Psychoses of epilepsy: A study comparing the clinical features of patients with focal versus generalized epilepsies

In the literature, psychosis of epilepsy (POE) has been described as one of the most frequent psychiatric comorbidities of epilepsy, occurring particularly in association with temporal lobe epilepsy. However, the presence of such psychiatric disorders among patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsies has also been mentioned. In this study, we evaluated the clinical features of psychotic disorders in a series of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy related to mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy with the aim of describing and comparing the clinical patterns of the psychotic symptoms in such frequent and important epilepsy syndromes. POE occurred most frequently in patients with TLE-MTS (P=0.01), but no differences were observed between the groups with respect to the subtypes and core symptoms of psychoses. The clinical implications of POE in both epilepsy syndromes are discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel mutations of the BSCL2 and AGPAT2 genes in 10 families with Berardinelli-Seip congenital generalized lipodystrophy syndrome

P>Context Congenital generalized lipodystrophy, or Berardinelli-Seip syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in either the BSCL2 or AGPAT2 genes. This syndrome is characterized by an almost complete loss of adipose tissue usually diagnosed at birth or early infancy resulting in apparent muscle hypertrophy. Common clinical features are acanthosis nigricans, hepatomegaly with or without splenomegaly and high stature. Acromegaloid features, cardiomyopathy and mental retardation can also be present. Design We investigated 11 kindreds from different geographical areas of Brazil (northeast and southeast). All coding regions as well as flanking intronic regions of both genes were examined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications were performed using primers described previously and PCR products were sequenced directly. Results Four AGPAT2 and two BSCL2 families harboured the same set of mutations. BSCL2 gene mutations were found in the homozygous form in four kindreds (c.412C > T c.464T > C, c.518-519insA, IVS5-2A > G), and in two kindreds compound mutations were found (c.1363C > T, c.424A > G). In the other four families, one mutation of the AGPAT2 gene was found (IVS3-1G > C and c.299G > A). Conclusions We have demonstrated four novel mutations of the BSCL2 and AGPAT2 genes responsible for Berardinelli-Seip syndrome and Brunzell syndrome (AGPAT2-related syndrome).

Effect of the Bloch-Siegert shift in a strongly driven transition: Asymmetric Autler-Townes profile

Under the conditions of the rotating wave approximation (RWA), a transition strongly driven by a resonant oscillating field displays the well known symmetric Autler-Townes doublet. However, if the counter-rotating component, neglected in the RWA, is taken into account, the Bloch-Siegert shift gives rise to an Autler-Townes doublet of unequal intensity even in the case of a resonant driving field. This effect is investigated theoretically in a V-shaped three-level double-resonance configuration and the results are presented in this paper. An interesting observation is that the level of asymmetry not only depends on the driving-field intensity but also on the characteristics of the driven system including relaxation rates and equilibrium population distributions.

Optimal quantum measurements for phase-shift estimation in optical interferometry

Quantum information theory, applied to optical interferometry, yields a 1/n scaling of phase uncertainty Delta phi independent of the applied phase shift phi, where n is the number of photons in the interferometer. This 1/n scaling is achieved provided that the output state is subjected to an optimal phase measurement. We establish this scaling law for both passive (linear) and active (nonlinear) interferometers and identify the coefficient of proportionality. Whereas a highly nonclassical state is required to achieve optimal scaling for passive interferometry, a classical input state yields a 1/n scaling of phase uncertainty for active interferometry.

Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report

Animal and human studies indicate that cannabidiol (CBD), a major constituent of cannabis, has anxiolytic properties. However, no study to date has investigated the effects of this compound on human pathological anxiety and its underlying brain mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to investigate this in patients with generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD) using functional neuroimaging. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at rest was measured twice using (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT in 10 treatment-naive patients with SAD. In the first session, subjects were given an oral dose of CBD (400 mg) or placebo, in a double-blind procedure. In the second session, the same procedure was performed using the drug that had not been administered in the previous session. Within-subject between-condition rCBF comparisons were performed using statistical parametric mapping. Relative to placebo, CBD was associated with significantly decreased subjective anxiety (p < 0.001), reduced ECD uptake in the left parahippocampal gyrus, hippocampus, and inferior temporal gyrus (p < 0.001, uncorrected), and increased ECD uptake in the right posterior cingulate gyrus (p < 0.001, uncorrected). These results suggest that CBD reduces anxiety in SAD and that this is related to its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas.

Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in Childhood

Generalized pustular psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis consisting of a generalized eruption of sudden onset with erythema and sterile pustules. In children, generalized pustular psoriasis is even more uncommon and may present as a severe and potentially life-threatening disorder. In this study, we present demographics, clinical aspects, treatment response, and follow-up of seven children with generalized pustular psoriasis. Retrospective study reviewing the records of seven children with generalized pustular psoriasis including age, gender, age of onset, presence of scalp and nail involvement, family history, concomitant diseases, precipitating factors, treatment modalities, and outcome. Age of first symptoms ranged from 1 month to 11 years. All patients received systemic retinoids at one time of the follow-up period. Other treatment modalities included immunosuppressive drugs, biologics, phototherapy, and sulfasalazine. Two patients presented with severe constitutional illness, secondary infection and septic shock, including one fatal outcome. All further cases have remained free of recurrences for a mean period of up to 3 years. In our study, generalized pustular psoriasis presented a wide clinical spectrum in children ranging from mild, asymptomatic outbreaks to more severe, life-threatening episodes. One fatality was observed. Children generally responded well to systemic retinoids. Further studies and long-term follow-up periods are needed to define potential trigger factors, efficacy and safety of different treatment modalities in children with generalized pustular psoriasis.

Involvement of median raphe nucleus 5-HT1A receptors in the regulation of generalized anxiety-related defensive behaviours in rats

Changes in 5-HT1A receptor-mediated neurotransmission at the level of the median raphe nucleus (MRN) are reported to affect the expression of defensive responses that are associated with generalized anxiety disorder (e.g. inhibitory avoidance) but not with panic (e.g. escape). The objective of this study was to further explore the involvement of MRN 5-HT1A receptors in the regulation of generalized anxiety-related behaviours. Results of experiment 1 showed that intra-MRN injection of the 5-HT1A/7 receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.6 nmol) in male Wistar rats impaired the acquisition of inhibitory avoidance, without interfering with the performance of escape in the elevated T-maze test of anxiety. Pre-treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 (0.18 nmol) fully blocked this anxiolytic-like effect. As revealed by experiment 2, intra-MRN injection of 8-OH-DPAT (0.6, 3 or 15 nmol) also caused anxiolytic effect in rats submitted to the light-dark transition test, another animal model that has been associated with generalized anxiety. In the same test, intra-MRN injection of WAY-100635 (0.18, 0.37 or 0.74 nmol) caused the opposite effect. Overall, the current findings support the view that MRN 5-HT neurons, through the regulation of 5-HT1A somatodendritic autoreceptors, are implicated in the regulation of generalized anxiety-associated behaviours. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Involvement of the lateral habenula in the regulation of generalized anxiety- and panic-related defensive responses in rats

Recently obtained evidence points to the involvement of the lateral habenular nuclei (LHb) in the mediation of coping defensive responses to threatening/stressful stimuli. Nevertheless, the role of this brain area in the regulation of defensive responses that have been associated with specific subtypes of anxiety disorders recognized in clinical settings is presently unknown. To address this question, we investigated the effects of either electrolytic lesions or chemical stimulation of the LHb on the defensive behaviors generated in rats by the elevated T-maze. This experimental model allows the measurement, in a same rat, of two defensive behaviors, inhibitory avoidance and escape, that have been related in terms of psychopathology to generalized anxiety and panic disorders, respectively. Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the LHb (1 mA, 10 s) impaired inhibitory avoidance acquisition and facilitated escape performance. On the other hand, chemical stimulation of the LHb by bilateral microinjection of kainic acid (30-60 pmol/0.2 mu L) had the opposite effect, i.e., facilitated inhibitory avoidance and impaired escape. The present results indicate that the LHb exerts an opposed regulatory control on generalized anxiety- and panic-related defensive responses in rats. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Asymmetric page split generalized index search trees for formal concept analysis

