Search

The aim of this work was to investigate how the surface morphology of polypropylene (PP) is influenced by the surface activation mediated by a flame obtained using a mixture of air and propane under fuel-lean (equivalence ratio φ = 0.98) conditions. Morphological changes observed on flamed samples with smooth (S), medium (M), and high (H) degree of surface roughness were attributed to the combined effect of a chemical mechanism (agglomeration and ordering of partially oxidized intermediate-molecular-weight material) with a physical mechanism (flattening of the original roughness by the flame’s high temperature). After two treatments, the different behavior of the samples in terms of wettability was totally reset, which made an impressive surface energy of ~43 mJ•m–2 possible, which is typical of more hydrophilic polymers (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate – PET). In particular, the polar component was increased from 1.21, 0.08, and 0.32 mJ•m–2 (untreated samples) to 10.95, 11.20, and 11.17 mJ•m–2 for the flamed samples S, M, and H, respectively, an increase attributed to the insertion of polar functional groups (hydroxyl and carbonyl) on the C–C backbone, as demonstrated by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results.

Background: Little is known about the post-acute effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with major depression. The present study focused on the 6-month follow-up of a sample of patients with major depression, after the completion of an acute 4 weeks rTMS trial, with the aim of evaluating response (in terms of sustained and late response) and relapse rates., Methods: Following the completion of an acute trial of rTMS (T0-T4), 31 drug-resistant depressed patients (bipolar or unipolar) entered a naturalistic follow-up period of 6 months, with three timepoints (T5, T6, and T7) during which they were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Young Mania Rating Scale., Results: Results showed that in the 6 months following an acute transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) trial, a higher rate of late responders was observed among previously acute TMS nonresponders (63.64%, 7 out of 11) compared to the rate of relapse among those who had acutely responded to TMS (10%, 2 out of 20). In addition, an overall high rate of maintained response (90%) was observed., Conclusion: Present findings seem to support the possibility of obtaining a clinical response also after the end of an acute TMS trial in patients with major depression. The concomitant low rate of relapse observed at the end of follow-up along with a high rate of maintained response provides further support to the post-acute efficacy of TMS. Nonetheless, further controlled studies, with larger samples and longer follow-up observation, are needed to confirm the reported results.

Very preterm infants may manifest neurodevelopmental impairments, even in the absence of brain lesions. Pathogenesis is complex and multifactorial. Evidence suggests a role of early adversities on neurodevelopmental outcomes, via epigenetic regulation and changes in brain architecture. In this context, we focused on cumulative pain exposure which preterm neonates experience in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We systematically searched for: i) evidence linking pain with brain development and exploring the potential pathogenetic role of epigenetics; ii) preclinical research supporting clinical observational studies. Nine clinical neuroimaging studies, during neonatal or school age, mostly from the same research group, revealed volume reduction of white and gray matter structures in association with postnatal pain exposure. Three controlled animal studies mimicking NICU settings found increased cell death or apoptosis; nevertheless, eligible groups were limited in size. Epigenetic modulation (SLC6A4 promoter methylation) was identified in only two clinical trials. We call for additional research and, although knowledge gaps, we also point out the urgent need of minimizing painful procedures in NICUs., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Diogenes syndrome is a neurobehavioural syndrome characterised by domestic squalor, hoarding and lack of insight. It is an uncommon but high-mortality condition, often associated with dementia., Aims: To describe the clinical features and treatment of Diogenes syndrome secondary to behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD)., Method: We describe a case of bvFTD in a 77-year-old man presenting with Diogenes syndrome., Results: The patient's medical and psychiatric histories were unremarkable, but in recent years he had begun packing his flat with 'art pieces'. Mental state examination revealed confabulation and more structured delusions. Neuropsychological evaluation outlined an impairment in selective attention and letter verbal fluency, but no semantic impairment, in the context of an overall preserved mental functioning. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorodeoxyglucose showed mild bilateral temporo-insular atrophy and hypometabolism in the left-superior temporal gyrus respectively. An amyloid PET scan and genetic analysis covering the dementia spectrum were normal. A diagnosis of bvFTD was made., Conclusions: The clinical framing of behavioural symptoms of dementia such as hoarding poses a diagnostic challenge. This case illustrates the importance of a deeper understanding of Diogenes syndrome, leading to timelier diagnosis and effective therapeutic strategies.

