Y-chromosome in the olfactory neuroepithelium as a potential biomarker of depression in women with male offspring: an exploratory study.

The persistence of fetal cells in the mother (fetal microchimerism (FMc)) has been described in maternal tissues essential to the newborn. FMc is associated with several diseases that start or worsen in pregnancy or postpartum. This exploratory study reports-for the first time-the presence of FMc in the olfactory neuroepithelium (ON) of both healthy and depressed women with male offspring. However, depressed women had fewer microchimeric cells (digital PCR). The existence of FMc in the ON could facilitate mother-child bonding. These findings open new pathways to study FMc in the ON, female depression, and mother-child bonding.

Cognitive and quality-of-life related factors of body mass index (BMI) improvement after deep brain stimulation in the subcallosal cingulate and nucleus accumbens in treatment-refractory chronic anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Up to 20% of the cases of anorexia nervosa (AN) are chronic and treatment-resistant. Recently, the efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe cases of AN has been explored, with studies showing an improvement in body mass index and other psychiatric outcomes. While the effects of DBS on cognitive domains have been studied in patients with other neurological and psychiatric conditions so far, no evidence has been gathered in AN. METHODS: Eight patients with severe, chronic, treatment-resistant AN received DBS either to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) or subcallosal cingulate (SCC; four subjects on each target). A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological and clinical outcomes was used before and 6-month after surgery. FINDINGS: Although Body Mass Index (BMI) did not normalise, statistically significant improvements in BMI, quality of life, and performance on cognitive flexibility were observed after 6 months of DBS. Changes in BMI were related to a decrease in depressive symptoms and an improvement in memory functioning. INTERPRETATION: These findings, although preliminary, support the use of DBS in AN, pointing to its safety, even for cognitive functioning; improvements of cognitive flexibility are reported. DBS seems to exert changes on cognition and mood that accompany BMI increments. Further studies are needed better to determine the impact of DBS on cognitive functions.

Treating immigrant patients in psychiatric emergency rooms.

We examine whether patient variables (geographic origin, gender, Spanish language proficiency) and subjective clinician aspects in emergency department psychiatric encounters (diagnostic certainty, clinician's comfort level with patient) are associated with diagnosis and the use of coercive measures. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, we recorded 467 visits (400 foreign-born and 67 native-born patients) in hospital psychiatry emergency rooms (ERs) in Barcelona between 2007 and 2015. We first assessed the association of patient variables and subjective clinician aspects of psychiatric encounters with service use outcomes and with mental illness diagnosis. Fitted logistic models predicted the likelihood of service use outcomes and estimated the propensity of receiving each diagnosis. The null model evaluated the role of patient's geographical origin, while the full model evaluated the additional roles of patient's gender and language, the clinician's assessment of the influence of culture in diagnosis, and clinician comfort with two outcomes: patient's diagnosis and use of coercive measures in the ER. Women were less likely to receive coercive measures or intramuscular medications compared to men. Significant ethnic/racial and gender differences were found in receiving certain diagnoses. Additionally, a patient's lower Spanish proficiency was correlated with a higher probability of receiving a psychosis diagnosis. The clinician's level of diagnostic certainty was also positively correlated with increasing clinician-reported comfort with patient. Overall, ethnic factors and the subjective aspects of psychiatric encounters were found to influence diagnosis and the use of coercive measures. Cultural competency programs and interpreter services within psychiatric ER settings should thus be required.

A Randomized Trial of Deep Brain Stimulation to the Subcallosal Cingulate and Nucleus Accumbens in Patients with Treatment-Refractory, Chronic, and Severe Anorexia Nervosa: Initial Results at 6 Months of Follow Up.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN). METHODS: Eight participants received active DBS to the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) or nucleus accumbens (NAcc) depending on comorbidities (affective or anxiety disorders, respectively) and type of AN. The primary outcome measure was body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Overall, we found no significant difference (p = 0.84) between mean preoperative and postoperative (month 6) BMI. A BMI reference value (BMI-RV) was calculated. In patients that received preoperative inpatient care to raise the BMI, the BMI-RV was defined as the mean BMI value in the 12 months prior to surgery. In patients that did not require inpatient care, the BMI-RV was defined as the mean BMI in the 3-month period before surgery. This value was compared to the postoperative BMI (month 6), revealing a significant increase (p = 0.02). After 6 months of DBS, five participants showed an increase of ≥10% in the BMI-RV. Quality of life was improved (p = 0.03). Three cases presented cutaneous complications. CONCLUSION: DBS may be effective for some patients with severe AN. Cutaneous complications were observed. Longer term data are needed.