Biomedical subjects

B Beck

Publications and source records attributed to B Beck.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

[Reliability of the Child Behavior Checklist in a population of 6 to 8-year-old special education students].

66 children attending first grade at a special school for educationally subnormal children were examined medically and psychologically. Classification was done according to ICD-10. In addition, the parents were asked to rate their children's behavior with the "Child Behavior Checklist" by Achenbach and Edelbrock. The most common symptoms rated in this group of 6- to 8-year-old children were lack of concentration, speech and language problems, hyperactivity, demand for attention and arguing. The mean total score (cut-off score: 30) and the number of crucial items (cut-off score: at least two crucial items) differed significantly between the children with and those without psychiatric disorders. No significant correlation was found between the mean total score or the number of crucial items and the sex of the children or the other axes of the Multi-axial Classification of Child Psychiatric Disorders.

Affective Symptoms↗

PubMed1993

[Multiple diagnoses and stresses in children of primary school age].

The study was conducted to assess the consequences of multiple diagnoses and handicaps in children aged 6 to 8 years. Children were considered to be "multiply handicapped" if they suffered from two or more disorders or impairments included in the Multi-axial Classification Scheme. To this end children in special schools were compared with a random sample of children from three communities in Bavaria. As expected, all prevalences found in the population of children from special schools were substantially higher than those found in the random sample. Furthermore, the proportion of children with multiple handicaps in the special schools far exceeded what one would have expected based on the findings for the random sample. Most of the disturbances did not differ in respect to their comorbidity. But the mentally retarded children in the special schools were all "multiply handicapped". The importance of "multiple handicaps" for the assignment to special schools is discussed, as are the implications for the planning of services.

Child↗

PubMed1992

Early modification of neuropeptide Y but not of neurotensin in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the obese Zucker rat.

Hyperphagia in the obese Zucker rat is characterized by the early modification of the dark/light (D/L) rhythm of food intake. This rhythm is mainly driven by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and, more controversially, by the ventromedian nucleus (VMN). In the SCN of adult obese Zucker rat, the concentrations of neuropeptide Y (NPY), a potent stimulator of food intake, are increased whereas those of neurotensin (NT), an anorexigenic peptide, are decreased. However, nothing is actually known about the synchronicity of the dysregulation of the D/L rhythm and variations of these peptides. That is why we measured NPY and NT in the microdissected SCN and VMN of lean (n = 16) and obese (n = 15) Zucker rats before the occurrence of hyperphagia (day 16 of age) and a few days after weaning (day 30 of age) when the modifications are apparent. For NPY, there was a very significant effect of age (P less than 0.001) for both nuclei and a significant effect of genotype (P less than 0.02) for the SCN only. NPY concentrations increased between 16 and 30 days in both nuclei (+74% (SCN) and +70% (VMN) in the obese rat; +57% (SCN) and +67% (VMN) in the lean rat; P less than 0.001). NPY in the SCN was not different at 16 days of age between lean and obese rats but significantly increased at 30 days in the obese rat (22.6 +/- 1.2 vs. 18.6 +/- 1.5 ng/mg protein; P less than 0.05). NT was not detected in the SCN of either group at 16 days or at 30 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Unexpected regulation of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y by food deprivation and refeeding in the Zucker rat.

