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Biomedical subjects

E Lodemann

Publications and source records attributed to E Lodemann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PINV--topography and primary negative symptoms in chronic schizophrenia.

PINV was recorded during a warned reaction time paradigm in 16 chronic schizophrenics in remission. Clinical symptoms were assessed by BPRS, SANS, and the anhedonia scale of the Chapman Questionnaire. Ten healthy controls were studied in the same manner. Over the frontocentral area we found a significantly elevated PINV amplitude with an altered topographical distribution in the patient group. The difference values "PINVCz-PINVFz" were correlated negatively with primary negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Adult

[Demands and reality in the rehabilitation of psychiatric patients. Results of a follow-up study in established need for rehabilitation with reference to the housing and/or vocational sphere].

At an index day all 166 patients of the Department of General Psychiatry were asked whether changes of working or housing condition were considered necessary and which definite steps had to be done. In 85 (51.2%) of 166 patients changes were considered necessary. What measures had been initiated or carried out? Concerning the housing situation age and disease (psychiatric diagnosis) proved to be important factors; concerning the working situation age, sex, socioeconomic status and length of unemployment were important.

Adult

Altered fronto-central PINV topography and the primary negative syndrome in schizophrenia.

Postimperative negative variation (PINV) was recorded during a warned reaction time paradigm in 16 chronic DSM-IIIR schizophrenics in remission. Clinical symptoms were assessed by BPRS, SANS and the anhedonia scale of the Chapman Questionnaire. Ten healthy controls were studied in the same manner. Over the fronto-central area we found a significantly elevated PINV amplitude with an altered topographical distribution in the patient group. The difference values 'PINV Cz-PINV Fz' were correlated negatively with primary negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Adult

Postimperative negative variation and skin conductance response in chronic DSM-III-R schizophrenia.

The hypothesis was tested that there are relationships between schizophrenic negative or deficit symptoms, the skin conductance nonresponding and an elevated amplitude of the postimperative negative variation (PINV). These variables were recorded in 16 chronic schizophrenics and 10 healthy controls. Clinical symptoms were assessed by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire 3 and Chapman Questionnaire. In the patient group we found a significantly elevated PINV at Fz. Surprisingly, only one patient was a skin conductance nonresponder. PINV amplitude at Fz and the number of skin conductance responses to habituation were not correlated with negative or deficit symptoms inclding anhedonia. The hypothesis thus had to be rejected.

Adult

Trimipramine--an atypical neuroleptic?

Trimipramine and clozapine show some similarities in their receptor binding profiles. Since both have the same affinity for the D2 receptor and since the affinity for this receptor correlates closely with the antipsychotic potency of a drug, an antipsychotic efficacy of trimipramine in acute schizophrenia could be expected. Therefore 28 schizophrenic patients in an acute phase were treated with trimipramine up to 400 mg/d in an open clinical trial. For the whole group of patients the BPRS total score changed from 58 +/- 5 before treatment to 46 +/- 18 at the last rating (p less than 0.05). According to our clinical judgement the patients were divided into three subgroups. Thirteen patients showed a good remission under trimipramine so that they could be discharged on a trimipramine maintenance treatment. They improved on the BPRS from 58 +/- 6 before treatment to 32 +/- 8 at endpoint. Six patients deteriorated during the first week of treatment and had to be withdrawn from the study. Nine patients showed insufficient improvement or became worse after an initial improvement. The observed side-effects (dry mouth, sedation, sweating, increased appetite, constipation, tremor, vertigo) are well known under trimipramine and were therefore expected. Beyond these, one patient developed a cardiac insufficiency. No clinical relevant extrapyramidal side-effects occurred. Since the improvement of florid psychotic symptoms seems to be markedly higher under trimipramine than the one reported under placebo, our results indicate that trimipramine may have an antipsychotic potency.

Acute Disease

[Event-related potentials in schizophrenic patients in the acute phase and in remission].

