Quantum Backaction on kg-Scale Mirrors: Observation of Radiation Pressure Noise in the Advanced Virgo Detector.

The quantum radiation pressure and the quantum shot noise in laser-interferometric gravitational wave detectors constitute a macroscopic manifestation of the Heisenberg inequality. If quantum shot noise can be easily observed, the observation of quantum radiation pressure noise has been elusive, so far, due to the technical noise competing with quantum effects. Here, we discuss the evidence of quantum radiation pressure noise in the Advanced Virgo gravitational wave detector. In our experiment, we inject squeezed vacuum states of light into the interferometer in order to manipulate the quantum backaction on the 42 kg mirrors and observe the corresponding quantum noise driven displacement at frequencies between 30 and 70 Hz. The experimental data, obtained in various interferometer configurations, is tested against the Advanced Virgo detector quantum noise model which confirmed the measured magnitude of quantum radiation pressure noise.

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris classic adult: a rare pathology / Pitiriasis rubra pilaris clásica del adulto: una patología poco frecuente

RESUMEN La Pitiriasis Rubra Pilaris es una enfermedad papuloescamosa, secundaria a un trastorno de la cornificaciónde causa desconocida, se manifiesta clínicamente por pápulas hiperqueratósicas y queratodermiapalmoplantar. Existen diferentes formas de clasificar la enfermedad,en función de la edad deinicio, morfología, curso clínico y pronóstico. La forma de presentación más frecuente corresponde a la clásica del adulto (Tipo I), alrededor del 55% de todos los casos. Por tratarse de una enfermedad con baja incidencia, de etiología poco clara y con la posibilidad de remisión espontánea, no existe un tratamiento universalmente aceptado, la mayor parte de la evidencia proviene de reportes de casos, series de casos y algunos estudios retrospectivos. Presentamos el caso clínico de una paciente de 57 años de edad con diagnóstico de Pitiriasis Rubra Pilaris con respuesta favorable a retinoides.

SUMMARY PityriasisRubra Pilaris is a papulosquamous disease, secondary to a cornification disorder of unknown cause, clinically manifested by hyperkeratosic papules and palmoplantar keratoderma. There are different ways to classify the disease, it corresponds to six subtypes depending on the age of onset, morphology, clinical course and prognosis. The most frequent form of presentation corresponds to the classic one of the adult (Type I), around 55% of all cases. Due to it is a low incidence disease, with an unclear etiology and the possibility of spontaneous remission, there is no universally accepted treatment and most of the evidence comes from individual case reports, small case series, and some retrospective studies. We present the clinical case of a 57-year-old patient diagnosed with PityriasisRubra Pilaris with a favorable response to retinoids.

Review: The past, present and future challenges in epilepsy-related and sudden deaths and biobanking.

Awareness and research on epilepsy-related deaths (ERD), in particular Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), have exponentially increased over the last two decades. Most publications have focused on guidelines that inform clinicians dealing with these deaths, educating patients, potential risk factors and mechanisms. There is a relative paucity of information available for pathologists who conduct these autopsies regarding appropriate post mortem practice and investigations. As we move from recognizing SUDEP as the most common form of ERD toward in-depth investigations into its causes and prevention, health professionals involved with these autopsies and post mortem procedure must remain fully informed. Systematizing a more comprehensive and consistent practice of examining these cases will facilitate (i) more precise determination of cause of death, (ii) identification of SUDEP for improved epidemiological surveillance (the first step for an intervention study), and (iii) biobanking and cell-based research. This article reviews how pathologists and healthcare professionals have approached ERD, current practices, logistical problems and areas to improve and harmonize. The main neuropathology, cardiac and genetic findings in SUDEP are outlined, providing a framework for best practices, integration of clinical, pathological and molecular genetic investigations in SUDEP, and ultimately prevention.

The functional serotonin 1a receptor promoter polymorphism, rs6295, is associated with psychiatric illness and differences in transcription.

The G/C single-nucleotide polymorphism in the serotonin 1a receptor promoter, rs6295, has previously been linked with depression, suicide and antidepressant responsiveness. In vitro studies suggest that rs6295 may have functional effects on the expression of the serotonin 1a receptor gene (HTR1A) through altered binding of a number of transcription factors. To further explore the relationship between rs6295, mental illness and gene expression, we performed dual epidemiological and biological studies. First, we genotyped a cohort of 1412 individuals, randomly split into discovery and replication cohorts, to examine the relationship between rs6295 and five psychiatric outcomes: history of psychiatric hospitalization, history of suicide attempts, history of substance or alcohol abuse, current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), current depression. We found that the rs6295G allele is associated with increased risk for substance abuse, psychiatric hospitalization and suicide attempts. Overall, exposure to either childhood or non-childhood trauma resulted in increased risk for all psychiatric outcomes, but we did not observe a significant interaction between rs6295 and trauma in modulating psychiatric outcomes. In conjunction, we also investigated the potential impact of rs6295 on HTR1A expression in postmortem human brain tissue using relative allelic expression assays. We found more mRNA produced from the C versus the G-allele of rs6295 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), but not in the midbrain of nonpsychiatric control subjects. Further, in the fetal cortex, rs6295C allele exhibited increased relative expression as early as gestational week 18 in humans. Finally, we found that the C:G allelic expression ratio was significantly neutralized in the PFC of subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD) who committed suicide as compared with controls, indicating that normal patterns of transcription may be disrupted in MDD/suicide. These data provide a putative biological mechanism underlying the association between rs6295, trauma and mental illness. Moreover, our results suggest that rs6295 may affect transcription during both gestational development and adulthood in a region-specific manner, acting as a risk factor for psychiatric illness. These findings provide a critical framework for conceptualizing the effects of a common functional genetic variant, trauma exposure and their impact on mental health.

Persistent Angiogenesis in the Autism Brain: An Immunocytochemical Study of Postmortem Cortex, Brainstem and Cerebellum.

In the current work, we conducted an immunocytochemical search for markers of ongoing neurogenesis (e.g. nestin) in auditory cortex from postmortem sections of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and age-matched control donors. We found nestin labeling in cells of the vascular system, indicating blood vessels plasticity. Evidence of angiogenesis was seen throughout superior temporal cortex (primary auditory cortex), fusiform cortex (face recognition center), pons/midbrain and cerebellum in postmortem brains from ASD patients but not control brains. We found significant increases in both nestin and CD34, which are markers of angiogenesis localized to pericyte cells and endothelial cells, respectively. This labeling profile is indicative of splitting (intussusceptive), rather than sprouting, angiogenesis indicating the blood vessels are in constant flux rather than continually expanding.

Anemic nevus in neurofibromatosis type 1.

Anemic nevus (AN) is a congenital-vascular anomaly of the skin. Although it is a benign and asymptomatic lesion, it could be a frequent 'cutaneous finding' in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). We performed a retrospective analysis to detect the prevalence of AN in all children with a presumptive diagnosis of NF1 treated in our center.

Selective cognitive deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to panic disorder with agoraphobia.

OBJECTIVE: Visual-spatial and executive functions deficits have been reported in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We investigated their specificity comparing cognitive function in OCD, panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD/A) and controls by a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. METHOD: Fifty-five subjects (25 OCD, 15 PD/A, 15 controls) without current depressive episode underwent structured clinical interview for DSM-IV, Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Neuropsychological battery assessed: executive functions, visual discrimination, spatial memory and learning, verbal memory, general intellectual functioning. RESULTS: OCD showed controlled fluency, visual-spatial construction, learning and memory deficits; PD/A spatial learning impairment. OCD was discriminated from PD/A and controls by three tests scores, predicting group membership for 76.4% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Visual-constructive and controlled fluency deficits seem specific in OCD, while the spatial learning deficit, shared with PD patients, may not be disorder-specific, but anxiety-related. Results support the proposed ventral frontal-striatal circuit involvement in OCD.

Serotonin 1A receptors, serotonin transporter binding and serotonin transporter mRNA expression in the brainstem of depressed suicide victims.

Suicide and depression are associated with reduced serotonergic neurotransmission. In suicides, there is a reduction in serotonin transporter (SERT) sites and an increase in postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors in localized regions of the prefrontal cortex. In depression, there is a diffuse decrease in SERT binding throughout the dorsoventral extent of the prefrontal cortex. Serotonergic innervation of the prefrontal cortex arises predominantly from neurons in the brainstem dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). We, therefore, examined postmortem SERT binding and mRNA expression, as well as 5-HT(1A) autoreceptor binding in the DRN of 10 matched pairs of controls and depressed suicide victims. The concentration of SERT sites, SERT mRNA, and 5-HT(1A) binding was not different between controls and suicides (p >.05). In the DRN of suicides, the volume of tissue defined by 5-HT(1A) binding was 40% smaller than controls. An index of the total number of 5-HT(1A) receptors (receptor binding x volume of receptor distribution) was 43.3% lower in the DRN of suicides, compared with controls. The suicide group had 54% fewer DRN neurons expressing SERT mRNA compared with controls. In the serotonin neurons that expressed the SERT gene, expression per neuron was greater in suicides. Less total 5-HT(1A) and SERT binding is consistent with results of in vivo studies in depression. Less feedback inhibition of serotonin DRN firing via 5-HT(1A) autoreceptors and enhancement of serotonin action due to less uptake of serotonin, is consistent with compensatory changes in response to hypofunction in depressed suicides.

