Biomedical subjects

B Pflug

Publications and source records attributed to B Pflug.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Catatonia: short-term response to lorazepam and dopaminergic metabolism.

Therapeutic response to lorazepam and dopaminergic metabolism were investigated in 18 neuroleptically naive acute catatonic patients. They were diagnosed as catatonic according to criteria by Lohr and Rosebush and treated exclusively with lorazepam (2-4 mg) during the first 24 h. Dopaminergic metabolism (plasma HVA, plasma MHPG), anxiety (HAM-A) and parkinsonic/dyskinetic movements (SEPS, AIMS) were measured under standard conditions before initial treatment with lorazepam (day 0) and 24 h after initial treatment (day 1). On day 0 responders to lorazepam treatment (complete remission of catatonic syndrome after 24 h according to Rosebush and Lohr) showed significantly higher (P = 0.004) plasma HVA (130.4 +/- 51.2 pmol/ml; means +/- SD) than non-responders (no remission of catatonic syndrome after 24 h; 73.2 +/- 40.5 pmol/ml; means +/- SD). On day 1 plasma HVA did not differ any more significantly between both groups Clinically, responders showed significantly higher HAM-A (P = 0.025) and AIMS (P = 0.022) scores as well as significantly lower SEPS (P = 0.049) scores than non-responders on day 0. Hence catatonic short-term responders and nonresponders to lorazepam can be distinguished with regard to plasma HVA, anxiety and dyskinetic/parkinsonic movements.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1995

[Structure of wakefulness of depressed patients before and after therapeutic sleep deprivation].

Responders spent more time in active wakefulness than non-responders. Responders after TSD also spent significantly less time in substage C than non-responders, even before TSD. Parallel to the decrease of substage C, substage B slightly, but not significantly increased in responders after TSD. The Hamilton-scores before TSD correlated significantly with the time spent in substage C. Our system of scoring polygraphically defined waking stages, which combine electrophysiological, behavioral and cognitive aspects of the waking states in a setting comparable a every-day condition, differentiated responders and non-responders to sleep deprivation therapy. Thus it may serve as an useful tool to further elaborate wakefulness within the sleep-wake-cycle with special reference to chronotherapeutic interventions.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Dopamine D2 receptor occupancy measured by single photon emission computed tomography with 123I-Iodobenzamide in chronic schizophrenia.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 123I-iodobenzamide (123I-IBZM) was used to study 22 chronic schizophrenic patients. The patients, who were receiving maintenance therapy with typical neuroleptics, had not shown any significant improvement since their admission to the hospital. Basal ganglia/frontal cortex ratios of the uptake of 123I-IBZM did not show significant differences on the basis of neuroleptic dosage in chlorpromazine equivalents. There were, however, significant differences in 123I-IBZM uptake in the basal ganglia among patients characterized by negative, mixed, and positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Although only a small number of patients had shown a positive response to treatment by the time of discharge, D2 receptor blockade was significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders. In addition, there was an inverse correlation between reduced activation as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the basal ganglia/frontal cortex ratio. These findings suggest a complex pathogenetic link between the blockade of dopamine D2 receptors and psychopathology in chronic schizophrenic patients. SPECT studies with 123I-IBZM appear to have prognostic value in identifying chronic schizophrenic patients who respond poorly to neuroleptic treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Postnatal expression of nerve growth factor receptors in the rat testis.

Because nerve growth factor beta (NGF beta) and its corresponding receptors have been implicated in the paracrine regulation of spermatogenesis, we examined the postnatal developmental expression of the low- and high-affinity NGF receptors in the rat testis, and localized their expression to specific testicular cell types. The neurotropin receptors consist of a low-affinity p75 nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR) and a family of high-affinity tyrosine receptor kinases (trk). Both the p75 LNGFR gene product and the trk receptor gene product were detected in immature rat testes, with maximal expression in 10- and 20-day-old rats. Expression of the testicular p75 LNGFR and the trk receptor progressively declined in older animals so that they were barely detectable in 90-day-old adult rats. The 75-kDa LNGFR was detected in membrane fractions of Sertoli cells, whereas the p75 LNGFR was not detected by Western blot in membrane fractions of round spermatids and primary spermatocytes. Interestingly, microsomal fractions of peritubular myoid cells were immunoreactive for a 65-kDa band on Western blots with the p75 LNGFR monoclonal antibody. Immunoblot analysis of the trk receptor in cell lysates of isolated cell types was inconclusive. Excess NGF beta and round spermatid protein, which is known to contain a NGF-like protein, were both capable of displacing the binding of 125I-NGF beta from the surface of Sertoli cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Subjective sleepiness and physiological sleep tendency in healthy young morning and evening subjects.

