Cigarette smoking and risk of suicide in bipolar disorder: a systematic review.

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a highly prevalent, chronic and recurrent mental illness. The smoking rates in patients with BD are much higher than those of the general population, and BD is associated with an increased risk of suicide. An association between smoking and suicidal behavior has been found in the general population, this systematic review examines whether there is evidence of an association between smoking and suicide behavior in patients with BD. Method: A database search was carried out in Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science, updated until December 31st, 2021, according to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. We identified prospective and retrospective studies that included patients diagnosed with BD types I, II, and not otherwise specified, and in which smoking and suicidal behavior were correlated. Articles that focused exclusively on other mental disorders were excluded. The Ottawa-Newcastle scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included articles. Results: Fifteen articles (n = 7,395) met all the inclusion criteria. In nine of these articles, the authors found an association between smoking and suicidal behavior in BD, while in the remaining six articles, this association was not found. A great deal of variability was observed between articles, particularly in the measurement of suicidal behavior and tobacco consumption. The risk of bias, as assessed by the NOS, was high for most of the included articles, except for two papers, whose risk was low. Conclusion: It was not possible to establish a clear relationship between tobacco use and the risk of suicide in BD patients due to the heterogeneity of the articles included in this systematic review, which had different sample sizes and methodological issues. However, both conditions are highly prevalent and have a negative impact on the prognosis of BD. Therefore, a systematic approach is needed, based on accurate measurement of a patient's smoking habits and their risk of suicidal behavior, in order to establish an appropriate therapeutic plan. Additional information: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors and was registered on PROSPERO with the CRD42022301570 on January 21th 2022.

Electrical analysis of logical complexity: an exploratory eeg study of logically valid/invalid deducive inference.

INTRODUCTION: Logically valid deductive arguments are clear examples of abstract recursive computational procedures on propositions or on probabilities. However, it is not known if the cortical time-consuming inferential processes in which logical arguments are eventually realized in the brain are in fact physically different from other kinds of inferential processes. METHODS: In order to determine whether an electrical EEG discernible pattern of logical deduction exists or not, a new experimental paradigm is proposed contrasting logically valid and invalid inferences with exactly the same content (same premises and same relational variables) and distinct logical complexity (propositional truth-functional operators). Electroencephalographic signals from 19 subjects (24.2 ± 3.3 years) were acquired in a two-condition paradigm (100 trials for each condition). After the initial general analysis, a trial-by-trial approach in beta-2 band allowed to uncover not only evoked but also phase asynchronous activity between trials. RESULTS: showed that (i) deductive inferences with the same content evoked the same response pattern in logically valid and invalid conditions, (ii) mean response time in logically valid inferences is 61.54% higher, (iii) logically valid inferences are subjected to an early (400 ms) and a late reprocessing (600 ms) verified by two distinct beta-2 activations (p-value < 0,01, Wilcoxon signed rank test). CONCLUSION: We found evidence of a subtle but measurable electrical trait of logical validity. Results put forward the hypothesis that some logically valid deductions are recursive or computational cortical events.

Efecto moderador de la creatividad en el rendimiento en memoria cotidiana en personas mayores / Moderating effect of creativity on everyday memory performance in the elderly

Antecedentes: la sociedad envejece a pasos agigantados y propone un reto importante al conjunto de profesionales, ya que una de las mayores preocupaciones en el transcurso de los años es la pérdida de funciones cognitivas como la memoria. Con base en ello, es relevante conocer qué estrategias pueden ayudar a preservar la capacidad mnésica de las personas mayores sanas. Objetivo: analizar el efecto moderador del constructo creatividad en la memoria cotidiana, así como el de la edad en una muestra de personas mayores sanas. Métodos: Participaron 106 personas mayores sanas y voluntarias provenientes de diferentes ciudades de España. Se les aplicó la prueba de creatividad CREA y la de memoria cotidiana RBMT. Resultados: La creatividad modera la pérdida de memoria en las personas mayores, en tanto que, por cada unidad de análisis de creatividad, aumenta la memoria. Lo contrario ocurre con la edad, al aumentar esta, la memoria disminuye. No se ha observado que la edad y la creatividad tengan un efecto de interacción conjunta sobre la memoria, actuando las dos por separado. Implicaciones: la creatividad puede ser incrementada en los programas de ocio y de intervención en psicoestimulación en el envejecimiento, ya que promover un contexto de actividades que fomenten la creatividad puede ser muy ventajoso para prevenir problemas de memoria en adultos mayores sanos. Se necesitan más estudios que ahonden en esta relación y el tipo de actividades concretas creativas que pueden ser beneficiosas y efectivas (AU)

