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Biomedical subjects

J Levine

Publications and source records attributed to J Levine.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Stability of CSF metabolites measured by proton NMR.

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolites can provide data regarding CNS involvement in neurologic and psychiatric illness. However, there is lack of research into the effect of processing and storage of CSF specimens on the levels of metabolites analyzed. CSF specimens from 10 depressed patients were analyzed by proton NMR before and after 72 hours exposure to room temperature. No effect of exposure was found on myoinositol, glucose, acetate, and alanine CSF levels and there was a substantial decrease of citrate (>50%) and increase in lactate, glutamine, creatine, and creatinine levels.

Amino Acids↗

Inositol as an add-on treatment for bipolar depression.

OBJECTIVE: Inositol is a constituent of the intracellular phosphatidyl inositol (PI) second messenger system, which is linked to various neurotransmitter receptors. Inositol crosses the blood-brain barrier in pharmacological doses, and has shown efficacy in a small double-blind study of unipolar depression. This pilot study evaluated its potential efficacy and safety in bipolar depression. METHODS: Twenty-four consenting adult men and women with DSM-IV bipolar depression (bipolar I = 21; bipolar II = 3) were randomly assigned to receive either 12 g of inositol or D-glucose as placebo for 6 weeks. Efficacy and safety ratings were done weekly. Thymoleptic medications (lithium, valproate, carbamazepine) in stable doses and at therapeutic levels at study entry were continued unchanged. RESULTS: Two subjects receiving placebo dropped out early due to worsening or non-adherence to the protocol. Among the 22 subjects who completed the trial, six (50%) of the inositol-treated subjects responded with a 50% or greater decrease in the baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score and a Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) scale score change of 'much' or 'very much' improved, as compared to three (30%) subjects assigned to placebo, a statistically nonsignificant difference. On the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), eight (67%) of twelve inositol-treated subjects had a 50% or greater decrease in the baseline MADRS scores compared to four (33%) of twelve subjects assigned to placebo (p = 0.10). Inositol was well tolerated with minimal side effects, and thymoleptic blood levels were unaltered. CONCLUSIONS: These pilot data suggest a controlled study with an adequate sample size, and the appropriate rating scale may demonstrate efficacy for inositol in bipolar depression. The tolerability and the 'natural substance' aspect of inositol may be particularly appealing to subjects with bipolar depression.

Adult↗

Psychotropic drug prescription patterns among patients with bipolar I disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Combination treatment, rather than monotherapy, is prevalent in the treatment of subjects with bipolar disorder, probably due to the complex and phasic nature of the illness. In general, prescription patterns may be influenced by the demographic characteristics of patients as well. We evaluated prescription patterns and the influence of demographic variables on these patterns in a voluntary registry of subjects with bipolar disorder. METHODS: A subset of data from a larger voluntary registry was extracted for demographic variables and psychotropic medication use that had been reported in the month prior to registration by ambulatory, non-hospitalized subjects with bipolar I disorder in 1995/96 (n = 457). RESULTS: Among the thymoleptic agents, lithium was prescribed in over 50% of subjects, valproate in approximately 40%, and carbamazepine in 11% of subjects. Eighteen percent of subjects had no prescription for thymoleptic agents. Nearly one-third of all subjects were receiving antipsychotic agents, of whom two-thirds were receiving the traditional neuroleptic agents. More than half of all subjects were receiving concomitant antidepressants, of whom nearly 50% received the SSRI antidepressants and nearly 25% received buproprion. Approximately 40% of subjects received benzodiazepines. Only 18% of subjects received monotherapy, and nearly 50% received three or more psychotropic agents. In general, no associations were noted between demographic parameters including age, gender, marital or educational status, and psychotropic prescriptions. CONCLUSION: Consistent with the anecdotal reports, these data confirm that combination treatment is far more common than monotherapy. Demography appears to have a minimal impact on cross-sectional prescription patterns in subjects with bipolar disorder. Given that combination treatments are the rule rather than the exception, we should strive to achieve rational, yet pragmatic, treatment guidelines and algorithms to minimize the risks while maximizing the benefits of these combination treatments for patients with bipolar disorder.

