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The increasing worldwide consumption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products such as ibuprofen (IBU) is leading to the widespread and persistent occurrence of these chemicals and their transformation products in soils and waters. Although at low concentrations, the continuous discharge of these micropollutants and the incomplete removal by the actual wastewater treatments can provoke accumulation in the environment with risks for the trophic chain. Non-target organisms as duckweed can be used for the environmental monitoring of pharmaceutical emerging contaminants. In this work, plants of Lemna gibba L. were exposed to high (0.20 and 1 mg L − 1 ) and environmentally relevant (0.02 mg L − 1 ) concentrations of IBU to investigate their removal and metabolization capacity. The main oxidized IBU metabolites in humans (hydroxy-IBU and carboxy-IBU) were determined in the intact plants and in the growth solutions, together with non-destructive physiological parameters and phytotoxic indicators. The IBU uptake increased with the increasing of IBU concentration in the medium, but the relative accumulation of the pharmaceutical and generation of hydroxy-IBU was higher in presence of the lower IBU treatments. Carboxy-IBU was not found in the plant tissue and solutions. The changes observed in growth and photosynthetic performances were not able to induce phyto-toxic effects. Apart from a mean physical-chemical degradation of 8.2%, the IBU removal by plants was highly efficient (89–92.5%) in all the conditions tested, highlighting the role of L. gibba in the biodegradation of emerging contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To present real-world evidence on the differences between long-acting injectable (LAI) and oral antipsychotic maintenance treatment (AMT) in terms of subjective well-being, attitudes towards drug and quality of life in a sample of remitted schizophrenic subjects. Methods Twenty outpatients with remitted schizophrenia treated with either olanzapine or paliperidone and switching from the oral to the LAI formulation of their maintenance treatment were recruited before the switch (LAI-AMT group). A group of 20 remitted schizophrenic subjects with oral AMT and matching main sociodemographic, clinical and treatment variables made up the control group (oral-AMT group). All participants were assessed in terms of objective (PANSS, YMRS, MADRS) and subjective (SWN-K, DAI-10, SF-36) treatment outcomes at baseline (T0) and after 6 months (T1). Results Between T0 and T1, general psychopathology of the PANSS, DAI-10, and all but one of the SWN-K dimensions (except for social integration), showed significantly higher percentages of improvement in the LAI-AMT group compared to the oral-AMT group. A generalized expansion of health-related quality of life, with better functioning in almost all areas of daily living, was reported by the LAI-AMT group after the 6-month period. In contrast, the oral-AMT group reported a significant worsening of health-related quality of life in the areas of emotional role and social functioning in the same period. Conclusions Our study indicates possible advantages of LAI over oral antipsychotic formulation in terms of subjective experience of maintenance treatment in remitted schizophrenic patients. Size and duration of this study need to be expanded in order to produce more solid and generalizable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the combined effects of elevated CO 2 and cadmium (Cd) treatments on growth, photosynthetic efficiency and phytoremediation ability in Lemna minor L. Plants of L. minor were exposed to different Cd concentrations (0, 1.5, 2.5 and 5 mg L −1 Cd) for periods of 24, 48 and 72 h at ambient (AC) and at elevated (EC) CO 2 (350 and 700 ppm, respectively). Cadmium concentration, bioconcentration factor, enzyme activities and thiols content enhanced in plants with the increase of Cd treatments, time of exposure and at both CO 2 levels. Glutathione levels increased only at AC. Growth, photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and the reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione ratio declined in plants with increasing exposure time, Cd treatments and at both CO 2 levels. Our results suggested that the alleviation of toxicity, at low Cd doses, observed in L. minor grown at EC is dependent on both increased photosynthesis and an enhanced antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ibuprofen (IBU) is detected worldwide in water bodies due to the incomplete removal by wastewater treatments. Contrasting results have been reported on the toxicity of IBU on aquatic biomonitor plants such as duckweed, and no data about IBU detection and metabolism in plants has been reported. In this work, the effects of 1 mg L −1 IBU on Lemna gibba L. were monitored in an 8-day laboratory test. In particular, an increase in frond number (+12%) and multiplication rate (+10%) while no variations in photosynthetic pigment content were observed. Moreover, UPLC-HRMS analysis of the presence of IBU and its metabolites in plants and in the growth medium was performed. The results showed that, besides IBU, 11 IBU metabolites were detected in plants. Among the IBU metabolites, hydroxyl- and dihydroxyl-IBU were found, whereas carboxyl-IBU was undetectable. Interestingly, some IBU metabolites were detected in the plant growth solution at the end of the IBU treatment, while no IBU products were found in the IBU solution without plants, suggesting a role for L. gibba in IBU metabolism. The findings of this work represent an important step for a better evaluation of the effects of IBU and its metabolites in duckweed, with notable implications for the eco-toxicological assessment of IBU in the aquatic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: To provide a review of the available literature about the functional neuroimaging of anorexia nervosa, and to summarize the possible role of neurobiological factors in its pathogenesis. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed and Medline electronic database (1950–September 2009). Eligible studies were restricted to those involving the main parameters of cerebral activity and functional neuroimaging techniques. Findings of the reviewed studies have been grouped on a diagnostic subtype basis, and their comparison has been interpreted in terms of concordance. Results: We found a high level of concordance among available studies with regard to the presence of frontal, parietal and cingulate functional disturbances in both anorexia nervosa restricting and binge/purging subtypes. Concordance among studies conducted regardless of the anorexia nervosa subtypes suggests an alteration in temporal and parietal functions and striatal metabolism. Conclusions: The most consistent alterations in anorexia nervosa cerebral activity seem to involve the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the inferior parietal lobule, the anterior cingulate cortex and the caudate nucleus. They may affect different neural systems such as the frontal visual system, the attention network, the arousal and emotional processing systems, the reward processing network, and the network for the body schema. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The interaction of cadmium (Cd) with photosynthesis was investigated in poplar ( Populus x canadensis Mönch., clone A4A, Populus nigra L., clone Poli) and willow ( Salix alba L., clone SS5) clones that had different leaf metal concentrations in preliminary experiments. Plants grown in the presence of 50 μm CdSO4 for 3 weeks under hydroponic conditions were used to examine leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and images, and for Cd detection using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF). Leaves were finally analysed for Cd and phytochelatin concentrations. Results showed that SS5 had the highest leaf Cd concentration and high gas exchange activity similar to that of Poli, which had the lowest Cd concentration. Leaf fluorescence images evidenced in large undamaged areas of SS5 corresponded to high values of Fv/Fm, Fo, ΦPSII, qP and NPQ, while patches of dark colour (visible necrosis) close to the main vein corresponded to low values of these parameters. In A4A, these necrotic patches were more diffuse on the leaf blade and associated with a range of fluorescence parameter values. ED-XRF analysis indicated that Cd was only detectable in necroses of SS5 leaves, while in A4A it was relatively more diffuse. Phytochelatins (PCs) were not detected in SS5, while their concentration was high in both Poli and A4A. The absence of these molecules in SS5 is thought to favour confinement of high accumulations of Cd to necrotic areas and gives SS5 the ability to maintain high photosynthesis and transpiration in remaining parts of the leaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In temperate climates, plants are more frequently exposed to sudden and strong decrease of temperature combined with high light intensity that compromise the photosynthetic efficiency and, often, the development and their survival. To investigate deeper the effects of such a photo-oxidative cold shock on photosynthesis of mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) we used transient fluorescence analysis and gas exchange techniques. Mandarin plants were acclimated at 13°C or grown at 25°C for 30 days, then single leaves were exposed for 6h at 5°C and 1200μmolphotonsm-2s-1 and again exposed for 72h under growth conditions. Acclimated leaves showed lower photosynthesis and higher total carotenoid contents than non-acclimated leaves. The photo-oxidative cold shock inhibited photosystem II (PSII) efficiency, as suggested by the reduction of Fv/Fm ratios, in all leaves. Carotenoid content was reduced in non-acclimated leaves. A time-dependent increase in the initial fluorescence level (F0) and a faster decline in Fv/Fm ratio indicated a stronger PSII inhibition in non-acclimated leaves in comparison with acclimated leaves. The chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetic showed in all leaves complex changes in the O–J, J–I and I–P phases. The I and P steps of the fluorescence rise were particularly affected in non-acclimated leaves. Photosynthesis, fluorescence and pigment contents, measured in leaves maintained for 2h in the dark and then returned for 72h to growth conditions, showed a different pattern of recovery between leaves. Photosynthesis and fluorescence completely recovered in acclimated leaves after 72h under growth conditions. On the contrary, non-acclimated leaves still showed very low values of photosynthesis and Fv/Fm, suppression of the sigmoidal shape of fluorescent transients and further reduction of chlorophyll contents, indicating the presence of irreversible damages to PSII and, probably, an anticipated senescence. It is suggested that carotenoids have a relevant role in protecting leaves of mandarin from the effects of a photo-oxidative cold shock. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract At suboptimal temperatures, anthocyanins accumulate in the illuminated leaf surface of some maize genotypes and, if the anthocyanins shade chloroplasts, they can effectively reduce the risk of photo-inhibition but also photo-synthesis. To investigate this phenomenon, gas exchange, fluorescence, superoxide dismutase activity and xantho-phyll composition of anthocyanin-containing HOPI and anthocyanin-deficient W22 maize genotypes were measured in either white or red light, where the latter is not absorbed by anthocyanins. Despite differences in light absorption in chloroplasts, photosynthesis did not differ between HOPI and W22 under either light source, suggesting that neither CO2 supply nor photochemistry were more limiting in red leaves than in green leaves. In fact, no major differences in transpiration were detected. The ΔF /F m (photosystem II quantum yield) of HOPI in white light was higher than in red light and higher than ΔF /F m of W22 with either light source. This probably compensated for the lower white light absorption of HOPI chloroplasts compared with W22 because of the presence of anthocyanins and led to similar rates of calculated electron transport for both genotypes. After exposure to high white light at 5 °C, xanthophyll de-epoxidation and superoxide dismutase activity were lower in HOPI than in W22. Further, HOPI could be exposed to a much higher irradiance than W22 before F v /F m was reduced to that of W22. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Limited research has been devoted to the subjective impact of switching antipsychotic maintenance treatment (AMT) from oral to LAI formulation in schizophrenia. Objective To compare LAI AMT with oral AMT in terms of subjective experience of treatment, taking into account the effects on psychopathology. Methods Twenty outpatients (7 males, mean age 40.55 ± 11.00 years) with remitted schizophrenia treated with either olanzapine or paliperidone and switching from oral to LAI AMT were recruited before the switch (LAI-AMT group). A group of 20 remitted schizophrenic subjects with oral AMT and matched for the main socio-demographic, clinical and treatment variables made up the controls (oral-AMT group). All participants were assessed by means of the PANSS and of the SWN-K at baseline (T0) and after 6 months (T1). Results Between T0 and T1, general psychopathology of the PANSS and all but one of the SWN-K dimensions (except for “social integration”), showed significantly higher percent improvements in the LAI-AMT group compared to the oral-AMT group. After 6 months (T1), the LAI-AMT group showed significantly lower PANSS total and general psychopathology scores, as well as higher mean score of perceived “mental functioning” compared to the oral-AMT group. Item analysis of the general PANSS at T1 showed significant differences between the two groups in anxiety, tension, depression, guilt feelings, poor attention, and active social avoidance. Conclusions Our data on switching from oral to LAI AMT in remitted schizophrenia suggest a better efficacy of the latter in terms of improvement of general psychopathology and subjective experience of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction It is still a matter of debate whether LAI antipsychotics are able to significantly improve patient's attitude towards treatment. Objective The aim of this 12-month observational study was to investigate the impact of switching antipsychotic treatment from oral to LAI formulation on patient's attitude towards treatment and quality of life. Methods A total of 41 schizophrenic patients (25 males, mean age 42.10 ± 11.88 years) were recruited. Patients were expected not to need significant changes in concomitant treatments. All patients were under a stabilized therapy with a single oral antipsychotic (either olanzapine or paliperidone) and were switched to the equivalent maintenance regimen with the long-acting formulation of the same antipsychotic (olanzapine pamoate or paliperidone palmitate). Patients were assessed before the switch (T0), and after 6 (T1) and 12 months (T2) of LAI antipsychotic treatment by means of the YMRS, MADRS, PANSS, DAI-10 and SF-36. Results Our data evidenced an overall significant improvement of psychopathology, adherence and quality of life over the 12-month period (T0 vs. T2). In particular, while all of the measures significantly improved in the first semester (T0 vs. T1), only YMRS, positive PANSS and DAI-10 improved both in the first and in the second semester (T1 vs. T2), indicating an additional advantage of a prolonged LAI treatment on these clinical dimensions. Conclusions The switch from oral to long-acting antipsychotic treatment may provide considerable advantages in improving patient's attitude towards (and therefore adherence to) treatment. Part of this improvement could be related