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Biomedical subjects

F Zerbi

Publications and source records attributed to F Zerbi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Acute effects of levodopa plus carbidopa on evoked potentials in Parkinson's disease.

Visual evoked potentials by flash (VEP-f) and pattern reversal (VEP-p) stimulation and BAEPs were performed in parkinsonian patients before and after 1 and 4 hours levodopa + Carbidopa administration in two separate experiments. In the first experiment (9 patients and 9 controls) an increase of latencies of peaks III and IV of VEP-f was observed in parkinsonian patients but not in controls. In the second experiment (6 patients) an increase of latencies of peaks N70 and P100 of VEP-p and an increase of latency of peak III and of III-V interval of BAEPs was observed. The results confirm the influence of dopaminergic systems on visual pathways and suggest that the effects of acute 1-DOPA administration may differ from those of chronic treatment. Moreover some evidence exists that dopaminergic systems are involved also in acoustic pathways.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Blood noradrenaline and 5-HT levels in depressed women during amitriptyline or lithium treatment.

Noradrenaline levels and platelet and free serotonin concentrations were studied in depressed women in-patients (n=78) before and during amitriptyline (n=41) or lithium treatment (n=37). Pronounced monthly differences in platelet serotonin level have been shown in these subjects before treatment. In all clinical subgroups (neurotic, involutional, manic-depressive patients) a significant fall in platelet serotonin level was observed with amitriptyline medication while an increase was noted with lithium. No significant correlations between serotonin concentrations and clinical outcome were found. Amitriptyline treatment also produced a decrease in peripheral noradrenaline concentration in all subgroups, while an increase was observed with lithium. Some correlations between noradrenaline level and degree of depression were noted in patients treated with amitriptyline or lithium. A more extended analysis of blood amine levels could supply meaningful information on the peripheral action of antidepressive drugs on noradrenaline and serotonin concentrations in depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Neuroendocrinological aspects of depression and symptomatological picture.

Cortisol and prolactin circadian rhythms were determined in a group of depressed hospitalized women who were submitted the next day to the dexamethasone suppression test. The depressed were classified as endogenous and non-endogenous according to symptomatological criteria. Some significant differences were found between the two groups when compared to control subjects in cortisol as well as prolactin biorhythms, and the cortisol suppression percentages were significantly lower in the endogenous than in the non-endogenous. This difference is abolished by benzodiazepine treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Effects of lithium administration on central and peripheral nervous system in rats. Biochemical and morphological findings.

The effect of 4 weeks' treatment with lithium chloride on the central and peripheral nervous system of Wistar albino rats was studied. Normal activity values of some brain enzymes related to energy transduction (LDH, MDH, COX, NADH-ccRT) and neuro-transmission (ACHe), evaluated both in the homogenate in toto and in the crude mitochondrial fraction, were obtained. Fine changes in mitochondrial organelles and nerve processes of neurocytes were ultrastructurally observed. The peripheral nerve studies revealed in some treated rats a slight motor nerve conduction velocity impairment by electro-physiological methods, but no significant alterations in the sciatic nerve specimens examined by electron microscopy.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Effects of lithium salts on pain experience in depressed patients.

15 depressed female patients were studied for sensitivity to pain stimuli before and after 1 month of treatment with lithium salts. By electric stimulation techniques, an aspecific sensitivity threshold, a pain sensitivity threshold and a pain tolerance threshold were measured and their relationship were evaluated. In this investigation, we evaluated the influence of the improvement of the clinical picture and of the blood levels of the drug on pain perception. Our data seem to suggest an analgesic action of lithium, which, however, appears to be partially masked by the effects on pain perception induced by the evolution of the depressive picture.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1981

Memory performances in depressed patients during prophylactic treatment with lithium salts.

The study involved 42 subjects suffering from unipolar depression (35 females and 7 males) who had received 600-1,200 mg of lithium carbonate daily for periods ranging from 6 months to 7 years. Concurrently with the memory tests, the patients were also submitted to the Hamilton test for the evaluation of depression and blood samples were taken in order to measure lithium blood levels. In the groups of subjects examined by us (grouped according to lithemia, time on the drug and degree of depression, as, evaluated by Hamilton's test), significant differences were found only in the short-term figure test and, partially, in the long term memory verbal test.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1980

Amitriptyline, nortriptyline plasma levels and clinical response in women with affective disorders.

