We report on the use of an ultracold ensemble of 87Rb atoms trapped in a vertical lattice as a source for a quantum force sensor based on a Ramsey–Raman type interferometer. We reach spatial ...resolution in the low micrometer range in the vertical direction thanks to evaporative cooling down to ultracold temperatures in a crossed optical dipole trap. In this configuration, the coherence time of the atomic ensemble is degraded by inhomogeneous dephasing arising from atomic interactions. By weakening the confinement in the transverse direction only, we dilute the cloud and drastically reduce the strength of these interactions, without affecting the vertical resolution. This allows us to maintain an excellent relative sensitivity on the Bloch frequency, which is related to the local gravitational force, of 5 נ10−6 at 1 s which integrates down to 8 נ10−8 after one hour averaging time.
Depression occurs in about 50% of patients with multiple sclerosis. The aims of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a multicenter MS population using the Beck ...Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and to identify possible correlations between the BDI II score and demographic and clinical variables.
Data were collected in a multi-center, cross-sectional study over a period of six months in six MS centers in Italy using BDI II.
1,011 MS patients participated in the study. 676 subjects were female, with a mean age of 34 years (SD 10.8), mean EDSS of 3.3 (0-8.5) and mean disease duration of 10.3 years (range 1-50 years). 668 (%) subjects scored lower than 14 on the BDI II and 343 (33.9%) scored greater than 14 (14 cut-off score). For patients with BDI>14 multivariate analysis showed a significant difference between EDSS and disease course. BDI II scores for subjects with secondary progressive (SP) MS were significantly different from primary progressive (PP) patients (p < 0.001) but similar to relapsing-remitting (RR) patients. Considering subjects with moderate to severe depressive symptoms (BDI II score from 20-63), in relation to disease course, 11.7% (83/710) had RR MS, 40.7% (96/236) SP and 13.6% (6/44) PP.
Using the BDI II, 30% of the current sample had depressive symptoms. BDI II score correlates with disability and disease course, particularly in subjects with SP MS. The BDI II scale can be a useful tool in clinical practice to screen depressive symptoms in people with MS.
ABSTRACT
New petrological data on eruption products and experimental results are integrated and a model for the evolution of the La Soufrière (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles arc) magma reservoir prior ...to the ad 1530 eruption is presented. In comparison with recent volcanic crises in the Antilles, the ad 1530 eruption is distinctive. The eruptive pyroclastic sequence shows a continuous zonation in whole-rock composition from silicic (∼62 wt % SiO2) to mafic andesite (∼55 wt % SiO2). Mafic products are estimated to be 80% of the total eruption volume. All juvenile clasts are crystal-rich (46–60 vol. % phenocrysts), the crystallinity being inversely correlated with the bulk-rock SiO2 content. The phenocryst assemblage (plagioclase, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, magnetite) is constant throughout the sequence. Complexly zoned crystals are encountered, but An60–65, En56–59 and Mt66–68 compositions occur in all samples. Glass inclusions are rhyolitic with up to 5–5·5 wt % H2O. Matrix glasses are strongly heterogeneous, from ∼64 to >76 wt % SiO2. The pre-eruptive evolution of the reservoir is dominated by the remobilization of a resident andesitic body following the arrival of a basaltic magma batch. Conditions of early remobilization are constrained from experiments on a basalt from the L’Echelle scoria cone. The arrival magma is a crystal-poor, moderately hot (975–1025°C), wet (>5 wt % H2O) and oxidized (NNO + 1, where NNO is nickel–nickel oxide buffer) low-MgO high-alumina basalt similar to those involved in other Antilles volcanic centers. Geothermometry and experiments on a silicic andesite product of the eruption show that, for melt H2O contents between 5 and 5·5 wt %, phenocrysts and interstitial melt in the resident magma were in mutual equilibrium at ∼875°C and NNO + 0·8. However, matrix glass and glass inclusion compositions show that, locally, the andesite body was as cold as 825°C. Melt volatile concentrations imply a minimum depth for the magma reservoir between 5·6 and 7·1 km, and the absence of amphibole phenocrysts indicates a maximum depth at 8·5 km. The ad 1530 eruption tapped a hybrid magma assembled by mixing approximately equal proportions of resident andesite and arrival basalt. Mineralogical indicators of the mixing event include An-rich layers in plagioclase, En-rich rims on orthopyroxene and core–rim zonation in magnetite, but overall phenocrysts were little modified during assembly of the hybrid magma. In comparison, matrix glasses were more severely affected. Mixing proceeded essentially by the addition of a mafic melt to the andesite body. The continuous chemical zonation observed in ad 1530 eruption products reflects mixing between three components (mafic melt, silicic melt, phenocryst assemblage). Timescales measured on different eruptive products range from several thousand years (U–Th–Ra disequilibria) to tens of days (diffusion modelling in orthopyroxenes) and to tens of hours (heterogeneous matrix glasses). Short timescales since mafic recharge, lack of extensive transformations of phenocrysts, continuous whole-rock chemical zonation and predominance of mafic products are all consistent with triggering of the ad 1530 eruption by a major mafic recharge event that originated in the middle to lower Lesser Antilles arc crust.
Volatiles contribute to magma ascent through the sub-volcanic plumbing system. Here, we investigate melt inclusion compositions in terms of major and trace elements, as well as volatiles (H
2
O, CO
2
..., SO
2
, F, Cl, Br, S) for Quaternary Plinian and dome-forming dacite and andesite eruptions in the central and the northern part of Dominica (Lesser Antilles arc). Melt inclusions, hosted in orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and plagioclase are consistently rhyolitic. Post-entrapment crystallisation effects are limited, and negligible in orthopyroxene-hosted inclusions. Melt inclusions are among the most water-rich yet recorded (≤ 8 wt% H
2
O). CO
2
contents are generally low (< 650 ppm), although in general the highest pressure melt inclusion contain the highest CO
2
. Some low-pressure (< 3 kbars) inclusions have elevated CO
2
(up to 1100–1150 ppm), suggestive of fluxing of shallow magmas with CO
2
-rich fluids. CO
2
-trace element systematics indicate that melts were volatile-saturated at the time of entrapment and can be used for volatile-saturation barometry. The calculated pressure range (0.8–7.5 kbars) indicates that magmas originate from a vertically-extensive (3–27 km depth) storage zone within the crust that may extend to the sub-Dominica Moho (28 km). The vertically-extensive crustal system is consistent with mush models for sub-volcanic arc crust wherein mantle-derived mafic magmas undergo differentiation over a range of crustal depths. The other volatile range of composition for melt inclusions from the central part is F (75–557 ppm), Cl (1525–3137 ppm), Br (6.1–15.4 ppm) and SO
2
(< 140 ppm), and for the northern part it’s F (92–798 ppm), Cl (1506–4428 ppm), Br (not determined) and SO
2
(< 569; one value at 1015 ppm). All MIs, regardless of provenance, describe the same Cl/F correlation (8.3 ± 2.7), indicating that the magma source at depth is similar. The high H
2
O content of Dominica magmas has implications for hazard assessment.
Background and purpose
The literature provides contrasting results on the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with cerebellar signs. It was sought to evaluate the ...efficacy of LEV on upper limb movement in MS patients.
Methods
In this multicenter double‐blind placebo‐controlled crossover study, MS patients with prevalently cerebellar signs were randomly allocated into two groups: LEV followed by placebo (group 1) or placebo followed by LEV (group 2). Clinical assessments were performed by a blinded physician at T0 (day 1), T1 (day 22), T2 (2‐week wash‐out period, day 35) and T3 (day 56). The primary outcome was dexterity in the arm with greater deficit, assessed by the nine‐hole peg test (9HPT). Secondary clinical outcomes included responders on the 9HPT (∆9HPT >20%), tremor activity of the daily living questionnaire and self‐defined upper limb impairment, through a numeric rating scale. Kinematic evaluation was performed using a digitizing tablet, providing data on normalized jerk, aiming error and centripetal acceleration.
Results
Forty‐eight subjects (45.2 ± 10.4 years) were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 24 each). 9HPT significantly improved in the LEV phase in both groups (P < 0.001). The LEV treatment phase led to a significant improvement (P < 0.01) of all clinical outcomes in group 1 and in dexterity in group 2. No significant changes were reported during both placebo phases in the two groups. Considering the kinematic analysis, only normalized jerk significantly improved after treatment with LEV (T0–T1) in group 1.
Conclusions
Levetiracetam treatment seems to be effective in improving upper limb dexterity in MS patients with cerebellar signs.
In a multicenter cross-sectional study, the authors assessed pain in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using a symptom-oriented approach. Out of 2,077 questionnaires, we used 1,672 for data ...analysis. Pain and frequencies included trigeminal neuralgia 2%, Lhermitte's sign 9%, dysesthetic pain 18.1%, back pain 16.4%, and painful tonic spasms 11%. Comparison between different groups showed significant differences for age, Expanded Disability Status Scale, disease duration, and disease course, but not for sex. This study underlines the relevance of pain in the clinical history of MS.
The approval of 9-δ-tetrahydocannabinol and cannabidiol (THC:CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex) for the management of treatment-resistant multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity opened a new opportunity for ...many patients. The aim of our study was to describe Sativex effectiveness and adverse events profile in a large population of Italian patients with MS in the daily practice setting.
We collected data of all patients starting Sativex between January 2014 and February 2015 from the mandatory Italian medicines agency (AIFA) e-registry. Spasticity assessment by the 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS) scale is available at baseline, after 1 month of treatment (trial period), and at 3 and 6 months.
A total of 1615 patients were recruited from 30 MS centres across Italy. After one treatment month (trial period), we found 70.5% of patients reaching a ≥20% improvement (initial response, IR) and 28.2% who had already reached a ≥30% improvement (clinically relevant response, CRR), with a mean NRS score reduction of 22.6% (from 7.5 to 5.8). After a multivariate analysis, we found an increased probability to reach IR at the first month among patients with primary and secondary progressive MS, (n=1169, OR 1.4 95% CI 1.04 to 1.9, p=0.025) and among patients with >8 NRS score at baseline (OR 1.8 95% CI 1.3-2.4 p<0.001). During the 6 months observation period, 631(39.5%) patients discontinued treatment. The main reasons for discontinuation were lack of effectiveness (n=375, 26.2%) and/or adverse events (n=268, 18.7%).
Sativex can be a useful and safe option for patients with MS with moderate to severe spasticity resistant to common antispastic drugs.
Background and purpose
Limited data are available in the literature for upper limb impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to report the distribution of values of hand grip strength ...(HGS), of the box and block test (BBT) and of the nine‐hole peg test (9HPT) correlated with demographic and clinical data in subjects with MS.
Methods
This study involved five Italian neurological centres. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18, MS diagnosis, stable disease phase, right‐hand dominance. All subjects underwent HGS, BBT and 9‐HPT evaluation.
Results
In all, 202 subjects with MS were enrolled: 137 females; mean age 48.4 years; mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 4.17; mean disease duration 14.12 years; disease course 129 relapsing–remitting, 21 primary progressive and 52 secondary progressive MS subjects; mean right HGS 25.3 kg, left 23.2 kg; mean right BBT 45.7 blocks, left 44.9 blocks; mean right 9‐HPT 30.7 s, left 33.4 s. All results were statistically significantly different compared to healthy controls. HGS, BBT and 9‐HPT were associated with age, EDSS and disease duration, whilst disease course correlated with BBT and 9‐HPT. The BBT and 9‐HPT scores significantly differed according to level of disability (EDSS ≤3.0, 3.5–5.5, ≥6.0).
Conclusion
Hand grip strength and BBT value distribution in a large MS population is reported. Correlations between HGS, BBT and 9‐HPT were generally low.
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