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Biomedical subjects

H M Emrich

Publications and source records attributed to H M Emrich.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Effects of flumazenil on recovery sleep and hormonal secretion after sleep deprivation in male controls.

The effects of flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist, on the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) and neuroendocrine secretion in early morning recovery sleep (0500-0800 hours) following sleep deprivation (SD; 2300-0500 hours) were studied in seven healthy men. SD induced an increase in slow wave sleep (SWS), a decrease in sleep onset latency (SOL), an enhancement of EEG delta and theta power in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep, an increase in plasma human growth hormone (GH) concentration, and a decrease in plasma cortisol levels in recovery sleep (0500-0800 hours). Plasma GH, but neither plasma cortisol nor adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) concentration was attenuated during SD as compared to sleep (2300-0445 hours). The administration of flumazenil (3 x 1 mg intravenously) during recovery sleep resulted in an inhibition in SWS, an increase in stage 2 sleep, a selective reduction in delta and theta power, and a tendency to prolongation of SOL. Plasma GH concentration was decreased but plasma cortisol and ACTH remained unaffected. Since the SD-induced changes in sleep EEG and plasma GH secretion were antagonized by flumazenil, it is suggested that electrophysiological and hormonal effects of SD are mediated at least in part through GABAergic mechanisms.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1995

[The emotional self with reference to neurotransplantation].

From a systems-theoretical point of view the concept of the "self" is represented and discussed in relation to phenomena of emotion. The question is raised as to whether structural changes of the brain induce changes of the "emotional self" and thereby induce changes of personal identity. The philosophical and neurobiological implications of these considerations are discussed in relation to transplantation of neuronal cells. The hypothesis is discussed that neuronal transplantation has to avoid the transfer of intact neuronal tissue and should be restricted to transfer of isolated cells, since otherwise parts of other neuronal "selves" might be transmitted.

Brain Mapping↗
PubMed1993

The action of mood-stabilizers in affective disorders: an integrative view as a challenge.

One of the main challenges in the psychopharmacology of affective disorders is to explain the partial similarity of the profiles of action of the different mood-stabilizers lithium, carbamazepine, and valproate, and possibly also calcium antagonists like verapamil and nimodipine. Elucidation of this problem requires understanding the basic neurobiological mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of affective disorders and would also imply elucidating the modes of action of the different compounds. However, we are far from reaching such an understanding.

Affect↗
PubMed1992

Valproate treatment of mania.

1. Acute as well as prophylactic effects of the anticonvulsant valproate are described in patients with mania and bipolar affective psychoses. 2. In a long-term evaluation of valproate prophylaxis ranging up to 14 years, an average improvement of the phase chart of 12 patients was observed by a factor of 12. 3. The mode of action of this effect appears to be related to the GABAergic properties of the compound.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Psychopharmacology and clinical aspects of benzodiazepine dependence].

Recent aspects of mechanism of benzodiazepines (BDZ) via indirect GABA-mimetic inhibitory effects at brain-specific BDZ-GABA receptors may contribute to an understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of anxiety disorders and drug dependencies. The development of various BDZ receptor ligands with diverse psychopharmacological properties may lead to safer drugs with regard to "drug seeking" and "maintaining" properties. This paper reviews recent research of BDZ receptor pharmacology and clinical aspects of abstinence syndromes including also prospective studies.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1991

Treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms with carbamazepine.

In 18 patients with a benzodiazepine (BZD) dependency the drug was withdrawn. The dose of BZD was gradually reduced in nine of the patients, while the others were additionally treated with carbamazepine (CBZ) for a further 15 days after BZD discontinuation. Withdrawal symptoms were assessed every third day during the study period. When comparing results in both groups, a clear trend towards less severe withdrawal symptoms could be observed in the group treated with CBZ. Some of the differences were statistically significant on days 9-12 after BZD withdrawal. Fundamental withdrawal symptoms (like hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, abnormal perception of movement, depersonalisation or derealisation) were also less severe in the group treated with CBZ compared with the group not receiving that treatment. These findings support the results of previous reports indicating a therapeutical effect of CBZ in BZD withdrawal.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Reduced binocular depth inversion as an indicator of cannabis-induced censorship impairment.

Measurements of binocular depth inversion using a stereoscopic slide projection with polarized light were performed in healthy volunteers before and after cannabis intake. Since binocular depth inversion represents an illusion occurring in the perception of semantically meaningful objects projected in a 3-D inverted fashion, the hypothesis can be tested that cannabis-induced "psychedelic states" represent a condition in which the human CNS is unable to correct implausible perceptual hypotheses. The data demonstrate a strong cannabis-induced impairment of binocular depth inversion.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Preference for alprazolam as opposed to diazepam in benzodiazepine-dependent psychiatric inpatients.