Neuropeptide Y strongly stimulates food intake when it is injected in the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and ventromedian (VMN) nuclei. In Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, NPY synthesis in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) is increased by food deprivation and is normalized by refeeding. We have previously shown that the obese hyperphagic Zucker rat is characterized by higher NPY concentrations in this nucleus. NPY might therefore play an important role in the development of hyperphagia. The aim of the present study was to determine if the regulation by the feeding state works in the obese Zucker rat. For this purpose, 10 weeks-old male lean (n = 30) and obese (n = 30) Zucker rats were either fed ad libitum, either food-deprived (FD) for 48 hours or food-deprived for 48 h and refed (RF) for 6 hours. NPY was measured in several microdissected brain areas involved in the regulation of feeding behavior. NPY concentrations in the ARC was about 50% greater in obese rats than in lean rats (p less than 0.02) whatever the feeding state. In the VMN, NPY concentrations were higher in the lean FD rats than in the obese FD rat (p less than 0.001). Food deprivation or refeeding did not modify NPY in the ARC, in the VMN or in the dorsomedian nucleus whatever the genotype considered. On the other hand, food deprivation induced a significant decrease in NPY concentrations in the PVN of lean rats. This decrease was localized in the parvocellular part of this nucleus (43.0 +/- 1.9 (FD) vs 54.2 +/- 2.1 (Ad lib) ng/mg protein; p less than 0.005). Ad lib levels were restored by 6 hours of refeeding. These variations were not observed in the obese rat. The regulation of NPY by the feeding state in the Zucker rat was therefore very different from that described in the SD rats. Strain or age of the animals used might explain these differences. High NPY levels and absence of regulation in obese Zucker rats could contribute to the abnormal feeding behavior of these rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Central effects of monosodium glutamate on feeding behavior in adult Long-Evans rats.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is known as a neurotoxic molecule when injected neonatally in rats, where it produces a marked decrease in food intake and an increase in adipose tissue mass. But, in adult rats subcutaneous injections of MSG produce a small, dose-dependent increase in food intake. It is not known if this action is centrally or systemically mediated. Therefore, the feeding pattern of adult rats injected intracerebroventricularly with MSG was measured. Seven days after installation of a cannula in the right lateral ventricle, rats were injected either with artificial cerebrospinal fluid or twice with 3 mg/brain MSG within a 3-day interval. The feeding pattern was recorded via a complete computerized system during 24 h. Feeding behavior was significantly modified by MSG treatments. These effects were observed immediately after drug injections, that is, upon the first meal, as well as during the 24 h that followed. For the first meal, modifications in meal size (+285%; p = 0.0001), meal duration (x10; p = 0.0005), postmeal interval (x4; p = 0.0005), and the satiety ratio (-50%; p = 0.01) were observed. During the 24-h postinjection period, modifications in meal number (-3; p = 0.0007), total amount of food eaten (+21%,; p = 0.007), time spent eating (+40%; p = 0.007), meal duration (+53%; p = 0.005), and meal size (+44%; p = 0.01) were noted. When the two MSG injections were compared, differences were also noted. For the first meal, postmeal interval (-50%; p < 0.005) and satiety ratio (-50%; p < 0.005) were decreased after the second injection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1992

Intraorbital optic nerve and experimental optic neuritis. Correlation of fat suppression magnetic resonance imaging and electron microscopy.

To provide magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-ultrastructural correlations of demyelinating lesions of the intraorbital optic nerve, the authors performed gadolinium-enhanced/T2-weighted fat-suppressed MRI and transmission electron microscopy of the optic nerves of animals with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Gadolinium enhancement of the optic nerve adjacent to the globe was seen on fat-suppressed T1-weighted MRI as early as 3 days after antigenic sensitization, increased in severity involving longer segments of nerve at 10 to 14 days, and persisted at 30 days. Gadolinium enhancement preceded T2-weighted signal aberrations. Ultrastructural evaluation of the intraorbital nerve revealed: (1) expansion of the extracellular space and inflammatory infiltrate that correlated with the intensity of gadolinium enhancement; (2) the degree of demyelination correlated with T2-weighted signal aberrations; (3) as deduced from gadolinium enhancement and T2 signal aberrations, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier preceded widespread demyelination; (4) lesions appeared to start at the optic nerve insertion into the globe and then progress toward the orbital apex.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1992

