A randomized, sham-controlled study of maintenance rTMS for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

A few open-labeled studies have investigated the use of maintenance rTMS to prevent relapse for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) after rTMS treatment. We aim to assess the benefits of maintenance rTMS treatment for TRD patients who respond to rTMS treatment using a randomized, double-blind controlled design. Fifty eight TRD patients received rTMS over one month in an open-labeled design study (phase I).

Alteration of pain recognition in schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia patients display impaired recognition of their own emotions and those of others and deficits in several domains of empathy. The first-person experience of pain and observing others in pain normally trigger strong emotional mechanisms. We therefore hypothesized that schizophrenia patients would display impaired recognition and categorization of both their own pain and the pain of others.

[Humour and the theory of mind in schizophrenia: a review of the literature].

Humour is a universal phenomenon, a daily fact holding positive aspects valued in society. The sense of humour is subjective, inherent in each and everyone and difficult to assess. We could qualify it as an indefinable sense set by an absence of norms.

[The placebo effect: general information and specificities in psychiatry (depression and schizophrenia)].

Introduction: Placebos, consequences of their use, the placebo effect and the associated negative effects, the nocebo effect, have been widely studied. However, the lack of any consensus definition makes the interpretation and analysis of such findings difficult.

Literature Findings: In this article, we will review existing definitions and factors affecting the placebo effect in medicine.

[Pain and schizophrenia: myth and reality].

Introduction: The International Association for the Study of Pain (IAPS), in 1986, defined pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage". Thus, the few studies on this phenomenon conducted on schizophrenic patients did not result in a firm consensus; certain studies showed that such patients seemed to have a higher threshold against pain (hypoalgesia) than healthy subjects, whilst other studies showed that the threshold is the same, but the absence of expressing the pain would be due to the pathology itself (non-expression of the pain, denial). Insensitivity to pain would be the consequence of a complex reaction between a biological sensorial abnormality and the psychopathology of schizophrenia itself (including the affective processes).

A double-blind sham controlled study of right prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): therapeutic and cognitive effect in medication free unipolar depression during 4 weeks.

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become a therapeutic tool in psychiatric diseases.

Methodology: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of TMS in unipolar depression: the percentage of responders (>50% HDRS reduction) and remission (HDRS score < or =8, after four weeks of active TMS treatment in depressed patients free of any antidepressive agent versus placebo-TMS.

Results: 27 patients were randomized in two groups: rTMS (N=11) versus sham TMS (N=16).

[Pell-Nicol, a medicinal toothpaste].

A medicinal toothpaste based on an atomized extract obtained out of sulfurous mud of Nicolina Iassy (a natural organic-mineral complex) has been formulated and physico-chemically characterized. The optimal formula has been chosen corresponding to following parameters: aspect, colour, taste, smell; weight/tube (65 g +/- 5%); Dentine Abrasion Value (D. A.

[Antimicrobial activities of organic zinc compounds].

Taking into account the competitive action of zinc towards other ion essential for pathogenic germs metabolism, the complex erythromycin-zinc, zinc salts of sulfamethoxydiazine, sulfanilamide, sulfacetimide, sulfathiazole as well as the Mannich basis of sulfamethoxydiazine were synthetized. The antimicrobial action towards gram-positive, gram-negative pathogens and fungi was tested by the classic diffusiometric method. An increased antimicrobial action for the Mannich basis of sulfamethoxydiazine and for the zinc salt of sulfamethoxydiazine, alone or in association with metronidazole--chemotherapeutic agent used in the infections with anaerobic organisms was found.

[The physicochemical characterization and therapeutic evaluation of Cicatrol].

Cicatrol ointment with the formula: argentic sulphamethoxydiasine 1 g, bentonite hydrogel 12.5% for 100 g is manufactured at the Microproduction Laboratory of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Iaşi. The one-year physicochemical determinations of the aspect, colour, homogeneity, pH, rheological behaviour and relative viscosity, content in argentic sulphamethoxydiasine as well as "in vitro" antimicrobial activity of Cicatrol showed a good stability and gel properties enabling an uniform and long-term contact with the wound.

Radiocontrast-associated renal dysfunction: a comparison of lower-osmolality and conventional high-osmolality contrast media.

Nephropathy is an established untoward event associated with intravascular administration of conventional high-osmolality contrast media (HOM). It has not been shown previously that lower-osmolality contrast media (LOM) are less nephrotoxic in a clinical setting. We evaluate the ability to replace HOM with LOM (in lower-extremity angiography) to reduce the incidence of nephropathy.

Radiocontrast-associated renal dysfunction: incidence and risk factors.

Contrast-induced nephropathy is a potentially serious untoward reaction to radiologic contrast media. The incidence of this nephropathy and the predisposing conditions are not well established, possibly because of methodologic differences between studies. We evaluated the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy after femoral arteriography in 394 patients by using multiple definitions (different increases in serum creatinine or blood urea nitrogen levels at various times).