Biomedical subjects
J M Dachary
Publications and source records attributed to J M Dachary.
[Cesium].
Cesium is an alkaline metal close to Rubidium, which is studied in psychopharmacology in the prospect of a possible antidepressive effect. It has stimulating properties of the motor activity on the animal, antagonizes some sedative substances but does not modify either self-stimulation behaviour or induced agressivity. Given in large doses, Cesium presents hypertensive effects bound with a stimulation of the adrenal Epinephrine secretion. As for the synapses Cesium increases the neuro-transmitter release. However the Norepinephrine turn-over is not modified in the central nervous system while that of Serotonin is increased as well as the cerebral concentrations of Tryptophan, Serotonin and 5.HIAA. These very fragmentary data about the toxico-pharmacological properties of Cesium, as well as the very prolonged half-life of this ion (from 50 to 100 days), explain that contrary to Rubidium it has not still been used in man.
[Tolerability of tianeptine in 170 patients with depression treated during one year].
Tianeptine, a new antidepressant, has a tricyclic molecular structure. Its main biochemical activity consists of an increase in the reuptake of 5 HT both in men and animals, after acute and chronic administration. Tianeptine demonstrated its antidepressive clinical efficacy in several double-blind versus reference drug trials. A multicentre open trial, including depressed patients enabled us to evaluate the safety of tianeptine and to control the maintenance of the therapeutic efficacy in the course of its long-term prescription. Depressed patients included showed a major depressive episode, single (296.22) or recurrent (296.32) without melancholia or psychotic features, or a dysthymic disorder (300.40), according to DSM III criteria. A minimum MADRS score of a least 25, and the informed consent of the patients were required. The dose of tianeptine was 3 tablets per day (12.5 mg/tablet) with the possibility of increasing to 4 or decreasing to 2 tablets per day, depending on the symptomatology. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by item 1 and 2 of the Global Clinical Impression (CGI), the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and the Hopkins Symptom Check-List (HSCL). Clinical and paraclinical safety were evaluated by CGI item 3, standardized ratings of patients' complaints (CHESS 84), interruption for side effects, evaluation of blood pressure, weight, biological parameters, EKGs. This intermediate evaluation concerns the first 170 depressed patients treated over a one-year period as well as the total group of patients included (n = 447).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[Efficacy and tolerance of alprazolam and bromazepam in flexible doses. Double-blind study in 119 ambulatory anxious patients].
Double-blind study comparing efficacy and safety of alprazolam and bromazepam in 119 ambulatory anxious patients receiving flexible dosage. 119 ambulatory anxious patients (global score on the Hamilton anxiety rating scale between 18 and 35) have been included in this double-blind trial (duration 4 weeks) comparing alprazolam and bromazepam given at flexible dosage. The global score on the Hamilton anxiety rating scale improved by 57.8% and 55.3% for alprazolam and bromazepam respectively. The percentage of therapeutic success according to the psychiatrist and the patient were respectively 82.7% and 79.3% for alprazolam compared to 74.1% and 71.9% for bromazepam. Fewer side-effects were recorded in the alprazolam group (97) than in the bromazepam group (120) and global safety of alprazolam seemed superior (p = 0.07). At trial-end, mean dosage reached 1.70 mg/day for alprazolam and 10.35 mg for bromazepam, but no correlation was found between anxiety intensity and optimal daily dosage used; however, a correlation has been found between the improvement of the overall Hamilton rating scale score and the dosage given (p = 0.02). The overall results suggest that the efficacy/safety ratio is better for alprazolam.