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Most studies on gender and psychosis have focused on gender differences at illness onset or on the long-term outcome, whereas little is known about the impact of gender on the first years after psychosis onset. A total of 185 first episode psychosis (FEP) patients were followed for 5 years after psychosis onset, and gender differences were explored in psychopathology (PANSS), needs for care (CAN), and insight (SAI-E). Male patients showed more negative symptoms than females over time, whereas female patients showed higher levels of depressive symptoms than males throughout the study period. In addition, female patients presented more functioning unmet needs for care, but higher levels of insight into illness than males. Therapy and rehabilitative programs for FEP patients should be gender-targeted, as gender has proved to impact on psychopathology, needs for care, and insight in the very first years following psychosis onset.

SUMMARYAims - This study aims to present data on structural and human resources of public mental health services located in the Veneto Region, Italy, and to discuss them in the light of implementation of the first National Target Plan for Mental Health (“Progetto Obiettivo 1994-1996”) ten years after its launch. Methods - The study was conducted in the context of the PICOS (Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study) Project, a large first-presentation multisite study on patients with psychotic disorders attending community mental heath services in the Veneto Region. Human and structural resources were surveyed in 26 study sites using a structured interview administered by the PICOS local referents. Results - CMHCs and Day Centres were homogeneously distributed across the Region and their overall rates per resident population met the national standards; a wide variability in the distribution of Day Hospitals was found, with the overall rate per resident population very far from meeting the national standard; the overall rate for Residential Facilities beds was higher than the recommended national standard, showing however an high variability across sites. The overall rate of mental health professionals per resident population was only slightly below the national standard: this was mainly achieved thanks to non-profit organizations which supplement the public system with unspecialised professionals; however, a wide variability in the local rates per resident population was found, with the 50% of the sites showing rates far lower the national standard. Specific lack of trained professionals involved in the provision of psychosocial interventions was found in most sites. Conclusions - A marked variability in human and structural resources across community mental health services in the Veneto Region was found. Possible reasons for this heterogeneity were analysed and implications for mental health care provision were further discussed.Declaration of Interest: The study has been supported by the Regione del Veneto, Giunta Regionale, Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata 2004, Venezia, Italia (grant to Professor M. Ruggeri).

The presence and function of CB2 receptors in central nervous system (CNS) neurons are controversial We report the expression of CB 2 receptor messenger RNA and protein localization on brainstem neurons. These functional CB2 receptors in the brainstem were activated by a CB2 receptor agonist, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and by elevated endogenous levels of endocannabinoids, which also act at CB1 receptors. CB2 receptors represent an alternative site of action of endocannabinoids that opens the possibility of nonpsychotropic therapeutic interventions using enhanced endocannabinoid levels in localized brain areas.

Three siblings with familial Wolff-Parkinson- White syndrome and two instances of sudden death are described. In all of them, multiple accessory pathways with a very short anterograde refractory period and rapid ventricular responses during atrial fibrillation had been documented, thus surgical ablation of the bypass tracts had been performed. Although abolition of the accessory pathway conduction had been demonstrated post-operatively, an electrophysiologic evaluation performed after 2–8 years showed resumption of conduction over the anomalous connections, with life-threatening arrhythmias during induced fast atrial rhythms. This report demonstrates that apparent success of surgery for pre-excitation syndrome, judged during the postoperative course, may be illusory in some patients, and return of accessory pathway conduction can occur later on.

The Authors studied the postnatal development of the retinal pigment epithelium in the albino rat, in order to elucidate its morphological and functional evolution, correlated to the numerous functional roles played in Vertebrates (Scheme 1). At birth, epithelial cells show few cytoplasmic organules and the apical surface provided of small depressions. From the third to the fifth postnatal day the first apical microfolds surround the depressions. From the seventh to the ninth day inner segments develop, whilst the apical surface of the epithelial cells is covered by many finger-like microfolds. During the eleventh postnatal day the buds of the outer segments and many lamellar microfolds can be demonstrated. During the sixteenth day the retina reaches its adult morphology. It is therefore well-evident that birth, similarly to many other Vertebrates, is not the last step, but only a moment, in the development of the retina: this process is completed only during postnatal life, when environmental light is able to stimulate every ocular structure.

Transcatheter modification of the AV node with radiofrequency energy (RF) was performed in 6 patients (mean age 24 years) with inducible AV node reentry tachycardia (AVNRT). Although tachycardia could be controlled with antiarrhythmic drugs in each patient, the option was offered to eliminate the arrhythmia by means of RF catheter technique. A 7F catheter with 2 mm interelectrode distance and a large tip electrode was positioned to record the maximal His deflection, then withdrawn until the smallest possible His and ventricular potentials with a large atrial signal could be recorded. RF energy was delivered at this site in unipolar mode in incremental steps, until AVNRT was no longer inducible or VA block occurred. The procedure resulted in non-inducibility of tachycardia in 5/6 patients. The fast and the slow pathways were abolished in 2 and 1 patients, respectively, while the AV node duality persisted in 2 in spite of non-inducibility. VA block occurred in 2 patients, while the anterograde conduction was preserved in all. During the follow-up (mean 4.5 months) 5/6 patients remained free of AVNRT without drugs. It is concluded that transcatheter RF modulation of the AV node can be advised, provided that similar results will be obtained in larger series with longer follow-up, as the first line therapy in patients with AVNRT.

We report the synthesis, antioxidant and antiproliferative activity and a QSAR analysis of synthetic diphenylpropionamide derivatives. Synthesis of these compounds was achieved by direct condensation of 2,2- and 3,3-diphenylpropionic acid and appropriate amines using 1-propylphoshonic acid cyclic anhydride (PPAA) as catalyst. Compound structures were elucidated by NMR analysis and their melting points were measured. The in vitro antioxidant activity of these compounds was tested by evaluating the amount of scavenged ABTS radical and estimating ROS and NO production in LPS stimulated J774.A1 macrophages. All compounds were tested for their effect on viability of cells and results demonstrated that they are not toxic towards the cell lines used. The cytotoxic activity of all compounds was evaluated by a Brine Shrimp Test.