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Biomedical subjects

P Silverstone

Publications and source records attributed to P Silverstone.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of the cerebellum in men with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there are cerebellar vermis abnormalities in schizophrenia. DESIGN: Prospective imaging study with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). SETTING: Schizophrenia clinic at a large urban hospital. PATIENTS AND CONTROLS: Twelve right-handed male patients with schizophrenia, and 12 control subjects with no psychiatric history. INTERVENTIONS: MRS data were acquired from a 2.0 x 2.0 x 2.0 cm volume of interest that included the entire cerebellar vermis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Spectral peak arising from N-acetylaspartate (NAA), phosphocreatine/creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the patients with schizophrenia and the controls in cerebellar vermis ratios of NAA to Cr (p = 0.71) or Cho to Cr (p = 0.50). CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support earlier structural studies that found abnormalities of the cerebellar vermis in schizophrenia, although it does support reported neurochemical studies. It does not rule out cerebellar involvement in schizophrenia through mechanisms such as aberrant circuitry. Larger in vivo structural/neurochemical and functional imaging studies in other parts of the cerebellum are needed.

Adult↗

Psychostimulant prescriptions by psychiatrists higher than expected: a self-report survey.

OBJECTIVE: To survey Alberta psychiatrists on their prescribing of psychostimulants to adults. METHOD: A questionnaire was mailed to all 245 registered psychiatrists in Alberta. The respondents were requested to anonymously report, for the previous year, the number of adult patients to whom they prescribed pemoline, methylphenidate, amphetamines, or other psychostimulants for the treatment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, unipolar depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, and other disorders. RESULTS: The response rate was 93.9%; 88.7% treated adults. Of these, 46.6% prescribed psychostimulants to 1238 patients. The greatest proportion of prescriptions of psychostimulants was for adult ADHD, depression, and narcolepsy. CONCLUSIONS: Psychostimulants are more widely prescribed by psychiatrists than indicated in earlier studies and in recommendations for treatment.

Adult↗

A Canadian multicenter study of three fixed doses of controlled-release ipsapirone in outpatients with moderate to severe major depression.

Ipsapirone, an azapirone with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT1A) partial agonist activity, has been shown in preliminary studies to be effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder. This 8-week, randomized, double-blind study compared the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of three fixed doses of controlled-release ipsapirone (10-, 30-, and 50-mg dose once daily) with placebo in 410 patients with moderate to severe major depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HAM-D] score > or = 20). The 10-mg ipsapirone treatment arm was discontinued early in the study. A total of 390 patients were eligible for evaluation in the intent-to-treat sample. The primary efficacy variable was the change in HAM-D total score from baseline to visit 8. There was no significant difference in efficacy in the two treatment groups versus the placebo group. The overall treatment response, defined as a 50% decrease in the HAM-D total score from baseline, was 43% with ipsapirone 50 mg given once daily, 34% with ipsapirone 30 mg given once daily, and 35% with placebo. In subanalyses, ipsapirone 50 mg given once daily was superior to placebo according to the HAM-D Core Depression (mood, guilt, interest, psychomotor activity) subtotal (p = 0.0453) and Melancholic item (p = 0.0225). Ipsapirone 30 mg given once daily was superior to placebo only in patients with moderate depression (baseline HAM-D total score < or = 25; p = 0.0100). The most common adverse effect in all groups was headache. The only dose-dependent adverse effects were dizziness and nausea.

Adolescent↗

Effect of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal on noradrenaline release in rat hippocampus in vivo.

Here we investigated the effect of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal on the release of noradrenaline in hippocampus of the anaesthetised rat. Naloxone (1 mg/kg i.p.) injected 3 and 24 h, but not 3 weeks, after eight daily injections of morphine, induced an immediate increase in hippocampal noradrenaline release. This striking effect of naloxone was markedly attenuated by pretreatment with clonidine (0.1 mg/kg s.c.). These findings provide direct evidence for a marked release of noradrenaline in hippocampus during opiate withdrawal in vivo.

Animals↗

Nasolacrimal disorders and their treatment.

Dysfunction of the excretory part of the nasolacrimal system may be congenital in otherwise normal infants or associated with congenital facial anomalies. It may also occur as a result of soft-tissue trauma to the face and naso-orbital fractures. Dacryocystorhinostomy and conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy are discussed as treatment techniques.

Chronic Disease↗

Medial wall fractures.

Medial wall blowout fractures may accompany orbital floor fractures or may occur as isolated fractures after blunt facial trauma. A "Z-plasty"-type incision over the medial orbital region allows the best exposure and cosmetic result following the repair of an isolated medial wall fracture.

Humans↗