Specific hypothalamic neuropeptide Y variation with diet parameters in rats with food choice.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) preferentially stimulates carbohydrate intake rather than fat intake but there is no information on the effects of food choice on the concentration of NPY in the brain. We measured brain NPY concentrations in male adult rats that had to choose between a high fat and a high carbohydrate diet or were fed a control diet for 2 weeks. In rats with food choice, energy intake increased (+17%). NPY levels increased in the parvocellular part (PVNp) of the PVN and decreased in the lateral hypothalamus and were significantly correlated with the carbohydrate-to-fat energy ratio but not with total energy intake. This suggests that hypothalamic NPY might be involved in food choice and that PVNp is important in the regulation of feeding behaviour by NPY.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Enzyme activities of D-glucose metabolism in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The activities of key enzymes that are members of D-glucose metabolic pathways in Schizosaccharomyces pombe undergoing respirative, respirofermentative, and fermentative metabolisms are monitored. The steady-state activities of glycolytic enzymes, except phosphofructokinase, decrease with a reduced efficiency in D-glucose utilization by yeast continuous culture. On the other hand, the enzymic activities of pentose monophosphate pathway reach the maximum when the cell mass production of the cultures is optimum. Enzymes of tricarboxylate cycle exhibit the maximum activities at approximately the washout rate. The steady-state activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex increases rapidly when D-glucose is efficiently utilized. By comparison, the activity of pyruvate decarboxylase begins to increase only when ethanol production occurs. Depletion of dissolved oxygen suppresses the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex but facilitates that of pyruvate decarboxylase. Acetate greatly enhances the acetyl CoA synthetase activity. Similarly, ethanol stimulates alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities. Evidence for the existence of alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes in the fission yeast is presented.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1992

[Effectiveness of estriol depot vaginal suppositories in postmenopausal women with urogenital climacteric manifestations].

In this study, 43 postmenopausal patients with urogenital complaints such as vaginal dryness, incontinence, or bleeding with intercourse were treated with weekly applications of Orthogynest vaginal estriol suppositories in a new depot form. A marked increase in the vaginal epithelium (A. Schmitt score) and a significant decrease in symptoms due to vaginal atrophy were noted. The depot form allows for decreased dosing frequency, leading to improved compliance. Systemic symptoms, such as hot flashes and emotional lability, were also noted to respond to the Orthogynest suppositories.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

PubMed1992

[Prospective examinations concerning the effect of exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons on health status].

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the general and toxicological status of footwear factory workers exposed to toluene, benzene and trace amounts of chromium. The subjects were 80 persons who worked with the glue, and were professionally exposed to aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and benzene AT amounts not exceeding the TLVs. The mean age of the subjects was 46.89 years and the mean period of work 20.26 years. Complete internal and neurological examinations were carried out. The following parameters were determined: hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, reticulocytes, chromium, copper, zinc in serum and hippuric acid in urine (in 30 persons). In the examined group no changes in the leukocyte system were found. Two women had a lower hemoglobin level and erythrocyte count. In three persons thrombocytopenia was observed (3.75%). The mean metal levels in serum were within normal values. Only in 4 persons (5.0%) elevated levels of phenol in urine were found which indicated exposure to benzene. In 30 subjects (18 women and 12 men) (most exposed to toluene) the hippuric acid level in urine was examined. It was found to range from 130 mg/l to 2080 mg/l. In the control group not exposed to either of the solvents the level of hippuric acid in urine varied from 190 to 330 mg/l. There was little effect of aromatic hydrocarbons on hematopoiesis. The increased absorption of benzene or toluene found in the examined persons would indicate a necessity for biological monitoring of this group.

