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Positive mood amplification is a hallmark of the bipolar disorder spectrum (BPDS). We need better understanding of cognitive mechanisms contributing to such elevated mood. Generation of vivid, emotionally compelling mental imagery is proposed to act as an 'emotional amplifier' in BPDS. We used a positive mental imagery generation paradigm to manipulate affect in a subclinical BPDS-relevant sample reporting high (n = 31) vs. low (n = 30) hypomanic-like experiences on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Participants were randomized to an 'elated' or 'calm' mental imagery condition, rating their momentary affect four times across the experimental session. We hypothesized greater affect increase in the high (vs. low) MDQ group assigned to the elated (vs. calm) imagery generation condition. We further hypothesized that affect increase in the high MDQ group would be particularly apparent in the types of affect typically associated with (hypo)mania, i.e., suggestive of high activity levels. Mixed model and time-series analysis showed that for the high MDQ group, affect increased steeply and in a sustained manner over time in the 'elated' imagery condition, and more shallowly in 'calm'. The low-MDQ group did not show this amplification effect. Analysis of affect clusters showed high-MDQ mood amplification in the 'elated' imagery condition was most pronounced for active affective states. This experimental model of BPDS-relevant mood amplification shows evidence that positive mental imagery drives changes in affect in the high MDQ group in a targeted manner. Findings inform cognitive mechanisms of mood amplification, and spotlight prevention strategies targeting elated imagery, while potentially retaining calm imagery to preserve adaptive positive emotionality., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Recent studies evidence that blue-LED-light irradiation can modulate cell responses in the wound healing process within 24 h from treatment. This study aims to investigate blue-light (410-430 nm) photobiomodulation used in a murine wound model within six days post-treatment. Methods: A superficial wound was made in 30 CD1 male mice. The injuries were treated with a blue LED light (20.6 J/cm 2 ), and biopsies were collected at 24, 72, and 144 h. Histology, fluorescence analysis, and advanced microscopy techniques were used. Results: We can observe an increase in the cellular infiltrate response, and in mast-cell density and their degranulation index correlated to the expression of the major histocompatibility complex after 24 h. Furthermore, after six days, the vessel density increases with the expression of the platelet-derived growth factor in the mast cells. Finally, collagen deposition and morphology in the treated wounds appear more similar to unwounded skin. Conclusions: Blue-light photobiomodulation stimulates several cellular processes that are finely coordinated by mast cells, leading to more rapid wound healing and a better-recovered skin morphology.

Background: The sensory innervation of the lower jaw mainly depends on the third root of the trigeminal nerve, the mandibular nerve (V3). The aim of this single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bilateral V3 block for postoperative analgesia management in mandibular osteotomies., Methods: 107 patients undergoing mandibular surgery (75 scheduled osteotomies and 32 mandible fractures) were randomized in two groups. A bilateral V3 block was performed in each group, either with ropivacaine 0.75% (block group, n=50) or with a placebo (placebo group, n=57). A postoperative multimodal analgesia was equally provided to both groups. The primary outcome was the cumulative morphine consumption at 24 hours. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of severe pain and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the first 24 hours. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis., Results: The cumulative morphine consumption at 24 hours was significantly lower in the block group (median 8.0 mg (IQR 2.0-21.3) vs 12.0 mg (IQR 8.0-22.0), p= 0.03 ), as well as the incidence of severe pain during the 24 hours of follow-up (4.0% vs 22.8%, p<0.01). The mandibular block had no impact on the incidence of PONV., Conclusion: Bilateral V3 block for mandibular osteotomies is an effective opioid-sparing procedure. It provided better postoperative analgesia in the first 24 hours, and it did not affect PONV incidence., Trial Registration Number: NCT02618993., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Permeation of small molecule solutes through thin films is typically described by the solution-diffusion model, but this model cannot predict the effects of nanostructure due to self-assembly or additives. Other models focusing on diffusion through isolated nanopores indicate that confining permeation to channels slightly larger than the size of the solute can lead to an increased influence of solute-pore wall interactions on permeation rate. In this study, we analyze how differences in polymer nanostructure affect the relative contributions of solute size and polymer-solute interactions on transport rate. We compared the diffusion rates of several small molecules through two polymer thin films: A cross-linked, homogeneous film of poly(ethylene glycol phenyl ether acrylate) (PEGPEA) and a graft copolymer with a poly(vinylidene fluoride- co -chlorotrifluoroethylene) (P(VDF- co -CTFE)) backbone and PEGPEA side chains that self-assemble into continuous ∼1-3 nm PEGPEA domains through which transport occurs. We correlated these rates with the size of each solute and its chemical affinity to PEGPEA, as measured by the difference between their solubility parameters. Diffusion rate through the homogeneous polymer film was controlled by solute size, whereas diffusion rate through the copolymer was strongly controlled by the difference between the solubility parameters. Furthermore, permeation selectivity between two selected molecules was 2.5× higher for the nanostructured copolymer, likely enhanced by the nanoconfinement effects. These initial results indicate that polymer self-assembly is a promising tool for designing polymeric membranes that can differentiate between solutes of similar size but differing chemical structures.

Stable ultra-small gold nanoparticles have been synthesized in aqueous phase by using a tri-block copolymer (BMB) as a templating agent consisting of two PEG-methylacrylate chains (B blocks) anchored to a poly(methacrylic) moiety containing a trithiocarbonate unit (M block). The effect of the BMB/Au molar ratios on the final particle size, shape and monodispersity has been investigated. The synthesized nanosols have been characterized by means of Visible Absorption, Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Results clearly indicate that the polymer plays a key role in determining the size and shape of gold particles, from fractal-like structures to monodisperse spherical particles with a mean diameter of about 3 nm. The aggregation behavior of these nanostructures has been characterized both in solution (SAXS) as well as on mica substrate (AFM) and has been proven to be driven by the polymer to gold concentration ratio., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome is a rare clinical condition characterized by mental retardation with impairment of expressive language, short stature, microcephaly, sparse hair, typical facial dysmorphisms, and interphalangeal joint swellings. To date 24 cases have been reported, most of them being sporadic. The genetic background of Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome is unclear in terms of cause and mode of inheritance, one of the more probable explanations is de novo mutation of a dominant gene. Some reported patients presented autistic features, although in none of these patients was the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder formally made. We describe two unrelated patients with clinical features suggesting Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome and, in addition, autism spectrum disorder is defined by the presence of the three cardinal core features: qualitative impairments in social, communicative, and behavioral development.

We study the dynamics of hydration water in the protein lysozyme in the temperature range 180 K

Alpha-1-microglobulin (alpha 1M) is highly accumulated by the kidneys of normal rats. Aim of this study has been to verify if uninephrectomy can modify this behaviour. For this purpose the radioactivity of the remaining kidney and those of plasma and urine have been measured in uninephrectomized rats after IV injection of radioiodinated alpha 1M. The experiments have been performed in 100 Sprague-Dawley male rats. Fifty animals underwent right nephrectomy, the others being the controls. Uninephrectomized rats and their controls have been divided in 3 groups, studied 4, 14 and 28 days after surgery, respectively. All the animals were injected with human alpha 1M labelled with iodine-131. They were sacrificed in part 18 minutes after the injection of labelled alpha 1M (time of highest kidney accumulation in the normal rat), and in part 28 minutes after the injection. Uninephrectomy increased plasma retention of labelled alpha 1M. Kidney uptake (total and per gram) was always higher in uninephrectomized animals. Similarly, urine radioactivity was higher in uninephrectomized rats. These results demonstrate that uninephrectomy remarkably increases the accumulation of alpha 1M in the remaining kidney.