PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A B Stone

Publications and source records attributed to A B Stone.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Premenstrual syndrome.

The advances in the careful screening and diagnosis of women with PMS has led to the ability to conduct epidemiologic, etiologic, and treatment studies in well-defined samples of women. Prospective symptom charting, scoring methods, and careful clinical psychiatric and medical evaluation are necessary to rule out concurrent psychiatric and medical disorders. Studies of women with PMDD have suggested several promising pharmacologic treatment options. Whether these treatment options are also successful for women with milder premenstrual symptoms, with premenstrual exacerbation of underlying conditions, or with premenstrual symptoms superimposed on underlying psychiatric and medical conditions remains to be studied. Treatment of premenstrual symptoms by pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic methods may be unsuccessful if the underlying psychiatric or medical condition is not addressed first.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Mood disorders and menopause.

Studies of depressive symptoms in menopausal women indicate that menopause is not associated with increased rates of depression, although mild mood and anxiety symptoms may occur in the few years prior to menopause. Women with previous affective disorders that are cyclic or that are associated with reproductive events may be at increased risk for depression at menopause. Because women presenting to menopause clinics are more likely to have affective disorders, the efficacy of estrogen for enhancing mood is an important question. Although some researchers suggest that estrogens have proven mood-elevating and antidepressant properties, others caution that the psychologic benefits of HRT deserve more systematic study before conclusions can be made. It has been suggested that minor psychologic symptoms at menopause or psychologic symptoms accompanied by vasomotor symptoms warrant a trial of HRT before considering psychotropic medication. If the psychologic symptoms do not respond to HRT, are not accompanied by vasomotor symptoms, or are clinically severe, antidepressant medication should be considered first or in addition to HRT. The psychologic effects of progesterone and androgens are less extensively studied than those of estrogen, and further research is needed.

Androgens↗
PubMed1997

Comparison of fluoxetine, bupropion, and placebo in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Serotonergic antidepressants have been shown to be effective treatments for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The efficacy of nonserotonergic antidepressants is less well studied. This study was a two-center, parallel design, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of fluoxetine, bupropion, and placebo in women with PMDD. Thirty-four women with PMDD completed 1 month of single-blind placebo and 2 months of fluoxetine 20 mg/day (N = 10), bupropion 100 mg three times daily (N = 12), or placebo (N = 12). Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) Scale, an expanded form of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and Global Assessment Scale (GAS) ratings were obtained premenstrually in each of the three treatment cycles. The three treatment groups differed significantly in efficacy by CGI ratings. Fluoxetine was superior to both bupropion and placebo. Comparison of posttreatment to pretreatment HAM and GAS scores demonstrated significant superior efficacy of fluoxetine compared with placebo. Posttreatment HAM and GAS scores for bupropion were intermediate between but not significantly different from fluoxetine or placebo. In summary, fluoxetine was significantly superior to bupropion and placebo as an effective treatment for PMDD. Although some improvement with bupropion was noted, and both medications were well tolerated, patient satisfaction was far greater with fluoxetine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation and treatment of changes in mood, sleep, and sexual functioning associated with menopause.

Most women will not have significant psychological, sleep, or sexual disturbances during the transition from menstrual to menopausal life. Evaluation of these symptoms requires careful consideration of menopausal status, preexisting difficulties, and complicating medical or interpersonal problems. Hormone replacement therapy may be a useful treatment either alone or as an adjunct to other somatic, behavioral, or psychological interventions.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Long-term fluoxetine treatment of late luteal phase dysphoric disorder.

BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of fluoxetine in the short-term treatment of late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) have been shown in several studies, but its efficacy and safety over more than a few cycles have not been demonstrated. METHOD: Sixty-four women with prospectively confirmed LLPDD were treated with fluoxetine for a mean of 18.6 months. Response was determined by clinical interview and Clinical Global Impressions rating within the first three cycles, and subjects were followed clinically every 3 to 6 months. Medication dose was titrated on the basis of side effects and response. Women who had been treated for at least 1 year were asked to discontinue medication to reassess the need for treatment. RESULTS: Sixty women were able to tolerate at least 1 month of treatment. Of these, 57% (N = 34) remained on 20 mg/day and 37% (N = 22) received 40 mg/day. Fifty-two percent (N = 31) achieved remission (CGI score = 1); 48% (N = 29) achieved a partial remission of symptoms (CGI score = 2). The most common side effect was sexual dysfunction, which occurred in 17% of women (N = 10). Symptoms recurred in most women after treatment discontinuation and remitted again with reinstitution of treatment. An earlier age at onset of LLPDD or a prior episode of major depression was associated with achieving only partial remission of symptoms. CONCLUSION: These results support the findings of the double-blind studies of fluoxetine treatment for LLPDD. Fluoxetine is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for this condition when used over time. Approximately half of those treated achieved complete remission of their symptoms, while the others experienced significant improvement. This study also lends further support to the effectiveness of serotonergic agents in the treatment of premenstrual symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Fluoxetine in the treatment of late luteal phase dysphoric disorder.

BACKGROUND: Despite many associations between late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) and major depression, there have been no placebo-controlled trials of an antidepressant in this disorder. METHOD: The authors conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine in the treatment of LLPDD. The diagnosis of LLPDD was based on daily, prospective self-rating forms that subjects completed over two menstrual cycles. Subjects with other psychiatric disorders, determined by the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia interview, were excluded from the study. Women who continued to meet criteria for LLPDD after a single-blind trial of placebo were randomly assigned to treatment for two menstrual cycles with either fluoxetine 20 mg/day (N = 10) or placebo (N = 10). RESULTS: Nine of the 10 subjects receiving fluoxetine responded to treatment, whereas only 2 of the 10 receiving placebo did (p less than .0003). Symptoms decreased significantly in all 10 LLPDD diagnostic categories in the fluoxetine-treated group. All subjects taking fluoxetine elected to continue with this treatment after completion of the study. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that fluoxetine is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for LLPDD.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Fluoxetine in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome.

Despite many associations between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and major depression, there have been no placebo-controlled trials of an antidepressant in this disorder. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine in the treatment of severe PMS. The diagnosis of PMS was made using daily, prospective, self-rating forms over two menstrual cycles. Women who continued to meet criteria for PMS after a single-blind trial of placebo during one menstrual cycle were randomly assigned to treatment for two menstrual cycles with either fluoxetine at 20 mg/day (n = 9) or placebo (n = 6). Eight of the 9 subjects receiving fluoxetine responded to treatment, whereas only 1 of the 6 receiving placebo responded (p less than .025). All subjects on fluoxetine elected to continue with this treatment after completion of the study. These preliminary results suggest that fluoxetine is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for severe PMS.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Mitochondrial and cellular inhibition by the folate analogue pyrimethamine in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: reversal of cellular effects by TMP.

The inhibitory effect of pyrimethamine on the growth of TMP-permeable strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a fermentable medium supplemented with adenine, glycine, methionine and pantothenate was substantially reduced by exogenous TMP. This compound also suppressed the drug's killing effect, and to some extent its ability to induce the mitochondrial petite mutation. In a non-fermentable medium, TMP failed to reduce growth inhibition, in line with our earlier finding that as well as blocking synthesis pyrimethamine prevents mitochondrial protein synthesis.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1975

Loss of cytochrome oxidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae during inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis by erythromycin and chloramphenicol.

There is a major reduction in respiratory competence, and inhibitionof growth, several hours after the addition of erythromycin or chloramphenicol to Saccharomyces cerevisiae growing in medium containing a non-fermentable carbon source. Spectrographic evidence is presented for a loss of cytochrome oxidase as a consequence of the antibiotic treatment. This loss is prevented by cyanide or oligomycin. When glucose is added, however, the loss occurs irrespective of the presence of the respiratory inhibitors. Cycloheximide does not affect respiratory competence or cause loss of cytochrome oxidase, and it prevents the loss elicited by erythromycin if both compounds are added together. However, if cycloheximide is added some time after the addition of erythromycin, it fails to block the response to the latter drug. The results cannot be accounted for on the basis of the segregation of a finite number of mitochondria into an increasing number of progeny cells but, rather, suggest that the mitochondria are modified during growth in chloramphenicol or erythromycin.

Chloramphenicol↗
PubMed1975

Effect of pyrimethamine on the morphology and ultrastructure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Sub-lethal levels of the folate analogue, pyrimethamine, caused pronounced cell elongation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain B41 when grown in glycerol medium. The orientation of bud development was also altered. Electron microscopy of thin sections showed an increase in cell wall thickness, but apart from this and the overall cell shape, the ultrastructure of the cells was normal. The structural abnormalities are attributed to alterations in the plasmalemma caused by protein synthesis inhibition in the mitochondria.

Cell Wall↗
PubMed1975

R factors: plasmids conferring resistance to antibacterial agents.

Antibiotic sensitivity and resistance are often under the control of the bacterial chromosome. Frequently, however, an organism may exhibit resistance to one or several antibiotics as a dominant character determined by genes located on a plasmid, a relatively small, circular DNA molecule which replicates, with some degree of autonomy, in the bacterial cytoplasm. Such plasmids, termed drug-resistance (R) factors, generally also specify the formation of sex pili, filamentous appendages on the cell surface. These promote bacterial conjugation, and hence permit the transfer of a copy of the plasmid from the resistant organism to one which may previously have been drug-sensitive. Each ex-conjugant is then capable of acting as a plasmid donor during subsequent pairings, so that R factors are commonly responsible for the epidemic spread of multiple drug-resistance throughout an entire bacterial population. This can present serious problems in antibiotic therapy, particularly as plasmids are often transmissible between organisms of different species, and even different genera. The molecular nature, classification and behaviour of R factors is discussed.

Bacteria↗