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Biomedical subjects

H Beckmann

Publications and source records attributed to H Beckmann.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

[HLA, schizophrenias and arthropathies].

Significantly more individuals with human leucocyte antigens (HLA) A9 and B27 have been identified in the group of chronic paranoid schizophrenics with early onset of the disease. It is known that individuals with HLA B27 have a markedly increased risk to fall ill from arthropathies (i.e. Bechterew's disease). Generally, it seems extremely rare that arthropathies and schizophrenia occur together in the same person. In 16 chronic paranoid schizophrenics with HLA B27 no form of arthropathy and in 288 arthropathic patients no case of schizophrenia could be detected (evidenced in a psychiatric case register). Furthermore in 131 arthropathic patients with HLA B27 no psychiatric disease (except one feeble-minded and one with alcohol problems) could be identified. On the other hand, in the group of arthropathic patients without HLA B27 the incidence of psychiatric diseases was 5 times higher than in the group with HLA B27 and so comparable to the morbidity of the normal population. It is conceivable that HLA B27 is a 'genetic marker' for arthropathy as well as for a defined subgroup of schizophrenia. These data agree with the hypothesis that schizophrenia and arthropathies are mutually exclusive in one individual.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

The HLA system and schizophrenia. A study in a German population.

Various diseases with a noticeable autoimmune component and frequent occurrence within one family show a statistically significant correlation with specific human leukocyte antigens (HLA). This correlation was also shown in studies of HLA in psychiatric disorders. However, results have been contradictory. The phenotype frequencies of HLA specificities were investigated in 100 schizophrenic patients and 472 controls from the same geographic area in Germany. The frequency of HLA B27 was significantly increased in the patient group as a whole (P=0.017) and in the subgroups of paranoid patients (P=0.005), chronic schizophrenics (P less than 0.001), patients with poor prognosis (P less than 0.001), and in patients with onset of the disease before the age of 20 years (P=0.004). In the latter three groups an elevated incidence of HLA A9 was also found. The combination A9-B27 was detected in 0.63% of our control group and in 7% of the patients (P less than 0.001). Of these patients 85.7% were chronic paranoid patients with poor prognostic features. This study gives support to the possibility of using HLA typing in genetic studies of schizophrenia, as well as in the differential diagnosis and prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

High dose diazepam in schizophrenia.

The pharmacological properties and the equivocal antipsychotic effects of diazepam reported in the literature suggested the use of high doses of this drug on schizophrenic patients to re-evaluate its usefulness. Treatment of 15 schizophrenic patients with doses of up to 400 mg/day showed a specific effect on hallucinations and certain forms of delusion. One group (nine patients with paranoid-hallucinatory and one with schizo-affective psychosis) showed a significant reduction in psychopathology as documented in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Global Clinical Impressions (GCI), whereas five other patients (all of the schizo-affective type with symptoms of depression, euphoria, and/or psychotic anxiety) did not respond and had to be withdrawn from the study. Under the treatment an absence of sedative effects and a development of the feeling of well-being and euphoria were noticed. In three patients with doses of over 260 mg/day a marked loss of inhibitions in sexual and social behaviour was observed. It is concluded that high doses of diazepam may be useful in certain types of schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Urinary MHPG in subgroups of depressed patients and normal controls.

3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), the urinary metabolite thought best to reflect brain norepinephrine metabolism, was studied in a large group of hospitalized depressed patients with primary affective disorder and in normal controls, as part of an ongoing effort to evaluate the role of central amine dysfunction in affective illness. Overall there was no difference in MHPG between the depressed patients and controls. Hosever, within the depressed population the bipolar patients excreted significantly less MHPG than the unipolars and, as a group, the male bipolar patients had significantly lower MHPG than male controls. MHPG correlated positively with age, age of onset, rating of anxiety and psychosis and, most importantly, with systolic blood pressure. These data support the concept of biological heterogeneity among individuals with major depressive disorders. However, the relationship between MHPG excretion and various psychological and physiological parameters is both intriguing and complex and warrants careful interpretation.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Meproscillarin in patients with renal failure and concomitant heart failure (author's transl)].

Meproscillarin is a glycoside with a high bioavailability (about 70%) and an elimination independent of the renal function. It was to be investigated whether a good cardiac effectiveness can be demonstrated during oral long-term application of meproscillarin to patients with renal failure. 29 patients with renal failure of varying degree and concomitant heart failure were daily given an oral dose of 0.75 mg of meproscillarin over 14 days. The effectiveness of the glycoside was measured as change of the electromechanical systole (QS2c) and the quotient of the diameter of heart and thorax (C/T) from the 1st--15th day. The plasma levels of the glycoside were determined on the 1st, 8th, and 15th day. There was a significant shortening of QS2c (by mean = 27 ms, P less than 0.005) and a marked decrease in the size of the heart (P less than 0.0025); heart rate and PQ-interval were only insignificantly influenced. Plasma levels of 0.95 ng/ml were found after 8 days of treatment compared to 1.25 ng/ml after 15 days. As the pharmacokinetics of the glycoside is practically not influenced by the renal function, meproscillarin represents an alternative in the treatment of patients with heart failure and impaired renal function.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

DL-phenylalanine versus imipramine: a double-blind controlled study.

In a double-blind study, DL-phenylalanine (150--200 mg/24 h) or imipramine (150--200 mg/24 h) was administered to 40 depressed patients (20 patients in each group) for 30 days. Diagnoses were established according to the International Classification of Disease (ICD). The AMP system, the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Bf-S self rating questionnaire (von Zerssen et al., 1974) were used to document psychopathological, neurologic, and somatic changes. Twenty-seven patients (14 on imipramine, 13 on phenylalanine) completed the 30-day trial. No statistical difference could be found between these two drug treatment groups (Student's t-test) using the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Bf-S self rating questionnaire. Ratings for anxiety were significantly lower in the imipramine group on days 10 and 20, but not on day 30; in addition, sleep disturbances were more influenced by imipramine on days 1, 5, and 10, but not on days 20 and 30. Separate analysis of psychopathological syndromes as somatic depressive syndrome and retarded depressive syndrome did not show a group difference (0.05 level of significance using a two-way analysis of variance). It is concluded that DL-phenylalanine might have substantial antidepresant properties. However, certain methodological considerations still warrant a careful interpretation.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Effect of moderate exercise on urinary MHPG in depressed patients.

This study attempted to clarify sources of artefact in biochemical studies with affective disorders in which 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenylglycol (MHPG) is used as a measurement of change in central nervous system norepinephrine (NE) turnover. Substantial increases in urinary MHPG excretion occurred in ten of the 11 patients when they increased their level of physical activity (0.5 +/- .14 mg/12 hrs versus 1.54 +/- .49 mg/12 hrs). Increases were also observed in NE (19.2 +/- 5.1 microgram/12 hrs versus 25.2 +/- 3.7 microgram/12 hrs). In four patients in whom cerebrospinal fluid MHPG levels were obtained a consistent increase of MHPG levels was observed during the activity period. Elevation of these metabolites were not correlated with changes in depression as reflected by psychiatric observation and rating scales. These data reveal a considerable amount of lability in urinary and CSF MHPG levels in the face of an unchanging affective state. They ask for careful controls for activity and stress in psychiatric patients when urinary MHPG is used as an index of central NE turnover.

Depression↗
PubMed1978

Pathophysiology of delirious states.

MHPG concentration in CSF, urinary excretion of NA and A as well as activity of serum DBH were significantly elevated during alcohol delirium as compared to the recovery period. Urinary DA and HVA in CSF did not show any constant change. One single dosage of clozapine (100 mg orally) induces higher urinary NA and A excretion. There is a time course of clozapine action. MHPG in rat brain a single dosage (50 mg/kg) is elevated; after repeated administration (11 days) a decrease is observed. After 10 days of treatment with clozapine (300 mg/day) a decrease of MHPG in CSF can be seen. It is hypothesized that there is a relationship between delirious states and increases central NA turnover.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium↗
PubMed1978

[Psychotropic drugs as tools for clinical research into schizophrenia (author's transl)].

There is considerable similarity between paranoid schizophrenia and psychoses provoked by dopaminergic overstimulation in the central nervous system. The fact that neuroleptics are able to block dopaminergic neural activity has led to the hypothesis that there might exist a common biochemical substrate for schizophrenia and e. g. the amphetamine psychoses. Dopaminergic overstimulation may be elicited by different drugs interacting with the dopamine metabolism e. g. dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibition (disulfiram, fusaric acid); monoamine-oxidase-inhibition (phenelzine, tranylcypromine); dopamine release (amphetamine); stimulation of postsynaptic dopamine receptors (bromocriptine, apomorphine). Resulting psychotic symptoms consist of ideas of reference, delusions, visual and acustic hallucinations in a clear setting of consciousness. Psychoses occur usually in subjects, who have suffered from various psychiatric illnesses, which have apparently in common a reduced monoamine-oxidase activity in platelets. It is concluded from various biochemical findings, that psychoses resulting from dopaminergic overstimulation and schizophrenia have different biological substrates.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

[DL-phenylalanine as an antidepressant. Open study (author's transl)].

In an open study dl-phenylalanine in doses from 75--200 mg/day was administered to 20 depressed patients for 20 days. At the end of the trial 12 patients (8 with complete, 4 with good response) could be discharged without any further treatment. 4 patients with partially untypical depressions experienced mild to moderate responses, whereas 4 patients did not respond at all to the phenylalanine administration. Depressive "core symptoms" as depressed mood, retardation and/or agitation were preferentially, anxiety and sleep disturbances moderately and hypochondriasis and compulsiveness were not influenced. It is concluded that dl-phenylalanine might have substantial antidepressant properties and that further controlled investigations are justified.

Adult↗