17 results
Efficacy of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in recurrent depression: a case series
- G. Guerra Valera, Ó. Martín Santiago, M. Esperesate Pajares, Q. D. L. de la Viuda, A. A. Gonzaga Ramírez, C. Vallecillo Adame, C. de Andrés Lobo, T. Jiménez Aparicio, N. Navarro Barriga, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, A. Aparicio Parras, M. Calvo Valcárcel, M. A. Andreo Vidal, P. Martínez Gimeno, M. P. Pando Fernández, M. D. L. Á. Guillén Soto
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S832
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (mECT) is an option in the treatment of affective disorders which progress is not satisfactory. It is certainly neglected and underused during the clinical practice.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of mECT in reducing recurrence and relapse in recurrent depression within a sample of three patients.
MethodsWe followed up these patients among two years since they received the first set of electroconvulsive sessions. We applied the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in the succesives consultations for evaluating the progress.
ResultsThe three patients were diagnosed with Recurrent Depressive Disorder (RDD). One of them is a 60 year old man that received initially a cycle of 12 sessions; since then he received 10 maintenance sessions. Other one is a 70 year old woman that received initially a cycle of 10 sessions; since then she received 6 maintenance sessions. The last one is a 55 year old woman that received initially a cycle of 14 sessions; since then she received 20 maintenance sessions.
All of them showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms evaluated through BDI and clinical examination. In the first case, we found a reduction in the BDI from the first consultation to the last that goes from 60 to 12 points; in the second case, from 58 to 8 points; and in the last case, from 55 to 10 points. The main sections that improved were emotional, physical and delusional.
As side-effects of the treatment, we found anterograde amnesia, lack of concentration and loss of focus at all of them.
ConclusionsWe find mECT as a very useful treatment for resistant cases of affective disorders like RDD.
It should be considered as a real therapeutic option when the first option drugs have been proved without success.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
UNTIL IT BURSTS OR ALL OF US BURST. A SCHIZOTYPICAL CASE.
- B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, N. Navarro Barriga, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, M. A. Andreo Vidal, M. Calvo Valcárcel, P. Martínez Gimeno, M. P. Pando Fernández, A. Aparicio Parras, M. D. L. Á. Guillén Soto, T. Jiménez Aparicio, M. D. C. Vallecillo Adame, C. de Andrés Lobo, A. A. Gonzaga Ramírez, G. Guerra Valera, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, M. Esperesate Pajares
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S967
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Schizotypal disorder is conceptualized as a stable personality pathology (Cluster A) and as a latent manifestation of schizophrenia. It can be understood as an attenuated form of psychosis or high-risk mental state, which may precede the onset of schizophrenia or represent a more stable form of psychopathology that doesn’t necessarily progress to psychosis.
ObjectivesTo exemplify the continuum of psychosis
MethodsReview of scientific literature based on a relevant clinical case.
Results39-year-old male living with his parents. He started studying philosophy. He is a regular cannabis user and has an aunt with schizophrenia. He’s admitted to psychiatry for behavioral disturbance in public. He refers to having been hearing a beeping noise in his street for months, what he interprets as a possible way of being watched due to his past ideology. Without specifying who and why, he sometimes shouts “until it bursts” to stop the noise and he thinks that his neighbours alerted the police about his behavior. During the interview he alludes to Milgram’s experiment, saying that throughout history there have been crimes against humanity and those who pointed them out were labeled “crazy”. His father refers that he has always been “strange” and with certain extravagant revolutionary ideas and thoughts. He doesn’t maintain social relationships and dedicates himself to reading and writing.
ConclusionsIt’s important to understand psychosis as a continuum to advance the understanding of etiology, pathophysiology and resilience of psychotic disorders and to develop strategies for prevention and early intervention
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Delirious episode secondary to rotigotine: the psychotic patch
- M. A. Andreo Vidal, M. Calvo Valcárcel, P. Martínez Gimeno, P. Pando Fernández, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, N. Navarro Barriga, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, T. Jiménez Aparicio, M. D. C. Valdecillo Adame, C. de Andrés Lobo, G. Guerra Valera, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, A. A. Gonzaga Ramirez, M. D. L. Á. Guillén Soto, A. Aparicio Parras, M. Esperesate Pajares
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S626
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
There is a fine line separating psychiatry and neurology. Most movement disorders can have psychiatric symptoms, not only those caused by the disease itself, but also those induced by the drugs used to treat them.
ObjectivesPresentation of a clinical case about a patient diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease presenting a several-month-long delirious episode due to dopaminergic drugs.
MethodsLiterature review on drug-induced psychosis episodes in Parkinson’s disease.
ResultsA 57-year-old patient with diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease for six years, who went to the emergency room accompanied by his wife due to delirious ideation. He was being treated with levodopa, carbidopa and rasagiline for years, and rotigotine patches whose dosage was being increased over the last few months.
His wife reported celotypical clinical manifestations and multiple interpretations of different circumstances occurring around her. He chased her on the street, had downloaded an app to look for a second cell phone because he believed she was cheating on him, and was obsessed with sex. He had no psychiatric background. It was decided to prescribe quetiapine.
The following day, he returned because he refused to take the medication since he thought he was going to be put to sleep or poisoned. It was decided to admit him to Psychiatry.
During the stay, rasagiline and rotigotine were suspended. Olanzapine and clozapine were introduced, with behavioral improvement and distancing from the psychotic symptoms which motivated the admission. The patient was also motorically stable. Although levodopa is best known for causing psychotic episodes, the symptons were attributed to rotigotine patches for temporally overlapping the dose increase.
ConclusionsPsychiatric symptoms are the third most frequent group of complications in Parkinson’s disease after gastrointestinal complications and abnormal movements. All medication used to control motor disorders can lead to psychosis, not only dopaminergics, but also selegiline, amantadine and anticholinergics.
Excessive stimulation of mesocortical and mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways can lead to psychosis, which is the most common psychiatric problem related to dopaminergic treatment.
In the face of a psychotic episode, antiparkinsonian drugs which are not strictly necessary for motor control should be withdrawn. If this is not sufficient, levodopa dose should be reduced, considering the side effects that may occur. When the adjustment of antiparkinsonian treatment is not effective, neuroleptics, especially quetiapine or clozapine, should be administered. In a recent study, pimavanserin, a serotonin 5-HT2 antagonist, was associated with approximately 35% lower mortality than atypical antipsychotic use during the first 180 days of treatment in community-dwelling patients.
Medication should always be tailor-made to suit each patient and we usually have to resort to lowering or withdrawing the dopaminergic medication.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
I don’t know where I’m going or where I come from. Self-disorders in schizophrenia.
- M. D. C. Vallecillo Adame, L. Rodríguez Andrés, C. de Andrés Lobo, T. Jimenez Aparicio, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, G. Guerra Valera, A. A. Gonzaga Ramirez, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, N. Navarro Barriga, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, M. P. Pando Fernández, M. Calvo Valcárcel, P. Martínez Gimeno, M. A. Andreo Vidal, I. D. L. M. Santos Carrasco
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S1069-S1070
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
In the early stages of schizophrenia the person experiences feelings of strangeness about themselves, difficulty in making sense of things and difficulty in interacting with their environment. Based on this, self-disorder assessment instruments have been developed and empirical studies have been conducted to assess people at risk of developing a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. These studies show that self-disorders are found in pre-psychotic stages and that their manifestation can predict the transition to schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
ObjectivesWe present the case of a patient with multiple diagnoses and mainly dissociative symptoms who, after years of evolution, was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
MethodsBibliographic review including the latest articles in Pubmed about self-disorders and schizophrenia.
ResultsWe present the clinical case of a 51-year-old woman with a long history of follow-up in mental health consultations and with multiple hospital admissions to the psychiatric unit, with several diagnoses including: dissociative disorder, histrionic personality disorder, adaptive disorder unspecified psychotic disorder and, finally, schizophrenia. The patient during the first hospital admissions showed a clinical picture of intense anxiety, disorientation and claiming to be a different person. The patient related these episodes to stressors she had experienced, and they improved markedly after a short period of hospital admission. Later, psychotic symptoms appeared in the form of auditory and visual hallucinations and delusional ideation, mainly of harm, so that after several years of follow-up and study in mental health consultations and in the psychiatric day hospital, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and treatment with antipsychotics was introduced, with a marked clinical improvement being observed.
ConclusionsIt is important to take into account this type of symptoms (self-disorders), as they allow the identification of individuals in the early stages of the disorder and create the opportunity for early therapeutic interventions.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
PEAKS AND VALLEYS: BIPOLAR DISORDER, RAPID CYCLERS AND ENERGY DRINKS CONSUMPTION
- M. Calvo Valcárcel, M. A. Andreo Vidal, P. Martinez Gimeno, P. Pando Fernández, B. Rodriguez Rodriguez, N. Navarro Barriga, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, M. D. C. Vallecillo Adame, T. Jimenez Aparicio, C. de Andres Lobo, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, A. A. Gonzaga Ramirez, G. Guerra Valera
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S702-S703
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Bipolar Disorder (BD) is considered a serious mental disorder characterized by a changing mood that fluctuates between two completely opposite poles. It causes pathological and recurrent mood swings, alternating periods of exaltation and grandiosity with periods of depression. We talk about rapid cyclers when four or more manic, hypomanic or depressive episodes have occurred within a twelve-month period. Mood swings can appear rapidly. Approximately half of the people with bipolar disorder may develop rapid cycling at some point.
ObjectivesPresentation of a clinical case about a patient with Bipolar Disorder with rapid cycling and poor response to treatment.
MethodsReview of the scientific literature based on a clinical case.
Results33-year-old male, single, living with his mother, under follow-up by mental health team since 2012. First debut of manic episode in 2010. The patient has filed multiple decompensations related to consumption of toxics (alcohol and cannabis). Currently unemployed. He attended to the emergency service in June 2022 accompanied by his mother, who reported that he was restless. The patient refers that he has interrupted the treatment during the vacations, having sleep rhythm disorder with abuse of caffeine drinks. Currently the patient does not recognize any consumption.The patient reports that during the village festivals he felt very energetic, occasionally consuming drinks rich in taurine and sugars, even having conflicts with people of the village. Finally, the patient was stabilized with Lithium 400 mg and Olanzapine. In September, the patient returned to the emergency service on the recommendation of his referral psychiatrist due to therapeutic failure. The only relevant finding we observed in the analytical determinations were low lithium levels (0.4 mEq/L). The transgression of sleep rhythms and the abuse of psychoactive substances required the admission of the patient to optimize the treatment (Clozapine, Lithium, Valproic Acid). At discharge, he is euthymic, has not presented behavioral alterations and is resting well. Finally, it was decided that the patient should go to the Convalescent Center to continue treatment and achieve psychopathological stability.
ConclusionsBipolar disorder is an important mental illness, having an incidence of 1.2%, being responsible for 20% of all mood disorders. Therefore, it is important to perform an adequate and individualized follow-up of each patient. Treatment with mood stabilizers tries to improve and prevent manic and depressive episodes, improving chronicity and trying to make the long-term evolution as good as possible, being important psychoeducation and psychotherapy.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Late diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cocaine abuse
- C. De Andrés Lobo, C. Vallecillo Adame, T. Jiménez Aparicio, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, G. Guerra Valera, A. A. Gonzaga Ramírez, M. Fernández Lozano, N. Navarro Barriga, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, M. Calvo Valcárcel, M. Andreo Vidal, M. P. Pando Fernández, P. Martínez Gimeno, I. D. L. M. Santos Carrasco, J. I. Gonçalves Cerejeira, A. Rodríguez Campos
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S335-S336
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Adult ADHD diagnosis sometimes represents a challenge for the clinician, due to the comorbid psychiatric diseases that are often associated and which complicate de recognition of the primary symptoms of ADHD. The prevalence of ADHD in adult populations is 2’5% and it is a relevant cause of functional impairment.
ObjectivesPresentation of a clinical case of a male cocaine user diagnosed with adult ADHD.
MethodsLiterature review on adult ADHD and comorbid substance abuse.
ResultsA 43-year-old male who consulted in the Emergency Department due to auditory hallucinosis in the context of an increase in his daily cocaine use. There were not delusional symptoms associated and judgment of reality was preserved. Treatment with olanzapine was started and the patient was referred for consultation. In psychiatry consultations, he did not refer sensory-perceptual alterations anymore, nor appeared any signals to suspect so, and he was willing to abandon cocaine use after a few appointments. He expressed some work concerns, highlighting that in recent months, in the context of a greater workload, he had been given several traffic tickets for “distractions.” His wife explained that he had always been a inattentive person (he forgets important dates or appointments) and impulsive, sometimes interrupting conversations. In the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale he scored 32 points.
He was diagnosed with adult ADHD and treatment with extended-release methylphenidate was started with good tolerance and evolution, with improvement in adaptation to his job and social environment. Since then, the patient has moderately reduced the consumption of drugs, although he continues to use cocaine very sporadically.
