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Biomedical subjects

A Kling

Publications and source records attributed to A Kling.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Tacrine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A clinical update and recent pharmacologic studies.

The initial report of the effectiveness of tacrine or tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) in the treatment of some patients with Alzheimer's disease has been confirmed by further study of additional subjects and by preliminary reports from other investigators. The major side effect, elevation of liver enzymes, is shown to be reversible, dose-dependent and without significant hepatic pathology. Therapeutic serum concentrations of THA vary between 7 and 20 ng/ml. In addition to its presumed action as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, data are presented demonstrating marked effects on other brain neurotransmitters in animal models.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1988

Neuropsychological deficits in obligatory heterozygotes for metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Two groups of heterozygotes, one for metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) and the other for Tay-Sachs disease, were given a battery of neuropsychological tests, a standard neurological examination, and an EEG. Neurological and EEG findings were unremarkable for both groups. The MLD heterozygotes showed deficits in the neuropsychological tests involving spatial or constructional components, but not in tests involving language skills. The Tay-Sachs heterozygotes showed no consistent deficit on any component of the neuropsychological tests.

Electroencephalography↗
PubMed1986

Oral tetrahydroaminoacridine in long-term treatment of senile dementia, Alzheimer type.

We treated 17 patients who had moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease with oral tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA), a centrally active anticholinesterase, in a three-phase study. In the nonblinded first phase of the study, significant improvement occurred in subjects who received the drug, as compared with their pretreatment status, on the global assessment (P = 0.001), the Orientation Test (P = 0.001), and the more sophisticated Names Learning Test (P = 0.001). During the second phase, the subjects served as their own controls in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study in which the order of administration of the drug and placebo was randomly assigned. Among the 14 subjects completing Phase II, THA treatment produced significantly better results than placebo on the global assessment (P = 0.003), the Orientation Test (P = 0.004), the Alzheimer's Deficit Scale (P = 0.003), and the Names Learning Test (P = 0.001). Twelve subjects have entered Phase III, which involves long-term administration of oral THA. The average duration of treatment in these subjects at present is 12.6 months; symptomatic improvements have occurred, and no serious side effects attributable to THA have been observed. These encouraging initial results suggest that THA may be at least temporarily useful in the long-term palliative treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease. We stress that further observations will be required before a clear assessment of the role of this agent can be made.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1981

Effects of methaqualone on social-sexual behavior in monkeys (M. mulatta) II. Simultaneously dosed subjects.

In a previous publication, we reported on the effects of 10 mg/kg i.m. injections of methaqualone on behavioral changes in treated animals and untreated members of a well-established colony of 10 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). The drug showed a biphasic effect, causing more passive behaviors in the first 80-100 min postinjection, followed by either aggression or increased sexual activity. After approximately 2 h, the social status and behavior of all animals returned to predrug levels. In general, affiliative activities increased under the influence of the drug, phenomena somewhat parallel tho those described among humans taking methaqualone in group settings. We also speculated that the drug may have an aphrodisiac potency. In the present experiments, 3 animals were caged together and injected simultaneously with the dose used earlier: an adult but naive male, who had been caged alone for infancy; an adult and subadult female, the 2 latter having had extensive social experience. After establishing baseline behaviors, five experiments with methaqualone were conducted, each lasting 2 h; and after the 2nd and 4th experiments, saline controls were carried out. There was a continuous increase from experiment to experiment in the affiliative behaviors of the animals; but during the saline trials, their behaviors returned nearly to those exhibited during baseline studies. Under the influence of methaqualone, the naive male attempted to copulate, which he achieved by the 4th drug trial; and at the same time he established his dominance. The conclusion was reached that methaqualone, indeed, has aphrodisiac potency, best measured by the time the male spent with erection under the influence of the drug, as compared with no erection during the baseline studies or the saline trials. The biphasic effect of methaqualone on behavior reported in the previous review [1] was also observed during the present experiments.

Agonistic Behavior↗
PubMed1980

Effects of methaqualone on social behavior in monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

In an established social group of rhesus monkeys (macaca mulatta) consisting of 1 adult male, 6 adult females, 1 adolescent male and 2 infants, 3 subjects were selected to study the effects of intramuscular methaqualone (10 mg/kg) on behavioral changes in the treated animals, as well as the rest of the colony. Three drug trials alternating with saline controls given to the dominant male, a mid-ranking female and the adolescent male. 20 h of observations were made prior to treatment to serve as a baseline, using 40 discrete behaviors. For each drug and saline period, 2 h of continuous observation was directed towards each target animal (total 36 h), and 12-min behavioral samplings were carried out on each untreated subject in the colony (36 h). Dependent upon the sex and social rank of the subject, different behavioral changes occurred during drug treatment, which were consistent from trial to trial. New behaviors were observed, such as active grooming, autofellatio and masturbation in both males, while some previous behaviors disappeared or decreased. The mid-ranking female showed an increase in aggressive behavior. A biphasic action of the drug was also observed in all subjects. During the first 80--100 min, the males were mainly passive or engaged in grooming, but after this primary phase, they started either to masturbate or autofellate. After approximately 2 h, the social status and behavior of the animals returned to predrug levels. During the drug treatment, marked changes occurred in the behavior of other colony members, e.g. when the dominant male's vigilance was lowered, the highest ranking female replaced him in rank. In general, affiliative activities were increased under the influence of methaqualone, manifesting themselves mainly in grooming, hudding or sitting together: phenomena somewhat parallel to those described among humans taking the drug in group settings.

Agonistic Behavior↗
PubMed1978

Clinical course of adult metachromatic leukodystrophy presenting as schizophrenia. A report of two living cases in siblings.

Adult metachromatic leukodystrophy is a demyelinating disease due to an inherited lack of arylsulfatase A activity. The purpose of this paper is to present the characteristics of this disorder as they occurred chronologically in two siblings, prior to and subsequent to the appearance of gross neurological deficits. A deficit in spatial relationships, as contrasted with verbal abilities, was observed initially in both cases at age 13. Initial psychiatric symptoms were noted at age 16 and 18, with both patients being diagnosed subsequently as schizophrenic. Gross neurological deficits were observed 2 and 13 years, respectively, after the appearance of psychiatric symptoms. A deficit in spatial relationships may be a very sensitive early indicator of adult metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

A neural substrate for affiliative behavior in nonhuman primates.

Studies of social behavior following localized brain lesions in several species of Old World monkeys suggest there is an anatomical substrate for the maintenance of social bonds. Destruction of either the amygdaloid nuclei, orbital frontal cortex or temporal pole results in varying degrees of social isolation or marked reductions in affiliative behaviors depending upon the environmental and social setting. The relationship between the loss of affiliative behaviors subsequent to these lesions and other functions previously demonstrated to be represented in these neural structures is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

[Dietary behavior and constraint by cost].

After the Second World War, it had become clear that consumers often use the price of a products as an indication to its quality, and the classical economy Homo Economicus'rationalism was often questioned, for that and other reasons, within the context of the Affluent Society. Today, we may be witnessing a return to rationalism. But it may still be more of a lip service rationalism than a behavioural one. Two studies are presented where housewives responded much more negatively "in words" (in their intended purchases, as stated in a survey) that "in fact" (in actual purchasing), when faced with a price increase of food commodities. The actual purchases were assessed by a controlled experiment using 15 supermarkets. The experiment, designed into a latin square, lasted three months. Four price levels were tested: normal, +20%, -10% and -20%. The intentions-to-buy were assessed by interviewing (at home) customers of the same supermarkets, during the experiment, and asking them whether they would buy the product at each of the four price levels, under experimentation.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