Fourteen inpatients with long-term benzodiazepine (BDZ)-dependency were gradually withdrawn from their medication. During a four-day study period patients received 5 mg diazepam t.d.s. Under double-blind conditions the 5 mg diazepam was replaced twice, by either 0.5 mg or 0.37 mg alprazolam. When the hypothetically realistic alprazolam to diazepam equivalent ratio of 1:10 with regard to hypnosedative and anxiolytic properties was used, alprazolam was clearly preferred to diazepam in three sensitive tests. When alprazolam and diazepam were tested using the altered equivalent ratio of 1:14, "liking" and "seeking potentials" revealed no significant differences. However, also under these test conditions alprazolam tended to be preferred in a drug choice test. It is concluded that alprazolam appears to implicate somewhat higher reinforcing properties, possibly leading to a higher abuse liability in BDZ-dependent patients as compared to diazepam.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Anticonvulsants as adjuncts for the neuroleptic treatment of schizophrenic psychoses: a clinical study with beclamide.

A recent study showed an adjuvant effect of carbamazepine in the neuroleptic treatment of acute schizophrenic psychoses. Since beclamide (beta-chlorpropionamide) was reported to reduce the neuroleptic doses required, the combination haloperidol-beclamide was tested using a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 23 inpatients with an acute schizophrenic psychosis. In both groups patients received haloperidol and either beclamide or placebo. Every 7 d the treating psychiatrist could increase the haloperidol dose by 3 mg per day if clinically necessary. Chlorprothixene and biperiden were on hand as additional medication. After 28 d beclamide or placebo were discontinued under a constant dose of haloperidol and a final rating with the Inpatient Multidimensional Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale was carried out. Without reaching statistical significance, the beclamide group needed a lower dose of neuroleptic medication, showed fewer side effects and a more pronounced psychopathological improvement.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1990

Recent neurochemical and pharmacological aspects of pathogenesis and therapy of affective psychoses.

Regarding the neurochemical pathogenesis of affective disorders a strict discrimination between pathogenetic, phenomenological and epiphenomenological neurochemistry has to be made. The possible functional role of an opioid-deficiency in the pathogenesis of endogenous depression and the therapeutic effect of recently developed opioid compounds are considered. Furthermore, the clinical use and the theoretical background of mood stabilizers in affective disorders and especially the mode of action of valproate is represented. As to the basic neurobiological factors regulating mood in normals and in patients with affective disorders an "unidimensional" model is confronted with a "bidimensional" scheme in which two different "gating-zones" are proposed. Interestingly, a neurochemical/psychopharmacological consideration of such a model reveals a new synopsis about the mode of action of psychoactive compounds modifying mood in patients with affective disorders.

Brain Chemistry↗
PubMed1990

Reduced dark-adaptation: an indication of lithium's neuronal action in humans.

Although lithium plays a major role in therapy and prophylaxis of affective psychoses, no direct indication of its neuronal action in humans exists. A lithium-induced strong reduction of foveal dark-adaptation was found in healthy volunteers, and a lithium-induced reduction was also measured in patients with affective psychoses. Dark-adaptation measurements apparently offer the opportunity for in vivo monitoring of lithium's CNS effects in humans and may predict lithium's clinical efficacy.

Adaptation, Ocular↗
PubMed1990

[Psychological effects of previous treatment experiences with neuroleptics].

Stable attitudes towards illness and treatment and a high compliance with a 5-week low dose neuroleptic treatment (with/without anticonvulsant adjuvant therapy) were observed in 18 inpatients with schizophrenic disorders (ICD-9, DSM-III-R). Patients having previously received neuroleptics showed more compliant attitudes and greater satisfaction with the treatment, and complained less often about side effects. Noncompliant attitudes were related to dissatisfaction with treatment and self-rated depressed mood. Results of this pilot study are discussed, considering methodological problems and possible therapeutic implications.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effect of in vivo lithium treatment on (-)isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation in lymphocytes of healthy subjects and patients with affective psychoses.

Lithium treatment inhibited (-)isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation in lymphocytes of 83% of the normal control subjects investigated. Of the normal control subjects, 17% did not show inhibition of cAMP synthesis after lithium treatment. In one single normal control subject a clear inverse correlation was found between lithium serum concentration and maximal cAMP response. The cAMP levels of six manic-depressive and of four schizoaffective patients receiving lithium treatment did not differ significantly from those of 10 lithium-treated normal subjects. The results obtained in normal subjects seem to support the hypothesis that lithium reduces postsynaptic receptor sensitivity by decreasing cAMP response to agonist stimulation. Treatment outcome, however, does not seem to be exclusively related to a blunted noradrenergic response, since the only patient who did not respond to the treatment had a very low (-)isoproterenol-induced cAMP response after lithium treatment.

Adult↗