摘要:

We measured plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in depressed patients and normal controls. There were no significant differences for plasma DBH activity between depressed patients and controls nor between melancholic or nonmelancholic depressed patients nor between depressed patients who were nonsuppres-sors or suppressors according to the dexamethasone suppression test. Among the depressed patients plasma DBH activity correlated significantly with extraversion scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118393

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In previous papers we reported a deficit of tyrosine (TYR) and tryptophan (TRP) transport across the erythrocyte membrane in depressed patients. To investigate further the transport mechanism of both monoamine precursors, we tested in healthy subjects the role played by membrane fluidity, using different fluidizing agents such as alcohols and the neuroleptic chlorpromazine. We found that the transport of both amino acids depended on the length of the chain of each alcohol tested (number of carbon atoms = C). No inhibition was observed after methanol (C1) preincubation, in contrast to benzyl alcohol (C6), which produced an inhibition of about 80% of amino acid basal transport. In a condition of incubation by suspension of cells in an artificial medium, we observed a dose response of these transports with ethanol used at doses of 0.1–1.3 M. Finally we found in this study that the effect of ethanol on membrane fluidity, and therefore on inhibition of basal amino acid transport, was totally reversible after having washed the suspended cells, suggesting a superficial, noncovalent ethanol binding on such biological membrane

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118394

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The effects of short- and long-term neuroleptic therapy on peripheral secretion of β-endorphin (β-EP) and β-lipotropin (β-LPH) were examined in 25 chronic schizophrenic patients. Haloperidol was given to 8 patients for 10 days (group A: 0.1 mg/kg b.w./day) and to another group of 8 patients for 30 days (group B: 10–18 mg/day). The other 9 patients were given a combination of haloperidol (6–30 mg/day) with either chlorpromazine (25–75 mg/day), clotiapine (40–60 mg/day), or fluphenazine decanoate (25–75 mg/month) for 14–18 months (group C). β-EP and β-LPH levels were assayed before and after each treatment. Haloperidol plasma levels were assayed in group B patients at the end of treatment. β-EP mean basal levels were higher in patients than in controls; however, β-LPH mean basal levels were higher only for group A patients. After treatment, the mean levels did not differ from those prior to therapy in groups A and B, while β-LPH levels were significantly higher in group C. Level increases or decreases in single patients did not correlate with drug dose or duration of treatment, with baseline peptide levels or with the clinical effects of th

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118395

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We investigated the possible existence of endogenous compounds acting on benzodiazepine central receptors in the serum of patients with panic attacks or depression. Our results show the presence of a substance which inhibits the 3H-fiunitrazepam binding specifically in the samples taken from the patients’ groups, and which is not present in normal controls, in the range of concentrations used. This compound has a molecular weight below 1,000 daltons, is heat-stable, and resistant to proteolytic degradation. The demonstration of this inhibitor opens new perspectives in the study of the biochemistry of anxiet

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118396

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Five normal volunteers received at a 2-week interval a single dose of sublingual or oral prazepam in double-blind and cross-over conditions. All subjects completed a battery of 15 visual analogue scales before drug intake and 7.5, 15, 22.5, 30, 45, 60, 90 min, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 24 h following intake whereas a computerized assessment of vigilance (reaction time) was performed before intake, 15, 30, 60 min, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10 h following intake. Subjects rated themselves significantly more feeble, clumsy, lethargic, and incompetent following sublingual as compared to oral prazepam while a trend in the same direction was noted for the adjectives muzzy and mentally slow. In contrast, reaction time did not exhibit significantly different changes over time between the two forms. These results suggest a subjectively more rapid onset of activity following sublingual compared to oral prazepam.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118397

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The platelet serotonin uptake kinetics was studied in 19 women with premenstrual tension syndrome (PMS) and 19 age-matched symptom-free controls during the pre- and postmenstrual phases. Both groups exhibited stable Vmax and Km values at the two phases of the menstrual cycle. There were no differences between the two groups regarding the level of Vmax and Km, respectively. The effect of season (p < 0.001), with lowered values of Vmax during spring compared to corresponding values during the later half of the year, was identical in both groups. A tendency to lowered Vmax values in the follicular phase in women with PMS during spring may indicate that women with PMS are more vulnerable to developing depressive episodes during this period than symptom-free women. The blood platelet count in whole blood was decreased in the luteal phase in the control group but remained stable in the PMS group. The effect of vitamin B6 on clinical symptoms and the platelet serotonin uptake during the luteal phase was investigated in a double-blind crossover design. Vitamin B6 treatment did not significantly improve the PMS symptoms. There was no effect of treatment on Km. Vmax increased significantly in response to treatment (F = 9.6; p < 0.001) in both groups, but there was no significant difference between placebo and vitamin B6.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118398

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Associations between platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and scale scores from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Impulsiveness-Venturesomeness-Empathy inventory and the Karolinska Scales of Personality were studied in 32 female and 29 male students (age range 17–19 years). There were significant negative correlations between MAO activity and extra version-related scales for male subjects; in the female group the correlations were also negative but nonsignificant. When comparing subgroups with low, intermediate, and high platelet MAO activity subjects, consistent trends were observed in the direction of higher scores in the impulsivity scales, the sensation seeking-related Monotony avoidance scale, and the Indirect Aggression scale for both female and male low MAO activity grou

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118399

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In a double-blind fourfold crossover design, 11 subjects were randomly assigned to placebo, 10 mg diazepam, 75 mg amitriptyline, and 75 mg chlorpromazine. During a simple vigilance task, 12 midline and left hemisphere leads were recorded before and 3 h after drug administration. The EEG was quantified by spectrum analysis, the topographic structure displayed by brain mapping techniques, and the results compared with earlier studies which used the same design and drugs. Diazepam showed the expected increase in beta; however, fast beta was increased as much as slow beta. Amitriptyline showed an increase of slow wave power and a reduction of alpha. In contrast to earlier studies, a decrease of fast beta was found. In addition, the spatial pattern of alpha changed from an occipital to a parietal maximum. Chlorpromazine showed an increase in the theta band. In occipital regions, there was a small decrease of fast beta; however, centrally there was an increase of both slow and fast beta. These results were confirmed by a multivariate analysis of variance.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118400

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The effects of fenfluramine on electrophysiological activity in autistic children were assessed by computerized EEG power analysis and brainstem evoked responses (BSER). Prolonged administration of fenfluramine resulted in a decrease of relative share of α-waves in the EEG power spectrum and in corresponding increase in slow activity. No effects of the drug on BSER latencies were observed. The spectral EEG pattern of fenfluramine identified in this sample was compared to the spectra reported for normal volunteers on an acute dose of fenfluramine. The implications of these findings for EEG classification of fenfluramine and neurochemical mechanisms of autism are discussed

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118401

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A thorough study of the amplitude modulation characteristics of the EEG tracings remains to be done. In this paper a digital system is built in a way that permits real time elicitation of the EEG envelope, with a low computational effort. The EEG signal is considered to be the product of a slow varying envelope and a fast bipolar oscillation. The signal is applied to the input of a multiplicative homomorphic system which produces the envelope as its low-pass output. This method may then be the first step in a systematic on-line envelope analysis.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000118402

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1987

数据来源: Karger