Nanostructured Copper Selenide Coatings for Antifouling Applications.

The accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on wet surfaces that have a mechanical function causes biofouling, which can result in structural or other functional deficiencies. The maritime shipping industry must constantly manage biofouling to optimize operational performance, which is a common and long-lasting problem. It can occur on any metal structure in contact with or submerged in ocean water, which represents additional costs in terms of repairs and maintenance. This study is focused on the production of antifouling coatings, made with nanoparticles of copper selenide (CuSe NPs) modified with gum arabic, within a water-base acrylic polymeric matrix. During the curing of the acrylic resin, the CuSe NPs remain embedded in the resin, but this does not prevent the release of ions. The coatings released copper and selenium ions for up to 80 days, and selenium was the element that was released the most. The adhesion of film coatings to metallic substrates showed good adhesion, scale 5B (ASTM D3359 standard). Antimicrobial activity tests show that the coatings have an inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The effect is more noticeable when the coating is detached from the substrate and placed on a growing medium, compared to the coating on a substrate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations show that nanostructured CuSe coatings are made up of rod-shaped and spherical particles with an average particle size of 101.6 nm and 50 nm, respectively. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) studies showed that the ratio of selenium nanoparticles is greater than that of copper and that their distribution is homogeneous.

Can we predict a "tsunami"? Symptomatic and syndromal density, mood instability and treatment intensity in people with bipolar disorders under a strict and long lockdown.

BACKGROUND: Converging evidence supports the involvement of circadian rhythm disturbances in the course and morbidity of bipolar disorders (BD). During 2020, lockdown measures were introduced worldwide to contain the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, chronobiological rhythms were critically disrupted and illness outcomes were expected to worsen. The current study aimed to explore changes in morbidity among BD patients living under lockdown. METHODS: Ninety BD outpatients under naturalistic treatment conditions were followed from March to September 2020 using a mood chart technique. Different treatment and illness variables, including mood instability, were assessed and compared with the outcomes obtained during the same 28-week period in 2019. RESULTS: For most clinical variables, no significant differences were observed between time periods. A slight decrease was found in symptom intensity (from 15.19 ± 20.62 to 10.34 ± 15.79, FDR-adjusted p = 0.04) and in the number of depressive episodes (from 0.39 ± 0.74 to 0.22 ± 0.63, FDR-adjusted p = 0.03), whereas the intensity of pharmacological treatment remained unchanged. Previous illness course predicted mood outcomes during the confinement. LIMITATIONS: Follow-up periods were relatively short. Further, actigraphy or other methods capable of ensuring significant changes in physical activity were not used. CONCLUSIONS: In line with other studies, our findings show no worsening in the clinical morbidity of BD patients during lockdown. This conspicuous contrast between our initial predictions and the observed findings highlights the fact that we are still far from being able to provide accurate predictive models for BD.

Are all antidepressants the same? The consumer has a point.

BACKGROUND: Although a large variety of antidepressants agents (AD) with different mechanisms of action are available, no significant differences in efficacy and safety have been shown. However, there have been few attempts to incorporate data on subjective experiences under different AD. METHOD: We conducted a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the posts from the website www.askapatient.com from different AD. We reviewed a random sample of 1000 posts. RESULT: After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included a final sample of 450 posts, 50 on each of the most used AD: sertraline, citalopram, paroxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, and bupropion. Bupropion, citalopram, and venlafaxine had the higher overall satisfaction ratings. Sertraline, paroxetine, and fluoxetine had high reports of emotional blunting, while bupropion very few. Overall satisfaction with AD treatment was inversely associated with the presence of the following side-effects: suicidality, irritability, emotional blunting, cognitive disturbances, and withdrawal symptoms. After adjusting for confounders, only emotional blunting was shown to be more frequently reported by users of serotonergic agents, as compared to non-serotoninergic agents. CONCLUSION: This research points out that the subjective experience of patients under treatment should be taken into consideration when selecting an AD as differences between agents were evident. In contrast to the more frequent treatment decisions, users might prefer receiving a non-serotoninergic agent over a serotonergic one due to their lower propensity to produce emotional blunting.

[Evaluation of the functionality and subjective well-being of bipolar patients with the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and the World Health Organization - Five Well- Being Index (WHO-5)]. / Evaluación de la funcionalidad y el bienestar subjetivo de pacientes bipolares con el Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) y el World Health Organization - Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5).

INTRODUCTION: Bipolar Disorders (BD) are a mood disorders group charactered by recurrent manic or hypomanic episodes, alternating with depressive episodes. Its prevalence is 4%, and several studies have shown that they generate disability. There are effective therapeutic options for acute episodes. However, the ultimate goal is to achieve functional recovery and adequate well-being. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There was done in Buenos Aires, Argentina a cross-sectional study comparing psychosocial functioning, with the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and subjective well-being with the Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), among a sample of stabilized BD patients undergoing treatment at the Center of Medical Education and Clinical Research (Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas) and the Bipolar Foundation (Fundación Bipolares de Argentina), with a control group. RESULTS: A total of 102 BD patients and 52 controls where included. The FAST mean for patients and controls was 20.71 and 9.73 respectively (P=0.0000). The WHO-5 mean for patients was 59.11 and 69.76 for controls (P=0.0011). More than 70% of the patients presented functional alteration (FAST ≥12), and almost 35% presented inadequate subjective well-being (WHO-5 ≤52). Depressive symptoms conditioned worse scores on both scales. FAST scores were better among those who participated in mutual aid groups (P=0.026). While patients who underwent psychoeducation and those who received anticonvulsant drugs, presented better WHO-5 scores (P = 0.028 and P=0.048 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BD showed poor Functionality and poor Well-being despite being stabilized. There is direct relationship between both conditions. Depressive symptoms generated worst scores on the scales.

