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Biomedical subjects

G Harrer

Publications and source records attributed to G Harrer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

[The usefulness of event-related negativity in demonstrating the therapeutic effects of nootropic drugs using cerebrolysin as an example].

This study investigated the usefulness of the Contingent Negative Variation (CNV) in the assessment of therapeutic efficacy of a nootropic substance, Cerebrolysin. A total of 41 geriatric patients with the diagnosis of moderate organic brain syndrome of different etiology were included in this randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. After ten Cerebrolysin- plus multi-vitamins-Infusions, the treatment group of 27 patients showed a significant CNV-amplitude increase as compared to pre-treatment values. In the placebo group of 14 patients CNV-amplitudes even decreased after ten Infusions with multi-vitamins alone. These findings were interpreted in line with the vigilance model of nootropic drug effects as a vigilance-increasing effect of Cerebrolysin, i.e. as an increased neuronal performance readiness. The results confirmed the usefulness of the CNV method by providing an EEG-index of nootropic drug effects.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Contingent negative variation (CNV) differences between cerebrovascular patients with and without dementia.

This study investigated the clinical usefulness of the contingent negative variation (CNV) as a neurophysiological index of cognitive dysfunction associated with cerebrovascular disease. A total of 31 patients ranging in age from 45 to 88 years with the diagnosis of a stroke were included. Nineteen patients were classified as demented according to clinical assessment and the Mental Deterioration Index (MDI) based on the WAIS, the other 12 patients as non-demented. In a discriminative CNV-paradigm two different tones served as warning stimuli for a flash of light presented 1.5 s later that could be turned off by a press on a button only after the relevant tone. According to our hypothesis, CNV amplitudes of demented patients were significantly smaller than those of the non-demented group. Moreover, a significant relationship was observed between severity of dementia (MDI) and degree of amplitude reduction. Thus, it was concluded that the CNV method could make an important clinical contribution to the assessment and course of dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Depression and criminality.

The delinquency of the depressed numerically only plays an unimportant role. The 'extended suicide' is regarded as the most typical and simultaneously most tragic delict. Almost exclusively this concerns severely depressed young mothers of 30 to 40 years of age, who in a delusional frame of mind include their children in their suicide, in order to prevent them from a presumably unavoidable disaster. Suicidality and aggressivity are intimately related phenomena, which should be treated in a forensic-psychiatric manner. Criminal acts, such as sexual and property delicts arising from an acting out of inner tension, may occur in anxiety or manic-depressive states of a mixed character. Although as a whole infrequent, the criminogenous importance of especially milder forms of depression is obviously often overlooked.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Disorders of the neurotransmitter system in multiple sclerosis--possibilities for a therapeutic approach?].

The type and extent of neurological deficits in multiple sclerosis depends on the localisation and size of the lesion and the type of neuropathological pattern of the lesion. The elective demyelinating process (loss of myeline sheath without axonal damage) brings, about a showing and faulty conduction of impulses and thereby a disturbed processing of information. It can finally come to a total (functional, reversible) conduction blockage. Additionally also disturbances in the synaptic transmission may be involved. The occurrence and extent of these disturbances in conduction and transmission depend on definite paristatic factors. Our presented concepts of the "therapeutic model" based on pathophysiological investigations in multiple sclerosis show the tendency towards a "marked symptomatic therapy", which does not however, influence the basis of the disease processes, but rather represents an extremely helpful suppression of symptoms for the patients concerned.

Body Temperature↗
PubMed1985

[Forensic psychiatry problems in depression].

Forensic complications involving criminal or civil law are generally rare in depressive disorders, but are of varied nature and of great consequence to the person concerned. Suicide, which is the problem of greatest practical importance may have far-reaching consequences with regard to legal insurance, apart from the medical responsibility or liability. From the point of view of civil law, moreover, the effects of depression on thought and action, as well as on free will with respect to legal capacity, testifiability, marriageability, actionability and potential considerations of interdiction ought to be examined. Last, but not least, consequences of a socio-legal nature may ensue. The spectrum of possible crimes by depressed subjects essentially comprises disease-characteristic offences, amongst which the desperate deed of extended suicide is foremost, as well as other criminal acts with a less direct connection to the depressive syndrome. Additional factors such as alcohol and medication may further complicate the relationship and also the assessment of culpability. In the forensic judgment of depressed subjects diagnostic classification is not alone decisive, but depends to a greater extent on the nature and severity of the psychopathological state and its influence on motivational aspects.

Automobile Driving↗
PubMed1985

[Therapy of multiple sclerosis].

The routine therapy of multiple sclerosis (MS) in world-wide use today is comprised of four measures: Antiinflammatory and antiedematous treatment with ACTH or Synacthen, respectively, and corticosteroids: only during acute episodes. - High dosage, short duration, no long-term therapy. Immunosuppression with azathioprine (Imurek): Due to the relatively high risk only to use in malignant courses (frequent and severe bouts). Basic therapy with unsaturated fatty acids (sunflower oil, Naudicelle). Influencing circumscribed target symptoms (spasticity, micturition difficulties, constipation, etc.). In addition, physiotherapeutic, psychagogic and, if necessary, nursing and social measures are included. More than a decade's experience with ultrasound therapy of the lymphatic ring as developed by Selzer in over 300 MS-patients gives the impression of a reduction in bout frequency and severity. A statistical evaluation of therapeutic efficiency has so far been impossible for well-known disease-specific reasons, which hold true for all MS-treatment methods. Great practical importance within a foreseeable space of time may be reached by efforts to influence disturbance in nerve conduction and synaptic transmission as specifically caused by the demyelination process. The successful medicinal deceleration of sodium inactivation, inhibition of potassium activation and extension of the action potential, as well as specifically influencing the neurotransmitters responsible for the disturbed synaptic transmission could lead to a total recovery or improvement of dysfunction in a great many cases. Such a "global symptomatic therapy" might indeed not change the course of disease, but bring about great progress to the patient.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1985

[Multiple sclerosis and the electroencephalogram (computer EEG studies)].

A computerized analysis of EEg-records from 96 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients yielded about twice as many abnormal results (79%) in comparison to the usual visual EEG-evaluation (39%). The statistically significant (p less than 0.05) increase in slow frequencies in addition to beta frequencies to the cost of alpha, but especially the reduction in total percentage of alpha contribution to overall EEG-power discriminated most efficiently between MS-patients and our normal population. Thus, alpha index alone allowed for 87% correct classification of the normal population, and 73% of patients with normal visual EEG-records were correctly classified as belonging to the MS-population. Extending the patient group to include pathological visual EEG-records as well, the corresponding figures were 95% and 89%, respectively. The computerized EEG-analysis was thus clearly superior to the usual visual inspection.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Sarcoidosis of the nervous system. Clinical and neuropathological findings in three cases (author's transl)].

Three cases of neurosarcoidosis are reported, which demonstrate almost the complete spectrum of known neurological symptoms in this disease. Furthermore, extensive neuropathological findings are reported in one case. It is emphasized that recognition of neurosarcoidosis presents almost insuperable difficulties in those cases in which sarcoidosis is not obvious in other organs.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[On the temperature sensitivity of multiple sclerosis patients (author's transl)].

Aggravation of neurological symptoms in MS patients in heating is well known. This phenomenon is explained by the change of conduction in demyelinated nerve fibers. In raised temperature conduction block occurs. The threshold of conduction block dependent on temperature, is probably proportional to the degree of demyelination. It is possible to inhibit this effect by tyrosin. This model may present a view to a part of neurophysiological mechanisms of MS, on which we possibly can take therapeutical influence. By way of a questionnaire 125 MS patients were asked about changes of their symptoms in heating or cooling. 93% had marked sensitivity to heating. In 90% worsening of neurological symptoms or of general feeling occured in a hot bath. On the other hand about half the patients reported improvement in a cold bath. Therefore we suggest, that a noticeable part of neurological deficit is reversible, if we were able to raise the threshold of conduction block, which depends on temperature, ph, electrolytes and neurotransmitters.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Experimental study on the lymphatic and cerebrocervical drainage and changes therein caused by ultrasound (author's transl)].

After indian ink or ferritin are introduced into the cerebral hemispheres or subdural space these substances can be found in the deep cervical lymph nodes. The transport of these substances can be enhanced and accelerated by the treatment of deep cervical lymph nodes by ultrasound. Treatment of the paravertebral region with ultrasound after the introduction of ferritin or indian ink subdurally is followed by the appearance of these substances in the suprarenal gland, the testis, epididymis and the prostate gland where they are conveyed by the lymphatic pathways. Thirty minutes after the injection of ferritin into an afferent lymphatic channel of a deep cervical lymphatic node pretreated with ultrasound, ferritin can be found in the pia and arachnoid membranes of the cerebral hemispheres. Ultrasound treatment of the cervical lymph nodes not only seems to enhance the drainage of this substance from the brain but if the dose of ultrasound is high the direction of the lymphatic flow may be reversed.

Animals↗