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Biomedical subjects

H Beckmann

Publications and source records attributed to H Beckmann.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

[Elimination rate of meproscillarin following repeated application in patients with reduced renal function (author's transl)].

It was to be investigated whether the elimination rate of 14-hydroxy-3beta-[(4-O-methyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)oxy]-14beta-bufa-4,20,22-trienolide (meproscillarin, Clift) is influenced by the renal function after discontinuance of long-term application. A group of 9 patients with renal insufficiency of varying extent associated with heart failure received 0.75 mg of meproscillarin per day over a period of 14 days. The plasma levels of the glycoside were measured by means of the 86rubidium erythrocyte assay up to 60 h after the last dose. After discontinuance of the glycoside the mean plasma half-life was 45.8 (S.-X = 6 h), a value corresponding to the results obtained in healthy test persons (49.3 h). Thus it could be demonstrated that the rapid elimination rate (and thereby the rate of inactivation) of meproscillarin is not influenced by renal function even after discontinuance of long-term application.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Biochemical studies in delirium tremens (author's transl)].

During the delirium and a drug-free control period concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in CSF, activity of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH), and urinary excretion of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine (DA) were measured in eight male patients. There were some indications for an increase of noradrenergic activity in the central nervous system.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium↗
PubMed1977

Biochemical investigations into the alcoholic delirium: alterations of biogenic amines.

In eight male patients with alcoholic delirium concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and homovannilic acid (HVA) in CSF, activity of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and urinary excretion of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), and dopamine (DA) were measured during the delirium and a drug-free control period. MHPG concentration in CSF, excretion of NA and A as well as activity of serum DBH were significantly elevated during the delirium phase as compared to the control period. Urinary DA excretion and HVA in CSF did not show any constant changes. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.64) between DBH activity and the intensity of the delirium (as measured on the delirium rating scale). It is hypothesized that there is a relationship between alcoholic delirium and increased central noradrenergic activity.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium↗
PubMed1977

Dl-phenylalanine in depressed patients: an open study.

In an open study dl-phenylalanine in doses from 75-200 mg/day was administered to 20 depressed patients for 20 days. Patients were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The AMP system, the Hamilton depression scale and the von Zerssen self rating questionnaire were used for documentation of psychopathological, neurologic and somatic changes. In addition a global clinical impression was agreed upon by experienced psychiatrists. 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 more controlled investigations are warranted.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1977

Baclofen (para-chlorphenyl-GABA) in schizophrenia.

21 schizophrenic patients were treated in a single blind study with para-chlorphenyl-GABA (baclofen) for 20 days after a placebo period of at least 1 week. Global clinical impression identified five patients as behaviorally unchanged, seven as improved and nine as worsened during the active drug administration. Four patients had to be withdrawn from the trial because of serious and unmanageable psychotic exacerbations. Overall incidence of psychotic symptoms in the group of the schizophrenic patients did not change substantially neither did the remission coefficient as calculated from the AMP documentation system. No differential effect was detected either on selected Schneiderian first rank symptoms or on symptoms more characteristic for chronic defectuous schizophrenia. It is concluded that baclofen is not a useful drug in the therapy of schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Phenelzine in depressed patients. Effects on urinary MHPG excretion in relation to clinical response.

Depressed patients' treatment with the monoamine oxidase inhibiting antidepressant, phenelzine, developed marked reductions in urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) excretion. Pretreatment levels of urinary MHPG and platelet monoamine oxidase activity were significantly correlated with each other, but the magnitude of reduction in these measurements produced by phenelzine treatment did not correspond as closely. Similarly, MHPG levels were not significantly different in patients with antidepressant responses to the drug compared to nonresponders.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Changes in peripheral nerve function with long-term hemofiltration treatment.

The changes in the peripheral nerve function of three patients with chronic renal failure who were treated over a period of 1-1/2 to 2 years by hemofiltration have been analyzed in the form of a longitudinal study by quantitative measurements of vibratory perception threshold and nerve conduction velocity. Changes in vibratory perception threshold were measured in six patients both before and after treatment. Despite increased values of creatinine and BUN, an improvement in the peripheral nerve function of all patients undergoing hemofiltration could be observed, although vibratory perception and nerve conduction velocity did not return to normal. All of the vibratory perception threshold measurements made directly after hemofiltration showed an improved vibratory perception in comparison to the original values. A comparison of the measurement methods showed a good correlation and clearly indicated the advantage of vibratory perception threshold measurements as a means for the routine diagnosis of nephrogenic polyneuropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Cytologie and cytochemistry of colony cells in soft agar gel culture from normal and leukemic bone marrow.

In order to judge differentiation of cells in soft agar colonies, cytological and cytochemical classification of single cells within these colonies is necessary. In this study, 1,026 colonies from 15 normal and 95 leukemic bone marrows have been evaluated using cytological, cytochemical, and immunocytochemical techniques. In 180 colonies from 15 normal controls no segmented neutrophils have been observed. The colonies mostly consisted of monocytes and macrophages, rarely pure eosinophil colonies were observed. The number of monocyte/macrophage colonies in untreated AML and the percentage of pure eosinophil colonies in AML and ALL in remission are reduced, as compared to normal controls. In 174 colonies from a total of 926 colonies derived from bone marrows of leukemic patients, plasma cells and in 20 colonies, blast cells have been observed. In contrast to normal colonies, growth of colonies containing blast cells does not depend upon the conditioned medium of the leukocyte feederlayer. This investigation has demonstrated the necessity of cytological and cytochemical classification in addition to quantiative evaluation of soft agar colonies when studying the effect of factors on proliferation and differentiation of normal and leukemic stem cells.

Bone Marrow Cells↗
PubMed1976

[I. Psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy in dermatology. Psychotherapeutic aspects and indications].

Different dermatoses, known as psychodermatoses, are classified into psychodynamic and psychopathological aspects. The symptoms are differentiated in: psychosomatic-, psychotic-, hiding a psychoneurosis, psychovegetative- and secundary symptom. The only and important instrument for diagnosis is the interview. An example of a patient with chronic urticaria is given. The differentiation is important to indicate the therapy: psychotherapy or psychopharmacological therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Proceedings: D-Amphetamine in manic syndrome (author's transl)].

Six manic patients were acutely treated with 30 or 50 mg d-amphetamine, respectively. There was no intensification in any of these patients of gross manic behavior or single manic symptoms. Conversely, there was sedation and considerable reduction of manic symptomatology in all of them. This effect lasted for 1 to 3 h only. The clinical subgroup "elated-grandiose" was significantly, the subgroup "paranoid-destructive" was not significantly influenced. "Drive" and "mood" were similarly reduced. There was, however, no complete recovery from mania.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol in depressed patients: modifications by amphetamine and lithium.

The excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), the urinary metabolite which may best reflect brain norepinephrine, was measured in eight depressed patients on a longitudinal basis during the administration of placebo, d- and 1-amphetamine (30 mg/day), lithium carbonate (0.9 - 2.1 g/day), and d- and 1-amphetamine together with lithium. d-Amphetamine significantly decreased MHPG excretion. No significant change in MHPG was observed during administration of 1-amphetamine or when d- or 1-amphetamine was given together with lithium carbonate. Six patients responded with behavioral activation and euphoria to d-amphetamine, and these patients tended to have lower base line MHPG values in comparison to the nonresponders. Reductions in MHPG excretion during amphetamine administration were greatest in the patients with minimal behavioral responses to the drug, while some of the patients demonstrating more marked stimulant effects had elevated levels of MHPG during the amphetamine administration period. Variable changes, including elevated levels of MHPG in the responders, might represent the contribution of amphetamine-related changes in clinical state, including increased physical activity and (in two of the responding patients) the development of hypomania.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

The effect of lithium on urinary MHPG in unipolar and bipolar depressed patients.

Twenty-four hour urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxphaeylglycol (MHPG), the metabolite thought best to reflect brain norepinephrine metabolism, was studied longitudinally in ten depressed patients before and during the acute and chronic phases of lithium treatment. Five of the patients were identified as bipolar I (prior history of mania), 3 as bipolar II (history of hypomania) and 2 as unipolar (history of depression). During acute lithium administration (first week) there was no consistent pattern of change in MHPG. Comparing the predrug period with the third and fourth week of treatment, all of the responders showed an increase in MHPG, while the non-responders showed no change or a decrease. It is concluded that the change in clinical state is the most important variable contributing to MHPG changes in these patients. There was a tendency for the pretreatment MHPG excretion to be low in the patients who went on to show a clear-cut antidepressant response to lithium compared to those who were unequivocal non-responders. The predrug MHPG for the bipolar patients (prior history of mania) was significantly lower than the unipolar patients, a difference which apparently contributes to the lower MHPG in the lithium responders, all of whom were in the bipolar group.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Antidepressant response to tricyclics and urinary MHPG in unipolar patients. Clinical response to imipramine or amitriptyline.

The urinary excretion of the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) was measured in unipolar depressed patients before and during the fourth week of treatment with either imipramine hydrocloride or amitriptyline hydroxhloride. On the basis of strict rating criteria, 24 patients were selected as either unequivocal responders or nonresponders. In the imipramine group the mean pretreatment MHPG was significantly lower in the nine responders in the seven nonresponders; the converse was found with the amitriptyline patients. Of particular interest is that there was no overlap in individual values between the responders and nonresponders to either drug. Treatment with eigher imipramine or amitriptyline was associated with a significant decrease in MHPG excretion, which was independent of clinical response.

Adult↗