The peripartum period involvement in the development of post-partum depression. A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study explores postpartum depression (PPD) in women who screened negative in mid-pregnancy to assess the impact of the peripartum period on the development of depressive symptoms. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out in two facilities in Argentina. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) scale was applied to pregnant women between weeks 20-24 gestation, and those screening negative (<10) were included in the cohort. Participants were followed up until the 4th week postpartum, when the EPDS was repeated. If positive, a semi-structured clinical interview was applied (MINI) to define the diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 112 pregnant women were eligible for the follow-up. At the 4th week postpartum, 14 women (12.5%, CI 95% 7.0; 20.1) screened positive using a cutoff point of 10 or more in the EPDS. Of those screened positive in the EPDS, two participants (1.8%, CI 95% 0.2-6.3) had a Major Depressive Disorder. Newborn admission to the Intensive Care Unit, hospitalization of the newborn after discharge, abuse during childbirth, and lack of company during labor were identified as peripartum risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforces the relevance of women and newborn mental health care during the hospitalization process surrounding peripartum. The women and newborn hospitalization process should be better explored to understand the contribution to PPD and design and test strategies to alleviate the impact of maternal depression.

[Adaptation of psychiatric practice in public and private mental health institutions of the City of Buenos Aires during the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Adaptación de la práctica psiquiátrica en instituciones de salud mental públicas y privadas de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: One of the most significant indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be seen on the mental health of the population. On this study, we will take into account the adapting capacity that the most representative mental health services (MHS) of Buenos Aires (BA) City have had as to this new situation. METHODS: We designed an online survey including 10 self-administered closed questions, strictly anonymous. It has been sent to targeted professionals who work in public and private MHS of BA after 2 months of the beginning of the lockdown. RESULTS: We got 38 answers. 2 professionals rejected to answer. 34% belonged to private institutions and 66% to public ones. 81% of the total were able to implement online assistance but only 24% had been trained on how to treat patients in this context. 69% of the private and 12% of the public sector professionals informed to have been trained on telemedicine tools. 69% of the private and 36% of the public sector professionals informed to have prepared materials for the users on telemedicine resources. 68% mentioned that their service was properly organized. 40% of the public sector professionals may have been reassigned to work on tasks related to the pandemic. 40% of the total informed a reduced capacity of assistance. CONCLUSIONS: The MHS of BA may have been able to migrate their assistance to telemedicine, however we have noticed differences in the training levels. A better capacity of training on this modality might be needed.

Neurocognitive functioning in first-episode Bipolar Disorder: Relationship with functional status.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess if an association between neurocognitive deficits and psychosocial functioning exists in first-episode BD patients. METHODS: Twenty-five euthymic first-episode BD patients and thirty-seven healthy controls were recruited. History of suicide attempts, psychiatric comorbidities, pharmacological exposure, and previous depressive episodes were investigated. Performances on neurocognitive domains (verbal memory, attention, processing speed, and executive functions) as well as a measure of psychosocial functioning were used as outcomes. RESULTS: First-episode BD patients showed medium-to-large size deficits on measures of attention, processing speed, and executive functions. A significant association between verbal memory and psychosocial functioning at the moment of BD diagnosis was detected (beta coefficient -3.9, IC 95% -6.7 to -1.2, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between cognitive performance at the moment of BD diagnosis and psychosocial functioning was detected. Possible therapeutic implications of this finding are discussed.

Depresion durante el período perinatal en dos maternidades de Argentina / Depression during the perinatal period in two maternity hospitals in Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN La depresión es uno de los trastornos mentales más frecuente en todo el mundo; según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) afecta a unos 350 millones de personas. Durante el período perinatal los valores de depresión son aún más elevados, transformando a la misma en un objetivo prioritario en salud pública debido a las consecuencias que origina sobre la salud materna y del recién nacido. Hasta el momento todos los trabajos de depresión perinatal en Argentina se han focalizado en la depresión postparto y no se ha explorado la depresión durante el embarazo. OBJETIVOS Estimar la prevalencia de síntomas de depresión perinatal usando la Escala de Depresión Postparto de Edimburgo (Edinburgh Pospartum Depression Scale, EPDS) y la prevalencia de Trastornos Afectivos realizando para esto una evaluación con una entrevista diagnóstica semiestructurada (Entrevista Neuropsiquiátrica Internacional MINI, MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview) en mujeres de dos maternidades de Argentina. Asimismo se espera poder describir los factores de riesgo asociados a los síntomas depresivos durante el embarazo. Por último, se evaluará la relación entre los síntomas depresivos durante el embarazo, la frecuencia de complicaciones perinatales y los síntomas depresivos durante el puerperio. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS Se realizó un estudio de cohorte en dos maternidades de Argentina, una pública en Tucumán y otra privada de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. RESULTADOS Se tamizaron un total de 1212 mujeres entre la semana 20 y 24 de gestación, 891 en Tucumán y 321 en CEMIC. De estas mujeres fueron elegibles 208 (23.3%) y se evaluaron 205 en Tucumán y en CEMIC fueron elegibles y se evaluaron 186 (57.9%). En Tucumán, del total de 205 mujeres, 104 (50.7%) fueron tamizadas positivas en la Escala de Edimburgo usando un punto de corte de 10 o más. En CEMIC, del total de 186 mujeres, un total de 30 mujeres (16.1%) fueron tamizadas positivas en la Escala de Edimburgo usando un punto de corte de 10 o más. En Tucumán encontramos que las mujeres con síntomas de depresión tuvieron mayores complicaciones perinatales entre ellas sufrimiento fetal 9.77 (0.98 a 96.95), amenaza de aborto 2.38 (0.51 a 11.14) y muerte fetal 3.2 (0.43 a 23.56), mientras que en CEMIC no se encontraron diferencias

Neuropsychological profiles of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder during euthymia. A systematic literature review of comparative studies.

Bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder have been shown to be associated with neurocognitive abnormalities during periods of clinical remission. However, at present, there is no consensus on whether these disorders have distinctive cognitive profiles. The aim of this study was to provide an updated systematic review of studies comparing neuropsychological functioning between bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder during remission. Main findings included the following: 1) no differences regarding performances in measures of attention and processing speed, executive functions and theory of mind were found between both patient groups and 2) regarding verbal memory, preliminary evidence points towards a more defective performance in patients with bipolar disorder than those with major depressive disorder. However, several variables with negative impact on cognition (medication status, age at onset, premorbid IQ, bipolar subtype, among others) were not adequately controlled in most studies. In conclusion, evidence from studies exploring neuropsychological profiles in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder could not provide clues to differentiate these mood disorders. Larger studies with adequate control of confounding variables would be necessary to elucidate if the finding of more defective verbal memory performance in bipolar disorder is truly explained by distinct underlying mechanisms.

[ATTENUATED PSYCHOSIS SYNDROME: A LITERATURE REVIEW]. / Sindrome de psicosis atenuada. Revisión bibliográfica.

Despite recent findings on the treatment of schizophrenia, it is an illness still associated with high morbidity and incapacity in social and work domains. There is a growing interest in examining the phases prior to the development of the illness so as to make early interventions that would potentially change its devastating course. The attenuated psychosis syndrome was included in the section III of the last version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a condition in which a patient exhibits mild psychotic symptoms, an intact reality testing and certain degree of social or occupational impairment. The present work is a review of the available literature on this subject. The main findings were: the risk of conversion to a psychotic disorder is relatively low and there are some variables (social withdrawal, negative symptoms, neurocognitive impairment, poor global functioning and certain neuroimaging findings) that increase this risk. Those people diagnosed with attenuated psychosis syndrome had one or more other current psychiatric comorbid conditions and these are the main reason to warrant medical attention. Regarding to the treatment of this condition, there are available evidence on atypical antipsychotics, cognitive-behavioral therapy and omega 3 fatty acid.

Suicidality in clozapine-treated patients with schizophrenia: role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Patients with schizophrenia have an increased lifetime risk of comorbid obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Up to 30% of these patients experience such symptoms and 12% may be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The presence of these symptoms in schizophrenia seems to be associated with poor outcomes including a greater suicidal risk. A subgroup of patients develops this symptomatology after the initiation with Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGA). Also, there is evidence of a causal relationship for this association, particularly for clozapine. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association of this comorbidity with suicidality in a population of clozapine-medicated schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients (N=65). The prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in our sample was 29.2% (N=19) and the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder was 13.8% (N=9). Significant positive correlations between suicidality and total Y-BOCS score and between Y- BOCS score and depressive symptoms were found. Further analysis indicated that a Y-BOCS score greater or equal than 8 was an independent predictor of suicide attempt during clozapine treatment. Routine screening for this adverse event should be warranted for this population.

Switch to mania after ayahuasca consumption in a man with bipolar disorder: a case report.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing use of ayahuasca for recreational purposes. Furthermore, there is a growing evidence for the antidepressant properties of its components. However, there are no reports on the effects of this substance in the psychiatric setting. Harmaline, one of the main components of ayahuasca, is a selective and reversible MAO-A inhibitor and a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a man with bipolar disorder who had a manic episode after an ayahuasca consumption ritual. This patient had had at least one hypomanic episode in the past and is currently depressed. We discuss the diagnostic repercussion of this manic episode. CONCLUSION: There is lack of specificity in the diagnosis of substance-induced mental disorder. The knowledge of the pharmacodynamic properties of ayahuasca consumption allows a more physiopathological approach to the diagnosis of the patient.