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Investigating the Uniform Information Density hypothesis with complex nominal compounds
- John C. B. Gamboa, Leigh B. Fernandez, Shanley E. M. Allen
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- Applied Psycholinguistics , First View
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- 12 April 2024, pp. 1-46
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The Uniform Information Density (UID) hypothesis proposes that speakers communicate by transmitting information close to a constant rate. When choosing between two syntactic variants, it claims that speakers prefer the variant distributing information most evenly, avoiding signal peaks and troughs. If speakers prefer transmitting information uniformly, then comprehenders should also prefer a uniform signal, experiencing difficulty whenever confronted with informational peaks. However, the literature investigating this hypothesis has focused mostly on production, with only a few studies considering comprehension. In this study, we investigate comprehension in two eye-tracking experiments. Participants read sentences of two different lengths, reflecting different degrees of density, containing either a dense structure (a nominal compound, NC) or a structure that spreads the information through more words (a noun followed by a prepositional phrase, PP). Favoring the UID hypothesis, participants gazed longer at text segments following the critical structure when it was an NC than when it was a PP. They also regressed more in sentences containing longer structures. However, the pattern of results was not as clear as expected, potentially reflecting participants’ experience with the denser structure or task differences between production and comprehension. These aspects should be taken into account in future research investigating the UID hypothesis for comprehension.
Helminth parasites of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in southwest Europe
- J. Torres, C. Feliu, J. Fernández-Morán, J. Ruíz-Olmo, R. Rosoux, M. Santos-Reis, J. Miquel, R. Fons
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- Journal of Helminthology / Volume 78 / Issue 4 / December 2004
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 12 April 2024, pp. 353-359
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The helminth fauna in 109 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) from France, Portugal and Spain was analysed, together with 56 faecal samples collected in Portugal and 23 fresh stools from otters included in a reintroduction programme. Seven helminth species were found in L. lutra in southwest Europe: Phagicola sp. (Trematoda), Aonchotheca putorii, Eucoleus schvalovoj, Strongyloides lutrae, Anisakis (third stage larvae) and Dirofilaria immitis (Nematoda), and Gigantorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala). Eucoleus schvalovoj was the dominant species throughout southwest Europe. Strongyloides lutrae was significantly more prevalent in the Iberian Peninsula than in France. Apart from these two dominant nematodes and A. putorii, the other helminth species were incidental parasites of L. lutra in southwest Europe. The helminth fauna of L. lutra in southwest Europe is, in general, poorer than that reported in eastern Europe and in all other aquatic mustelids in southwest Europe. Phagicola specimens are reported for the first time in a non-marine wild carnivore in Europe. The prevalences of E. schvalovoj and S. lutrae obtained by necropsy were higher than those observed by coprological analysis using a formalin-ether concentration method (Ritchie). Nevertheless, the culture of fresh faeces appears to be the best method to study infection of L. lutra by Strongyloides.
Inequality on the frontline: A multi-country study on gender differences in mental health among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Diana Czepiel, Clare McCormack, Andréa T.C. da Silva, Dominika Seblova, Maria F. Moro, Alexandra Restrepo-Henao, Adriana M. Martínez, Oyeyemi Afolabi, Lubna Alnasser, Rubén Alvarado, Hiroki Asaoka, Olatunde Ayinde, Arin Balalian, Dinarte Ballester, Josleen A.l. Barathie, Armando Basagoitia, Djordje Basic, María S. Burrone, Mauro G. Carta, Sol Durand-Arias, Mehmet Eskin, Eduardo Fernández-Jiménez, Marcela I. F. Frey, Oye Gureje, Anna Isahakyan, Rodrigo Jaldo, Elie G. Karam, Dorra Khattech, Jutta Lindert, Gonzalo Martínez-Alés, Franco Mascayano, Roberto Mediavilla, Javier A. Narvaez Gonzalez, Aimee Nasser-Karam, Daisuke Nishi, Olusegun Olaopa, Uta Ouali, Victor Puac-Polanco, Dorian E. Ramírez, Jorge Ramírez, Eliut Rivera-Segarra, Bart P.F. Rutten, Julian Santaella-Tenorio, Jaime C. Sapag, Jana Šeblová, María T. S. Soto, Maria Tavares-Cavalcanti, Linda Valeri, Marit Sijbrandij, Ezra S. Susser, Hans W. Hoek, Els van der Ven
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- Journal:
- Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health / Volume 11 / 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 March 2024, e34
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Healthcare workers (HCWs) were at increased risk for mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, with prior data suggesting women may be particularly vulnerable. Our global mental health study aimed to examine factors associated with gender differences in psychological distress and depressive symptoms among HCWs during COVID-19. Across 22 countries in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, 32,410 HCWs participated in the COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErS (HEROES) study between March 2020 and February 2021. They completed the General Health Questionnaire-12, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and questions about pandemic-relevant exposures. Consistently across countries, women reported elevated mental health problems compared to men. Women also reported increased COVID-19-relevant stressors, including insufficient personal protective equipment and less support from colleagues, while men reported increased contact with COVID-19 patients. At the country level, HCWs in countries with higher gender inequality reported less mental health problems. Higher COVID-19 mortality rates were associated with increased psychological distress merely among women. Our findings suggest that among HCWs, women may have been disproportionately exposed to COVID-19-relevant stressors at the individual and country level. This highlights the importance of considering gender in emergency response efforts to safeguard women’s well-being and ensure healthcare system preparedness during future public health crises.
Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on blood pressure in hypertensive adult patients: A systematic review
- J.C. Fernández-Cao, D. Villarroel, C. Silva, C. Doepking, J. Rojas
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- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 82 / Issue OCE5 / 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 January 2024, E351
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Formation of Nontronite from Oxidative Dissolution of Pyrite Disseminated in Precambrian Felsic Metavolcanics of the Southern Iberian Massif (Spain)
- J. C. Fernández-Caliani, E. Crespo, M. Rodas, J. F. Barrenechea, F. J. Luque
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- Clays and Clay Minerals / Volume 52 / Issue 1 / February 2004
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 January 2024, pp. 106-114
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This paper describes a rare occurrence of nontronite associated with sulfide-bearing felsic metavolcanics, providing evidence of colloidal deposition in open spaces as result of a low-temperature water-rock interaction. Microbotryoidal masses of green nontronite with impurities of kaolinite, illite, barite, amorphous silica and iron oxyhydroxides are found as vein and cavity fillings in deeply kaolinized rhyolites and rhyolitic tuffs of Precambrian age, at Oliva de Merida in SW Spain. Clay mineral characterization has been carried out by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, analytical electron microscopy and stable isotope (oxygen and hydrogen) analysis. Nontronite was formed under low-temperature alteration conditions, from a continuous sequence of reactions and aqueous solution compositions, involving two basic processes that acted in concert: oxidative dissolution of pyrite and hydrolysis of K-feldspar. After acidity neutralization, dissolved silica released by incongruent dissolution of K-feldspar reacted with ferric sulfate derived from pyrite oxidation to form nontronite under oxidizing conditions, in the presence of relatively warm meteoric water.
8 The Dunning-Kruger Effect on a Latinx Population
- Carolina Garza Castaneda, Matthew J. Wright, Raymundo Cervantes, Tara L. Victor, Krissy E. Smith, Chelsea McElwee, Adriana Cuello, Alberto L. Fernandez, Isabel D. C. Munoz, David J. Hardy, Daniel W. Lopez-Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 423-424
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Objective:
Individuals tend to overestimate their abilities in areas where they are less competent. This cognitive bias is known as the Dunning-Krueger effect. Research shows that Dunning-Krueger effect occurs in persons with traumatic brain injury and healthy comparison participants. It was suggested by Walker and colleagues (2017) that the deficits in cognitive awareness may be due to brain injury. Confrontational naming tasks (e.g., Boston Naming Test) are used to evaluate language abilities. The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontational naming task developed to be administered in multiple languages. Hardy and Wright (2018) conditionally validated a measure of perceived mental workload called the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). They found that workload ratings on the NASA-TLX increased with increased task demands on a cognitive task. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the Dunning-Kruger effect occurs in a Latinx population and possible factors driving individuals to overestimate their abilities on the CNT. We predicted the low-performance group would report better CNT performance, but underperform on the CNT compared to the high-performance group.
Participants and Methods:The sample consisted of 129 Latinx participants with a mean age of 21.07 (SD = 4.57). Participants were neurologically and psychologically healthy. Our sample was divided into two groups: the low-performance group and the high-performance group. Participants completed the CNT and the NASA-TLX in English. The NASA-TLX examines perceived workload (e.g., performance) and it was used in the present study to evaluate possible factors driving individuals to overestimate their abilities on the CNT. Participants completed the NASA-TLX after completing the CNT. Moreover, the CNT raw scores were averaged to create the following two groups: low-performance (CNT raw score <17) and high-performance (CNT raw score 18+). A series of ANCOVA's, controlling for gender and years of education completed were used to evaluate CNT performance and CNT perceived workloads.
Results:We found the low-performance group reported better performance on the CNT compared to the high-performance, p = .021, np2 = .04. However, the high-performance group outperformed the low-performance group on the CNT, p = .000, np2 = .53. Additionally, results revealed the low-performance group reported higher temporal demand and effort levels on the CNT compared to the high-performance group, p's < .05, nps2 = .05.
Conclusions:As we predicted, the low-performance group overestimated their CNT performance compared to the high-performance group. The current data suggest that the Dunning-Kruger effect occurs in healthy Latinx participants. We also found that temporal demand and effort may be influencing awareness in the low-performance group CNT performance compared to the high-performance group. The present study suggests subjective features on what may be influencing confrontational naming task performance in low-performance individuals more than highperformance individuals on the CNT. Current literature shows that bilingual speakers underperformed on confrontational naming tasks compared to monolingual speakers. Future studies should investigate if the Dunning-Kruger effects Latinx English monolingual speakers compared to Spanish-English bilingual speakers on the CNT.