with a better efficacy on psychopathology and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the use of biochar as a soil amendment has been widely studied as a promising strategy for climate change mitigation, to date, due to the extremely heterogeneous nature of this material, there is not a general agreement of the scientific community about its soil amendment potential. In the present paper, a comprehensive approach has been adopted to test the short-term effects of biochar alone or in combination with compost on soil biochemical properties related to C and N cycling functions, microbial community, and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) yield in a Mediterranean environment. With this purpose, a randomized block field trial was set up within an experimental area of about 500 m2. The four treatments tested were: 1) Control (C), no treatment; 2) Compost (CMP); 3) Biochar (BIO); 4) Compost-Biochar mixture (CMP + BIO in the ratio 9:1 w /w). After 45 days of cultivation, the biomass of well-developed lettuce plants was increased from 2- to 2.5-fold in all amended soils with respect to the control one. The CMP amended soils showed a higher effect with respect to the BIO amended soils on enzymatic activities (increase in β-glucosidase, SEI, synthetic enzymatic index, and butyrate esterase) and microbial community structure evaluated by the Ester-linked Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (El-FAME) profiling (increase in G- bacteria, total fungi, and AMF). The increase in the activity and abundance of the microbial community in CMP amended soils could indicate that the organic matter provided by the compost is more readily mineralized than that added with the biochar. Moreover, the BIO amended soils showed the lowest qCO 2 and ecoenzymatic C:N ratio and the highest q MIC (1.4 %), indicating a C immobilization process into the microbial biomass and a greater limitation for N with respect to C, offset by an increase in N-cycling enzyme activity. In the short term, even if the number of well-developed plants increased in all treated soils, a boost of soil C and N cycling was evident with CMP and BIO amendments respectively. Conversely, the combination of CMP with BIO (CMP + BIO) did not provide any synergic effect, probably because requiring longer periods. For these reasons repeated combined treatments can be suggested to reach a cumulative effect on soil quality over time using a balanced C:N ratio in the mixture amendment. • The number of well-developed plants (Lettuce sativa L.) increased in all treated soils. • Microbial viable biomass and its enzymatic activity were increased by compost treatment. • Biochar treatment induced C immobilization into microbial biomass and promoted N cycling. • The combining of compost and biochar seems to have had no synergistic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients' attitudes and subjective experience are crucial in the management of severe mental illness, but their practical value is overlooked. Objectives: To identify predictors of future adherence to LAI antipsychotic maintenance treatment of schizophrenia among socio-demographic, clinical, and psychometric characteristics - including Drug Attitude Inventory-10 (DAI-10) and Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptics short form (SWN-K) scores. Methods: Retrospective baseline data from 53 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia switched from oral to LAI therapy were collected. Patients continuing treatment at the time of analysis (n=29) were compared to those who had discontinued it (n=24). Selected variables were further evaluated in survival analyses. Results: Between-group differences are presented in Table 1 (**: p<0.01; *: p<0.05). Cox regression analysis included instruction, employment, hospitalisations, PANSS subscales and DAI-10 scores: a protective role against treatment discontinuation was outlined only for employment (HR 0.16; 95%CI 0.05-0.50) and higher DAI-10 scores (HR 0.85; 95%CI 0.78-0.94). DAI-10 scores delineated distinct adherence trajectories (Figure 1). Conclusions: Baseline DAI-10 scores may identify patients at risk of dropout after switching to LAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background HCV is the most frequent cause of chronic hepatitis and a risk factor for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite recent advances in HCV therapy, Pegylated Interferon Alpha (PegIFNα) remains the treatment backbone, even if it can cause serious neuropsychiatric symptoms (from irritability to psychosis) that could reduce treatment compliance to the point of failure. Aims To describe the neuropsychiatric symptoms during PegIFNα treatment in a group of HCV patients without any psychiatric morbidity at enrolment, and drop-out rate. Methods Eleven HCV+ outpatients, scheduled for PegIFNα treatment, were assessed at enrolment (T0), and after one (T1) and two months (T2) to investigate psychiatric symptoms by means of SCID-I, HAM-D, HAM-A, PHQ-9, MDRS and MRS. A pharmacological therapy, based on clinical evidence, were provided at their onset. Results Comparing T0, T1 and T2 mean scores, we found a increasing trend in all psychometric scales, statistically significant for HAM-D and HAM-A. An item-by-item analysis showed a significative increase in the