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BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a major cause of neurological disability in adults. Depression is one of the most common psychiatric comorbidities in MS patients with negative impact on patients’ quality of life. The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in monitoring the therapeutic response after high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients presenting with depression by measuring the factional anisotropy of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) before and after treatment and also to assess the treatments’ impact on patients’ cognitive functions and depression.ResultsFractional anisotropy (FA) only increased in rTMS group (0.44 ± 0.03 pre-rTMS vs 0.53 ± 0.05 post-rTMS,P< 0.001), but there were no significant changes in the SSRI group (0.44 ± 0.04 pre-SSRIs vs 0.45 ± .37 post-SSRIs,P= 0.072). Both rTMS and SSRI groups showed significant clinical improvement in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) after either intervention (17.6 ± 3.25 pre-rTMS vs 10.6 ± 1.89 post-rTMS and 23 ± 6.36 pre-rTMS vs 24.87 ± 6.6 post-rTMS, respectively,P< 0.001; 17.67 ± 3.15 pre-SSRIs vs 0.6 ± 1.84 post-SSRIs and 23.8 ± 6.45 pre-SSRIs vs 25.07 ± 7.02 post-SSRIs, respectively,P< 0.001).ConclusionDTI is an ideal non-invasive tool for examining white matter integrity and can detect microstructural changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex after rTMS and SSRI therapies for patients with MS and depression. FA increased only with rTMS denoting positive alteration in white matter microstructure. Both rTMS and SSRIs were equally effective in improving depression and cognition.

The current study was undertaken with the aim of assessing the psychopathological symptoms, personality profile, and hostility in detained adolescents with delinquent behavior. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on 50 admitted adolescent delinquents in correctional institutes in the Greater Cairo region of Egypt. Results for delinquent adolescents were compared with age-equivalent adolescents with no history of delinquency. Both groups were subjected to the Adolescent and Adult Psychological State Inventory, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Locus of Control scale, and the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ). Results concluded that adolescents with delinquent behavior displayed increased rates of psychiatric disorders over the comparative group. Significantly higher scores on the psychoticism, neuroticism, extraversion, and psychopathic deviation subscales and the Locus of Control scale were evident among the adolescent delinquent group compared with their nondelinquent peers. The delinquent group obtained, in general, higher overall scores on the HDHQ questionnaire when compared with the nondelinquent adolescents, while also obtaining higher scores on the paranoid hostility subscale of HDHQ. Acting out hostility scores correlated positively with neuroticism and psychoticism in delinquents. Psychiatric morbidity, extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, and increased hostility were found to contribute as major psychosocial factors underlying the psychopathology in detained juvenile delinquents.

The recent advances in wearable technologies had caused a surge in the demand for stretchable Li-ion microbatteries. Herein, a special design based on micropillar electrodes supported on metallic serpentines has been investigated to achieve the fabrication of a functionning device. Besides achieving high areal capacity values like 2.5 ​mA ​h ​cm−2 at C/10 (i.e. 0.07 ​mA ​cm−2), the micropillars make the system reversibly stretchable. Electrochemical tests revealed excellent performance when the stretchable micropower source was subjected to different mechanical strains. Indeed, 73% of the capacity is retained over 100 cycles under 30% strain and all fatigue tests showed that capacity retention remain higher than 70%.

Background Delayed prehospital presentation of acute appendicitis may increase the risk of perforation and other complications. This study investigated the prevalence of prehospital delay in the presentation of acute appendicitis, clinical features, and outcomes in Sudanese patients. Method A retrospective study conducted from January 2017 to December 2020 in a teaching hospital affiliated with Gezira University enrolled 191 patients with prehospital delay presentation of acute appendicitis (at least 48 hours from symptom onset). Patient characteristics, causative factors, primary treatment, and complication rate were gathered and analyzed. Result The mean age of the patients was 36.55 ± 16.3 years (range: 15-78 years), with 122 (64%) males and 69 (36%) females. Most cases of prehospital delay were misdiagnosed firstly as other diseases (n = 124, 65%). The physicians made misdiagnosis of acute appendicitis in 65 (53%) patients. Age less than 30 years, male gender, living in rural areas, and lower educational level are associated with a high incidence of prehospital delay presentation of acute appendicitis (p0.05). Most cases have appendicular mass (46%, p0.001). Wound infection was the most common postoperative complication (7.85%, p0.001). Conclusion The high incidence rate of prehospital delay presentation of acute appendicitis is associated with patients' age ofless than 30 years, male gender, living in a rural area, and lower educational level. With the high rate of misdiagnosed acute appendicitis, it is essential to increase the knowledge about the signs and symptoms of appendicitis among our physicians and health practitioners.

