Publications by authors named "Serafini G"

Aim: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, with considerable variability of age-at-onset. We explored clinical and metabolic differences between early- and late-onset behavioural FTD (bvFTD), assuming that they might represent different disease phenotypes.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively studied consecutive patients diagnosed with prodromal or overt bvFTD with [F]FDG PET scan, neuropsychological assessment (NPS), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) available at baseline.

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Autologous blood centrifugation produces various forms of platelet concentrates widely used in tissue regenerative therapies due to their high concentrations of growth factors and abundance of autologous cells. Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin (A-PRF), introduced as a low-speed centrifugation product, contains an even higher concentration of growth factors, a greater number of cells, and a looser fibrin clot structure compared to previous Leukocyte and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF). This study aims to assess the potential of A-PRF as a local delivery system for antibiotics.

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Introduction: Current guidelines recommend cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. Pharmacological recommendations by European guidelines for the treatment of insomnia disorder include positive GABAergic modulators such as short and medium acting benzodiazepines and "Z-drugs" (eszopiclone, zaleplon, zolpidem, zopiclone), dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs; daridorexant), melatonin receptor agonists (melatonin 2 mg prolonged release - PR). Given the chronic nature of insomnia, the presence of non-responders to some treatments it is often necessary switching between various therapeutic approaches and medications.

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Progress of human brain in vitro models stands as a keystone in neurological and psychiatric research, addressing the limitations posed by species-specific differences in animal models. The generation of human neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using transcription factor reprogramming protocols has been shown to reduce heterogeneity and improve consistency across different stem cell lines. Despite notable advancements, the current protocols still exhibit several shortcomings.

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Objective: Time distortions characterise severe mental disorders, exhibiting different clinical and neurobiological manifestations. This systematic review aims to explore the existing literature encompassing experimental studies on time perception in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), considering psychopathological and cognitive correlates.

Methods: Studies using an experimental paradigm to objectively measure the capacity to judge time have been searched for.

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Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric condition requiring continuous treatment with antipsychotic medications available in different formulations, including oral antipsychotics (OAPs) and long-acting injectables (LAIs). This narrative review aims to comprehensively outline the advantages and disadvantages of OAPs and LAIs to support clinicians in choosing different formulations based on the presentation of clinical symptoms. An electronic search of the PubMed database was performed in June 2024, and additional articles were retrieved from the references or personal knowledge of the authors.

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Recent studies suggested that structural changes in the cerebellum are implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Here, we aimed to characterize the structural alterations of cerebellar lobules in BD, evaluating their possible relation with those occurring in the rest of the brain. One-hundred-fifty-five type I BD patients were recruited and compared with one-hundred-nineteen controls subjects.

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Structuring sensory events in time is essential for interacting with the environment and producing adaptive behaviors. Over the past years, the microstructure of temporality received increasing attention, recognized as a fundamental factor influencing cognitive, affective, and social abilities, whose alteration can underlie the etiopathogeneses of some clinical symptoms in psychiatric disorders. The present research investigated multisensory temporal processing in individuals with schizophrenia (N = 21), bipolar disorder (N = 20) and healthy controls (N = 21) in order to explore a plausible link between multisensory alterations in the temporal order of events and the psychopathological dimensions underlying psychosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aims to compare sociodemographic factors, clinical features, comorbidities, and treatment patterns between patients with bipolar disorder type I (BD I) and type II (BD II).
  • A total of 680 patients were assessed; findings revealed that BD I patients tend to be younger males who are single and unemployed, whereas BD II patients have a higher prevalence of suicide attempts and psychiatric comorbidities, along with more frequent alcohol use.
  • The results highlight distinct profiles for BD I and II, emphasizing the need for tailored therapeutic strategies and improved clinical classifications to enhance treatment outcomes.
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  • * A study involving 58 healthy adolescents analyzed their comfort distance and used sensory profiles and psychopathological assessments to investigate the connections between PS and eating disorder symptoms.
  • * Results indicated a correlation between comfort distance estimation and sensory profiles, alongside a link between sensory sensitivities and eating disorder symptoms, suggesting that social-emotional challenges could contribute to the development of these symptoms.
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  • Apathy unawareness in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is linked to differences between caregiver and patient assessments, potentially predicting progression to Alzheimer's dementia.
  • Researchers studied 28 MCI patients, using the Apathy Evaluation Scale to gauge apathy levels from both perspectives, and analyzed brain activity via PET scans.
  • Findings revealed that greater discrepancies in assessments correlated with lower metabolism in specific brain regions, indicating that apathy unawareness is tied to early limbic system disruptions rather than traditional pathways associated with apathy.
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Background: Over the past decade migration to Italy has increased significantly for various reasons including armed conflicts. Generally, the migration process is exposed to different risk factors during different periods of migration, which can compromise well-being and promote the onset or exacerbation of mental disorders. A community with resources and the perception of one's community as resilient can be important protective factor in the context of migration.

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  • Early diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) in youths lead to improved long-term outcomes, yet about one-third of affected patients do not receive adequate medication.
  • The authors review current literature on managing BD in children and adolescents, primarily focusing on the effectiveness and side effects of various pharmacological treatments.
  • Key findings indicate that while D2-blockers may have adverse effects, lurasidone is effective for acute juvenile bipolar depression, and lithium is beneficial for managing manic episodes; anticonvulsants are helpful as additional treatments for those not responding to first-line therapies, with no support for antidepressants in juvenile BD.
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  • Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant public health issue impacting physical, psychological, and social well-being, making abstinence the key treatment goal across various regulations.
  • A study involving 150 AUD patients revealed that active drinkers had notably higher levels of depression, impulsivity, alexithymia, and hopelessness compared to those who were abstinent.
  • The findings highlight the critical need for comprehensive treatment strategies that focus on promoting abstinence to improve mental health and reduce the risk of relapse and severe consequences like suicide.
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Over the last decades, a variety of biomaterials, ranging from synthetic products to autologous and heterologous grafts, have been recommended to conserve and regenerate bone tissue after tooth extraction. We conducted a biochemical study on ground extracted teeth that aimed to evaluate the osteoinductive and osteoconductive potential of dentin by assessing the releases of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2), osteocalcin (OC) and osteonectin (ON) over time (24 h, 10 days and 28 days). Twenty-six patients, who required the extraction of nonrestorable teeth, were enrolled in the study according to the inclusion criteria, as follows: thirteen young patients 18 to 49 years of age (UNDER 50), and thirteen patients of 50 to 70 years (OVER 50); a total of twenty-six teeth were extracted, ground and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

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Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) comorbidity is an emerging condition in psychiatry, with relevant nosological, clinical, and therapeutic implications.

Methods: We updated our previous systematic review on epidemiology and standard diagnostic validators (including phenomenology, course of illness, heredity, biological markers, and treatment response) of BD-OCD. Relevant papers published until (and including) 15 October 2023 were identified by searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, and Cochrane Library, according to the PRISMA statement (PROSPERO registration number, CRD42021267685).

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Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by positive, negative, affective, and cognitive symptoms. Affective symptoms in patients with schizophrenia have traditionally been overlooked or even neglected because they are not considered as fundamental as positive and negative symptoms in the choice of medication.

Methods: This paper aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of lurasidone in the treatment of depressive symptoms of schizophrenia.

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