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Biomedical subjects

K Oesterreich

Publications and source records attributed to K Oesterreich.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Predominant abnormality in cerebral glucose utilization in late-onset dementia of the Alzheimer type: a cross-sectional comparison against advanced late-onset and incipient early-onset cases.

Global cerebral blood flow and the cerebral metabolic rates of oxygen, CO2, glucose and lactate were studied in 11 patients aged 61-78 years who had been clinically diagnosed as suffering from incipient late-onset dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), and in 7 patients aged 66-83 years, in whom advanced late-onset DAT had been diagnosed, using the Kety-Schmidt technique. In incipient late-onset DAT, the predominant abnormality was a 45% reduction in cerebral glucose utilization, whereas cerebral blood flow and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen were diminished by only 17% and 18%, respectively. A severe imbalance between oxygen utilization and glucose utilization thus became obvious. In contrast, in advanced stages of late-onset DAT, this imbalance between oxygen and glucose utilization rates in the brain became smaller and smaller, and cerebral blood flow diminished markedly; these biological brain parameters finally all settled down at between 55% and 65% of the corresponding control values. The predominant abnormality in brain glucose utilization in incipient late-onset DAT may be associated with an impairment of its control mechanism(s), which are assumed to be either an influence of brain insulin action, or brain insulin receptor function, or both.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Ammonia is endogenously generated in the brain in the presence of presumed and verified dementia of Alzheimer type.

The healthy, mature, non-starved brain was found to take up a small amount of ammonia on average 7.22 +/- 0.72 micrograms/100 g x min. In contrast, in patients thought to be suffering from incipient early-onset dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) the brain released a larger amount of ammonia on average 25.59 +/- 16.17 micrograms/100 g x min. In advanced DAT states, an average of 2.73 +/- 0.32 micrograms/100 g x min was released indicating the temporary nature of the severe loss of amino-N during the early stages of presumed DAT. Detrimental effects of endogenously formed ammonia on brain metabolism may affect the membrane potential, the excitability of neurons, and the energy metabolism. Ammonia may be assumed to be involved in the morphological changes in astrocytes and in the gliosis observed in early degeneration related to DAT. Endogenously generated brain ammonia thus may have a role in the cascade of cell damaging events in presumed incipient DAT.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1989

[The long-term course of depression and dementia in the aged].

Results of measurements of geropsychiatric syndromes are different. The statements are based on application of various methods and investigations of non-comparable populations. Nevertheless it is possible to draw the following conclusions out of the scientific papers and experiences of our own: A chronicity of depressive long-term courses is expected on old and higher age. Somatic diseases and organic brain syndrome render more difficult the amelioration and pharmacotherapy. The symptoms of affective disorders in old age most differ from depression in early and adult biographic phase. The course of dementias take off age and attendant somatic illness. In old age increase dementias. Their prognosis is worse. Added somatic process affects the further course negatively and renders more difficult the therapy. Long-term courses of dementias in old and higher age complicate the precise differential-diagnostic attach on pathogenetics. Social influences take effect on the course of depression and dementia advantageously or disadvantageously.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Glucose metabolism as the site of the primary abnormality in early-onset dementia of Alzheimer type?

Global cerebral blood flow, oxidative brain metabolism, and the cerebral arteriovenous differences of amino acids and ammonia were studied in 20 clinically diagnosed patients with early-onset dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT). Eleven healthy age-matched subjects and 15 healthy young volunteers served as controls. The most prominent abnormality in patients with early-onset DAT was a 44% reduction in the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose and a fourfold increase of lactate production, whereas cerebral blood flow and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen were found not to be altered. The cerebral amino-N balance substantially changed in patients with early-onset DAT, showing a massive loss of amino acids and ammonia from the brain, which was indicative of excess protein catabolism due to cell degeneration in the acutely diseased brain. The abnormality found in glucose metabolism may suggest a perturbed control of glycolytic breakdown of glucose and its first oxidation step at the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex level, this thus being of pivotal significance in early-onset DAT.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Validity of the ischemic score in degenerative and vascular dementia and depression in old age.

Thirty six male and 45 female patients (mean age 66 years) suffering from either dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) or dementia of vascular type (DVT) with comparable severity and suffering from depression in old age were included in the investigation. The study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of Ischemic Score, EEG and CT scan of the brain in differentiating dementia types and depression in old age. The patients underwent physical, psychiatric, psychometric, neurological, neurophysiological and CT scan examinations. Clinical diagnosis and diagnosis related to Ischemic Score were consistent in 86% of DAT and in 65% of DVT. Patients suffering from DVT showed significantly higher incidence of distinct Ischemic Scale items than was found in DAT patients. The Ischemic Scale items were found to be of major importance in differentiating vascular dementia from both DAT and depression. However, it was insufficient to distinguish between the latter two. In EEG, general slowing predominated in DAT (68%), and focal disturbances in DVT (71%). Patients with DAT and depression could not be differentiated on the basis of their EEG findings. CT scans of the brain yielded a higher incidence of brain atrophy in patients with DAT (71%) and DVT (70%) as compared to depressive patients (37%). In DAT, ventricular enlargement seems to be rather disease- than age-related. Psychological testing showed abnormalities in attention and memory performance in DAT and DVT to a significantly greater extent as compared to depression. This study demonstrated that the combination of Ischemic Score and EEG was found to be most valid in differentiating DAT from DVT. Additional cranial computerized tomography and the psychological testing of attention and memory were able to confirm the diagnosis of dementia and to differentiate dementia from depression in old age.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Trends in modern international gerontological research. Psychiatric aspects].