The relationship between the plasma levels of amitriptyline and its metabolite nortriptyline, as well as their side-effects and clinical response, were studied in 102 depressed female in-patients, treated with different dosages of amitriptyline. For 50 and 100 mg dosages, significant positive correlations were found between amitriptyline concentration and the Hamilton amelioration scores, as well as between Hamilton final values and side effects. For depressive neurosis and involutional melancholia best therapeutic responses were yielded at a dosage of 50 mg, while in the treatment of manic-depressive illness, comparable results occurred at a 150 mg dosage. In the depressive neurosis and in the involutional melancholia the upper plasma concentration limits for the therapeutic effect of nortriptyline were identified. The lower plasma concentration limits of amitriptyline and nortriptyline in the treatment of manic-depressive illness were also pointed out.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1979

[Long-term treatment with lithium salts and cerebral electric activity. Experimental research].

An eeg study was carried out in rabbits to investigate the neurophysiological effects of chronic lithium clorure treatment. The Monnier and Gangloff's stereotaxic method was used for recording cortical and deep structure activity. Lithium clorure was administered i.p. at doses of 20 mg/Kg/die for 15-22 days (mean plasmatic levels: 0.04 mEq/l). The eeg changes consisted in synchronization of the cortical activity, slowing of the deep structure activity and increase of CAD spiking. The most interesting finding was the appearance of peculiar periodic spikes in the CAD and subcortical structures. A similar pattern has been previously described by us in rabbits treated with repeated ECT.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of lithium.

The authors have studied the clinical response, EMG and EEG changes in 12 depressed patients after 28 days of lithium carbonate treatment of 1,200 mg daily. The findings confirm: (1) a high correlation between the degree of improvement and the RBC lithium: plasma lithium ratio on the 28th day; (2) a slight decrease in motor conduction velocity (m.c.v.) and increase of M-response duration during lithium treatment; (3) no correlation between EEG and lithium levels and percentage of improvement.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemiluminescent determination of choline in cerebrospinal fluid and red blood cells.

The concentration of choline in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients affected by primary dementia and in red blood cells (RBC) of depressed patients before and after treatment with lithium salts was determined using a chemiluminescent assay. The mean CSF concentration of choline was found to be 60 pmoles/ml (SD = 20 pmoles/ml) and this was lower than values obtained previously by spectrophotometric-colorimetric methods. Mean RBC choline concentrations before and after therapy with lithium salts were 20 nmoles/ml (SD = 16 nmoles/ml and 328 nmoles/ml (SD = 206 nmoles/l) respectively and these are similar to those reported previously (obtained by chemiluminescent and non-chemiluminescent methods).

Choline↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Amitriptyline action on sympathetic neuronal function in depressed women.

1. Noradrenaline plasma levels and cardiovascular function modifications with orthostatic challenge during therapy were studied in 59 female depressed inpatients treated with 100 mg amitriptyline daily by intramuscular route for 4 weeks. 2. Therapy induced an increase in pulse rate in supine and upright positions, a decrease of noradrenaline levels and modified standing systolic and (partially) diastolic blood pressure, particularly in elderly subjects. 3. No correlation between neurotransmitter or functional changes and drug plasma levels was noted. 4. The supposed lower noradrenergic output together with blood pressure drop in both positions suggests a reduced sympathetic tone.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cholinergic modulation of growth hormone-releasing hormone effects on growth hormone secretion in dementia.

An impairment of cholinergic and somatostatinergic neurotransmission have been reported in dementia. Both acetylcholine and somatostatin are involved in the regulation of growth hormone (GH) secretion. The effects of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) 1-44 on GH release have been studied before and after the pretreatment with pyridostigmine or pirenzepine in subjects with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, multi-infarct dementia and mixed dementia. The data have been compared with those obtained in an age-matched healthy control group. The GH response to GHRH is similar in the patients and in the controls, though the peak occurrence is significantly delayed in dementia. The cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine enhances significantly the GH response to GHRH in both groups. The responses obtained in demented subjects are significantly larger than those found in the controls. Pirenzepine, a muscarinic receptor blocker, inhibits the GHRH effect on GH secretion in both groups. The findings may be interpreted in terms of an underlying impairment of the hypothalamic cholinergic neurotransmission, with an acetylcholine receptor supersensitivity that becomes apparent when the cholinergic tonus is enhanced by the inhibition of cholinesterase by pyridostigmine. No significant differences, due to the type of dementia, have been observed.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Depression and home environment].

The Authors consider the higher frequency of depressive disorders in women and examine the correlations between psychopathological expressions of depression and women's social and cultural roles. The condition of life at home, that is peculiar to housewife, sometimes can be a psychopathological risk factor or psychosocial stressor, as well as other work conditions (whether the woman is employed or not), that have to be examined in relation to each person, according to the individual's biological, psychosocial and cultural features.

Age Factors↗