Synthesis of Well-Defined Poly(vinyl alcohol--vinyl acetate) Copolymers by Alcoholysis of Poly(vinyl acetate) Synthesized by Macromolecular Design via Interchange of Xanthate Polymerization, and Their Use as a Stabilizer in Emulsion (Co)polymerization of Vinyl Acetate.

This work aims at synthesizing tailor-made poly(vinyl alcohol--vinyl acetate) (PVA) amphiphilic copolymers, obtained by alcoholysis of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) that could display improved properties as stabilizers compared to commercially available PVAs. Well-defined PVAs with different alcoholysis degrees were produced from a library of PVAc homopolymers synthesized by macromolecular design via interchange of xanthate polymerization and exhibiting different degrees of polymerization degrees. Subsequently, these PVAs were evaluated as stabilizers in the emulsion copolymerization of VAc and vinyl neodecanoate (VERSA 10, referred to as V10) and compared to a commercially available reference PVA obtained by alcoholysis of PVAc formed by conventional radical polymerization.

Catatonia in neurodevelopmental disorders: assessing catatonic deterioration from baseline.

Despite the inclusion of catatonia as a specifier of autism spectrum disorder in DSM-5, we-a team of child and adolescent neuropsychiatrists who specialise in paediatric catatonia and neurodevelopmental disorders-have identified a number of issues with the diagnosis and clinical management of catatonia in our patients. In this Personal View, we summarise the literature regarding catatonia in people with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, describe our concerns, and offer a novel approach to addressing important issues with current diagnostic and treatment paradigms. We emphasise the need for a measure to diagnose and monitor people with catatonia and their history of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Relevance of Brain F-FDG PET Imaging in Probable Seronegative Encephalitis With Catatonia: A Case Report.

Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) is a rare, severe, and rapidly progressive encephalopathy, and its diagnosis is challenging, especially in adolescent populations when the presentation is mainly psychiatric. Currently, cerebral 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG-PET) imaging is not included in the diagnosis algorithm. We describe a 16-year-old patient with probable seronegative encephalitis with catatonia for which several cerebral PET scans were relevant and helpful for diagnosis, treatment decision making, and follow-up monitoring.

Psychiatric autoimmune conditions in children and adolescents: Is catatonia a severity marker?

Objectives: Patients with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) are likely to exhibit an acute onset of severe psychiatric features, including psychosis and/or catatonia. Based on the high prevalence of catatonia in AE and our clinical experience, we hypothesized that catatonia might be a marker of severity requiring more aggressive treatment approaches.

Methods: To reach a sufficient number of cases with brain-autoimmune conditions, we pooled two samples (N = 58): the first from the French National Network of Rare Psychiatric diseases and the second from the largest Italian neuro-pediatrics center for encephalopathies.

Effect of topiramate on eating behaviours in Prader-Willi syndrome: TOPRADER double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study.

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic syndrome leading to severe behavioural disorders and mild cognitive impairment. The objective of this double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial was to study the efficacy and tolerance of topiramate on behavioural disorders in patients with PWS. Participants (aged 12-45 years) had genetically confirmed PWS and severe irritability/impulsivity, eating disorders and/or obesity, and skin picking.

Hormonal Risk Factors for Osteoporosis: Different Profile Among Antipsychotics.

Osteoporosis is a major risk factor for fracture and treatment is mainly preventive. Patients with severe psychiatric condition and treated with antipsychotics are at risk for vitamin D deficiency and iatrogenic hyperprolactinemia, two serious risk factors of osteoporosis. We aim to determine whether all antipsychotics are similar regarding the risk of osteoporosis in young patients.

Flow cytometry-based evaluation of the bacterial removal efficiency of a blackwater reuse treatment plant and the microbiological changes in the associated non-potable distribution network.

The study evaluated the changes in bacterial numbers across a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) blackwater reuse system. Flow cytometry was used to quantify total and intact bacterial concentrations across the treatment train and during distribution of the recycled water. Membrane passage reduced bacterial numbers by up to 5-log units resulting in coliform-free permeate.

Catatonia in Children and Adolescents: A High Rate of Genetic Conditions.

Pediatric catatonia is a rare and severe neuropsychiatric syndrome. We previously reported, in 58 children and adolescents with catatonia, a high prevalence (up to 20%) of medical conditions, some of which have specific treatments. Here we extend the cohort inclusion and report the first systematic molecular genetic data for this syndrome.

Catatonia in children and adolescents: New perspectives.

Introduction: Catatonia is a rare and severe psychomotor condition in children and adolescents. In the current report, we aimed to review the recent literature.

Method: Using a PRISMA approach, we searched MEDLINE between 1982 and 2017 using the keywords 'CATATONIA' and 'CHILD' or 'ADOLESCENT'.

A causality algorithm to guide diagnosis and treatment of catatonia due to autoimmune conditions in children and adolescents.

Objectives: Pediatric catatonia is a rare and life-threatening syndrome. Around 20% of juvenile catatonia is associated with organic condition (Consoli et al., 2012).

An overview of medical risk factors for childhood psychosis: Implications for research and treatment.

Objective: Psychotic disorders in childhood and early adolescence often progress to chronic schizophrenia, but in many cases there are diagnosable medical and genetic causes or risk factors. We reviewed our clinical experience and the relevant literature to identify these factors and to define their clinical features, appropriate work-up and treatment.

Method: We reviewed the results of comprehensive medical evaluations of 160 psychotic children and adolescents in our center.

Clinical utility of magnetic resonance imaging in first-episode psychosis.

There is no consensus as to whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be used as part of the initial clinical evaluation of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP).(a) To assess the logistical feasibility of routine MRI; (b) to define the clinical significance of radiological abnormalities in patients with FEP.Radiological reports from MRI scans of two FEP samples were reviewed; one comprised 108 patients and 98 healthy controls recruited to a research study and the other comprised 241 patients scanned at initial clinical presentation plus 66 healthy controls.

Pattern of activation during delayed matching to sample task predicts functional outcome in people at ultra high risk for psychosis.

Background: Clinical outcomes in people identified as at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis are remarkably heterogeneous, and are difficult to predict on the basis of the presenting clinical features. Individuals at UHR are at risk of poor functional outcome regardless of development of psychotic disorder. The aim of the present study was to assess whether there is a relationship between functional neuroimaging measures at presentation and functional outcome as measured by the GAF three years after scanning.

Validation of the Pediatric Catatonia Rating Scale (PCRS).

Introduction: Despite the increased recognition of catatonia in children and adolescents, no specific assessment instrument has been validated in this population.

Method: Within the context of a prospective study on catatonia, we developed the Pediatric Catatonia Rating Scale (PCRS, maximum score=60), adapted from the Bush and Francis Catatonia Rating Scale for its use in child and adolescent inpatients. We assessed the psychometric properties of the PCRS by measuring its internal consistency, construct validity, and factor structure.

Catatonia and Autoimmune Conditions in Children and Adolescents: Should We Consider a Therapeutic Challenge?

Objective: Catatonia as a result of autoimmune conditions offers new therapeutic opportunities for patients that child and adolescent psychiatrists should consider. However, the diagnosis is sometimes challenging when an autoimmune signature is not identified.

Methods: In this study, we aim to summarize seven cases from a 20-year series of 84 youths with catatonia, including three cases that represented a diagnostic challenge because of the absence of positive autoimmune testing.

Identifying Individuals at High Risk of Psychosis: Predictive Utility of Support Vector Machine using Structural and Functional MRI Data.

The identification of individuals at high risk of developing psychosis is entirely based on clinical assessment, associated with limited predictive potential. There is, therefore, increasing interest in the development of biological markers that could be used in clinical practice for this purpose. We studied 25 individuals with an at-risk mental state for psychosis and 25 healthy controls using structural MRI, and functional MRI in conjunction with a verbal memory task.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Inpatient Youths with Severe and Early-Onset Psychiatric Disorders: Prevalence and Clinical Correlates.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the clinical correlates of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among 158 inpatient youths with two types of severe psychiatric disorders. ACEs were retrospectively collected with the ACEs scale and the List of Threatening Experiences Questionnaire in 77 patients hospitalized for a catatonic syndrome (average age 15.2 years) and 81 for a manic or mixed episode (average age 15.

Treatment use in a prospective naturalistic cohort of children and adolescents with catatonia.

We aimed to (1) describe the treatment used in a large sample of young inpatients with catatonia, (2) determine which factors were associated with improvement and (3) benzodiazepine (BZD) efficacy. From 1993 to 2011, 66 patients between the ages of 9 and 19 years were consecutively hospitalized for a catatonic syndrome. We prospectively collected sociodemographic, clinical and treatment data.

Anterior cingulate glutamate levels related to clinical status following treatment in first-episode schizophrenia.

Many patients with schizophrenia show a limited symptomatic response to treatment with dopaminergic antipsychotics. This may reflect the additional involvement of non-dopaminergic neurochemical dysfunction in the pathophysiology of the disorder. We tested the hypothesis that brain glutamate levels would differ between patients with first-episode psychosis who were symptomatic compared with those with minimal symptoms following antipsychotic treatment.

Medical and developmental risk factors of catatonia in children and adolescents: a prospective case-control study.

Context: Rare diseases have been associated with more and more genetic and non genetic causes and risk factors. But this has not been systematically assessed in catatonia, one of the psychiatric syndromes, that is most frequently associated with medical condition.

Objective: We sought to assess the medical and developmental risk factors of catatonia in children and adolescents.

Altered medial temporal activation related to local glutamate levels in subjects with prodromal signs of psychosis.

Background: Both medial temporal cortical dysfunction and perturbed glutamatergic neurotransmission are regarded as fundamental pathophysiological features of psychosis. However, although animal models of psychosis suggest that these two abnormalities are interrelated, their relationship in humans has yet to be investigated.

Methods: We used a combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the relationship between medial temporal activation during an episodic memory task and local glutamate levels in 22 individuals with an at-risk mental state for psychosis and 14 healthy volunteers.

Review: The biological basis of antipsychotic response in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness affecting approximately 1% of the population worldwide. Antipsychotic drugs are effective in symptom control in up to two-thirds of patients, but in at least one-third of patients the response is poor. The reason for this is not clear, but one possibility is that good and poor responders have different neurochemical pathologies, and may therefore benefit from different treatment approaches.