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1.
Psychiatry Res ; 287: 112575, 2020 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31587915

ABSTRACT

Suicidal behavior is a complex phenomenon with high rates among psychiatric inpatients. Mood disorders and personality dysfunctions represent relevant risk factors for suicides attempts and suicidal ideation. Our study aims to investigate the role of the co-occurrence of clinical variables (duration of depressive state, previous suicide attempts), socio-demographic variables (gender, employment and civil status) and narcissistic personality features in the suicide risk of admitted psychiatric patients affected by a mood disorder. The sample was composed of 93 patients consecutively admitted in an open ward psychiatric Unit. Forty-eight participants had a positive history of previous suicide attempts: the suicide attempters (SA) were mostly female, unemployed and married. The SA group were observed to have suffered from a depressive episode with a longer duration; moreover in the SA group, the presence of active suicidal ideation was significantly related to a higher number of previous suicide attempts. In the whole sample, suicidal ideation was significantly related to narcissistic vulnerability personality features. Using a multidimensional approach, the present study allows a preliminary profiling of patients at risk for suicidal behavior during hospitalization.


Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/psychology , Inpatients/psychology , Personality Disorders/psychology , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Adult , Female , Hospitals , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality , Risk Factors , Suicidal Ideation
2.
Nat Commun ; 9(1): 2127, 2018 05 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29844372

ABSTRACT

Nanoscale systems that coherently couple to light and possess spins offer key capabilities for quantum technologies. However, an outstanding challenge is to preserve properties, and especially optical and spin coherence lifetimes, at the nanoscale. Here, we report optically controlled nuclear spins with long coherence lifetimes (T2) in rare-earth-doped nanoparticles. We detect spins echoes and measure a spin coherence lifetime of 2.9 ± 0.3 ms at 5 K under an external magnetic field of 9 mT, a T2 value comparable to those obtained in bulk rare-earth crystals. Moreover, we achieve spin T2 extension using all-optical spin dynamical decoupling and observe high fidelity between excitation and echo phases. Rare-earth-doped nanoparticles are thus the only nano-material in which optically controlled spins with millisecond coherence lifetimes have been reported. These results open the way to providing quantum light-atom-spin interfaces with long storage time within hybrid architectures.

3.
Int J STD AIDS ; 29(1): 51-56, 2018 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28669324

ABSTRACT

Rapid HIV testing may circumvent the practical barriers to HIV testing in several settings. User preference of the testing kits available has been relatively underexplored. We examined healthcare provider (HCP) ratings of two validated rapid testing kits in clinical practice. From 1 July to 1 December 2012 we prospectively recruited HCPs (clinic nurses) from three outpatient clinics linked to Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. The HCPs had experience in taking blood samples but varying experience in rapid HIV testing. Participating HCPs performed rapid HIV testing using Determine™ Combo (DETE) or INSTI™ (INSTI), according to a predefined randomization sequence, and rated practical aspects of each test using a Likert scale. Seventeen HCPs of 23 approached (74%) were eligible and agreed to participate, performing a total of 336 HIV tests. Globally, the testing procedure was rated as easy or very easy by 97% (DETE) to 99% (INSTI) of tests performed. Among experienced HCPs, DETE was rated easier than INSTI for kit storage (p < 0.001) and blood collection ( P = 0.012) while INSTI was rated easier than DETE for blood application ( P = 0.001) and test interpretation ( P = 0.005). Among less experienced HCPs, both tests performed equally with the exception of test interpretation ( P < 0.001) and overall ease of use ( P = 0.05) in favour of INSTI. Of all HCPs, 94% stated they would recommend INSTI over DETE based on the time to result, ease of test interpretation and overall ease of use. Rapid HIV testing was considered easy to perform, even by inexperienced nursing staff. Whilst both tests were considered easy to use, the HCPs in this study preferred INSTI to DETE overall, due to rapid time to result, ease of test interpretation and general ease of use.


