Biomedical subjects

D Cattell

Publications and source records attributed to D Cattell.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Functional effects of agents differentially selective to noradrenergic or serotonergic systems.

BACKGROUND: The diversity of pharmacological actions of antidepressants suggests that they may bring about their clinical effects by different functional means. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers were randomized in a cross-over design to receive 2 weeks of a clinical dose of both reboxetine and sertraline. Baseline assessments of personality were made using the Cloninger Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and the Karolinska Scales of Personality. Daily and weekly ratings of mood (POMS and PANAS) and quality of life (SASS) were undertaken. RESULTS: Reboxetine and sertraline differed in their effects on the SASS as well as on measures of mood. Reboxetine appeared more likely to be energy enhancing; the effects of sertraline were more difficult to quantify. Personality factors, such as harm avoidance predicted the preference of subjects for these effects and the effect of being on a preferred drug had a significant impact on SASS, and ratings of moods as well as on self-assessments of personality. CONCLUSIONS: The differences reported here are consistent with the original thinking that led to the development of the SSRIs. The findings point to the need for further research on possible differential functional effects of psychotropic agents selective to different brain systems. The findings also have implications for clinical practice, in particular for maintenance treatment with antidepressants.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗

PubMed2001

Psychiatric bed utilization: 1896 and 1996 compared.

BACKGROUND: The 1896 and 1996 populations of North West Wales are similar in number, ethnic and social mix and rurality, enabling a study of the comparative incidence and prevalence of service utilization over the course of a century. METHODS: We collected records on all psychiatric admissions from North-West Wales in 1894-1896 and 1996. These were assessed and diagnosed by the responsible sector area consultant. RESULTS: The data reveal substantially more patients admitted for all diagnoses in 1996. even when comparisons are restricted to detained patients. The incidence of hospitalization by detention for schizophrenia is slightly lower 1996 than in 1896 but the incidence of hospitalization is higher now than in 1996. The incidence of hospitalization by detention for non-affective disorder psychoses is the same in both 1896 and 1996 but there is a doubling of incidence of hospitalization. The incidence of hospitalization for bipolar disorders is similar in the two periods. Modern mental health services admit large numbers of personality disordered patients, where none were admitted 100 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: Factors general to changing health care and expectations and others specific to mental health would appear to have led to the increase in rates of admissions observed in the modern period.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Glutathione regulates interleukin-2 activity on cytotoxic T-cells.

In this study, we examined whether and how the cellular activity of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is affected by glutathione (GSH), an important tripeptide existing in most cells. Cell culture and thymidine incorporation assay showed that addition of GSH enhanced the effect of IL-2 on the proliferation and thymidine incorporation of IL-2-dependent cytotoxic T-cells such as CTLL-2 and CT-4R. Treatment of the cells with GSH resulted in a 2-fold increase in the amount of IL-2 bound to the cells and a rapid internalization of the bound IL-2. In addition, the degradation of IL-2 in the cells was enhanced by GSH treatment. These effects of GSH were accompanied by an increase in the intracellular GSH level. L-Buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine, an inhibitor of de novo GSH synthesis, blunted the increase of intracellular GSH level and modulated the effect of GSH on IL-2 activity. These results suggest that GSH regulates the binding, internalization, degradation, and T-cell proliferative activity of IL-2; alterations of cellular GSH concentration may thus affect the growth and replication of IL-2-sensitive cytotoxic T-cells.

Animals↗