[Analysis and comparative evaluations of the costs of supports and treatments of schizophrenia, affective psychosis, paranoia and neurosis]. / Analisi e valutazioni comparative dei costi dei trattamenti terapeutico-riabilitativi delle psicosi schizofreniche, delle psicosi affettive, della paranoia e dei disturbi nevrotici.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to show, trough the calculation of the direct costs of supports and treatments actually provided by a NHS Mental Health Department, the presence of associations between four diagnostic groups (schizophrenia, affective psychosis, paranoia and neurotic disorders) and their overall and items (community care, rehabilitation facilities and in-patients services) costs. SETTING: Mental Health Department and CSM "Scalo" (NHS Mental Centre), AUSL "Città di Bologna", Emilia-Romagna Region. DESIGN: Yearly direct costs were calculated for a sample (n = 75) of all patients (N = 745) who during 365 days had more than four contacts with CSM and also for four randomised diagnostic groups (n = 30 per group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We calculated unit costs of 15 types of services provided by CSM, selected according to the yearly number of services provided and the time spent by each health professional, and the in patient-cost per all days spent in a public or private sector hospital for psychiatric care. RESULTS: The statistic analysis, performed with the help of the Kruskal-Wallis test, showed significantly higher overall costs for the schizophrenic patients than the sample-group and the neurotic disorders-group; besides a significant difference in the item costs for rehabilitation facilities was found between the schizophrenic group and the paranoia, neurotic disorders groups and the sample one, whereas no significant differences in costs of inpatients services and drugs administration were tested between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study allow to demonstrate that there are cost differences between the diagnosis (direct costs are highest for schizophrenic patients and lowest for those with neurotic disorders) and that the costs evaluation can be used to ensure appropriate provisions to Mental Health Department for support and treatment of a wide range of psychiatric disorders.

Room-temperature phosphorescence of 6-bromo-2-naphthol included in beta-cyclodextrin in the presence of cyclohexane.

The formation constant for a 1:1 binary complex between 6-bromo-2-naphthol (6B2N) and beta-cyclodextrin (CD) in aqueous solution was determined by both absorptimetric and fluorimetric methods. Room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) was induced by adding small amounts of different apolar liquids as the third component, with cyclohexane producing the strongest enhancement effect. Microcrystals formed in the ternary system seem to be necessary for obtaining phosphorescence emission. The deoxygenation by flowing nitrogen does not improve the RTP signals, while the addition of sodium sulfite as chemical deoxygenant produces quenching of the signals. The calibration graph for 6-bromo-2-naphthol in the presence of beta-CD and cyclohexane was linear for the range of concentrations between 0.04 and 1 mug ml(-1), with a detection limit of 0.04 mug ml(-1).

Spectrofluorimetric determination of diclofenac in the presence of alpha-cyclodextrin.

This study focuses on the complex formed between alpha-cyclodextrin (CD) and the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in aqueous solution and also on its potential analytical applications. It was corroborated that the fluorescence emission band of diclofenac is significantly intensified in the presence of alpha-CD. From the changes in the fluorescence spectra, it was concluded that alpha-CD forms a 1:1 inclusional complex with diclofenac and its equilibrium constant was calculated to be 1.20(3)x10(3) M(-1). With the purpose of characterizing the inclusion complex, the acid-base behaviour of diclofenac in both the presence and absence of alpha-CD was spectrophotometrically investigated. From the results obtained, it was inferred that both the carboxyl and the secondary amino groups of the guest molecule remain outside the cyclodextrin cavity. Further details on the complex structure was obtained by (1)H NMR measurements and semiempirical calculations. In addition to the analysis of the alpha-CD-diclofenac interaction, a new approach for the quantification of diclofenac in the presence of alpha-CD is described in the range 0-5 mug ml(-1). An application of the method to the determination of the studied drug in pharmaceutical preparations is shown.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in thyroid diseased patients.

Several studies have underlined the high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and disorders in thyroid diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in 93 inpatients affected by different thyroid diseases during their lifetimes, by means of a standardized instrument, i.e., the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised, Upjohn Version (SCID-UP-R). The results showed higher rates of panic disorder, simple phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and cyclothymia in thyroid patients than in the general population. These findings would suggest that the co-occurrence of psychiatric and thyroid diseases may be the result of common biochemical abnormalities.