摘要:

One of the most consistently reported immunological abnormalities in major depression is blunted ex vivo natural killer cell activity (NKCA). This study was designed to investigate the number and percentage of circulating natural killer cells (NKC) in a group of patients with unipolar depression. In addition, the number and percentage of other phagocytic/cytotoxic cells were determined. The following cell subsets were investigated: number of leukocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, NKC (CD 16+ or CD56+), and non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in 17 healthy controls and 79 depressed subjects. There were no differences either in absolute number or percentage of NKC, or CTL between healthy controls, minor, simple major, and melancholic depressed subjects. Depression per se was characterized by a leukocytosis due to monocytosis and neutrophilia. Our results do not support the thesis that depression-related blunted NKCA is caused by a decreased number or percentage of NKC in peripheral blood.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119080

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A series of depressed patients had monoamine metabolites measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine. We wished to see if CSF or urinary measures were more strongly associated with suicidal behavior in depression. Using a variety of graphical and analytic statistical approaches we found that the urinary measures of dopamine metabolism had the strongest association with suicide attempts in depression. These surprising results suggest that selected peripheral correlates of monoaminergic neurotransmission deserve further study in suicidal behavior.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119081

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

This study investigates the utility for depression research of an assay for intact (1–39) adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) versus that of a previously employed (i.e., 1–17, 1–24 sequences) ACTH assay. ACTH plasma levels were measured using two different ACTH assays (labeled as intact versus nonintact) in 10 minor and 27 major depressed subjects undergoing the combined dexamethasone suppression (DST) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) test. Intact – but not nonintact – ACTH values were significantly correlated with the severity of illness. Major depressed subjects exhibited significantly higher post-DST+CRH intact ACTH values than minor depressives, whereas nonintact ACTH values were not significantly different between these groups. Post-DST+CRH intact ACTH values were significantly more closely related to post-DST+CRH cortisol than nonintact ACTH values. It is concluded that the assay of the intact ACTH molecule is an asset in depression research and should replace the previous less specific and sensitive AC

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119082

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The development is described of a new stimulus electrode placement for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) from expectations that relate the location and volume of induced seizure foci to side effects and efficacy, respectively. These expectations are that cognitive side effects would be minimized by avoiding induction of seizure foci in brain regions associated with neuropsychological function, and that greater efficacy would be associated with a larger volume of seizure foci. These considerations led to placement on the right temple and on the left forehead. This placement was used in an open trial on 10 consecutive female inpatients suffering from mania, depression, or mixed manic-depressive state, 9 of whom showed severe cognitive impairment, psychosis, or both. All patients achieved remission, indicating efficacy as likely above 93.3% as below it, and above 74% (p < 0.05); 6- to 10-week follow-up was essentially unchanged. No cognitive morbidity was observed. Post-ECT mini-mental status score averaged 28.4 out of 30, with an average improvement of 17.3 points, substantially better than reported after bifrontotemporal ECT. These results justify further consideration of this placement.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119083

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Peripheral and central aspects of motor dysfunction were assessed in 12 schizophrenic and 12 normal subjects, using a test of control of finger movement based on the widely used smooth pursuit eye movement task. This was performed in order to investigate the basis of neuromotor dysfunction in schizophrenia. In this task, subjects used finger movement to track a visual target. Simultaneously, an electromyogram of the extensor digitorum commu-nis, the primary muscle utilized in the task, was recorded. Smooth pursuit eye movements were also assessed. Accuracy of finger-based and smooth-pursuit eye movement tracking was analyzed by fast Fourier transform and expressed as a log signal-to-noise ratio. The electromyograms were analyzed by motor unit potential discrimination and by interspike interval histography. Schizophrenics demonstrated significantly poorer finger tracking than did controls, with a mean score of 2.01 ± 0.63 (SD) versus 2.81 ± 0.42 (t = 3.52, d.f. = 21, p < 0.005). However, there was no evidence for motor-unit dysfunction. Schizophrenics also performed more poorly on smooth-pursuit eye movement, with a mean score of 2.06 ± 0.62 versus 3.33 ± 1.21 (t= 3.21, d.f. = 22, p < 0.005). Severity of extrapyramidal symptoms was correlated with poorer performance on the finger tracking task, but not smooth-pursuit eye movement. These findings support the hypothesis that schizophrenics’ tracking abnormalities are due to central nervous system deficits rather than peripheral path

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119084

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Examination of the serotonin metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), in the urine of psychiatry patients has generally not been used because the reliability of urinary 5-HIAA levels has been questioned. Thirty-seven generalized anxiety disordered patients collected two consecutive urines for measurement of 5-HIAA. The correlation of the 5-HIAA collections was r = 0.82, p = 0.0001.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119085

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The combination of an antidepressant with a neuroleptic is standard pharmacotherapy for delusional depression today. The neuroleptics used are rarely specified: occasionally haloperidol or perphenazine are mentioned. In two different open-treatment studies, consecutively admitted delusional depressed inpatients received a butyrophenone [haloperidol, bromperidol, approximately 10 mg/day (n= 16)] or zotepine [150–200 mg/day(n= 15)] as a neuroleptic in combination with a tri- or tetracyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline, maprotiline, 150 mg/day). There was a significant improvement in both groups in the sum score of the Hamilton depression scale (24-item version), in a subscore of so-called delusional items (items 2, 17, 19, 20, 23, and 24 together), in the subscore of remaining items and also in most single items such as mood, inhibition, agitation, feelings of guilt or hopelessnes

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119086

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Animal experiments have demonstrated that the cholinergic system plays an important role in the activation of the cerebral cortex in conjunction with motor activities. In order to study the significance of the cholinergic system in the generation of voluntary movements in man, the effects of the anticholiner-gic drug biperidene on EEG states were analyzed. The effects depend strongly on the dosage and are shown in various frequency bands, topographic loci and time periods. Different functional significances of various frequency bands were found. In the alpha band motoric control processes are seen as an expression of mechanisms which substitute the cholinergic system. A shift of functions from the theta to the delta band with the increase of the medication seems to parallel an enhancement of motivational or volitional effort. The emergence of highly ordered EEG states is seen to be meaningful in view of the underlying processes of voluntary movements.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119087

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119088

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119089

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger