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Biomedical subjects

D M Shaw

Publications and source records attributed to D M Shaw.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Multicompartmental analysis of amino acids: II. Tryptophan in affective disorder.

Two of the tryptophan pools in the body and their associated fluxes, as defined by multicompartmental analysis, were studied in patients with unipolar affective disorder, bipolar patients (manic) and control subjects. The 2 pools were tentatively associated with extra- and intra-cellular compartments. The investigations were performed fasting and may have been mildly stressful. Under these conditions the concentration of tryptophan in plasma and perhaps amounts in the extracellular space were reduced in unipolar depression, with intermediate values after recovery. Some model parameters were lower in females than in males. The results in unipolar affective disorder were interpreted in terms of a previously presented hypothesis that this illness may result in an idiosyncratic response to stress in which patients are unable to maintain normal amounts of tryptophan in the body. In manic patients extracellular levels of tryptophan were unchanged but intracellular and total quantities of 'freely available' tryptophan may have been reduced.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Multicompartmental analysis of amino acid. 1. Preliminary data on concentrations, fluxes, and flow constants of tryptophan in affective illness.

The study of tryptophan metabolism using compartmental analysis suggested differences between males and females, and between control subjects and patients with affective illness, patients treated with tricyclic drugs, and those established on lithium therapy. The total mass of tryptophan in the body may be reduced in people prone to affective disorder, and in depressed patients(ill and well)turnover of tryptophan seemed to be reduced. The reduction of concentration of tryptophan in compartment S2 in affective illness could affect protein synthesis.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed1975

Tricyclic antidepressants and tryptophan in unipolar depression.

Depressed patients (unipolar) were given one of the following combinations in an attempt to test aspects of the 'amine hypothesis' and to find a preferential therapy: (1) clomipramine; (2) clomipramine and tryptophan; (3) desipramine and clomipramine, and (4) desipramine and tryptophan. Treatment (2) should have given optimal potentiation of 5-HT neurones and (3) and (4) should have acted similarly on both serotoninergic and adrenergic pathways. In no group was there any evidence of accelerated recovery, indicating that the process of conversion to normal mood may be more complex than suggested by most versions of the amine hypothesis.

Clomipramine↗