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Biomedical subjects

R A Weller

Publications and source records attributed to R A Weller.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The dexamethasone suppression test in prepubertal depressed children.

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was performed in 50 hospitalized prepubertal children who met DSM-III criteria for major depressive episode, 18 hospitalized controls with a psychiatric disorder, and 18 nonhospitalized normal controls. Baseline and post-DST cortisol levels were measured at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The depressed children had consistently higher cortisol levels than the controls at baseline and post-DST. The DST was positive in 82% of depressed children, 28% of psychiatric controls, and 11% of normal controls. The results indicate that prepubertal depressed children may have abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis similar to those in adults with a major depressive illness.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Alcohol and marijuana: comparison of use and abuse in regular marijuana users.

Alcohol and marijuana use were compared in 97 regular marijuana users who had used marijuana for 6-8 years. Although onset of alcohol use had occurred 3 years before marijuana use, current usage patterns of the two drugs were similar. Nine subjects met criteria for marijuana abuse and 9 met criteria for alcoholism. Although both drugs were used frequently by these subjects, most reported few or no problems from their use.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Plasma levels of imipramine and adverse effects in children.

In 22 prepubertal depressed children, the total plasma concentration of imipramine and its major metabolite, desipramine, varied by more than sevenfold. The plasma drug concentrations correlated with slowing of intracardiac conduction, elevation of diastolic blood pressure, and increase in heart rate. These drug-induced changes were uniformly observed when the total tricyclic level exceeded 225 ng/ml. However, subjective reporting of nuisance side effects was not related to plasma drug concentration. These findings suggest that children can be safely treated when their plasma levels are below 225 ng/ml. If higher plasma levels are attained, closer monitoring is warranted.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1983

Case report of withdrawal dyskinesia associated with amoxapine.

The authors describe a case of oral-facial dyskinesia that occurred after discontinuation of amoxapine, and antidepressant which may also have neuroleptic effects. Occurrence of withdrawal dyskinesia indicates that the neuroleptic effects of amoxapine may be clinically significant.

Amoxapine↗
PubMed1983

Adult psychiatric disorders in psychiatrically ill young adolescents.

Adolescents aged 12-15 years, randomly selected from a psychiatric outpatient clinic, psychiatric consultation service, and general pediatric outpatient clinic, were given a complete psychiatric evaluation and structured diagnostic interview. Of 121 subjects studied, 100 satisfied Rutter and associates' criteria for a childhood psychiatric disorder. When these subjects were rediagnosed according to Feighner and associates' research diagnostic criteria (similar to DSM-III criteria), 52 fulfilled the criteria for an adult disorder. Diagnoses included antisocial personality, hysteria, schizophrenia, depression, mental retardation, anxiety neurosis, and undiagnosed psychiatric illness. There was a correlation between diagnosis according to Rutter and associates' criteria and adult diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Adaptive effects of dietary ethanol in the pig: changes in plasma high-density lipoproteins and fecal steroid excretion and mutagenicity.

Six young mature male pigs were maintained on a high fat, low fiber "Western" type diet. Substitution of ethanol for sucrose raised plasma total cholesterol, an increase that was solely due to a rise in high-density lipoproteins. Plasma triacylglycerols and apo-B concentrations were unchanged and although apo-A1 rose with ethanol, this was not statistically significant. Ethanol did not alter total fecal steroids but both bile acids and the ratio of bile acids/neutral sterols were increased. In fecal extracts from these animals, mutagenic activity in the Ames bacterial test was also raised. The data are discussed in relation to the relationships between dietary ethanol and coronary heart disease and colorectal cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Change in effects from marijuana: a five- to six-year follow-up.

A five- to six-year follow-up study of 97 regular marijuana users in a large Midwestern city showed that the effect of marijuana intoxication remained fairly stable over time. However, continued use of the drug was associated with a decrease in pleasurable effects. Undesirable effects persisted but apparently did not discourage continued use. Decreases found in some undesirable effects (tachycardia, lightheadedness, and dry mouth) raised the possibility that some degree of tolerance had developed.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Depression in children: relationship between plasma imipramine levels and response.

The effects of imipramine treatment and plasma drug levels were studied in 20 prepubertal children (16 males, 4 females; age range 7-12 years) hospitalized for major depressive disorder (DSM-III criteria). No change in symptomatology was seen after 2 weeks of individual/group/family psychotherapy, but 12 children experienced a remission within 6 weeks of beginning imipramine. Response to the drug was concentration-dependent; of the children who achieved total tricyclic (imipramine plus desipramine) plasma levels of 125-225 ng/ml, 92% responded, compared with 25% of those outside this range. Antidepressant response was correlated both with total tricyclic plasma levels and with plasma desipramine levels (r = 0.72 and 0.56, respectively), but not with plasma levels of imipramine alone.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1981

Mutagen production during pan-broiling compared with microwave irradiation of beef.

Segments of beef were cooked either by broiling on a hot plate or by irradiation at 2450 MHz in a microwave oven. Extracts of surface layers of the cooked meat were tested for mutagenic activity using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 with and without S-9 liver microsomal preparation. The broiled beef extracts with S-9 activation exhibited marked frame-shift mutagenicity, which increased with cooking time. No such activity was detected with beef cooked by microwave irradiation, with exposures ranging from normal to 3 times the normal cooking period.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effects of dietary saponins on fecal bile acids and neutral sterols, plasma lipids and lipoprotein turnover in the pig.

Four young mature male pigs, 110 to 120 kg of body weight, were maintained on a low (0.01%) cholesterol diet. A double changeover design was used so that at any time two pigs received additionally 20 g/day of saponins as a 0.33% solution in drinking water. Saponins raised concentrations of fecal bile acids and neutral sterols and increased the contribution of primary acids to excretion. Neither the concentration of total plasma cholesterol nor low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were affected by saponins. There was also no change in either absolute or fractional catabolic rate of low-density or high-density lipiproteins. The data are discussed in relation to the effects of cholestyramine on plasma cholesterol and bile acid excretion in the pig and to the possible role of saponin-containing foods in the control of plasma cholesterol in man.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Objective criteria for the diagnosis of marijuana abuse.

Among 97 chronic marijuana users, 9% were found to have had multiple life problems as a consequence of their marijuana use when evaluated during a 5-year follow-up study. Operationally defined criteria for marijuana abuse are presented which are analogous to criteria commonly used in diagnosing alcoholism. These criteria identified marijuana abusers who manifested many problems from marijuana use, including fighting, panic attacks, and traffic tickets. This was in contrast to the majority of the chronic users who did not have multiple complications from their marijuana use. The marijuana abusers had used marijuana more frequently, had used greater amounts of marijuana, and had begun using it at an earlier age than nonabusers. A high rate of alcoholism was found in the abusers but was not statistically greater than in nonabusers. The objective criteria presented here offer a method for simple, prompt evaluation of potential problems from marijuana use.

Adolescent↗