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Biomedical subjects

W E Severus

Publications and source records attributed to W E Severus.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Is polarity of recurrence related to serum lithium level in patients with bipolar disorder?

BACKGROUND: Recently published data might indicate that the polarity of recurrence is related to lithium serum levels. To systematically test this hypothesis all published maintenance trials in bipolar disorders were examined with regard to this issue. METHOD: Maintenance studies were subdivided in trials with low (i. e. below 0.6 mEq/l),medium (i. e. 0.6 to 0.8 mEq/l) and high (i. e. above 0.8 mEq/l) lithium serum levels. Percentage of depressive vs. (hypo-)manic or mixed recurrences were compared for these three groups. RESULTS: The percentage of depressive recurrences in the groups with low, medium and high lithium levels differed in a clinically and statistically significant manner (12% vs. 38% vs. 64%, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The results might indicate that low lithium levels are effective in preventing depression whereas higher blood levels are needed to prevent (hypo-)manic or mixed states.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed2001

Borna disease virus-specific circulating immune complexes, antigenemia, and free antibodies--the key marker triplet determining infection and prevailing in severe mood disorders.

Borna disease virus (BDV), a unique genetically highly conserved RNA virus (Bornaviridae; Mononegavirales), preferentially targets neurons of limbic structures causing behavioral abnormalities in animals. Markers and virus in patients with affective disorders and schizophrenia have raised worldwide interest. A persistent infection was suggestive from follow-up studies, but inconstant detectability weakened a possible linkage.This study for the first time discloses that detection gaps are caused by BDV-specific circulating immune complexes (CIC), and their interplay with free antibodies and plasma antigens (p40/p24). Screening 3000 sera each from human and equine patients over the past 4 years by new enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) revealed that BDV-CICs indicate 10 times higher infection rates (up to 30% in controls, up to 100% in patients) than did previous serology. Persistence of high amounts of CICs and plasma antigens correlates with severity of depression. Even BDV RNA could be detected in plasma samples with strong antigenemia. Our discovery not only explains the course of persistent infection, but offers novel easy-to-use diagnostic tools by which new insights into BDV-related etiopathogenesis of disease and epidemiology are possible.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Omega-3 fatty acids in psychiatry].

Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA, DHA) are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Due to their pivotal involvement in signal transduction processes in the CNS, a role for these fatty acids in psychiatric disorders has been postulated. This review summarizes the latest findings on the physiological function of these compounds in the CNS and gives a comprehensive overview on the emerging therapeutic role of these psychoactive drugs in psychiatric disorders, with special emphasis being put on affective disorders and schizophrenia.

Brain↗
PubMed1999

Omega 3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Omega3 fatty acids may inhibit neuronal signal transduction pathways in a manner similar to that of lithium carbonate and valproate, 2 effective treatments for bipolar disorder. The present study was performed to examine whether omega3 fatty acids also exhibit mood-stabilizing properties in bipolar disorder. METHODS: A 4-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, comparing omega3 fatty acids (9.6 g/d) vs placebo (olive oil), in addition to usual treatment, in 30 patients with bipolar disorder. RESULTS: A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the cohort found that the omega3 fatty acid patient group had a significantly longer period of remission than the placebo group (P = .002; Mantel-Cox). In addition, for nearly every other outcome measure, the omega3 fatty acid group performed better than the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Omega3 fatty acids were well tolerated and improved the short-term course of illness in this preliminary study of patients with bipolar disorder.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Omega-3 fatty acids and bipolar disorder: a review.

The important role of the omega-3 fatty acids in the pathophysiology and treatment of bipolar disorder is now supported by a substantial body of indirect and direct evidence. This paper will describe the clinical and pharmacological features of bipolar disorder, review the available data regarding omega-3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder and provide recommendations for future research.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Omega-3 fatty acids, homocysteine, and the increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in major depressive disorder.

Depression is associated with elevated rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This elevation seems to be due to a significantly increased risk of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction and, once the ischemic heart disease is established, sudden cardiac death. Recent data suggest that the increased rates of cardiovascular disease in patients with depression may be the result of one or more still-unrecognized underlying physiological factors that predispose a patient to both depression and cardiovascular disease. Two possibly related factors that may have a causal relation with both depressive disorders and cardiovascular disease are an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency and elevated homocysteine levels. We present the available data connecting cardiovascular disease, depression, omega-3 fatty acids, and homocysteine. In addition, we suggest research strategies and some preliminary treatment recommendations that may reduce the increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with major depressive disorder.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mood stabilizers: shared mechanisms of action at postsynaptic signal-transduction and kindling processes.

Several distinct classes of agents have demonstrated efficacy as mood stabilizers in patients with bipolar disorder. It may be reasonable to assume that these agents share one or more common mechanisms of action. This paper will explore the hypothesis that all effective mood stabilizers exert their actions through inhibition of postsynaptic signal-transduction and kindling processes. A literature search was performed for all currently used mood stabilizers to identify reports of mood-stabilizer action in postreceptor cell-signaling and kindling processes. Most effective mood stabilizers appear to inhibit intracellular calcium mobilization through several distinct mechanisms. In addition, several mood stabilizers appear to diminish generation of second-messenger molecules from the membrane phospholipids phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine, inhibit the activity of protein kinases, and directly inhibit activity of G-proteins. Finally, all established mood stabilizers also exhibit antikindling effects. All of these mechanisms of action could dampen excessive intracellular and intercellular signaling, which may be a core feature of the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. The observation that all effective mood stabilizers inhibit both kindling and signal-transduction pathways suggests that these processes are intimately linked. We hypothesize that an effective mood stabilizer must possess some specific minimum inhibitory effects at postsynaptic signal-transduction and kindling processes. If this hypothesis is correct, then a rational search for safer and more effective mood-stabilizing agents can begin.

Animals↗