Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders: State of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries.

Background: Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care.

Methods: The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most common reasons for involuntary admissions.

18-Fluoride labeled sodium fluoride positron emission tomography with computer tomography: the impact of pretreatment staging in intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer.

Background: 18-Fluoride labeled sodium fluoride (Na-18-F) positron emission tomography with computer tomography (PET/CT) has a better sensitivity and specificity than whole body bone scan (WBBS) in detecting osseous metastatic prostate cancer. We performed a pilot study of 20 men to examine what level of impact Na-18-F PET/CT has on management plans when used for staging newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Twenty men were prospectively enrolled into the study in South Australia.

Hybrid Tc-magnetite tracer for dual modality sentinel lymph node mapping.

Accuracy of sentinel lymph node identification using radioactive tracers in non-superficial cancers can be limited by radiation shine through and low spatial resolution of detection systems such as intraoperative gamma probes. By utilising a dual radioactive/magnetic tracer, sensitive lymphoscintigraphy can be paired with high spatial resolution intraoperative magnetometer probes to improve the accuracy of sentinel node detection in cancers with complex multidirectional lymphatic drainage. Dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles (33 nm mean hydrodynamic diameter) were labelled with Tc and applied as a lymphotropic tracer in small and large animal models.

Preparation of Ga-Mg-Ca-phytate colloid and its evaluation as a liver imaging agent.

The objective of this study was to investigate the radiosynthesis of Ga-Mg-Ca-phytate colloid and then characterise the formulation for radiochemical purity (RCP), radioactive particle size distribution, and biodistribution in normal rats. This radiocolloid was prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of phytic acid, Ga ions, a dispersant, Mg and Ca ions, and then heating the contents at 100°C for 5 minutes. After cooling the vial to 5°C, the solution was basified to pH 5 and stored in the cold.

Ga-Ca-phytate particles: A potential lung perfusion agent of synthetic origin prepared in a cold kit format.

The objective of this study was to investigate the radiosynthesis of Ga-Ca-phytate particles and then characterize the formulation for radiochemical purity, radioactive particle size distribution, and biodistribution in normal rats. This radiotracer was prepared using a commercial phytate cold kit after reconstitution with saline, Ga-chloride generator eluent, calcium chloride, and air, then heating at 100°C for 30 minutes to achieve 99% radiochemical purity of Ga-particles that were 21% 3-5 μm, 8% 5-15 μm, and 71% >15 μm in diameter. This optimal formulation was stable for 2 hours at room temperature.

A study of radiogallium aqueous chemistry: in vitro and in vivo characterisation of (67) Ga-hydrolysed-stannous fluoride particles.

The objective of this study was to explore the aqueous chemistry of gallium using (67) Ga-chloride starting material, by radiolabelling hydrolysed(h)-stannous fluoride particles and then characterising the optimal formulation for radiochemical purity (RCP) and radioactive particle size distribution in vitro. The pilot reactions determined stannous fluoride was added to (67) Ga-acetate under nitrogen and then heated at 100 °C for 20 min to achieve ≥95% RCP and (67) Ga-particles were >3 µm in diameter. A high radioactive concentration of (67) Ga-h-SnF2 particles could be prepared similarly in ≥97% RCP with 74% as 3-5 µm and 26% >5 µm in diameter.

An improved assay for (68)Ga-hydroxide in (68)Ga-DOTATATE formulations intended for neuroendocrine tumour imaging.

The objective of this study was to identify a more rapid assay for (68)Ga(OH)3 impurity in (68)Ga-DOTATATE formulations. Three methods were used to prepare (68)Ga(OH)3 reference material (pharmacopoeial, bench titration and automated radiosynthesis), and four quality control methods for its assessment (thin layer chromatography, membrane filtration, HPLC and solid phase extraction). The optimal method of preparing (68)Ga(OH)3 was by titrating (68)Ga(3+) with buffered sodium hydroxide solutions to pH 5.

Radiotracers used for the scintigraphic detection of infection and inflammation.

Over the last forty years, a small group of commercial radiopharmaceuticals have found their way into routine medical use, for the diagnostic imaging of patients with infection or inflammation. These molecular radiotracers usually participate in the immune response to an antigen, by tagging leukocytes or other molecules/cells that are endogenous to the process. Currently there is an advancing effort by researchers in the preclinical domain to design and develop new agents for this application.

Lymphoscintigraphy is more effective using higher specific activity (99m)Tc-antimony trisulfide colloid in the rat.

Technetium-99m-antimony trisulfide colloid ((99m)Tc-ATC) was investigated with varying specific activity in the rat lymphatic system, as well as its binding to rat blood cells in vitro. Low, moderate and high doses of (99m)Tc-ATC were subdermally injected into tails of rats (n=3) and 30min later whole body lymphoscintigraphic images were acquired. (99m)Tc-ATC was incubated for 30min at 37°C with whole blood (n=4) as for control, at 4°C as for hypothermia, as opsonized at 37°C and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 37°C.

Postchemotherapy and tumor-selective targeting with the La-specific DAB4 monoclonal antibody relates to apoptotic cell clearance.

Unlabelled: Early identification of tumor responses to treatment is crucial for devising more effective and safer cancer treatments. No widely applicable, noninvasive method currently exists for specifically detecting tumor cell death after cytotoxic treatment and thus for predicting treatment outcomes.

Methods: We have further characterized the targeting of the murine monoclonal antibody DAB4 specifically to dead tumor cells in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical samples.

Mental health law in Greece.

Like all European countries, Greece has developed its national legislation based on the principles of equality and the right of representation, but there is no separate, specific mental health law in Greece. This paper describes the law for involuntary psychiatric admission. The law concerning criminal and civil responsibility and the law relating to individuals with addictions committing drug-related crimes are also outlined.

Evaluation of dangerousness of Greek mental patients.

There is a diachronic interest on the evaluation of the risk of violence by mental patients.Difficulties that have been underlined concern the definition of the term dangerousness and the different methods of approaching it. Accurate risk assessments are particularly important for psychiatric patients, with history of violence, in indoor care.

Host immune response determines visceral hyperalgesia in a rat model of post-inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with visceral hyperalgesia and frequently occurs after a transient gastrointestinal infection. Only a proportion of patients with acute gastroenteritis develop post-infectious IBS suggesting differences in host response to inflammatory stimuli. We aimed to investigate this concept by characterizing visceral sensitivity in two rat strains, following a chemically induced colitis.

Medical comorbidity of cluster B personality disorders.

Purpose Of Review: Cluster B personality disorders are associated with behaviour and lifestyle that cause significant problems not only for the personality disordered individual but for society as well. Despite the fact that cluster B personality disorders have attracted a lot of research interest recently, their association with medical (physical health) problems is less studied, though it is anticipated that personality is clinically important and influences the outcome of somatic disease illnesses.

Recent Findings: Cluster B personality disorders are associated with Axis I psychiatric disorders such as addiction that have serious and life-threatening physical comorbidity.

Factors affecting hospital stay in psychiatric patients: the role of active comorbidity.

Background: Research on length of stay (LOS) of psychiatric inpatients is an under-investigated issue. In this naturalistic study factors which affect LOS of two groups of patients were investigated, focusing on the impact on LOS of medical comorbidity severe enough to require referral.

Methods: Active medical comorbidity was quantified using referral as the criterion.

[From conduct disorder in childhood to psychopathy in adult life].

Mental health professionals seldom recognize psychopathy in their daily practice. Usually forensic psychiatrists and psychologists are involved because individuals with psychopathic personality are involved in serious criminal behavior and implicated with the law. Most of the times the profiles of children who evolve in adult psychopaths have components from other disorders, especially conduct disorder.

Female perpetrators of sexual abuse of minors: what are the consequences for the victims?

Introduction: The definition of sexual abuse changes according to the moral values and culture of each era. In the past the perpetrators of sexual abuse were perceived to be exclusively male. However, contemporary literature is placing increasing emphasis on the role of female sexual abusers.

Review on female sexual offenders: findings about profile and personality.

Introduction: Although in the past sexual abuse was perceived as an issue connected only with males the contemporary literature is placing increasing emphasis on the role of female sexual perpetrators. There is still disagreement about the definition of sexual abuse, the frequency that it occurs and the characteristics of the women that are sexual abusers.

Methods: Thorough research of the main databases (MEDLINE and PsycInfo), for case reviews and studies along with restriction on European and North American literature, is due to perceived culture differences.

Neuropathological correlates of late-life depression in older people.

Background: Depression is common in old age and is associated with risk of dementia, but its neuropathological correlates in the community are unknown.

Aims: To investigate for the first time in a population-representative sample of people with no dementia the association between depression observed during life and neurofibrillary tangles, diffuse and neuritic plaques, Lewy bodies, brain atrophy and cerebrovascular disease found in the brain at post-mortem.

Method: Out of 456 donations to a population-based study, 153 brains were selected where donors had no dementia measured in life.

[Self-assessment questionnaires for the investigation of bipolarity].

Contemporary research shows that bipolar disorders are very often faced initially as depression, while the precise diagnosis usually delay 8-10 years or more. As a result of this delay in the diagnosis, the patients do not receive appropriate treatment and are not led to recession of their symptoms. Roughly one third of depressed patients are treated at mental health services and two thirds at the primary care health services.

[Change of atmosphere in patients' family after attending rehabilitation programs].

Contemporary research had confirmed the opinion that an unstable familial environment, with expressed negative affects of healthy members, contributes to negative prognosis of patients. Rehabilitation Programs can contribute to reverse this negative atmosphere in families of mentally ill patients. In own research have participated 48 patients and their carers from different settings in the Athens area.

APOMAB, a La-specific monoclonal antibody, detects the apoptotic tumor response to life-prolonging and DNA-damaging chemotherapy.

Background: Antineoplastic therapy may impair the survival of malignant cells to produce cell death. Consequently, direct measurement of tumor cell death in vivo is a highly desirable component of therapy response monitoring. We have previously shown that APOMAB representing the DAB4 clone of a La/SSB-specific murine monoclonal autoantibody is a malignant cell-death ligand, which accumulates preferentially in tumors in an antigen-specific and dose-dependent manner after DNA-damaging chemotherapy.

Cognitive function and common mental disorders in older people with vascular and non-vascular disorders: a national survey.

Objective: Vascular disorders are important potential causes of cognitive impairment and common mental disorders but their specificity as risk factors has yet to be clarified. The objectives of this analysis were to compare vascular and non-vascular health problems with respect to their associations with cognitive function and common mental disorder.

Method: An analysis was carried out of cross-sectional data from the 2000 UK National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity.

Lymphatic mapping with 99mTc-Evans Blue dye in sheep.

Objective: 99mTc-Evans Blue (EB) is an agent that contains both radioactive and color signals in a single dose. Earlier studies in animal models have suggested that this agent when compared with the dual-injection technique of radiocolloid/blue dye can successfully discriminate the sentinel lymph node. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of 99mTc-EB as an agent to map the lymphatic system in an ovine model.

Smoking in patients with psychiatric disorders: Effects on their psychopathology and quality of life.

We are living in an era of implementing complete smoking cessation in all closed areas, following the example of the USA and other countries in the European Union. We appear more tolerant in our mentally ill in-patients, especially the ones suffering from long-term schizophrenia, where smoking is accepted and even encouraged. We tried to investigate the effect of smoking in these patients.