Twenty-four patients who developed their first psychotic episode after the age of 45 were studied with MRI and comprehensive neuropsychological testing and compared with 72 healthy elderly subjects. The patients demonstrated more clinical abnormalities on MRI, were more likely to have large white-matter lesions or metabolic illness, and did more poorly on many neuropsychological tests, particularly those testing frontal-lobe and memory abilities. We conclude that structural brain injury is commonly associated with the late onset of psychosis. Neuroimaging investigations are a valuable component in the evaluation of this patient group.

Abstract:In the present work, the potential of using bamboo fibres as reinforcement for polyester composites was evaluated. Two types of bamboo fibres were used: untreated and treated with different NaOH concentrations (1, 3, and 5 wt%). Mechanical properties of both treated and untreated fibres were investigated. In addition, single-fibre pull-out tests were performed to study the interfacial shear strength of the fibres with the polyester matrix at different embedment length of fibres. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the surface morphology of the fibres before and after the tests. Results revealed that an untreated fibre has the best strength and stiffness but lowest strain at break. An increase in alkali concentration reduces the strain at failure and ductility of bamboo fibres. However, the strength and stiffness of the fibres were increased. In addition, the interfacial shear strength was improved with longer embedment length and higher NaOH concentration.

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The relationships between clozapine dosages, plasma concentrations, and clinical responses in Chinese schizophrenics were studied. Fourteen treatment-refractory schizophrenic patients were treated with clozapine for 12 weeks. Patients were assessed before and after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the Simpson-Angus Scale for Extrapyramidal Side Effect. Plasma clozapine concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Ten patients (71.4%) responded after 12 weeks of treatment. Although the mean daily dosage at week 12 (373 +/- 90 mg/day) was lower than that reported in American trials (444 mg/day), the mean plasma clozapine concentration attained (1,078 +/- 385 ng/ml) was higher. This higher concentration may be due to the lower body wight and the preponderance of women among our patients, absence of smoking and alcohol use, and/or ethnic difference between Chinese and non-Chinese. There was wide interindividual variation in the plasma clozapine concentrations. Compared with other studies, the plasma clozapine concentrations and the response rate were higher. Although the sample size was small, the findings are suggestive of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic ethnic differences in Chinese with clozapine therapy.

In this study, the impact strengths of E-glass, coir, oil palm as well as E-glass/coir and E-glass/oil palm hybrid polyester composites were studied. All types of composites were reinforced with fiber volume fractions of 30%, 40%, and 50% and fiber lengths 3, 7, and 10 mm. Composite laminates reinforced with longitudinal and transverse coir fiber mats were also studied. The number of fiber mats varied from 1, 2, 3, and 4 layers for non-spaced fiber mats and 2, 3, and 4 layers for 1.5 mm spaced fiber mats. Besides, coir—polyester composite with addition of sand filler was studied as well, with 40%, 50%, and 60% of volume fractions and fiber lengths of 3, 7, and 10 mm. Results show that impact strength improves with fiber content and fiber length. In addition, longitudinal fiber mats always exhibit better impact toughness compared to transverse fiber mats. Impact strength is improved with the number of fiber layers but worsened by the fiber spacing. As for coir/polyester concrete, low fiber content and fiber length improve the impact strength. The fractured surfaces were inspected under scanning electron microscope to investigate the fracture mechanisms in each type of composites.

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Most patients with schizophrenia had a good/fair outcome at 20 years.