Progress in proteomics has enabled biologists to accurately measure the amount of protein in a tumor. This work is based on a breast cancer data set, result of the proteomics analysis of a cohort of tumors carried out at Karolinska Institutet. While evidence suggests that an anomaly in the protein content is related to the cancerous nature of tumors, the proteins that could be markers of cancer types and subtypes and the underlying interactions are not completely known. This work sheds light on the potential of the application of unsupervised learning in the analysis of the aforementioned data sets, namely in the detection of distinctive proteins for the identification of the cancer subtypes, in the absence of domain expertise. In the analyzed data set, the number of samples, or tumors, is significantly lower than the number of features, or proteins; consequently, the input data can be thought of as high-dimensional data. The use of high-dimensional data has already become widespread, and a great deal of effort has been put into high-dimensional data analysis by means of feature selection, but it is still largely based on prior specialist knowledge, which in this case is not complete. There is a growing need for unsupervised feature selection, which raises the issue of how to generate promising subsets of features among all the possible combinations, as well as how to evaluate the quality of these subsets in the absence of specialist knowledge. We hereby propose a new wrapper method for the generation and evaluation of subsets of features via spectral clustering and modularity, respectively. We conduct experiments to test the effectiveness of the new method in the analysis of the breast cancer data, in a domain expertise-agnostic context. Furthermore, we show that we can successfully augment our method by incorporating an external source of data on known protein complexes. Our approach reveals a large number of subsets of features that are better at clustering the samples than the state-of-the-art classification in terms of modularity and shows a potential to be useful for future proteomics research., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to describe the psychometric characteristics of the AQ-27-I in a high school student population. Students aged between 17 and 20 years and attending the fourth and fifth year of a scientific high school in Milan were approached at the school and were asked to fill in an anonymous socio-demographic form and the AQ-27-I. Cronbach's alpha was used to estimate the instrument reliability and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted and compared to the original English version factor structure. The AQ-27-I demonstrated acceptable internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.87 and only one subscale (Personal responsibility) with an alpha lower than 0.60. Fit indices were very positive for the Dangerousness Model supporting the factor structure and paths of the original version. The Personal Responsibility Model, on the other hand, showed some weakness, concerning the process dynamics of the model. The results obtained are similar with those from other studies carried out in Italy and other countries. The questionnaire can be used for the quantitative description of stereotypes, emotions and behaviors associated with stigma in mental health in high school student populations.

Background: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a valid therapeutic option in the treatment of depression, especially in cases of inadequate response to antidepressant agents. Despite the recognized efficacy of this technique, its mechanisms of action are still debated and optimal protocols have not yet been established., Methods: The present review focuses on TMS protocols that either engage the targeted brain circuits or synchronize the stimulation frequency to individual neuronal oscillations to increase the antidepressant efficacy., Results: TMS efficacy was found to be enhanced by preliminary or concomitant modulation of the functional state of the targeted brain networks. Conversely, there is not enough evidence of higher efficacy of TMS protocols with individual selection of the stimulation frequency compared to standard ones., Limitations: Most studies included small patient samples., Conclusions: Our results suggest that a good option to enhance rTMS efficacy might be to follow synaptic potentiation and depression rules., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Benzodiazepines (BDZs) are widespread psychotropic compounds, often prescribed as first-line symptomatic option by general practitioners in patients with different psychiatric disorders. Sometimes, however, they contribute to delay the administration of the first appropriate psychopharmacological treatment, thus leading to a longer duration of untreated illness in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders. The well-established pros of BDZs use in clinical practice include efficacy, rapidity of action, versatility, and safety. Among the cons, BDZs can provoke cognitive side-effects, asthenia, and misuse/abuse. Although their overall safety has been traditionally viewed as one of their greatest strengths, BDZs massive ingestion for suicidal purposes may pose, in some cases, serious life-threatening conditions, as described in the present case report. Hence, particular attention needs to be paid in prescribing these compounds to special populations, such as elderly patients. Among these, their prescription should be limited to the short-term and particularly monitored in case of risk factors, as they may be unsafe in case of overdose.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by an acute decline in renal function and is associated to increased mortality rate, hospitalization time, and total health-related costs. The severity of this 'fearsome' clinical complication might depend on, or even be worsened by, the late detection of AKI, when the diagnosis is based on the elevation of serum creatinine (SCr). For these reasons, in recent years a great number of new tools, biomarkers and predictive models have been proposed to clinicians in order to improve diagnosis and prevent the development of AKI. The purpose of this narrative paper is to review the current state of the art in prediction and early detection of AKI and outline future challenges.

Background: Thiazide diuretics have been recommended as a first-line antihypertensive treatment, although the choice of 'the right drug in the individual essential hypertensive patient' remains still empirical. Essential hypertension is a complex, polygenic disease derived from the interaction of patient's genetic background with the environment. Pharmacogenomics could be a useful tool to pinpoint gene variants involved in antihypertensive drug response, thus optimizing therapeutic advantages and minimizing side effects., Methods and Results: We looked for variants associated with blood pressure response to hydrochlorothiazide over an 8-week follow-up by means of a genome-wide association analysis in two Italian cohorts of never-treated essential hypertensive patients: 343 samples from Sardinia and 142 from Milan. TET2 and CSMD1 as plausible candidate genes to affect SBP response to hydrochlorothiazide were identified. The specificity of our findings for hydrochlorothiazide was confirmed in an independent cohort of essential hypertensive patients treated with losartan. Our best findings were also tested for replication in four independent hypertensive samples of European Ancestry, such as GENetics of drug RESponsiveness in essential hypertension, Genetic Epidemiology of Responses to Antihypertensives, NORdic DILtiazem intervention, Pharmacogenomics Evaluation of Antihypertensive Responses, and Campania Salute Network-StayOnDiur. We validated a polymorphism in CSMD1 and UGGT2., Conclusion: This exploratory study reports two plausible loci associated with SBP response to hydrochlorothiazide: TET2, an aldosterone-responsive mediator of αENaC gene transcription; and CSMD1, previously described as associated with hypertension in a case-control study.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide; primary prevention is a priority for physicians. Biomarkers are useful tools able to identify high-risk individuals, guide treatments, and determine prognosis. Our aim is to investigate Endogenous Ouabain (EO), an adrenal stress hormone with hemodynamic effects, as a valuable biomarker of heart failure. In a population of 845 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, we have investigated the relationships between EO and echocardiography parameters/plasmatic biomarker of cardiac function. EO was found to be correlated negatively with left ventricular EF (p = 0.001), positively with Cardiac End-Diastolic Diameter (p = 0.047), and positively with plasmatic NT-proBNP level (p = 0.02). Moreover, a different plasmatic EO level (both preoperative and postoperative) was found according to NYHA class (p = 0.013). All these results have been replicated on an independent cohort of patients (147 subjects from US). Finally, a higher EO level in the immediate postoperative time was indicative of a more severe cardiological condition and it was associated with increased perioperative mortality risk (p = 0.023 for 30-day morality). Our data suggest that preoperative and postoperative plasmatic EO level identifies patients with a more severe cardiovascular presentation at baseline. These patients have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.

