Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B L Leventhal

Publications and source records attributed to B L Leventhal.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Clonidine treatment of hyperactive and impulsive children with autistic disorder.

Many autistic children have associated problems of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that limit the effectiveness of educational and behavioral interventions. Few controlled psychopharmacologic trials have been conducted in autistic children to determine which agents may be effective for these associated features. Eight male children (8.1 +/- 2.8 years) with autistic disorder, diagnosed by DSM-III-R criteria, completed a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial of clonidine. Subjects were included in the study if they had inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that was excessive for their developmental level. Subjects had not tolerated or responded to other psychopharmacologic treatments (neuroleptics, methylphenidate, or desipramine). Teacher ratings on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist irritability, stereotypy, hyperactivity, and inappropriate speech factors were lower during treatment with clonidine than during treatment with placebo. Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity: Comprehensive Teacher's Rating Scale ratings were not significantly improved during the study, except for oppositional behavior. Parent Conners Abbreviated Parent-Teacher Questionnaire ratings significantly improved during clonidine treatment. Clonidine led to increased ratings of the side effects of drowsiness and decreased activity. Clinician ratings (Children's Psychiatric Rating Scale Autism, Hyperactivity, Anger and Speech Deviance factors; Children's Global Assessment Scale; Clinical Global Impressions efficacy) of videotaped sessions were not significantly different between clonidine and placebo. Clonidine was modestly effective in the short-term treatment of irritability and hyperactivity in some children with autistic disorder.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1991

Platelet 5-HT2 serotonin receptor binding sites in autistic children and their first-degree relatives.

We examined platelet serotonin2 [5-hydroxytryptamine2 (5-HT2)] receptor binding sites, whole blood serotonin (5-HT), and plasma norepinephrine (NE) in male autistic children and their first-degree relatives. Saturation studies utilizing 125I-spiroperidol labeled the 5-HT2 sites with an affinity of 224.6 +/- 84.4 pmol/L (Kd). No group differences, i.e., autistic (n = 12), siblings (n = 6), parents (n = 22), control (adult; n = 7: child; n = 10), were seen for either the Kd or the total number of sites (Bmax: 14.3 +/- 10.9 fmol/mg protein). No correlations were found in any group between binding parameters (Kd or Bmax) and whole blood 5-HT. For the parental group, inverse correlations were found between NE and Bmax (standing NE, rs = -0.67, n = 21, p = 0.001; supine NE, rs = -0.49, n = 22, p = 0.021). In the autistic group, no correlation was seen between plasma NE and Bmax. A correlation between the autistic boys' Bmax and their fathers' Bmax was observed (rs = 0.79, n = 11, p = 0.004). These findings suggest (1) circulating NE may be involved in heterologous regulation of 5-HT2 receptors in the platelet and (2) genetic (paternal-filial) factors may play a role in the expression of 5-HT2 binding sites in the platelet. These preliminary findings are discussed in relation to heterologous receptor regulation. The relationships between these findings and either the pathophysiology of autism or hyperserotonemia in autism are unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Relationships of whole blood serotonin and plasma norepinephrine within families.

Whole blood serotonin (5HT) and plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels were determined in 47 families of autistic probands to study relationships within families of these measures. Whole blood 5HT, but not plasma NE, was significantly positively correlated between autistic children and their mothers, fathers, and siblings. Twenty-three of the 47 families studied had at least 1 hyperserotonemic member. Of these 23 families, 10 (43.5%) had 2 or more hyperserotonemic members; 5 families were identified in which each family member studied had hyperserotonemia (whole blood 5HT greater than 270 ng/ml). If the autistic child of a family was hyperserotonemic, the first-degree relatives were 2.4 times more likely to be hypersertonemic than if the autistic child was not hyperserotonemic. Mean whole blood 5HT levels were higher in autistic subjects than their parents or siblings. Siblings were found to have lower plasma NE than autistic probands. This study replicates a previous study showing familial relationships of hyperserotonemia within families with autistic children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Autistic children and their first-degree relatives: relationships between serotonin and norepinephrine levels and intelligence.

Whole-blood serotonin (5-HT) and plasma norepinephrine (NE) were studied in 16 autistic children, 21 siblings of autistic children, and 53 parents of autistic children. Both plasma NE and whole-blood 5-HT were negatively correlated with vocabulary performance. Whole-blood 5-HT and plasma NE did not differ between autistic children with or without histories of self-injurious behavior or decreased pain sensitivity. Eighteen subjects were hyperserotonemic (whole-blood 5-HT greater than 270 ng/ml). For these subjects, plasma NE was significantly higher than for subjects without hyperserotonemia. Seven of 10 families with one hyperserotonemic member had two or more hyperserotonemic members. Observations of familiarity of whole-blood 5-HT suggest that larger-scale and more focused study of whole-blood 5-HT as a possible genetic marker may be productive.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Serotonin and measured intelligence.

Blood serotonin (5HT) has been shown to be elevated in 30% of autistic children and 50% of severely mentally retarded children. Ninety-eight normal adult subjects were studied to determine if there was an inverse relationship between whole blood 5HT in normal adults of average and above-average intelligence. There was a trend toward a negative correlation between whole blood 5HT and Vocabulary scores that would not account for hyperserotonemia in autistic or mentally retarded individuals. Female subjects had significantly greater whole blood 5HT than male subjects. There was no difference in whole blood 5HT collected before and after volume depletion of 450 ml, providing further evidence of the intraindividual stability of whole blood serotonin levels. There was no relationship between age and whole blood 5HT in a group of normal adult subjects.

Female↗
PubMed1980

Lithium effects: protection against nitrogen narcosis, potentiation of HPNS.

The effect of either 10, 8, or 6 meq/kg of intraperitoneal lithium chloride or sodium chloride on the loss of righting response (RR50) produced by 18.2 ATA N2-ATA O2 was examined in rats. Results were compared to the effects of 10, 8, 6, or 4 meq/kg of intraperitoneal lithium chloride given 24 h before determination of the convulsion pressure (PC) in 40 rats compressed with He-O2 at 160 atm/h at 37 +/- 0.5 degrees C. Lithium (10 meq/kg) prevented the nitrogen-narcosis-induced loss of righting response but significantly potentiated the pressure (depth) at which convulsions and tremors occurred.

Animals↗