ConclusionsEarly detection of ADHD and its comorbidities has the potential to change the course of the disorder and the morbidity that will occur later in adults. Comorbidity in adult ADHD is rather the norm than the exception, and it renders diagnosis more difficult. The most frequent comorbidities are usually mood disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. Treatment of adult ADHD consists mainly of pharmacotherapy supported by behavioral interventions. When ADHD coexists with another disorder, the one that most compromises functionality will be treated first and they can be treated simultaneously. The individual characteristics of each patient must be taken into account to choose the optimal treatment.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
“The cat and the calcium”. A case of delirium secondary to hypercalcaemia.
- T. Jiménez Aparicio, C. Vallecillo Adame, C. de Andrés Lobo, G. Medina Ojeda, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, A. A. Gonzaga Ramírez, G. Guerra Valera, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, N. Navarro Barriga, M. A. Andreo Vidal, M. Calvo Valcárcel, P. Martínez Gimeno, M. P. Pando Fernández, I. D. L. M. Santos Carrasco, J. I. Gonçalves Cerejeira
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S946-S947
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Interconsultation with the psychiatry service is frequently requested from other specialties for the assessment and treatment of patients who present neuropsychiatric symptoms secondary to organic alterations. On the other hand (and in relation to this case), within the possible causes for the elevation of calcaemia figures, the most frequent are hyperparathyroidism and neoplasms, representing between these two entities 90% of cases (1).
Among the organic mental disorders, Delirium stands out, with an approximate prevalence between 1 and 2% (general population), which increases in hospitalized and elderly patients (2).
ObjectivesPresentation of a clinical case about a patient with delirium secondary to hypercalcemia, with hallucinations and behavioral disturbance.
MethodsBibliographic review including the latest articles in Pubmed about delirium (causes and treatment) and hypercalcaemia secondary to neoplasms.
ResultsWe present a 52-year-old male patient, who went to the emergency room accompanied by his wife, due to behavioral alteration. Two days before, he had been evaluated by Neurology, after a first epileptic crisis (with no previous history) that resolved spontaneously. At that time, it was decided not to start antiepileptic treatment.
The patient reported that he had left his house at midnight, looking for a cat. As he explained, this cat had appeared in his house and had left his entire bed full of insects. His wife denied that this had really happened, and when she told the patient to go to the emergency room, he had become very upset.
As background, the patient used to consume alcohol regularly, so the first hypothesis was that this was a withdrawal syndrome. However, although the consumption was daily, in recent months it was not very high, and at that time no other symptoms compatible with alcohol withdrawal were observed (tremor, tachycardia, sweating, hypertension…).
We requested a general blood test and a brain scan. The only relevant finding was hypercalcaemia 12.9mg/dL (which could also be the origin of the previous seizure). It was decided to start treatment with Diazepam and Tiapride in the emergency room, with serum perfusion, and keep under observation. After several hours, the patient felt better, the hallucinations disappeared, and calcium had dropped to 10.2mg/dL. A preferential consultation was scheduled, due to suspicion that the hypercalcaemia could be secondary to a tumor process.
Image:
ConclusionsIt is important to rule out an organic alteration in those patients who present acute psychiatric symptoms. Hypercalcaemia is frequently associated with tumor processes (1) due to secretion of PTH-like peptide (4), so a complete study should be carried out in these cases.
Delirium has a prevalence between 1 and 2% in the general population (2).
Psychopharmacological treatment is used symptomatically, with antipsychotics (3). For the episode to fully resolve, the underlying cause must be treated.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
U-47700: The new emerging opioid drug
- D. Sanagustin Bosqued, M. De Dios Felis, E. Monteagudo Gimeno, S. Pérez Gonzaléz, A. Trabsa Biskri, L. Galindo Guarin, M. Grifell Guardia, P. Quintana Mathe, M. Torrens Melich
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 41 / Issue S1 / April 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 March 2020, p. S395
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
The trans-3;4-dichloro-N-(2-(dimethylamine) cyclohexyl) labelled as U-47700 has a high affinity with the selective receptor, considered to have 7.5 times the binding affinity of morphine; as a result, it is sold as a recreational drug because of its analgesic and euphoric effects. Several toxicity cases and some fatalities have been reported during 2016.