The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) was performed twice after 8 h and after 4 h of night sleep in 15 healthy young subjects (mean age: 23 y). Seven subjects could be regarded as morning, 8 subjects as evening types. After 8 h of sleep significantly more evening types napped at 08.00 hours and at 12.00 hours. Evening types rated themselves more sleepy on an hourly administered visual analogous scale (VAS). Sleep onset latencies (SOL) decreased, and the amount of Stages 1 and 2 increased in all subjects dependent on the sleep restriction condition. No significant differences between morningness and eveningness concerning SOL and structure of nap structure could be observed. After 4 h of sleep there was a marked increase in subjectively rated sleepiness during the morning hours in both groups.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Effects of bright light on circadian patterns of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, melatonin and cortisol in healthy subjects.

Bright light is known as a strong zeitgeber on human circadian rhythms and influences several endocrine and neuroendocrine functions. In the present study we examined the influence of a 3-h bright light stimulus, given at different times during the day (morning or evening), on circadian patterns of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), melatonin and cortisol. Two groups of synchronized healthy volunteers (lights on: 05.00-23.00 h) were exposed to bright light (2500 lux) for 3 h over 6 days either in the morning (05.00-08.00 h) or in the evening (18.00-21.00 h). The results showed a significant phase advance in the circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol when bright light was given in the morning but not when given in the evening. Rhythm in plasma cAMP basically was not affected by either light treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Diagnosis of borderline syndrome in routine clinical practice].

In this study an evaluation of 36 medical reports of patients diagnosed as "Borderline Personality Disorder" was made. The finding of the diagnosis in clinical routine is discussed. In consideration of the variations of psychopathological states in these patients the authors suggest that there should be put more emphasis on the changes of symptoms in the course of a longer time.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Foreign patients in inpatient treatment in a psychiatric university clinic with community service].

About one third (29.5%) of the population living within the area of Frankfurt, for which the psychiatric university clinic provides psychiatric service, are foreigners. For the better understanding of our foreign psychiatric inpatients treated in our clinic in in 1992, the diagnostic spectrum and the nationalities of these patients were analysed. More than half of them (58%) were raised up in former Yugoslavia, Turkey, Italy, Poland and Marocco. The other foreign patients came from 36 different countries. The diagnostic spectrum comparing german and foreign patients showed marked differences. Paranoid schizophrenia was more common in foreigners (31.5%) compared with german patients (16.8%), as well as female foreigners were admitted to the clinic because of psychoreactive disorders (65.2% of all turkish females) more often. The language barrier limited the treatment in many patients. In addition treatment was also hampered by family induced pressure on our patients. This was mainly due to differences and misunderstanding concerning the nature and treatment strategies. In spite of these difficulties, engagement of the therapeutic teams and treatment outcome did not differ between german and foreign patients. In order to improve treatment modalities, we quote for an increasing number of psychiatrists, who are capable of serbocroatic, turkish, italian, polish or arab language and culture, to work in clinical psychiatry.

Acculturation↗

PubMed1993

Stromal-epithelial paracrine interactions in the neoplastic rat and human prostate.

Homotypic paracrine interactions in the rat and human prostate have been investigated using prostatic stromal cells and neoplastic epithelial cells (PA-III, rat; TSU-pr1, human). Secretory proteins prepared from each cell type were used to determine the dose dependent regulation of growth (DNA synthesis) of the corresponding homotypic responder cell, as determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation. PA-III secretory protein stimulated rat stromal cell proliferation by 1.8-fold. This stimulatory activity of PA-III protein on stromal cell proliferation was partially reduced (approximately 35%) by treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) antibody, whereas neither acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) antibody nor basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) antibody immunoneutralized the stimulatory activity of PA-III cell protein. In the corresponding opposite interaction, rat stromal cell protein modulated PA-III growth in a biphasic manner. At lower concentrations of stromal cell protein (1.25 micrograms/ml) PA-III cell growth was stimulated by 1.6-fold, whereas at higher concentrations of protein (100 micrograms/ml) PA-III cell growth was inhibited to 60%. Treatment of the stromal cell protein (1.25 micrograms/ml and 100 micrograms/ml) with NGF antibody reduced PA-III cell relative growth to approximately 30% and 5%, respectively. bFGF antibody treatment of stromal cell protein at 1.25 micrograms/ml did not influence relative growth, whereas bFGF antibody treatment of 100 micrograms/ml stromal cell protein reduced relative growth by an additional 40%. Treatment of the stromal cell protein (1.25 micrograms/ml and 100 micrograms/ml) with aFGF antibodies reduced relative growth from that observed at these two protein concentrations by approximately 50% in both cases. Human epithelial TSU-pr1 protein stimulated human stromal cell proliferation approximately 1.7-fold. Treatment of TSU-pr1 protein with NGF antibody resulted in stimulation of human stromal cell proliferation (4-fold). In the corresponding opposite interaction, human stromal cell secretory protein stimulated TSU-pr1 epithelial cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner up to a maximum of 2.6-fold. This stimulation of TSU-pr1 proliferation by stromal cell secretory protein was reduced to 20% of maximal levels by treatment with antibody against NGF, whereas antibodies against bFGF and aFGF did not significantly influence the stimulatory effect of stromal cell secretory protein mediated proliferation of TSU-pr1 cells. These results suggest that prostatic stromal cells and neoplastic epithelial cells secrete several paracrine factors. One of these factors is nerve growth factor-like, and appears to have a major non-neurotrophic influence on the paracrine regulation of prostatic growth.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

