The PsyCoLaus study: methodology and characteristics of the sample of a population-based survey on psychiatric disorders and their association with genetic and cardiovascular risk factors.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The Psychiatric arm of the population-based CoLaus study (PsyCoLaus) is designed to: 1) establish the prevalence of threshold and subthreshold psychiatric syndromes in the 35 to 66 year-old population of the city of Lausanne (Switzerland); 2) test the validity of postulated definitions for subthreshold mood and anxiety syndromes; 3) determine the associations between psychiatric disorders, personality traits and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), 4) identify genetic variants that can modify the risk for psychiatric disorders and determine whether genetic risk factors are shared between psychiatric disorders and CVD. This paper presents the method as well as somatic and sociodemographic characteristics of the sample. METHODS: All 35 to 66 year-old persons previously selected for the population-based CoLaus survey on risk factors for CVD were asked to participate in a substudy assessing psychiatric conditions. This investigation included the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies to elicit diagnostic criteria for threshold disorders according to DSM-IV and algorithmically defined subthreshold syndromes. Complementary information was gathered on potential risk and protective factors for psychiatric disorders, migraine and on the morbidity of first-degree family members, whereas the collection of DNA and plasma samples was part of the original somatic study (CoLaus). RESULTS: A total of 3,691 individuals completed the psychiatric evaluation (67% participation). The gender distribution of the sample did not differ significantly from that of the general population in the same age range. Although the youngest 5-year band of the cohort was underrepresented and the oldest 5-year band overrepresented, participants of PsyCoLaus and individuals who refused to participate revealed comparable scores on the General Health Questionnaire, a self-rating instrument completed at the somatic exam. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations resulting from the relatively low participation in the context of a comprehensive and time-consuming investigation, the PsyCoLaus study should significantly contribute to the current understanding of psychiatric disorders and comorbid somatic conditions by: 1) establishing the clinical relevance of specific psychiatric syndromes below the DSM-IV threshold; 2) determining comorbidity between risk factors for CVD and psychiatric disorders; 3) assessing genetic variants associated with common psychiatric disorders and 4) identifying DNA markers shared between CVD and psychiatric disorders.

Troubles du contrôte des impulsions et maladie de Parkinson [Impulse control disorders and Parkinson's disease].

A variety of behavioral disorders occurring abruptly in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) has been recently published and attracted considerable attention in the press. Taking the form of pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, addiction to Internet and to other recreational activities, hypersexuality or bulimia, impulse control disorders (ICD) related to PD are probably more frequent than previously appreciated and may have consequences as spectacular as disastrous for the involved patients. ICD are currently viewed as particular adverse reactions to antiparkinsonian medications, notably to dopamine agonists, and, accordingly, tend to improve or disappear when PD therapy is appropriately adjusted.

Jumping Jack Flash.

A 38-year-old woman presented with blurred vision and "jumping" of the right eye for 7 months. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head was normal. Intermittent intorsion of the right eye was noted on examination, consistent with superior oblique myokymia. She was initially treated with carbamazepine but stopped after becoming light-headed. The diagnosis and treatment of superior oblique myokymia are discussed.

Machine vision measurement system for paper printability assessments

This work had two primary objectives: 1) to produce a working prototype for automated printability assessment and 2) to perform a study of available machine vision and other necessary hardware solutions. The three printability testing methods, IGT Picking,He¬liotest, and mottling, considered in this work have several different requirements and the task was to produce a single automated testing system suitable for all methods. A system was designed and built and its performance was tested using the Heliotest. Working proto¬types are important tools for implementing theoretical methods into practical systems and testing and demonstrating the methodsin real life conditions. The system was found to be sufficient for the Heliotest method. Further testing and possible modifications related to other two test methods were left for future works. A short study of available systems and solutions concerning image acquisition of machine vision was performed. The theoretical part of this study includes lighting systems, optical systems and image acquisition tools, mainly cameras and the underlying physical aspects for each portion.

