Aberrant salience mediates the interplay between emotional abuse and positive symptoms in schizophrenia.

Introduction: Childhood trauma and adversities (CTA) and aberrant salience (AS) have a pivotal role in schizophrenia development, but their interplay with psychotic symptoms remains vague. We explored the mediation performed by AS between CTA and psychotic symptomatology in schizophrenia.

Methods: We approached 241 adults suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), who have been in the unit for at least 12 consecutive months, excluding the diagnosis of dementia, and recent substance abuse disorder, and cross-sectional evaluated through the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short-Form (CTQ-SF), and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS).

Cognitive biases are associated with aberrant salience experience in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Introduction: Cognitive models suggest the co-occurrence of cognitive biases and aberrant salience is unique to psychosis, but their interaction is not yet fully understood. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the relationship between subjective cognitive biases and aberrant salience in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) in this study.

Methods: A sample of 92 subjects with SSDs underwent an assessment using Davos Assessment Cognitive Biases (DACOBS) and the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) in a cross-sectional design.

Numerical simulation of slug flow in pipelines using drift flux constitutive equations for gas-viscous oil two-phase flow.

Transient simulation of multiphase flow in pipes has been performed using Two-Fluid Model and Drift-Flux Model. The main advantage of the Drift-Flux Model is the reduced number of differential equations, which results in a lower computational time. However, the accuracy of the model depends on a suitable constitutive equation for the velocity of the dispersed phase, commonly, the gas phase.

Magnesium-Vacancy Optical Centers in Diamond.

We provide the first systematic characterization of the structural and photoluminescence properties of optically active centers fabricated upon implantation of 30-100 keV Mg ions in synthetic diamond. The structural configurations of Mg-related defects were studied by the electron emission channeling technique for short-lived, radioactive Mg implantations at the CERN-ISOLDE facility, performed both at room temperature and 800 °C, which allowed the identification of a major fraction of Mg atoms (∼30 to 42%) in sites which are compatible with the split-vacancy structure of the MgV complex. A smaller fraction of Mg atoms (∼13 to 17%) was found on substitutional sites.

Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness in Episodic Vestibular Disorders.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Vestibular Migraine (VM), and Meniere Disease (MD) are among the most common episodic vestibulopathies. Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic functional vestibular disorder that can arise in patients suffering from one or more of these conditions. We analyzed the role of these vestibular disorders as single or multiple associated comorbidities and as a precipitating condition for PPPD.

Aberrant salience correlates with psychotic dimensions in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Background: Aberrant salience is a well-known construct associated with the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. However, only a few studies have investigated aberrance salience as a trait, with no study investigating the association between the five aberrant salience domains and psychotic symptoms. We aimed to explore the role of aberrant salience and its domains on psychotic dimensions in both clinically remitted and non-remitted patients.

Validation of the Italian version of the Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale (DACOBS) in a sample of schizophrenia spectrum disorder patients and healthy controls.

Purpose: Recently two instruments were developed to address the study of the cognitive biases in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD): the Cognitive Biases Questionnaire for Psychosis (CBQ-P) and the Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale (DACOBS). Aim of this study was to validate the Italian version of the DACOBS.

Methods: We investigated factor structure, reliability, discriminative and convergent validity of the instrument by comparing to the CBQ-P in an Italian sample of 102 patients diagnosed with SSD and 330 healthy controls (HC), matched by age, education and gender.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Textile Dye on Blended Cellulose Acetate Membranes.

This work aimed to investigate the degradation performance of natural cellulose acetate (CA) membranes filled with ZnO nanostructures. Photocatalytic degradation of reactive toxic dye methylene blue (MB) was studied as a model reaction using UV light. A CA membrane was previously casted and fabricated through the phase inversion processes and laboratory-synthesized ZnO microparticles as filler.

Synthesis and Characterization of Blended Cellulose Acetate Membranes.

The casting and preparation of ultrafiltration ZnO modified cellulose acetate membrane (CA/ZnO) were investigated in this work. CA membranes were fabricated by phase inversion using dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent and ZnO as nanostructures materials. Ultrafiltration (UF) performance, mechanical stability, morphology, contact angle, and porosity were evaluated on both CA- and ZnO-modified CA samples.

Naturalistic and Uncontrolled Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Vortioxetine in Binge Eating Disorder With Comorbid Depression.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is clinically relevant by virtue of the global impairment, poor quality of life, and increased overall medical morbidity. The high comorbidity with psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, has received attention as a possible mediator of the poor outcome. Further, BED and depression share cognitive dysfunctions.

Clinical Impact of Psychopathy on Bipolar Disorder.

. Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with a significant burden due to affective symptoms and behavioral manifestations, but also cognitive and functional impairment. Comorbidity with other psychiatric conditions, including personality disorders, is frequent.

Adverse childhood experiences and clinical severity in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: A transdiagnostic two-step cluster analysis.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are risk factors for psychiatric disorders, but evidence about their relationship with clinical severity is limited. We aimed to classify patients according to ACEs and to compare these clusters with regards to the clinical severity.

Methods: Seventy-four patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) and 91 patients with a diagnosis within the Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSDs) were interviewed.

Machine learning techniques in a structural and functional MRI diagnostic approach in schizophrenia: a systematic review.

