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J DeJong

Publications and source records attributed to J DeJong.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

CSF neuropeptide Y in alcoholics and normal controls.

Neuropeptide Y is found in brain tissue. In dogs it has been shown to enhance activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by corticotropin-releasing hormone. It is localized in certain catecholamine neurons and to some extent colocalized with somatostatin. Disturbances of the central noradrenergic system may underlie some forms of alcoholism. Therefore, we compared male alcoholics and normal controls on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of neuropeptide Y. There was no significant difference between the two groups for neuropeptide Y. There was also no significant difference for CSF levels of growth hormone releasing hormone. However, there were significant positive correlations between CSF levels of neuropeptide Y and CSF levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone, somatostatin, and growth hormone releasing hormone.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

CSF diazepam-binding inhibitor in alcoholics and normal controls.

Diazepam-binding-inhibitor (DBI) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are colocalized in neurons in the brain. This system has been implicated in anxiety and in the regulation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) secretion. Alcohol has direct and indirect effects on the functioning of GABAA receptors. Abstinent alcoholics are, on the average, more anxious than controls. In tests of animal behavior, DBI has anxiogenic, and alcohol has anxiolytic potency. Therefore, we compared alcoholic patients and healthy controls for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of DBI, and looked for a correlation between CSF levels of DBI and CRH. There was no significant difference in CSF concentrations of DBI between the two groups and no significant correlation between CSF DBI and our measure of anxiety. However, there was a significant positive correlation between CSF levels of DBI and CRH in both the alcoholic and control groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of somatostatin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and corticotropin in alcoholism.

Reduced brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of somatostatin, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and corticotropin (ACTH) have been reported among neuropsychiatric patients with cognitive dysfunction. Alcoholism is a disorder in which associated neuropsychiatric disorders occur. Therefore, we compared CSF levels of somatostatin, CRH and ACTH in alcoholics (n = 100) and normal controls (n = 30). There were no significant differences between the groups in concentrations of the 3 peptides. Moreover, there were no significant correlations between concentrations of the peptides in CSF and computed tomographic measures of the size of brain ventricles. There were, however, significant correlations between CSF concentrations of CRH and ACTH and between CSF concentrations of CRH and somatostatin in both the alcoholic and control groups.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1990

CSF gamma-aminobutyric acid in alcoholics and control subjects.

Alcohol has widespread effects on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system in the brain. This system in the brain is also postulated to have a role in anxiety, and alcoholics have been reported to have more anxiety disorders. Therefore, the authors undertook a study to compare CSF levels of GABA in abstinent alcoholic patients and normal control subjects. There was no significant difference between groups in CSF levels of GABA. Also, there was no significant difference in GABA level between alcoholic patients with histories of withdrawal seizures and those without such a history.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Characteristics of alcoholics who attempt suicide.

Of 298 alcoholic subjects studied by the authors, 19% (N = 57) had attempted suicide. Compared with nonattempters, suicide attempters were significantly more likely to be female, to have a lower socioeconomic status, to be younger, to have begun heavy drinking and experienced the onset of alcohol-related problems at an earlier age, to consume a greater amount of alcohol when drinking, and to have additional lifetime psychiatric diagnoses of major depression, antisocial personality disorder, substance abuse, panic disorder, phobic disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder. Also, significantly more attempters had first- or second-degree relatives who abused alcohol.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

CSF GABA and neuropeptides in pathological gamblers and normal controls.

We previously reported that pathological gamblers may have increased central noradrenergic activity. Neurons releasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are known to be a part of an inhibitory system regulating the activity of central noradrenergic neurons. Therefore, we examined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of GABA in pathological gamblers and normal controls. There was no significant difference between the groups. Also, depressed and nondepressed gamblers did not differ significantly in their CSF levels of GABA. Among controls, however, there was a significant negative correlation between CSF levels of GABA and the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and a significant positive correlation between CSF levels of GABA and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). Also, CSF levels of CRH showed a significant positive correlation with CSF levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone in both pathological gamblers and controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Monoamines, glucose metabolism, and impulse control.

We had studied cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolite concentrations and glucose metabolism in 58 violent offenders and impulsive fire setters in the early 1980s. We performed a follow-up study investigating recidivist crimes after release from prison and histories of suicide attempts using behavioral, diagnostic, and biochemical variables to discriminate subjects with recidivism and suicide attempts from subjects without recidivism and suicide attempts. Biochemical variables discriminated significantly between the groups.

Adult↗