Oral pilocarpine for symptomatic relief of dry mouth and dry eyes in patients with Sjögrens syndrome.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Trivedi.
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OBJECTIVES: Depressive disorders are persistent, recurring illnesses that impose enormous personal suffering on individuals and their families. Major depression alone is estimated as the fourth most important cause of worldwide loss in disability-adjusted life years and is likely to become the second most important within 20 years. A continued quest for more effective treatments has spawned newer antidepressants and herbal treatments, which have contributed to explosive growth in antidepressant prescribing, increasing pharmacy costs, and wider but sometimes confusing choices for clinicians and patients. This evidence report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits and adverse effects of newer pharmacotherapies and herbal treatments for depressive disorders in adults and children. SEARCH STRATEGY: Pertinent literature from 1980 to January 1998 was identified from a specialized registry of controlled trials, meta-analyses, and experts. The registry contained trials addressing depression that had been identified from multiple electronic bibliographic databases, hand searches of journals, and pharmaceutical companies. The search, which yielded 1,277 records, combined terms "depression," "depressive disorder," or "dysthymic disorder" with a list of 32 specific "newer" antidepressant and herbal treatments. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials were reviewed if they (1) were at least 6 weeks in duration; (2) compared a "newer" antidepressant with another antidepressant (newer or older), placebo, or psychosocial intervention; (3) involved participants with depressive disorders; and (4) had a clinical outcome. Two or more independent reviewers identified 315 trials that met these criteria. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two persons independently abstracted data from each trial. Data were synthesized descriptively, paying attention to participant and diagnostic descriptors, intervention characteristics, study designs and clinical outcomes. Some data were analyzed quantitatively using an empirical Bayes random-effects estimator method. Primary outcomes were response rate, total discontinuation rates (dropouts), and discontinuation rates due to adverse events. Response rates were defined as a 50 percent or greater improvement in symptoms as assessed by a depression symptoms rating scale or a rating of much or very much improved as assessed by a global assessment method. MAIN RESULTS: There were 264 trials that evaluated antidepressants in patients (adults and children) with major depression. Of these, 81 compared newer agents with placebo, 150 newer with older agents, 32 newer agents with newer agents, and 1 newer agent with psychotherapy. There were 14 trials evaluating hypericum (St. John's wort), 27 trials each in primary care patients and older adults, 10 trials limited to patients with specific concomitant illnesses, 9 trials in patients with dysthymia, 3 trials each in patients with mixed anxiety depression and subsyndromal depression, 2 trials in adolescents, and 1 in the postpartum setting. Most trials were conducted in outpatients and examined only acute phase treatment of less than 12 weeks' duration. Newer antidepressants were more effective than placebo in treating major depression (risk ratio 1.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 1.7) and dysthymia (risk ratio 1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3). They were effective among older adults and in primary care patients. In general, there were no significant differences in efficacy among individual newer agents or between newer and older agents. Hypericum (St. John's wort) was more effective than placebo in treating mild to moderately severe depressive disorders (risk ratio 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.8). Whether hypericum (St. John's wort) is as effective as standard antidepressant agents given in adequate doses was not established. No significant differences were found between newer and older antidepressants in overall discontinuation rates. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), reversi
The purpose of this study was to correlate subjective sleep characteristics based on questionnaire response, and objective sleep EEG features based on polysomnography, in 52 patients with major depressive disorders (MDD) and 49 healthy controls. With the exception of the number of awakenings, subjective and objective sleep measures were strongly correlated in both groups. Patients and controls were able to accurately judge time in bed, total sleep time and sleep latency. However, sleep quality, depth, and how rested participants felt upon awakening were not strongly correlated with objective sleep characteristics, particularly in those with MDD. The findings suggest that estimates such as total sleep time and sleep latency, obtained from questionnaire data, bear a strong resemblance to objective polysomnographic characteristics in both those with MDD and healthy controls. Patients with MDD do not show sleep-state misperceptions although depressed women are more accurate in estimating sleep characteristics than depressed men.
