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Biomedical subjects

D Luchins

Publications and source records attributed to D Luchins.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

HLA antigens in schizophrenia:differences between patients with and without evidence of brain atrophy.

A survey of 14 published studies found no consistent association between specific HLA antigens and schizophrenia. Since these studies lacked diagnostic or biological criteria, an investigation was undertaken using recognized diagnostic criteria and CT scan findings. Typing for HLA antigens at loci A, B and C was carried out on 130 patients. Among 92 black schizophrenic patients there was an increase of HLA-A2 which remained significant even after correcting for the number of antigens studied. When the patients for whom CT scans were available were divided according to the presence or absence of evidence of brain atrophy, there was an increase of A2 in the black schizophrenic patients without evidence of atrophy, which remained significant after multiplying by the number of antigens studied. However, there was no significant increase of A2 in those with evidence of atrophy. Similar trends held for the white population but they failed to reach significance. The need for HLA studies on biologically defined groups of schizophrenic patients is stressed.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Laterality in monozygotic schizophrenic twins: an alternative hypothesis.

Handedness in the NIMH monozygotic (MZ) schizophrenic twins was examined and compared to the report of Boklage. Both our findings and Boklage's suggest the existence of a subgroup of schizophrenics characterized by abnormal lateralization and a milder form of schizophrenia. However, unlike Boklage, we hypothesize that this subgroup of schizophrenics is not restricted to MZ twins.

Birth Order↗
PubMed1978

A review of nicotinic acid, N-methylated indoleamines and schizophrenia.

The hypothesis that endogenously formed, N-methylated metabolites of indoleamines may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia was reviewed. Although N-methylated indoleamines can be produced in vivo and have significant psychotomimetic effects, there is little evidence for a specific increase in the methylation of indoleamines in schizophrenic patients. It was noted that even if the relationship between schizophrenia and N-methylated indoleamines had existed, nicotinic acid would not be an appropriate therapeutic agent.

Bufotenin↗
PubMed1976

Therapeutic implications of tricyclic antidepressant plasma levels.

Methodological advances in drug assay techniques and their increasing availability have made the measurement of tricyclic antidepressant plasma levels more frequent and even fashionable. Plasma levels of tricyclics have been correlated with diagnosis, prognosis, clinical response, and side effects. But even in the area most extensively examined, the correlation between plasma level and clinical response, the results have been conflicting. Different studies have suggested that there is no relationship between plasma level and clinical response, as well as positive and negative correlations, and even a curvilinear relationship. On the basis of available evidence, it is impossible to define a therapeutic range of plasma levels that will be applicable to depressed patients as a group. For the moment, the problem of finding a suitable therapeutic dose for the individual patient remains of paramount importance. Studies to date suggest the need to take into consideration genetic factors, previous and present use of other drugs, the possibility that therapeutic failure might be a result of too high as well as too low a dose, as well as the possible relationship between high plasma levels and side effects. Also, since for the specific individual, the metabolism of different tricyclic antidepressants is similar, it may be useful to adjust dosages until a therapeutic one is obtained instead of immediately switching to another medication. Finally, although the usefulness of routine plasma level determination remains to be established, this technique may be indicated in cases of intractable depression and remains an important research tool.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed1976

Biogenic amines and affective disorders. A critical analysis.

The evidence linking biogenic amines and affective disorders is critically reviewed. Surveyed are studies on the level of biogenic amines and their metabolites in the brain, blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with affective conditions; the effects of biogenic amine precursors, depletors and blockers on affective states and the action of present methods of treatment of these disorders on the level of biogenic amines. Reference is also made to the existence of various disease states where abnormalities of biogenic amines exist in the absence of affective disorders. The review fails to uncover convincing evidence that affective disorders are related to abnormal levels of biogenic amines. Reasons are outlined why the "catecholamine hypothesis" and related theories can neither be proven nor disproven with the available techniques.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1975

The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. A critical analysis.

The evidence linking dopamine and schizophrenia is reviewed. Surveyed are studies on dopamine metabolites in schizophrenia, the effects of dopamine agonists, antagonists and depletors on schizophrenia and the action of present treatments of schizophrenia on dopamine. As well, the interrelationship of dopaminergic, cholinergic and gabanergic pathways is examined. It is concluded that the relationship between dopaminergic mechanisms and schizophrenia is nonspecific. The dopamine hypothesis is shown to reflect an attitude towards schizophrenia that emphasizes acute, florid symptoms. It is suggested that researche directed towards studying dopaminergic mechanisms in specific psychopathological symtoms, not syndromes, might prove fruitful.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychotropic drug use in relation to psychiatric symptoms in community-living persons with Alzheimer's disease.

We attempted to determine the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and psychotropic drug use in persons with Alzheimer's disease based on a multicenter patient registry of 671 community-living persons diagnosed with the disease by published criteria. Logistic regression was performed to determine which symptoms were associated psychotropic use after controlling for age, sex, and Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score. At least one psychotropic drug was reported by 31% of patients, and 66% had at least one psychiatric symptom. Antipsychotics were associated with a lower MMSE score (odds ratio = 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.88-0.97), emotional lability (OR = 4.52, 95% CI 1.69-11.94), and hallucinations (OR = 6.54, 95% CI 2.99-14.26). Antidepressants were associated with depressive symptoms (OR = 5.8, 95% CI 2.61-13.46), and benzodiazepines with a lower MMSE score (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.97). Community-living persons with Alzheimer's disease are frequently prescribed psychotropic drugs; however, more than 50% of patients with a psychiatric symptom did not report taking one of these agents. This suggests that alternative therapies and no treatment are also prevalent.

Aged↗