Adult↗

Lifetime prevalence of substance or alcohol abuse and dependence among subjects with bipolar I and II disorders in a voluntary registry.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of substance abuse dependence and/or alcohol abuse dependence among subjects with bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder in a voluntary registry. METHOD: One hundred randomly selected registrants in a voluntary case registry for bipolar disorder were interviewed, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, to validate the diagnosis of this registry. Corroborative information was obtained from medical records, family members and the treating psychiatrist. Eighty-nine adults (18-65 years) met criteria for bipolar disorder (bipolar I = 71, bipolar II = 18) and were included in this analysis. RESULTS: Forty-one (57.8%) subjects with bipolar I disorder abused, or were dependent on one or more substances or alcohol, 28.2% abused, or were dependent on, two substances or alcohol, and 11.3% abused or were dependent on three or more substances or alcohol. Nearly 39% of bipolar II subjects abused or were dependent on one or more substances, nearly 17% were dependent on two or more substances or alcohol, and 11% were dependent on three or more substances or alcohol. Alcohol was the most commonly abused drug among either bipolar I or II subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with other epidemiologic and hospital population studies, this voluntary bipolar disorder registry suggests a high prevalence of comorbidity with alcohol and/or substance abuse dependence. Bipolar I subjects appear to have higher rates of these comorbid conditions than bipolar II subjects; however, as the number of bipolar II subjects was rather small, this suggestion needs confirmation.

Adolescent↗

Response to placebo among bipolar I disorder patients experiencing their first manic episode.

BACKGROUND: The first episode of an illness may respond differently to any treatment compared to multiple episodes of the same illness. This study details the treatment response of six first-episode manic patients who participated in a previously reported study of 139 subjects comparing olanzapine to placebo in bipolar I mania (Tohen M, Sanger TM, McElroy SL, Tollefson GD, Chengappa KNR, Daniel DG. Olanzapine versus placebo in the treatment of acute mania. Am J Psychiatry 1999; 156: 702-709). METHODS: Six first-episode subjects participated in a 3-week double-blind, random assignment, parallel group, placebo-controlled study of olanzapine for bipolar mania. The Young Mania Rating Scale (Y-MRS), Clinical Global Impression, and Hamilton Depression ratings were administered weekly. Lorazepam as rescue medication was permitted for the first 10 days. RESULTS: Five subjects were randomized to placebo and one to olanzapine. Two subjects (40%) with psychotic mania (who also had their first-illness episode) were assigned to placebo and responded with greater than 50% reduction in the Y-MRS score and also remitted in 3 weeks. Another placebo-assigned subject had a 46% reduction in the Y-MRS scores, and two placebo-assigned subjects worsened. The olanzapine-assigned subject had a 44% reduction in the Y-MRS score. In contrast, 34 of 69 (48.6%) multiple-episode olanzapine subjects responded and 14 of 61 (23.0%) of placebo-treated subjects did. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary data set suggest there may be differences in treatment response between first-illness episode versus multi-episode bipolar manic subjects. Larger numbers of subjects with these illness characteristics are needed to either confirm or refute this suggestion.

Acute Disease↗

Task set switching in schizophrenia.

The authors used a task-switching paradigm to investigate set shifting ability in schizophrenia. This paradigm included 2 choice reaction time (RT) tasks: up-down and right-left. Switching tasks were associated with costs (i.e., longer RT in task-switch trials than in task-repetition trials); patients responded more slowly than controls and suffered greater switching costs, were as efficient as controls in engaging in an upcoming task set, and were faster than controls in disengaging from the previous task set. There were indications that patients quickly forgot what each keypress indicated, making it necessary for them to acquire response meaning information anew in each trial. To test this notion, the authors subsequently tested normal participants in conditions in which response meaning information needed to be acquired anew in each trial. These participants produced a pattern of switching costs resembling that of patients. Results suggest that set switching difficulties in schizophrenia, as exhibited in the present paradigm, reflect poor memory for task context information.

Adult↗

Immune reconstitution following high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue in patients with advanced breast cancer.