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the structural alteration of corpus callosum (CC) in adolescent females with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and detect the relationship between these changes and BPD symptoms. Methods A comparative case control study was conducted on 50 adolescent females that were divided into 2 groups; 25 outpatients suffering from BPD (according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria) compared to 25 healthy adolescents. All subjects were assessed by Borderline Personality Questionnaire, Barratt impulsivity scale-11, Brief Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment tool, Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, and Diffusion tensor imaging. Results Relative to control subjects, BPD patients had significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the genu and lower mean diffusivity (MD) values in the body of CC. There was a negative correlation between FA values in the genu and body of CC and impulsivity. MD in the body of CC was positively correlated with motor impulsiveness and negatively correlated with suicidality. Conclusion Adolescent females with BPD show structural alterations in the CC that are related to symptoms of emotional dysregulation and impulsivity.

Objectives Obsessions and suicidal behavior are common among patients with bipolar disorder. The relation between them and their impact on disease severity should be a focus of attention. This study aimed at assessment of the presence of sexual and religious obsessions in patients with bipolar disorder and their relation to suicide ideation. Methods Ninety patients diagnosed with bipolar I disorder were recruited consecutively and subdivided into two groups: bipolar disorder with and without sexual/religious obsessions. Both groups were subjected to Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DY-BOCS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). Results Patients with bipolar disorder and sexual/religious obsessions were 54.4% (n = 49) of the total sample, and they showed significantly higher number of suicidal attempts, more severe depression, and suicidal ideation than those without sexual/religious obsessions. BSSI showed significantly positive correlation with HAMD and DY-BOCS sexual and religious obsessions dimension-related distress. Conclusion Sexual and religious obsessions tend to be more frequent among patients with bipolar disorder. Higher depression and obsessive-related distress potentially contribute to the increased risk of suicidal ideation.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has different facets such as anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment and vasculitis. We were interested in detecting subclinical CNS involvement in chronic HCV infected subjects with and without systemic vasculitis.Nineteen patients (15 females and 4 males) with chronic HCV infection (mean age 46.5 ± 7 and mean duration since diagnosis of HCV infection 4.7 ± 4 years, including 6 (32%) Child-Pugh class A cirrhotic patients) and 30 age, sex and education matched healthy control subjects were studied. Thirteen patients had associated vasculitis. Patients and control subjects were assessed using the block design and comprehension subtests of Wechsler Bellevue Adult Intelligence Scale, Wechsler Memory scale (WMS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Brain HMPAO Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) was performed for HCV patients.Patients with HCV had lower scores on the block design test compared to control subjects (8.37 ± 1.89 versus 10.37 ± 1.47, p 0.001), lower total WMS scores (43.15 ± 10.49 versus 60.27 ± 8.08, p 0.001) and higher anxiety and depression scores (16.94 ± 10.46 and 37.17 ± 10.38 versus 10.3 ± 4.67 and 28.9 ± 5.99, p = 0.004 and 0.001, respectively). Total WMS were lower in HCV patients with vasculitis compared to those without vasculitis (39.14 ± 9.3 versus 51.17 ± 8.3, p = 0.019) while the block design and comprehension tests, BAI and BDI were not significantly different between both groups. The block design and comprehension tests, WMS, BAI and BDI were not significantly different between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Seven patients had different patterns of cerebral hypoperfusion on SPECT, and all of them had associated vasculitis. Abnormal SPECT was associated with lower total WMS scores (35.87 ± 10.8 versus 46.79 ± 8.6 in those with normal SPECT, p = 0.049).Vasculitis may contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric involvement in HCV patients.

