Biomedical subjects

N Genero

Publications and source records attributed to N Genero.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1986

Facial electromyography in depression. Subgroup differences.

To study whether facial electromyographic (EMG) activity during affective imagery differed between normal subjects and depressive subtypes, we evaluated EMG responses in 29 normal controls, 37 endogenously depressed patients, and 26 nonendogenously depressed patients. Different imagery states produced more distinctive EMG patterns in normal controls than in depressed patients. Patients with endogenous depression had EMG levels that differentiated them from normal subjects and had significantly greater absolute values than the nonendogenous group in corrugator happy and corrugator sad imagery trials. Intensity of sad and happy imagery, age, and severity of depression did not systematically correlate with EMG activity among depressive subtypes.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Age effects in serial hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal monitoring.

To evaluate age effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) regulation in depressives, we studied 65 patients with major depressive disorder, endogenous subtype. With each patient serving as his or her own control, we compared weekly dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results among three age subgroups (less than 40 years, n = 18; 40-70 years, n = 40; greater than 70 years, n = 7). The oldest patient group had higher mean post-dexamethasone plasma cortisol concentrations both before and after treatment, and more were DST nonsuppressors. Life table analyses revealed that elderly patients who were DST nonsuppressors had significantly slower patterns of normalization during treatment and that fewer elderly patients ever achieved normal suppression. The results indicate that age effects on HPA function may be confounded with other aspects of depression, such as severity, chronicity and number of previous episodes.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Agitation-increased electromyogram activity in the corrugator muscle region: a possible explanation of the "Omega sign"?

The corrugator muscle region of the forehead has special significance in producing facial expressions associated with depression. Darwin observed in 1872 that contractions in the corrugator region produce peculiarly formed wrinkles on the forehead, referred to as "Omega Melancholium." In the present study, results from 61 right-handed, drug-free women with major depressive disorder showed a significant positive correlation between facial corrugator EMG values and psychomotor agitation. Results were not due to differences in severity of depression. These data offer preliminary evidence that agitation is reflected in corrugator muscle activity and may explain the "Omega sign" of melancholia.

Adult↗