Subject(s)
AIDS Serodiagnosis/standards , Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods , HIV Antibodies/blood , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV-1/immunology , Mass Screening/methods , Point-of-Care Systems , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , HIV Infections/immunology , HIV Infections/virology , Health Personnel , Humans , Serologic Tests
4.
Int J Cancer ; 131(1): 59-69, 2012 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21805478

ABSTRACT

Myxoid Liposarcomas (MLS), characterized by the expression of FUS-CHOP fusion gene are clinically very sensitive to the DNA binding antitumor agent, trabectedin. However, resistance eventually occurs, preventing disease eradication. To investigate the mechanisms of resistance, a trabectedin resistant cell line, 402-91/ET, was developed. The resistance to trabectedin was not related to the expression of MDR related proteins, uptake/efflux of trabectedin or GSH levels that were similar in parental and resistant cells. The 402-91/ET cells were hypersensitive to UV light because of a nucleotide excision repair defect: XPG complementation decreased sensitivity to UV rays, but only partially to trabectedin. 402-91/ET cells showed collateral sensitivity to temozolomide due to the lack of O(6) -methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) activity, related to the hypermethylation of MGMT promoter. In 402-91 cells chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays showed that FUS-CHOP was bound to the PTX3 and FN1 gene promoters, as previously described, and trabectedin caused FUS-CHOP detachment from DNA. Here we report that, in contrast, in 402-91/ET cells, FUS-CHOP was not bound to these promoters. Differences in the modulation of transcription of genes involved in different pathways including signal transduction, apoptosis and stress response between the two cell lines were found. Trabectedin activates the transcription of genes involved in the adipogenic-program such as c/EBPα and ß, in 402-91 but not in 402-91/ET cell lines. The collateral sensitivity of 402-91/ET to temozolomide provides the rationale to investigate the potential use of methylating agents in MLS patients resistant to trabectedin.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/pharmacology , Cell Line, Tumor , Dioxoles/pharmacology , Liposarcoma, Myxoid/genetics , Liposarcoma, Myxoid/metabolism , Tetrahydroisoquinolines/pharmacology , Apoptosis , C-Reactive Protein/genetics , CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha/genetics , CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta/genetics , DNA Methylation , DNA Modification Methylases/deficiency , DNA Modification Methylases/genetics , DNA Modification Methylases/metabolism , DNA Repair , DNA Repair Enzymes/deficiency , DNA Repair Enzymes/genetics , DNA Repair Enzymes/metabolism , Dacarbazine/analogs & derivatives , Dacarbazine/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Fibronectins/genetics , Humans , Liposarcoma, Myxoid/drug therapy , Liposarcoma, Myxoid/pathology , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism , Promoter Regions, Genetic , RNA-Binding Protein FUS/genetics , RNA-Binding Protein FUS/metabolism , Serum Amyloid P-Component/genetics , Signal Transduction , Temozolomide , Trabectedin , Transcription Factor CHOP/genetics , Transcription Factor CHOP/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/deficiency , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism , Ultraviolet Rays
5.
J Clin Pediatr Dent ; 35(3): 295-300, 2011.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21678673

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to analyze the structural characteristics of the mineralized dental tissues--enamel, dentin and cementum--in primary teeth and to correlate the histological aspects observed in function of the dental type--single-rooted or multi-rooted. METHOD: Eighteen human primary noncarious teeth were sectioned in facial-lingual (single-rooted) and mesio-distal direction (multi-rooted). One to three samples from each tooth were obtained. The samples were prepared by the ground technique and analyzed under light microscopy at different magnifications. A quantitative and descriptive analysis of the morphology of the mineralized tissues was performed. RESULTS: Spindles, tufts and lamellae were consistently observed mainly in the occlusal surface of the primary molars. The scalloped pattern of the dentinoenamel junction was not always present. The same was seen for zones of interglobular dentin. Dead tracts in dentin and tertiary dentin were observed mainly in single-rooted teeth below areas of dental attrition. Areas of cellular and acellular cementum were observed in the two dental types. CONCLUSIONS: Primary teeth have some structural peculiarities and these should be investigated concerning the clinical repercussion.


Subject(s)
Dental Cementum/ultrastructure , Dental Enamel/ultrastructure , Dentin/ultrastructure , Tooth Calcification/physiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Dental Cementum/physiology , Dental Enamel/physiology , Dentin/physiology , Humans , Tooth Root/anatomy & histology , Tooth, Deciduous/physiology , Tooth, Deciduous/ultrastructure
6.
Anal Bioanal Chem ; 372(2): 401-3, 2002 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11936119

ABSTRACT

A new HPLC/DAD (Diode Array Detector) method is proposed for the identification of some carotene isomers. The operating conditions adopted permit the resolution of alpha-carotene, all-trans-beta-carotene, 9-cis-beta-carotene, 13-cis-beta-carotene and 15-cis-beta-carotene. Moreover, the chromatographic conditions reported are simplified in respect of those reported up to now. The method is applied to the determination of carotenoids in a dried Dunaliella salina extract, but it could be also applied to other organic matrices such as eggs.