Background: Diagnosis of schizophrenia (SCZ) is made exclusively clinically, since specific biomarkers that can predict the disease accurately remain unknown. Machine learning (ML) represents a promising approach that could support clinicians in the diagnosis of mental disorders.

Objectives: A systematic review, according to the PRISMA statement, was conducted to evaluate its accuracy to distinguish SCZ patients from healthy controls.

Childhood adversities are different in Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders, Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.

Background: Research has shown that a history of childhood adversities is common in patients with psychiatric disorders but few studies have investigated links between specific types of adversity and specific psychiatric disorders.

Methods: We investigated the frequency of early childhood adversities in a sample consisting of 91 patients with diagnosis of schizophrenic spectrum disorders (SSD), 74 patients with bipolar disorder (BD), 83 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 85 healthy controls and sought to identify adverse early childhood life events that predict the development of major psychiatric disorders. The Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse questionnaire was used to collect data on traumatic experiences occurring before the age of 17 years and comprehensive demographic data were also collected.

Maternal stress, prenatal medical illnesses and obstetric complications: Risk factors for schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Maternal stress and medical illnesses during early life are well-documented environmental indicators of an increased risk of schizophrenia. Few studies, conversely, have confirmed an association with major affective disorders. The present study examined the impact of maternal stress, medical illnesses and obstetric complications on the development of severe mental disorder in 240 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder and matched with 85 controls.

A real world study on the genetic, cognitive and psychopathological differences of obese patients clustered according to eating behaviours.

Background: Considering that specific genetic profiles, psychopathological conditions and neurobiological systems underlie human behaviours, the phenotypic differentiation of obese patients according to eating behaviours should be investigated. The aim of this study was to classify obese patients according to their eating behaviours and to compare these clusters in regard to psychopathology, personality traits, neurocognitive patterns and genetic profiles.

Methods: A total of 201 obese outpatients seeking weight reduction treatment underwent a dietetic visit, psychological and psychiatric assessment and genotyping for SCL6A2 polymorphisms.

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography compared with biopsy for evaluating hepatic fibrosis after liver transplantation: a cross-sectional diagnostic study.

Context And Objective:: Biopsies are used after liver transplantation to evaluate fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate the elasticity of transplanted livers by means of a non-invasive examination, acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) elastography, correlating the results with the histological analysis.

Design And Setting:: Cross-sectional study in a public university hospital.

Ability of EDI-2 and EDI-3 to correctly identify patients and subjects at risk for eating disorders.

Aims: The prevention and early recognition of eating disorders (EDs) are important topics in public health. This study aims to compare the efficacy of the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI-2) with the new version, EDI-3 in recognising patients and identifying subjects at risk for EDs.

Methods: The EDI-2 and EDI-3 were administered to 92 female patients with ED and 265 females from a population at risk for EDs.

Clinical and pathological evaluation of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma: a single center study of 21 cases.

Objectives: Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare primary malignant liver tumor that differs from conventional hepatocellular carcinoma in several aspects. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, surgical and histopathological features of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma and to analyze the factors associated with survival.

Methods: We identified 21 patients with histopathologically diagnosed fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma over a 22-year period.

Liver transplantation: fifty years of experience.

Since 1963, when the first human liver transplantation (LT) was performed by Thomas Starzl, the world has witnessed 50 years of development in surgical techniques, immunosuppression, organ allocation, donor selection, and the indications and contraindications for LT. This has led to the mainstream, well-established procedure that has saved innumerable lives worldwide. Today, there are hundreds of liver transplant centres in over 80 countries.

Surgical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases.

Context: Colorectal cancer is the second most prevalent cancer worldwide, and the liver is the most common site of metastases. Surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases provides the sole possibility of cure and the best odds of long-term survival. Objectives To describe surgical outcomes and identify features associated with disease prognosis in patients submitted to synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis resection.

Surgical margin size in hepatic resections for colorectal metastasis: impact on recurrence and survival.

Background: Approximately 50% of the patients with a colorectal tumor develop liver metastasis, for which hepatectomy is the standard care. Several prognostic factors have been discussed, among which is the surgical margin. This is a recurring issue, since no consensus exists as to the minimum required distance between the metastatic nodule and the liver transection line.

Tumor growth pattern as predictor of colorectal liver metastasis recurrence.

Background: Surgical resection is the gold standard therapy for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRM). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of tumor growth patterns on disease recurrence.

Methods: We enrolled 91 patients who underwent CRM resection.

Serum B-type natriuretic peptide in the initial workup of patients with new onset ascites: a diagnostic accuracy study.

Unlabelled: Heart failure (HF) is, after cirrhosis, the second-most common cause of ascites. Serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) plays an important role in the diagnosis of HF. Therefore, we hypothesized that BNP would be useful in the differential diagnosis of ascites.

Human use of Leucoselect® Phytosome® with special reference to inflammatory-allergic pathologies in frail elderly patients.

Human ageing is characterized by several abnormalities of both innate and adaptive immune responses, thus leading to an increased frequency of infectious, inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune diseases. In elderly patients, among allergic diseases, asthma is a very common pathological event which complicates the dysfunction of many systems. Among a variety of natural products used to modulate the altered immune response, polyphenols have been shown to exert antiinflammatory activities in both young and aged persons.