Formal Concept Analysis is an unsupervised machine learning technique that has successfully been applied to document organisation by considering documents as objects and keywords as attributes. The basic algorithms of Formal Concept Analysis then allow an intelligent information retrieval system to cluster documents according to keyword views. This paper investigates the scalability of this idea. In particular we present the results of applying spatial data structures to large datasets in formal concept analysis. Our experiments are motivated by the application of the Formal Concept Analysis idea of a virtual filesystem [11,17,15]. In particular the libferris [1] Semantic File System. This paper presents customizations to an RD-Tree Generalized Index Search Tree based index structure to better support the application of Formal Concept Analysis to large data sources.

Renormalizing the kinetic energy operator in elementary quantum mechanics

In this paper, we consider solutions to the three-dimensional Schrodinger equation of the form psi(r) = u(r)/r, where u(0) not equal 0. The expectation value of the kinetic energy operator for such wavefunctions diverges. We show that it is possible to introduce a potential energy with an expectation value that also diverges, exactly cancelling the kinetic energy divergence. This renormalization procedure produces a self-adjoint Hamiltonian. We solve some problems with this new Hamiltonian to illustrate its usefulness.

Detection of Herpesviruses and Periodontal Pathogens in Subgingival Plaque of Patients With Chronic Periodontitis, Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis, or Gingivitis

Background: Herpesviruses may be related to the etiology of aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and chronic periodontitis (CP) by triggering periodontal destruction or by increasing the risk for bacterial infection. This case-control study evaluated the presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus type 1 (EBV-1), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans), Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Tannerella forsythia (previously T. forsythensis) in patients with generalized AgP (AgP group), CP (CP group), or gingivitis (G group) and in healthy individuals (C group). Methods: Subgingival plaque samples were collected with paper points from 30 patients in each group. The nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to detect HSV-1, EBV-1, and HCMV. Bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA-based PCR. Results: HSV-1, HCMV, and EBV-1 were detected in 86.7%, 46.7%, and 33.3% of the AgP group, respectively; in 40.0%, 50.0%, and 46.7% of the CP group, respectively; in 53.3%, 40.0%, and 20.0% of the G group, respectively; and in 20.0%, 56.7%, and 0.0% of the C group, respectively. A. actinomycetemcomitans was detected significantly more often in the AgP group compared to the other groups (P<0.005). P. gingivalis and T. forsythia were identified more frequently in AgP and CP groups, and AgP, CP, and G groups had higher frequencies of P. intermedia compared to the C group. Conclusion: In Brazilian patients, HSV-1 and EBV-1, rather than HCMV, were more frequently associated with CP and AgP. J Periodontol 2008;79:2313-2321.

Estimating Income Inequality in China Using Grouped Data and the Generalized Beta Distribution

There are two main types of data sources of income distributions in China: household survey data and grouped data. Household survey data are typically available for isolated years and individual provinces. In comparison, aggregate or grouped data are typically available more frequently and usually have national coverage. In principle, grouped data allow investigation of the change of inequality over longer, continuous periods of time, and the identification of patterns of inequality across broader regions. Nevertheless, a major limitation of grouped data is that only mean (average) income and income shares of quintile or decile groups of the population are reported. Directly using grouped data reported in this format is equivalent to assuming that all individuals in a quintile or decile group have the same income. This potentially distorts the estimate of inequality within each region. The aim of this paper is to apply an improved econometric method designed to use grouped data to study income inequality in China. A generalized beta distribution is employed to model income inequality in China at various levels and periods of time. The generalized beta distribution is more general and flexible than the lognormal distribution that has been used in past research, and also relaxes the assumption of a uniform distribution of income within quintile and decile groups of populations. The paper studies the nature and extent of inequality in rural and urban China over the period 1978 to 2002. Income inequality in the whole of China is then modeled using a mixture of province-specific distributions. The estimated results are used to study the trends in national inequality, and to discuss the empirical findings in the light of economic reforms, regional policies, and globalization of the Chinese economy.