Aberrant Gray Matter Volume and Cortical Surface in Paranoid-Type Delusional Disorder.

Introduction: Delusions are core symptoms of schizophrenia-spectrum and related disorders. Despite their clinical relevance, the neural correlates underlying such phenomena are unclear. Recent research suggests that specific delusional content may be associated with distinct neural substrates.

Abnormal cerebellar volume in somatic vs. non-somatic delusional disorders.

Background: There is abundant evidence for cerebellar involvement in schizophrenia, where the cerebellum has been suggested to contribute to cognitive, affective and motor dysfunction. More recently, specific cerebellar regions have also been associated with psychotic symptoms, particularly with auditory verbal hallucinations. In contrast, little is known about cerebellar contributions to delusions, and even less is known about whether cerebellar involvement differs by delusional content.

Regional gray matter volume and structural network strength in somatic vs. non-somatic delusional disorders.

Background: Monothematic delusional disorders are characterized by a single tenacious belief. They provide a great opportunity to study underlying brain structures in the absence of confounding symptoms that accompany delusions in schizophrenia. Delusional beliefs include persecution, jealousy or somatic delusions including infestation.

Cortical features of distinct developmental trajectories in patients with delusional infestation.

Background: Although there is strong neuroimaging evidence that cortical alterations are a core feature of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, it still remains unclear to what extent such abnormalities occur in monothematic delusional disorders. In individuals with delusional infestation (DI), the delusional belief to be infested with pathogens, previous structural MRI studies have shown prefrontal, temporal, parietal, insular, thalamic and striatal gray matter volume changes. Differential contributions of cortical features of evolutionary and genetic origin (such as cortical thickness, area and folding) which may distinctly contribute to DI pathophysiology are unclear at present.

Source-based morphometry reveals distinct patterns of aberrant brain volume in delusional infestation.

Little is known about the neural correlates of delusional infestation (DI), the delusional belief to be infested with pathogens. So far, evidence comes mainly from case reports and case series. We investigated brain morphology in 16 DI patients and 16 healthy controls using structural magnetic resonance imaging and a multivariate data analysis technique, i.

Abnormal gray and white matter volume in delusional infestation.

Little is known about the neural basis of delusional infestation (DI), the delusional belief to be infested with pathogens. Case series and the response to anti-dopaminergic medication indicate disruptions in dopaminergic neurotransmission in the striatum (caudate, putamen), but did not allow for population-based inference. Here, we report the first whole-brain structural neuroimaging study to investigate gray and white matter abnormalities in DI compared to controls.

Delusional infestation: treatment outcome with antipsychotics in 17 consecutive patients (using standardized reporting criteria).

Objective: The multietiological nature of delusional infestation (DI) implies that therapy needs to be customized according to the various forms of DI (primary/secondary). Usually, treatment of DI is difficult to achieve in psychiatric settings because of the patients' nonpsychiatric concept of the illness.

Methods: We analyzed the data of all consecutive DI patients seen in the Psychiatric Outpatient Department of the General Hospital Bruneck/Italy from 1998 to 2010, including structural brain imaging findings.

Prospects for multivariate classification of a pharmaceutical intermediate with near-infrared spectroscopy as a process analytical technology (PAT) production control supplement.

NIR spectroscopy was applied to develop a fast and reliable quality control system for a pharmaceutical substance to support information obtained through PAT surveillance of its manufacturing process. After calculating different quantitative calibrations of the substance's key quality parameters, a general classification model has been derived to capture the over-all product grade. The final spectral quality conformity model consisting of 96 representative batches - covering high process variability - was sensibilized toward five important quality parameters by their incorporation as PLS responses.

Online process control of a pharmaceutical intermediate in a fluidized-bed drier environment using near-infrared spectroscopy.

In the production plant of an antibiotic substance, a new fluidized-bed drier has been installed. For online process control of the drying progress and determination of the ideal drying end point, a continuous near-infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) measuring setup was implemented to rapidly and simultaneously gain all essential product information. A bypass system outside the drier combined with a robust process probe proved to provide the best sampling system geometry.

Lack of Gata3 results in conotruncal heart anomalies in mouse.

The transcription factor Gata3 is an important regulator of the development of thymus, the nervous system, ear, kidney, and adrenal glands. This study analyzes the role of Gata3 in the developing heart using a mouse strain containing an nlsLacZ reporter gene fused in frame to the Gata3 gene by homologous recombination. Using in situ hybridization, RT-PCR and Gata3-LacZ histochemistry, Gata3 expression was shown in various cardiac structures up to newborn stage.

Striatal lesions in delusional parasitosis revealed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: Delusional parasitosis (DP) is a syndrome characterized by the firm conviction that small living beings infest the skin. The etiology can be primary and secondary. Structural brain abnormalities in DP have only been reported in case reports often subcortical vascular encephalopathy and right-hemisphere strokes in the temporo-parietal cortex.

Gene expression analysis of Gata3-/- mice by using cDNA microarray technology.

Transcription factor Gata3 is implicated in the formation of autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness, and renal anomaly (HDR) syndrome. We pursued to identify the potential Gata3 target genes by profiling the gene expression pattern in E9.5 Gata3-/- mouse embryos.

Nontumorous vascular malformations in the liver: color Doppler ultrasonographic findings.

Objective: To investigate color Doppler and spectral wave characteristics of nontumorous vascular malformations in the liver.

Methods: From September 1995 to January 2001, 32 cases of vascular malformations were identified by means of color Doppler ultrasonography and spectral wave analysis. Computed tomography, angiography, or both were performed in all cases.