Depressive symptoms and associated factors in an older Spanish population positively screened for disability.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its association with a comprehensive set of variables and to study the potential modifying effects of sex and age. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, subjects who tested positive to the 12-item World Health Organization disability screening tool were selected from a probabilistic sample of persons aged 65 years or older in a rural area of Spain. Measurements included EURO-D depression scale, socio-demographics, habits, anthropometrics, medical history, cognition, disability, functional dependence, self-rated health and pain. Logistic regression models were used to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between depression and variables. The modifying effects of age and sex were assessed. RESULTS: Prevalence (95% CI) of current depressive symptoms among the 438 participants was 35.8% (31.3-40.3%). Depressive symptomatology was higher among women (aOR = 2.98). An inverse association was observed with alcohol (aORs of 0.52 and 0.27 for consumption of 1-2 and >2 standard units/day, respectively, versus abstainers). Depressive symptomatology was associated with heart failure (aOR = 4.24), urinary incontinence (aOR = 2.68), ischemic heart disease (aOR = 1.87), poor self-rated health and pain. Sex and age modified the effect of several variables. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of depressive symptoms, albeit high, was less than expected. The consistently strong negative association between depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption warrants further in-depth research. Awareness of effect modification by key variables, such as sex and age, may enable the probability of suffering depression to be more accurately assessed, with a view to performing a potential diagnostic work-up.

Effect of the microstructure on the propagation velocity of ultrasound in magnetic powders.

We analyze experimentally and theoretically the sound propagation velocity of P-waves in granular media made of micrometer-size magnetite particles under an external magnetic field. The sound velocity is measured in a coherent (long-wavelength) regime of propagation after a controlled sample preparation consisting of a fluidization and the application of a magnetic field. Several different procedures are applied and result in different but reproducible particle arrangements and preferential contact orientations affecting the measured sound velocity. Interestingly, we find that the sound velocity increases when the magnetic field is applied parallel to the sound propagation direction and decreases when the magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the sound propagation direction. The observed qualitative relationship between the changes in the particle arrangement and the sound velocity is analyzed theoretically based on an effective medium theory adapted to account for the effect of the magnetic field in the preparation procedure and its influence on the medium contact fabric.

Ten years of science news: A longitudinal analysis of scientific culture in the Spanish digital press.

This article presents our study of science coverage in the digital Spanish press over the last decade. We employed automated information retrieval procedures to create a corpus of 50,763 text units dealing with science and technology, and used automated text-analysis procedures in order to provide a general picture of the structure, characteristics and evolution of science news in Spain. We found between 6% and 7% of science coverage, a clear high proportion of biomedicine and predominance of science over technology, although we also detected an increase in technological content during the second half of the decade. Analysing the extrinsic and intrinsic features of science culture, we found a predominance of intrinsic features that still need further analysis. Our attempt to use specialised software to examine big data was effective, and allowed us to reach these preliminary conclusions.

Retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness in patients with schizophrenia: Influence of recent illness episodes.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been recently used to investigate neuropsychiatric disorders. We aimed to study retinal OCT measures of patients with schizophrenia with respect to healthy controls, and to evaluate possible differences between recent illness episode (RIE) and non-recent illness episode (NRIE) patients. Thirty schizophrenia patients were classified as RIE (n=10) or NRIE (n=20), and compared with 30 matched controls. Statistical analyses included linear mixed-effects models to study the association between OCT measures and group membership. Multivariate models were used to control for potential confounders. In the adjusted linear mixed-effects regression model, patients had a significantly thinner retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in overall measurements, and in the nasal, superior and inferior quadrants. Macular inner ring thickness and macular volume were also significantly smaller in patients than controls. Compared with controls, in the adjusted model only NRIE (but not RIE) patients had significantly reduced RNFL overall measures, superior RNFL, nasal RNFL, macular volume, and macular inner ring thickness. No significant correlation was found between illness duration and retinal measurements after controlling for age. In conclusion, retinal parameters observed using OCT in schizophrenia patients could be related to clinical status and merit attention as potential state biomarkers of the disorder.

Depressive disorder and incident diabetes mellitus: the effect of characteristics of depression.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that clinically significant depression detected in a population sample increases the risk of diabetes mellitus. The authors examined the effect of characteristics of depression frequently found in the community on the risk of incident diabetes mellitus. METHOD: A large community sample of adults aged > or = 55 years (N=4,803) was assessed at baseline in a longitudinal three-wave epidemiological enquiry using a psychiatric interview and the Geriatric Mental State Schedule. Cases of depression were diagnosed according to standardized criteria, and diabetes was assessed using a risk factors questionnaire. Follow-up evaluations, conducted 2.5 and 5 years later, were completed to determine the incidence of diabetes. RESULTS: At baseline, 379 case subjects with depression were identified. The risk of incident diabetes mellitus was higher among subjects with depression when compared with nondepressed subjects, and the association remained significant after controlling for potential confounders, including diabetes risk factors. The estimated rate of diabetes mellitus attributable to depression was 6.87%. An increased risk of diabetes mellitus was also associated with the following characteristics of depression: nonsevere depression, persistent depression, and untreated depression. Treatment with antidepressants was not associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically significant depression is associated with a 65% increased risk of diabetes mellitus. Characteristics of depression frequently found in the community, namely nonsevere depression, persistent depression, and untreated depression, may play a role in the development of diabetes in a predominantly elderly adult population.