The author puts a survey of new books, book's contributions, and recurrent publications of Geropsychiatry in last years. Special extracts are engaged with epidemiological investigations, clinical and diagnostical factors of presenile and senile dementia, and longitudinal studies of depressive disorders and schizophrenia. Sexual deviations, problems of therapy (Lithium, psychotherapy), and problems of expert opinion in older age are reported.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Effect of pyritinol-GCl on blood flow and oxidative metabolism of the brain in patients with dementia.

In order to test whether and in what way pyritinon-HCl affects cerebral blood flow and oxidative metabolism in patients with organic brain disorders, the following parameters were measured in a group of 87 patients: cerebral blood flow using the Kety and Schmidt method, cerebral consumption of oxygen and glucose, and also CO2 and lactate ouptut. 45 out of the 87 patients were given pyritinol in a dose of 900 or 1000 mg/day, 42 out of 87 patients formed a control group and were given 500 mgof 5% laevulose i.v. daily for the average duration of the study of approximately 3 weeks. The results can be summarised as follows: 1. Cerebral blood flow and oxidative metabolism are changed in patients with organic brain disorders in different ways voth as regards quality and quanitity. Findings from earlier investigations could thus be confirmed. 2. When laevulose only was used, the parameters measured did not alter on average. In addition to deteriorations in the findings, spontaneous improvements or normalisationof previously disturbed cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism values were also abserved. 3. Pyritinol-HCl usually improved previously disturbed cerebral glucose metabolism significantly. An effect on disturbed cerebral blood flow or pathologically changed cerebral oxygen consumption was not found.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Blood flow and oxidative metabolism of the brain in patients with dementia (author's transl)].

The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate how the blood flow and oxidative metabolism of the brain was changed in dementia and the influence of the age factor. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured in 115 patients aged from 40 to 83 years by means of the Kety-Schmidt technique with the modification of Bernsmeier and Siemons. The cerebral metabolic rates of oxygen and CO2 were determined by the van Slyke method and by gaschromatography respectively and of glucose and lactate by standard enzymatic methods. All cases of dementia due to head injuries, cerebral infections, cerebral infarctions, exogenous or endogenous intoxications or circulatory diseases were excluded from this study, but no classification of the dementias was made. Statistical calculations were carried out by means of the analysis of variance for a two-way design. Cerebral blood flow did not show a normal distribution curve but was at least triphasic; CBF in demented patients was either lower than normal, normal or higher than normal. The distribution curves showed further that a low cerebral blood flow of mean 32.5 ml/100 g min coincided with a low CMR oxygen of 2.50 ml/100 g min; however, CMR glucose was either low (2.50 mg/100 g min), or nearly normal (4.50 mg/100 g min) or elevated (7.50 mg/100 g min). A normal (45.0 ml/100 g min) or enhanced (62.5 ml/100 g min) CBF correlated with a CMR oxygen which was either decreased to 2.75 ml/100 g min or increased to 4.75 ml/100 g min; CMR glucose was either decreased to 1.50 mg/100 g min, or nearly normal (4.50 mg/100 g min), or was elevated to 6.50 and 10.50 mg/100 g min with respect to the peaks of the distribution curves. It is assumed that the variability of the findings with respect to the blood flow and oxidative metabolism of the brain in dementia is due to different pathophysiological and pathobiochemical disturbances in the brain. A significant influence of age on CBF and metabolism in patients with dementia was not found.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Blood flow and oxidative metabolism of the brain in patients with schizophrenia.

55 patients with schizophrenia were divided into three groups according to the clinical symptoms: (1) productive schizophrenias, i.e. patients with hallucinations, catatonic excitation and stupor; (2) paranoia and schizophrenia simplex, and (3) non-productive schizophrenias, i.e. patients with schizophrenic defects and hebephrenia. Total cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the rates of cerebral oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose and lactate metabolism were investigated. Patients with productive schizophrenias displayed a significant increase in CBF (to an average of 101.4 ml/100 g min), CMR oxygen (to an average of 6.26 ml/100 g min) and CMR glucose (to an average of 12.11 mg/100 g min), i.e. CBF and CMR oxygen nearly doubled and CMR glucose more than doubled in comparison with normal findings. In patients with paranoia and schizophrenia simplex CBF and oxidative metabolism did not vary much and were within the normal range. Non-productive schizophrenias showed a significant decrease in CBF (to an average of 36.7 ml/100 g min), CMR oxygen (to an average of 2.20 ml/100 g min) and CMR glucose (to an average of 3.86 mg/100 g min) in comparison with both other groups of schizophrenias and the group of healthy young men. The results demonstrated variations in CBF and oxidative metabolism of the brain in patients with distinct types of schizophrenia. It was possible to find a correlation between the mental state of the psychosis on the one hand and CBF and metabolism on the other. The high CBF and metabolic rates of the brain in productive schizophrenias might be due to disturbances in the cerebral metabolism of biogenic amines.

Adolescent↗