Several lines of evidence point to the key role of neurobiological mechanisms and shared genetic background in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. For both disorders, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes have been postulated to be relevant for the pathogenesis as well as dysregulation of immuno-inflammatory pathways. Inflammation is a complex biological response to harmful stimuli and it is mediated by cytokines cascades, cellular immune responses, oxidative factors and hormone regulation. Cytokines, in particular, are supposed to play a critical role in infectious and inflammatory processes, mediating the cross-talk between the brain and the immune system; they also possibly contribute to the development of the central nervous system. From this perspective, even though mixed results have been reported, it seems that both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are associated with an imbalance in inflammatory cytokines; in fact, some of these could represent biological markers of illness and could be possible targets for pharmacological treatments. In light of these considerations, the purpose of the present paper was to provide a comprehensive and critical review of the existing literature about immunological abnormalities in bipolar disorder with particular attention to the similarities and differences with schizophrenia., (© 2013 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2013 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.)

As for other major psychoses, the etiology of schizophrenia still remains poorly understood, involving genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, as well as environmental contributions. In addition, immune alterations have been widely reported in schizophrenic patients, involving both the unspecific and specific pathways of the immune system, and suggesting that infectious/autoimmune processes play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of the disorder. Cytokines, in particular, are supposed to play a critical role in infectious and inflammatory processes, mediating the cross-talk between the brain and the immune system. In this perspective, even though mixed results have been reported, it seems that schizophrenia is associated with an imbalance in inflammatory cytokines. Alterations in the inflammatory and immune systems, moreover, seem to be already present in the early stages of schizophrenia and connected to the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of the disorder, identifying its roots in brain development abnormalities that do not manifest themselves until adolescence or early adulthood. At the same time, neuropathological and longitudinal studies in schizophrenia also support a neurodegenerative hypothesis and, more recently, a novel mixed hypothesis, integrating neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative models, has been put forward. The present review aims to provide an updated overview of the connections between the immune and inflammatory alterations and the aforementioned hypotheses in schizophrenia., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Brief depressive episodes (BDEs) cause psychosocial impairment and increased risk of suicide, worsening the outcome and long-term course of affective disorders. The aim of this naturalistic observational study was to assess the frequency of BDEs and very brief depressive episodes (VBDEs) and their impact on clinical outcome in a sample of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD)., Method: Seventy patients with a diagnosis of MDD or BD were followed up and monthly visited for a period of 12 months, assessing the eventual occurrence of BDEs and/or VBDEs. Clinical and demographic variables of the total sample and of the groups divided according to the presence of BDEs or VBDEs were collected and compared by one-way ANOVAs. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 21 items (HDRS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Clinical Global Impression (severity of illness) (CGIs) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36-item 1) were administered at baseline and logistic regression was performed to evaluate whether baseline scores were predictive of the onset of BDEs or VBDEs., Results: BDEs (88.6% of the total sample), VBDEs (44.3% of the total sample) and BDEs+VBDEs (40.0% of the total sample) were found to occur frequently across the sample. BDE patients showed more death thoughts during major depressive episodes (χ(2) = 4.14, df = 1, p = 0.04, Phi = 0.24) compared to patients without BDEs. Indeed VBDE patients showed a higher rate of hospitalization (χ(2) = 5.71, df = 1, p = 0.031, phi = 0.29), a more frequent prescription of a combined treatment (χ(2) = 13.07, df = 7, p = 0.03, phi = 0.43) and higher scores at SF-36 item 1 (F = 6.65, p = 0.01) compared to patients without VBDEs. Finally, higher SF-36 item 1 scores were found to be predictive of VBDEs (odds ratio = 2.81, p = 0.03)., Discussion: Major depressives, either unipolar or bipolar, with BDEs or VBDEs showed a worse outcome, represented by a more severe psychopathology and higher rates of hospitalization. VBDEs were predicted by a negative subjective general health perception. Studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are warranted to confirm the results of the present study., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the potential role of the A-2518G polymorphism of the gene of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1, a cytokine playing an important role in innate immunity) in conferring susceptibility to mood disorders. The sample studied included 96 outpatients with DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder I (BD I) or BD II and 161 matched healthy controls. All subjects were genotyped for the A-2518G polymorphism of the MCP-1 gene. Genotypic and allelic associations were explored between patients and controls and across the different diagnostic groups (chi(2) tests). No genotypic (chi(2) = 8.215, d.f. = 6, p = 0.223) or allelic (chi(2) = 5.058, d.f. = 3, p = 0.168) association for the A-2518G polymorphism of SCYA2 was found considering cases and controls. Nevertheless, important correlations were observed when patients were divided into diagnostic subgroups. A significantly higher frequency of the AA genotype (chi(2) = 7.233, d.f. = 2, p = 0.027) and of the A allele (chi(2) = 4.730, d.f. = 1, p = 0.030) was observed in subjects with BD. In addition, independently from diagnosis, a higher number of lifetime suicide attempts was found in subjects with the AA genotype of the A-2518G polymorphism of the MCP-1 gene (F = 3.802, p = 0.026). The present preliminary results, though limited by the relatively small sample, suggest a possible role of the SCYA2 in conferring susceptibility to BD and, if confirmed, may represent a biological discriminative influence between mood disorder subtypes., (Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: An increasing amount of data suggests that dysregulation of the immune system, including the cytokine network, is associated with the etiology and pathophysiology of mood disorders. Genes encoding cytokines are highly polymorphic and single nucleotide polymorphisms, associated with increased or reduced cytokine production, have been described. The aim of this study was to define the genetic immunologic scenario associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder., Methods: Eighty-four Italian outpatients affected by bipolar disorder type I, bipolar disorder type II, or MDD, and 363 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. We analyzed allele and genotype distribution of -308 (G/A) tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), +874 (T/A) interferon-g (IFN-g), -174 (G/C) interleukin (IL)-6, and -1082 (G/A) IL-10 promoter polymorphisms by Polymerase Chain Reaction Sequence Specific Primers technique., Results: We observed different genotype and allele distributions of TNF-a, IFN-g, and IL-10 polymorphisms in the three groups of patients analyzed. In particular, bipolar II patients were characterized by an absence of adenine (A) high producer allele of TNF-a (P<.001) and a lower percentage of TT high producer genotype of IFN-g (P<.001); bipolar I individuals showed reduced percentage of AA low producer genotype of IL-10 (P<.001). Both bipolar I and bipolar II patients not carrying guanine (G) high producer IL-6 allele showed a lower mean age at onset (P=.048)., Conclusion: These data support the existence of a genetic profile related to pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients affected by mood disorders. The differences observed across the three clinical phenotypes suggest the presence of different pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the susceptibility of phenotypically different mood disorders.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Response Evaluation Measure (REM-71), a 71-item self-report measure previously developed for the assessment of defenses in adults and adolescents. The authors also examined the differences in the use of defenses based on sex and age (early adolescence, late adolescence, and early adulthood), and the association between defenses, psychosocial health, and psychologic distress in a large community sample., Method: The Italian version of REM-71 was obtained through back-translation and administered to 1648 (1020 female subjects, mean age = 19.5 years, SD = +/-5.77) community subjects, aged between 13 and 68 years, voluntarily recruited among high school and university students in Milan, Italy, and the surrounding area. All subjects completed a self-report measure to assess demographic variables and satisfaction with life. A subsample (n = 1197) completed the Italian version of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised to assess symptoms of psychologic distress., Results: Results were highly consistent with those obtained in the original English version of the REM-71 and included satisfactory internal consistency of the measure. Factor analyses yielded 2 principal factors that showed overall stability across age and sex subgroups. Factor 1 and factor 2 defenses were significantly correlated, in line with theoretical expectations, with positive and negative aspects of various domains of life., Conclusions: Results provide further support for the structure and validity of the REM-71 as a useful instrument for the assessment of defenses in adolescents and adults and suggest no major cross-cultural differences in the organization of these defenses.

Objectives: The efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been poorly investigated in bipolar depression. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of low-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) combined with brain navigation in a sample of bipolar depressed subjects., Methods: Eleven subjects with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder and major depressive episode who did not respond to previous pharmacological treatment were treated with three weeks of open-label rTMS at 1 Hz, 110% of motor threshold, 300 stimuli/day., Results: All subjects completed the trial showing a statistically significant improvement on the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impression severity of illness scale (ANOVAs with repeated measures: F = 22.36, p < 0.0001; F = 12.66, p < 0.0001; and F = 10.41, p < 0.0001, respectively). In addition, stimulation response, defined as an endpoint HAM-D score reduction of > or =50% compared to baseline, was achieved by 6 out of 11 subjects, 4 of whom were considered remitters (HAM-D endpoint score < or = 8). Partial response (endpoint HAM-D score reduction between 25% and 50%) was achieved by 3/11 patients. No manic/hypomanic activation was detected during the treatment according to Young Mania Rating Scale scores (ANOVAs with repeated measures: F = 0.62, p = 0.61). Side effects were slight and were limited to the first days of treatment., Conclusions: Augmentative low-frequency rTMS of the right DLPFC combined with brain navigation was effective and well tolerated in a small sample of drug-resistant bipolar depressive patients, even though the lack of a sham controlled group limits confidence in the results.

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a prevalent, comorbid, and impairing condition. Potential predictors of response to pharmacological treatment are object of continuous investigation in patients with BD. The present naturalistic study was aimed to assess clinical features and long-term response to mood stabilizers in a sample of bipolar subjects with different ages at onset., Methods: The study sample included 108 euthymic patients, diagnosed as affected by BD, either type I or II, according to the DSM-IV-TR, who were started on mood stabilizer treatment. Patients were followed-up for 24 months and the occurrence of any mood episode collected. At the end of the follow-up, patients were divided in 3 subgroups according to the age at onset (early-onset 30-45 years, respectively) and the long-term response to mood stabilizers was compared between them along with other clinical features., Results: The three subgroups showed significant differences in terms of clinical and demographic features and, with respect to long-term response to mood stabilizers, the early-onset subgroup showed a better outcome in terms of reduction of major depressive episodes during the 24-month follow-up compared to the other subgroups (one way ANOVA, F = 3.57, p = 0.032)., Conclusions: Even though further controlled studies are needed to clarify the relationship between age at onset and outcome in BD, the present follow-up study suggests clinical peculiarities and different patterns of response to mood stabilizers across distinct subgroups of patients with BD and different ages at onset.

The aim of this study was to estimate the cost of "brain" disorders in Italy. Country-specific prevalence and health-economic data on addiction, affective, anxiety and psychotic disorders, tumours, dementia, epilepsy, migraine/other headaches, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke and head trauma were reviewed. Direct medical/non-medical and indirect costs were computed. Population-based samples and national or regional registries were used. The Italian population expected with a brain disorder was 12.4 million in 2004. The highest cost per case was for tumours and multiple sclerosis; the lowest was for anxiety disorders and migraine. Dementia (8.6 billion euros), psychotic and affective disorders (18.7 billion euros), migraine (3.5 billion euros) and stroke (3.4 billion euros) represented the highest total costs. Direct medical costs were predominant for psychiatric and neurosurgical disorders, direct non-medical costs for dementia, and indirect costs for neurological disorders. The total cost of brain disorders in Italy was 40.8 billion euros, 3% of the gross national product, and 706 euros per Italian citizen/year. This figure is however likely to be underestimated as it is based on retrospective methodology and samples of brain disorders, and does not include intangible costs.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate defence mechanisms and personality characteristics in obese subjects. In particular, we compared the use of defence mechanisms in two groups: obese persons vs. normal weight subjects. We also compared the defence mechanisms and personality characteristics of two groups of obese subjects: those with Binge Eating Disorder vs. those without this disorder. Finally, we investigated the presence of possible differences linked to gender or to age of onset of obesity., Methods: 93 obese subjects and 68 normal weight subjects were administered a test battery composed of the following self-complete questionnaires (in the Italian version): Binge Eating Scale, Response Evaluation Measure-71, Eating Disorder Inventory-2 and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory)., Results: Obese subjects appear to use specific defence mechanisms. A gender effect was found on the use of defence mechanisms, on the psychological characteristics associated to an Eating Disorder and on personality features. Obese subjects with Binge Eating Disorder showed a marked tendency to manifest anxiety and bulimic behaviour. Obesity with onset in adolescence was associated with the possibility of developing drug dependence., Conclusion: Specific defence characteristics and personality features in obese subjects should be taken into account in designing a slimming program.