22 Cordoba Naming Test Performance and Acculturation in a Geriatric Population
- Isabel C.D. Muñoz, Krissy E. Smith, Santiago I. Espinoza, Diana M. R. Maqueda, Adriana C. Cuello, Ana Paula Pena, Carolina Garza, Raymundo Cervantes, Jill Razani, Tara L. Victor, David J. Hardy, Alberto L. Fernandez, Natalia Lozano Acosta, Daniel W. Lopez-Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 335-336
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Objective:
A commonly used confrontation naming task used in the United States is The Boston Naming Test (BNT). Performance differences has been found in Caucasian and ethnic minorities on the BNT. The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontation naming task developed in Argentina. Past research has shown acculturation levels can influence cognitive performance. Furthermore, one study evaluated geriatric gender differences on CNT performance in Spanish. Researchers reported that older male participants outperformed female participants on the CNT. To our knowledge, researchers have not evaluated ethnic differences on the CNT using a geriatric sample. The purpose of the present study was to examined CNT performance and acculturation in a Latinx and Caucasian geriatric sample. It was predicted the Caucasian group would outperform the Latinx group on the CNT. Moreover, the Caucasian group would report higher acculturation levels on the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AMAS) compared to the Latinx group.
Participants and Methods:The sample consisted of 9 Latinx and 11 Caucasian participants with a mean age of 66.80 (SD =6.10), with an average of 14.30 (SD = 2.00) years of education. All participants were neurologically and psychologically healthy and completed the CNT and the AMAS in English. Acculturation was measured via the AMAS English subscales (i.e., English Language, United States. Identity, United States, Competency). A series of ANCOVAs, controlling for years of education completed and gender, was used to evaluate CNT performance and acculturation.
Results:The ethnic groups were not well demographically matched (i.e., years of education and gender).We found that the Caucasian group outperformed the Latinx group on CNT performance p = .012, ηp 2 = .34. Furthermore, the Caucasian group reported higher acculturation levels (i.e., English Language, United States, Identity, United States, Competency) compared to the Latinx group p’s < .05, ηps2 = .42-.64.
Conclusions:To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate CNT performance between ethnic groups with a geriatric sample. As expected the Caucasian group outperformed the Latinx group on the CNT. Also, as expected the Caucasian group reported higher English acculturation levels compared to the Latinx group. Our findings are consistent with past studies showing ethnic differences on confrontational naming performance (i.e., The Boston Naming Test), favoring Caucasians. A possible explanation for group differences could have been linguistic factors (e.g., speaking multiple languages) in our Latinx group. Therefore, since our Latinx group reported lower levels of English Language, United States identity, and United States competency the Latinx group assimilation towards United States culture might of influence their CNT performance. Future studies with different ethnic groups (e.g., African-Americans) and a larger sample size should examine if ethnic differences continue to cross-validate in a geriatric sample.
30 Analyzing Spanish Speakers Cordoba Naming Test Performance
- Raymundo Cervantes, Isabel D.C. Munoz, Estefania J. Aguirre, Natalia Lozano Acosta, Mariam Gomez, Adriana C. Cuello, Krissy E. Smith, Diana I. Palacios Mata, Krithika Sivaramakrishnan, Yvette De Jesus, Santiago I. Espinoza, Diana M. R. Maqueda, David J. Hardy, Tara L. Victor, Alberto L. Fernandez, Daniel W. Lopez-Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 443-444
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Objective:
A 30-item confrontation naming test was developed in Argentina for Spanish speakers, The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT). The Boston Naming Test is an established confrontation naming task in the United States. Researchers have used the Boston Naming Test to identify individuals with different clinical pathologies (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease). The current literature on how Spanish speakers across various countries perform on confrontational naming tasks is limited. To our knowledge, one study investigated CNT performance across three Spanish-speaking countries (i.e., Argentina, Mexico, and Guatemala). Investigators found that the Guatemalan group underperformed on the CNT compared to the Argentine and Mexican groups. The purpose of this study was to extend the current literature and investigate CNT performance across five Spanish-speaking countries (i.e., Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, United States). We predicted that the Argentine group would outperform the other Spanish-speaking countries.
Participants and Methods:The present study sample consisted of 502 neurologically and psychologically healthy participants with a mean age of 29.06 (SD = 13.41) with 14.75 years of education completed (SD = 3.01). Participants were divided into five different groups based on their country of birth and current country residency (i.e., United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, & Colombia). All participants consented to voluntary participation and completed the CNT and a comprehensive background questionnaire in Spanish. The CNT consisted of 30 black and white line drawings, ranging from easy to hard in difficulty. An ANCOVA, controlling for gender, education, and age, was used to evaluate CNT performance between the five Spanish-speaking country groups. Meanwhile, a Bonferroni post-hoc test was utilized to evaluate the significant differences between Spanish-speaking groups. We used a threshold of p < .05 for statistical significance.
Results:Results revealed significant group differences between the five Spanish speaking groups on the CNT, p = .000, np2 = .48. Bonferroni post-hoc test revealed that the United States group significantly underperformed on the CNT compared to all the Spanish-speaking groups. Next, we found the Guatemalan group underperformed on the CNT compared to the Argentinian, Mexican, and Colombian groups. Additionally, we found the Argentinian group outperformed the Mexican, Guatemalan, and United States groups on the CNT. No significant differences were found between the Argentinian group and Colombian group or the Mexican group and Colombian group on the CNT.
