Ruthenium(ii)-polypyridyl zirconium(iv) metal-organic frameworks as a new class of sensitized solar cells.

A series of Ru(ii)L2L' (L = 2,2'-bipyridyl, L' = 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylic acid), RuDCBPY, -containing zirconium(iv) coordination polymer thin films have been prepared as sensitizing materials for solar cell applications. These metal-organic framework (MOF) sensitized solar cells, MOFSCs, each are shown to generate photocurrent in response to simulated 1 sun illumination. Emission lifetime measurements indicate the excited state quenching of RuDCBPY at the MOF-TiO2 interface is extremely efficient (>90%), presumably due to electron injection into TiO2. A mechanism is proposed in which RuDCBPY-centers photo-excited within the MOF-bulk undergo isotropic energy migration up to 25 nm from the point of origin. This work represents the first example in which a MOFSC is directly compared to the constituent dye adsorbed on TiO2 (DSC). Importantly, the MOFSCs outperformed their RuDCBPY-TiO2 DSC counterpart under the conditions used here and, thus, are solidified as promising solar cell platforms.

Age-related differences in enhancement and suppression of neural activity underlying selective attention in matched young and old adults.

Selective attention reflects the top-down control of sensory processing that is mediated by enhancement or inhibition of neural activity. ERPs were used to investigate age-related differences in neural activity in an experiment examining selective attention to color under Attend and Ignore conditions, as well as under a Neutral condition in which color was task-irrelevant. We sought to determine whether differences in neural activity between old and young adult subjects were due to differences in age rather than executive capacity. Old subjects were matched to two groups of young subjects on the basis of neuropsychological test performance: one using age-appropriate norms and the other using test scores not adjusted for age. We found that old and young subject groups did not differ in the overall modulation of selective attention between Attend and Ignore conditions, as indexed by the size of the anterior Selection Positivity. However, in contrast to either young adult group, old subjects did not exhibit reduced neural activity under the Ignore relative to Neutral condition, but showed enhanced activity under the Attend condition. The onset and peak of the Selection Positivity occurred later for old than young subjects. In summary, older adults execute selective attention less efficiently than matched younger subjects, with slowed processing and failed suppression under Ignore. Increased enhancement under Attend may serve as a compensatory mechanism.

[Extrusion/spheronization: an important method for the production of the pellet dosage form]. / Extruze/sferonizace--významná metoda výroby peletové lékové formy.

Extrusion/spheronization is the method used to manufacture pellets with a high content of the active ingredient. It produces particles of very good physical properties (strength, friability, porosity, density, uniform diameter), which are well processed in further steps, i.e., when they are coated, compressed or filled into hard gelatine capsules. The process of extrusion/spheroniztion consists of several consequential steps, which are influenced by numerous formulation and process factors. Though there are general rules for optimization of the process, due to its complexity the same rules need not necessarily be valid for similar systems and very often it is necessary to find again the optimal production condition for a new formulation and equipment. The paper informs about the technology, equipment, and the result achieved in the field.

The influence of the extrusion die on pellet characteristics.

Characteristics of pellets (pellet size distribution, their mean diameter, density, hardness, friability, repose angle, Hausner ratio, and drug dissolution profiles) prepared by axial and radial extrusion/spheronization were examined in this experimental study. The formulation consisted of binary mixtures of theophylline, a drug slightly soluble in water, and Avicel CL 611 as an excipient. Different characteristics were found in the samples prepared using the different extrusion dies: the axially situated extrusion die produces the pellets of higher hardness and density, and slower dissolution profiles. Differences in drug dissolution profiles should be considered, nevertheless they are not significant. All pellet samples showed low friability and excellent flow properties.

Features of acute and transient psychotic disorders.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD), a diagnostic category introduced with ICD-10. AIMS: To determine the clinical and sociodemographic features, course and outcome of ICD-10 ATPD in a prospective and longitudinal study. METHOD: We recruited all consecutive inpatients fulfilling the ICD-10 criteria of ATPD during a 5-year period. Demographic and clinical features were systematically evaluated and follow-up investigations were carried out at an average of 10 years after onset of the disorder using standardized instruments. RESULTS: ATPD patients represented 8.5% of all inpatients with non-organic psychotic disorders. ATPD were characterized by female preponderance. In two-thirds of the cases a typical polymorphic symptomatology was found. In spite of the fact that the possibility of relapse within 5 years was high, the psychopathological and social outcome for most of the patients was very favourable. Schizophrenic episodes during follow-up were rare (7.7% of patients), but a strictly monomorphous course (ATPD episodes only) from index episode to the end of the prospective follow-up was found in only 53.9% of the patients. CONCLUSION: ATPD are not a sharply demarcated and unchanging nosological entity. Nevertheless, the present data support a delineation of ATPD as a diagnostic category with specific clinical features and with a usually favourable prognosis. Further research on the topic is necessary.

The concordance of ICD-10 acute and transient psychosis and DSM-IV brief psychotic disorder.

