PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Wierzbicki

Publications and source records attributed to M Wierzbicki.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Children's engagement in antidepressive activities.

The relationship between depressive symptomatology and engagement in activities designed to cope with depression was examined among 42 children (8 to 14 years old), their parents, and 167 college students. The Beck Depression Inventory and Children's Depression Inventory were used to assess depression in adults and children, and adult and child forms of Rippere's (1977) Antidepressive Activity Questionnaire were employed to assess the frequency of engagement in and helpfulness of antidepressive activities. For children, depression was more strongly correlated with the helpfulness of than with the frequency of engagement in antidepressive activities; for adults, depression was more strongly related to the frequency than to the helpfulness of antidepressive activities. Girls reported that antidepressive activities were more helpful in combating depression than did boys; women engaged more frequently in antidepressive activities and found such activities more helpful in alleviating depression than did men. Little similarity was observed between the antidepressive activities of children and their parents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities.

Children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities were examined as a function of their sex, age, and level of depression. In Study 1, 322 children aged 8 to 12 yr. were asked to identify as many counter-depressive activities as possible. Girls provided more counter-depressive responses than boys and more often reported Help-seeking responses, while boys more frequently produced both Activity and Recreation responses. In Study 2, 98 children, ages 8 to 14 yr., completed the Children's Depression Inventory and generated counter-depressive activities. Girls provided more counter-depressive activities than boys, and older children provided more counter-depressive activities than younger ones. Although depression scores were unrelated to the types of counter-depressive activities provided, they were modestly, though statistically significantly, correlated with the number of counter-depressive activities: as depression increased, children listed fewer coping activities. The relationship between children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities and those of adults is discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Effect of clonidine on beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol secretion in essential hypertension and obesity.

The role of alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation by clonidine on the secretion of beta-endorphin, ACTH, and cortisol in essential hypertension and obesity was studied in 45 subjects: 15 non-obese hypertensives, 10 obese hypertensives, 11 obese normotensives, and 9 healthy subjects. The circadian rhythm of plasma beta-endorphin, ACTH, and cortisol was determined after placebo and after three days on clonidine 0.45 mg daily. Clonidine lowered the blood pressure and blood ACTH and cortisol levels in all the subjects. A significant decrease in beta-endorphin after clonidine occurred in the healthy subjects. In obese normotensives basal beta-endorphin concentrations were significantly higher than in healthy subjects and did not change after clonidine. In about 50% of non-obese and obese hypertensives a significant increase in beta-endorphin secretion after clonidine was noted (responders). In the subgroup of non-obese hypertensive responders no circadian rhythm of beta-endorphin was observed. The results suggest that adrenergic regulation of beta-endorphin secretion is altered in obesity and in certain patients with essential hypertension.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

The possible role of beta-endorphin in pathogenesis of obesity and essential hypertension.

In order to evaluate the role of beta-endorphin in the pathogenesis of obesity and essential hypertension 44 subjects were investigated: 12 nonobese hypertensives, 11 obese hypertensives, 11 obese normotensives and 10 normal subjects. Plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin and cortisol were measured by radioimmunological and ACTH by immunoradiometric methods. The plasma concentrations and the circadian rhythms of ACTH and cortisol secretion were normal in all groups investigated. A circadian rhythm of beta-endorphin secretion was demonstrated in nonobese hypertensives and in normal subjects. The plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin were twice higher than those in nonobese subjects. Also, in all obese patients the circadian rhythm of beta-endorphin secretion was blunted. The increased concentrations and the altered circadian rhythm of beta-endorphin in all obese subjects may point to a role of beta-endorphin in the pathogenesis of obesity rather than in that of essential hypertension.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

Growth hormone (GH) secretion during nocturnal sleep and after clonidine in patients with essential hypertension.

In order to estimate the neuroendocrine function of the central nervous system eventually leading to growth hormone (GH) secretion in essential hypertension, 17 patients with mild arterial hypertension (7 obese and 10 with normal body weight) were examined. The control group consisted of 16 normotensive volunteers (7 obese and 9 with normal body weight). The GH secretion was determined by radioimmunoassay during nocturnal sleep. In all the subjects, the serum GH was also measured after placebo and after the centrally acting alpha 2-adrenergic agonist-clonidine administered i.v. in a dose of 0.15 mg. The fasting serum insulin concentration was also measured in all the subjects. Clonidine decreased the mean arterial pressure in all the subjects investigated. However, in response to clonidine an increase in GH secretion in all hypertensive and normotensive cases with normal body weight was demonstrated, whereas in all obese hypertensive and normotensive patients no significant GH rise was found. It indicates that inhibition of GH secretion in patients with essential hypertension is related to coexistent obesity rather than with that of arterial hypertension. A strong (r = 0.76) and significant (p less than 0.0005) correlation demonstrated between the maximal GH concentration during the nocturnal sleep and after clonidine suggests that the mechanism of GH inhibition in response to both these stimuli is similar and it probably is related to the inhibition of neurohormonal secretion of the growth hormone releasing factor (GRF). However, the negative correlation between the fasting insulin concentration and GH response to clonidine shown in obese subjects only, points to a more complex mechanism of GH inhibition in obesity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Endogenous digoxin-like substance level in essential arterial hypertension, renal failure and acromegaly].

The endogenous digoxin-like substance seems to play an important role in the aetiology and pathogenesis of essential and secondary hypertension. Immunoreactive digoxin-like substance was determined in 52 subjects: 17 healthy ones, 15 patients with essential hypertension, 10 cases of chronic renal failure and 10 patients with acromegaly. The substance was not found in healthy subjects, in acromegaly and essential hypertension. In chronic renal failure detectable concentrations of the substance were observed but they showed no correlation with the creatinine level and other clinical data.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1987

A parent form of the Children's Depression Inventory: reliability and validity in nonclinical populations.

A parent form of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) was investigated in a nonclinical population. In Study 1, the CDI was administered to 50 children and their mothers. One month later, the CDI was readministered to 45 children and their mothers. Children's and mother's CDI ratings were correlated significantly at both Time 1 (r = .37) and Time 2 (r = .59). Test-retest reliability of the Parent-CDI over the 1-month interval was significant (r = .75). In study 2, 96 children were rated by mothers on the CDI. Eighty-one of these children rated themselves on the CDI, and 72 were rated by teachers on the Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS). The Parent-CDI was found to be correlated significantly with both the CDI (r = .66) and the CDRS (r = .64). Internal consistency of the Parent-CDI was demonstrated by both a split-half and an item-total analysis. Merits and limitations of this parent form of the CDI for use within a nonclinical population are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Similarity of monozygotic and dizygotic twins in level and lability of subclinically depressed mood.

Ninety-two adult twin-pairs were recruited through advertisements in the local media. Twin zygosity was determined by use of the self-report inventory developed by Nichols and Bilbro (1966). The level and lability of subclinical depression were assessed. Mood level was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory and by the MMPI D, D30, and DR Scales. Mood lability was assessed by daily administrations over a 2-week period of the Depression Adjective Check List (DACL) and the Wessman-Ricks Elation-Depression Mood Scales. Monozygotic twins resembled one another more than dizygotic twins in most measures of both level and lability of mood, which provides modest evidence for a genetic influence on subclinical levels of depression. Implications of these findings for the continuity hypothesis of depression are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Variables related to continuance in a behavioral weight loss program.

This study compared nonoutcome characteristics of completers and dropouts in a behavioral weight loss program. The significant relationships between several personality dimensions and continuance were discussed. It was proposed that the unusual finding of personality differences was made possible by distinguishing early from late dropouts.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of hyperinsulinemia in the development of lipid disturbances in nonobese and obese women with the polycystic ovary syndrome.

In order to establish the role of insulin in the pathogenesis of lipid abnormalities in hyperandrogenic women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO) 49 women aged 18 to 35 yr with a normal glucose tolerance test were studied. They were divided into two groups: 27 women with PCO (9 obese and 18 nonobese), and 22 healthy women (12 with simple obesity and 10 with normal body weight). In the PCO group, the fasting insulin levels and the insulin response to oral glucose load were higher than in the matched controls. Significantly lower levels of HDL2-cholesterol and higher levels of apolipoprotein B were observed in obese and non nonobese PCO patients. In obese women with PCO this was associated with lower levels of HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), whereas the levels of total triglycerides and VLDL-triglycerides (VLDL-TG) were increased. Multiple regression analysis in PCO women, after adjustment for age, body mass index and the levels of insulin and sex hormones, showed a strong positive correlation between the fasting insulin levels and total triglycerides and VLDL-TG, while a negative correlation was found between fasting insulin levels and apo A-I. These results indicate that hyperinsulinemia may play a role in the development of lipid disturbances in women with the PCO.

Adolescent↗