Growth hormone (GH) response to the gamma-aminobutyric acid B receptor agonist, baclofen, was measured in 16 male patients with major depressive disorder and in 16 age-matched healthy male controls. No significant differences were found in the GH response to baclofen between the depressed patients and controls. On repeat testing, the GH response to baclofen showed significant retest reliability in both groups. There was no significant correlation between serum baclofen levels and the GH response to baclofen. Age significantly correlated with GH response, with older subjects having lower GH response to baclofen. These data do not suggest that a blunted GH response to baclofen. represents a specific neuroendocrine feature of major depression.
Hepatitis C is the most common liver disease currently seen in clinical practice. Many patients remain asymptomatic until decompensation occurs. Lack of symptoms and minor liver enzyme elevations are typical of HCV infection and cannot be taken as evidence of lack of progression. HCV RNA testing confirms the diagnosis. Liver biopsy helps assess disease activity and stage the severity of fibrosis and is recommended for most patients with hepatitis C. Once this information is obtained, a rational program for treatment and monitoring can be planned. Patients with newly discovered hepatitis C infection require thorough education about the disease's natural history, transmission, interaction with alcohol, and treatment. In many cases, referral to a gastroenterologist or hepatologist may be the appropriate way to ensure necessary instruction and availability of the latest treatment options.
Growth hormone (GH) response and baclofen levels were measured in seven healthy adult men following a 10-mg and a 20-mg dose of oral baclofen (gamma-aminobutyric acidB agonist) to determine the preferred dose in baclofen challenge studies. Multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures revealed no differences between the doses. However, when a univariate ANOVA with repeated measures was performed for each dose, the 10-mg dose showed no significant GH response over time, whereas the 20-mg dose showed a significant GH response over time. The average delta GH (change in GH from baseline) was 7.84 ng/ml (SD = 10.17) for the 10-mg dose and 3.34 ng/ml (SD = 3.64) for the 20-mg dose. The variability in the delta GH response to the 10-mg dose was significantly greater than the response to the 20-mg dose of baclofen. This variance in GH response was not explained by the differences in serum baclofen levels. Thus, a 20-mg baclofen dose appears to be preferable to a 10 mg-dose in baclofen challenge studies.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the prognostic significance of elevated urinary beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) in patients with bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total beta-hCG was measured in the urine of 142 patients referred for cystoscopic examination. Patients were followed for a minimum of 17 months and grouped according to stage of disease. Because the water output by individual patients varied, urinary creatinine levels were measured as an indicator of the concentration of the urine sample. Patient outcomes were correlated with urinary total beta-hCG levels both corrected and uncorrected for creatinine concentration. After correcting for urinary creatinine levels, 40 patients were excluded because the sample was too dilute (undetectable beta-hCG and a creatinine level of < 4 mmol/L). A further four patients were excluded as they had concurrent malignancies not in the bladder and one patient was lost to follow up. RESULTS: None of the 52 patients with benign conditions, nine of the 27 with Ta-T1, and nine of the 25 with T2-T4 bladder disease had urinary total beta-hCG levels > 3.74 IU/mmol/L creatinine. There was no significant association between urinary total beta-hCG concentrations and the rates of recurrence or progression for Ta-T1 disease at 17 months of follow-up. For patients with T2-T4 disease there was a significant association with widespread metastasis (P < 0.01) and mortality (P < 0.01) at 17 months of follow-up. These associations persisted when urinary total beta-hCG levels were not corrected for urinary creatinine concentration (metastasis, P < 0.01; mortality, P = 0.07; Kaplan-Meier survival time analysis, uncorrected for creatinine P = 0.027, corrected for creatinine P < 0.001). This association could not be accounted for by differences in age, histopathology or treatment. CONCLUSION: Although sample concentration was a serious confounding factor, after correcting for dilution using the creatinine content, the elevated urinary levels of total beta-hCG indicated those T2-T4 lesions which were likely to metastasize and those patients likely to die early. If this test is to be used clinically, concentrated samples, i.e. early-morning urine, and a more sensitive beta-hCG assay are required. Nevertheless, for T2-T4 bladder tumours, an elevated pre-treatment level of urinary beta-hCG is a marker of poor prognosis and may prove useful in deciding appropriate therapy.
Sex differences in period-amplitude-analysed (PAA) sleep EEG activity were evaluated in 20 symptomatic, unmedicated, unipolar, depressed outpatients. 19/20 PAA measures showed significant gender main effects or interactions. Overall, depressed females showed a higher incidence and amplitude of fast frequency, beta activity than males, particularly in the right hemisphere. Moreover, gender effects were also evident in sleep-stage-independent analysis of PAA measures. These findings are in striking contrast to normal controls for whom only slow-frequency activity differentiates males from females. These findings suggest that sex differences are stronger in depressed patients than those observed in normals and that these effects are more pronounced than age-related changes in sleep EEG activity.
The effects of fluoxetine on automated measures of electrooculographic (EOG) and electromyographic (EMG) activity were evaluated in 41 patients with nonpsychotic, major depressive disorder. Sleep EEG evaluations were conducted at baseline, while patients were symptomatic and unmedicated, and following four to five weeks of treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg). The number of eye movements (> 75 microV) and the amplitude of EOG and EMG activity increased significantly on treatment in REM, stages 1, 2, and slow-wave sleep. All patients showed EOG and EMG abnormalities in at least one stage of sleep. Thirty-four percent of patients showed increased EOG and EMG activity on treatment in every sleep stage. It is suggested that fluoxetine-induced oculomotor abnormalities are likely to be the result of increased availability of serotonin and secondary dopaminergic effects.
With a view to evaluating the role of PET imaging in the development of new anticancer drugs, we are investigating the novel antioestrogen pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen (idoxifene). [125I]idoxifene and [131I]idoxifene have been produced in no-carrier-added form using a tributyl stannylated precursor, and the bio-distribution and dynamic behaviour of the compound investigated using syngeneic transplantable mammary tumours in the rat. Our findings support the use of PET imaging with 124I to study the clinical pharmacology of idoxifene. Factors other than hormone receptor levels appear to influence tumour uptake and therefore, possibly the biological effects of this compound.
A polysomnographic study was conducted on 10 outpatients with major depression at baseline and during 4 to 8 weeks of open-trial treatment with nefazodone (400 to 600 mg/day). All 10 patients were treatment responders as evidenced by at least 50% reduction from baseline scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Nefazodone was associated with significantly decreased wake and movement time and increased minutes and percentage of stage 2 sleep at the expense of light stage 1 sleep. Nefazodone did not increase rapid-eye-movement (REM) latency and it did not suppress REM sleep. In fact, a trend toward increased REM in the second REM period was observed, although decreased REM in the third REM period was also noted. In summary, nefazodone, an effective antidepressant, decreases arousals and wakefulness during sleep and reduces light non-REM sleep. This agent does not appear to suppress REM sleep or prolong REM latency in patients who respond to treatment.
Radiolabelled amino acids combined with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) may be useful for delineation of the extent of viable tumour and may also provide a rapid and sensitive indicator of response to therapy. Promising early clinical reports led us to investigate the potential use of the amino acid analogue L-3-iodo-alpha-methyl tyrosine (IMT), which may be radioiodinated with isotopes suitable for PET or conventional single photon imaging. We have studied the biodistribution and kinetics of [125I]IMT using two transplantable tumour systems in hooded rats, and have compared the findings with those using the natural amino acid L-tyrosine (TYR) radiolabelled with tritium. Similar levels of IMT and TYR uptake were found in HSN and OES.HR1 tumours during tumour growth. Following arrest of OES.HR1 tumour growth by oestrogen ablation, reduced IMT and TYR uptake was found to be closely matched by a fall in tumour blood flow. Unlike IMT, a substantial proportion of TYR uptake in tumours was found to be protein incorporated, even following tumour growth arrest. Quantitative autoradiography revealed sharp delineation of tumour boundary using either radiotracer. We conclude that IMT and TYR kinetics are strongly influenced by blood flow and diffusion, and that tumour growth status may not be closely associated with amino acid uptake.