BACKGROUND: ICD-10 acute and transient psychotic disorder (ATPD; F23) and DSM-IV brief psychotic disorder (BPD; 298.8) are related diagnostic concepts, but little is known regarding the concordance of the two definitions. METHOD: During a 5-year period all in-patients with ATPD were identified; DSM-IV diagnoses were also determined. We systematically evaluated demographic and clinical features and carried out follow-up investigations at an average of 22 years after the index episode using standardized instruments. RESULTS: Forty-two (4.1%) of 1036 patients treated for psychotic disorders or major affective episode fulfilled the ICD-10 criteria of ATPD. Of these, 61.9% also fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria of brief psychotic disorder; 31.0%, of schizophreniform disorder; 2.4%, of delusional disorder; and 4.8%. of psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. BPD showed significant concordance with the polymorphic subtype of ATPD, and DSM-IV schizophreniform disorder showed significant concordance with the schizophreniform subtype of ATPD. BPD patients had a significantly shorter duration of episode and more acute onset compared with those ATPD patients who did not meet the criteria of BPD (non-BPD). However, the BPD group and the non-BPD group of ATPD were remarkably similar in terms of sociodemography (especially female preponderance), course and outcome, which was rather favourable for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: DSM-IV BPD is a psychotic disorder with broad concordance with ATPD as defined by ICD-10. However, the DSM-IV time criteria for BPD may be too narrow. The group of acute psychotic disorders with good prognosis extends beyond the borders of BPD and includes a subgroup of DSM-IV schizophreniform disorder.

The relation of "acute and transient psychotic disorder" (ICD-10 F23) to bipolar schizoaffective disorder.

The aim of this work is to investigate differences between acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD; F23 of ICD-10) and bipolar schizoaffective disorders (BSAD). In a controlled prospective and longitudinal study, we compared all inpatients with ATPD treated at Halle university hospital during a 5-year period with matched controls with BSAD. Sociobiographical data were collected using a semi-structured interview. Follow-up investigations were performed at a mean of 2.2-3.3 years after the index episode or 8.2-16.1 years after the first episode by means of standardized instruments. ATPD differs significantly from BSAD on various relevant levels, such as gender (more female), age at onset (older), development of the full symptomatology (more rapid), duration of the symptomatology (shorter), acuteness of onset (more acute), preceding stressful life-events (more frequent) and long-term prognosis (better). It is concluded that ATPD and BSAD are different nosological entities.

Concordance of acute and transient psychoses and cycloid psychoses.

OBJECTIVE: We prospectively investigated a sample of 42 patients with acute and transient psychotic disorder (ATPD) as defined by the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10; F23) to determine the clinical and demographic features of this entity and its relationship to cycloid psychoses. METHODS: During a 5-year period, all in-patients with ATPD were identified. We systematically evaluated demographic and clinical features and carried out follow-up investigations on average 2 years after the index episode, using standardised instruments. RESULTS: We found 42 cases of ATPD (4.1%) among 1,036 patients treated for psychotic disorders or a major affective episode. There was a marked female preponderance in ATPD (79%). Fifty-five percent of cases concurrently met the criteria of cycloid psychosis according to Perris and Brockington [in Perris C, Struwe G, Jansson B (eds): Biological Psychiatry. Amsterdam, Elsevier, 1981, pp 447-450]. There was no difference in gender distribution between cycloid and non-cycloid ATPD. As expected, abrupt onset and polymorphic features were significantly more common in cycloid than in non- cycloid ATPD. At follow-up, patients with cycloid ATPD showed less persistent alterations and better social functioning. CONCLUSION: ATPD as defined by ICD-10 is a heterogeneous category. A diagnosis of cycloid psychosis is made in half of the cases of ATPD, and in these cases, the prognosis is more favourable.

[Acute and transient psychotic disorders]. / Die akuten vorübergehenden psychotischen Störungen.

Psychotic disorders with acute onset, a dramatic and polymorphous symptomatology and rapid resolution have been described in different countries and by different psychiatric schools. They have been called cycloid psychosis, bouffée délirante, psychogenic psychosis or good prognosis schizophrenia. ICD-10 has given an operational definition under the name "acute and transient psychotic disorders" (F23). Their nosological status is unclear. The Halle-Study of acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD) has investigated in a prospective manner clinical, para-clinical features and course of illness in 42 patients with ATPD and matched controls with positive schizophrenia, bipolar schizoaffective disorders as well as mentally healthy patients with acute surgical conditions. First results of our study show that ATPD amount to 4% of psychotic in-patients, prefer female sex, show short prodromi, marked affective disturbances within the episode and much better outcome as schizophrenic psychoses according to psychopathological, social, psychological and biographical criteria. Though ATPD may still be an inhomogeneous group, their clinical delineation from schizophrenia seems justified.

Use of random amplification of polymorphic DNA in a case of Pasteurella multocida meningitis that occurred following a cat scratch on the head.

We cultured Pasteurella multocida from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a 4-month-old infant who presented with meningitis. The patient had been scratched on the head by a cat. Culture of the cat's claws also yielded P. multocida. The isolates had identical biochemical patterns. Analysis of both strains by random amplification of polymorphic DNA and comparison of these strains with P. multocida strains isolated from other cats showed that the two strains were identical and completely different from the unrelated isolates. Our patient's meningitis most likely resulted from direct inoculation of P. multocida into the CSF.

[Delirious symptoms following bromine abuse]. / Delirante Symptomatik nach Brommissbrauch.

Acute and chronic intoxications caused by bromides have become rare. The psychopathology of such intoxications can present with various symptoms. We report on the case of a 55-year-old man who was admitted with an acute delirium due to chronic bromide intoxication. In this context we briefly discuss clinical, psychopathological and therapeutic aspects of substance abuse and chronic bromide intoxication.

Cost analysis in a CMHC: determining the cost of staff time.

The program evaluation and research unit of a community mental health center developed and field-tested a survey form to measure how employees spend their time. The form is divided into direct patient care activities, which include interviewing and testing, conducting therapy, and prescribing medications, and administrative or support activities, which include filling out charts, attending meetings, and training staff. All staff record daily, for one week, the hours and minutes they spend in each activity. Using that data as a base, the evaluation unit can determine the percentage of time staff spend in each activity and the cost of each activity based on staff members' paychecks.