Monoscopically projected three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology may have significant disadvantages for students with lower visual-spatial abilities despite its overall effectiveness in teaching anatomy. Previous research suggests that stereopsis may facilitate a better comprehension of anatomical knowledge. This study evaluated the educational effectiveness of stereoscopic augmented reality (AR) visualization and the modifying effect of visual-spatial abilities on learning. In a double-center randomized controlled trial, first-and second-year (bio)medical undergraduates studied lower limb anatomy with stereoscopic 3D AR model (n = 20), monoscopic 3D desktop model (n = 20), or two-dimensional (2D) anatomical atlas (n = 18). Visual-spatial abilities were tested with Mental Rotation Test (MRT), Paper Folding Test (PFT), and Mechanical Reasoning (MR) Test. Anatomical knowledge was assessed by the validated 30-item paper posttest. The overall posttest scores in the stereoscopic 3D AR group (47.8%) were similar to those in the monoscopic 3D desktop group (38.5%; P = 0.240) and the 2D anatomical atlas group (50.9%; P = 1.00). When stratified by visual-spatial abilities test scores, students with lower MRT scores achieved higher posttest scores in the stereoscopic 3D AR group (49.2%) as compared to the monoscopic 3D desktop group (33.4%; P = 0.015) and similar to the scores in the 2D group (46.4%; P = 0.99). Participants with higher MRT scores performed equally well in all conditions. It is instrumental to consider an aptitude-treatment interaction caused by visual-spatial abilities when designing research into 3D learning. Further research is needed to identify contributing features and the most effective way of introducing this technology into current educational programs. Anat Sci Educ 0: 1-10.

Failure to respond to antidepressants probably is the most common indication for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The literature seems to be divided as to whether medication resistance has a negative influence on the efficacy of subsequent ECT. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to investigate the effect of previous pharmacotherapy failure on the efficacy of ECT. Relevant cohort studies were identified from systematic search of the PubMed electronic database. Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis: the overall remission rate amounts to 48.0% (281/585) for patients with and 64.9% (242/373) for patients without previous pharmacotherapy failure. An exact analysis with the Mantel-Haenszel method (fixed effect model) shows a reduced efficacy of ECT in patients that received previous pharmacotherapy (OR, 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.69). In conclusion, the efficacy of ECT is significantly superior in patients without previous pharmacotherapy failure as compared with medication-resistant patients. Because this finding is based on observational studies, it might be caused by a confounding factor, for example, the presence of psychotic features or the duration of the index episode. Electroconvulsive therapy seems to be an effective treatment for severely depressed patients as well as for patients with previous pharmacotherapy failure.

ECT appears to be equally effective for both bipolar and unipolar depression and the remission rates are encouraging, especially for bipolar depression.

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The authors studied interrelationships between plasma levels of amino acids, physical condition (as apparent from cortisol, albumin, and thyroid hormone concentrations), and postoperative delirium in 296 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Both plasma tryptophan (Trp) and ratio of Trp to the other large neutral amino acids (oLNAA) were reduced in delirious patients compared with control patients. The lower availability of Trp for the brain in delirious patients may lead to decreased serotonergic function. Besides, the ratio of phenylalanine (Phe) to the oLNAA was increased in delirium, which may result in a higher synthesis of cerebral dopamine and norepinephrine. Delirious patients were also in poorer physical condition than nondelirious patients, having decreased albumin level and increased ratio of inactive reverse triiodothyronine (T3) to active T3. Decreased Trp and increased Phe availability may give rise to an imbalance in cerebral neurotransmitters and thus contribute to delirium.

That unipolar psychotic depression should be treated with a combination of an antidepressant and an antipsychotic and not with an antidepressant alone, can be considered evidence based with regard to venlafaxine-quetiapine vs. venlafaxine monotherapy. Whether this is also the case for imipramine monotherapy is likely, but cannot be concluded from the data.

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