Conclusions:As predicted, the Argentinian group outperformed all the Spanish-speaking groups on the CNT except the Colombian group. Additionally, we found that the United States group underperformed on the CNT compared to all the Spanish-speaking groups. A possible explanation is that Spanish is not the official language in the United States compared to the rest of the Spanish-speaking groups. Meanwhile, a possible reason why the Argentinian and Colombian groups demonstrated better CNT performances might have been that it was less culturally sensitive than the United States, Mexican, and Guatemalan groups. Further analysis is needed with bigger sample sizes across other Spanish-speaking countries (e.g., Costa Rica, Chile) to evaluate what variables, if any, are influencing CNT performance.
39 Perceived Workload and Language Order Effects on the Cordoba Naming Test in Spanish-English Bilinguals
- Krissy E. Smith, Isabel D. C. Munoz, Raymundo Cervantes, Andrea R. Preciado, Tara L. Victor, Natalia Garcia, Paula V. Bracho, Enrique Lopez, Alberto L. Fernandez, Yvette De Jesus, Daniel W. Lopez-Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 451-452
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Objective:
The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontation naming task. The administration of the CNT can be administered in multiple languages. Hardy and Wright (2018) conditionally validated a measure of perceived mental workload called the National Aeronautic Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). They found that workload ratings on the NASA-TLX increased with increased demands on a cognitive task. Researchers found interactions in a study examining language proficiency and language (i.e., in which the test was administered) on several tasks of the Golden Stroop Test. Their results revealed that unbalanced bilinguals’ best-spoken language showed significantly better results compared to balanced bilinguals’ where language use did not matter. To our knowledge, no study has examined the order effects of Spanish-English bilingual speakers’ CNT performance and perceived workloads when completed in Spanish first compared to English second and vice-versa. We predicted that persons that completed the CNT in English first would demonstrate better performances and report lower perceived workloads on the CNT compared to completing the CNT in Spanish second. In addition, we predicted that persons that completed the CNT in Spanish first would demonstrate worse performance and higher perceived workloads on the CNT compared to completing the CNT in English second.
Participants and Methods:The sample consisted of 62 Spanish-English healthy and neurologically bilingual speakers with a mean age of 19.94 (SD= 3.36). Thirty-seven participants completed the CNT in English first and then in Spanish (English-to-Spanish) and 25 participants completed the CNT in Spanish first and then in English (Spanish-to-English). The NASA-TLX was used to evaluate CNT perceived workloads. All the participants completed the NASA-TLX in English and Spanish after completing the CNT in the language given, respectfully. A series of paired-samples T-Tests were completed to evaluate groups CNT performance and perceived workload.
Results:We found that the English-to-Spanish group performed better on the CNT in English first than completing it in Spanish second, p = .000. We also found that the English-to-Spanish group reported better performance and less mentally demanding on the CNT when it was completed in English first compared to completing it in Spanish second, p’s < .05. Regarding the Spanish-to-English group, we found participants performed worse when they completed the CNT in Spanish first compared to completing the CNT in English second, p = .000. Finally, the Spanish-to-English group reported worse performance completing the CNT in Spanish first, more temporal demanding, and more frustrating compared to completing the CNT in English second, p’s < .05.
Conclusions:As expected, when participants completed the CNT in English, regardless of the order, they performed better and reported lower perceived workloads compared to completing the CNT in Spanish. Our data suggests that language order effect influenced participants CNT performance possibly due to not knowing specific items in Spanish compared to in English. Future studies using larger sample sizes should evaluate language order effects on the CNT in Spanish-English balanced bilingual speakers compared to unbalanced bilingual speakers.
Archaeological Analysis of a Water Mill from the Nineteenth Century in Salta, Argentina
- Pablo José Pifano, Fernando J. Fernández, Ailín A. Guillermo, Natalia S. Petrucci, María C. Páez
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- Latin American Antiquity , First View
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- 31 August 2023, pp. 1-17
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Hydraulic mills were introduced in the early colonial period in the Americas to grind wheat into flour. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the rise of the agro-export model in Latin America shaped the development of a flour industry in which water-powered mills played a central role. Over time, these technologies were used not only to increase production for the export market but also to meet the needs of domestic consumption, both local and regional. In this context, in 2017 we began to investigate the characteristics of a hydraulic mill, currently in disuse, in the town of Payogasta in the province of Salta (Argentina), to determine its chronology and functionality. In addition to surveying the structure, we conducted excavations in the nearby rooms that were part of the site. We found that this mill was in operation between the end of the nineteenth and the end of the twentieth centuries, grinding wheat, corn, carob, and red bell pepper, and that the adjoining rooms were used to house the people who were waiting their turn to grind their raw materials.
Development of compact tokamak fusion reactor use cases to inform future transport studies
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- C. Holland, E.M. Bass, D.M. Orlov, J. McClenaghan, B.C. Lyons, B.A. Grierson, X. Jian, N.T. Howard, P. Rodriguez-Fernandez
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- Journal of Plasma Physics / Volume 89 / Issue 4 / August 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 August 2023, 905890418
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The OMFIT STEP (Meneghini et al., Nucl. Fusion, vol. 10, 2020, p. 1088) workflow has been used to develop inductive and steady-state H-mode core plasma scenario use cases for a $B_0 = 8 \, {\rm T}$, $R_0 = 4 \, {\rm m}$ machine to help guide and inform future higher-fidelity studies of core transport and confinement in compact tokamak reactors. Both use cases are designed to produce 200 MW or more of net electric power in an up-down symmetric plasma with minor radius $a = 1.4 \, {\rm m}$, elongation $\kappa = 2.0$, triangularity $\delta = 0.5$ and effective charge $Z_{{\rm eff}} \simeq 2$. Additional considerations based on the need for compatibility of the core with reactor-relevant power exhaust solutions and external actuators were used to guide and constrain the use case development. An extensive characterization of core transport in both scenarios is presented, the most important feature of which is the extreme sensitivity of the results to the quantitative stiffness level of the transport model used as well as the predicted critical gradients. This sensitivity is shown to arise from different levels of transport stiffness exhibited by the models, combined with the gyroBohm-normalized fluxes of the predictions being an order of magnitude larger than other H-mode plasmas. Additionally, it is shown that although heating in both plasmas is predominantly to the electrons and collisionality is low, the plasmas remain sufficiently well coupled for the ions to carry a significant fraction of the thermal transport. As neoclassical transport is negligible in these conditions, this situation inherently requires long-wavelength ion gyroradius-scale turbulence to be the dominant transport mechanism in both plasmas. These results are combined with other basic considerations to propose a simple heuristic model of transport in reactor-relevant plasmas, along with simple metrics to quantify coupling and core transport properties across burning and non-burning plasmas.
Night-time/daytime Protein S100B serum levels in paranoid schizophrenic patients
- E. Diaz-Mesa, A. Morera-Fumero, L. Torres-Tejera, A. Crisostomo-Siverio, P. Abreu-Gonzalez, R. Zuñiga-Costa, S. Yelmo-Cruz, R. Cejas-Mendez, C. Rodriguez-Jimenez, L. Fernandez-Lopez, M. Henry-Benitez
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S445-S446
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Introduction
S100B is a calcium-binding astrocyte-specific cytokine, that is considered a biomarker of neurodegeneration; which may be involved in the imbalance of the inflammatory response observed in several brain disorders, including major depression and schizophrenia. Two meta-analyses have reported higher serum levels of S100B in patients with schizophrenia respect to healthy controls.
Different studies have described circadian and seasonal variations of biological variables, such as melatonin or cortisol. It has been reported that there is not circadian rhythm of S100B blood levels in healthy subjects. However, it is not known whether there are circadian oscillations in S100B blood concentrations in patients with schizophrenia.
ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to describe S100B serum levels in patients with schizophrenia and to analyse whether they follow a circadian rhythm.
MethodsOur sample consists in 47 patients in acute phase and stabilized status. Blood samples were collected at 12:00 and 00:00 hours by venipuncture. Serum levels of Protein S100B were measured three times: at admission, discharge and three months after discharge. Protein S100B was measured by means of ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) techniques.
Results12:00 24:00 P ADMISSION 132,95±199,27 85,85±121,44 0,004 DISCHARGE 73,65±71,744 75,80±123,628 0,070 CONTROL 43,49±34,60 40,14±23,08 0,47 P global P Admission Vs. Discharge P Admission Vs. Control P Discharge Vs. Control 0,97 There is a significance difference between 12:00 and 24:00 at admission for the Protein S100B.However, these difference did not occur at discharge and at three months after discharge.It can be interpreted as there is a circadian rhythm of Protein S100B when the patient has got a psychotic outbreak and disappears at discharge and when is psychopathologically stable.
ConclusionsWith respect to our results we can hypothesize that schizophrenic patients in acute relapse present circadian S100B rhythm that is not present when the patients are clinically stable.Furthermore, the decrease of serum protein S100B levels at discharge is indicative of a reduction of the cerebral inflammation, thus it can be a biomarker of cerebral inflammation and this reduction can be the effect of the treatment. Finally, its circadianity could be a guide of this process and clinical improvement.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITY IN A SAMPLE OF PATIENTS WITH COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL MINORITY DISEASE
- R. De la Mata, C. Manso-Bazús, S. Pujol, L. Torrent, L. Urraca, D. Vázquez-Tarrio, M. Esteve, E. Fernández, M. Pàmias
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S743
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Introduction
About the term cognitive-behavioral minority disease or rare disease are a group of diseases that affect between 6-8% of the populatio. It is estimated that there are more than 7000 in the world, the majority with a genetic basis and affect various organs and systems, they also present psychiactric comorbidities and cause a physical or mental disability. Given its definition, it is difficult to see a large number of these patients in our usual clinical activity, so their management can be complicated.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity and the prevalence of psyhcopharmacological treatment in children and adolescents whe present a minority disease.
MethodsThis is a descriptive, controlled, retrospective cross-sectional study of a sample obtained by non-probabilistic sampling, which is representative of the study population.
The statistical analysis was made using the statistical program SPSS V22 (2013).
ResultsWith a sample of 114 patients, of which 26,6% presented fragile X syndrome, secondly 25,3% presented Prader-Willi Syndrome and 48,1% other chromosomal abnormalities.