Perceptual defense in anxiety disorders

RÉSUMÉ Plusieurs auteurs ont étudié la perception en fonction de la psychopathologie. Dans cette optique, Borgeat, David, Saucier et Dumont en 1994 et Borgeat, Sauvageau, David et Saucier en 1997 ont utilisé la méthode tachistoscopique afin de comparer, dans une étude prospective, la perception de stimuli émotionnels entre des femmes souffrant d'une dépression du post- partum et des femmes non atteintes. Par ailleurs, des études antérieures, notamment les travaux de MacLeod et Rutherford en 1992, avaient montré la possibilité d'un processus de perception différent entre sujets anxieux et non anxieux. L'étude actuelle pose l'hypothèse d'une interaction entre caractéristiques du stimulus et trouble anxieux du sujet. Cette hypothèse suppose donc un processus préconscient de l'information, avec analyse sémantique de cette dernière, à même d'influencer (inhiber ou faciliter) la perception de certains stimuli en fonction de leur charge affective. L'étude que nous présentons a pour but d'évaluer la perception de stimuli anxiogènes chez les patients atteints de troubles anxieux, et plus particulièrement chez des sujets souffrant d'attaque de panique et de troubles obsessionnels-compulsifs. A cette fin, nous avons choisi, contrairement à la plupart des études effectuées jusqu'à présent où la méthode Stroop avait été utilisée, la technique tachistoscopique qui, à notre avis, permet une mesure plus directe de la rapidité du processus perceptuel. Ainsi, trois groupes de sujets ont pris part à l'étude : un groupe contrôle (N = 22), un groupe de patients souffrant d'attaques de panique (N = 21) et un groupe de patients atteints de troubles obsessionnels-compulsifs (N = 20). Ces 63 sujets, âgés entre 18 et 60 ans, ont à la fois répondu au Fear Questionnaire ainsi qu'au Questionnaire Beck 13 pour la dépression et procédé à la reconnaissance de 42 mots (six groupes de sept mots) présentés aléatoirement à l'ordinateur, en cycles successifs de 15 millisecondes. Cinq parmi les six groupes de mots se référaient à un trouble anxieux spécifique, le sixième étant considéré comme un groupe de mots « neutres ». Le temps, en millisecondes, nécessaire à la reconnaissance de chaque mot a été enregistré. Les résultats montrent une lenteur de la part des patients souffrant d'attaques de panique pour la reconnaissance de tous les stimuli par rapport aux sujets contrôle, avec une performance intermédiaire entre les deux groupes pour les patients atteints de troubles obsessionnels-compulsifs. De plus, l'analyse statistique a révélé deux effets d'interaction : les patients atteints d'attaques de panique sont plus rapides à reconnaître le groupe de mots en rapport avec leur angoisse, de même que les patients soufflant de troubles obsessionnels- compulsifs ont un temps moyen de reconnaissance des mots en rapport avec leur trouble plus bas que prévu. Ces résultats amènent à une double conclusion. La première est que les patients anxieux manifestent une défense perceptuelle globale face aux stimuli anxiogènes en général, et que cette défense est plus marquée chez les patients atteints d'attaques de panique que chez les sujets souffrant de troubles obsessionnels-compulsifs. La deuxième est que ces mêmes patients, confrontés à des stimuli en rapport avec leur propre angoisse, montrent une vigilance accrue. Ainsi, ces données évoquent une double stratégie de traitement de l'information chez les patients anxieux : un évitement perceptuel général face à l'information émotionnellement chargée, et un traitement sélectif de l'information ayant un rapport direct avec l'angoisse dont ils soufflent. SUMMARY Prior research by MacLeod and Rutherford (1992) indicates that anxious subjects could have perceptual strategies different from nonanxious subjects. 42 verbal stimuli of six types (disease, social anxiety, panic, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive, and neutral) were tachistoscopically presented to three groups of subjects, aged 18 to 60 years: Panic Disorder group (n =21: 13 women and 8 men), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder group (n=20: 14 women and 6 men), recruited from an outpatient clinic, and a Control group (n=22: 14 women and 8 men), recruited among students and hospital staff. The times required for correct identification were generally longer for anxious subjects but quicker for stimuli specifically related to their disorder. The data could indicate a two-step perceptual strategy or two distinct ways of perceiving, usually, a generalized perceptual defense for a majority of anxiety-loaded stimuli, but also a selectively facilitated processing for stimuli specific to the disorder.

Retinal Image Analysis Using Machine Vision

The topic of this thesis is studying how lesions in retina caused by diabetic retinopathy can be detected from color fundus images by using machine vision methods. Methods for equalizing uneven illumination in fundus images, detecting regions of poor image quality due toinadequate illumination, and recognizing abnormal lesions were developed duringthe work. The developed methods exploit mainly the color information and simpleshape features to detect lesions. In addition, a graphical tool for collecting lesion data was developed. The tool was used by an ophthalmologist who marked lesions in the images to help method development and evaluation. The tool is a general purpose one, and thus it is possible to reuse the tool in similar projects.The developed methods were tested with a separate test set of 128 color fundus images. From test results it was calculated how accurately methods classify abnormal funduses as abnormal (sensitivity) and healthy funduses as normal (specificity). The sensitivity values were 92% for hemorrhages, 73% for red small dots (microaneurysms and small hemorrhages), and 77% for exudates (hard and soft exudates). The specificity values were 75% for hemorrhages, 70% for red small dots, and 50% for exudates. Thus, the developed methods detected hemorrhages accurately and microaneurysms and exudates moderately.

Suivi neurodéveloppemental à 5ans des extrêmes prématurés et détection des difficultés sur le plan des fonctions exécutives [Detection of executive function disorders with a standard neurodevelopmental follow-up of premature children].

INTRODUCTION: A significant proportion of prematurely born children encounter behavioral difficulties, such as attention deficit or hyperactivity, which could be due to executive function disorders. AIMS: To examine whether the standard neurodevelopmental assessment offered to premature children in Switzerland recognizes executive function disorders. METHODS: The study population consisted of 49 children born before 29 weeks of gestation who were examined between 5 and 6 years of age with a standard assessment, with additional items to assess executive functioning. Children with severe neurodevelopmental impairment were excluded (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism). Standard assessment consisted in the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC), which comprises three subscales: sequential processes (analysis of sequential information), simultaneous processes (global analysis of visual information), and composite mental processes (CMP) (result of the other two scales), as well as a behavioral evaluation using the standardized Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Executive functioning was assessed with tasks evaluating visual attention, divided attention, and digit memory as well as with a specialized questionnaire, the Behavior Rating Index of Executive Functions (BRIEF), which evaluates several aspects of executive function (regulation, attention, flexibility, working memory, etc). RESULTS: Children were divided according to their results on the three K-ABC scales (< or>85), and the different neuropsychological tasks assessing executive function were compared between the groups. The CMP did not differentiate children with executive difficulties, whereas a score<85 on the sequential processes was significantly associated with worse visual and divided attention. There was a strong correlation between the SDQ and the BRIEF questionnaires. For both questionnaires, children receiving psychotherapy had significantly higher results. Children who presented behavioral problems assessed with the SDQ presented significantly higher scores on the BRIEF. CONCLUSION: A detailed analysis of the standard neurodevelopmental assessment allows the identification of executive function disorders in premature children. Children who performed below 85 on the sequential processes of the K-ABC had significantly more attentional difficulties on the neuropsychological tasks and therefore have to be recognized and carefully followed. Emotional regulation had a strong correlation with behavioral difficulties, which were suitably assessed with the SDQ, recognized by the families, and treated.

Project for Active and Robot Vision Course

Tässä työssä raportoidaan harjoitustyön kehittäminen ja toteuttaminen Aktiivisen- ja robottinäön kurssille. Harjoitustyössä suunnitellaan ja toteutetaan järjestelmä joka liikuttaa kappaleita robottikäsivarrella kolmiuloitteisessa avaruudessa. Kappaleidenpaikkojen määrittämiseen järjestelmä käyttää digitaalisia kuvia. Tässä työssä esiteltävässä harjoitustyötoteutuksessa käytettiin raja-arvoistusta HSV-väriavaruudessa kappaleiden segmentointiin kuvasta niiden värien perusteella. Segmentoinnin tuloksena saatavaa binäärikuvaa suodatettiin mediaanisuotimella kuvan häiriöiden poistamiseksi. Kappaleen paikkabinäärikuvassa määritettiin nimeämällä yhtenäisiä pikseliryhmiä yhtenäisen alueen nimeämismenetelmällä. Kappaleen paikaksi määritettiin suurimman nimetyn pikseliryhmän paikka. Kappaleiden paikat kuvassa yhdistettiin kolmiuloitteisiin koordinaatteihin kalibroidun kameran avulla. Järjestelmä liikutti kappaleita niiden arvioitujen kolmiuloitteisten paikkojen perusteella.