Background Studies have compared electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with regard to their clinical efficacy in the treatment of depression, but only a few studies have addressed their differential impact on cognition. The purpose of this study was to compare the neurocognitive side effects of both treatment modalities. Methods In this comparative study, 40 patients with major depressive disorder referred for ECT were randomly assigned either to a course of 25 sessions of rTMS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or to a course of ECT ranging from 4 to 8 sessions. The primary outcome measures were the results of a cognitive battery that assessed different aspects of cognitive functioning. The cognitive battery comprised the Digit Span Subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Stroop Color-Word Test-Victoria version, the Color Trails Test Trials 1 and 2, and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test. Results At the end of treatment, scores on the Digit Span Subtest, the Stroop Color-Word Test-Victoria version, and the Color Trails Test showed statistically significant better results in the rTMS group compared with the ECT group. Conclusions rTMS was well tolerated with less negative impact on cognitive functioning than ECT.

Objectives Social cognitive impairment is considered to be a psychopathological cornerstone in adolescent females with borderline personality disorder. The aim is to compare the social cognitive performance in adolescent females with borderline personality traits and healthy adolescent females, and to assess the social cognitive performance in relation to the severity of borderline personality features. Design A case-control study was conducted on 30 adolescent females who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV of borderline personality traits, compared to 30 matched healthy volunteer adolescent females. Methods Borderline Personality Questionnaire (BPQ) was used to rate borderline personality features. Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (RMET) and Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) were applied to assess social cognitive abilities. Results The scores of RMET and some domains of MASC showed a highly significant difference between the patient and control groups. Scores of RMET and some domains of MASC showed significant correlation with impulsiveness, emptiness, relationship patterns, and quasi-psychotic states subscales of BPQ. Conclusions Adolescent females with borderline personality traits had lower social cognitive performance compared to healthy adolescent females. The intensity of this social cognitive deficit was evident to be related to impulsivity, emptiness, pattern of relationships, and quasi-psychotic states.

Background End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a severe and debilitating disease. Insignificant data exist on depression, anxiety, quality of life (QoL), and life satisfaction in patients on hemodialysis (HD) in comparison with patients with renal transplantation (RT). Aim The aim of this study was to compare the presence and severity of depression and accompanying anxiety symptoms between HD patients and RT recipients and to correlate both depression and anxiety with the QoL and life satisfaction affection in both groups of patients. Patients and methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 64 patients with ESRD who were recruited consecutively from the nephrology outpatient clinic of Kasr Al Ainy, Cairo University Hospitals, over a period of 1 year. Patients were applied the Physical, Cognitive, Affective, Social, Economic and Ego Questionnaire to assess QoL, Beck Depression Inventory to assess depression, Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire to assess anxiety, and Life Satisfaction Scale for life satisfaction. Results The study results showed that depression, anxiety, and somatization in the HD group showed significant higher scores than the RT group. Patients on HD were significantly less satisfied with their life and showed lower scores on the physical domain, whereas patients with RT had significant lower scores on the economic domain of QoL. Life satisfaction and most domains of QoL were negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, and somatization in the HD group. Conclusion Depression accompanied with a variety of anxiety symptoms constituted determinants of poor QoL in the setting of ESRD and consequently, less life satisfaction. HD patients showed higher levels of depression, anxiety, and somatization along with poorer QoL and less life satisfaction than patients with RT.

WOS:000462880800032; In this work, it is reported the fabrication of highly stretchable electrodes on a polydimethylsiloxane substrate. A laser ablation technique is used to design lithium nickel manganese oxide micropillars supported on serpentine Al interconnects. Morphological, mechanical, and chemical analyses have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy. We show that unlike compact and continuous electrode thin-films, vertical micropillar structures supported on Al serpentines can be stretched up to 70% without structural damage, which opens a new alternative for the fabrication and development of truly stretchable devices such as stretchable micro-batteries. (C) 2019 Author(s).

This paper presents a design and simulation method of electronic compensator for automatic optical leveling instrument to overcome reading errors and disturbances. The proposed compensator is electronic one, the controller was designed on an Arduino Uno board to control a servo motor for level correction in the optical instrument, and the compensator uses a digital control algorithm to reduce the optical collimation error by tracking the correct level setup using a gyroscope sensor and accelerometer mounted on instrument telescope. Proteus simulation shows the results and precision of the compensator. Lastly a comparison between the proposed and the old compensation system was discussed.