mean scores of HAM-D somatic items (#11 to 14), and HAM-A Anxious mood (#1), Tension (#2) and somatic items (#8 to 10, 12, 13). Drop-up occurred in two outpatients (18%), both after T1 assessment, due to HCV relapse (one patient), and serious somatic side effects (one patient). Conclusions Patients at early stages of PegIFNα treatment may develop a psychiatric comorbidity, particularly tension, anxiety and somatic symptoms, even without a psychiatric hystory. This confirmes a need for psychiatric assessment in patients scheduled for antiviral therapy, to identify early symptoms and reduce drop-out rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rooted cuttings of Populus nigra L. clone Poli and Salix alba L. clone SS5 were treated for three weeks with 50 μM CdSO in nutrient solution. The willow showed a far higher Cd tolerance, expressed as tolerance index (Ti), than the poplar in both roots and leaves. The root Cd content was higher in poplar than in willow, whereas in leaves the opposite was found. As a consequence, the translocation factor (Tf) revealed a greater ability of Cd transport in willow than in poplar. Cd treatment enhanced cysteine, γ-glutamylcysteine and reduced glutathione contents in roots of both species, whereas in leaves they were only enhanced in poplar. Furthermore, only poplar leaves showed an enhanced content of phytochelatins, whereas malic and citric acids rose in response to Cd only in the willow leaves. Cd treatment increased putrescine, spermidine and spermine contents in both roots and leaves of the willow, whereas in poplar only the putrescine content was enhanced in roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine whether modification of physiological parameters could be detected remotely by monitoring the spectral reflectance of olive leaves in response to different degrees of drought. Three different drought intensities were simulated: (a) a mild drought by feeding abscisic acid to detached branches; (b) a rapid and severe drought by detaching leaves and letting them dry over several hours; (c) a relatively slow drought caused by withholding water to potted olive plants. The three degrees of stress affected gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. When the inhibition of photosynthesis occurred within an hour it was not accompanied by a parallel reduction in chlorophyll concentration in the carotenoid to chlorophyll ratio. Consequently, changes in spectral reflectance in the visible region, e.g. in PRI (photochemical reflectance index) and FRI (fluorescence reflectance indices) were not significantly induced. In contrast, when the inhibition of photosynthesis caused by slow developing drought was prolonged (i.e. more than 24 hours) and led to a decrease in chlorophyll concentration and to a simultaneous increase in carotenoid to chlorophyll ratio, there were significant changes in the visible region of the leaf spectral reflectance and, in turn, in PRI and FRI. We defined 16 new reference wavelengths, from visible to SWIR regions, which are sensitive to both fast-developing and slow-developing stresses. These reference wavelengths were used to develop an algorithm, the Relative Reflectance Increment (RRI), that was linearly related to changes in relative water content (RWC, r 2 = 0.733). This algorithm showed that the 1455 nm wavelength is highly affected by drought. This wavelength was therefore used to elaborate the water content reflectance index that was inversely related to RWC (r 2 = 0.702). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aberrant salience consists of the unusual or incorrect assignment of salience, significance or value to different innocuous stimuli. It has been hypothesized that subjects with an aberrant salience could be proneness to develop psychosis. Despite the importance of this concept in psychosis, only few instruments assess aberrant salience. Objectives and aims: To evaluate aberrant salience processing in a clinical trans-diagnostic sample and its relationship with psychotic symptoms. Methods: Thirty-six outpatient subjects attending the Psychiatric Unit of the University of Florence were recruited: 9 with Major Depression Disease (MDD), 8 with Schizophrenia (SC), 19 with Bipolar Disorder (BD). Patients were assessed by means of a clinical interview (SCID-I/P) and several questionnaires, including the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI). Results: The three groups showed significant differences in the lifetime presence of psychotic symptoms, with higher frequency in BD and SC patients (p<0.01). Significant differences in ASI scores were found between MDD and BD (p<0.01), and SC and BD (p<0.01), while any difference between BD and SC was observed. Subjects with positive ASI (cut-off>14) reported more frequently past and lifetime psychotic symptoms (p<0.01) and constituted a distinct cluster from patients with ASI score <14. Conclusion: Aberrant salience is significantly associated to lifetime psychotic symptoms. Thus it represents a relevant psychopathologic dimension that requires a careful investigation in patients with an history of psychotic events. The ASI could represent an useful instrument to evaluate the proneness of clinical and pre-clinical samples to develop psychotic symptoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]