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Biomedical subjects

H Kleber

Publications and source records attributed to H Kleber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

A new versatile system for freeze-substitution, freeze-drying and low temperature embedding of biological specimens.

A universal system for freeze-substitution (FS), freeze-drying (FD) and low temperature embedding (LTE) has been developed, suited to perform standardized procedures of cryoprocessing biological and medical specimens as well as systematic studies of dehydration and embedding at various low and high temperatures. In a 35 1 Dewar vessel with 110 mm neck diameter an aluminum tube is mounted to the bottom of the liquid nitrogen (LN2x) reservoir and extends to the lower part of the cylindrical neck. At its top an aluminum plate serves as a contact surface for either the FS chamber or the FD chamber. Fs and subsequent LTE are carried out in an environment of dry cold nitrogen gas provided by evaporating nitrogen from the dewar. Different capsules and moulds may be used for cryodehydration and LTE. FD of bulk specimens or cryosections takes place in an absolutely clean vacuum provided by a cryosorption pump integrated in the FD apparatus. Most of the H2O molecules from the frozen specimen are trapped by large cold surfaces inside the drying chamber. Due to the low LN2 consumption during FS or FD (3-4 1 LN2/day) both procedures may be carried out for 8-10 days without refilling the dewar. A few representative results show that well frozen biological material is stabilized by prolonged FS or FD at temperatures of about -80 degrees C without user of chemical fixatives like OsO4 in the substitution medium during FS or by OsO4 vapor fixation after FD.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Psychopharmacological trials in cocaine abuse treatment.

Recent research has produced encouraging preliminary data on general pharmacological treatments for cocaine abuse as well as on pharmacotherapies specific for cocaine abusers with Axis 1 psychiatric disorders. Pharmacotherapy trials with antidepressants, lithium, and stimulants in chronic cocaine abusers as well as recent clinical, diagnostic, and pre-clinical studies will be reviewed. Symptom presentation, severity of abuse, and phase of recovery are discussed as potential guides in treatment selection.

Cocaine↗
PubMed1986

Pharmacologic treatments of cocaine abuse.

Because current studies have small sample sizes and limited controls, firm conclusions or treatment recommendations cannot be made at present, but pharmacologic approaches probably have a place in the treatment of cocaine abuse. Pharmacologic treatments of cocaine abusers may relate to underlying psychiatric diagnoses. Cocaine abusers with adult attention deficit disorder appear to respond well to methylphenidate, but other cocaine abusers have increased cocaine craving when getting this medication. Cyclothymic cocaine abusers appear to respond to lithium with reduced cocaine use. Depressed cocaine abusers, who may constitute about 30 per cent of abusers, have decreased cocaine craving and increased abstinence when treated with desipramine. Other cocaine abusers without underlying psychiatric disorders may also respond well to desipramine if they fail to reduce their cocaine use during psychotherapy.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1985

Success and failure at outpatient opioid detoxification. Evaluating the process of clonidine- and methadone-assisted withdrawal.

Two controlled trials have suggested that clonidine can be used on an outpatient basis to assist in opioid withdrawal, but that rates of successful detoxification do not exceed those obtained with gradual methadone reduction. This study examines the process of clonidine-and methadone-assisted detoxification to provide information about the timing and severity of withdrawal symptoms and side effects associated with each of the two methods. Derived from a double-blind clinical trial with randomized treatment assignment, data are presented which might guide the clinician in the choice of detoxification methods. In this study, subjects in either treatment condition had a success rate of approximately 40% and most subjects experienced at least moderate withdrawal discomfort in the areas of difficulty sleeping, feeling "blah," and craving. In both treatment groups the best predictor of detoxification failure was a high level of psychological symptoms at the onset of the study. Compared with gradual methadone reduction, clonidine treatment resulted in higher levels of withdrawal symptoms and side effects, earlier onset of withdrawal discomfort, earlier attrition, earlier termination of withdrawal discomfort, and a posttreatment course of drug use that was more consistent with success status during the study treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence of movement disorder in a methadone-maintained population.

Opioids and neuroleptics have similar effects in a variety of behavioral, biochemical, and clinical situations. Prolonged treatment with dopamine antagonists is associated with the development of a movement disorder, tardive dyskinesia. Animals treated with methadone for prolonged periods may also develop abnormal movements when challenged with amphetamines. In this study, 243 patients on methadone maintenance were examined for abnormal movements using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. Methadone treatment alone was not associated with increased abnormal movements. Three patients with abnormal movements were found, but each was also receiving neuroleptics.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Interpersonal psychotherapy adapted for ambulatory cocaine abusers.

