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Biomedical subjects

C L Cazzullo

Publications and source records attributed to C L Cazzullo.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

General hospital psychiatry in Italy: on the hospitalization of psychiatric patients and consultation-liaison psychiatry after Law 180, 1978.

The type of psychiatric assistance carried out in Italy before Basaglia's views gained ground--that is, before 1968, when his book L'Istituzione Negata was published--is first described. The "Democratic Psychiatry" movement he launched was the mainspring of Law 180 (1978), known to have led to the closing of asylums. This law has brought about moves to create new mental health community services covering wide areas, the setting up of special diagnosis and care sections in general hospitals responsible for compulsory admissions--and overcrowding in private clinics and University clinics within general hospitals. The role of the psychiatric ward (opposed by the supporters of "Democratic Psychiatry") and of consultation-liaison psychiatry within the ambit of the general hospital is then discussed in the light of our experience.

Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders↗
PubMed1984

Gonadotropin response to gonadotropin releasing hormone in acute schizophrenia.

To evaluate hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in acute schizophrenia, plasma FSH and LH concentrations were estimated both in basal conditions and after stimulation with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, 200 micrograms i.v.) in 14 young male patients with acute schizophrenia and in a age-matched group of 14 healthy male controls. Basal plasma PRL and testosterone levels were also measured. The mean basal levels of LH and FSH were slightly lower in schizophrenics, while the mean testosterone and prolactin levels were similar in the two groups. The FSH response to GnRH was significantly reduced in patients with acute schizophrenia, while the response of LH was similar in schizophrenics and in the controls. The possible significance of these findings is discussed in the contest of the complex neuroendocrine regulation of gonadotropin secretion and the overactivity of dopaminergic systems in acute schizophrenia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Isotachophoresis evaluation of synthesis of intrathecal IgG subfractions in multiple sclerosis.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases were examined by capillary isotachophoresis (ITP). The percentage and the rate of synthesis of CSF IgG which migrated slowly with ITP were calculated. CSF specimens of most patients with multiple sclerosis contained increased percentages of slowly migrating IgG (slow IgG), corresponding to IgG oligoclonal bands in the "high-alkaline" region on isoelectric focusing. The patients with multiple sclerosis were found to have increased intrathecal synthesis of slow IgG, which correlated closely with the rate of intrathecal CNS IgG synthesis calculated by Tourtellotte's formula.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins↗
PubMed1983

Neuroimmunology in multiple sclerosis.

A review of latest immunological interpretations regarding the pathogenesis of Multiple the Sclerosis. Data on a new immunoenzymatic method for the identification of blood lymphocyte populations are presented together with preliminary results relating to an immunogenetic correlation between primary affective disorders and Multiple Sclerosis.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1982

Daytime sleep patterns of primary depressives: a morning nap study.

The electroencephalographic sleep patterns of 10 primary depressives were recorded during baseline nights and two morning nap sessions using a fixed time schedule. Averaged sleep measures for baseline nights replicated previous findings of altered rapid eye movement (REM) sleep patterns and sleep continuity. REM sleep during morning naps occurred only in patients with elevated REM indexes on baseline and prenap nights; it failed to appear in morning sleep of patients who exhibited contrasting REM characteristics. An analysis of hourly REM sleep distribution and averaged deviations from group means revealed significant differences between the two groups which could account for the uneven daytime REM propensity.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Neurophysiological tests in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Visual and somatosensory evoked potential studies].

Visual evoked potentials were recorded and found abnormal in 44 out of 57 multiple sclerosis (M.S.) patients (77%). Somatosensory evoked potentials were abnormal in 42 cases (73%). Both tests were abnormal in 56 out of 57 cases. The two tests have a complementary role in the assessment of M.S., showing a subclinical involvement of visual or sensory pathways in many cases. The high incidence of abnormal responses in patients with a short duration of the disease and in patients diagnosed as possible or probably M.S. suggests the aid of the tests in diagnosis of M.S.

Evoked Potentials↗
PubMed1981

Multiple tests in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), E-UFA test and CSF isoelectrofocusing (IEF) were applied to 42 multiple sclerosis patients. VEPs were abnormal in 29 cases. SEPs in 31 cases, E-UFA in 30 cases, CSF IEF in 38 cases. At least two tests were abnormal in 41 out of 42 patients; 16 cases revealed pathological responses in three tests (38,1%), 15 in four of them (35,7%). The authors discuss the value of using several tests in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and emphasize their importance for the purpose of diagnostic classification.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Therapeutic plasma levels of some anticonvulsants in focal epilepsy in relation to computerized axial tomography.

The authors investigated 37 patients with established focal epilepsy in terms of the antiepileptic drug (AED) blood levels needed to achieve control or significant abatement of seizures; then they examined the patients by computerized axial tomography (CAT) and grouped them according as they did or did not show evidence of an organic food lesion of the brain. Statistical elaboration of the data revealed that CAT-positive patients required significantly higher mean AED blood levels for clinical effectiveness than did CAT-negative patients; also, single drugs failed to produce control at any plasma level, necessitating recourse to multidrug regimes, significantly more often in the CAT-positive than in the CAT-negative patient group. In the discussion the authors examine the possible reasons for the observed difference of therapeutic responses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Effects of two dosages of chlordesmethyldiazepam on mnestic-information processes in normal subjects.

A double-blind, randomized protocol was used to investigate the activity of a benzodiazepine derivative, chlordesmethyldiazepam, at two different dosages, 1 mg and 2 mg (CDDZ1 and CDDZ2), on mnestic functions and information processing in normal subjects. CDDZ2 significantly impaired short-term shortage of logical and associative memory, without activity on spatial and visual memory, whereas CDDZ1 showed no difference from the placebo. Neither CDDZ1 nor CDDZ2 impaired the level of vigilance and the information processes the morning after use of the drug.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Erythrocyte unsaturated fatty acid test (E-UFA test): a biological test to detect optic neuritis as initial feature of multiple sclerosis.

Retrobulbar optic neuritis, though suspicious is not always considered as a possible onset of MS. For this reason we submitted to the E-UFA (erythrocyte unsaturated fatty acid) test, 41 subjects who suffered from one or several episodes of retrobulbar optic neuritis with no other neurological signs. The test was positive in 14 subjects (34, 1%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Psychotropic drugs and their relationship with psychopathology of affective disorders.

UNLABELLED: In this paper we discuss the relationship between the psychopathology of depressive behavior and the effectiveness of drugs affecting mood. Particular emphasis is given to the recent contribution of the authors (1975-1977) to the specific items of: 1. non-psychological validation of diagnosis of primary affective disorders 2. predictability of the response to antidepressant drugs 3. factors involved in the effectiveness of long-term lithium treatment. Key words: depression, primary affective disorders, secondary affective disorders, unipolar depression, bipolar depression, N1-methylnicotinamide, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, tricyclic antidepressant drugs, lithium prophylaxis, intraerythrocyte/plasma lithium ratio. ABBREVIATIONS: Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF); intraerythrocyte/plasma lithium ratio (Li ratio); 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG): monoamine oxidase (MAO); morbidity risk (MR); N1-methylnicotinamide (N1-MN); norepinephrine (NE); primary affective disorders (PAD); secondary affective disorders (SAD).

Animals↗
PubMed1979

HLA system, psychiatry and psychopharmacology.

1. A number of antigens of the HLA system showed significant associations with clinical phenotypes of schizophrenia and manic depressive disorders. Even though we emphasize the need to consider these results with caution, we suggest that the findings now available indicate that the chromosomal regions which control the HLA system also contain the genetic material related to schizophrenia. On the other hand, although initial results have been encouraging, more work is needed before we can draw definite conclusions about the relationships between HLA antigens and the genetics of manic depressive disorders. All this recently acquired information is discussed and new lines for research are also suggested, including linkage studies in families, which might offer a more precise understanding of the genetic contribution to psychopathology. 2. Stressed also is the possibility that HLA determinants interfere with the interaction between neurotransmitters and/or psychotropic drugs and specific receptors. In this light, the clinical implications of HLA-A1 reactions to chlorpromazine and haloperidol, and of the HLA-A1 cross-reacting antigens are analyzed. Such studies are as yet very preliminary; however they perhaps help to clarify both the real biological roles of these antigenic membrane structures and the mechanisms by which psychotropic drugs interact with membrane receptors.

Bipolar Disorder↗