Background: The society ages at a rapid pace proposing an important challenge to the group of professionals, since one of the biggest concerns over the years is the loss of cognitive functions such as memory. Based on this, it is relevant to know what strategies can help to preserve the mnemonic capacity of healthy elderly people. Objective: to analyze the moderator effect of the creativity construct in the daily memory, as well as the age effect in a sample of healthy elderly people. Methods 106 healthy and voluntary elderly people from different cities of Spain participated. The CREA creative test and the RBMT daily memory test were applied. Results: Creativity moderates memory loss in older people, while for each unit of creativity analysis, memory increases. The opposite happens with age, as it increases, memory decreases. It has not been found that age and creativity have a joint interaction effect on memory, acting both separately. Implications: creativity can be increased in leisure programs and intervention in psychostimulation in aging, since promoting a context of activities that promote creativity can be very advantageous to prevent memory problems in healthy older adults. More studies are needed that deepen this relationship and the type of concrete creative activities that can be beneficial and effective (AU)

Brain electrical traits of logical validity.

Neuroscience has studied deductive reasoning over the last 20 years under the assumption that deductive inferences are not only de jure but also de facto distinct from other forms of inference. The objective of this research is to verify if logically valid deductions leave any cerebral electrical trait that is distinct from the trait left by non-valid deductions. 23 subjects with an average age of 20.35 years were registered with MEG and placed into a two conditions paradigm (100 trials for each condition) which each presented the exact same relational complexity (same variables and content) but had distinct logical complexity. Both conditions show the same electromagnetic components (P3, N4) in the early temporal window (250-525 ms) and P6 in the late temporal window (500-775 ms). The significant activity in both valid and invalid conditions is found in sensors from medial prefrontal regions, probably corresponding to the ACC or to the medial prefrontal cortex. The amplitude and intensity of valid deductions is significantly lower in both temporal windows (p = 0.0003). The reaction time was 54.37% slower in the valid condition. Validity leaves a minimal but measurable hypoactive electrical trait in brain processing. The minor electrical demand is attributable to the recursive and automatable character of valid deductions, suggesting a physical indicator of computational deductive properties. It is hypothesized that all valid deductions are recursive and hypoactive.

Single Time-Point Study of the Home Environment and Functionality of Older Adults in Spain.

Background: The literature favors discussion on socio-spatial conditions at the macro- (city) and micro- (housing) level that promote healthy aging in place. Objectives: (a) Identify the association between physical and social characteristics of the family home and the functional level and quality of life of older people and (b) provide normative data on adequate/inadequate households based on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) inventory and the Spanish Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (S-IQCODE) test. Methods: In total, 79 healthy older adults completed the HOME inventory and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), S-IQCODE, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) and ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people (ICECAP-O) tests. A regression model, the effect size and the means of the scores of HOME (adequate/inadequate) test and the cognitive level (optimal/normal) were calculated. Results: The regression model discloses that adequate home scores are associated with cognitive level (odds ratio (OR): 0.955, confidence interval (CI)95%: 0.918-0.955); quality of life (OR: 6.542, CI95%: 1.750-24.457), living with other people (OR: 5.753, CI95%: 1.456-22.733) and level of education (OR: 0.252, CI95%: 0.064-0.991). The normative data between HOME and S-IQCODE scores showed a good adjustment (d = 0.70). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between the physical environment of the home and personal variables (sociodemographic information, quality of life and cognitive functionality). In addition, from this last variable, the normative data of an adequate/inadequate household for an older person have been established.

Localización cerebral del procesamiento semántico / Brain localization of semantic processing

Introducción. El procesamiento del contenido semántico se asocia al potencial N400, y el P600 se vincula con el procesamiento de reglas sintácticas y gramaticales. Objetivo. Verificar si el procesamiento semántico de estímulos visuales complejos, como la repetición, la identidad, el orden y la doble incongruencia, es recursivo o computable. Sujetos y métodos. Veintisiete universitarios respondieron a un paradigma adaptado N400 con cinco condiciones, cada una con 80 tareas, mientras se registraba su actividad cerebral con un gorro de 64 electrodos. Resultados. Dos ventanas temporales de 400 a 550 ms y de 550 a 800 ms se analizaron mediante un contraste ANOVA del factor condición por regiones de interés. Además, se calculó la solución inversa de las ventanas mediante tomografía electromagnética de baja resolución para identificar las fuentes corticales subyacentes a los potenciales eléctricos. Se corroboran diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) en los potenciales N400 y P600 en áreas frontales y centroparietales asociadas a los operadores lógicos estudiados. Conclusión. Se confirma que el procesamiento cerebral de imágenes complejas (congruentes/incongruentes) es modulado por la repetición, la identidad y el orden, pero no por la negación. Por consiguiente, se puede decir que el procesamiento semántico de imágenes complejas es semicomputable

