Investigating the relationship between autistic traits and symptoms and Catatonia Spectrum.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, numerous studies have highlighted the overlap between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and catatonia, both from a clinical and pathophysiological perspective. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the autism spectrum (autistic traits and ASD signs, symptoms, and behavioral manifestation) and Catatonia Spectrum (CS). METHODS: A total sample of 376 subjects was distributed in four diagnostic groups. Subjects were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5, Research Version, the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum), and CS. In the statistical analyses, the total sample was also divided into three groups according to the degree of autism severity, based on the AdAS Spectrum total score. RESULTS: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between AdAS Spectrum and CS total score within the total sample, the gender subgroups, and the diagnostic categories. The AdAS Spectrum domains found to be significantly and strongly correlated with the total CS score were hyper-hypo reactivity to sensory input, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, restricted interests and rumination, and inflexibility and adherence to routine. The three groups of different autistic severity were found to be distributed across all diagnostic groups and the CS score increased significantly from the group without autistic traits to the group with ASD. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reports a strong correlation between autism spectrum and CS.

[Magnetic resonance in neoplasms of the adipose, fibrous and muscular tissues]. / La risonanza magnetica nelle neoplasie dei tessuti adiposo, fibroso e muscolare.

Two-hundred and three MR examinations were reviewed of 177 patients with lipomatous, fibrous and muscular tissues tumors which were evaluated at staging or during the follow-up. All examinations were obtained with a 1.5T superconductive magnet, and both T1 and T2-weighted images were acquired. Its high-contrast resolution, its direct multiplanarity and its allowing both T1 and T2-weighted images to be obtained, are the most important characteristics of MR imaging. In our experience, MRI demonstrated a high overall accuracy (96.1%)-95.2% at restaging alone--with similar sensitivity both at the staging of the disease (100%) and during the follow-up (97%). Overall sensibility was 97.6%. MR specificity in histologically proven relapses was 87.9%. Even though it is gradually assessing itself as the most important method in the evaluation of soft tissues masses, MRI allows an histological diagnosis to be made only in lipomatous tumors and in benign fibrous tumors, due to their specific signal features. The commonest though aspecific finding is a soft tissue mass with relatively low signal intensity in T1 and high signal intensity in T2-weighted images. In our opinion, MR imaging is the method of choice during the follow-up of the disease, whereas it is probably a complementary technique in the staging.

Longitudinal study of the behaviour of certain hormonal parameters in women undergoing treatment with cyproterone acetate.

A study has been made of the behaviour of certain hormonal parameters (LH, FSH, PRL, HGH, ACTH, cortisol and testosterone) in five women aged from 17 to 28 years, during two successive menstrual cycles, the first under basal conditions and the second while under treatment with cyproterone acetate (CPA) 100 mg/day), given from the fifth to the twenty-fifth day of the cycle. On the first day of the initial cycle and the twenty-ninth day of the second cycle, the secretion of gonadotropins, prolactin, and somatotropin were measured before and after stimulation with GnRH (50 microgram, i.v.), sulpiride (200 mg, i.m.) or insulin (0.1 U/kg). During treatment with CPA the ovulatory peak of LH was abolished, with a reduction in the levels of gonadotropin and testosterone. No changes were observed for PRL, HGH, ACTH or cortisol. The study of the pituitary reserves showed a reduced response of LH but not of FSH to GnRH. There were no changes in the response of PRL and HGH to stimulation. The data obtained confirm the inhibitory effect of CPA on gonadotropin and testosterone secretion, while the other parameters studied did not vary significantly.