Subject(s)
Carotenoids/analysis , Animals , Calibration , Carotenoids/standards , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Egg Yolk/chemistry , Eukaryota/chemistry , Reference Standards , Stereoisomerism , beta Carotene/analysis
7.
J Pers Disord ; 15(5): 390-402, 2001 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11723874

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the specificity of the association between temperamental vulnerability, character deficits, and Borderline personality disorder (BPD), controlling for the effects of attachment patterns. A total of 44 BPD patients were compared with 98 non-BPD patients with other cluster B Personality Disorder (PD) diagnoses, 39 patients with any cluster A or cluster C PD diagnoses, 70 patients with no PD diagnosis, and 206 nonclinical patients. All patients were administered the Temperament and Character Inventory, the Parental Bonding Instrument, and the Attachment Style Questionnaire. Multivariate and univariate tests showed that BPD patients differed significantly from all control groups on Novelty Seeking and Cooperativeness. These differences remained significant when controlling for the effect of attachment.


Subject(s)
Borderline Personality Disorder/psychology , Character , Object Attachment , Temperament , Adult , Antisocial Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Antisocial Personality Disorder/epidemiology , Borderline Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Cooperative Behavior , Exploratory Behavior , Female , Humans , Male , Self-Assessment , Severity of Illness Index
8.
Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital ; 21(3 Suppl 66): 24-30, 2001 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11677836

ABSTRACT

Betahistine is widely used in the treatment of peripheral and central vestibular disorders. Till now the anti-vertigo effect of the drug was though to be mainly due to an action of betahistine on inner ear or cerebral microcirculation or on some structures of the CNS, chiefly the vestibular nuclei. Vertigo, however is, in most cases, of peripheral origin but it remains unknown whether betahistine, or some of its metabolities, may directly affect the vestibular system at peripheral level. Pharmacokinetic studies have in fact demonstrated that betahistine is transformed, mainly at the hepatic level, in aminoethylpyridine (M1), hydroxyethylpyridine (M2) and, finally, in pyridylacetic acid (M3) which is excreted with the urine. All these substances are therefore present in the body fluids of subjects treated with betahistine, and thus might have pharmacological effects. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether betahistine or some of its metabolites could exert any effect on vestibular receptors. To this end, the effects of the drugs (10(-7)-10(-2) M) have been examined on frog semicircular canals, an animal model well suited for this purpose. The effects of betahistine and of its metabolites have been evaluated by recording ampullar receptor activity both at rest and during mechanical stimulation of the sensory organ. The results demonstrated that both betahistine and one of its metabolites, the aminoethylpyridine (M1), exert effects quite similar on ampullar receptors; both these substances in fact could reduce greatly ampullar receptor resting discharge but had scanty effects on mechanically-evoked responses. This observation might justify betahistine and possibly M1 anti-vertigo effects. In fact vertigo is normally due to uncontrolled changes in vestibular receptor resting discharge. It is therefore probable that any factor able to reduce vestibular receptor resting firing rate and, in consequence, its variations, may have, as final effect, an anti-vertigo action. The observation that betahistine and M1 have similar effects might be of some clinical interest. In fact, on the basis of our data, the hypothesis may be put forward that the anti-vertigo action of betahistine is at first achieved by betahistine itself and then sustained and prolonged in time by M1.


Subject(s)
Betahistine/metabolism , Betahistine/pharmacology , Vasodilator Agents/metabolism , Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology , Vestibule, Labyrinth/drug effects , Vestibule, Labyrinth/metabolism , Animals , Female , Male , Rana esculenta
9.
Compr Psychiatry ; 42(4): 326-36, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11458308

ABSTRACT

To assess the reliability and validity of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), 759 Italian undergraduate students were administered the Italian version of the WURS. In this sample, the WURS showed good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach alpha =.888). Both 1-week (r =.981, P <.001) and 2-month (r =.924, P <.001) retest reliabilities were satisfactory. The mother/subject agreement on the WURS total score was large: intraclass r =.883, P <.001. The principal component (PC) analysis showed the presence of three positively correlated first-order PCs, and one second-order PC. This PC structure of the WURS was replicated in an independent sample of 300 consecutively admitted psychiatric inpatients and outpatients. Finally, in a sample of 132 secondary school students, the WURS showed a moderate correlation with the Conners Abbreviated Parent and Teacher Questionnaire (CAPTQ): r =.307, P <.001. In this sample, the WURS total score was negatively correlated with school performance (rho = -.460, P <.001) and conduct (rho = -.293, P <.005) indexes.


Subject(s)
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/diagnosis , Psychological Tests , Adult , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index
10.
J Clin Psychol ; 57(6): 815-28, 2001 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11344467

ABSTRACT

To assess the psychometric properties of the Italian translation of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), the scale was administered to 763 college undergraduates. Based on analyses using item-total correlations and t-tests for differences between the top and the bottom total score quartiles, all items from the English version of the BIS-11 were retained in the Italian version. Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was.79 and two-month test-retest reliability was.89. An exploratory principal-components analysis replicated the six first-order factors and three oblique second-order factors, consistent with the number identified in the English version. However, subfactor item loadings differed between the English and Italian versions. The overall item pool was consistent in being a homogeneous measure of impulsiveness. The BIS-11 total score was correlated significantly with aggression and ADHD measures. The BIS-11 also significantly differentiated between high and low levels of binge eating, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking.


Subject(s)
Impulsive Behavior/psychology , Psychological Tests , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Italy , Male , Personality , Reproducibility of Results , Translating , United States
11.
Pharmacol Res ; 43(4): 389-92, 2001 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11352543

ABSTRACT

In order to clarify the interaction of betahistine (BH) and its metabolites [aminoethylpyridine (AEP) and hydroxyethylpyridine (HEP)] for receptors that mediate the physio-pharmacological activities of histamine, we performed in vitro competition binding studies to obtain their binding affinity profile for H(1)-, H(2)- and H(3)-histamine receptors prepared from rodent brains. Crude synaptosomal membranes were incubated in the absence (total binding) or presence of the unlabelled ligands used to saturate the specific binding, or with different concentrations of BH, AEP or HEP. Receptor binding methods were validated by running known standard drugs together with the test compounds. Like histamine, only BH interacted with H(1)-histamine receptors with comparable affinity (around 10(-5)M). BH and its metabolite AEP both interacted with the H(3)-histamine receptors, with microM affinity. HEP still showed some affinity for the H(3)-receptors but with a K(i)only 1/50 that of the parent compound. Histamine showed 10(-8)M affinity for the H(3)-receptor sites and was the only ligand to interact with H(2)-histamine receptors, all the others giving affinities above the mM range. Hill coefficients (as slopes of the sigmoidal inhibition isotherms) were close to unity for BH against H(1)- and H(3)-binding sites and for AEP against H(3)-sites, indicating that these interactions take place in the absence of cooperativity. Histamine and HEP interacted with H(1)- and H(3)-receptors with a Hill coefficient less than unity for the former and higher than unity for the latter (presence of negative and positive cooperativity, respectively). The results suggest that BH and its metabolites may act as neurotransmitter modulators of the histaminergic system.


Subject(s)
Betahistine/analogs & derivatives , Betahistine/metabolism , Brain/metabolism , Receptors, Histamine/metabolism , Animals , Binding Sites , Guinea Pigs , Histamine/metabolism , Ligands , Male , Pyridines/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Thermodynamics
12.
Schizophr Bull ; 27(1): 59-71, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11215550

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to evaluate the latent structure of DSM-IV schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) diagnostic criteria. The sample consisted of 564 consecutively admitted inpatients and outpatients. Exploratory latent class analysis identified a four-class model as the best fitting model for DSM-IV SPD criteria. The first of the SPD latent classes was mainly characterized by odd thinking, inappropriate affect, and interpersonal features; the second class by cognitive/perceptual difficulties; the third class by paranoid features; and the fourth class by absence of SPD features. The conditional probability pattern of the fourclass solution could be safely replicated across confounder strata. Unlike previous findings, oddness, aloofness, and social withdrawal, rather than positive symptoms, best characterized SPD even in clinical samples.


Subject(s)
Schizotypal Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Social Behavior , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Models, Psychological , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Reference Values , Schizotypal Personality Disorder/classification
13.
Compr Psychiatry ; 41(3): 206-15, 2000.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10834630

ABSTRACT

The covariation patterns of DSM-IV personality disorders (PDs) were studied in 431 consecutively admitted psychiatric patients. The co-occurrence rate was greater than 50% for all DSM-IV PDs. Both bivariate association tests and loglinear models showed distinct significant covariation patterns among PDs which were stable across confounder strata. DSM-IV PD clusters were not replicated, with the exception of cluster A. Principal-component analysis (PCA) showed the presence of 3 latent dimensions, thus explaining the DSM-IV PD covariation patterns. These results seem to stress the inadequacy of the DSM-IV categorical model of PD assessment. The need for a reduction of axis II categories and the inclusion of a dimensional model in the diagnostic assessment of DSM-IV PDs are discussed.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Comorbidity , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/classification , Mental Disorders/psychology , Models, Statistical , Patient Admission , Personality Disorders/classification , Personality Disorders/psychology , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results
14.
Acta Otolaryngol ; 120(1): 25-7, 2000 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10779181

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have demonstrated that betahistine, an histamine-like substance used widely as an anti-vertigo drug, can decrease ampullar receptor resting discharge without affecting their mechanically evoked responses. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that this drug is transformed, mainly at the hepatic level, into aminoethylpyridine (M1), hydroxyethylpyridine (M2), then excreted with the urine as pyridylacetic acid (M3). The goal of the present study was to investigate whether betahistine metabolites are also able to affect vestibular receptor activity. Results demonstrated that, in the range tested (10(-7)-10(-2) M), M2 and M3 exerted no effect, whereas M1, at concentrations higher than 10(-6) M, was able to reduce the resting discharge of ampullar receptors without affecting the evoked responses. M1 therefore exerts effects similar to those of betahistine on ampullar receptors. This might be of some clinical interest. On the basis of our data, the hypothesis may be put forward that the anti-vertigo action of betahistine is at first achieved by betahistine itself and then sustained by M1.


Subject(s)
Betahistine/pharmacology , Histamine Agonists/pharmacology , Receptors, Drug/drug effects , Vestibule, Labyrinth/drug effects , Animals , Betahistine/analysis , Calorimetry/methods , Pyridines/analysis , Pyridines/pharmacology , Rana esculenta , Vestibule, Labyrinth/chemistry
15.
J Pers Disord ; 14(1): 72-83, 2000.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10746207

ABSTRACT

The passive-aggressive (negativistic) personality disorder (PAPD) is one of the most controversial personality disorders. In order to assess DSM-IV PAPD psychometric properties and comorbidity pattern in a mixed psychiatric sample, 379 consecutively admitted in- and outpatients were administered SCID-II, Version 2.0. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that DSM-IV PAPD is a unidimensional construct with adequate internal consistency (K-R 20 = .85). A strong, specific association (odds ratio = 10.38, 95% CI = 4.83-22.30) was observed between DSM-IV PAPD and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that DSM-IV PAPD should be considered as a subtype of a broader narcissistic disorder.


Subject(s)
Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results
16.
J Pers Disord ; 13(3): 268-80, 1999.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10498039

ABSTRACT

A meta-analysis of the published literature was performed to evaluate the common effect size (r) of the association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). An online search from 1980 to 1995 was used to gather published papers. r coefficient was used as an effect size measure, and 21 studies were retrieved. A moderate pooled r (.279) for the association between CSA and BPD was observed. Pooled effect size estimates were also obtained for CSA parameters. No significant effect of moderators was evidenced. The results of this study did not support the hypothesis that CSA is a major psychological risk factor or a causal antecedent of BPD.


Subject(s)
Borderline Personality Disorder/etiology , Child Abuse, Sexual , Adolescent , Adult , Borderline Personality Disorder/epidemiology , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Child Abuse, Sexual/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Male , Personality Development , Risk Factors , Statistics as Topic
17.
Schizophr Res ; 37(1): 53-64, 1999 May 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10227108

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to clarify the structure and the etiological constituents of schizotypal disorder (SPD) by directly interviewing pairs of twins. A latent class analysis was applied to each individual's outcome for specified SPD items, such that each subject's phenotype could be redefined in terms of individual probabilities of class membership. Intraclass correlations were then calculated for each twin pair, and a standard univariate twin model applied. The best latent class analysis solution encompassed a model with four latent classes (three latent classes of SPD subjects, one of non-SPD). The intraclass correlations revealed a moderate to high heritability for two out of three SPD classes and for the modal class (a class composed of subjects that possessed a conditional probability of belonging to any of the SPD classes). Model fittings revealed considerable variation in the extent to which the different classes of SPD were influenced by additive genetic constituents or non-genetic factors. Although these data confirm the importance of genetic contributors in determining liability to SPD and the schizophrenia spectrum, they indicate that there is a relationship between psychometric multidimensionality and etiological heterogeneity in SPD.


Subject(s)
Diseases in Twins/genetics , Schizotypal Personality Disorder/genetics , Adult , Humans , Italy , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Schizotypal Personality Disorder/psychology
18.
J Nerv Ment Dis ; 187(4): 224-8, 1999 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10221555

ABSTRACT

The evaluation of defense mechanisms represents one of the most promising fields in the psychodynamic-oriented empirical research on personality disorders (PDs). This study examines the association between DSM-IV PDs and defense mechanisms. We evaluated a sample of 50 adult outpatients seeking personality assessment and psychotherapeutic treatment. PDs have been assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorder, version 2.0. Defense mechanisms have been evaluated by a group of trained clinical psychologists and psychiatrists (interrater reliability from .61 to .95) using Perry's Defense Mechanism Rating Scale. Our results support the hypothesis that some defense mechanisms underlie PDs and that defenses call for further attention as we assess PDs.


Subject(s)
Defense Mechanisms , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Adult , Ambulatory Care , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Patient Dropouts , Personality Disorders/epidemiology , Personality Disorders/psychology , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/statistics & numerical data , Psychotherapy , Reproducibility of Results , Terminology as Topic
19.
Compr Psychiatry ; 40(1): 72-9, 1999.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9924881

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the structure of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder (BPD) criteria. The study group consisted of 564 consecutively admitted inpatients and outpatients. BPD criteria discriminatory power was tested by using corrected item-to-total and item-to-diagnosis correlations. Weighted least-squares (WLS) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the fit of DSM-IV BPD unidimensional model. The categorical model of BPD was tested by exploratory latent class analysis (LCA). Item analysis suggested a hierarchy in BPD criteria discriminatory power, even if with different rank order with respect to the DSM-IV model. CFA showed a unifactorial structure with congeneric items as the best fitting model for DSM-IV BPD criteria (chi2 = 18.89, df= 27, P > .87). LCA showed evidence for three latent classes; heterogeneity was observed only among subjects falling below DSM-IV diagnostic threshold for BPD. These results support the categorical model of BPD, even if with several differences with respect to DSM-IV.


Subject(s)
Behavioral Symptoms , Borderline Personality Disorder , Manuals as Topic/standards , Psychiatry/standards , Terminology as Topic , Adult , Behavioral Symptoms/classification , Behavioral Symptoms/diagnosis , Borderline Personality Disorder/classification , Borderline Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Identity Crisis , Impulsive Behavior , Interpersonal Relations , Male , Reproducibility of Results , Statistics as Topic , Temperament
20.
Drugs Exp Clin Res ; 25(6): 263-70, 1999.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10713864

ABSTRACT

The antiinflammatory activity of seaprose-S in different experimental models involving different biochemical mediators of inflammation was investigated. In vivo experiments were performed using male Sprague-Dawley rats and in vitro experiments were performed using articular cartilage explants of pig joints. In acute experimental models of inflammation, 0.5, 1 or 2 mg/kg of seaprose-S was injected intravenously (i.v.) before challenge with inflammatory agents. In adjuvant-induced arthritis, seaprose-S was given as a 2 mg/kg i.v. dose once a day for 4 consecutive days from day 8 after injection of the adjuvant. In cartilage-synovium cocultures, seaprose-S was incubated at a concentration of 0.001 microM and 0.05 microM. Paw volume was measured with a plethysmograph and proteoglycan synthesis was determined in articular cartilage-synovium coculture by incorporation of 35S-sulfate. Seaprose-S inhibited inflammation dose-dependently in carrageenan, concanavalin-A, FeCl2, nystatin-induced paw edema and in carrageenan-induced pleurisy and acetic acid-induced peritonitis. In Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis, seaprose-S significantly reduced the primary and secondary lesions. In vitro on articular cartilage, seaprose-S increased proteoglycan synthesis in the cartilage alone and reduced the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis in the cartilage cocultured with minced synovium.


Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Inflammation/drug therapy , Serine Endopeptidases/pharmacology , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy , Cartilage, Articular/drug effects , Cartilage, Articular/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Edema/drug therapy , Hydrocortisone/pharmacology , In Vitro Techniques , Indomethacin/pharmacology , Male , Proteoglycans/biosynthesis , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Swine , Synovial Membrane/drug effects , Synovial Membrane/metabolism
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