Introduction. Semantic content processing is associated with the potential N400, and the P600 is linked with the processing of syntactic and grammatical rules. Aim. To verify whether the semantic processing of complex visual stimuli such as repetition, identity, order and double incongruence is recursive or computable. Subjects and methods. 27 university students responded to an adapted N400 paradigm with five conditions, each with 80 tasks, while recording their brain activity with a 64-channel cap. Results. Two temporal windows of 400 to 550 ms and 550 to 800 ms were analyzed using an ANOVA contrast of the condition factor by regions of interest. In addition, the inverse solution of the windows was calculated by low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) to identify the main sources related to the electrical power. The significant differences (p <0.05) in the results for the N400 and P600 in frontal and centroparietal areas in the logical operators studied are corroborated. Conclusion. It is confirmed that the brain processing of complex images is modulated by repetition, identity and order, but not by negation. Therefore, it can be said that the semantic processing of complex images is semi-computable

Cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: New data and an updated meta-analysis.

Few studies have been conducted examining cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid of patients compared to healthy volunteers. The goals of this study were: 1) to report original data detailing cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 10 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) diagnosis and 10 healthy controls and 2) to conduct a meta-analysis of the available data on cytokine levels in the CSF of patients with SSD compared to healthy controls, including our new data. Cytokine concentrations were measured using the Q-plex Human Cytokine Screen array in CSF of 10 patients with SSD and 10 healthy volunteers. For the meta-analysis, an electronic PubMed and Google Scholar search without restrictions was conducted for articles that reported on cytokine levels in CSF in patients with an SSD compared to healthy controls. Our original data revealed statistically significant increases in levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) in the CSF of patients with an SSD compared to healthy volunteers. Our meta-analysis showed statistically significant increases in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 in patients compared to healthy volunteers. Effect sizes between treated and untreated patients for IL-6 were of similar magnitude. However, IL-6 levels were higher in early stage schizophrenia patients compared to chronic schizophrenia patients. Studies with larger sample sizes, comprehensive assessments and ideally in the context of a randomized controlled intervention to minimize the impact of confounding factors are needed to fully understand the role of cytokines and inflammatory markers in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia.

Development of microsatellite markers as a molecular tool for conservation studies of the Mediterranean reef builder coral Cladocora caespitosa (Anthozoa, Scleractinia).

Cladocora caespitosa is a reef-building zooxanthellate scleractinian coral in the Mediterranean Sea. Mortality events have recurrently affected this species during the last decade. Thus, knowledge of its genetic structure, population diversity, and connectivity is needed to accomplish suitable conservation plans. In order to obtain a better understanding of the population genetics of this species, 13 highly variable microsatellites markers were developed from a naturally bleached colony. The developed primers failed to amplify zooxanthella DNA, isolated from C. caespitosa, verifying that these markers were of the coral and not algal symbiont origin. The degree of polymorphism of these loci was tested on tissue samples from 28 colonies. The allele number for each loci ranged from 2 to 13 (mean N(a) = 5.4), with an average observed heterozygosity of 0.42 (H(e) = 0.43) and all loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These new markers should be useful in future conservation genetic studies and will help to improve the resolution of the individual identification within this coral species. Primers were also tested in Oculina patagonica, with successful amplifications of several loci.

Computer-aided detection system applied to full-field digital mammograms.

BACKGROUND: although mammography remains the mainstay for breast cancer screening, it is an imperfect examination with a sensitivity of 75-92% for breast cancer. Computer-aided detection (CAD) has been developed to improve mammographic detection of breast cancer. PURPOSE: to retrospectively estimate CAD sensitivity and false-positive rate with full-field digital mammograms (FFDMs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: CAD was used to evaluate 151 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n=48) and invasive breast cancer (n=103) detected with FFDM. Retrospectively, CAD sensitivity was estimated based on breast density, mammographic presentation, histopathology type, and lesion size. CAD false-positive rate was estimated with screening FFDMs from 200 women. RESULTS: CAD detected 93% (141/151) of cancer cases: 97% (28/29) in fatty breasts, 94% (81/86) in breasts containing scattered fibroglandular densities, 90% (28/31) in heterogeneously dense breasts, and 80% (4/5) in extremely dense breasts. CAD detected 98% (54/55) of cancers manifesting as calcifications, 89% (74/83) as masses, and 100% (13/13) as mixed masses and calcifications. CAD detected 92% (73/79) of invasive ductal carcinomas, 89% (8/9) of invasive lobular carcinomas, 93% (14/15) of other invasive carcinomas, and 96% (46/48) of DCIS. CAD sensitivity for cancers 1-10 mm was 87% (47/54); 11-20 mm, 99% (70/71); 21-30 mm, 86% (12/14); and larger than 30 mm, 100% (12/12). The CAD false-positive rate was 2.5 marks per case. CONCLUSION: CAD with FFDM showed a high sensitivity in identifying cancers manifesting as calcifications or masses. CAD sensitivity was maintained in small lesions (1-20 mm) and invasive lobular carcinomas, which have lower mammographic sensitivity.