Benzene↗

PubMed1992

Chronic and continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of neuropeptide Y in Long-Evans rats mimics the feeding behaviour of obese Zucker rats.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a member of the pancreatic polypeptide family, strongly stimulates food intake when injected centrally in animals. It is found in abundance in the brain and particularly in areas involved in the regulation of feeding behaviour. Moreover, in these areas, NPY concentrations are higher in the obese hyperphagic Zucker rat. The aim of the present experiment was to reproduce in normal Long-Evans rats the high central levels of NPY measured in Zucker rats. We therefore continuously infused NPY in the brain lateral ventricle through osmotic mini-pumps and studied the effects of this infusion on different parameters of the feeding behaviour. Male adult Long-Evans rats were fed ad libitum on a high carbohydrate (HC) diet and on a high fat (HF) diet given simultaneously in two separate cups. NPY was infused at a rate of 0.44 micrograms/h (n = 11) and rats infused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (n = 11) served as controls. The infusions lasted 14 days. Total food intake markedly increased in NPY infused rats starting on the first day after pump installation (33.7 +/- 1.7 vs. 14.8 +/- 0.6 g/day; P less than 0.0001). This effect lasted for nine days. In these rats, the average food intake during the infusion period (21.0 +/- 1.6 g/day) was also significantly greater than during the pre-infusion period (13.1 +/- 0.5 g/day; P less than 0.0001) and the post-infusion period (10.6 +/- 0.4 g/day; P less than 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Changes in hypothalamic neurotensin concentrations and food intake in rats fed a high fat diet.

Neurotensin (NT), a peptide present both in the brain and in the gastrointestinal tract, has potent anorexigenic effects when centrally injected in rats and is secreted after fat ingestion. High fat diets are often associated with increased energy intake. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the role of neurotensin in the feeding behaviour of rats fed on a high fat (HF) diet. Adult Long-Evans rats were fed for two weeks either a control (C) well-balanced diet (n = 10) or a fat-rich diet containing about two-thirds of its energy as fat (margarine and peanut oil; n = 10). Neurotensin was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay in the plasma and in several microdissected brain nuclei involved in the regulation of feeding behaviour. Ingestion of the HF diet induced an increased body weight gain (47.6 +/- 7.7 g (HF) vs. 37.6 +/- 9.3 g (C); P less than 0.05) and an increased energy intake (+ 7.2%; P less than 0.05). Plasma fasting NT concentrations were not affected by the HF diet. In the hypothalamus, significant decreases in NT concentrations were measured in the HF rats in two nuclei important in the regulation of food intake, i.e. the paraventricular nucleus (1.72 +/- 0.16 (HF) vs. 2.27 +/- 0.15 (C) ng/mg protein; P less than 0.05) and the lateral hypothalamus (1.87 +/- 0.16 (HF) vs. 2.37 +/- 0.19 (C) ng/mg protein; P less than 0.05). On the other hand, no variations were measured in the ventral tegmental area, an important site for the metabolism and regulatory action of neurotensin and in other hypothalamic nuclei.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[Cholecystokinin, neurotensin and corticotropin-releasing factor, three important anorexic peptides].

This paper updates the informations on the three most important anorexigenic peptides: cholecystokinin, neurotensin and corticotropin-releasing factor. Their peripheral and/or central effects on food and water intakes as well as on dietary preferences are detailed. Their mechanisms of action and regulation are examined. This includes the interactions with classical neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, dopamine, etc...) as well as the description of the brain nuclei and neuronal networks involved. Finally, their variations in disturbed feeding behavior (hyperphagia, anorexia) in man or in animal models are reviewed.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Reactivity of fungal organisms in tissue sections using anti-mycobacteria antibodies.

Sixty-four cases of deep fungal infections diagnosed using PAS or silver stains and 18 control cases of sarcoidosis, M. tuberculosis and M. leprae infection were stained using commercial polyclonal antibody raised against M. paratuberculosis (MP), M. Duvalii (MD), and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Nine of 13 cases of sporotrichosis stained positively using anti-MP antibody only; 13 of 14 cases of histoplasmosis stained with anti-BCG, anti-MD, and anti-MP; seven cases of cryptococcosis had only focal staining of rare individual organisms within masses of negative organisms; seven of eight cases of coccidioidomycosis stained predominantly with anti-BCG and anti-MP; eight cases of aspergillus had focal (1 to 5% of organisms) staining of hyphae with anti-BCG and anti-MD; and four of 12 cases of Candida infection showed focal nonspecific staining with both antibodies and nonimmune serum. Control cases of sarcoidosis exhibited no staining with any of the three antibodies, whereas cases of mycobacterial infection showed staining of bacilli and intracellular debris with all three antibodies.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed1991

[The 32P-test in the diagnosis of intraocular melanoma--an obsolete study method?].

