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Biomedical subjects

D W Surmont

Publications and source records attributed to D W Surmont.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Noradrenergic function in generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and healthy subjects.

Plasma norepinephrine (NE), free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylene glycol (MHPG), and binding of tritiated yohimbine to platelet membranes were measured in 14 patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), who were matched for age and sex with 14 patients with unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) and 14 normal subjects. Plasma NE and MHPG levels were increased and the number of alpha2-adrenoreceptors (Bmax) was decreased in GAD patients compared with MDD and normal subjects. No differences were found between MDD patients and normal subjects for plasma NE, MHPG, and alpha2-adrenoreceptor binding. Plasma NE and MHPG were significantly correlated in MDD patients and tended toward a significant positive correlation in GAD patients. Plasma MHPG and affinity of binding platelet alpha2-adrenoreceptors (Kd) were significantly correlated in normal subjects. Thus, noradrenergic activity seems to be increased in patients with GAD, but not in patients with MDD. In GAD patients, higher levels of catecholamines may lead to a down-regulation of presynaptic alpha2-adrenoreceptors.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

24 h-kinetics of iodide uptake in amiodarone induced hypothyroidism.

Amiodarone induced hypothyroidism (AIH) is assumed to result from a failure of the thyroid to escape from the inhibitory effect of inorganic iodine on its organification as a consequence of uninhibited iodide trapping. This hypothesis was supported by the 24h kinetics of radioiodine uptake in a patient with AIH. 131I uptake reached a maximum after 2h and remained unchanged from 2h to 24h. 131I uptake was in the normal range from 1 1/2h to 7h and clearly subnormal after 9h. The normal early 131I uptake was due to the non inhibition of the iodide-concentrating mechanism and the low 24h radioactivity to the decreased iodide organification. These findings presumably explain the mechanism of AIH.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Adaptations to keep a thyrotropin immunoradiometric assay "supersensitive" with automated pipetting.

The sensitivity of the immunoradiometric kit "RIA-gnost hTSH" (Behring) is poorer with a common automated pipetting station than with careful manual pipetting, principally because of tracer contamination of the inner wall of the tube, above the level reached by the wash solution. This can be eliminated by adapting the wash buffer volume so as to fill the entire tube. In this way, one can detect as little thyrotropin as 0.02 milli-int. unit/L, which is better than the 0.03 milli-int. unit/L claimed by the manufacturer. Cross-contamination from pipetting can induce overestimation of "suppressed" thyrotropin values. Prolonging the counting time to obtain an optimal counting error is of no practical value in the thyrotropin range where activity is low.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1983

Gonadotrophin and alpha subunit secretion by human 'functionless' pituitary adenomas in cell culture: long term effects of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and thyrotrophin releasing hormone.

The long-term effects of LHRH and TRH on gonadotrophin alpha subunit, FSH and LH secretion by cell cultures of four human chromophobic pituitary tumours have been examined. The tumours derived from one male and three female patients who presented because of visual disturbance but had no evident endocrine symptoms. Subsequent serum hormone analysis showed the FSH to be high in the male but low or normal in the post-menopausal females whereas LH levels were low in all patients. In culture, basal hormone secretion could be maintained for periods up to 63 d. All tumours secreted alpha subunit and FSH, but much lower amounts of LH. Addition of LHRH or TRH for a period of 12 to 41 d showed that alpha subunit, FSH and LH secretion were stimulated by LHRH from one tumour, by LHRH and TRH from two tumours. There was always a rapid decline in the LH secretion. The tumour which secreted FSH predominantly was stimulated by TRH. We conclude that human pituitary 'functionless' adenomas can secrete gonadotrophin alpha subunit and FSH in vitro and that secretion can be stimulated during long term releasing hormone experiments. LH secretion, however, cannot be maintained.

Adenoma, Chromophobe↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosis of communicating intracranial arachnoidal cysts by 111-In-Ca-DTPA cisternography.

The distinction between communicating and non-communicating intracranial arachnoidal cysts is important in medical management. Mainly the latter type will benefit from surgery which aims at establishing a communication between the cyst and the subarachnoidal space or ventricular system. We report the case history of two patients in whom congenital cerebral arachnoidal cysts are diagnosed at adult age and illustrate the role of scintigraphy with 111-In-Ca-DTPA to prove the communication of the cysts with the subarachnoidal space. This technique is safe and simple and gives less irradiation and discomfort to the patient than other methods.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fatal complications of neuroleptic drugs. A clinico-pathological study of three cases.

We report three cases of fatal hyperthermia in the course of neuroleptic drug treatment. One patient developed his symptoms within hours after a single drug dose whereas the two others had a prolonged symptomatology which lasted for several days after the administration of different neuroleptic drugs. Biochemical events included diffuse intravascular coagulation, muscle cell necrosis and acute renal failure. Rhabdomyolysis was proved pathologically in two patients but brain lesions were atypical in all three cases. We conclude that the biochemical and pathological abnormalities seen in these patients are those which have been described by some authors in the malignant hyperthermia syndrome after anaesthesia. The symptomatology however can be insidious and the syndrome can develop after withdrawal of the drugs.

Adult↗