The effects of extra-low-frequency atmospheric pressure oscillations on human mental activity

 Slight atmospheric pressure oscillations (APO) in the extra-low-frequency range below 0.1 Hz, which frequently occur naturally, can influence human mental activity. This phenomenon has been observed in experiments with a group of 12 healthy volunteers exposed to experimentally created APO with amplitudes 30–50 Pa in the frequency band 0.011–0.17 Hz. Exposure of the subjects to APO for 15–30 min caused significant changes in attention and short-term memory functions, performance rate, and mental processing flexibility. The character of the response depended on the APO frequency and coherence. Periodic APO promoted purposeful mental activity, accompanied by an increase in breath-holding duration and a slower heart rate. On the other hand, quasi-chaotic APO, similar to the natural perturbations of atmospheric pressure, disrupted mental activity. These observations suggest that APO could be partly responsible for meteorosensitivity in humans. Received: 22 August 1997/Revised: 3 December 1998/Accepted: 25 February 1999     

Tendencias en las hospitalizaciones psiquiátricas de personas mayores de 65 años

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to analyse the trend in the percentages of elderly patients admitted to hospital for psychiatric reasons. An additional aim was to analyse the characteristics of the elderly population admitted to a psychiatric hospitalisation unit.Material an MethodsAn analysis was made of the trends in the percentages of discharges in elderly population at the national level and in the Mental Health Hospitalisation Unit (MHHU) of the Regional University Hospital of Malaga for a period of at least 18 years using segmented regression. For the study of the characteristics of the elderly population, all patients (N = 5,925) and consecutive episodes of admission (N = 15,418) were compared between 1999 and 2017 in the MHHU.ResultsAt the national level, there was an increase in hospital discharges in elderly patients with a significant mean annual percent change of 2.0%. In the study unit, the elderly population were more frequently female, involuntarily admitted, and had a longer hospital stay. They had been diagnosed more frequently with organic and depressive mental disorders, and less frequently with schizophrenia, substance use, and personality disorders.ConclusionsThere was a growing trend in the percentage of elderly psychiatric patients admitted to hospitals during the study period. These results point to the increase in elderly psychiatric admissions and thus the need to adapt psychiatric units to the characteristics of this population.     

Low incidence of atrial septal defects in nonmammalian vertebrates

The atrial septum enables efficient oxygen transport by separating the systemic and pulmonary venous blood returning to the heart. Only in placental mammals will the atrial septum form by the coming‐together of the septum primum and the septum secundum. In up to one of four placental mammals, this complex morphogenesis is incomplete and yields patent foramen ovale. The incidence of incomplete atrial septum is unknown for groups with the septum primum only, such as birds and reptiles. We found a low incidence of incomplete atrial septum in 11 species of bird (0% of specimens) and 13 species of reptiles (3% of specimens). In reptiles, there was a trabecular interface between the atrial septum and the atrial epicardium which was without a clear boundary between left and right atrial cavities. In developing reptiles (four squamates and one crocodylian), the septum primum initiated as a sheet that acquired perforations and the trabecular interface developed late. We conclude that atrial septation from the septum primum only results in a low incidence of incompleteness. In reptiles, the atrial septum and atrial wall develop a trabecular interface, but previous studies on atrial hemodynamics suggest this interface has a very limited capacity for shunting.     

Study of FMR1 gene association with ovarian dysfunction in a sample from the Basque Country

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined as cessation of menses before the age of 40. The most significant single gene associated with POF is the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 gene (FMR1). In the present work we screened women with fertility problems from the Basque Country in order to determine, whether in these women, FMR1 CGG repeat size in the intermediate and premutation range was associated with their pathology, and whether intermediate and premutation carriers had endocrine signs of diminished ovarian function, using the most established measure of ovarian reserve, the gonadotropin FSH. A patient sample of 41 women with ovarian insufficiency and a control sample of 32 women with no fertility problems from the Basque Country were examined. The patient sample was classified into three categories according to the results of the retrospective assessment of their ovarian function. In group 2 of patients, women with irregular cycles, reduced fecundity and FSH levels ≥ 10 IU/l, there is a significant increase in the number of intermediate and premutation FMR1 alleles (35–54 CGG repeats). In group 3 of patients, women with amenorrhea for at least four consecutive months and FSH levels ≥ 10 IU/l, a significant increase in the number of intermediate FMR1 alleles (35–54 CGG repeats) was found in patients compared with controls. In this group all the patients had a serum concentration > 40 IU/l. The results suggest that in the analysed Basque sample the FMR1 gene has a role in the aetiology of POF. However, elevated FSH levels are more related to the menstrual cycle pattern than to the CGG repeat size.     

Paradoxical role of C1561T glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) genetic polymorphism in altering disease susceptibility

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) is predominantly expressed in brain, intestinal mucosa and prostate cancer in the form of three splice variants i.e. N-acetylated-α-linked acidic dipeptidase (NAALADase), folyl poly-γ-glutamate carboxypeptidase (FGCP) and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) respectively. Its inhibition was found to confer protection against certain neurological disorders and cancer. Despite the pivotal role of this enzyme, the most common polymorphism i.e. H475Y has not been explored comprehensively in all its splice variants. In this study, we have determined the role of this variant in different disease conditions such as breast and prostate cancers, autism, coronary artery disease (CAD) and miscarriages (N = 1561). Genotyping was done by PCR-RFLP and dideoxy sequencing. Plasma folate levels were estimated by Axysm folate kit. GCPII expression was studied by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. In silico model was developed using PYMOL. We observed the protective role of H475Y variant in cancers [breast cancer; OR (95% CI): 0.81 (0.55–1.19), prostate cancer: OR (95% CI): 0.00 (0.00–0.66)], and in autism (OR (95% CI): 0.47 (0.21–1.03), whereas inflated risk was observed in CAD (OR (95% CI): 1.69 (1.20–2.37) and miscarriages [Maternal OR (95% CI): 3.26 (2.11–5.04); Paternal OR(95% CI): 1.99 (1.23–3.21)]. Further, this variant was found to impair the intestinal folate absorption in subjects with dietary folate intake in the lowest tertile (CC vs. CT in lowest tertile; 7.56 ± 0.85 ng/ml vs. 2.73 ± 045 ng/ml, p = 0.005). In silico model of GCPII showed steric hindrance with H475Y resulting in stereochemical alteration of catalytic site, thus interfering with ligand binding. Statistically significant association was not observed between dietary folate levels and GCPII expression. However, a positive correlation was seen between plasma folate levels and GCPII expression (r = 0.70, p < 0.05). To conclude, our data suggests that GCPII H475Y variant shows inverse association with autism and cancer while showing positive association with CAD and miscarriages.     

Barriers in the mind: promoting an economic case for mental health in low- and middle-income countries

In recent years, policy makers in high-income countries have placed an increasing emphasis on the value of maintaining good mental health, recognizing the contribution that this makes to quality of life, whilst ever more mindful of the socio-economic consequences of poor mental health. The picture in many other parts of the world is much less encouraging; policy attention and resources are still directed largely at communicable diseases. We reflect on some of the challenges faced in these countries and outline the role that economic evidence could play in strengthening the policy case for investment in mental health. Clearly this should include assessment of the economic impact of strategies implemented outside, as well as within the health sector. The ways in which mental health services are delivered is also of critical importance. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have long been shown to be key stakeholders in the funding, coordination and delivery of these services in high-income countries. Their role in low- and middle-income countries, where infrastructure and policy focus on mental health are more limited, can be even more vital in overcoming some of the barriers to the development of mental health policy and practice.     

独资和国有企业员工心理健康状况的比较研究

目的探讨独资与国有企业员工心理健康状况。方法采用焦虑自评量表(SAS)对170名员工进行测评。结果独资企业员工SAS总粗分为27.96±8.1,国有企业员工总粗分为32.57±9.81。结论独资企业与国有企业员工心理健康有差异,前者优于后者。     

Diurnal Variation in Mental Activities of French Pupils and Influence of Test Protocol

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the test protocol (individual vs. group) on the diurnal variations in mental activity of 18 11-year-old pupils. Number cancellation, a spatial orientation test, and mathematical problems were tested four times on three successive Fridays at 08:45, 11:15, 13:45 and 16:45 h. On the first and third Fridays the tests were performed on the group of subjects, whereas individual subjects were tested on the second Friday. Results indicated a possible influence of the test protocol (individual vs. group) on intellectual rhythmicity. Only in the group protocol did we find the psychological profile which is normally observed, namely, a performance increase during the morning, a postlunch fall, and then an increase in the afternoon. We suggest the existence of some group effect in these performance tests.     

Expression of human PQBP-1 in Drosophila impairs long-term memory and induces abnormal courtship

Frame shift mutations of the polyglutamine binding protein-1 (PQBP1) gene lead to total or partial truncation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) and cause mental retardation in human patients. Interestingly, normal Drosophila homologue of PQBP-1 lacks CTD. As a model to analyze the molecular network of PQBP-1 affecting intelligence, we generated transgenic flies expressing human PQBP-1 with CTD. Pavlovian olfactory conditioning revealed that the transgenic flies showed disturbance of long-term memory. In addition, they showed abnormal courtship that male flies follow male flies. Abnormal functions of PQBP-1 or its binding partner might be linked to these symptoms.