The present study examines the nature of humoral and cellular immune reconstitution in 28 patients with advanced breast cancer following high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue. Patients underwent testing of T, B, NK and dendritic cell function at serial time points until 1 year post transplant or until the time of disease progression. Abnormalities in T cell phenotype and function were observed following high-dose chemotherapy that persisted for at least 6-12 months. The vast majority of patients experienced an inversion of the CD4/CD8 ratio and demonstrated an anergic response to candida antigen. Mean T cell proliferation in response to PHA and to co-culture with allogeneic monocytes was significantly compromised. In contrast, mean IgG and IgA levels were normal 6 months post transplant and NK cell yields and function were transiently elevated following high-dose chemotherapy. Dendritic cells generated from peripheral blood progenitors displayed a characteristic phenotype and were potent inducers of allogeneic T cell proliferation in the post-transplant period. The study demonstrates that patients undergoing autologous transplantation for breast cancer experience a prolonged period of T cell dysfunction. In contrast, B, NK, and DC recover more rapidly. These findings carry significant implications for the design of post-transplant immunotherapy.

Adult↗

Donor leukocyte infusions in acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Donor leukocyte infusion (DLI) has well-documented activity in CML but the role of DLI in other diseases is less well defined. To evaluate the strategy in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) we evaluated 44 ALL patients from 27 centers who were treated with DLI. Patients with persistent or recurrent disease received DLI from the original marrow donor (30 matched related, four mismatched family, and 10 matched unrelated). Chemotherapy was given before DLI to 28 patients. Of 15 patients who received no pre-DLI chemotherapy, two achieved complete remissions, lasting 1112 and 764+ days. In four patients who received DLI as consolidation of remission induced by chemotherapy or immunosuppression-withdrawal, duration of remission post DLI was 65, 99, 195 and 672+ days. Of 25 patients who received DLI in the nadir after chemotherapy, 13 survived > or =30 days post DLI but did not achieve remission, seven died within less than 30 days post DLI, and five entered remissions that lasted 42, 68, 83, 90, 193 days. Seven patients who did not respond to the initial DLI received a second DLI; none of these patients attained durable remission. Eighteen of 37 evaluable patients developed acute GVHD and five of 20 evaluable patients developed chronic GVHD. Overall actuarial survival is 13% at 3 years. In conclusion, DLI has limited benefit in ALL. New approaches are needed in this group of patients.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Time-dependent sensitization: the odyssey of a scientific heresy from the laboratory to the door of the clinic.

This review provides both a biological and clinical perspective on Time-Dependent Sensitization (TDS), an ancient amplified memory response to threat manifest in the ability of both drugs and nondrug stressors to induce neuronal and behavioral effects which strengthen entirely as a function of the passage of time following even a single or acute exposure. Evidence is presented to show that TDS may be involved in the development of a spectrum of diseases and how drug regimens based on the principles of TDS could provide a novel and revolutionary means of treating psychiatric and other illnesses.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

Acetyl-L-carnitine physical-chemical, metabolic, and therapeutic properties: relevance for its mode of action in Alzheimer's disease and geriatric depression.

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) contains carnitine and acetyl moieties, both of which have neurobiological properties. Carnitine is important in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids and the acetyl moiety can be used to maintain acetyl-CoA levels. Other reported neurobiological effects of ALCAR include modulation of: (1) brain energy and phospholipid metabolism; (2) cellular macromolecules, including neurotrophic factors and neurohormones; (3) synaptic morphology; and (4) synaptic transmission of multiple neurotransmitters. Potential molecular mechanisms of ALCAR activity include: (1) acetylation of -NH2 and -OH functional groups in amino acids and N terminal amino acids in peptides and proteins resulting in modification of their structure, dynamics, function and turnover; and (2) acting as a molecular chaperone to larger molecules resulting in a change in the structure, molecular dynamics, and function of the larger molecule. ALCAR is reported in double-blind controlled studies to have beneficial effects in major depressive disorders and Alzheimer's disease (AD), both of which are highly prevalent in the geriatric population.

Acetylcarnitine↗

Amitriptyline treatment of chronic pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Randomized clinical trials of amitriptyline will require data from pilot studies to be used for sample size estimates, but such data are lacking. This study investigated the 6-week and 1-year effectiveness of low dose amitriptyline (10-30 mg) for the treatment of patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain. Based on clinical examination, patients were divided into two groups: myofascial and mixed (myofascial and temporomandibular joint disorders). Baseline pain was assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain intensity and by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Depression was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) short form. Patient assessment of global treatment effectiveness was obtained after 6 weeks and 1 year of treatment by using a five-point ordinal scale: (1) worse, (2) unchanged, (3) minimally improved, (4) moderately improved, (5) markedly improved. The results showed a significant reduction for all pain scores after 6 weeks and 1 year post-treatment. The depression scores changed in depressed but not in non-depressed patients. Global treatment effectiveness showed significant improvement 6 weeks and 1 year post-treatment. However, pain and global treatment effectiveness were less improved at 1 year than at 6 weeks.

Adult↗

Detection of antigen-specific human serum proteins related to the T-cell receptor in infectious disease and in an immune response to milk proteins or chemicals.

A monoclonal IgG2 antibody, MG3C9-1 A12, was prepared by immunization of mice with human serum Cohn Fraction III proteins enriched for TCR Ca+ proteins. MG3C9-1 A12 bound to Mr 28,000, antigen-specific TCR Ca+, beta-, and TCR Ca+, beta+ serum proteins associated with TGF-beta1, 2. The IgG2 monoclonal antibody also bound to T-lymphocyte proteins but did not bind to B lymphocyte proteins, human albumin, IgM, IgG, IgA, or TGF-beta1, 2, 3 immunogenic peptides. Monoclonal MG3C9-1 A12 detected TCR-related proteins specific for filarial extract, milk proteins, or benzoic acid in the sera of individuals with chronic or asymptomatic filariasis, milk intolerance, or sensitivity to toluene, respectively. TCR-related serum proteins were also detected intracellularly in mononuclear cells in frozen sections of ileum from a patient with milk intolerance and reactive mesenteric lymph nodes from a patient with a gastric ulcer. The results suggest that antigen-specific TCR-related serum proteins may be elevated during an immune response to oral, environmental, or infectious stimuli.

Animals↗

Comparison of reg I and reg III levels during acute pancreatitis in the rat.

OBJECTIVE: To study alterations of serum levels of the pancreatic reg family of proteins in two models of acute pancreatitis. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The pancreatic reg family of proteins is expressed in the acinar pancreas. Reg I (pancreatic stone protein, PSP) and reg III (pancreatitis-associated protein, PAP) are induced after the onset of acute pancreatitis, and both have been proposed as potential markers of pancreatitis. METHODS: Pancreatitis was induced in rats by either retrograde infusion of sodium taurocholate or by direct trauma. Serum samples were obtained daily for 4 days after the procedure, and the animals were then killed. Twelve animals underwent sham procedure and six underwent daily analysis without surgery. Levels of reg I/PSP and reg III/PAP were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Reg III/PAP levels increased significantly the first day after induction of both types of pancreatitis and rapidly returned to baseline in all survivors. Even animals who received retrograde infusion of saline showed a mild increase in reg III/PAP on the first day, whereas control animals that did not undergo surgery showed no variations. Reg I/PSP serum levels remained unchanged throughout all experimental periods. Postinjury reg III/PAP levels significantly correlated with severity of the pancreatic injury and animal survival; reg I/PSP levels did not. CONCLUSION: After induction of pancreatitis, serum levels of reg I and III protein differ significantly. Reg III/PAP levels are a sensitive marker of pancreatic injury and early in the disease may be a useful prognostic indicator for disease severity.

Acute Disease↗

Plasma norepinephrine levels, vagal tone index, and flexor reflex threshold in premature neonates receiving intravenous morphine during the postoperative period: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single dose of intravenous morphine on postoperative pain in extremely premature neonates after thoracotomy. DESIGN: Descriptive correlational study. PATIENTS: Twenty-four critically ill mechanically ventilated premature neonates with a mean gestational age of 26.1 +/- 2.1 (SD) weeks and a postnatal age of 13.8 +/- 8.1 (SD) days. OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels, vagal tone index (VTI), and flexor reflex threshold were measured preoperatively, immediately before, and 20 and 60 minutes after the administration of the first postoperative dose of morphine (0.1 mg/kg). RESULTS: One-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant change in plasma NE levels from baseline levels (df[2,32] = 2.40, p = 0.11). Pre- and postmorphine VTI values were significantly lower than preoperative values (df[3,60] = 6.04, p = 0.0012), but no significant differences were found between pre- and postmorphine VTI values. Neonates (n = 10) who had a flexor reflex response during the postoperative period demonstrated no significant differences in the force required to elicit a flexor reflex across the four measurements (df[3,27] = 0.76, p = 0.53); however, the flexor reflex responses were significantly less vigorous during the postoperative period than at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this pilot study suggest that the dose of morphine commonly used to treat postoperative pain in premature neonates does not affect NE, VTI, and flexor reflex threshold values within 1 hour of administration.

