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Biomedical subjects

C Haring

Publications and source records attributed to C Haring.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Calcitonin gene-related peptide in the amygdaloid complex of the rat: immunohistochemical and quantitative distribution, and drug effects on calcium dependent, potassium-evoked in vitro release.

The amygdaloid complex is an area with a high concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide. In the present paper, immunohistochemical studies revealed a dense innervation of the central nucleus originating most probably from the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis. For determination of tissue concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptidelike immunoreactivity, the amygdaloid complex was dissected into four parts. The distribution was found to be uneven with the highest concentration (1153.3 fmol/mg protein) in the portion including the nucleus amygdaloideus centralis. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis from an extract of amygdaloid tissue showed that 97% of the calcitonin gene-related peptidelike immunoreactivity measured by radioimmunoassay is authentic rat calcitonin gene-related peptide alpha or beta. Release of calcitonin gene-related peptidelike immunoreactivity was measured in superfused slices of amygdalae pooled from three rats. High potassium (60 mM) caused a significant release of calcitonin gene-related peptidelike immunoreactivity (from 0.88% of total tissue content to 1.91%) from the amygdaloid complex in vitro, which was blocked in calcium-free buffer. Pretreatment with haloperidol or clozapine caused a significant reduction of the 60 mM potassium-evoked release, compared with a saline treated control group (control 21.0 fmol; haloperidol 2.8 fmol; clozapine 8.8 fmol) and an increase of tissue levels after haloperidol treatment by 43%. These results demonstrate that calcitonin gene-related peptide is integrated in amygdaloid functions and possibly a target for actions of neuroleptic drugs.

Amygdala↗

[Zotepine: treatment of schizophrenic patients with predominantly negative symptoms. A double-blind study vs. haloperidol].

Zotepine, a neuroleptic exercising a 5-HT2-antagonistic effect, was employed in a double-blind study in the treatment of schizophrenic patients with predominantly negative symptoms and was compared to haloperidol. In contrast to the patients treated with haloperidol, significant improvements were seen in the zotepine group during the observation period, according to all assessment scales that were employed. The patients of the zotepine group also developed fewer clinical side effects. The results of the study confirm previous positive impressions gained in earlier open studies with zotepine.

Adult↗

Vulnerable phases in adolescence represented by means of committed suicide.

This study deals with suicides of children and adolescents in the region of Tyrol, Austria from 1976-1984. The upper age limit was set at 19 years. During the time period stated above, 54 suicides were registered for the relevant age group, using police records as a source of information. Special attention was paid to the distribution of age, sex and occupation, as well as to the suicide methods. As far as age distribution is concerned, a significant increase of suicides was registered at the age of 15 and again at the age of 19. According to the authors, the reason for this increase is pronounced psychosocial changes which occur especially in these age groups and weaken social integration. The various implications ensuing from the available data are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[Use of a computer in a clinical-toxicological laboratory with a fuzzy search].

If a clinician is faced with acute intoxications a rapid toxicological test is essential. The toxic substances are identified by a combined use of various systems of analysis such as gas chromatography, thin-layer chromatography or UV-spectroscopy. As the result of the analysis a data pattern is obtained which can be interpreted by comparing it with substance-related reference patterns. This paper describes a computer-program which allows more efficient reference comparisons and which gives a support of the decisions. The algorithms of the comparisions are based on fuzzy-theory.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

Uneventful self poisoning with a very high dose of captopril.

A 43-year-old patient with mild heart failure attempted suicide by ingesting between 5000 and 7500 mg of captopril. Blood pressure oscillated around 100-120/50-75 mmHg and pulse rate showed no tendency to accelerate (75-100/min). The psychiatric examination showed no drug induced psychopathological symptoms. The calculated half-life of captopril was 4.4 h. Seven hours after ingestion of approximately 50 times the maximal therapeutic daily dose of captopril the serum concentration reached 20 micrograms/ml. The calculated amount of absorbed captopril was approximately 5400 mg. Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) plasma levels were slightly elevated and showed no tendency to increase or to fall.

Adult↗

Effects of haloperidol and clozapine on preprotachykinin-A messenger RNA, tachykinin tissue levels, release and neurokinin-1 receptors in the striato-nigral system.

The effects of haloperidol and clozapine on tachykinin tissue levels, preprotachykinin-A messenger RNA, spontaneous and potassium-evoked tachykinin release, dopamine D2 receptors, and [125I]Bolton-Hunter-substance P binding sites in the striato-nigral system were examined. Chronic administration (10 days) of the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol (2 mg/kg i.p.) significantly decreased tissue levels of substance P like-immunoreactivity and neurokinin A like-immunoreactivity in the striatum and the substantia nigra. The corresponding preprotachykinin-A mRNA was decreased in the striatum. Haloperidol did not affect the potassium-evoked tachykinin release in the substantia nigra but significantly increased the spontaneous release. Haloperidol increased the number of D2-receptors but left [125I]Bolton-Hunter-substance P binding sites, representing neurokinin 1 (NK-1) receptors, as determined by competition experiments with selective ligands, unchanged. Clozapine (30 mg/kg, i.m.) did not influence nigral and striatal tachykinin tissue levels, preprotachykinin-A mRNA and potassium-evoked release or spontaneous efflux in the substantia nigra, or D2-receptors and [125I]Bolton-Hunter-substance P binding sites. The present data indicate that neuroleptics influence the striato-nigral tachykinin system in different ways. Tachykinins may, therefore, contribute to the therapeutic and/or untoward effects of certain neuroleptic drugs.

Animals↗

Influence of patient-related variables on clozapine plasma levels.

The authors investigated the clozapine plasma levels of 148 psychiatric inpatients. Multiple regression analysis revealed a linear relationship between dose of clozapine and plasma concentrations. The analysis showed a significant influence of dose, sex, smoking, weight, and age on the plasma concentrations of clozapine under clinical conditions. These results remained significant when clozapine doses below 150 mg/day and above 500 mg/day were excluded from the analysis.

Adult↗

Dose-related plasma levels of clozapine: influence of smoking behaviour, sex and age.

Drug monitoring in psychiatry is of increasing interest due to compliance problems, side effects of psychoactive drugs and the search for adequate dosage. In the present study, plasma levels of clozapine, as determined by high performance liquid chromatography, were investigated in 148 patients receiving a daily dose between 12.5 and 700 mg clozapine. Regression analysis revealed a linear relationship between dose and plasma concentrations. Plasma concentrations at a given dose (level divided by dose and body weight) in male patients reached only 69.3% of the concentrations in female patients (Mann-Whitney U Test P less than 0.001). When the patients were divided into smokers and non-smokers, the corresponding plasma levels were also found to be linearly dose dependent in each of the two groups. However, the average plasma concentration at a given dose was only 81.8% in smokers, compared to non-smokers. This difference was statistically significant (variance analysis P = 0.022). Dividing female patients into smokers and non-smokers, the smokers reached nearly the same plasma levels as the non-smokers. Male smoking patients reached average plasma concentrations which were only 67.9% of those of non-smokers. This difference was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U Test P = 0.0083). The plasma levels of the different age groups at a given dose per kg body weight were compared using the Mann-Whitney U Test. Significant differences were found between group 1 (18-26) and group 4 (45-54) (P less than 0.01) and group 2 (27-35) and group 4 (P less than 0.01) showing higher plasma levels in the older age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[The cito-laboratory information system CILIS].

The cito-laboratory of a big hospital must be able to work a higher number of cito-analyzes economically and with a high degree of security and to send back the results as fast as possible to the demander. For that reason the simple employment of efficient analytical methods or tools is not sufficient. The cito-laboratory-information-system CILIS is able to support all the steps of work, which are necessary to workout cyto-results and to send them back to the demander. It is also able to relieve the nurses as well as the MTLA from writing and recording. CILIS is based on the computer A 5120. It is usable in other comparable institutions and with certain restrictions to further development or enlargement. In our hospital the system has been working since november 1986 during the regular shift and the shift from 2 pm till 10 pm and partly on working days from 10 pm to 7 am and respectively at the weekend. Since that time it has been approved excellently.

Germany, East↗