Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to I Pelc.
The "dynamic-behavioral" concept of alcoholism is based on the analysis of the contingencies associated with alcohol intake. The therapy makes use of behavioral modification techniques focused on both the individual and his drinking behavior.
Neurophysin II (hNpII) but not hNpI serum levels were higher than normal (greater than 2.85 ng/ml) in 9 of 20 patients admitted to the metabolic ward for alcohol withdrawal therapy; a normalization was observed within the first week of alcohol withdrawal. The higher levels of hNpII were felt to reflect alcohol impregnation for the following reasons: 1) on admission, levels of most of the alcoholism blood markers were higher in the group of patients with high hNpII levels than in the group with normal hNpII levels; 2) hNpII levels were correlated with most of the alcoholism blood markers, mainly gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (r = 0.63, P less than 0.001) in the 20 patients of the study; 3) patients with high hNpII levels admitted to greater alcohol and less anxiolytic drug intake immediately before admission. The physiopathological meaning and hypothetical psychological consequence of this hNpII increase remain to be defined.
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The use of sulpirid in psychiatry allows to delineate three types of activity of this compound which originality consists most in this triple association: neuroleptic activity, as well as anticonfusional and antidepressive. The psychodynamic and phenomenological evaluation of patients receiving a sulpirid treatment, has led us to consider the process of "psychic decompensation" as a target variable particularly sensitive to the action of this psychotropic drug. This process can be found in various pathological states--acute delirious states, depressive episodes, anxiety, autism, stress situation--where sulpirid acts, beside its specific thymoanaleptic or neuroleptic properties, through a "aspecific recompensation activity". This translates, psychopathologically, the action of sulpirid on the vegetative brain as well as the anti-stress properties of this psychrotropic drug, as verified in animal experiment.
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Chronic alcoholism tends to alter the serum levels of numerous blood components. In comparing the serum levels of these elements in a noncirrhotic chronic alcoholic patient after withdrawal, the authors determined a characteristic biological table. The serum factors demonstrating a significant difference after the withdrawal of alcohol were as follows: total cholesterol, triglycerides, total lipids, total bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, serum iron, uric acid, hematocrit and the number of red blood cells. It is noteworthy that these tests are those of routine and can be performed in any modestly equipped laboratory.
After a preliminary encouraging trial of mepiprazol (EMD 16.923) on 8 patients, a double-blind cross-over study of mepiprazol and diazepam was performed in order to compare their effect in the treatment of neurotic disorders, particularly on various forms of anxiety.
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Among 365 major and 158 minor depressive inpatients, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) yielded an overall diagnostic sensitivity of 50%, a specificity of 85%, and a confidence level of 88%. Age was significantly correlated with the post-dexamethasone cortisol levels in the whole sample (r = 0.11; P less than 0.01); however, this low relationship disappeared when all subgroups defined by gender or diagnostic were considered. Gender did not appear to influence DST results; however, among the patients between 30 and 39 years, the diagnostic performance of the DST was significantly lower among female as compared to male patients, suggesting possible interferences with endocrine variables.
The first-night effect in sleep polysomnographic studies is usually considered to last for one night. However, a few observations have indicated that variables associated to rapid eye movement sleep take longer to stabilize. Notwithstanding, current opinion holds that second nights of recording can be used without restriction for research and clinical purposes. The goal of this study was to describe the dynamics of habituation to polysomnography in optimal conditions. Twenty-six young, carefully screened, healthy subjects were recorded in their home for four consecutive full polysomnographies. Repeated measures ANOVA were applied. Between the two first nights, while there were no differences in sleep duration in non-rapid eye movement sleep, marked modifications in corresponding spectral power were observed. The dynamics of adaptation of rapid eye movement sleep appeared to be a process extending up to the fourth night. Similar dynamics in NREMS and REMS homeostasis have been observed in sleep deprivation studies, and it appears that the same mechanisms may be responsible for the FNE. The longer habituation process of REMS in particular has important implications for sleep research in psychiatry.
One of the most consistent and most studied sleep modifications in several psychiatric conditions is the shortening of the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency. While its clinical usefulness is still to be proven and its meaning relatively obscure, the appearance of a short REM latency continues to be a daily fact in sleep laboratories. Many theories compete to explain what is observed, the most important being the circadian rhythm hypotheses, the homeostatic model and the reciprocal interaction model. These three are summarised and their pros and cons are exposed in a systematic manner. Points of conflict, possible convergences and limitations are discussed in the light of recent developments on the general theories of sleep regulation.
Alcoholics are thought to be characterized by irregular emotional responses, having trouble reaching an optimal level of emotional arousal. They therefore may use alcohol to restore emotional homeostasis. This study investigated whether recently detoxified alcoholics show different emotional responses as compared to controls. Film excerpts were used to induce emotions in 14 newly detoxified alcoholics (9 men, 5 women) and matched controls in a standardized laboratory setting. Subjective emotional (questionnaires) and physiological measures were employed. Depression and cognitive deterioration were controlled. Based on subjective ratings, alcoholics displayed greater variability of emotion; they displayed also fewer or no physiological arousal changes. Subjective emotional responses were exceedingly high or low. These differences were not accounted for by depression or cognitive deterioration. We hypothesize that alcohol could be used to restore an optimal level of emotional arousal. This homeostatic function of alcohol is yet to be clearly assessed.