Density dependent polarized secretion of a prostatic epithelial cell line.

The polarized secretions (apical/basal) of newly synthesized total protein and proteases from prostatic epithelial sheets of PA-III cells grown in dual compartment chambers were investigated at various cell densities and culture conditions. PA-III cells grown in a serum free defined medium (SFDM) form morphologically polarized monolayers of epithelial cells. These cells secreted their 35S-methionine labeled total protein in a predominantly apical direction (apical/basal ratio, 4-8 fold), with a lesser proportion of protein secreted apically at lower cell densities of the PA-III cell monolayer. PA-III cells grown in 5% fetal calf serum (FCS) are morphologically squamous, comparable to the anaplastic phenotype, and exhibited an inversion of polarized total protein secretion (apical/basal ratio, 0.4-0.9 fold), with an increased proportion of total protein secreted in a basal direction at lower cell densities. Since the culture of PA-III cells in FCS may approximate the anaplastic phenotype we investigated the polarized secretion of proteases from these cells at various cell densities, and compared them with the secretory pattern of protease secretion from polarized PA-III cells cultured in SFDM. At lower cell densities of the PA-III cells grown in FCS the polarity of protease secretion was inverted such that metalloproteinases, tissue type plasminogen activator, and a 72 kD gelatinase were secreted in a predominantly basal direction, as well as urokinase and a gelatinase of 26 kD that were secreted more or less equally into the apical and basal compartments of the chambers. On the other hand, for cultures of PA-III cells grown in SFDM the aforementioned proteases exhibited predominantly an apically directed polarity of secretion. These results suggest that the anaplastic phenotype characterized by a loss of polarized structure may also be characterized by a functional loss or inversion of polarized secretion. The consequences of such a loss or inversion of polarized secretion would be to increase the localized concentrations of proteases along the basal domain of cells thereby facilitating degradation of the basement membrane and interstitial tissue in vivo.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Evaluation of the effects of total sleep deprivation on cerebral blood flow using single photon emission computerized tomography.

HMPAO-single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) is a useful technique in studying cerebral blood flow (CBF). This method is suitable to evaluate the differences of CBF with reference to total sleep deprivation (TSD) within 24 h because of the short half-life of the radiopharmaceutical compound. In the present study, CBF before and after TSD was analysed in patients suffering from major depression. The morning before and after TSD, Tc-HMPAO-SPECT was performed in 20 patients. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores and subjective ratings were obtained daily. Eleven patients responded to TSD; 9 were nonresponders. The main finding was a significant left temporal and mainly right parietal increase of CBF, which was observed in the responders only. CBF values and the severity of depression correlated inversely.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

A multicenter double-blind study of three different doses of the new cAMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram in patients with major depressive disorder.

A multicenter randomized 4-week interindividual double-blind study was carried out in 58 hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder (DSM III 296.23, 296.22, 296.33, 296.32, 296.53 and 296.52) to test the dose-effect relationship of three different doses of the new cAMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram: 3 x 0.25 mg, 3 x 0.50 mg and 3 x 1.00 mg rolipram/day. With respect to the desired effect, the 3 x 0.50 mg dosage stood out from the others in almost all relevant parameters. With respect to the response rate, the efficacy of the 3 x 0.25 mg dosage was about the same as that reported in the literature for placebo. The inferior performance of the 3 x 1.00 mg dosage compared to the 3 x 0.50 mg dosage might indicate a reverse U-shaped dose-effect relationship. There was good tolerance to all three dosages. There were no findings that might cast doubt on the safety of the dosages tested.