ObjectivesTo describe the presence of trans-3;4-dichloro-N-(2-(dimethylamine) cyclohexyl) in samples delivered to Energy Control during 2016 in Barcelona.
MethodsFrom January 2016 to October 2016, 4031 samples were delivered and only those samples containing trans-3;4-dichloro-N-(2-(dimethylamine) cyclohexyl) were studied, 6 of them were analysed as U-47700 (0.148%). Samples were analysed by energy control, a Spanish harm-reduction NGO that offers users the possibility of analysing the substances they intend to consume. Analysis was done by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.
ResultsFrom the 6 samples that were analysed as trans-3;4-dichloro-N-(2-(dimethylamine) cyclohexyl), the presentation of 4 of them was white powder and the rest were not described. The procedence of the samples was Canada (2), USA (1), Sweden (1), Holland (1) and the remaining sample was not described. All samples were received during 2016.
ConclusionsThe use of trans-3;4-dichloro-N-(2-(dimethylamine)cyclohexyl) is progressively increasing in Barcelona. Its harmful effects are being reported in recent medical literature and consumption represents an emerging issue, gaining popularity among recreational opioid users. It is potentially lethal when mixed with depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines and overdose risk is higher compared to other opioids. This drug is not being detected by routine in medical test.
Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
New designer benzodiazepines use in Barcelona
- S. Pérez González, M. De Dios Felis, E. Monteagudo Gimeno, D. Sanagustín Bosqued, A. Trabsa Biskri, M. Grifell Guàrdia, L. Galindo Guarín, P. Quintana Mathe, M. Torrens Melich
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 41 / Issue S1 / April 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 March 2020, p. S874
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
New designer benzodiazepines such as phenazepam, etizolam, diclazepam, clonazolam and flubromazolam have appeared in the recreational drug market due to that they provide an attractive alternative to prescription-only benzodiazepines as they are readily available over the Internet.
ObjectiveTo describe the presence of new designer benzodiazepines in samples delivered to energy control since 2010 to 2016 in Barcelona.
MethodsFrom 2010 to 2016, 24,551 samples were delivered to energy control. Among this samples 43 (0.175%) were analysed as benzodiazepines. They were analyzed by energy control, a Spanish harm reduction NGO that offers the possibility of analyzing the substances that users report. Analysis was done by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
ResultsFrom the 43 samples analyzed as benzodiazepines, 1 (2.32%) was delivered in 2010, none in 2011, 2 (4.65%) in 2012, 2 (4.65%) in 2013, 1 (2.32%) in 2014, 15 (34.88%) in 2015 and 21 (48.83%) in 2016.
DiscussionThe data shows that new designer benzodiazepines use is increasing in Barcelona, especially in the last two years. Abuse an addiction to these drugs may be a new public health problem in Barcelona. Unknown side effects may appear due to lack of information about pharmacokinetic profile of these drugs.
Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Measles and rubella seroprevalence in a population of young adult blood donors, France 2013
- D. Antona, P. Morel, C. Jacquot, L. Fonteneau, J. Dina, C. Vauloup-Fellous, L. Gimeno, A. Degeorges, P. Gallian, D. Lévy-Bruhl
-
- Journal:
- Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 147 / 2019
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 March 2019, e109
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- HTML
- Export citation
-
As part of the evaluation of the French plan for the elimination of measles and rubella, we conducted a seroprevalence survey in 2013, aimed at updating seroprevalence data for people 18–32 years old. A secondary objective was to estimate measles incidence in this population during the 2009–2011 outbreak, and thus estimate the exhaustiveness of measles mandatory reporting. We used a cross-sectional survey design, targeting blood donors 18–32 years old, living in France since 2009, who came to give blood in a blood collecting site. We included 4647 people in metropolitan France, 806 people in Réunion Island and 496 in the French Caribbean. A further 3942 individuals were interviewed in the south-east region of metropolitan France to estimate the exhaustiveness of measles mandatory reporting. One of the main findings of this survey is that the proportion of people 18–32 years old susceptible to both measles and rubella infections remained high in France in 2013, 9.2% and 5.4%, respectively, in metropolitan France, even after the promotion campaigns about vaccination catch-up during and following the major measles epidemic in 2009–2011. Applying our results to French census data would suggest that around 1 million people aged 18–32 years old are currently susceptible to measles in France, despite this age group being one of the vaccination targets of the national measles elimination plan. Another important finding is that only an estimated 45% of the true number of cases in this age group was actually notified, despite notification being mandatory.
Synthesis and characterization of Na-X, Na-A and Na-P zeolites and hydroxysodalite from metakaolinite
- D. Novembre, B. di Sabatino, D. Gimeno, C. Pace
-
- Journal:
- Clay Minerals / Volume 46 / Issue 3 / September 2011
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 July 2018, pp. 339-354
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
The present work deals with the hydrothermal synthesis of Na zeolites (Na-A, Na-X and Na-P) and hydroxysodalite using kaolinite calcined at 650°C as starting material. The focus was on definition of the most favourable conditions for the synthesis of zeolite Na-A and Na-X from metakaolin in order to economize on both energy (i.e. synthesis temperatures) and reaction time and to enlarge the field of pure and isolated synthesized phases. Metakaolin was mixed with calculated amounts of NaOH solution and sodium silicate and five sets of experiments were carried out at ambient pressure and 68±0.1°C varying the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio from 2.2 to 7. Optimal conditions for crystallization of Na-A zeolite from kaolinite were reached with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 2.2 plus 4 M NaOH without adding sodium silicate; transformation into hydroxysodalite develops after ∼8 h. For SiO2/Al2O3 ratios between 4 and 7, crystallization of the separate Na-X zeolite phase could be achieved and transformation into Na-P and hydroxysodalite occurred after 382 h and 190 h, respectively. For SiO2/Al2O3 ratios between 5 and 6, transformation of metakaolin into Na-X plus Na-A, hydroxysodalite and Na-P occurred, and the field within which Na-A and Na-X zeolite exists overlapped that of the other zeolites.
The products of synthesis were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and thermal analyses (TG-DTG-DTA).
Obtaining pure Na-A and Na-X zeolite from kaolinite treated at low metakaolinitization temperature (650°C) and low hydrothermal synthesis temperature (68°C) represents a considerable economic advantage in terms of both energy and time.
Syntheses and characterization of zeolites K-F and W type using a diatomite precursor
- D. Novembre, C. Pace, D. Gimeno
-
- Journal:
- Mineralogical Magazine / Volume 78 / Issue 5 / October 2014
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 05 July 2018, pp. 1209-1225
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Zeolites K-F and W (EDI and MER types) were synthesized hydrothermally using a natural rock as raw material. Chemical treatments were carried out on a diatomitic rock (containing opaline silica) from Crotone (Calabria, Italy) in order to separate/obtain potassium silicate, a reagent necessary for synthesizing zeolites. Synthesis experiments were performed by mixing the obtained siliceous solution with potassium hydroxide and alumina in varying proportions at 150°C and room pressure. Four synthesis series were performed to form zeolite K-F (EDI) and zeolite W (MER).
The chemical-physical and morphological characterization of the zeolite phases were carried out. Cell parameters were calculated using the Rietveld method. Infrared, thermal and nuclear magnetic resonance (29Si) experiments confirmed the high quality of the zeolite products. The amorphous phase in the synthesis powders was estimated with quantitative phase analysis using the combined Rietveld and reference intensity ratio methods.
Effect of cereal processing (grinding to 3·5 mm or dry-rolling) in maize- or barley-based high-concentrate diets on rumen environment of beef cattle during the late fattening period
- A. GIMENO, A. AL ALAMI, D. R. YAÑEZ-RUIZ, A. DE VEGA, S. SCHAUF, M. FONDEVILA, C. CASTRILLO
-
- Journal:
- The Journal of Agricultural Science / Volume 154 / Issue 2 / March 2016
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 27 November 2015, pp. 334-346
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
The type and processing of cereals for beef cattle are key factors to maximize performance without increasing the risk of ruminal acidosis. The current work studied the effect of grinding (G) or dry-rolling (R) the cereals in a concentrate based on maize (M) or barley (B) on the rumen environment of eight 6-month-old Holstein calves, which received either M or B for 70 days, offered as G and R in two consecutive periods. Daily feed intake pattern, rumen fermentation traits, total rumen bacteria and relative proportions of Streptococcus bovis and Selenomonas ruminantium were characterized twice in each period at 0, 4 and 8 h after feeding. Dry-rolling promoted a 0·25 reduction of concentrate intake during the first 4 h after feeding. Neither cereal type nor its processing form promoted differences in ruminal fermentation at 0 and 4 h; however, 8 h after feeding R cereals resulted in higher rumen pH (6·17 v. 5·71) and lower concentration of lactic acid (88·1 v. 156 mg/l) and volatile fatty acids (only in diet B, 118 v. 164 mm/l) compared with G. Little effect of dietary factors in the target rumen microorganisms were observed. The more balanced fermentation observed with R cereals may be explained by the lower concentrate intake promoted during the first 4 h, coupled with a more difficult access of bacterial enzymes to their starch, thus reducing its fermentation rate. Therefore, feeding dry-rolled cereals may be useful to reduce the risk of acidosis by regulating the intake pattern of the concentrate and/or its fermentation rate.
Temperament and its heritability in Corriedale and Merino lambs
- N. Zambra, D. Gimeno, D. Blache, E. van Lier
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Temperament can be defined as the fearfulness and reactivity of an animal in response to humans and strange, novel or threatening environments. The productive performance of an animal is affected by its temperament, and selection of calm animals might improve their adaptation to the farming environment and handling, as well as improve productivity. The temperament was measured in lambs of two breeds of sheep in Uruguay. The effects of dam’s age, type of birth, age of the lamb and contemporary group (CG; lambs belonging to the same year, flock, sex and rearing group) on the temperament of the lambs and the heritability of temperament were estimated with a Bayesian analysis using Gibbs sampling. Overall, 4962 Corriedale lambs and 2952 Merino lambs from 13 farms were tested. Temperament was measured using the isolation box test, isolating a lamb inside the box for 30 s, and recording the vibrations produced by its movements. The average temperament score (±s.e.m.) of the Corriedale lambs was 24.7 (±0.23) and that of the Merino was 36.8 (±0.45). Temperament was not associated with dam’s age, type of birth or lamb’s age. There were no relevant differences in the agitation score between lambs born in 2010 and 2011. The mean of the distribution of possible values of heritability (±s.d.) was 0.18 (±0.05) for the Corriedale and 0.31 (±0.06) for the Merino. The likelihood of heritability values to be greater than 0.15 exceeded 70% in the Corriedale and 90% in the Merino. The temperament of Merino and Corriedale sheep in Uruguay is moderately heritable. It is not related to dam’s age, type of birth or age of the lambs; however, it is affected by some aspect of the CG.
The association of cognitive performance with mental health and physical functioning strengthens with age: the Whitehall II cohort study
- M. Jokela, A. Singh-Manoux, J. E. Ferrie, D. Gimeno, T. N. Akbaraly, M. J. Shipley, J. Head, M. Elovainio, M. G. Marmot, M. Kivimäki
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 40 / Issue 5 / May 2010
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 September 2009, pp. 837-845
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Background
Cognitive performance has been associated with mental and physical health, but it is unknown whether the strength of these associations changes with ageing and with age-related social transitions, such as retirement. We examined whether cognitive performance predicted mental and physical health from midlife to early old age.
MethodParticipants were 5414 men and 2278 women from the Whitehall II cohort study followed for 15 years between 1991 and 2006. The age range included over the follow-up was from 40 to 75 years. Mental health and physical functioning were measured six times using SF-36 subscales. Cognitive performance was assessed three times using five cognitive tests assessing verbal and numerical reasoning, verbal memory, and phonemic and semantic fluency. Socio-economic status (SES) and retirement were included as covariates.
ResultsHigh cognitive performance was associated with better mental health and physical functioning. Mental health differences associated with cognitive performance widened with age from 39 to 76 years of age, whereas physical functioning differences widened only between 39 and 60 years and not after 60 years of age. SES explained part of the widening differences in mental health and physical functioning before age 60. Cognitive performance was more strongly associated with mental health in retired than non-retired participants, which contributed to the widening differences after 60 years of age.
ConclusionsThe strength of cognitive performance in predicting mental and physical health may increase from midlife to early old age, and these changes may be related to SES and age-related transitions, such as retirement.
Associations of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 with cognitive symptoms of depression: 12-year follow-up of the Whitehall II study
- D. Gimeno, M. Kivimäki, E. J. Brunner, M. Elovainio, R. De Vogli, A. Steptoe, M. Kumari, G. D. O. Lowe, A. Rumley, M. G. Marmot, J. E. Ferrie
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 39 / Issue 3 / March 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 June 2008, pp. 413-423
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Background
A lack of longitudinal studies has made it difficult to establish the direction of associations between circulating concentrations of low-grade chronic inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, and cognitive symptoms of depression. The present study sought to assess whether C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 predict cognitive symptoms of depression or whether these symptoms predict inflammatory markers.
MethodIn a prospective occupational cohort study of British white-collar civil servants (the Whitehall II study), serum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and cognitive symptoms of depression were measured at baseline in 1991–1993 and at follow-up in 2002–2004, an average follow-up of 11.8 years. Symptoms of depression were measured with four items describing cognitive symptoms of depression from the General Health Questionnaire. The number of participants varied between 3339 and 3070 (mean age 50 years, 30% women) depending on the analysis.
ResultsBaseline C-reactive protein (β=0.046, p=0.004) and interleukin-6 (β=0.046, p=0.005) predicted cognitive symptoms of depression at follow-up, while baseline symptoms of depression did not predict inflammatory markers at follow-up. After full adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioural and biological risk factors, health conditions, medication use and baseline cognitive systems of depression, baseline C-reactive protein (β=0.038, p=0.036) and interleukin-6 (β=0.041, p=0.018) remained predictive of cognitive symptoms of depression at follow-up.
ConclusionsThese findings suggest that inflammation precedes depression at least with regard to the cognitive symptoms of depression.
Adverse effects of ambient ozone on watermelon yield and physiology at a rural site in Eastern Spain
- BENJAMIN S. GIMENO, VICTORIA BERMEJO, RICHARD A. REINERT, YOUBIN ZHENG, JEREMY D. BARNES
-
- Journal:
- The New Phytologist / Volume 144 / Issue 2 / November 1999
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 November 1999, pp. 245-260
- Print publication:
- November 1999
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
The study reported was conducted to establish the impacts of photochemical oxidants (primarily ambient ozone, O3) on the yield of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) at a site on the east coast of Spain. Fruit yield and quality were monitored in plots established in a commercial watermelon field exposed, in open-top chambers (OTCs), to non-filtered air (NFA; near-ambient levels of ozone) or charcoal-filtered air (decreased levels of photochemical oxidants including O3; CFA), or to ambient air (AA), during the 1988 and 1989 growing seasons. Ambient levels of O3 were found to exceed present UN-ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution) critical level guidelines for the protection of crop yield by approx. twofold in 1988 and by approx. fivefold in 1989. Plants exposed to NFA and AA developed visible O3 injury on the upper surface of sun-exposed older leaves, and fruit yield (annual marketable fruit weight and number) was found to be depressed in OTCs ventilated with NFA in comparison with those receiving CFA. Consistent with inter-annual variations in O3 exposure, greater yield losses were experienced in 1989 (39%) than in 1988 (19%), an effect mediated predominantly by a decline in fruit number rather than average fruit weight. Exposure to ambient levels of ozone also slightly decreased fruit quality (4–8% decline in soluble solids content). Leaf gas exchange measurements made in the field in 1988 revealed effects of O3 on fruit yield and quality to be associated with a decline in the net CO2 assimilation rate per unit leaf area under light saturation (Asat) and stomatal conductance to water vapour (gs), and enhanced rates of dark respiration. A/ci curves (where A is the net CO2 assimilation rate per unit leaf area and ci is the mole fraction of CO2 in the leaf intercellular air space) constructed for plants grown in laboratory-based closed chambers, and exposed to an accumulated O3 exposure similar to that experienced by plants in the field, suggested that the likely cause of the decline in photosynthetic capacity was (1) a decrease in the amount and/or activity of Rubisco and (2) an impaired capacity for regeneration of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, which was not mediated through changes in the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm, where Fv is variable chlorophyll a fluorescence and Fm is maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence). No shift in the relative stomatal limitation to photosynthesis was observed under the influence of O3, suggesting that the decline in gs induced by the pollutant in both field and laboratory was the result, and not the cause, of the decrease in Asat. Ozone exposure also caused a decrease in C isotope discrimination (approx. 0.5‰), a shift that revealed a departure from predicted theory based on supporting leaf gas exchange measurements. The study demonstrates that ambient levels of photochemical oxidants on the Spanish Mediterranean coast are high enough to adversely influence the yield and physiology of an economically important crop grown in the region, and the magnitude of the effects was greater than would be predicted from exposure–yield-loss relationships for grain and fodder crops in central and northern Europe. Implications for the derivation of UN-ECE ozone standards are discussed, along with the mechanistic basis of the observed yield decreases.