摘要:

Auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a dichotic listening task in 18 remitted schizophrenic patients and in 18 age-matched controls. The subjects were instructed to press a button in response to the target tones applied to one designated ear. In schizophrenic patients, P300 amplitude for attended target was significantly smaller than in controls. Schizophrenic patients also exhibited reduced positive potentials between 200 and 400 ms in ERPs for unattended nontarget. These results suggested that schizophrenic patients lack the ability to inhibit unattended or irrelevant stimuli, in addition to impairment of ‘context closure’ in the information process

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119292

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Stress can produce immunosuppression leading to increased susceptibility to infection, tumor growth or autoimmune disease. It has been recently noted, however, that certain kinds of stress need not increase the risk of immune pathology. The present study looked for immune pathology in an anxiety-related disorder. Acute exacerbation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety spectrum disorder, served as a model for stress. Seven OCD subjects in acute exacerbation, and 9 healthy age-matched control subjects participated in the study. T cell subsets were determined at baseline in both OCD and control groups, and after 6 weeks on clomipramine in the OCD group. No statistically significant changes in lymphocyte subsets were found between the control and the untreated patient groups. Likewise, no statistically significant changes were found in patients before and after treatment. The negative finding of the present study supports the view that stress need not compromise immunologic function. Various aspects of stress, which may turn the immune system vulnerable, are discussed as well.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119293

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Twenty schizophrenia patients and 20 nonpsychiatric subjects were presented with an ocular-motor delayed-response task. Schizophrenia patients generated fewer memory-guided saccades which were characterized by increased latency and decreased gain relative to the nonpsychiatric subjects. In addition, the patients generated an increased frequency of reflexive (made to the initial cue) and anticipatory (made during the delay period) errors. The results are most consistent with hypothesized pathology of prefrontal cortex among schizophrenia patients.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119294

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Two of the most consistently observed biological findings in autism are increased serotonin levels in the blood and immunological abnormalities (including autoreactivity with tissues of the central nervous system). The purpose of this investigation was to determine if any relationship exists between these two sets of observations. Our laboratory has found and confirmed associations of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) with autism. Since the MHC is known to regulate the immune system and is also associated with autoimmune disorders, we studied serum serotonin levels in 20 autistic subjects with or without MHC types previously found to be associated with autism. A positive relationship was observed between elevated serotonin levels and the MHC types previously associated with autism.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119295

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

This paper presents 6 patients with catatonia and subthalamic mesencephalic tumors with hydrocephalus involving the third and the lateral ventricles. This anatomic and psychiatric anomaly is investigated on the basis of personal observations and a review of the literature. These cases allow an interesting parallel to be traced between neurological clinical signs and psychiatric signs. Various anatomic and physiological models are discussed which emphasize specialized neuronal circuits (somewhat similar to those involved in Parkinson’s disease) and certain specific neurotransmitters such as dopamine, together with the reactivity of these circuits to intracranial pressure variations. Once more, clinical and laboratory data on schizophrenia concur to suggest that organic etiology is the causal factor in a known psychiatric patholog

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119296

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

CGS19281A, a phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) inhibitor, is reported not to inhibit α-2-adrenoceptor activity, in vitro. Effects of CGS19281A on the hypothalamic α-2-adrenoceptor function were studied in vivo in male Wistar rats. Agents used as controls were SKF2966l, which is a selective peripheral PNMT inhibitor, SKF64139, a PNMT inhibitor that inhibits equally both α-2-adrenoceptor activity and PNMT, and yohimbine, an α-2-adrenoceptor inhibitor that does not inhibit PNMT. Following the administration of PNMT inhibitors, hypothalamic 3-methoxy 4-hydroxy phenylglycol (MHPG) was measured during micro brain dialysis to observe its fluctuations. Effects of PNMT inhibitors on growth hormone (GH) secretion caused by clonidine were examined in order to assess the effects of PNMT inhibitors on postsynaptic α-2-adrenoceptors in the hypothalamus. Neither saline nor the peripherally active PNMT inhibitor SKF2966l (50 mg/kg) increased hypothalamic MHPG. Both SKF64139 (50 mg/kg) and yohimbine (5 mg/kg) incresed MHPG significantly when compared with SKF2966l. There was no significant increase in MHPG after the administration of CGS19281A (20 mg/kg). Blood GH increased 30 min after clonidine was administered. While CGS19281A (20 mg/kg), SKF64139 (50 mg/kg) and yohimbine (5 mg/kg) inhibited GH secretion, the peripherally active PNMT inhibitor SKF2966l (50 mg/kg) did not. These results suggest that CGS19281A has an in vivo inhibitory effect on the clonidine induced GH secretion. This may be due to inhibition of adrenaline synthesis by this a

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119297

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Zolpidem, a new imidazo-pyridine hypnotic, acts like a benzodiazepine. Because of its short half-life, zolpidem plays a special role in the group of drugs suitable for anesthesiological premedication because of its sedative and anxiolytic effects. The study compared preanesthesiological treatment by zolpidem and phenobarbital in combination with promethazine in a clinical setting. In a double-blind randomized design, 304 patients awaiting different kinds of surgery were studied. For the assessment of emotional states, a multidimensional rating scale was administered. The study showed differing effects of zolpidem and phenobarbital, which could be demonstrated in the scales ‘irritation’, ‘vulnerability’, and ‘aggression’ and could therefore represent in domain hostility. In most of the other scales there were similar effects of phenobarbital and zolpidem. Assuming that phenobarbital is a potent sedative, the reported results confirm the results found by other authors, that zolpidem also acts as a sedative. The reported results describe promethazine as selectively deactivating. These results are in agreement with the findings of an experimental study which tested the acute effects of stress under p

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119298

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The pharmaco-EEG profile and the effects on P300 and CNV of befloxatone, a new selective and reversible MAO-A inhibitor, were assessed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-way crossover study. Twelve healthy young male volunteers were administered single doses of 2.5, 10 and 20 mg befloxatone and placebo separated by a 1-week washout. The EEG data were recorded before and at least 6 h after drug administration, by means of 28 leads allowing topographical analysis of the results. MAO inhibition, subjective effects and safety variables were also investigated. Statistical analysis was performed by means of the SDT method. Befloxatone induced dose-related EEG changes which occurred rapidly, peaked between 0.5 and 2 h and lasted at least until 6 h after drug administration. The EEG changes were characterized by an increase in absolute and/or relative alpha power, mainly alpha 1, after the 3 doses and a theta power increase after 10 and 20 mg only. These changes occurred mainly over the centroparietotemporal areas. Concerning the event-related potential, P300 latency of the auditory evoked potentials did not change. The P300 and CNV mean topographic amplitudes were decreased, between 0.5 and 2 h, after the two lowest doses for the P300 and the 3 doses for the CNV. After administration of 2.5, 10 and 20 mg, MAO inhibition was shown by respectively 38, 76 and 81% reduction in plasma free 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylglycol reached after 2–4 h. Such a pharmaco-EEG profile, occurring at doses inducing MAO-A inhibition, is similar to those already described with nonsedative antidepressant

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119299

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The soporific effect of the neuroactive steroid pregnanolone, a metabolite of progesterone, and its relationship with plasma concentrations was assessed in 18 young, healthy, male volunteers for 2 h after administration of a single dose of pregnanolone prepared in two different formulations. Sedation was measured as sleep propensity and power increase in the low frequency delta band of the quantified EEG, based on 5-min polygraphic (EEG, EOG, EMG) recordings under resting conditions, which were performed immediately before, and 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after intake of the study drug. With both formulations, there was a time-dependent increase in plasma concentration of pregnanolone with highest values 1–2 h postdosing. The model of short polygraphic recordings under resting conditions demonstrated soporific effects of pregnanolone. Compared to predosing baseline the number of sleep attempts and the time asleep increased after treatment with a peak 60 min postdosing. Quantitative EEG analysis revealed an increase of absolute amplitude in the delta frequency range with a comparable temporal pattern. Correlations between the soporific effect and plasma concentrations of pregnanolone suggest that the effects were drug-related, although this has to be replicated with placebo contro

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119300

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger