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The DAMIC-M (DArk Matter In CCDs at Modane) experiment employs thick, fully depleted silicon charged-coupled devices (CCDs) to search for dark matter particles with a target exposure of 1 kg-year. A novel skipper readout implemented in the CCDs provides single electron resolution through multiple non-destructive measurements of the individual pixel charge, pushing the detection threshold to the eV-scale. DAMIC-M will advance by several orders of magnitude the exploration of the dark matter particle hypothesis, in particular of candidates pertaining to the so-called "hidden sector." A prototype, the Low Background Chamber (LBC), with 20g of low background Skipper CCDs, has been recently installed at Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane and is currently taking data. We will report the status of the DAMIC-M experiment and first results obtained with LBC commissioning data.

BACKGROUND: Few medications have been proved to be effective in preventing relapse in alcoholism. The mesolimbic dopamine system is known to play an important role in alcohol dependence. Amisulpride, a substituted benzamide, seems to facilitate dopaminergic neurotransmission at low doses. METHODS: After short-term, inpatient detoxification, 71 patients participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of amisulpride in relapse prevention. Patients received amisulpride 50 mg/day or placebo for 6 months. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups of treatment for time to first drink, length of time before dropout, number of drinking days, and number of heavy drinking days. However, significantly more patients who were treated with amisulpride than those who were treated with placebo were nonabstinent and had relapsed at each visit. Craving for alcohol was significantly higher in the amisulpride than in the placebo group. Transaminases, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, and mean erythrocyte corpuscular volume were regularly higher in the amisulpride group than in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that treatment with amisulpride was not effective in preventing relapse to drinking in detoxified, alcohol-dependent patients. The significance of this finding is discussed, particularly in terms of the effects of neuroleptics on alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of single doses of levomepromazine (3, 6 and 12mg) on psychomotor skills and memory tasks, as well as haemodynamic and pupil diameter parameters, were assessed in 12 normal volunteers. Each subject was given three of the four treatments, at a weekly interval in a double-blind crossover randomized balanced incomplete-block design. The three doses and a placebo were monitored using a battery of tests including critical flicker fusion (CFF). choice reaction time (CRT), subjective ratings and memory tasks before, 3 and 6 hours alter drug intake. Supine standing blood pressure and pupil diameter were recorded at the same times. Compared to placebo. levomepromazine impaired both subjective and objective vigilance measures in a dose-related manner, with 3 mg affecting only some subjective ratings, white 12 mg impaired most objective and subjective vigilance evaluations with a moderate effect on memory tasks (i.e. anterograde amnesia). Pupil diameter was reduced by the three doses. In conclusion, levomepromazine at low doses induced a sedative effect the intensity and duration of which are compatible with its use as an hypnotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of single doses of trimipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant (25, 50 and 100 mg) and placebo on psychomotor performance, memory, haemodynamics, pupil diameter and salivary volume, were assessed in 12 normal volunteers. All subjects received each of the four treatments, at weekly interval, according to a double-blind cross-over Latin- square design. Treatments effects were monitored using a battery of tests including critical flicker fusion (CEE), choice reaction time (CRD), subjective ratings of mood and memory tasks before, and 3 and 5 hours following medication. Supine standing blood pressure, pupil diameter and salivary volume were recorded at the same times. Compared to placebo, trimipramine impaired both subjective and objective measures in a dose-related manner, with 25 mg affecting some subjective ratings and CFF, and 100 mg impairing most objective and subjective evaluations, except memory and haemodynamie variables. Pupil diameter was reduced by 50 and 100 mg trimipramine, whereas salivary volume was affected only by the highest dose studied. In conclusion, the sedative effects of trimipramine appeared dose-related. No amnesic effect could be evidenced, at the doses studied. Changes in autonomic nervous system activity have been shown on pupil diameter and salivary secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. In a four period, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, apomorphine (0.009 mg kg-1 subcutaneous route) and yohimbine (0.30 mg kg-1 i.v. route) were administered to 10 male healthy volunteers. Penile circumference was monitored using plethysmography and subjective sexual arousal was self-assessed. Data were collected before, during and after a stimulation session during which 50 erotic slides were projected to the subjects. 2. Apomorphine induced an erection starting from the fourth minute post-injection, and potentiated the visually- induced response. Self assessment showed increased tumescence and rigidity without modifications of sexual arousal. 3. Yohimbine did not modify penile diameter without stimulation and did not affect the physiological response to erotic stimuli. 'Sexual excitement' was decreased by yohimbine during the post-stimulation phase. One subject experienced severe anxiety while he was infused with yohimbine. 4. These results are discussed with reference to animal data and to recent studies carried out in impotent patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 infection using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swabs is now well-established, with saliva-based testing being lately more widely implemented for being more adapted for self-testing approaches. In this study, we introduce a different concept based on exhaled breath condensate (EBC), readily collected by a mask-based sampling device, and detection with an electrochemical biosensor with a modular architecture that enables fast and specific detection and quantification of COVID-19. The face mask forms an exhaled breath vapor containment volume to hold the exhaled breath vapor in proximity to the EBC collector to enable a condensate-forming surface, cooled by a thermal mass, to coalesce the exhaled breath into a 200-500 μL fluid sample in 2 min. EBC RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 genes (E, ORF1ab) on samples collected from 7 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 7 SARS-CoV-2 negative patients were performed. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in 5 out of 7 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. Furthermore, the EBC samples were screened on an electrochemical aptamer biosensor, which detects SARS-CoV-2 viral particles down to 10 pfu mL -1 in cultured SARS-CoV-2 suspensions. Using a "turn off" assay via ferrocenemethanol redox mediator, results about the infectivity state of the patient are obtained in 10 min., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We describe a 55-year-old woman with extensive digestive resection and recurrent depressive disorder resistant to oral clomipramine tablets but not to an oral solution of amitriptyline. In the light of this case report, the potential mechanisms of drug resistance after digestive resection are discussed, including the importance of drug monitoring.