PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R von Frenckell

Publications and source records attributed to R von Frenckell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Diagnostic performance of basal free cortisol/18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) ratio in endogenous depression: comparison with the dexamethasone suppression test.

We assessed the 8:00 AM ratio of free cortisol/18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) in 56 endogenous depressive inpatients and in 22 normal volunteers. A ratio higher than 40 was associated with a diagnostic sensitivity for endogenous depression of 75%, a specificity of 95.5%, and a diagnostic confidence of 97.7%. These diagnostic results were at least equivalent to the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) using a cortisol cut-off limit of 5 micrograms/dl. This may thus represent a simpler procedure than the DST in the diagnostic analysis of endogenous depression.

18-Hydroxydesoxycorticosterone↗
PubMed1987

Neuroendocrine evaluation of catecholaminergic neurotransmission in mania.

Several lines of evidence suggest catecholamine overactivity (noradrenergic and/or dopaminergic) in mania. We studied the growth hormone (GH) response to clonidine (an alpha-adrenergic agonist) and apomorphine (a dopaminergic agonist) in seven inpatients meeting Research Diagnostic Criteria for mania. They had been completely drug free for at least 3 months before the neuroendocrine procedures and were age- and sex-matched to seven major depressive and seven minor depressive inpatients, drug free for at least 2 weeks. GH was assayed every 20 min for 40 min before and 120 min after either clonidine (0.15 mg i.v.) or apomorphine (0.5 mg s.c.), with an interval of at least 2 days between the tests. The three groups differed significantly in the GH peak response: after clonidine (mean +/- SD), 3.2 +/- 2.4 ng/ml in manics, 3.2 +/- 2.4 ng/ml in major depressives, and 13.2 +/- 8.7 ng/ml in minor depressives; after apomorphine, 10.5 +/- 7.4, 3.2 +/- 1.9, and 26.9 +/- 15.8, respectively. While there were significant differences between manics and minor depressives and between major and minor depressives after both clonidine and apomorphine, manics did not significantly differ from major depressives on either test. These results do not provide neuroendocrine support to the catecholaminergic hypothesis of manic disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Sleep and depression: toward a standardization of the use of the latency of paradoxical sleep as a biological marker of major depression].

Among the various disturbances in sleep architecture among major depressive patients, the shortening of REM latency seems the most specific feature. Therefore, several groups have tested the usefulness of this parameter as a "biological marker" of major depression. The divergent results of those studies probably result from the marked differences in the methodology used. In this context, we compared the diagnostic sensitivity of various methodologies for selection of REM latency data among 92 major depressive inpatients recorded for 4 consecutive nights. The selection of individual night values or of mean values yielded very similar diagnostic sensitivity. However, the selection of the shortest REM latency from consecutive nights was associated with a higher diagnostic sensitivity, especially if at least 3 nights were included. After controlling for age, 87% of patients were identified by this methodology (sum of REM latency and age less than 90). Therefore we propose to standardize the methodology for use of REM latency: recording of 3 consecutive nights and selection of the shortest REM latency. If the sum of this value and of patient'age equals 90 or less, the diagnosis of major depression is supported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of sublingual and oral prazepam in normal subjects. I. Clinical data.

Five normal volunteers received at a 2-week interval a single dose of sublingual or oral prazepam in double-blind and cross-over conditions. All subjects completed a battery of 15 visual analogue scales before drug intake and 7.5, 15, 22.5, 30, 45, 60, 90 min, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 24 h following intake whereas a computerized assessment of vigilance (reaction time) was performed before intake, 15, 30, 60 min, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10 h following intake. Subjects rated themselves significantly more feeble, clumsy, lethargic, and incompetent following sublingual as compared to oral prazepam while a trend in the same direction was noted for the adjectives muzzy and mentally slow. In contrast, reaction time did not exhibit significantly different changes over time between the two forms. These results suggest a subjectively more rapid onset of activity following sublingual compared to oral prazepam.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

Scintigraphic distribution of complexes of antiinsulin antibodies and 123I-insulin. In vivo studies in rats.

Clearance of immune complexes made of antiinsulin antibodies and 123I-insulin was studied with scintillation scanning in anesthetized rats. Complexes made with purified guinea pig antiinsulin IgG2 (cytophilic isotype) were rapidly cleared by the liver whereas those made with IgG1 remained in the plasma, as did 123I-labeled IgG1 or IgG2 of control animals. Hepatic clearance of insulin-antiinsulin IgG complexes was not inhibited by either an excess of insulin or decomplementation, thereby ruling out interaction with insulin and C3b receptors. Insulin and guinea pig antiinsulin serum or its purified IgG isotypes formed large aggregates exceeding 5 IgG. Antiinsulin antibodies of diabetics, mostly IgG1 and IgG3 (cytophilic isotypes), formed complexes that either remained in plasma (small aggregates) or were cleared by the liver (large aggregates). In conclusion, clearance of insulin-antiinsulin IgG complexes is probably mediated by Fc gamma receptors on macrophages and requires cytophilic subclass composition and formation of large IgG aggregates.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Confirmation of the inhibitory influence of exogenous oxytocin on cortisol and ACTH in man: evidence of reproducibility.

The influence of low-dose oxytocin perfusion (32 mIU/min) on ACTH and cortisol plasma levels was tested in 8 normal male volunteers (age 18-26). The 1-h oxytocin perfusion periods were preceded and followed by two 1-h saline control periods. During the first period, there was a slight ACTH concentration decrease in 4 individuals. Oxytocin perfusion induced a clear-cut plasma ACTH decrease in 7 out of the volunteers, and a slight decrease in the remaining one. During the second saline infusion, there was a marked ACTH increase in 7 out of the volunteers, and a weak increase in one (P less than 0.0001). A similar pattern was observed in the plasma cortisol levels (P less than 0.00001). Furthermore, a control saline perfusion was performed in 4 of the 8 volunteers and compared to the 4 corresponding oxytocin perfusion tests: the differences between the 2 sets of tests was highly significant both for ACTH (P less than 0.003) and for cortisol (P less than 0.007). Lastly, the reproducibility of this inhibitory influence was retested in 4 volunteers: the tests were repeated under the same conditions 7 days later. There were no global differences between the 2 sets of tests either for ACTH (NS) or for cortisol (NS). ACTH and cortisol concentration fluctuations during the period between each set of tests were not significant. The following variations were measured for ACTH (NS) and for cortisol (NS). The present results confirm the inhibitory influence of low-dose oxytocin perfusion on ACTH and cortisol levels in normal males.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Construction and preliminary validation of an anxiety scale, the FARD (Ferreri anxiety rating diagram)].

The complexity of the anxious disease does not facilitate the clinical approach. That the reason why the authors have developed a rating scale based on a descriptive symptomatology to find out a diagnosis, to rate the severity of illness and to facilitate the pharmaceutical prescription. To develop a skill needed by general practitioners as well as specialists, Prof. M. Ferreri worked with pools of medical doctors to isolate the more frequent items in the anxious symptomatology. So they pointed out a first group of 14 items. A first statistical approach was to compare the new scale with the well-known Hamilton anxiety scale by the way of a sample of 81 ratings. After a first factor analysis, a sub-group of 12 items were definitely retained. These items were split in 4 factors which permitted to present the factorial results in diagram [Acta psychiat. belg., 87, 704-713 (1987)].

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[The good use of multivariate statistics].

Within a multidisciplinary team, it is important to establish a common language for the statistician and the electroencephalographer. Using an example, we propose a brief introduction to correspondence analysis. Within a set of 8 variables, we show how to isolate a subset of variables which are characteristic either for partial epilepsy or generalized epilepsy.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of the sedative properties of PK 8165 (pipequaline), a benzodiazepine partial agonist, in normal subjects.

The sedative properties of two doses (50 and 150 mg) of a benzodiazepine partial agonist, PK 8165 (pipequaline), were compared to diazepam 10 mg and placebo in 12 normal volunteers. The assessment, performed before drug intake and 2 and 5 hours after drug intake, included a battery of visual analogue scales and standardized computerized tests (labyrinths, series of digits, colour test, and Zazzo test). Results showed that, at low dose, PK 8165 is not only devoid of any sedative effect but presents psychostimulating properties. In contrast, diazepam 2 hours after intake and PK 8165 150 mg, 5 hours after drug intake induced a significant decrease in performance compared to placebo. This study suggests that small doses of PK 8165 merits further development as an anxiolytic/psychostimulating drug devoid of sedative properties.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Dexamethasone suppression test and MMPI scales.

In 42 major depressive inpatients, we analyzed the relationship between dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales. Cortisol levels following DST were positively correlated with the depression as well as the social introversion MMPI scale scores, and negatively correlated with the hypomania scale scores. DST nonsuppressor depressives (n = 15) exhibited significantly higher scores on the social introversion scale and significantly lower scores on the hypomania subscale than DST suppressors (n = 27). Moreover, stepwise discriminant analysis using the hypomania score was able to correctly classify 71% of the sample according to DST dichotomy, whereas the association of other scales did not significantly improve the classification. Therefore, these results support a relationship between DST and depressive/manic psychopathology rather than anxious psychopathology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Initial study of methylclonazepam in generalized anxiety disorder. Evidence for greater power in the cross-over design.

The anxiolytic activity of methylclonazepam was compared to lorazepam and placebo in a double-blind, randomized cross-over study, using a latin square design, in 18 inpatients meeting Research Diagnostic Criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorders. Patients presented at least 1 year of symptomatology and had a minimum score of 20 on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, despite chronic anxiolytic pharmacotherapy. Daily dosage was flexible, from three to six tablets of methylclonazepam 1 mg, lorazepam 2.5 mg, or placebo. Clinical evaluation included Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Clinical Global Impression (CGI), a side-effects checklist, completed every 2 days, and the global preference of the patient for one of the treatment periods. Results showed a highly significant superiority of both benzodiazepines over placebo on the Hamilton Scale (P less than 0.000001) and CGI (P less than 0.001), and also a significant superiority of methylclonazepam over lorazepam on the Hamilton Scale (P less than 0.01), CGI-1 (P less than 0.01), and in the number of patient preferences (14 versus 1; P less than 0.001), with no significant differences in side-effects or related to position in the trial. These results support the value of the cross-over design in chronic and severe anxious inpatients for the demonstration of differences in efficacy between anxiolytic pharmacotherapies.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Release of human neurophysin I during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in depressed patients is abolished after recovery with clomipramine treatment.

Release of human neurophysin I (hNp I) and neurophysin II (hNp II) during insulin-induced hypoglycemia was studied in 10 unipolar depressed women before and after 4-5 weeks of standard antidepressant drug treatment with daily intravenous infusions of clomipramine. Before treatment, a significant increase of hNp I but not of hNp II serum levels in response to hypoglycemia was observed. At retest during clomipramine administration, a marked clinical amelioration occurred in all patients as determined with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; the hNp I response to insulin was abolished, but no effect on hNp II concentration could be demonstrated. No correlation was found between the degree of the depression score decrease and the amplitude of the inhibition of hNp I release or serum levels of clomipramine or its metabolite, desmethylclomipramine. The meaning of this difference in reactivity of the neurohypophyseal system in the course of depressive illness, based on the pharmacological and biochemical profiles of clomipramine action, is discussed.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1985

Differing effects of antiinsulin serum and antiinsulin receptor serum on 123I-insulin metabolism in rats.

Anesthetized rats were treated with saline, antiinsulin receptor serum, or antiinsulin serum, and the biodistribution of high pressure liquid chromatography-purified 123I-Tyr A14-insulin was studied by scintillation scanning. Time activity curves over organs of interest were calibrated by sacrificing the rats at the end of the experiment and directly determining the radioactivity in the blood, liver, and kidneys. Saline-treated rats exhibited normal insulin biodistribution. The highest concentration of 123I-insulin was found in the liver, and reached 30% of total injected dose between 3 and 5 min after injection. After this peak, activity rapidly decreased with a t1/2 of 6 min. Activity of 123I-insulin in kidney showed a more gradual rise and fall and was approximately 15% of injected dose at its maximum. In rats treated with antiinsulin antiserum, insulin biodistribution was markedly altered. Peak liver activity increased with increasing antibody concentration with up to 90% of injected dose appearing in the liver. In addition, there was no clearance of the liver 123I-insulin over 30 min. Autoradiographic studies demonstrated that in contrast to the normal rats in which radioactivity was associated with hepatocytes, in rats passively immunized with anti-insulin serum, 125I-insulin was associated primarily with the Kuppfer cells. In contrast, antibodies to the insulin receptor markedly inhibited 123I-insulin uptake by the liver. Kidney activity increased, reflecting the amount of free 123I-insulin that reached this organ. This is similar to the pattern observed when insulin receptors are saturated with a high concentration of unlabeled insulin. Thus, both insulin antibodies and anti-receptor antibodies alter the distribution of insulin, but with very different patterns. The use of 123I-insulin and scintillation scanning allows one to study specific alterations in insulin distribution in animal models of insulin-resistant states, and should also be useful in human disease states.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

In vivo imaging and quantitative analysis of insulin-receptor interaction in lean and obese Zucker rats.

Imaging and quantitative analysis of insulin-receptor interaction was studied in vivo in lean and obese Zucker rats, using a recently developed technique in which purified Tyr A14 123I-monoiodoinsulin is intravenously injected and the tracer followed by scintillation scanning. The obese rats were 72% overweight, had near normal blood glucose concentrations and an 11-fold increase in plasma insulin concentration. In both groups of rats, the tracer was rapidly taken up by the liver (by a receptor mediated mechanism) and the kidneys (by a non-receptor mediated process). Past this maximum, radioactivity decreased in both organs as 123I-insulin was degraded and free 123I-iodide was released into the plasma compartment. Heart radioactivity (i.e. blood pool) mirrored that of the liver and kidneys. The rapid initial decrease of blood radioactivity was concomitant with liver and kidney uptake of 123I-insulin. Release of free iodide from these organs induced a slow secondary rise of blood radioactivity followed by a final decline corresponding to clearance of plasma iodide, mainly by urinary excretion. Liver radioactivity profiles of lean and obese rats were parallel. When expressed per g weight, liver radioactivity was significantly decreased in obese rats. However, due to hepatomegaly in obese rats, total liver radioactivity was significantly higher in homozygous fa/fa rats than in lean littermates. Furthermore, if the marked hyperinsulinaemia of the obese rats is taken into account, total bound insulin was enhanced in the liver of fa/fa rats whatever reference is used, either g weight or total liver.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