Since the beginning of the Egyptian political conflict, Tahrir Square has been the epicentre of intense political violence. Students attending schools located near this square witnessed and/or directly experienced the consequences of a series of violent events.This study will investigate the presence of psychiatric symptoms in children attending these schools to explore patterns of responses according to their perceptions of the revolution on their lives, adjusted for, gender and socio-economic status.A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 515 Egyptian school children attending government, experimental, and private language schools located within 1 km of Tahrir Square. To assess psychiatric symptoms in these children, a specially designed questionnaire was used to detect, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and impairments.Children attending schools near Tahrir Square showed high rates of depression, PTSD and anxiety symptoms. The risk factors identified for developing psychiatric symptoms were a negative perception of the effect of the revolution, knowing someone exposed to trauma during the events, female gender and low socio-economic class.These results highlight the need for large-scale studies to explore the consequences of ongoing political violence on children and to establish baseline data on the mental health of Egyptian children.

Background Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a chronic progressive disease resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. The cardinal symptom of ILD is dyspnea; however, other pulmonary and extra-pulmonary symptoms are often present. Depression is a common comorbidity of many chronic diseases and directly impacts quality of life. Aim of work To determine the relationship of dyspnea with selected clinical and psychiatric variables including functional status and depression in patients with ILD. Patients and methods The work included thirty five clinically and radiologically known cases of ILD and ten healthy controls, they were subdivided into Group I: Twenty patients without pulmonary hypertension. Group II: Fifteen patients with pulmonary hypertension. Group III: Ten healthy controls. All cases subjected to medical history, clinical examination, plain X-ray chest, HRCT, 6-minute walk test, arterial blood gases, Flow/volume loop , echocardiography, Other investigations e.g., collagen profile and depression, anxiety, pain, sleep and dyspnea questionnaire. Results Among ILD groups: Dyspnea score showed a statistically significant positive correlation with psychiatric disorders (depression score, anxiety score, sleep disorders and pain score) while a statistically significant negative correlation with 6MWD, spirometric variables (FEV1 % and FVC %) and ABG variables (PaO2 and SO2 %). Dyspnea score, clinical variables (6MWD, RVSP, spirometric and ABG variables) and psychiatric disorders were statistically significantly more affected in ILD group with PHTN than in ILD group without PHTN. There was no statistically significant correlation between psychiatric disorders and both sex and smoking history among ILD groups. Conclusion Dyspnea is common in ILD and is strongly correlated with functional status and psychiatric disorders. Dyspnea score, functional status and psychiatric disorders are more affected in ILD with PHTN than in ILD without PHTN. Accordingly, routine screening for mental disorders is recommended for patients with ILD, and should be accompanied by accurate assessment of patient’s symptoms, particularly in patients with high levels of functional impairment.

In this work, we report the fabrication of lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) micropillar electrodes on Al serpentine interconnects that can be stretched up to 70% without structural damaging. Unlike compact and continuous electrode thin-films, we show that under mechanical strains, arrays of vertical micropillar supported on serpentines are carrying empty spaces that can prevent the formation of cracks and the electrode delamination. This innovative approach opens interesting perspectives for the fabrication of truly stretchable devices including Li-ion microbatteries, solar cells, transistors, sensors, etc.

Background Radiotherapy is associated with physical and emotional stress. Objectives The aim of this study is to assess symptoms of emotional and physical stress in patients undergoing radiotherapy, to study the effect of weekly psychotherapy on these symptoms, and to assess compliance of these patients with treatment. Subjects Eighty-five oncology patients were selected for the study. They were divided into two groups: the study group, which included 40 patients at the beginning of the treatment, but only 34 patients continued with the treatment, and the control group, which included 45 patients, but only 30 patients continued with the treatment. Methods The study group received weekly psychotherapy. Both groups underwent assessment of emotional and physical aspects before initiation of radiotherapy and after 6 weeks of radiotherapy using the following tools: the McGill Pain Questionnaire and Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis Scale; anorexia and fatigue were assessed using the version scale of Present State Examination for Cancer Patients, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hopelessness Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results Both groups showed significant decreases in emotional symptoms. The mean difference in the study group was greater than that in the control group. The mean score for physical symptoms showed a significant difference after treatment in both groups. Female patients suffered more physically and emotionally, whereas male patients showed more improvement after treatment. Patients who did not know that they had malignancy showed lower scores on physical and emotional symptoms before treatment. Patients who knew their diagnosis benefitted more from treatment in terms of both emotional and physical aspects. Conclusion Psychotherapeutic intervention helps in alleviating emotional and physical distress of cancer patients during treatment by radiotherapy.

Introduction: CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-lymphocytes (T-regs) and regulators of complement activity (RCA) involving CD55 and CD59 play an important role in the prevention of autoimmune diseases. However, their role in the pathogenesis of human autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the frequency of peripheral blood T-regs and CD4+ T-helper (T-helper) cells and the red blood cells (RBCs) level of expression of CD55 and CD59 in MG patients. Methods: Fourteen patients with MG in neurology outpatient clinics of Sohag University Hospital and Sohag General Hospital from March 2014 to December 2014, and 10 age-matched healthy controls participated in this case-control study. We did flowcytometric assessments of the percentage of peripheral T-regs and T-helper cells and the level of expression of CD55 and CD59 on RBCs in the peripheral blood of patients and controls. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of peripheral blood T-regs and T-regs/T- helper cell ratio in the MG patients group. Moreover, the level of expression of CD55, CD59, and dual expression of CD55/CD59 on RBCs were statistically significantly lower in MG patients than those of healthy controls. However, regression analysis indicated that there was no significant correlation between all the measured parameters and disease duration or staging. Conclusion: Functional defects in the T-regs and RCA may play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune MG and their functional modulation may represent an alternative therapeutic strategy for MG treatment.

The 77Se NMR spectrum of the mixed-valence cluster [Mo4Se4(edta)2]3–(H4edta = ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid) was recorded and appears to be consistent with the presence in solution of a valence-trapped species MoIII3MoIV with a lifetime in excess of 10–5 s. However this was not supported by 95Mo and 77Se NMR studies on other [Mo4Se4(edta)2]n–(n= 2 or 4) clusters. Overall it appears that multiple NMR signals arise from the presence in solution of species which differ slightly from the above formulae in the extent of co-ordination of H2O and edta. The studies do not preclude the possibility of valence-trapped species with lifetimes shorter than 10–6 s. A model in which intervalence electron exchange within the core clusters Mo4E45+(E = S or Se) is slower than formation/decay (≈ 109 s–1) of ion-pair precursors is proposed to account for the biphasic kinetic behaviour previously observed for substitution of H2O on [Mo4S4(H2O)12]5+. The crystal structure of a hydrated sodium salt of [Mo4Se4(edta)2]3– has been determined, and is compared to that previously obtained for [Mo4S4(edta)2]3–. Other techniques explored include magnetic moment measurements on a solid sample of [Mo4S4(H2O)12][pts]5·14H2O (pts = toluene-p-sulfonate) which show a Curie-like behaviour (χ=C/T) for an S=½ ground state, with a corresponding magnetic moment independent of temperature over the range 300–4.2 K. Metal–ligand stretching frequencies from Fourier-transform IR studies on the chloride salt of the same 5+ cluster have also been obtained.

Rate constants (25 °C) have been determined for the oxidation of the ReIV2 complex di-µ-oxo-bis[dioxalatorhenate(IV)], [(C2O4)2Re(µ-O)2Re(C2O4)2]4–, I= 1.00 M (ClO4– or Cl–). Whereas the complex is itself stable in air at pH 7 over many days, at lower pH there is a slow decay of the 446 nm peak (Iµ= 6840 M–1 cm–1 per ReIV2) to give in air the colourless perrhenate(VII)[ReO4]– product, peak at 225 nm (Iµ= 3400 M–1 cm–1). The kinetics indicate a protonation step, equilibrium constant K= 2.4 M–1, followed by the decay process k= 4.3 × 10–5 s–1. With the one-equivalent oxidants cis-[VO2(H2O)4]+(1.0 V) and [Mo(CN)8]3–(0.80 V), stoichiometries of 6 mol of oxidant per ReIV2 are obtained indicating conversion through to ReVII. Two kinetic stages have been monitored with the oxidant in large excess. For the reaction with VV as oxidant the first stage is dependent on [VV] and [H+] as well as [ReIV2], giving the rate constant k1= 3.31 × 104 M–2 s–1. Since in the corresponding reaction with MoV as oxidant the reaction is independent of [H+](kMo= 2.27 × 104 M–1 s–1), it is concluded that the VV reactant introduces the [H+]-dependent term. The second stage of the VV reaction gives the rate law dependence k2obs=k2[VV]+k0, but with the less strong Mo oxidant k2obs=k0 which is ≈0.20 s–1. The spectrum of the ReIVReV intermediate, peak at 529 nm (Iµ= 3800 M–1 cm–1), was obtained by stopped-flow rapid-scan spectrophotometry. Reactions of less than full stoichiometric amounts of VV with ReIV2, followed by QAE-Sephadex chromatography at 0 °C, gave orange-pink (peak at ≈495 nm) and maroon (≈550 nm) intermediates, which undergo spontaneous decay.

Rate constants (kf/M–1 s–1) have been determined at 25 °C, l= 2.00 M (LiClO4 and in one case Lipts; pts–= toluene-p-sulfonate) for the 1:1 substitution of H2O by NCS– at Mo on the trinuclear MoIV3 cluster complexes [Mo3OxSe4–x(H2O)9]4+, x= 0–4. The dominant process is substitution of H2O at the transµ-Se positions with rate constants for [Mo3(µ3-Se)(µ-Se)3(H2O)9]4+(480) > [Mo3(µ3-Se)(µ-O)(µ-Se)2(H2O)9]4+(131 and 52) > [Mo3(µ3-Se)(µ-O)2(µ-Se)(H2O)9]4+(13.5 and 2.8) > [Mo3(µ3-Se)(µ-O)3(H2O)9]4+(0.19), alongside the previously studied [Mo3(µ3-O)(µ-O)3(H2O)9]4+(2.13) giving a 2530-fold spread of values at [H+]=l= 2.00M. The complexes with x= 1 and 2 have non-identical molybdenum centres according to the number of core Se2– and O2– ligands attached, and give biphasic kinetics. Statistical factors of 1, 2 and 3 corresponding to the number of identical centres are defined for the different reactions. The slowness of substitution at positions trans to the µ3-Se ligands is confirmed by studies on cuboidal [Mo4Se4(H2O)12]5+, which has all µ3-Se core ligands. Comparisons are made with results obtained for the [Mo3OxS4–x(H2O)9]4+ series. Labilising effects of electron-rich µ-Se2– > µ-S2– > µ-O2– at the trans H2O ligand are noted. In contrast replacement of the µ3-O of [Mo3O4(H2O)9]4+ by µ3-Se and µ3-S in turn produces 14- and 6-fold retardation effects. Substitution at the H2O ligands trans to µ-Se ligands is increased on decreasing [H+] consistent with the involvement of conjugate-base forms Mo3(OH)3+(k2) alongside Mo34+(k1). The kinetics give H2O ligand acid dissociation constants KaM of 0.32 and 0.44 M for [Mo3Se4(H2O)9]4+ and [Mo3O3Se(H2O)9]4+ respectively. Similar patterns are observed for the aquation rate constants keq.

The dark brown dirhenium(IV) complex Ba2[Re2(µ-O)2(edta)2]·4.5H2O(H4edta = ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid), peak at 450 nm (Iµ= 7880 M–1 cm–1 per dimer), has been prepared. From X-ray crystallography, the compound crystallizes in a monoclinic space group C2/c with a= 15.867(3), b= 12.914(2), c= 9.686(2)A, β= 123.40(1)° and Z= 4. The structure is centrosymmetric, with the Re atoms having distorted octahedral co-ordination, and each tetradentate edta4– ligand having two uncoordinated –CH2CO2– groups. The Re2O2 ring is planar and the short Re–Re distance of 2.362(2)A is consistent with multiple metal–metal bonding. The structure is that of the mesoΔΛ form. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the uncrystallised sodium salt in aqueous solution (pH 7.5) provide evidence for both mesoΔΛ and racemic ΔΔ or ΛΛ forms. The UV–VIS and CD spectra of the (R)-pdta analogue, where pdta4– is proplenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate, are also reported. The edta complex exhibits irreversible electrochemical behaviour with an oxidation wave at +1.23 V vs. the normal hydrogen electrode at [H+]= 0.10 M. Kinetic studies on the oxidation of the ReIV2 complex to ReVII with the one-equivalent reagent cis-[VO2(H2O)4]+ in 1 M H+ indicate a rate-determining first stage with no evidence for stable intermediate states. Effects of the product [VO(H2O)5]2+ and H+ on the kinetics, and an unexpected difference in reactivity of isomeric forms of the ReIV2 complex are reported.

cis-[CrIII(phen)2(H2O)2]3+ and cis-[CrIII(bipy)2(H2O)2]3+ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) were readily oxidized by either PbO2 or PhIO to form the chromium(V) complexes [CrV(phen)2(O)2]+ and [CrV(bipy)2(O)2]+ respectively, which were characterized by elemental analysis, i.r. and e.s.r. spectroscopy.