Ninety-eight healthy participants were examined with a new test of Famous Name Comprehension which, in the framework of a serial model of person processing, sequentially assessed Name Recognition (i.e., the ability to classify items as familiar or unfamiliar) and Person Identification (i.e., the ability to provide biographical knowledge of recognised items). Names were presented in a written format. A perfectly equivalent face version of the test allowed a comparison of familiarity and identification of people from name and from face input. Furthermore, the effect of the "age" of the items, i.e. the time elapsed from the presumed first exposure to the stimulus to the time of testing, was also investigated. Normative data are provided. Education was the only significant variable for recognition, while education, age and gender turned out to be significant for identification. Recognition was significantly better with name than with face input, while on identification names and faces did not differ significantly. "Oldest" items were both recognised and identified significantly worse than recent ones. The results of face-name comparison are interpreted in terms of the different opportunities to be exposed to names and faces, the relevance of visuoperceptual attributes linked to faces and the evidence of shared knowledge from different inputs. The relative advantage of recent celebrities supports the semantic characterisation of knowledge of famous people.

Age-, education- and sex-adjusted norms are provided for two new neuropsychological tests, namely (i) Face Recognition (guess of familiarity) and (ii) Person Identification (biographical contextualisation). Sixty-three pictures of celebrities and 63 of unknown people were selected following two interwoven criteria(1): the realm of their celebrity (i.e., entertainment, culture and politics) and the period of celebrity acquisition (i.e., pre-war, post-war and contemporary). Both media- and education-dependent knowledge of celebrity were considered. Ninety-eight unpaid healthy participants aged between 50 and 93 years and with at least 8 years of formal education took part in this study. Reference is made to serial models of familiar face/persons processing. Recognition is held to tackle the activity of Personal Identity Nodes (PINs) and identification of the Exemplar Semantics Archives. Given the seriality of the reference model, the Identification Test is embedded in the Recognition test. This entailed that only previously recognised faces were employed to achieve norms for identification.

The present study analysed the six-month effects of a nickel-titanium (NiTi) palatal expander on the dental and palatal structures of four primary (mean age 5.8 years) and nine mixed dentition children (mean age 8.7 years), with a posterior unilateral crossbite. Standardized dental and palatal landmarks were digitized using a three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic instrument. Collected data were analysed with geometric-mathematical models. During a six-month interval, the natural growth and development of the dental arches and hard tissue palate was negligible, as assessed in seven control children (two in the primary dentition, mean age 4.4 years; five in the mixed dentition, mean age 7.7 years). In all children the crossbite was completely corrected. Indeed, dental expansion was always more than or corresponded to the palatal expansion. A smoothing of the size-independent (shape) palatal curvature in the transverse plane was observed. No differences in maximum palatal height were noted. Symmetrical derotation of the anchorage teeth in a distal direction occurred in almost all children. The inclination of the facial axis of the clinical crown (FACC) in the anatomical transverse plane of those teeth with differences between dental and palatal expansion always showed significant modifications (vestibular inclination up to 16.7 degrees). The clinical crown height of anchorage teeth remained nearly the same in all patients. No significant modifications in mandibular arch size were observed. The increase in maxillary arch width, especially in younger children, was probably due to a combination of different effects: opening of the midpalatal suture, tipping of the alveolar process, and molar tipping.