In 15 schizophrenic patients event-related potentials were recorded during an auditory two-tone-discrimination task in the acute phase and after remission. The control group consisted of ten healthy subjects of the same age. The schizophrenic patients showed reduced amplitudes of N1, P2 and P3 and prolonged latencies of N2 and P3 independent of neuroleptic medication and clinical state. We found no differences in the topographical distribution of P3 between schizophrenic patients and controls. The changes of the event-related potentials in the schizophrenic patients may be interpreted as electrophysiological correlates of basic disturbances in information processing in schizophrenia.

Acute Disease

[Serum interferon level and (2'-5')-oligo(A) synthetase activity in malignant melanoma].

Both the serum levels of interferon and the activity of lymphocytic (2'-5')-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) of 37 patients suffering from malignant melanoma-15 with low (I,I-II,II) and 22 with higher (III,IV,V) Clark levels-were compared with those of a group of healthy controls in order to detect a possible involvement of the interferon system in the pathological process. Previous results obtained in studies on relatively small groups of patients had suggested that melanoma patients with low Clark levels (i.e. biologically early melanoma) show elevated activities of OAS, while those with higher levels show normal values. In our present investigation on a larger sample of patients, we did not find any differences between these two melanoma groups and healthy persons with regard to the OAS activity. Thus we were not able to confirm the provisional results set up by previous studies.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase

[Serum interferon level and (2'-5')-oligo(A) synthetase activity in pityriasis rosea, basalioma, melanoma and molluscum contagiosum].

In various skin diseases with a possible viral and/or autoimmune etiology, the peripheral lymphocytes were studied with regard to serum interferon levels and the interferon-induced activity of (2'-5')-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS). This enzyme is a sensitive marker of interferon and can be detected even some days after the clearance of interferon from the blood. In patients with pityriasis rosea (n = 13), basal cell carcinoma (n = 12), malignant melanoma (n = 11), and molluscum contagiosum (n = 13), the serum interferon levels were not increased. In comparison to healthy persons, 5 patients with melanoma (Clark's levels I, I-II and II) showed a significantly elevated activity of OAS. In 6 other patients with melanoma (Clark's level III, III-IV and IV), the OAS activity was not increased. Although the elevated activity of OAS found in patients with melanoma of lower Clark's levels indicates a participation of the interferon system in the course of the disease, our results do not allow a clear statement regarding a viral and/or an autoimmune etiology of the skin disease.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase

Influence of anticoagulants on the determination of interferon.

The presence of anticoagulants in plasma samples can spuriously increase the titers obtained in interferon bioassays by influencing interactions between the cell and the challenge virus. These artifacts can be eliminated by washing the test cell cultures before the virus challenge is added.

Anticoagulants

[Alpha interferon in the therapy of cutaneous T cell lymphomas].

5 patients suffering from T-cell lymphomas at different stages were treated with human alpha-interferone. One of the patients showed mild partial remission, two patients had but a poor and short-lasting improvement of their condition, in one case there was no change at all, and in another case, worsening of the clinical picture was observed. Controls of the relevant laboratory parameters (including NK-cells, T-cell subpopulations, antibodies and complement, oligo-(A)-synthetase, and interferone serum levels) did not always reveal the changes that had been expected to be induced by the therapy.

Combined Modality Therapy

Clinical application of event related potentials in patients with brain tumours and traumatic head injuries.

Event related potential recording and psychometric evaluation of cognitive impairment were carried out on 21 patients with brain tumours, 21 patients with severe head injuries and 24 controls. The tumour and trauma patients who met the psychometric inclusion criteria for dementia, but not the non-demented patients, had significantly longer N2 and P3 latencies than the controls. In assessing individual patients P3 latency correctly differentiated between demented and non-demented patients in 81% of cases (for N2 latency 77%). Particularly P3 latency may provide a practical and objective measure of mental impairment in neurosurgical disorders producing dementia. Marked asymmetry in N2 and P3 amplitudes between hemispheres was observed in a number of cases. No significant relationship was found between diminution of N2 and P3 components and side of lesion.