Humans↗

Anticholinergic differences among patients receiving standard clinical doses of olanzapine or clozapine.

This study evaluated anticholinergic effects among patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar I disorder who were receiving either olanzapine (N = 12) or clozapine (N = 12) at standard clinical doses in a naturalistic setting. Serum anticholinergic levels were determined in adult male and female subjects using a radioreceptor binding assay. The Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser Scale was used to evaluate anticholinergic side effects clinically, and the Mini-Mental State Examination provided a global cognitive measure. Patients had achieved target doses that were stable at the time at which blood samples were obtained, and no other concomitant medicine with known anticholinergic potential was allowed. Patients receiving olanzapine (average dose, 15 mg/day) had serum anticholinergic levels of 0.96 (+/-0.55) pmol/ atropine equivalents compared with levels of 5.47 (+/-3.33) pmol/atropine equivalents for those receiving clozapine (average dose, 444 mg/day) (p < 0.001). Rates of increased and decreased salivation were significantly more common among the clozapine- and olanzapine-treated patients, respectively, whereas constipation, urinary disturbances, and tachycardia/palpitations were significantly more common among clozapine-treated patients. Neither group showed any global cognitive deficits. Olanzapine-treated patients had serum anticholinergic levels that were less than one fifth those of the clozapine-treated patients. Furthermore, clinical evaluations confirmed that clozapine-treated patients experienced more frequent and severe anticholinergic side effects (except dry mouth). However, none of the patients in either group expressed any desire to discontinue these medications as a result of the anticholinergic side effects.

Adult↗

Defibrillators in nonischemic cardiomyopathy treatment evaluation.

The Defibrillators in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy Treatment Evaluation (DEFINITE) is a multicenter randomized trial. Patients will have nonischemic cardiomyopathy (LVEF < or = 35%), a history of symptomatic heart failure and spontaneous arrhythmia (> 10 PVCs/hour or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia defined as 3-15 beats at a rate of > 120 beats/min) on Holter monitor or telemetry within the past 6 months. Patients will be randomized to an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) versus no ICD. All patients will receive standard oral medical therapy for heart failure including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers (if tolerated). Patients will be followed for 2-3 years. The primary endpoint will be total mortality. Quality-of-life and pharmacoeconomics analyses will also be performed. A registry will track patients who meet basic inclusion criteria but are not randomized. We estimate an annual total mortality of 15% at 2 years in the treatment arm that does not receive an ICD. The ICD is expected to reduce mortality by 50%. Approximately 204 patients will be required in each treatment group. Twenty-five centers will be included in a trial designed to last an estimated 4 years.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗

Changes in use of valproate and other mood stabilizers for patients with schizophrenia from 1994 to 1998.

OBJECTIVE: The study describes changes over time in the adjunctive use of valproate and other mood stabilizers-lithium, carbamazepine, and gabapentin--among hospitalized psychiatric patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. METHODS: For each calendar year from 1994 through 1998, data were drawn from a database containing clinical and drug prescription information for every inpatient in the adult civil facilities of the New York State Office of Mental Health. RESULTS: In 1994 a total of 26.2 percent of inpatients diagnosed as having schizophrenia received a mood stabilizer, compared with 43.4 percent in 1998. In 1994 lithium was the most commonly prescribed mood stabilizer, for 13.2 percent of patients, followed by valproate, for 12.3 percent. In 1998 valproate was the most commonly prescribed, for 35 percent of patients, followed by lithium, for 11.3 percent. On average, patients received valproate for about two-thirds of their hospital stay, at a mean dose of 1,520 mg per day. CONCLUSIONS: The adjunctive use of valproate nearly tripled from 1994 to 1998 among patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Valproate has become the most commonly prescribed mood stabilizer for this population, despite the paucity of evidence in the literature for efficacy in this use. Controlled clinical trials are needed to examine the adjunctive use of mood stabilizers, in particular valproate, among patients with schizophrenia.

Acetates↗