By subgroups (male:female): in Prader-Willi syndrome 6:14 (30%:70%), in Fragile X syndrome 12:9 (57,14%: 42,86%) and in other diseases 25:13 (75,69%: 34,21%).
ConclusionsThe creation of clinical expert units makes the possibility to increase knowledge of diseases whose prevalence in the population, thanks to technological advances, is increasing and where scientific knowledge is still limited.
These units are also important, in order to be able to offer personalized intensive treatments in order to reduce polypharmacy. There is not a great difference between the minority diagnosis and polypharmacy, although there is less polypharmacy than expected, which may be the result of the success of the most intensive and personal psychotherapeutic intervention in the unit.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Do attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms influence treatment outcome in gambling disorder?
- C. Vintró-Alcaraz, G. Mestre-Bach, R. Granero, M. Gómez-Peña, L. Moragas, F. Fernández-Aranda, M. N. Potenza, S. Jiménez-Murcia
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S58-S59
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Introduction
Numerous studies point to the comorbidity between gambling disorder (GD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there is a lack of research exploring how ADHD symptoms might influence psychological treatment outcomes for GD.
ObjectivesTherefore, we aimed to explore differences between patients with GD with and without ADHD symptoms regarding psychopathology, personality, sociodemographic and especially treatment outcome measures.
MethodsThis longitudinal study included n=170 patients with GD receiving 16 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in a specialized unit of a public hospital. Multiple self-reported instruments were used to assess GD severity, personality, ADHD and other symptoms and sociodemographic measures prior to treatment.
ResultsA clinical profile characterized by greater GD severity, higher psychopathology and impulsivity, and less adaptive personality features was observed in patients with self-reported ADHD symptoms compared to those without. No significant differences in treatment response (measured by dropout and relapse rates) were reported between the two groups. However, patients with ADHD symptoms described more severe relapses (more money gambled) and GD patients who relapsed scored higher on measures of ADHD, particularly inattention.
ConclusionsIndividuals with GD and ADHD may experience more severe relapses following treatment, suggesting a need for more vigilant follow-up and interventions for patients with this comorbidity.
Disclosure of InterestC. Vintró-Alcaraz: None Declared, G. Mestre-Bach: None Declared, R. Granero: None Declared, M. Gómez-Peña: None Declared, L. Moragas: None Declared, F. Fernández-Aranda Consultant of: Novo Nordisk and editorial honoraria as EIC from Wiley, M. Potenza Consultant of: Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, AXA, Game Day Data, Baria-Tek and the Addiction Policy Forum; has been involved in a patent application with Yale University and Novartis; has received research support (to Yale) from Mohegan Sun Casino and Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling; and has consulted for and/or advised gambling and legal entities on issues related to impulse-control/addictive disorders, S. Jiménez-Murcia: None Declared
DOCTOR, I’M PREGNANT. Psychopharmacological treatment of depression in pregnant women. A clinical case of a pregnant woman and major depressive disorder
- M. Queipo De Llano De La Viuda, G. Guerra Valera, C. Vallecillo Adame, C. De Andrés Lobo, T. Jiménez Aparicio, M. Fernández Lozano, I. D. L. M. Santos Carrasco, N. De Uribe Viloria
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1011
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Introduction
Depression during pregnancy can appear with a prevalence of up to 11% of pregnant women. Psychotherapeutic treatment in these cases is considered the first option, but treatment with antidepressants is sometimes required in these cases.
ObjectivesTo present a clinical case of a pregnant patient diagnosed with depression.
MethodsLiterature review of the psychopharmacological treatment of depression during pregnancy and possible complications.
ResultsA 25y Year old woman, 22 weeks pregnant, who lives with her partner. She has no background in mental health. Paternal aunt diagnosed with type I Bipolar Disorder. She goes to the Mental Health Center for evaluation, due to anxiety and depressive symptoms of 4 weeks of evolution, she refers sadness and apathy, continuous crying, somatic anxiety and obsessive ruminations in relation to childbirth and inability to care for your child. Suicidal ideation as a resolution of her discomfort. She presents with global insomnia and a significant loss of appetite, with a weight loss of 3 kg. Treatment with sertraline 50 mg/day was started, with good tolerance and clinical response
ConclusionsThe psychopharmacological treatment of antenatal depression is a challenge for the psychiatric professional. In all cases, an adequate balance must be made between the risks and complications for the fetus and the psychopathological stability of the pregnant woman. Among the main risks of untreated depression are: preterm delivery and low birth weight, an increased risk of suicide and alterations in the development during the baby’s infancy. The most used antidepressants are the SSRIs, with sertraline being a good option. Paroxetine has been associated with cardiac defects in the newborn. There are studies with tricyclics and duals but no specific teratogenic pattern has been seen. They are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Exposure during the third trimester may be associated with obstetric complications.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Time discrimination in psychosis: findings from a neuroimaging study
- J. Goena, C. Vidal, S. Solís, M. Fernandez Seara, F. Ortuño, S. Garcés, M. Fernández
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S130-S131
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Introduction
Previous functional neuroimaging studies have demonstrated a brain network responsible of time discrimination (TD) processes, which may play a significant mediating role in other cognitive processes, such as change detection and cognitive control. The study of TD and its dysfunction in psychosis has become a matter of growing interest. We hypothesize that the impairment of the TD network is involved both in the mechanisms of psychosis and in the cognitive deficit presented by patients.
Objectives1. To delimit the brain regions involved in TD.
2. To examine the dysfunction in TD brain network in patients diagnosed with psychosis.
3. To sudy the integrity of brain white matter pathways in psychosis.
4. To verify whether the neuroimaging findings and TD test performance predict the neurocognitive profile of the patients.
MethodsParticipants included 20 patients with psychosis (PSY group) and 13 healthy controls (HC group). PSY group participants met remission criteria for 6 months prior to the study. Participants were interviewed for sociodemographic information and clinical assessments. They underwent a detailed cognitive assesment using the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Neuroimaging study was performed on a 3 Tesla MRI scanner. We designed an experimental task including a test tool to assess TD and Oddbal detection (OD) paradigms with a cognitive control component. The task was conducted under functional magentic resonance imaging (fMRI). We used the general linear model analysis of the individual data of the fMRI images and the random effects model for group inference. Group differences in DTI were tested using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS).
ResultsWe find statistically significant differences (fMRI) in the activity related to TD (in HC), with greater activity in frontal cortical regions, the insular cortex and the cerebellum. In the PSY group, differences in the functionality and activation pattern of brain networks responsible for TD are observed, although voxel clustering does not reach the cluster significance limit when compared to HC. Compared to the HC, the PSY group has a significant deficit of fractional anisotropy (DTI) in the whole brain and in 21 specific brain regions. The PSY group has significantly lower scores in six of the seven cognitive domains than the control group, as well as in the overall composite. We correlated FA values in the groups of interest with MCCB scores.
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ConclusionsWe have defined the TD network, its relationship with other brain networks and cognitive processes of more complexity. The inclusion of participants with stable psychosis allowed us to analyze de TD disfunction in the PSY group. We compared the integrity of TD related brain pathways and correlated the findings with various clinical characteristics and the cognitive impairment present in psychotic patients.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Does intensive home treatment change treatment trajectories of psychiatric disorders?
- A. Martín-Blanco, A. González-Fernández, A. Farré, S. Vieira, P. Alvaro, C. Isern, D. Giménez, C. Torres, V. de la Cruz, C. Martín, N. Moll, O. Castro, M. Sagué-Vilavella
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S167-S168
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Introduction
Intensive home treatment (IHT) for people experiencing a mental health crisis has been progressively established in many western countries as an alternative to in-ward admission. But is this a real alternative? We previously reported that patients treated in our IHT unit only differ from those voluntarily admitted to hospital in suicidal risk and severe behaviour disorders (not in other factors such as clinical severity) (Martín-Blanco et al., Rev Psiquiatr Salud Ment 2022;15:213-5). Now we are interested in disentangle if those patients who used to require inward management can be successfully treated at home.
ObjectivesTo describe subsequent treatment trajectories of the first 1000 admissions to our IHT unit and to compare clinical characteristics among the different groups of trajectories.
MethodsRetrospective cohort study. Subsequent treatment trajectories were collected from December 2016 to October 2022 and classified: absence, hospital, IHT, and mixed (hospital and IHT). Statistical significance was tested by means of ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test for quantitative variables (corrected for multiple comparisons) and chi-square tests for qualitative variables.
ResultsTables 1 shows the characteristics of the whole sample. Of the 1000 IHT admissions, 12.1% needed subsequent hospital admission(s), 12.7% IHT admission(s), and 9.3% mixed admission(s). There were no differences among these groups in median severity at IHT admission, but there were differences in the number of previous admissions (p=0.0001): the group with no subsequent admissions had less previous admissions than the other groups (pBonf<0.0001), and the group with subsequent IHT admissions had less than the group with mixed admissions (pBonf=0.0123). There were differences between groups regarding distribution of diagnoses (p<0.0001) (Fig. 1). When considering subsequent admissions by diagnosis, there were differences in severity at IHT admission (p=0.0068) and in number of previous hospitalizations (p<0.0001) (Fig. 2).
Table 1. Clinical characteristics of the whole sample (N=1000) mean SD Age (years) 47.07 17.02 CGI-s at admission * 5 4-5 N % Sex (female) 548 54.8% Psychotic disorders 463 46.3% Affective disorder 257 25.7% Bipolar disorder 128 12.8% Other disorders 152 15.2% Hospital admission in the previous 5 years 313 31.3% CGI-s: clinical global impression - severity. * median and IQR
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ConclusionsPatients that used to require inward management can now be treated at home when suffering an acute episode. Therefore, IHT has changed treatment trajectories for some patients with psychiatric disorders.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Brief psychotic episode in an adult without medical antecedents after suffering the indirect consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war
- R. G. Troyano, M. Fariña Francia, E. Marimon Muñoz, I. Fernandez Marquez, E. Miranda Ruiz, M. Arroyo Ucar, J. Ramirez Gonzalez, S. Ferreiro Gonzalez, C. Hidalgo, A. Quispe
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S911
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Introduction
Almost nine months after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, millions of people have been affected physically, economically and mainly mentally. Those who have stayed in their homeland, and the ones that have chosen to emigrate to a safer place.
ObjectivesThe objective of this article is to assess the importance of social stressors in the onset of a brief psychotic episode, even in the absence of substance abuse or previous illnesses.
MethodsThe case of a 45-year-old woman is described, known by the Pediatric Emergency Service, for being the tutor of a patient who suffered from anxiety attacks, having emigrated without her parents from Ukraine together with her 5 brothers. The psychotic episode begins when our patient gets notified that she must abandon the custody of the girl, because she will have to go to Turkey with her legal guardians. The family explains the behavioral changes that the patient made and how the clinical picture worsened.
ResultsShe was admitted at the Hospital’s Psychiatry Service and antipsychotics treatment started. After 5 days, the episode had completely been solved.
ConclusionsIn conclusion, we highlight the importance of social problems in the development of a psychiatric pathology and the necessary elements to prevent it: family support network, fast and efficient care services and availability of hospital and pharmaceutical resources.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Acute psychosis following corticosteroid administration for COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection: A case study
- E. Miranda Ruiz, E. Marimon Muñoz, J. Ramirez Gonzalez, M. Fariña, R. G. Troyano, M. I. Arroyo Ucar, S. Ferreiro, I. Fernandez Marquez, C. Hidalgo, A. Quispe, L. Delgado
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S790
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Introduction
Steroids are a necessary treatment for hypoxic respiratory failure; however there are many side effects that should be taken into account. A 44- year-old-woman with asthma and no past psychiatric history was admitted due to COVID-19 pneumonia and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, presenting hypoxic respiratory failure. After two days of intravenous methylprednisolone administration, the patient presented acute psychosis and agitation.
It has been previously described that steroid use can cause effects such as mania, anxiety, agitation, delirium and psychosis amongst other. However they are a necessary treatment in respiratory illnesses and are sometimes unavoidable.
ObjectivesThe aim was to examine the appropriate medical response to steroid induced psychosis in patients with acute hypoxic failure.
MethodsA bibliographical review was done in PubMed database searching recent cases of steroid induced psychosis using the words (“Steroid”, “Psychosis” and “COVID-19”).
ResultsAccording to literature, it has been shown that partial or complete reduction of steroid use and/or use of psychotropic has been successfully used to treat steroid induced psychosis. Following the research it was decided to reduce intravenous methylprednisolone dose from 20mg/ 8h to 20mg/12h and start oral haloperidol 5mg/8h the first 24h and reducing the dose progressively as the patient recovered. After the first 24 hours the patient presented adequate response to steroids as well as partial response to antipsychotic treatment; presenting no further agitation, absence of hallucinations and partial persistence of the persecutory delusion. A couple of days later there was complete remission of the psychotic symptoms and the patient was on the way to recovery from COVID-19 and RSV.
ConclusionsThere is evidence that suggests that medications such as steroids used to treat COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses can lead to psychotic episodes. It is very important to pay attention to possible side effects when treating with steroids and evaluate the patient history as well as suggest having a follow up visit after the hospital discharge.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Acute mutism in a young female. A case report of a 20-year-old female who presents a 3-month mutism
- A. Gonzalez-Mota, A. Gonzalez-Gil, C. Martin-Gomez, J. A. Benito-Sanchez, I. M. Peso-Navarro, L. Fernandez-Alonso
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S177-S178
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Introduction
A 20-year-old female presents with a progressive 3-month mutism, hyporexia (20kg weight loss), abulia, anhedonia, apathy, social isolation,seeking company of her parents even at night, bradypsychia, sialorrhea, psychomotor slowdown and hypomimia. She is hospitalized in the Psychiatric Brief Hospitalization Unit (PBHU).Her parents relate the beginning of this symptomatology to a breakup and gender violence,which the patient confirms during the interview by eye/cephalic movements and single words jotted down.
ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to describe the evolution of the patient during her hospitalization in the PBHU of Salamanca and to look into the available bibliography about mutism related to stress and sialorrhea.
MethodsWe carried out a follow-up of the hospitalization of the patient and a structured search in PubMed with the keywords “mutism”,“sialorrhea” and “stress” in the last 10 years in English,Spanish and French.
ResultsFew or no articles where found.Therefore, the articles about mutism and stress were analyzed, which focused mostly in selective mutism. Regarding fear,the response to cope with the threat(fight, flight, freeze) is mediated by the autonomic system. The “Polyvagal Theory” speaks about the vagus nerve participating in emotion regulation (social communication and mobilization). Dissociation, in this context,has adaptive and defensive purposes and its threshold can be reduced by repeated stress situations.Long-term alteration of the autonomic nervous system has been described in selective mutism.This malfunction can be related to an elevated production of saliva due to the activation of the parasympathetic in the salivary glands, causing sialorrhea in our patient.
The patient began treatment with sertraline 100mg and risperidone 2mg with the aim of its antidepressive and major tranquilizer effects, she also began individual and family psychotherapy, we assured her sleep and intakes and she began to progressively recover her speech and mobility,identifying a possible trigger for the symptomatology: a physical beating of gender violence after her breakup.
ConclusionsDissociation and “freeze” response can be a maladaptative mechanism to fear.The malfunction of the autonomic nervous system can explain the disconnection,poor gaze,low facial and body expression and inability to speak.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared