BackgroundObesity is a major problem especially in western countries and several studies underline the importance of physical activity to enhance diet. Currently there is increasing interest in instruments for monitoring daily physical activity. The purpose of this pilot study was to appraise the qualitative and quantitative differences in physical activities and gait analysis parameters in control and obese subjects by means of an innovative tool for the monitoring of physical activity.MethodsTwenty-six obese patients, 16 women and 10 men, aged 22 to 69 years with Body Mass Index (BMI) between 30 and 51.4 kg/m2, were compared with 15 control subjects, 4 men and 11 women, aged 24 to 69 with BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m2 during daily physical activities. The IDEEA device (Minisun, Fresno, CA), based on a wearable system of biaxial accelerometers and able to continuously record the physical activities and energy expenditure of a subject in time was used. Time spent in different physical activities such as standing, sitting, walking, lying, reclining, stepping, energy expenditure and gait parameters (velocity, stance duration, etc) were measured during a 24-hours period.ResultsA trend toward a reduced number of steps was present, associated to reduced speed, reduced cadence and reduced rate of single and double limb support (SLS/DLS). Moreover, obese people spent significant less time stepping, less time lying and more time in a sitting or reclined position during the night. The energy expenditure during a 24-hours period was higher in the obese compared to controls.ConclusionsThe study provided objective parameters to differentiate the daily motor activity of obese subjects with respect to controls, even a larger population is required to confirm these findings. The device used can be of support in programming educational activities for life style modification in obese people as well as for monitoring the results of various kinds of intervention in these patients concerning weight and physical performance.

The 3H-imipramine binding parameters (Bmax and Kd) were studied in platelets from female suicide attempters and from healthy volunteers. The Bmax was significantly lower among suicide attempters, with no modification of the Kd. These results provide support of the hypothesis that decreased serotonin function may play a role in suicidal behavior.

1 Benzodiazepines are regarded as pure anxiolytics, and their value in the treatment of depression is controversial. Nevertheless, symptoms of anxiety and depression coexist in patients with endogenous or neurotic depression, and clinical trials indicate that depressed patients respond better to a benzodiazepine‐tricyclic antidepressant combination than to either drug alone. 2 Benzodiazepines may extend tricyclic antidepression efficacy by rapidly relieving anxiety and insomnia. Factor analysis of scores obtained using the Hamilton Depression and Self‐Administered Depression Rating Scales confirm the clinical findings by revealing that a close correlation exists among anxiety, insomnia and endogenous depression. The factor analysis data seem to support the wide use of benzodiazepine‐tricyclic combinations to treat depressed patients.

We measured platelet 3H-imipramine binding parameters in 16 subjects affected by different types of mental deficiency, all characterized by hyperactive and/or aggressive behaviour, and in 16 healthy controls. The patients had a lower maximum binding capacity than the controls, with no difference in Kd, irrespectively of the type of mental disorder. These findings suggest a link between 5-HT disturbances, reflected by reduced imipramine binding sites, and behavioural dyscontrol, expressed as hyperactivity and aggression.