2.87). RESULTS: About 8.2% of the sample declared to have used NPS at least once, and 2.2% had consumed NPS in the previous 3 months. The three psychiatric diagnoses most frequently associated with NPS use were bipolar disorder (23.1%), personality disorders (11.8%), and schizophrenia and related disorders (11.6%). In univariate regression analysis, bipolar disorder was positively associated with NPS consumption, an association that did not reach statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The use of NPS in a young psychiatric population appears to be frequent, and probably still underestimated. Bipolar disorder shows an association with NPS use. Careful and constant monitoring and an accurate evaluation of possible clinical effects related to NPS use are necessary.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Late Summer-Fall Solitary Wasp Fauna of Central New York (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae, Pompilidae, Sphecidae)

Eighty-one species of primarily ground-nesting solitary wasps belonging to the families Tiphiidae, Pompilidae and Sphecidae were observed, collected and identified from six sandy and gravelly study areas in Cayuga and Onondaga Counties, New York. The observations and collections were made 1 September-3 November 1966,1 September-l November 1967 and 13 September-29 October 1984, with some species (Ammophila urnaria, Diodontus franclemonti) nesting through the entire months of September and October. An attempt to associate extended flight season with overnight resting site, geographic distribution, taxonomic affinity and prey type is made, but only the association with prey type appears to have any validity

Observations on the Nesting of \u3ci\u3eCrabro Tenuis\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Three nests of Crabro tenuis were studied during June 1971-1972 in Oswego County, New York. Females constructed shallow but lengthy, multicelled nests in sand with the cells being built in clusters, sometimes in series. Females plugged the entrances with damp sand and occupied the burrows during midday. Paralyzed prey were stored head inward at the end of the burrow. The deeper cells in a cluster were excavated and provisioned first and the shallower cells built and stored later, as determined by the developmental stages of the wasps within the cells. From four to seven paralyzed, adult male flies were placed in a fully provisioned cell with their venters toward the center. Such a cell usually held only one species of fly. Provisions consisted of the suborders Brachycera and Cyclorrhapha and comprised the families Rhagionidae, Anthomyiidae and Tachinidae. An egg was affixed about equally to the left or right side of the neck of a fly and this prey was placed against or near the wall of the cell. The nesting traits of C. tenuis were compared with those of other members of the Cribrarius group, C. advena of the Advena, group, C. venator of the Tumidus group and species in the Hilaris group

Behavior at a Nesting Site and Prey of \u3ci\u3eCrabro Cribrellifer\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

In Michigan, Crabro cribrellifer tends to show nest clumping within a nest aggregation. Its nesting behavior is similar to that of other Crabro, and it preys on Neoitamus flavofemoratus (Diptera: Asilidae) on warm days in July. Miltogrammine flies Metopia campestris are active at the nesting site

Synthetic cannabinoid use in a case series of patients with psychosis presenting to acute psychiatric settings : Clinical presentation and management issues

Background: Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are a heterogeneous class of synthetic molecules including synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs). Psychosis is associated with SCRAs use. There is limited knowledge regarding the structured assessment and psychometric evaluation of clinical presentations, analytical toxicology and clinical management plans of patients presenting with psychosis and SCRAs misuse. Methods: We gathered information regarding the clinical presentations, toxicology and care plans of patients with psychosis and SCRAs misuse admitted to inpatients services. Clinical presentations were assessed using the PANSS scale. Vital signs data were collected using the National Early Warning Signs tool. Analytic chemistry data were collected using urine drug screening tests for traditional psychoactive substances and NPS. Results: We described the clinical presentation and management plan of four patients with psychosis and misuse of SCRAs. Conclusion: The formulation of an informed clinical management plan requires a structured assessment, identification of the index NPS, pharmacological interventions, increases in nursing observations, changes to leave status and monitoring of the vital signs. The objective from using these interventions is to maintain stable physical health whilst rapidly improving the altered mental state.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Taxonomic revision of \u3ci\u3eEunota togata\u3c/i\u3e (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1841) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in North America with a new subspecies from western Texas and New Mexico, United States

Within Nearctic Cicindelidae, Cicindelini, Eunota togata (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1841) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) exists as several distinct phenotypes, some described as subspecies whose taxonomic status has been misinterpreted. Eunota togata togata applies to adults marked with broadly sinuate inner margins on shiny brown elytra common across northern coastal Gulf of Mexico. Eunota togata fascinans (Casey, 1914), new synonymy, incorrectly applied to populations in western Texas and New Mexico, United States, is considered a junior synonym of E. togata globicollis (Casey, 1913), the predominant subspecies with broadly sinuate inner margins on coppery elytra found from eastern New Mexico and western Texas into the South­ern Great Plains of North America. Eunota togata leucophasma, new subspecies, is comprised of adults with mostly white elytra that are isolated in Hudspeth County, Texas, and Doña Ana, Otero, and Torrance Coun­ties, New Mexico. Intergrades between E. togata globicollis and E. togata leucophasma, new subspecies, are found sporadically in eastern New Mexico and western Texas; however, suggested intergrades between E. togata globicollis and E. togata togata in western Texas are reinterpreted as more typical of intergrades farther north in New Mexico. Adults marked with acutely sinuate inner margins on darker elytra found only in northcentral Kansas to southeast Nebraska should be referred to as E. togata latilabris (Willis, 1967), new sta­tus. All subspecies are collectively known as the white-cloaked tiger beetle. Geological conditions influencing development of saline habitats and subsequent evolution of divergent white E. togata subspecies in Texas and New Mexico, and darker E. togata subspecies in Kansas and Nebraska, are discussed and compared to more uniformly marked E. togata subspecies found elsewhere in North America

