Use of arylsulfatase A in chronic psychiatric patients.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M J Hoes.
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The symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome and panic disorder are very similar. A questionnaire was used to assess the incidence of panic disorder in 274 patients; 35% of the patients with hyperventilation and only 5% of the non-hyperventilating patients showed panic disorder. The authors conclude that hyperventilation plays an important role in panic disorder and in generalized anxiety disorder.
The relation between serum levels of vitamin B-1 and magnesium at admission, and the clinical state was studied in hospitalized patients with either alcoholism or delirium tremens. Vitamin B-1 was deficient in the delirium group, magnesium in both groups. There was no correlation between vitamin B-1 and magnesium levels. Patients with an unfavorable outcome at discharge had lower vitamine B-1 levels and a higher age than patients with a favorable outcome in either group. The magnesium deficiency is discussed for longstanding malnutrition in both groups, the vitamin B-1 deficiency for an unusual high intake of alcohol before delirium tremens started.
The authors describe an investigation of Adult Metachromatic Leukodystrophy in a Dutch family, of which two persons were affected. The studies of leukocyte arylsulphatase-A activity were made in 47 members of 4 generations of the same family. The propositus, a 30-year old man, showed a conspicious organic brain syndrome, that progressed in two years to a complete dementia. His leukocyte, liver and kidney arylsulphatase-A activities (ASA) were very low; leukocyte-ASA activity increased after aceto-salicylate. His brother had died at 34 years, after a progressive debelitating neuropsychiatric illness of eight years; postmortem metachromatic leukodystrophy was diagnosed. In all living family members, urine and leukocyte arylsulphatase-A activities were determined. The findings are discussed in relation to the genetics and pathogenesis of this adult form of metachromatic leukodystrophy. Allelic heterozygoty is proposed as inheritance model in this family. Suggestions for further research are made.
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This study investigations whether the synthesis of nicotinamide out of L-tryptophan is disordered in depression or in anxiety. To this end the excretion of xanthurenic acid (XA) in 24 hours urine was measured after administration of an oral loading dose of 5 grams L-tryptophan. The subjects were depressive, anxious, and alcoholic patients, while other psychiatric patients, served as control group. Anxiety and not depression is the clinical correlate of an elevated excretion of XA. Liver disorder and vitamin B-6 deficiency have to be excluded. A psychiatric control group is necessary.
Biological markers in psychiatry are defined as measurable and quantifiable indices of psychiatric disorders. Criteria for biological markers are discussed. The criteria for the assignment of a biological marker to the pathophysiology, pathogenesis, or etiology of a disorder are proposed. None of the biological markers described in the literature for depression, schizophrenia, alcoholism or anxiety as separate disorder fulfills the specified criteria. Most of them can at best be considered as biological markers of the aspecific processes of strain and stress. Free-floating anxiety is the clinical hallmark of strain.