The kinetics (25 °C) of 1 : 1 complexing of NCS– for H2O at W on the incomplete cuboidal WIV3 clusters [W3(µ3-S)(µ-S)3(H2O)9]4+ and [W3(µ3-S)(µ-O)3(H2O)9]4+ has been investigated, and together with previous data for [W3(µ3-O)(µ-O)3(H2O)9]4+, indicate the reactivity pattern for the [W3OxS4–x(H2O)9]4+(here abbreviated to W3OxS4–x4+) series of µ-oxo/µ-sulphido aqua ions. Formation rate constants (kf/M–1s–1) in 2.00 M HClO4′I= 2.00 M are 38.4 for W3S44+, 0.008 0 for W3O3S4+, and 0.11 for W3O44+, exhibiting an identical trend to that of the corresponding MoIV3 aqua ions, which react an order of magnitude faster. Reactions are faster at lower [H+] values indicating an involvement of conjugate-base forms of the WIV3 reactant. From a full study on the W3S44+ reaction the acid-dissociation constant is Ka= 0.35 M, and rate constants are k1= 11.9 M–1 s–1 for the aqua ion, and k2= 192 M–1 s–1 for the conjugate base. This contrasts with W3O44+, which as far as could be ascertained proceeds exclusively by the conjugate-base route, k2= 1.2 M–1s–1. Again the behaviour observed is very similar to that for the [Mo3OxS4 –x(H2O)9]4+ series of complexes.

Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has a long history in treating depression and its benefits are well known. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been introduced more recently to the treatment spectrum. Aims To test the equivalence of rTMS with ECT, and compare the neurocognitive side effects of both treatment modalities. Methods This is a randomized comparative study, forty patients with major depressive disorder referred for ECT were randomly assigned to either a 20 session course of r TMS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or a standard course of ECT. The primary outcome measure was the score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale HAM-D. Secondary outcome measures were cognitive battery that assessed different aspects of cognitive functions and a subjective mood visual analogue scale. The cognitive battery comprised the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, the Trail making test A and B, the Digit span subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Results ECT was more effective than rTMS in the short-term treatment of major depressive disorder as evident by HAM-D scores. rTMS was well tolerated with less impact on the cognitive functions compared to ECT. Level of improvement by ECT was correlated with older age, and severe baseline HAM-D symptoms, while the level of improvement by rTMS was correlated with more memory affection at the end of treatment. Conclusions ECT was more effective than rTMS in the short-term treatment of major depressive disorder regarding the overall mood symptoms. rTMS was well tolerated with less impact on the cognitive functions.

Objectives To determine the psychiatric disorders that accompany pediatric obesity and to compare boys and girls in terms of the presence of these disorders. Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional outpatient study. The study sample included 52 overweight youngsters (26 girls and 26 boys) who presented to the endocrinology clinic in Abo-elrish pediatric hospital with increased body weight. The endocrinal profile revealed no abnormality and it was established as constitutional obesity. The following tools were applied: the Anxiety Scale for Children, the Depression Scale for Children, and the Self-Concept Scale and Behavioral Checklist for Children. Weight and height were measured and the adjusted BMI was calculated. Results Eight (15.4%) of the children were depressed, 16 (30.8%) were moderately anxious, and 10 (19.2%) were highly anxious. Twenty-four (46.2%) of the children had a low self-concept and 28 (53.8%) had a positive self-concept. The entire sample of children had an eating disorder. Comparative results of boys and girls showed that all girls were in the primary stage, whereas the boys were distributed throughout the stages of education. Four (15.4%) boys and girls were depressed. Half of the boys were not anxious, 10 (38.5%) of the other half were moderately anxious, and four (15.4%) of them were highly anxious. Six (23.1%) of the girls had moderate anxiety and another six (23.1%) were highly anxious. Sixteen (61.5%) of the girls had a low self-concept, whereas only eight (30.8%) of the boys had a low self-concept with a statistical significance (P=0.050). Eight (30.8%) boys and girls had a withdrawal problem. Eight (30.8%) boys had anxiety/depression and only four (15.4%) girls had anxiety/depression. Conclusion Low self-concept and eating disorders compensated for the absence of other psychiatric comorbidities, especially depression and anxiety.