The authors describe the strategies and goals of Klerman et al.'s Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) as revised for application to cocaine abusers. IPT is a brief, individual psychological treatment suitable for use by experienced psychotherapists. The goals are reduction or cessation of cocaine use and development of more productive strategies for dealing with social and interpersonal problems associated with the onset and perpetuation of cocaine use. The treatment has four definitive characteristics: (a) adherence to a medical model of psychiatric disorders; (b) focus on patient's difficulties in current interpersonal functioning; (c) brevity and emphasis on consistency of focus; and (d) use of an exploratory stance by the psychotherapist which is similar to that of supportive and exploratory psychotherapies. It is currently being used in combination with medications in a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of desipramine, lithium carbonate, methylphenidate, and placebo as treatment for ambulatory cocaine abusers.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Creation of a diaclinic for paraclinical case presentation from the technical didactic viewpoint].

A diaclinic is a short lecture accompanied by many slides. It has the advantage that the patients have not to be represented personally. A protocolling procedure ensures that similar situations are recorded in the same way. Hints may be given how to take pictures, how to get good resolutions, and how to emphasize the important parts of the picture. Production of colored text slides and knowledge how to arrange graphic elements are also necessary to create a good diaclinic.

Audiovisual Aids↗
PubMed1982

Diagnosis and symptoms of depression in opiate addicts. Course and relationship to treatment outcome.

Evaluations of diagnosis and symptoms of depression were undertaken in 157 opiate addicts at entrance to a multimodality drug treatment program and six months later. While 17% were having an episode of major depression (defined by Research Diagnostic Criteria) and 60% had at least mildly elevated depressive symptoms at entrance to treatment, substantial improvement was noted at the six-month reevaluation, with the rates of major depression and elevated symptoms dropping to 12% and 31%, respectively. Symptomatic improvement, although related to retention in treatment, was not the result of specific antidepressant pharmacotherapy and did not differ across treatment modalities. Starting treatment during a major or minor depressive episode was predictive of poorer outcome in the areas of illicit drug use and psychological symptoms, but unrelated to the areas of occupational functioning, legal problems, and program retention.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Heterogeneity of psychiatric diagnosis in treated opiate addicts.

A survey evaluated current and lifetime rates of psychiatric disorders in 533 opiate addicts in treatment at a multimodality program. Information was gathered using a structured interview format, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime version, and the criteria were the Research Diagnostic Criteria. Most were give the diagnosis of at least one psychiatric disorder in addition to opiate addiction. The most common diagnoses were major depressive disorder, alcoholism, and antisocial personality, and rates of chronic minor mood disorders and anxiety disorders also were found to be elevated in comparison with those found in a community population. In contrast, rates of schizophrenia and mania were very low and did not exceed those reported for the general population. The findings are interpreted as suggesting the importance of detecting and attending to psychopathology associated with opiate addiction.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Measurement of erythemal response to ultraviolet radiation by "monochromatic" photography.

The main early color change induced by ultraviolet light consists of a decreased oxyhemoglobin reflectance. A method is presented in which the skin together with a calibrated gray scale is photographed using an interference filter with a peak transmission at 540 nm, the region of the specific absorption bands of hemoglobin. On the processed photographs the irradiated skin can then be compared with the calibrated scale and thus the degree of ultraviolet erythema calculated.

Color↗
PubMed1982

Neuropsychological functioning in opiate addicts.

Neuropsychological functioning in opiate addicts has been infrequently studied and results have been contradictory. In the current study, 72 opiate addicts, 60 epileptics, and 29 demographically comparable normals were tested using a brief neuropsychological test battery. Few significant differences were noted between the performance of addicts and the subjects in comparison groups, and these were in a direction suggesting better functioning in the addict sample. Follow-up re-evaluation of addicts showed stability in most measures but significant improvement in measures of intelligence quotient, verbal fluency, and new associative learning. Performance on neuropsychological tests was shown to be independent of current or past levels of opiate use and to be of little prognostic significance in relation to treatment outcome. In contrast, a comparatively strong association was noted between measures of neuropsychological functioning and educational achievement.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Symptom patterns in primary and secondary depression. A comparison of primary depressives with depressed opiate addicts, alcoholics, and schizophrenics.

The primary-secondary distinction in affective disorders has been proposed to reduce the heterogeneity of depression. An investigation of the frequency of secondary depression and its nature in depressed opiate addicts, alcoholics, and schizophrenics was undertaken. Findings show that secondary depression in ambulatory patients with other psychiatric disorders is relatively common. The sociodemographic characteristics of the secondary depressive are consistent with the population from which they derive but differ from primary depressives. The symptom patterns of secondary depressives are similar to primary depressives but are overall less severe. These findings give further support to the value of separating out secondary from primary depression in future research studies.

Adult↗