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Biomedical subjects

S Levander

Publications and source records attributed to S Levander.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Smoking, pain tolerance, and physiological activation.

The effects of tobacco smoking and beta-blockade on psychophysiological measures, i.e., heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), skin conductance (SC), and sensitivity to electrical pain stimulation was studied in a group of 33 male moderate smokers. Using a method of limits threshold determination technique, measures of pain threshold (PT), and tolerance level (TL) were obtained. The results were analyzed in relation to smoking habits, personality measures, and subjective effects. There was no significant effect of smoking on pain sensitivity. Smoking caused a physiological activation as indicated by an increase in HR and systolic BP. beta-Blockade counteracted the smoking-induced increase in HR and systolic BP, but did not influence PT or TL. Subjective effects of smoking were not affected by beta-blockade. The findings suggest that physiological activation is not related to effects of smoking on pain.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1982

Metipranolol and propranolol: no CNS effects of a single oral dose.

Effects of single oral doses of the beta-blocking drugs propranolol (40 mg) and metipranolol (Disorat, Boehringer, Mannheim, FRG, 5 and 20 mg), in comparison with placebo, on mental performance and psychophysiological measures were investigated in a double-blind crossover study comprising 12 healthy volunteers. Effects were evaluated using a battery of highly reliable and sensitive computerized indices of mental performance and a comprehensive range of psychophysiological measures. Propranolol and metipranolol had no effects on mental performance, in contrast to findings in a previous study for bunitrolol (Stresson, Boehringer, Ingelheim, FRG). There were marked effects on some autonomic functions; dose-dependent for heart rate and heart rate response, and dose-independent for blood pressure and finger tremor. In the previous study bunitrolol had no effect on tremor and blood pressure and a less marked effect on heart rate. The lack of psychotropic effects for metipranolol and propranolol as compared to bunitrolol cannot be predicted from pharmacokinetic properties or peripheral effects of the three drugs, arguing for the need for systematic screening using psychometric and psychophysiological methods of current and new beta-blocking drugs. A comparison between the effect of propranolol given in a single oral dose and findings in a previous study with repeated administration suggested that the differences in effect profile between acute and chronic administration of the drug are small.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1980

Smoking and vigilance. The effects of tobacco smoking on CFF as related to personality and smoking habits.

The effects of tobacco smoking on vigilance (Critical Flicker Fusion, CFF) measured by a computerized forced-choice interactive technique, was studied in a group of 28 male moderate smokers. Subjects participated in a Smoking (S) and a Non-Smoking (NS) condition each of 1 h duration. CFF performance was measured during fifteen 2-min trials in each condition. In the S condition subjects smoked three puffs during each of five pauses between five successive trials. Vigilance was significantly improved by smoking. An initial sharp increase in CFF performance was noticed with a maximum 8 min after the first puff. Performance was significantly higher in the S condition compared to the NS condition up to 20 min after the last puff. Two extreme groups, based on differences in CFF performance between the S and NS condition were compared by questionnaires on personality and smoking habits. The most improved group had significantly higher scores in an extraversion scale. Ratings of the effect of smoking on level of alertness indicated that the objective effect of increased vigilance had no counterpart on the subjective level.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Urinary catecholamines, stress, and psychopathy: a study of arrested men awaiting trial.

The urinary excretion of adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) in a group of 24 arrested men was measured in three experimental sessions: 2 weeks, 1 week, and immediately before trial. The first session was assumed to represent a moderate laboratory stress due to the novelty of the situation and the last session a real life stress, associated with anticipation of appearing in court. Both are superimposed on the sustained real life stress of being in jail. There was no significant increase in A or NA in the last, presumedly the most stressful session. However, when personality measures were taken into account, there were significant and consistent differences in the pattern of A and NA excretion over the sessions between subgroups of subjects. Subjects high in psychopathy did not react with an increase in either A or NA in the last, presumedly the most stressful session. They also had conspicuously lower NA excretion, as compared to subjects low in psychopathy and relative to their own A excretion. Subjects low in psychopathy showed a reversed pattern.

Adolescent↗