With a view to evaluating the role of PET imaging in early clinical studies of new anticancer drugs, we are investigating the recently developed antiestrogen compound pyrrolidino-4-iodo-tamoxifen (idoxifene). Preliminary experimental studies have been undertaken using [125,131I]idoxifene, following synthesis of a tributyl-stannyl-idoxifene precursor to facilitate radioiodination. We have investigated the tissue biodistribution and kinetics of [125I]idoxifene following i.v. infusion in hooded rats bearing the hormone-dependent transplantable mammary tumour OES.HR1. Clearance of idoxifene from the circulation is accompanied by an increase in uptake by tumour and uterus, to peak levels after 24 hours (0.33 +/- 0.037% dose/g (mean +/- 1 SD) and 0.40 +/- 0.033% dose/g, respectively). Highest uptake of idoxifene was found in the liver (11.0 +/- 0.8% dose/g), with a progressive fall after 24 hours consistent with hepatobiliary excretion of the radiotracer. No evidence of idoxifene metabolism was found in tissue extracts taken up to 48 hours. Whole body clearance of [131I]idoxifene was characterised by a single exponential decay (t1/2 = 140 hours) up to 350 hours post administration. We conclude that 124I-labelled idoxifene combined with PET imaging would facilitate human in vivo pharmacokinetic studies of this new anticancer drug and provide an opportunity to investigate relationships between drug uptake and tumour response.
Radiolabelled amino acids combined with positron emission tomography (PET) show promise for the accurate delineation of viable tumour extent and may also provide a rapid and sensitive indicator of response to therapy. We have investigated the potential use of the radioiodinated amino acid analogue L-3-iodo-alpha-methyl tyrosine (IMT) for these purposes using experimental tumours in hooded rats. Preliminary studies using HSN tumours and IMT labelled with iodine-125 demonstrated maximum tumour uptake at 15 min post injection although an improved tumour-to-brain ratio was seen at 24 h due to the relatively poor retention of IMT in normal brain. Brain uptake of IMT was also found to be substantially reduced by competition with another large neutral amino acid phenylalanine; however, relatively less effect was seen in tumour, and in skeletal muscle no change in IMT uptake was observed. Quantitative autoradiography revealed no sign of heterogeneity in tumour IMT uptake: good penetration was seen even in poorly vascularised regions as confirmed by endothelial immunohistochemistry. Similar levels of IMT uptake were found in the OES.HR1 tumour during growth supplemented by exogenous oestrogen. Following arrest of tumour growth by removal of the oestrogen stimulus, IMT uptake was seen to fall from 1.7% to 1.0% of the injected dose per gram: this was matched by a fall in tumour blood flow as estimated by technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime distribution. It appears that IMT uptake is more strongly influenced by blood flow than cell proliferation and that intratumoural distribution of IMT is principally determined by diffusion.
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Combined direct injection venography (DIV) and equilibrium angiography (EA) were performed in 13 patients, by injecting in vitro labeled 99mTc autologous RBC, via pedal veins, and imaging the first pass and the equilibrium phase. This paired comparative study of DIV with EA shows that DIV has advantages over EA because it provides selective information on the deep venous system from the calves to the inferior vena cava. DIV provides information on the flow dynamics and the high contrast first pass images provide better definition of non filling venous segments as well as visualization of collaterals. When using 99mTc-MAA, lung perfusion can also be imaged. DIV is recommended as the procedure of choice for the diagnosis of DVT and EA should be employed only when pedal vein injection is not possible.
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