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Biomedical subjects

A Gjerris

Publications and source records attributed to A Gjerris.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Do concentrations of neurotransmitters measured in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid reflect the concentrations at brain level?

CSF concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), cholecystokinin (CCK), noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) were measured in the lateral ventricles and at the lumbar level in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The concentrations of VIP (n = 15), NA (n = 10) and DA (n = 10) were significantly higher at the lumbar level than at the ventricular level, whereas the concentrations of CCK (n = 9) were similar at the two sites. A significant positive correlation between the concentrations measured at the two levels was found for VIP (rs = 0.65; p less than or equal to 0.01) and DA (rs = 0.94; p less than or equal to 0.001). The results indicate that the concentrations of transmitter substances measured in CSF at the lumbar level not necessarily are indicative for concentrations measured more centrally. The negative correlations between Evans ratio and L-CSF VIP (rs = -0.76; p less than or equal to 0.001), and between resistance to outflow and V-CSF as well as L-CSF CCK (rs = -0.75); p less than or equal to 0.05) might be explained by a reduction in number of cortical neurons or by disturbances in CSF dynamics in patients with NPH.

Cerebral Ventricles↗
PubMed1988

Imipramine binding in depressive patients diagnosed according to different criteria.

3H-imipramine binding to platelet membranes, Bmax and KD, was measured in depressed patients, who were divided into endogenous and non-endogenous depression according to three different criteria, the ICD-9, the Newcastle I and the Newcastle II rating scales. Two groups served as controls, a group of healthy volunteers and a group of psychiatric patients suffering from schizophrenia or senile dementia. No significant differences were found in either Bmax or in KD among the different groups of patients and the control groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Do concentrations of neurotransmitters in lumbar CSF reflect cerebral dysfunction in depression?

Concentrations of the amines and amine metabolites dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), serotonin (5-HT), homovanillic acid (HVA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and of the peptides, vasopressin (AVP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and cholecystokinin (CCK) were measured in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with depression and compared with that of controls. Diagnostic classifications were performed according to ICD-9 and the Newcastle Rating Scales for Depression. The severity of depression was measured by Bech-Rafaelsen melancholia scale. Significantly decreased concentrations of CSF-A and AVP were found in as well endogenous as in non-endogenous depression, whereas reduced levels of CSF-VIP were found only in the non-endogenous group. CSF-5-HT and DA were significantly increased in endogenously depressed patients. In these studies patients with non-endogenous depression were not included. No relationship between severity of depression and concentrations of neurotransmitters was found. For most of the neurotransmitters no correlation between concentrations measured at the lumbar and at the ventricular level seems to exist. This finding indicates that measurements on CSF collected from the lumbar sack not necessarily are indicative for concentrations measured at more central levels. Although several transmitter systems most likely are disturbed in depression, results from studies on lumbar CSF should be interpreted with precaution, until further information about origin and distribution of neurotransmitters in CSF has been obtained.

Brain↗
PubMed1987

Increased cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of C- but not N-terminal cholecystokinin fragments in multiple sclerosis.

The sulfated N-terminus and the carboxyamidated C-terminus of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) were radioimmunoassayed in cerebrospinal fluid from 19 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 17 control subjects. While the N-terminal immunoreactivity was normal in all phases of MS, the concentration of C-terminal CCK immunoreactivity was significantly increased from 3.7 +/- 0.3 to 7.9 +/- 1.0 pmol/l (mean +/- S.E.M.) in both progressive and stable phases. The results indicate that C-terminal forms of CCK are released at an increased rate or that increased amounts of CCK-8 are released together with enhanced aminopeptidase activity in MS.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

CSF-adrenaline--low in "somatizing depression".

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) adrenaline and noradrenaline were measured in 14 depressed patients and in seven controls. CSF-adrenaline, but not noradrenaline, was significantly reduced in the depressed patients. Moreover, a significantly negative correlation between "anxiety, somatic", "hypochondriasis", evaluated as single items on the Hamilton Depression Scale, and CSF-adrenaline concentrations, was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

CSF-amine metabolites in depression, dementia and in controls.