Results of the 32P uptake test for the diagnosis of choroidal melanoma in 41 patients are reported. The sensitivity was 80%, the specificity 86%, if a count rate ratio of more than 1.4 between tumor and normal tissue was considered as pathological. Ratios between 1.4 and 1.6 ought to be considered as equivocal in which case specificity increases to 90%. The 32P uptake test still remains a method of clinical relevance in the diagnosis of choroidal melanoma.

Choroid Neoplasms↗

PubMed1990

Diurnal rhythm of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in the suprachiasmatic, arcuate and paraventricular nuclei and other hypothalamic sites.

The diurnal rhythm of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity was examined in 9 discrete hypothalamic sites of rats maintained on a 12:12 h light/dark cycle. Significant bimodal rhythms of NPY concentration were detected in the suprachiasmatic and arcuate nuclei, with significant peaks just prior to onset of the nocturnal period and also at onset of the light period. In the parvocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus, a unimodal NPY peak was observed prior to dark onset. No diurnal rhythm was seen in the magnocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus, nor in 5 other hypothalamic areas examined.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Rapid and localized alterations of neuropeptide Y in discrete hypothalamic nuclei with feeding status.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is believed to regulate the normal eating behavior and body weight in rats via central mechanisms. We have investigated whether NPY, which stimulates food intake, may in turn be modified by the nutritional state of the animals. Thus the impact of food deprivation (FD) (48 h) and subsequent refeeding on the levels of NPY in discrete hypothalamic areas was examined in this study. The results showed site specific change in only 3 of 7 hypothalamic sites. A 5-fold increment in NPY was reported in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and a 10-fold increase was observed in the arcuate nucleus-median eminence (ARC-ME). While subsequent refeeding for 6 h reversed the effect of FD in the ARC-ME, the levels of NPY in the PVN remained high in the refed rats. The perifornical lateral hypothalamus displayed a different pattern, namely, a significant increase in NPY content in refed as compared to satiated and deprived rats. The NPY levels in 4 other hypothalamic sites, namely, the dorsomedian, ventromedian, supraoptic and suprachiasmatic nuclei, and two extrahypothalamic sites, namely caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens, showed total resistance to any change following deprivation and refeeding. These data emphasize the important and specific role of the paraventricular and arcuate nuclei in NPY's regulation of food intake and provide support for the idea that the variations of hypothalamic NPY after food deprivation reflect a specific physiological response of feeding regulatory system to alterations in the animal nutritional state and body weight.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) in obese Zucker rats: implications in feeding and sexual behaviors.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a peptide of the pancreatic polypeptide family, is actually considered to be the most potent stimulator of food intake in rats when centrally injected. It has also suppressive effects on several components of sexual behavior. It was measured in discrete microdissected brain nuclei in obese hyperphagic Zucker fa/fa rats also characterized by a deficient reproductive function, as well as in their lean homozygous (Fa/Fa) and heterozygous (Fa/fa) counterparts. When compared with the lean (Fa/Fa) rats, NPY concentrations were significantly increased in the obese rats in the arcuate nucleus-median eminence (ARCME, +300%), in the paraventricular (PVN, +60%), suprachiasmatic (SCH, +90%), accumbens (+100%) and supraoptic (+40%) nuclei, as well as in the median preoptic area (MPOA, +70%). As PVN is one of the most important nuclei involved in the control of food intake and one site of NPY action, the high levels found in this nucleus might be a major component at the origin of hyperphagia in the obese animals. Food intake might be overstimulated by a sustained production of NPY as shown by the high concentrations found in the ARCME. NPY might also intervene in the pattern of food intake, for NPY contents were also largely modified in the SCH, the nucleus regulating feeding periodicity and in the MPOA, which is possibly involved in the regulation of energy balance. Finally, as the MPOA is the only site of action of NPY on sexual behavior, the higher levels measured in this area might contribute to the defective reproductive function of the obese Zucker fa/fa rat.

Animals↗