Antidepressive Agents↗

PubMed1992

[Neuroleptic malignant syndrome--a case report on diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy of a life threatening complication of treatment with neuroleptics].

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a potentially lethal consequence of treatment with neuroleptics. It is possible that a patient, suffering from neuroleptic malignant syndrome now, had no such illness in the past, while being treated with neuroleptics; furthermore he may respond well to rechallenge with the original agent in the future. The malignant neuroleptic syndrome of a 29 year old man, whom we treated with benperidole, is described. The course of the disease and the differential-diagnosis is stated. The ways of treatment with bromocriptine, dantrolene sodium and amantadine, as described in the literature, are presented. As the neuroleptic malignant syndrome ist rare many cases should be collected in order to enhance the knowledge of the etiology and the pathogenesis of that life--threatening complication of treatment with neuroleptic drugs.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Quality of day time sleep in the multiple sleep latency tests in patients with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and psychogenic hypersomnia].

The multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) has proved to be a useful diagnostical tool for patients complaining of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). The intention of the present study was to investigate the structure of MSLT naps and in particular sleep spindle and k-complex density in three different groups of EDS patients. MSLT was performed at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. 12 a.m., 2. p.m. and 4 p.m.. Each recording lasted 20 minutes and was not stopped even if sleep occurred before 20 min. Sleep was scored visually. Spindle and k-complex density was determined per minute of S2 sleep. Statistical analysis used ANOVA. Each of the three groups consisted of 15 patients. Diagnosis of narcolepsy, sleep apnea, of EDS due to a psychiatric disorder has been confirmed subsequently. There were 5 female and 10 male narcoleptics (mean age: 43.9 +/- 10.9 years), 2 female and 13 male obstructive sleep apnea patients (mean age: 53.9 +/- 10.9 years) and 7 female and 8 male patients complaining of EDS, in whom a psychiatric disorder was diagnosed (mean age: 38.8 +/- 13.8 years). Narcoleptics sent more than half of the recording time of 100 min asleep (52.9%). Apnea patients slept 41.3% and psychogenic EDS patients 22.7%. The proportion of sleep stages 1 and 2 in narcoleptics (S2/S1 = 1:1) was clearly different from the other two (apnea patients: S2/S1 = 4:1; psychogenic EDS patients: S2/S1 = 3:1). 18.5% of the naps contained stage REM and during the afternoon naps 0.9% of S3 in the narcoleptics. Neither REM nor S3 was observed in the others.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Regulation of growth by a nerve growth factor-like protein which modulates paracrine interactions between a neoplastic epithelial cell line and stromal cells of the human prostate.

Nerve growth factor-like substance(s) were identified in both conditioned media of a human prostatic tumor epithelial cell line (TSU-pr1) and a human prostatic stromal cell line (HPS) by Western blot analysis and bioassay of neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells. Nerve growth factor-beta (NGF) immunofluorescence was also localized to secretory vesicles in the cytoplasm of both the TSU-pr1 and HPS cells. Western blot of the TSU-pr1 and HPS cell-secreted protein identified an Mr 65,000 major protein which immunoreacted with murine NGF antibody. NGF Western blot of HPS cell-secreted protein also identified an Mr 42,000 minor band under reduced and nonreduced conditions and an Mr 61,000 minor band under reduced conditions. The secreted protein from the TSU-pr1 cells (50 micrograms/ml) and HPS (50 micrograms/ml), as well as murine NGF (50 ng/ml) or human recombinant NGF (50 ng/ml), stimulated neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells. This neurite outgrowth activity was partially inhibited by treatment with NGF antibody. Neither the serum containing growth medium nor bovine serum albumin (50 micrograms/ml) stimulated neurite outgrowth. The NGF-like secretory protein appeared to play a role in the paracrine regulation of prostatic growth between TSU-pr1 cells and HPS cells. The relative growth of TSU-pr1 cells, as indicated by [3H]thymidine incorporation, in response to HPS secretory protein was stimulated 2.8-fold in a dose-dependent manner. In the converse interaction, the relative growth of HPS cells in response to TSU-pr1 secretory protein was stimulated 1.8-fold in a dose-dependent manner. Immunoneutralization of TSU-pr1 and HPS secretory protein was performed with antibody against NGF, acidic fibroblast growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor. Removal of the NGF-like protein from the maximal stimulatory dose of TSU-pr1 secretory protein (100 micrograms/ml) with NGF antibody reduced HPS proliferation to 52% of maximal levels, and immunoneutralization of the NGF-like protein in the maximal stimulatory dose of HPS secretory protein (20 micrograms/ml) also reduced TSU-pr1 proliferation to 16% of maximal levels. Addition of normal rabbit serum or prior immunoprecipitation of either TSU-pr1 or HPS secretory protein with antibody against acidic fibroblast growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor did not inhibit the proliferation of either cell type. These results suggest that TSU-pr1 tumor cells and HPS cells secrete NGF-like protein(s) which modulate their paracrine interactive growth in vitro.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1991

Germ cell mitogenic activity is associated with nerve growth factor-like protein(s).

The mitogenicity of germ cell proteins released from round spermatids (RS) and pachytene spermatocytes (PS) was investigated. Germ cells were isolated by centrifugal elutriation from 90-day-old rat testes and incubated in a supplement enriched culture media that lacked exogenous proteins. The conditioned culture media of RS and PS were dialysed/concentrated and lyophilized to prepare RS protein (RSP) and PS protein (PSP). Mitogenic activity of RSP and PSP was determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation into Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. RSP and PSP stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation by fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. At a higher concentration of RSP (300 micrograms/ml), fibroblast proliferation was stimulated from 6- to 20-fold of control cultures, whereas PSP (300 micrograms/ml) stimulated fibroblast proliferation 2.5-fold of control cultures. Since RSP exhibited substantially greater mitogenic activity than PSP we further investigated the RSP mitogenic substance(s) by immunoneutralization with antibodies against several growth factors. The mitogenic activity of RSP was significantly reduced by treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) antibody, while neither the treatment of RSP with acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) antibody, nor basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) antibody significantly modified the mitogenic activity of RSP. Interestingly, murine NGF-beta, recombinant human NGF-beta, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) did not exhibit mitogenic activity on 3T3 fibroblasts. Nevertheless, the presence of a NGF-like protein in RS and PS was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence staining with a murine NGF antibody. Subsequently, a Western blot analysis with the NGF antibody identified two immunoreactive bands of 41 +/- 2 kDa and 51 +/- 1 kDa in both RSP and PSP under reduced conditions. These germ cell NGF-like proteins were apparently different from similarly prepared murine and human NGFs (13 kDa) in their molecular weight. Furthermore, neurite outgrowth from pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12), a functional bioassay for NGF-like activity, was stimulated by addition of RSP and PSP to the culture media of the PC-12 cells. These results demonstrate mitogenic activity in germ cell proteins (RSP and PSP) and identify a NGF-like protein(s) which is associated with most of this activity.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1991

[Utilization of inpatient psychiatric care by patients with cerebral organic psychosyndrome. Cross-sectional analysis for 1988 exemplified by the Psychiatry Center in the routine health care of Frankfurt].

All patients admitted to the Frankfurt Psychiatric Clinic suffering from organic psycho-syndromes were studied in a transversal survey. It was intended to evaluate the importance of clinical treatment within the psychiatric care system of a major city including various aspects of the diseases, psychosociological determinants and the continuation of service for these patients following clinical treatment. For the transversal survey a questionnaire was developed to record the psychopathological syndrome on admission, the order to referring patients to the clinic, outcome of treatment and service following clinical care. Patients suffering from organic psycho-syndromes represent a small quota of 4.2% according to the total admission rate. Within the group of elderly patients over 65 years of age it is remarkable that more cases with an affective psychosis were admitted than with organic psycho-syndromes. This small group of patients is in regard to interdisciplinary diagnostical and therapeutical proposals according to a high rate of multiple morbidity of distinct importance. The results of the presented study indicate the necessity to intensify the efforts of cooperation of psychiatric clinic, nursing homes and ambulatory care services for elderly patients with organic psycho-syndromes.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

A double-blind multicentre study comparing remoxipride, controlled release formulation, with haloperidol in schizophrenia.

A double-blind multicentre study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of remoxipride in a controlled release (CR) formulation given once daily with haloperidol twice daily in patients with schizophrenic illness. In total, 114 patients were included. All were diagnosed as schizophrenic or schizophreniform according to DSM-III. Their mean daily dose of remoxipride CR during the last week of treatment was 385 mg. In the haloperidol group the corresponding dose was 17 mg per day. The intended study period was 4 weeks with at least a one-day washout. No significant differences were found between treatments regarding efficacy variables. The median total Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score was 40 in the remoxipride CR group at start of treatment and 21 at last valid rating. For the haloperidol group the corresponding figures were 40 and 22. Treatment-emergent extrapyramidal symptoms (Simpson and Angus rating) occurred statistically significantly more frequently and were more severe during haloperidol than during remoxipride CR treatment despite a statistically significantly higher concurrent use of anticholinergic drugs in the haloperidol group.

Acute Disease↗