Crystalline heterogeneity in single ferroelectric nanocrystals revealed by polarized nonlinear microscopy.

Ferroelectric nanocrystals have considerable interest for applications in nanophotonics, optical memories and bio-imaging. Their crystalline nature at the nanoscale remains however poorly known, mostly because structural investigation tools on single nanocrystals are lacking. In this work we apply polarization resolved second harmonic generation (P-SHG) imaging on isolated Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) nanocrystals to unravel their crystalline nature, exploiting the sensitivity of polarized SHG to local non-centrosymmetry and nanocrystals surface responses. We evidence crystalline heterogeneities in BaTiO3 nanocrystals manifested by a centrosymmetric shell around the tetragonal core of the crystals, corroborating hypotheses from previous ensemble structural investigations. This study shows that in contrast to bulk materials, nanocrystals exhibit a complex composition, which is seen to be reproducible among nanocrystals. P-SHG appears furthermore as a powerful methodology that reports structural behaviors in nanoscale dielectrics materials, at the individual nanoparticle scale.

Benefits of implementing pain-related disability and psychological assessment in dental practice for patients with temporomandibular pain and other oral health conditions.

BACKGROUND: Evidence in the field of dentistry has demonstrated the importance of pain-related disability and psychological assessment in the development of chronic symptoms. The Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders offer a brief assessment for the diagnostic process in patients with orofacial pain (Axis II). The authors describe relevant outcomes that may guide general oral health care practitioners toward tailored treatment decisions and improved treatment outcomes and provide recommendations for the primary care setting. METHODS: The authors conducted a review of the literature to provide an overview of knowledge about Axis II assessment relevant for the general oral health care practitioner. RESULTS: The authors propose 3 domains of the Axis II assessment to be used in general oral health care: pain location (pain drawing), pain intensity and related disability (Graded Chronic Pain Scale [GCPS]), and psychological distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 [PHQ-4]). In the case of localized pain, low GCPS scores (0-II), and low PHQ-4 scores (0-5), patients preferably receive treatment in primary care. In the case of widespread pain, high GCPS scores (III-IV), and high PHQ-4 scores (6-12), the authors recommend referral to a multidisciplinary team, especially for patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend psychological assessment at first intake of a new adult patient or for patients with persistent TMD pain. The authors recommend the pain-related disability screening tools for all TMD pain symptoms and for dental pain symptoms that persist beyond the normal healing period. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A brief psychological and pain-related disability assessment for patients in primary care may help the general oral health care practitioner make tailored treatment decisions.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of usual treatment versus psychosocial interventions in the treatment of myofascial temporomandibular disorder pain.

AIMS: To carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effects of occlusal splint therapy ("usual treatment") and psychosocial interventions for the treatment of myofascial temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain in adult patients. METHODS: Independent screening and evaluation of randomized clinical trials included comparisons between "usual treatment" based on splint therapy and psychosocial interventions for TMD treatment within electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE), ongoing trials databases (Current Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov), and additional sources. The outcomes selected for the systematic review were self-reported pain, pain interference, unassisted jaw opening without pain, muscle pain upon palpation, depression, and somatization. The effect measures were analyzed using a random-effect model (Review Manager computer program). RESULTS: The outcomes "longterm self-reported pain" and "long-term depression" were significantly different for the comparisons of "usual treatment" and psychosocial interventions, and they favored the latter (P < .005 and P < .05, respectively). These results must be viewed with caution due to the limited number of studies available. A tendency toward greater improvements of psychological outcomes was observed for psychosocial interventions, while physical functioning was slightly more responsive to "usual treatment." CONCLUSION: No evidence was found to distinguish the clinical effectiveness between "usual treatment" and psychosocial interventions for myofascial TMD pain. Future studies of TMD and related subdiagnoses should be reported according to core standardized outcomes to facilitate comparisons.

Evaluación de estructura de personalidad en pacientes bipolares / Assesment of personality structure in bipolar disorders: object relations trest in euthymic bipolar subjects

Presentamos una evaluación de la estructura de personalidad en pacientes bipolares, que se encuentran en intervalo libre de síntomas anímicos. Nuestra hipótesis de trabajo es que estos pacientes presentan trastornos en distintas áreas del desarrollo de la personalidad, organizados como modificaciones estables del funcionamiento de la personalidad. Muestra: 35 pacientes bipolares II, evaluados en estado eutímico con el test de Relaciones Objetales de Philipson. Se evalúan las siguientes áreas: mecanismos defensivos, rasgos de personalidad, tipo de vínculos, ansiedades y modos de elaboración del material del test. Resultados: Los pacientes presentan un funcionamiento defensivo centrado en defensas primitivas, rasgos de personalidad predominantes son esquizoides, oral dependientes y narcisistas; las ansiedades más frecuentes son las ansiedades depresivas, de separación y paranoides. En cuanto a los vínculos que construye el paciente, estos son superficiales y evitativos, simbióticos y en los que la interacción está centrada en la demanda y la satisfacción. Se observan también vínculos de carácter vertical y autoritario. Conclusión: Los pacientes estudiados presentan serios trastornos en la integración de su personalidad, los que podrían configurarse un perfil relativamente específico para estos pacientes. Dado el carácter del presente estudio, no es posible establecer los factores causales de éstos déficit en el desarrollo de la personalidad.

This paper presents an assessment of personality structure of bipolar II patients, evaluated by means of Philipson’s Object Relation Test in a symptom-free interval. We hypothesized that they could show a pattern of permanent distortions in personality structure, which could be independent from mood switches. A sample of 35 type II bipolar patients was assessed. Special focus of interest were personality traits, defense mechanisms, patterns of attachment, basic anxieties and formal aspects of “scripts” in ORT. Results: Patients exhibited a pattern of low defensive functioning; schizoid, narcissistic and dependent personality traits; separation, paranoid and depressive anxieties; avoidant and clinging attachment and also a self-centered pattern of interaction. Discussion: Studied patients present a serious pattern of distortions in several domains of personality structure, which could be or not specific for bipolar patients. This seems to be a persistent pattern of distortion, enduring and mood switches independent. Our data seems to support the previous hypothesis, namely that bipolar patients exhibited severe personality disorders that could be even prior to the clinical onset of mood disorder.