Development of a highly sensitive method based on QuEChERS and GC-MS/MS for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in infant foods.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that can be found in various food products, including those intended for infants. Due to their potential health risks, it is crucial to develop sensitive analytical methods for the accurate determination of PAHs in infant foods. This study describes the development and validation of a highly sensitive method for the quantification of European PAH markers, namely benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene, using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), in baby food samples.

Development of a screening analytical method for the determination of non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in chicken eggs by gaschromatography and electron capture detection.

A sensitive and reproducible screening analytical method is here proposed for the determination of six non dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs, congener 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) in chicken eggs based on accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) procedure for the fat extraction and determination, a solid phase extraction (SPE) sample clean-up process, and a gas chromatography - electron capture detection (GC-ECD) analysis. The optimized chromatographic separation, in less than 25 min, returned good responses for the six NDL-PCBs in the range of 2.5-60.

Sensitive Screening Method for Determination of Pyrethroids in Chicken Eggs and Various Meat Samples by Gas Chromatography and Electron Capture Detection.

A sensitive and reproducible screening analytical method is described for the determination of six pyrethroids (phenothrin, permethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate) in egg and meat samples by gas chromatography and electron capture detection (GC-ECD). A fast cleanup procedure, based on solid-phase extraction has been used, ensuring reduced solvent consumption and time and allowing the simultaneous preparation of multiple sample extracts. Under the optimal chromatographic conditions, an efficient separation was obtained with a total analysis time of less than 60 min, including the extraction-purification steps.

Binge eating disorder: from clinical research to clinical practice.

This case report describes the clinical course of a young woman suffering from binge eating disorder (BED) associated with obesity. It illustrates the efficacy of different medications in the treatment of BED and related conditions and is followed by the comments and clinical observations of 2 practicing psychiatrists. The issues described in this paper have important clinical implications and are topical, given that BED is now recognized as a specific disorder in the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition classification system, but neither the US Food and Drug Administration nor any other regulatory agency has yet approved a drug for treatment of this disease, despite its very prevalent and disabling nature.

Pharmacotherapy of binge-eating disorder: a review.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of pharmacotherapy for binge eating disorder, including new therapeutic approaches such as centrally acting sympathomimetics, nootropics, lisdexamfetamine, and substance abuse treatment agents such as acamprosate, sodium oxybate, baclofen, and naltrexone.

Methods: The study was conducted by searching the MEDLINE database using the keywords "binge eating disorder," "obesity," and "pharmacological therapy."All available studies on each drug dating from 1988 to the present were considered, focusing mainly on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Ziprasidone as adjunctive therapy in severe bipolar patients treated with clozapine.

Aim. To confirm the efficacy and tolerability of ziprasidone as adjunctive therapy in bipolar patients partially responding to clozapine or with persisting negative symptoms, overweight, or with metabolic syndrome. Methods.

Asenapine for the treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder: from clinical research to clinical practice.

Introduction: Asenapine is a sublingually administered second-generation antipsychotic with proven efficacy for the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults. Its relatively favorable weight and metabolic profile, as well as the lack of appreciable activity at muscarinic cholinergic receptors and the sublingual administration are of clinical interest.

Areas Covered: This paper comprises a review and commentary regarding the use of sublingual asenapine in the treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes of bipolar disorder.

Catatonia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome: two disorders on a same spectrum? Four case reports.

We present the history of four bipolar patients who developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) after antipsychotic treatment, focusing on the relationship between NMS and catatonia. In all cases, the administration of antipsychotics has been suspended as soon as fever and autonomic disturbances occurred. A supportive therapy was initiated to stabilize general conditions, then every patient started electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in combination with benzodiazepines (BDZ).

[Catatonia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome: two disorders on a same spectrum? Three case reports].

Aim: The authors present the cases of three bipolar patients who developed Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) after antipsychotic treatment, both typical and atypical, focusing on relationship between NMS and catatonia.

Methods: In all three cases, administration of antipsychotics has been stopped at once, when fever and autonomic disturbances occurred. A supportive therapy (including rehydration, electrolyte restoration and blood pressure aids, together with antipyretics, antibiotics and anticoagulants) was prescribed in order to stabilize general conditions.

Aripiprazole for the treatment of bipolar disorder: a review of current evidence.

Introduction: several medications are available for the treatment of different phases of bipolar disorder, yet many of the drugs that are currently approved carry a substantial burden of side effects or do not lead all treated patients to remission.

Areas Covered: this paper comprises a review and commentary regarding the use of oral and intramuscular aripiprazole in the acute and maintenance phases of bipolar disorder. Basic principles in dosing, switching, management of side effects and co-administration of aripiprazole with other medications are provided.

L-type calcium channels and psychiatric disorders: A brief review.

Emerging evidence from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) support the association of polymorphisms in the alpha 1C subunit of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel gene (CACNA1C) with bipolar disorder. These studies extend a rich prior literature implicating dysfunction of L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, calcium channel blockers reduce Ca(2+) flux by binding to the α1 subunit of the LTCC and are used extensively for treating hypertension, preventing angina, cardiac arrhythmias and stroke.

Augmentation of clozapine with aripiprazole in severe psychotic bipolar and schizoaffective disorders: a pilot study.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the augmentation of clozapine with aripiprazole in patients with treatment-resistant schizoaffective and psychotic bipolar disorders in a retrospective manner. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions between the two drugs were also investigated.

Patients: Three men and 4 women (median age 36 and 40 years, respectively) who had mean scores at BPRS and CGI-Severity of 59.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: further lessons from a case report.

Background: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) represents an iatrogenic form of malignant catatonia, and simple catatonia has been shown to predispose to NMS.

Objective: The authors present the case of a bipolar patient with catatonic features who developed NMS after receiving haloperidol.

Method: Supportive therapy, including rehydration, electrolyte restoration, and blood pressure aids were given, together with antipyretics, antibiotics, and anticoagulants.

Risperidone long-acting injection as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy in the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder.

Importance Of The Field: It is very rare for patients with bipolar disorder to have a single episode of mania or depression over a lifetime and the vast majority of these individuals need long-term prophylactic/maintenance treatment. However, treatment nonadherence is a major issue for close to half of subjects with bipolar disorder who are prescribed medications. Risperidone long-acting injection (LAI) has proven efficacious for the maintenance phase of bipolar disorder and may mitigate the problem of nonadherence in the substantial group of patients for whom this is a significant concern.

Stability of symptoms across major depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.

Objective: Some studies suggest that depressive subtypes, defined by groups of symptoms, have predictive or diagnostic utility. These studies make the implicit assumption of stability of symptoms across episodes in mood disorders, which has rarely been investigated.

Methods: We examined prospective data from a cohort of 3,750 individuals with bipolar I or II disorder participating in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder study, selecting a subset of individuals who experienced two depressive episodes during up to two years of follow-up.

Phenotypic effects of a bipolar liability gene among individuals with major depressive disorder.

Variations in voltage-dependent calcium channel L-type, alpha 1C subunit (CACNA1C) gene have been associated with bipolar disorder in a recent meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies [Ferreira et al., 2008]. The impact of these variations on other psychiatric disorders has not been yet investigated.

Efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in Fahr disease associated with bipolar psychotic disorder: a case report.

We report a case of a patient with Fahr disease affected by bipolar disorder type I with psychotic symptoms. The complex clinical picture, characterized by both neurological and psychiatric symptoms, proved to be partially or completely resistant to several pharmacological trials. On the contrary, a marked improvement of clinical picture occurred after a cycle of 10 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy, followed by a complete and sustained resolution of mood, cognitive, motor, and behavioral symptoms during the next 4 years.

Bipolar disorder in late life: clinical characteristics in a sample of older adults admitted for manic episode.

Background: Although manic episodes in older adults are not rare, little published data exist on late-life manic episodes. Resistance to treatment and concomitant neurological lesions are frequent correlates of elderly mania. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hospitalizations due to mania in patients older than 64 years through a period of 5 years in an Italian public psychiatric ward.