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Biomedical subjects

M Valli

Publications and source records attributed to M Valli.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Plasma levels of MHPG, HVA and total 5-HIAA in depression. Preliminary study].

This study was aimed at assessing monoamine catabolites plasma levels in depressed patients and healthy volunteers. Plasma levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) of 21 control subjects and 26 depressed patients (according to DSM III-R criteria) were measured at baseline (day 0) and day 4, day 7, day 30 of prescribed antidepressant treatment. The clinical assessment, at baseline as well as during treatment, used the Hamilton depression rating scale and the BPRS. Our data show the interest of these results in predicting response. The respondent patients showed a significant decrease in plasma MHPG level at J7, contrary to non-respondent patients. Moreover, a positive correlation between plasma levels of MHPG and HVA before any prescribed antidepressants was found only with respondent patients. The lack of correlation for non-respondent patients can suggest that the relationships between this monoamine systems should be disrupted in these patients. Significant relationships appear between clinical symptoms and plasma catabolites, allowing us to consider new physiopathological aspects of the depressive picture. The 3 monoamines seemed involved in sleep disorders. Perturbations of norepinephrine and serotonin metabolism could intervene in suicidal ideation and behaviour. Motor activity was associated with a modification in dopamine and serotonin metabolism. Moreover significant correlations were observed between items referring to thought content and monoamine plasma catabolites such as MHPG and blunted affect, 5-HIAA and obsessions, HVA and guilt feelings, devalorization and without hope items.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Plasma MHPG, peripheral noradrenergic marker and hormonal plasma levels of cortisol-T3-T4-TSH in depressive syndromes].

Based on the hypocatecholaminergic hypothesis in the depressive syndromes, this survey on 30 depressed patients compared to 21 control patients, attempts to state exactly the potential interactions between the noradrenergic system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid neuroendocrine axis. The biological indices used during this survey are: total plasmatic MHPG, the basic plasmatic cortisol, the thyroid hormones T3, T4, free T4, and the TSH. The results of this survey reveal a significative increase of the basic plasmatic cortisol among the depressed patients, including dysthymics, a decrease of the plasmatic MHPG during major depressions, and a significant fall of the total T3 among depressed men, as well as some correlations between the different axes, the interpretation of which remains "ticklish".

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Randomized study of the antiemetic efficacy of alizapride versus alizapride + dexamethasone].

We made a study on patients suffering from neoplasias treated with cisplatinum to compare antiemetic efficacy of alizapride or associated to dexamethasone. We divided patients in two groups. We somministred alizapride alone to the first group and alizapride plus dexamethasone to the second one. We evaluated presence or absence of emesis, its intensity and eventual tossic effects due to the drugs through an autocompilative questionnaire given to the patients. Our results didn't show important statistical differences between the two groups, though association with dexamethasone gets better emesis control. Alizapride anyway, didn't present important collateral effects, particularly extrapyramidal ones.

Antiemetics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of calcium inhibitors in neuropsychiatric pathology].

The use of calcium channel blockers is usual in cardiology today, but seem to spread to others specialties, particularly in the field of neuropsychiatry. The authors report the major clinical studies in neurology (treatment of migraines, epilepsia, dizziness and ischemic stroke) where flunarizine and nimodipine seem to have an important role. In psychiatry, their introduction is more recent. However, some encouraging results have been noted in the treatment of panic disorder, Gilles de la Tourette disease and mania.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Erythrocyte membrane transport of tyrosine and tryptophan and plasma level of MHPG in depressive disorders].

Both plasma MHPG level and red blood cell membrane transports (TM) of L-tyrosine (L-TYR) and L-tryptophan (L-TRY) were evaluated in 29 depressed patients and compared to 16 control subjects. On the basis of MHPG plasmatic levels, we were able to define two subgroups in the depressed population showing a biological homogeneity: in the first one, both MHPG level and TYR TM decreased, while in the second one neither of these indices were disturbed. These biological features were not related to the nosographic subgroups. Bipolar depressed subjects showed a decrease in both MHPG and TYR TM; unipolar depressed subjects exhibited a decrease in both MHPG and TYR TM associated to an increase in TRY TM, whereas no change was found in dysthymic disorders. The time course of MHPG and MT were desynchronized if followed during the antidepressant treatment. At day 7, MHPG level increased significantly, while clinical improvement showed a normalisation of MHPG and TYR TM.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Plasma levels of metapramine and its 3 major metabolites in patients with depression. Results and preliminary interpretations].

Metapramine (Timaxel) and his three major metabolites (19148 RP, 23669 RP, 19749 RP) have been determined in the plasma of 18 depressed inpatients treated by the antidepressant drug (12 women and 6 men; 7 are smokers and 11 non-smokers). In a steady state, interindividual variability is very important, especially for 23669 RP. No significant correlation exists between normalized doses (mg.kg-1) and normalized plasma concentrations (ng.ml-1/dose mg.kg-1) of metapramine or anyone of its metabolites. The plasma metabolic ratios reveal also important intraindividual and interindividual variability. Two populations of patients seem to exist: extensive metabolizers and relatively poor metabolizers, without apparent clinical consequence because 23669 RP shows an antidepressant activity. Women seem, with equal normalized doses, to exhibit higher plasma levels of unchanged metapramine than men, due to a lower protein-binding rather than to a more active metabolism. In patients who received a poly-medication smoking seems not to induce desmethylation of metapramine. The plasma metabolic ratios, compared by the analysis of variance and the Wilcoxon distribution-free test, are significatively influenced by sex and not by tobacco-smoking.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serum beta-glucuronidase activity in patients with epilepsy].

Little information is available on the effect produced by antiepileptic drugs on the serum beta-glucuronidase activity. According to recent findings, beta-glucuronidase serum levels are increased in patients with epilepsy just before the beginning of seizures and remain increased during several weeks; this it is suggested that determination of this enzyme could be important in the provision and the treatment of seizures. The purpose of the present study attempts to understand these changes. Our study was carried out on 49 adult healthy subjects and 48 adult epileptic patients receiving anticonvulsant therapies. Serum beta-glucuronidase activity was determined by a simplified procedure employing phenolphtalein glucuronic acid as substrate. The mean +/- SEM of serum beta-glucuronidase activity in treated patients (40.93 +/- 5.01 MSU/ml) was significantly higher than those of the healthy subjects (25.04 +/- 3.40 MSU/ml). In conclusion, the relationship between changes in serum enzyme activity, seizures and anticonvulsant therapies suggests that the determination of serum beta-glucuronidase activity presents a weak interest in predicting or treating seizures.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Multidisciplinary approach to depression. Preliminary results].

In the present study, clinical interview, Visual Evoked Potentials, psychological tests, TRH test, plasmatic MHPG dosage were investigated in 30 depressed patients with major depressive disorders. All the explorations were realised before and after 28 days of an antidepressant treatment. Thanks to analysis we found out the value of psychological tests. The study of evoked potentials brings to light the existence of electrophysiological variables, subordinate to the clinical state. On the contrary, "TRH Test" does not give us any useful indication, and plasmatic MOPEG dosage, although it confirms the existence of two groups of depressed patients, does not suggest any relationship with evolutive types.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pharmacokinetic study of the regional cerebral distribution of diazepam following chronic administration. Correlations with plasma and erythrocyte levels].

The kinetic profile of diazepam (DZP) was studied in plasma, erythrocytes, and eleven discrete brain areas of the rat, after intramuscular subchronic administration (15 days-5 mg/kg). DZP was rapidly distributed in brain areas. Its concentrations and its kinetic parameters were not uniform in the different brain areas we studied. The results showed the highest content of DZP in the hypothalamus, followed by the nucleus caudatus and the colliculi. Our data presented the erythrocyte as a "deep compartment". Comparatively to the results obtained after single administration, this study showed an increase of the apparent elimination half-life. Indeed, one observes a 2 fold increase for the plasma, and a 3.5 fold increase for the cerebral compartment. In the three brain areas studied (nucleus caudatus, hippocampus, and cerebellum) we observed a linear relationship with plasmatic or erythrocytic levels (0.978 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 0.992). It seems important to be considered in clinical pharmacology.

Animals↗