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Biomedical subjects

Susanne Baumgartner

Publications and source records attributed to Susanne Baumgartner.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Alterations of glucose metabolism during treatment with clozapine or amisulpride: results from a prospective 16-week study.

Although second-generation antipsychotics have notable benefits as compared to typical antipsychotics, their use has been associated with metabolic disturbances, such as alterations of glucose homeostasis. It is still being debated whether this is a class effect of second-generation antipsychotics. We conducted a prospective, open study comparing body weight, parameters of insulin resistance in schizophrenia patients treated with either clozapine (n = 10) or amisuLpride ( n = 12). All parameters were assessed monthly over a period of 12 to 16 weeks. Body mass index (BMI), fasting serum insulin levels and the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index for insulin resistance increased significantly in patients treated with clozapine. None of these parameters increased significantly in patients treated with amisulpride. This study indicates that treatment with clozapine appears to have a higher risk to lead to metabolic disturbances than amisupride.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Association between antipsychotic-induced elevation of liver enzymes and weight gain: a prospective study.

We conducted a prospective, open study in schizophrenia patients treated with second-generation antipsychotics in order to investigate the risk for elevation of liver enzymes and its correlation to antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Body mass index, serum transaminases, plasma serum levels of the antipsychotic used, and blood cell counts were measured weekly during the first 6 weeks of treatment and monthly thereafter. A considerable proportion of subjects showed an increase beyond normal levels of at least one of the measured transaminases. In all but one case, the elevation of liver enzymes was transient. We found a statistically significant correlation between weight gain and liver enzyme elevation. The group of patients that had gained at least 7% of the baseline body weight showed significantly higher increases of transaminases as compared with those who had gained less than 7% weight. We conclude that antipsychotic-induced elevation of liver enzymes is mostly transient and could be associated with weight gain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Early changes of plasma lipids during treatment with atypical antipsychotics.

Metabolic side effects have been found earlier during treatment with second-generation antipsychotics. Among those disturbances serum lipids are less investigated. We conducted a prospective, open study in schizophrenia patients in order to compare body weight and serum lipids during treatment with amisulpride, ziprasidone, clozapine or olanzapine over a period of 4 weeks. Body mass index, total cholesterol and triglycerides increased in patients treated with clozapine and olanzapine whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased in those patients. In patients treated with amisulpride or ziprasidone, we found a decrease in body mass index and total cholesterol whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased. Our results indicate that treatment with ziprasidone and amisulpride is more favourable than treatment with clozapine and olanzapine with respect to the risk to induce weight gain and hyperlipidaemia. These results are important with regard to the increased risk for cardiovascular complications in patients with schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of three methods for detecting Campylobacter spp. in chilled or frozen meat.

There is a demand from the meat industry as well as from public health authorities for a simple and rapid detection method for thermophilic Campylobacter spp. from food. Hence, we compared different isolation procedures for their usefulness for this purpose. Bolton enrichment medium without blood, incubated statically in stomacher bags in microaerophilic atmosphere, detected more samples positive for thermophilic Campylobacter spp. than did Preston enrichment broth in bottles with small headspace and tight caps, incubated in aerobic atmosphere. Use of an automated antigen detection system to identify enrichment cultures positive for Campylobacter spp. was as sensitive as selective agars, and reduced the detection time by 24 h. Campylobacter spp. were recovered from 18.4% of the 461 samples tested. The prevalence was highest in refrigerated poultry meat (52% of the 80 samples tested) and poultry offal (41% of the 44 samples tested).

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Patient outcomes in schizophrenia I: correlates with sociodemographic variables, psychopathology, and side effects.

OBJECTIVE: The present cross-sectional study examined the relationships of psychopathology, side effects, and sociodemographic factors with treatment outcomes in terms of patients' quality of life (QOL), functioning, and needs for care. METHOD: Sixty outpatients with chronic schizophrenia who had been treated with either clozapine or olanzapine for at least 6 months were investigated. RESULTS: Most psychopathological symptoms as well as psychic side effects, weight gain, and female sex were associated with lower QOL, while cognitive symptoms correlated with better QOL. Female sex, cognitive symptoms, and parkinsonism negatively influenced occupational functioning, and negative symptoms determined a lesser likelihood of living independently. Age, education, depression/anxiety, negative symptoms, and psychic side effects were predictors of patients' needs for care. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the complex nature of patient outcomes in schizophrenia. They reemphasize the need of targeting effectiveness, i.e. both symptomatic improvement as well as drug safety, in such patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Patient outcomes in schizophrenia II: the impact of cognition.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive dysfunction is increasingly considered to be the strongest clinical predictor of poor long-term outcome in schizophrenia. Associations have been found between the severity of cognitive deficits and social dysfunction, impairments in independent living, occupational limitations, and disturbances in quality of life (QOL). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the relationships of cognitive deficits and treatment outcomes in terms of QOL, needs, and psychosocial functioning were examined in 60 outpatients with schizophrenia who had a duration of illness over 2 years and had been treated with either clozapine or olanzapine for at least 6 months. RESULTS: The present study suggests that cognitive functioning might be a predictor of work functioning/independent living outcome in stabilized patients with schizophrenia: deficits of visual memory and working memory were negatively associated with occupational functioning, and older patients lived independently and/or in a stable partnership more often. The patients' assessments of QOL and needs for care did not show any significant associations with cognitive functioning. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that cognitive functioning is a key determinant of work functioning/independent living for stable outpatients with schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Switching between second-generation antipsychotics: why and how?

The introduction of second-generation antipsychotics represents an important advance in the treatment of schizophrenia. Although these drugs are generally very effective, not all patients respond in the same way. Partial response with persistent positive and negative symptoms and residual symptoms may force physicians to change antipsychotic medication. As more and more second-generation antipsychotics are introduced, the need for practical guidelines on switching these medications becomes increasingly important. In this article we provide a short summary of the second-generation antipsychotics, focusing on efficacy, adverse effect profile and safety. Indications for switching antipsychotic medication are outlined, as well as recommendations when switching is disadvantageous. Three basic switching strategies (abrupt, gradual and overlapping switching) and their potential risks and benefits are described. We review the available evidence concerning techniques, problems and consequences when switching from one second-generation antipsychotic agent to another and discuss potential difficulties.

Antipsychotic Agents↗