Historical Population Increases and Related Inciting Factors of Agrilus anxius, Agrilus bilineatus, and Agrilus granulatus liragus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in the Lake States (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin)

Three native species of tree-infesting Agrilus have regularly reached outbreak levels in the Lake States (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), including A. anxius Gory (bronze birch borer), A. bilineatus (Weber) (twolined chestnut borer), and A. granulatus liragus Barter & Brown (bronze poplar borer). The main host trees for these Agrilus are species of Betula for A. anxius, Castanea and Quercus for A. bilineatus, and Populus for A. granulatus liragus. Based on 197 annual forest health reports for Michigan (1950–2017, 66 years), Minnesota (1950–2017, 64 years), and Wisconsin (1951–2017, 67 years), A. bilineatus was the most often reported Agrilus species in all three states (mentioned in 90 annual reports), with A. anxius second (71 reports) and A. granulatus liragus third (21 reports). Drought was the most commonly reported inciting factor for outbreaks of all three Agrilus species, with defoliation events ranking second. The top two defoliators reported as inciting outbreaks of each species were, in decreasing order, Fenusa pumila Leach (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae; birch leafminer) tied with Malacosoma disstria Hübner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae; forest tent caterpillar) for A. anxius; M. disstria and Alsophila pometaria (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae; fall cankerworm) for A. bilineatus; and M. disstria and Choristoneura conflictana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae; large aspen tortrix) for A. granulatus liragus. Other environmental factors occasionally listed as inciting Agrilus outbreaks included late spring frosts, ice storms, and strong wind events

Northern Distribution Records for Some Nearctic Pompilidae (Hymenoptera)

Distributional records and nomenclatural changes are presented for 20 species of Nearctic Pompilidae. The records extend the species\u27 ranges northward in North America, are peripheral on the northern boundaries of the ranges, or fill in sizeable gaps in the distributions. Flower records, habitat notes, and remarks on the prey are given for some of the species

Substance use in the club scene of Rome : a pilot study

Date of Acceptance: 28/08/2014 Copyright © 2014 Alessandro Emiliano Vento et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly citedOver the last few years, a wide number of unregulated substances have been marketed on the Web and in smart and head shops; they are usually advertised as legal alternatives to commonly known drugs and are defined as “smart drugs,” “legal highs,” and “novel psychoactive substances” (NPS). Aim of our work is to describe use habits and distribution of NPS in a population of young adults in Rome club scene. Methods. A self-administered questionnaire was proposed to subjects over 18 years of age at the entrance of 5 nightclubs in Rome. Socioeconomic characteristics and substance use were investigated. Results. Preliminary results give evidence that 78% of respondents have a lifetime history of NPS use. In addition, 56% of the sample has consumed illicit drugs in the past and 39% has used psychoactive substances in the 12 hours preceding the questionnaire administration. Conclusions. A significant proportion of subjects report use of novel psychoactive substances; traditional illicit drugs consumption, particularly cocaine, appears to be very high as well in the club scene. These data highlight a serious public health challenge, since pharmacological, toxicological, and psychopathological effects linked to interactions among all these substances may be unpredictable and sometimes fatal in vulnerable individualsPeer reviewedFinal Published versio

Paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy associated with adenocarcinoma of the lung - a rare entity with atypical onset: a case report.

Introduction. Inflammatory myopathies (such as dermatomyositis and polymyositis) are well-recognized paraneoplastic syndromes. However, paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy is a more recently defined clinical entity, characterized by rapidly progressive, symmetrical, predominantly proximal muscle weakness with severe disability, and associated with a marked increase in serum muscle enzyme levels. Paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy requires muscle biopsy for diagnosis, which typically shows massive necrosis of muscle fibers with limited or absent inflammatory infiltrates. Case presentation. We report the case of an 82-year-old Italian-born Caucasian man who was admitted to hospital because of heart failure and two drop attacks. Over the following days, he developed progressive severe weakness, dysphagia, and dysphonia. Testing showed increasing serum muscle enzyme levels. Electromyography showed irritative myopathy of the proximal muscles and sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Muscle biopsy (left vastus lateralis) showed massive necrosis of muscle fibers with negligible inflammatory infiltrates, complement membrane attack complex deposition on endomysial capillaries, and moderate upregulation of major histocompatibility complex-I. Computed tomography of the thorax showed a nodular mass in the apex of the right lung. The patient was diagnosed with paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy. In spite of high-dose corticoid therapy, he died 1 month later because of his aggressive cancer. Subsequent electron microscopic examination of a muscle biopsy specimen showed thickened walls and typical pipestem changes of the endomysial capillaries, with swollen endothelial cells. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung was confirmed on post-mortem histological examination. Conclusions: Paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy is a rare syndrome with outcomes ranging from fast progression to complete recovery. Treatment with corticosteroids is often ineffective, and prognosis depends mainly on the characteristics of the underlying cancer. This case shows that paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy may have an atypical appearance, and should be considered in elderly patients with neoplastic disease. In this case, the diagnosis was delayed by the unusual clinical picture that suggested heart disease rather than muscle disease