Lumbar CSF concentration of 5-HIAA, MHPG, and HVA were measured in patients with depression, dementia due to normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and in controls. Moreover, ventricular concentrations of the metabolites were measured in patients with NPH. It was aimed to match patients and controls for age, sex, and body height. Non-parametric statistics were used throughout the study. No differences in lumbar concentrations of CSF 5-HIAA, MHPG and HVA were found between the different diagnostic groups. A ventriculo-lumbar gradient of 5-HIAA and HVA being 4:1 and 5:1, respectively, was found in patients with NPH. No correlation between the difference in ventricular and lumbar concentrations and body height was found, suggesting that body height may be an inaccurate measure for the rostro-caudal gradient. Moreover, no correlation between ventricular and lumbar levels of 5-HIAA and HVA was seen.

Biogenic Amines↗
PubMed1986

Femoxetine and cimetidine: interaction in healthy volunteers.

The possibility of a pharmacokinetic interaction between femoxetine and cimetidine has been evaluated in 8 healthy volunteers. Two volunteers received single doses of femoxetine, and 6 were given multiple doses of femoxetine for 7 days with and without concurrent cimetidine. No influence of cimetidine was observed on the kinetics of single doses of femoxetine, but after multiple doses the plasma concentration of femoxetine was significantly increased. Similarly, the AUC at steady state tended to be increased, but not to a significant extent. Concurrent cimetidine did not cause a reduction in the AUC of the active desmethyl metabolite. It is recommended that femoxetine is given in reduced doses (e.g. 400 mg) when administered with cimetidine.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Neuropeptides in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in psychiatric disorders.

Concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was studied in patients with endogenous depression, non-endogenous depression, mania, schizophrenia and a control group. All patients were classified according to various diagnostic systems. In the group of non-endogenously depressed patients CSF-VIP levels (median 16 pmol/l) were found significantly lowered compared to controls (median = 32 pmol/l) and endogenous depression (26 pmol/l). Going through the non-endogenous group it appeared that the low CSF-VIP was due to a group of patients with a former diagnosis of endogenous depression or a present diagnosis of possible endogenous depression. Moreover, this group was clinically characterized by 'dysphoric/hysterical features', 'reversed diurnal variation' (i.e. worst in the evening), and 'lack of clearly circumscribed episode'. In many aspects this group seems similar to the atypical depressions described as monoamineoxidase responders. Concerning CSF-CCK and CSF-gastrin no significant differences between the examined groups were demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Vasopressin was determined in CSF and plasma of 243 patients with different neurological and psychiatric disorders, including control patients. CSF vasopressin was significantly higher in patients with high pressure hydrocephalus, intracranial tumour, benign intracranial hypertension, intracranial haemorrhage, ischaemic stroke, and craniocerebral trauma. In patients with primary degenerative dementia, CSF vasopressin was lower than in control patients. Among patients with psychiatric disorders, CSF vasopressin was increased in manic patients, while in patients with depression CSF concentration of this hormone did not differ from that found in controls. However, an increase in CSF vasopressin level was found in patients recovering from a depression. The clinical significance of changes in CSF vasopressin concentrations in groups of patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders is still unknown.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin--changes in depression.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), CSF-vasopressin (AVP), plasma-AVP, CSF-osmolality, plasma-osmolality, CSF-adrenaline (A) and -noradrenaline (NA) were measured in psychiatric patients and controls. Psychiatric patients were classified according to ICD-9 and grouped into endogenous depression, non-endogenous depression, mania and schizophrenia. The depressive groups were classified according to the Newcastle Rating Scale for Depression 1965. Severity of disease was quantified by BRMES, BRMS and BPRS. No difference in CSF-TRH levels was seen among the different diagnostic groups and controls. A positive correlation between CSF-TRH and CSF-A was demonstrated. CSF-AVP concentrations were significantly lowered in both endogenous and non-endogenous depression; no correlation with CSF-A or -NA was seen. Neither did any difference between plasma levels of AVP, plasma-osmolality or CSF-osmolality appear among the groups investigated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide decreased in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in atypical depression. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, cholecystokinin and gastrin in CSF in psychiatric disorders.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were studied in patients with endogenous depression, non-endogenous depression, mania, schizophrenia and a control group. All patients were classified according to ICD-9 and the group of depressions was further classified according to the Newcastle Rating Scales for depression (Carney et al. 1965) (N-I). In the group of non-endogenously depressed patients, CSF-VIP levels (median 16 pmol/l) were found to be significantly lower than those of controls (median = 32 pmol/l) and endogenous depressives (36 pmol/l). In the non-endogenous group, it appeared that the low CSF-VIP was due to a group of patients who, during a past or present depressive episode, had been diagnosed as suffering from endogenous depression. Moreover, this group was clinically characterized by 'dysphoric/hysterical features', 'reversed diurnal variation' (i.e. worse in the evening), and 'lack of clearly circumscribed episodes'. In many aspects this group seems similar to the atypical depressives described as monoamine oxidase inhibitor responders. Concerning CSF-CCK and CSF-gastrin, no significant differences between the examined groups were demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

World Health Organization Schedule for Standardized Assessment of Depressive Disorders (WHO/SADD-5). Item combinations and interobserver reliability.

In this study we have examined four parts of the 5th revision of the World Health Organization schedule for Standardized Assessment of Depressive Disorders (WHO/SADD-5): (I) items that cover the present depressive state; (II) items that cover the psychiatric history; (III) a global assessment scale for the severity of depression, and (IV) the current ICD-9 diagnosis. Our analysis was based on a comparison of the interobserver reliability of item combinations leading to DSM-III, RDC, Newcastle and Melancholia Scale classifications of patients with depressive disorders. To facilitate these combinations we had added 4 items to SADD: (a) quality of depression, (b) persistence of depression, (c) reactivity of symptoms, and (d) accusations of others. Our results showed that WHO/SADD-5 has an acceptable degree of interobserver reliability both at the levels of global assessment of severity of depression and ICD-9 diagnosis, whereas the item combinations obtained lower intraclass coefficients. However, the items analysis focused on two SADD subscales of acceptable interobserver reliability: a severity scale of 16 items selected from our Melancholia Scale, and a diagnostic scale of another 10 items selected from the two Newcastle Scales.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Whole body and regional clearances of noradrenaline and adrenaline in man.

The whole body clearance of noradrenaline (NA) was measured in seven patients pre- and postoperatively. L-3H-NA was infused intravenously for 90 min and steady-state concentrations of L-3H-NA were measured in both arterial and peripheral venous blood. Preoperatively, in the resting supine position the clearance values based on arterial and venous sampling averaged 1.4 and 2.5 l/min, respectively (p less than 0.02). The difference in clearance values was due to peripheral uptake of NA averaging 45%. The plasma appearance rate on NA averaged 2.4 nmol/min before surgery and it increased to 9.5 nmol/min postoperatively (p less than 0.02). The plasma clearance of NA did not change. These results indicate that the calculation of plasma NA clearance based on venous sampling results in values that are too high. Furthermore, such values may be influenced by individual variations in the peripheral uptake of NA, since we found no correlation between clearance values based on venous and arterial sampling. In other experiments we measured the influence of physical exercise in young healthy subjects on the clearance rate of plasma adrenaline (A). The clearance of A, which at rest averaged 1.9 l/min tended to increase at low work loads and to decrease below resting levels at high exercise intensity. The changes were, however, small (+/- 20% of resting values). The regional extraction ratio of NA was 0.5 to 0.6 in the forearm, the liver and the kidney.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Evaluation of homogeneity and inter-observer reliability in patients with depressive disorders.

In the present study the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS), originally constructed for patients with neurotic anxiety, has been applied to patients with diagnosis of depressive disorders. The inter-rater reliability and homogeneity are evaluated and total scale score has been correlated to the Bech-Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale (BRMES). Twenty-two patients entered the study, 13 with endogenous depressions, and 9 with non-endogenous depressions when classified according to the ICD-8. For both scales the inter-rater reliability was found statistically significant. Concerning the homogeneity of the HAS, statistical significance was obtained for 7 items reflecting psychic anxiety, whereas in the BRMES statistical significance was found in all items apart from 2. Total scale score on HAS correlated positively with total score on BRMES for all 2 patients. However, when the patients were classified according to the ICD-8 this correlation seemed to be due to the endogenously depressed group as no significant correlation was seen for the group of non-endogenous depression. On the other hand, when the patients were classified according to the MULTI-CLAD system no significant intercorrelation of the HAS and BRMES scores was found within the subtypes of depression.

Adjustment Disorders↗