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OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate the role of several variables hypothesized in previous research to be associated with suicide in older adults. DESIGN: Psychological autopsy study. SETTING: Suicides who were resident in the province of Parma and Piacenza and who died between 1994 and 2004. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-nine elderly suicides (age >or=65 years; 77 men and 22 women) and 134 younger comparison suicides (115 men and 19 women). Younger victims were subdivided in two more homogeneous groups: young adults (age <36 years) and adults (age: 36-64 years). MEASUREMENTS: Direct proxy-based interviews with relatives and family physicians. RESULTS: Elderly victims were nine times (OR = 9.09; 95% CI: 1.32-62.63) more likely to live alone, 26 times (OR = 26.76; 95% CI: 9.04-79.24) more likely to be retired, and 14 times (OR = 14.57; 95% CI: 2.48-85.65) more likely to have attended school for no more than 5 years than adult suicides. Although, more than 50% of older suicides were diagnosed as DSM-IV-TR depressed, only 20%-30% of them had been treated with medications. CONCLUSION: Diverse patterns of risk factors for suicide have to be evaluated in older adults. Physicians must be aware that the concomitant presence of depressive symptoms and several life events (especially loss and loneliness in women and physical illness in men) should be considered warning signs for suicidal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Depression is one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric comorbidities of Alzheimer dementia (AD), affecting patents with rates from 0% to 87%. These rates vary because different populations are sampled and different instruments are used. Depressive symptoms tend to occur early, are persistent, becoming increasingly common as dementia progresses. Depression decreases the quality of life of dementia sufferers, may reduce the duration of survival and would therefore appear to be important to treat. Although questions about the interrelationships between depression and dementia have been central to the field of geriatric psychiatry for the past 30 to 40 years, clinical approaches continue to evolve through a categorical or dimensional approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The patterns of depressive symptoms that occur in the elderly are appreciably different from those manifested in younger-age groups. Older depressed patents tend to report more somatic and cognitive symptoms than affective ones. An exclusively categorical approach to depression among the elderly does not provide adequate means for an exhaustive classification of mood disorders in old age. Taking into account clinical features, high comorbidity and the overlap with the physiological somatic changes due to aging, a dimensional approach seems to better account for depressive symptoms in the elderly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Geodetic measurements based on GPS satellite technology allow monitoring of the state of deformation with great precision. Geodetic studies through GPS have proven to be of strategic importance in risk evaluation of various phenomena such as landslides, volcanoes, earthquakes or for the evaluation of the stability of large structures (dykes, bridges, etc.). For control and surveillance purposes, continuous monitoring with real-time acquisition and analysis of data is required. We have developed a software, called Eolo, which allows the management of data from a GPS network using automatic acquisition. The software is the fruit of 5 years experience of working with continuous GPS and has been designed with a modular object-based structure to be extremely flexible and adaptable to different needs. The software allows treatment of raw data, their storage in a database, calculation of the main strain parameters, and the visualisation of all the results. In this sense the software is a powerful tool in the field of environmental monitoring with GPS geodetic techniques. The software is in use for the continuous monitoring of active Sicilian volcanoes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Petrographic, petrophysical and fracture analyses were carried out on middle Cretaceous platform carbonates of the southern Apennines (Italy) that represent an outcrop analogue of the Val d’Agri and Tempa Rossa reservoirs of the Basilicata region. The studied outcrops, which are made of interlayered limestones and dolomites of inner platform environment, were selected to study the impact of dolomitization on reservoir properties and the control of dolomite texture on fracture development. Two types of dolomites – both formed during very early diagenesis – were found interlayered, at a metre scale, with micrite-rich limestones (mainly mudstones and wackestones). Dolomite A is fine-to medium crystalline and makes non-planar mosaics. Dolomite B is coarse-crystalline and makes planar-s and planar-e mosaics. The intercrystalline space of the planar-e subtype of dolomite B is either open or filled by un-replaced micrite or by late calcite or saddle dolomite cement. Dolomite A and dolomite B have similar average porosities of 3.7 and 3.1% respectively, which are significantly higher than the average porosity of limestones (1.4%). Their poro-perm relationships are similar, with the notable exception of planar-e type B dolomites, which generally display higher permeability values. The intensity of top bounded fractures is distinctly lower in coarse-crystalline dolomites than in fine-crystalline dolomites and limestones, both at the macro- and the micro-scale. On the other hand neither lithology (i.e. limestone vs. dolomite) nor dolomite crystal size control the intensity of perfect bed-bounded fractures, which is strictly controlled by the fracture layer thickness. Our results provide information that could be used as guidance for the characterization and modelling of fractured carbonate reservoirs made of interlayered limestones and dolomites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the effect of a soy rich diet and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the main biomarkers of bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) at postmenopausal age.Methods: 187 healthy asymptomatic postmenopausal women, aged 39-60, were recruited and randomized into a soy rich diet group, a HRT group, and a control group. Bone biomarkers and BMD were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months at the end of the study.Results: Diet is not as effective as HRT in reducing the postmenopausal turnover; however diet stimulates bone osteoblastic activity, as evidenced by significant increase in osteocalcin concentrations. BMD decreases significantly only in the control group, but not in the intervention groups.Conclusions: Our data suggest that soy products could be effective in reducing the risk of osteoporosis in asymptomatic postmenopausal women, but our findings should be confirmed before recommending the diet as a valid alternative to HRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this paper was to investigate the subjective responses of abstinent heroin users to both neutral and negative stimuli and the related hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal reactions to emotional experience in relationship to their perception of childhood adverse experiences. Thirty male abstinent heroin dependents were included in the study. Emotional responses and childhood neglect perception were measured utilizing the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y-1 and the Child Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire. Neutral and unpleasant pictures selected from the International Affective Picture System and the Self-Assessment Manikin procedure have been used to determine ratings of pleasure and arousal. These ratings were compared with normative values obtained from healthy volunteers used as control. Blood samples were collected before and after the experimental sessions to determine both adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol plasma levels. Basal anxiety scores, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were higher in abstinent heroin users than in controls. Tests showed that anxiety scores did not change in controls after the vision of neutral slides, whilst they did in abstinent heroin addicts, increasing significantly; and increased less significantly after the unpleasant task, in comparison to controls. Abstinent heroin users showed significantly higher levels of parent antipathy and childhood emotional neglect perception than controls for both the father and the mother. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels did not significantly increase after unpleasant slide set viewing among addicted individuals, because of the significantly higher basal levels characterizing the addicted subjects in comparison with controls. Multiple regression correlation showed a significant relationship between childhood neglect perception, arousal reaction, impaired hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis response and addiction severity. Early adverse experiences seem to affect the entire interaction between hyper-arousal, reduced hormonal response to stress and addiction severity. Our findings, although obtained in a small number of subjects, indicate a significant link between the perception of parental style/care/support during childhood and the ability to cope with stressful emotional stimuli in adulthood and addiction severity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Epidemiological and clinical data show frequent associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance abuse susceptibility particularly in adolescents. A large body of evidences suggests that the possible dysregulation of neuroendocrine responses as well as neurotransmitters function induced by childhood traumatic experiences and emotional neglect could constitute one of the essential biological changes implementing substance abuse vulnerability. Moreover, genotype variables and its environment interactions have been associated with an increased risk for early onset substance abuse. In this paper we present several data that support the hypothesis of the involvement of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in mediating the combined effect of early adverse experiences and gene variants affecting neurotransmission. The presented data also confirm the relationship between basal plasma levels of cortisol and ACTH, on the one hand, and retrospective measures of neglect during childhood on the other hand: the higher the mother and father neglect (CECA-Q) scores are, the higher the plasma levels of the two HPA hormones are. Furthermore, such positive relationship has been proved to be particularly effective and important when associated with the “S” promoter polymorphism of the gene encoding the 5-HTT transporter, both in homozygote and heterozygote individuals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) has been found effective in treating heroin addiction. Serious consideration should be given to the modality of methadone distribution, as it influences not only treatment outcome but the attitudes of policy makers and the community, too. On one hand, the choice of take-home methadone removes the need for daily attendance at a methadone clinic, which seems to improve patients'' quality of life. On the other, this method, because of its lack of supervision and the absence of strict consumption monitoring, runs the risk of methadone misuse and diversion. In this study, we compared A) supervised daily consumption, B) contingent take-home incentives and C) non-contingent take-home in methadone maintenance in three groups of heroin-addicted patients attending three different MMT programmes. Retention rates at 12months were significantly higher in contingent take-home patients (group B) than in those with supervised daily consumption (group A) and the non-contingent take-home (group C). Retention rates were higher in group A than in group C patients. Compared to patients in groups A and B, those in group C showed fewer negative urinalyses and higher rates of self-reported diversion and episodes of crime or violence. Results indicate a more positive outcomes following take-home methadone associated with behavioural incentives and other measures that aim to facilitate treatment compliance than those following daily supervised consumption. By contrast, non-contingent take-home methadone given to non-stabilized patients is associated with a high rate of diversion, along with more crime episodes and maladaptive behaviours. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim was to investigate psychological characteristics that may predict suicide ideation and behaviour in male prisoners. Sample consisted of 1117 prisoners detained in jails of the District of Abruzzo-Molise in Italy. All underwent psychiatric interviews and comprehensive psychometric assessments related to different psychological characteristics. Principal component analysis of psychometric variables derived four components. Multivariate logistic regression was designed to test them as predictors of suicidal ideation and attempt. Main findings: (1) approximately 40% prisoners reported lifetime suicide ideation and 13% attempted suicide; (2) different psychometric variables tend to associate in male prisoners. Three of them – childhood trauma, emotional lability and substance abuse – seem to increase the risk of suicide ideation and attempt, while sensation seeking behaviour might decrease it; (3) ideators and attempters scored higher on scales measuring aggression, hostility, childhood trauma, depression, psychoticism and neuroticism, when compared to non-ideators and non-attempters; (4) suicide ideators and attempters scored lower on extraversion and resilience scales; and (5) childhood trauma was the strongest positive predictor for suicide ideation and attempt. This is the first report on psychological characteristics in a large sample of prisoners. We believe it might add new value to evidence-based suicide prevention strategies in prisons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Accumulating scientific and clinical evidence highlighted pathological hyperinflammation as a cardinal feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection and acute COVID-19 disease. With the emergence of long COVID-19 syndrome, several chronic health consequences, including neuropsychiatric sequelae, have gained attention from the public and medical communities. Since inflammatory mediators have also been accredited as putative biomarkers of suicidal ideations and behaviors, hyper- and neuroinflammation might share some colliding points, overlapping and being interconnected in the context of COVID-19. This review aims to provide a summary of current knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of COVID-19-associated hyper/neuroinflammation with focus on their relevance to the inflammatory hypothesis of suicide development. Subsequently, strategies to alleviate COVID-19 hyper/neuroinflammation by immunomodulatory agents (many of which at experimental stages) as well as psychopharmacologic/psychotherapeutic approaches are also mentioned. While suicide risk in COVID-19 survivors - until now little known - needs further analysis through longitudinal studies, current observations and mechanistic postulates warrant additional attention to this possibly emerging mental health concern. • Hyperinflammation is a hallmark of COVID-19 disease. • Neuroinflammation is also involved in suicide pathogenesis. • It is possible that the two inflammation cascades share colliding points. • Hyper/neuroinflammation could be synergic in chronic neuropsychiatric sequelae, including suicide. • This is relevant to COVID-19 survivors as long-term impact of the disease is unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The planetary fourier spectrometer (PFS) for the Venus Express mission is an infrared spectrometer optimized for atmospheric studies. This instrument has a short wavelength (SW) channel that covers the spectral range from 1700 to 11400cm−1 (0.9–5.5μm) and a long wavelength (LW) channel that covers 250–1700cm−1 (5.5–45μm). Both channels have a uniform spectral resolution of 1.3cm−1. The instrument field of view FOV is about 1.6 ° (FWHM) for the short wavelength channel and 2.8 ° for the LW channel which corresponds to a spatial resolution of 7 and 12km when Venus is observed from an altitude of 250km. PFS can provide unique data necessary to improve our knowledge not only of the atmospheric properties but also surface properties (temperature) and the surface-atmosphere interaction (volcanic activity). PFS works primarily around the pericentre of the orbit, only occasionally observing Venus from larger distances. Each measurements takes 4.5s, with a repetition time of 11.5s. By working roughly 1.5h around pericentre, a total of 460 measurements per orbit will be acquired plus 60 for calibrations. PFS is able to take measurements at all local times, enabling the retrieval of atmospheric vertical temperature profiles on both the day and the night side. The PFS measures a host of atmospheric and surface phenomena on Venus. These include the:(1) thermal surface flux at several wavelengths near 1μm, with concurrent constraints on surface temperature and emissivity (indicative of composition); (2) the abundances of several highly-diagnostic trace molecular species; (3) atmospheric temperatures from 55 to 100km altitude; (4) cloud opacities and cloud-tracked winds in the lower-level cloud layers near 50-km altitudes; (5) cloud top pressures of the uppermost haze/cloud region near 70–80km altitude; and (6) oxygen airglow near the 100km level. All of these will be observed repeatedly during the 500-day nominal mission of Venus Express to yield an increased understanding of meteorological, dynamical, photochemical, and thermo-chemical processes in the Venus atmosphere. Additionally, PFS will search for and characterize current volcanic activity through spatial and temporal anomalies in both the surface thermal flux and the abundances of volcanic trace species in the lower atmosphere. Measurement of the 15μm CO2 band is very important. Its profile gives, by means of a complex temperature profile retrieval technique, the vertical pressure-temperature relation, basis of the global atmospheric study. PFS is made of four modules called O, E, P and S being, respectively, the interferometer and proximity electronics, the digital control unit, the power supply and the pointing device. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]