Optimization of highly concentrated dispersions of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with emphasis on surfactant content and carbon nanotubes quality.

Optimized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) suspensions in aqueous solution have been obtained by joint use of ultrasonification and surfactant. A simple experimental procedure has been established to efficiently evaluate the dependence of the surfactant concentration on the MWNT concentration stable in suspension. The study of three different surfactants and MWNT provided by three suppliers showed that a threshold surfactant concentration exists above which the MWNT concentration is maximum.

Human Autoantibodies Against N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Modestly Alter Dopamine D1 Receptor Surface Dynamics.

Circulating autoantibodies directed against extracellular domains of the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR-Ab) elicit psychotic symptoms in humans and behavioral deficits in animal models. Recent advances suggest that NMDAR-Ab exert their pathogenic action by altering the trafficking of NMDAR, which results in a synaptic NMDAR hypofunction consistent with the consensual glutamatergic hypothesis of psychotic disorders. Yet, dysfunction in the dopaminergic signaling is also proposed to be at the core of psychotic disorders.

Immunoglobulin sub-class distribution in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: potential relationship with latent Toxoplasma Gondii infection.

Background: Immune dysfunction could play a significant role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ), conditions with an underlying pro-inflammatory state. Studies on humoral immune responses (which reflects antibody mediated fight against pathogens) in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are sparse and often providing contradictory results. The aim of this study was to assess humoral immunity in a group of stable bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients compared to controls by determining total Immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses and to assess their association with latent Toxoplasma gondii and/or CMV infection.

[Seclusion and mechanical restraints in psychiatric care: Prescriptions procedures, pharmacological management, and monitoring].

We will briefly summarize the French recommendations concerning the use of seclusion and mechanical restraint. Acute agitation and aggression or self-injurious activity during psychotic and manic episodes are the main indication of prescription of the coercive measures. Their prescriptions respect specific modalities that will be explained.

Dynamic disorganization of synaptic NMDA receptors triggered by autoantibodies from psychotic patients.

The identification of circulating autoantibodies against neuronal receptors in neuropsychiatric disorders has fostered new conceptual and clinical frameworks. However, detection reliability, putative presence in different diseases and in health have raised questions about potential pathogenic mechanism mediated by autoantibodies. Using a combination of single molecule-based imaging approaches, we here ascertain the presence of circulating autoantibodies against glutamate NMDA receptor (NMDAR-Ab) in about 20% of psychotic patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and very few healthy subjects.

[Anti-NR1 antibodies in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis and schizophrenia].

The recent discovery of anti-NMDA receptor antibodies and proof of their pathogenic effects in limbic encephalitides raised many questions among neuroscientist and physicians working in the field of schizophrenia. Indeed, this two conditions share several major clinical, pathophysiological or etiological aspects and some authors tend to consider some forms of schizophrenia as mild-encephalitis cases. Some studies have reported the presence of these antibodies in schizophrenic patient's sera without neurological symptoms.

Polymorphism of Toll-like receptor 4 gene in bipolar disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is considered as a multifactorial disorder involving complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, where immune dysfunction is thought to play a key etiopathogenic role. In particular, excess of winter births associated with early-life infections raise the possibility of the implication of innate immunity. Given the pivotal role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), a major innate immune sensor molecule, we hypothesized that genetic variations of TLR-4 may be associated to BD.

Relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and bipolar disorder in a French sample.

Background: Prenatal exposure to viruses or parasites with tropism for the central nervous system is one of the risk factors for psychotic disorders. However, the relationship between past exposure to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and incidence of bipolar disorders (BD) is poorly documented across populations.