Adult

Evoked potential assessment of mental function during recovery from severe head injury.

Event-related potential recording and neuropsychologic testing were carried out on 18 severely head-injured patients and on a control group. At early stages of injury the patients had prolonged P3 latencies and reduced psychometric scores. In the assessment of individual patients the P3 latency proved to be a measure that diagnosed cognitive impairment with clinically acceptable levels of accurate classification. On retesting 4.6 +/- 1.6 months after trauma, normal values were found for the neuropsychologic measures and a residual latency prolongation for P3, indicating the P3 latency to be a sensitive index of subtle residual brain dysfunction due to head injury.

Adolescent

[Event-related brain potentials and intellectual impairment--a study in patients with brain tumor and craniocerebral trauma].

Event-related potential recording (component N1, P2, N2, and P3) and neuropsychological assessment of cognitive impairment were carried out on 15 patients with brain tumour, 15 patients with severe head injury and 24 controls. The tumour and trauma patients had significantly lower psychological test scores, smaller N1 amplitudes and longer N2 and P3 latencies than normals. For the tumour and trauma patients significant correlations were found between N2 and P3 latency and the Mini-Mental State test and memory tests. For individual patients abnormally increased N2 and P3 latency was found to occur in association with abnormally reduced neuropsychological test scores. N2 and P3 latency proved the only electrophysiological variables examined which provided a measure of cerebral functioning correlating with the psychometric variables. N2 and P3 latency may be regarded as a useful diagnostic test for cognitive impairment especially in patients with motor handicaps, to whom neuropsychological tests cannot be administered.

Adult

Serum interferon level and (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase activity in lymphocytes during clinical interferon application.

Determinations of (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) in extracts of peripheral mononuclear cells were used to monitor clinical treatment by human leukocyte-derived alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha). The maximum activity of this enzyme was detected about 6 h after the maximum IFN activity in the patient's serum, its half-life being severalfold longer than that of circulating IFN. Thus, even some days after its clearance, IFN can be detected by means of this enzyme. Sixfold increases of the IFN dose were not able to further increase OAS activity induced by doses of about 5 X 10(4) units/kg body weight in adult persons. Intravenous administration of IFN seems not to be superior to its i.m. injection.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase

[Interferons--research, effects and importance].

Interferons are a family of proteins synthesized by the cells of higher organisms as a first reaction to viral infections, preceding the immune response. They are also involved in the regulation of the immune system and therefore included among the lymphokines. Since they had been shown to have antitumor activity in vitro and in experimental animals, they were suggested to be powerful drugs in cancer therapy.

Animals

(2'-5')oligo(A) synthetase as a monitor of interferon action in juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis.

Four children with juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis were treated with human leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha) by intravenous infusions. In three cases the clinical course of the disease was effected favorably. Serum IFN titers and (2'-5')oligo(A) synthetase (OAS) levels in lymphocytes of the patients were measured once a week during therapy. Levels of serum IFN determined 15 min after the end of 1 h infusions corresponded to only 15%-40% of the amount infused. Comparable OAS activities in the four children were measured before infusion, i.e., one, two, or three days, respectively, after the preceding infusion, though mean IFN titers of the patients differed from each other (200-400 and 400-600 u/ml). This suggests a saturation of the lymphocytes' antiviral system by these IFN levels. A discontinuation for two weeks in the early phase of IFN treatment, accompanied by a decrease of the OAS activity in the lymphocytes to the basal level, resulted in a deterioration of the patient's condition. A change in treatment schedule causing a decrease of OAS activity to a lower, though still elevated level, for six weeks until the present did not influence the course of therapy. Therefore, we suppose that the maintenance of elevated levels of OAS activity in lymphocytes for some months may be a necessary, even though not always a sufficient, criterion for a successful therapy schedule in IFN treatment of juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis. In addition, our results suggest OAS activity to be suitable in monitoring effects of an IFN therapy.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase