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D Eyles

Publications and source records attributed to D Eyles.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Vitamin D3 and brain development.

Evidence for the presence of the vitamin D receptor in brain implies this vitamin may have some function in this organ. This study investigates whether vitamin D(3) acts during brain development. We demonstrate that rats born to vitamin D(3)-deficient mothers had profound alterations in the brain at birth. The cortex was longer but not wider, the lateral ventricles were enlarged, the cortex was proportionally thinner and there was more cell proliferation throughout the brain. There were reductions in brain content of nerve growth factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and reduced expression of p75(NTR), the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor. Our findings would suggest that low maternal vitamin D(3) has important ramifications for the developing brain.

Animals↗

Effects of nifedipine on psychosis and tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenic patients.

In an open label study, two fixed doses of nifedipine (30 mg and 60 mg daily) were added to the usual antipsychotic drug treatments of 10 patients suffering from chronic schizophrenia. While no patient experienced significant improvements, statistically significant falls in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales scores were observed. A significant reduction in Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale scores was observed in those patients with tardive dyskinesia. After the addition of nifedipine, four of the 10 patients showed large increases in plasma neuroleptic activity (radioreceptor assay) that decreased to baseline levels within two weeks. The possibility that this represents competitive inhibition and subsequent induction of the liver metabolism of the antipsychotic drugs is discussed. Adverse effects encountered are also discussed.

Adult↗