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Biomedical subjects

M Abrams

Publications and source records attributed to M Abrams.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Loss of high-frequency brain electrical response to thiopental administration in Alzheimer's-type dementia.

Abnormal brain regions generate proportionately less high-frequency (beta) activity than nonpathological regions, a phenomenon accentuated by barbiturate administration. Using quantitative electroencephalography we examined power in the 20- to 28-Hz band in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT), vascular dementia (VaD), and normal elderly controls (CON) following an IV bolus of thiopental (0.5 mg/kg). Compared to both CON and VaD subjects, DAT subjects showed a marked loss of beta power elicited across the cortex, with largest differences noted in the frontal region. Losses were most significant for the peak response recorded at 30 to 90 s postinjection and persisted during the 5-minute follow-up period. We hypothesize that differences in this electrocerebral response reflect differences in the underlying neuropathology of DAT and VaD subjects. A thiopental challenge may be well suited for the in vivo assessment of brain function in dementias characterized by prominent cortical pathology.

Aged↗

Brain structure and function and the outcomes of treatment for depression.

BACKGROUND: Depressed patients have a variety of brain structural alterations, the most common being atrophy and deep white-matter lesions. Alterations in brain function also are common, particularly regional decreases in cerebral metabolism and perfusion. METHOD: We review here the evidence that alterations in brain structure and function may explain some of the heterogeneity in outcomes of depression. We also report initial results suggesting that measurement of brain structure and function may help to predict outcomes of treatment for depression. Brain structure was examined using three-dimensional reconstruction and volumetric analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Brain function was examined using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), performed at baseline and serially during the course of treatment. QEEG measures included coherence (a measure of synchronized activity between brain regions) and cordance (a measure strongly associated with regional cerebral perfusion). RESULTS: Depressed patients have been reported to have larger volumes of white-matter lesions than controls. We have found that some types of white-matter lesions are associated with lower coherence and that subjects with low coherence had significantly poorer outcomes of treatment for depression at 2-year follow-up. Depressed subjects had low cordance at baseline, which decreased further during the course of effective treatment. Subjects who did not improve had little or no change in cordance. Changes in cordance were detected prior to the onset of clinical response, with decreases seen as early as 48 hours after the initiation of treatment in subjects who showed eventual response. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that functional imaging using QEEG may be useful for assessing, and possibly predicting, outcomes of treatment for depression.

Antidepressive Agents↗

cis-Amminedichloro(2-methylpyridine) platinum(II) (AMD473), a novel sterically hindered platinum complex: in vivo activity, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics in mice.

A novel sterically hindered platinum complex, AMD473 [cis-amminedichloro(2-methylpyridine) platinum(II)], designed primarily to be less susceptible to inactivation by thiols, has shown in vitro activity against several ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Notably, AMD473 has shown activity in vitro in human carcinoma cells that have acquired cisplatin resistance due to reduced drug transport (41M/41McisR) or enhanced DNA repair/increased tolerance of platinum-DNA adducts (CH1/CH1cisR). In this study, we show that AMD473, at its maximum tolerated dose of 35-40 mg/kg i.p. administration, produced marked in vivo antitumor activity against a variety of murine (ADJ/PC6 plasmacytoma, L1210 leukemia) and human ovarian carcinoma xenograft models, including several possessing acquired resistance to cisplatin [ADJ/PC6cisR, L1210cisR, CH1cisR, and HX110 (carboplatin-resistant)]. In the ADJ/PC6 model, an increased therapeutic index was noted following oral as opposed to i. p. administration. In a head-to-head comparison using CH1cisR xenografts and equitoxic doses (q7dx4 schedule), comparative growth delays were as follows: AMD473, 34 days; cisplatin, 10.4 days; carboplatin, 6.4 days; and JM216 (p.o. administration), 3.5 days (in a previous experiment, the trans-platinum complex JM335 induced a growth delay of 5.4 days against this model). In this model, oral activity was also noted with a growth delay of 34 days at 400 mg/kg every 7 days (total of four doses). In addition, AMD473 showed promising activity against CH1 xenografts that had regrown following initial treatment with cisplatin (additional growth delay of 30 days over that observed for retreatment with cisplatin). Across the whole panel of cisplatin-sensitive to cisplatin-resistant human ovarian carcinoma xenografts, AMD473 showed improved or at least comparable activity to that observed for an equitoxic dose (4 mg/kg) and schedule of cisplatin. Platinum pharmacokinetics showed that following i.v. administration of 20 mg/kg AMD473 in saline to Balb/c- mice bearing murine plasmacytoma (ADJ/PC6), a biexponential decay was observed in the plasma with a rapid distribution t1/2alpha of 24 min followed by a slow elimination t1/2beta of 44 h. Platinum accumulated in various organs with platinum tissue to plasma area under the curve ratios of 8.6 for liver and kidney, 5.7 for spleen, 3.7 for heart, 5.2 for lung, and 5 for tumor. The plasma and tissue concentration time curve following i.p. administration was similar to that observed following i.v. administration, with a bioavailability of 89%. When AMD473 was given p.o., the platinum absorption was rapid (K01 of 30 min) and the bioavailability was 40%. A less than proportional increase in area under the curve and Cmax was noted in tissue, plasma, and plasma ultrafiltrate following increasing oral doses of AMD473. In vitro, with AMD473, the rate of binding to different plasma proteins was approximately half of that of cisplatin. Following administration of 45 mg/kg i.p. in oil, 33% of the administered platinum was eliminated in the urine after 24 h, and 40% was eliminated after 72 h. Fecal recovery represented 13% of the administered dose after 3 days. Similar results were observed following oral and i.v. administration of 20 mg/kg, but significantly more was excreted in the feces (over 50% of the administered dose) following oral administration of 400 mg/kg, showing that absorption might be a limiting factor by this route of administration. The dose-limiting toxicity for AMD473 in mice was myelosuppression, and no renal toxicity was observed. The promising antitumor activity of AMD473, together with its lack of nephrotoxicity and favorable pharmacokinetic profile, suggests that AMD473 is a good candidate for clinical development. AMD473 is entering Phase I clinical trials under the auspices of the United Kingdom Cancer Research Campaign in 1997.

Animals↗

Potent interleukin 3 receptor agonist with selectively enhanced hematopoietic activity relative to recombinant human interleukin 3.

A systematic evaluation of structure-activity information led to the construction of genetically engineered interleukin 3 (IL-3) receptor agonists (synthokines) with enhanced hematopoietic potency. SC-55494, the most extensively characterized member of this series, exhibits 10- to 20-fold greater biological activity than recombinant human IL-3 (rhIL-3) in human hematopoietic cell proliferation and marrow colony-forming-unit assays. In contrast, SC-55494 is only twice as active as rhIL-3 in priming the synthesis of inflammatory mediators such as leukotriene C4 and triggering the release of histamine from peripheral blood leukocytes. The enhanced hematopoietic activity of SC-55494 correlates with a 60-fold increase in IL-3 alpha-subunit binding affinity and a 20-fold greater affinity for binding to alpha/beta receptor complexes on intact cells relative to rhIL-3. SC-55494 demonstrates a 5- to 10-fold enhanced hematopoietic response relative to its ability to activate the priming and release of inflammatory mediators. Therefore, SC-55494 may ameliorate the myeloablation of cancer therapeutic regimens while minimizing dose-limiting inflammatory side effects.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Observation of pain behaviors during episodes of sickle cell disease pain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of a brief behavioral observation method to quantify pain. DESIGN: Correlational study. PATIENTS: 31 sickle cell disease (SCD) patients first seen in an outpatient clinic in painful crisis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Observed pain behaviors, physician rating of patient pain on a 0 to 10 scale, patient rating of pain on a 0 to 10 scale, and patient pain report from the McGill Pain Questionnaire. RESULTS: High interrater reliability for the brief behavioral observation was found, and observed pain behavior was found to correlate significantly with physician ratings of pain. CONCLUSIONS: This study is an important first step toward developing a systematic behavior-observation methodology for the analysis of SCD pain. The current methodology was found to be reliable and easily implemented in a busy, outpatient clinic.

Adult↗

Neuroanatomy of Rett syndrome: a volumetric imaging study.

Rett syndrome is a pediatric neurological disorder of unknown etiology defined by the presence of severe neurodevelopment decline, acquired microcephaly, dementia, abnormalities of movement, autistic behavior, and seizures in young female children. In this study, the neuroanatomy of 11 females with Rett syndrome and 15 age- and gender-matched control subjects was investigated in vivo with quantitative neuroimaging techniques. Compared to control subjects, the patients with Rett syndrome were found to have significantly reduced cerebral volume; evidence of greater loss of gray matter in comparison to white matter; regional variation in cortical gray matter, with the frontal regions showing the largest decrease; and reduced volume of the caudate nucleus and midbrain, even when taking into account general reduction in the size of the brain. In addition, there was no evidence of an ongoing degenerative process in this sample of girls with Rett syndrome. The consistency of these data with results from neuropathological investigations points to the need for continued quantitative neuroimaging studies of children with this condition. In particular, research employing serial longitudinal scans of very young children manifesting early signs of the clinical syndrome holds promise for helping to elucidate the neuropathological pathways leading to the debilitating clinical manifestations of Rett syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Quantitative effects of physical therapy on muscular and functional performance in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knees.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees is a functionally limiting disability. Physical therapy (PT) is considered a useful treatment for OA, although evidence is qualitative. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively measure the effects of a 3-month PT program (n = 40; 20 men and 20 women) with knee OA. Muscle function and functional assessment parameters were measured. All data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in handgrip strength and endurance, limb volume, or angular velocity after PT. Maximal muscle length was significantly increased. Muscle strength significantly increased for the hamstrings (9% and 19%) and quadriceps (8% and 24%) for the men and women, respectively. Endurance improved for the quadriceps (26% and 39%) and hamstrings (18% and 28%) for men and women, respectively. Functionally, there were significant improvements in the ability to climb stairs, rise from a chair, and walk. Walking time (50 ft) and the difficulty and pain of performing various activities decreased. Most improvements had occurred after 1 month of PT. For the first time, the effects of a PT program have been quantitatively measured for patients with knee OA.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Prevalence and significance of electroencephalographic abnormalities in patients with suspected organic mental syndromes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities at different levels of cognitive impairment and to assess the possible diagnostic usefulness of the test. DESIGN: Combined prospective assessment of subjects receiving EEGs and retrospective chart review of symptoms and medications. SETTING: Academic geriatric psychiatry service. PATIENTS: 350 adults age 50 and above; 312 were patients being evaluated for possible organic mental syndrome and 38 were normal controls. MEASUREMENTS: All subjects had EEGs and Mini-Mental State Examinations (MMSE) performed at the time of the EEG. EEGs were rated for the presence and type of abnormality, and subjects were stratified according to the severity of impairment. Charts were reviewed by a person blinded to EEG results to determine clinical diagnosis and medications received. MAIN RESULTS: Abnormal EEGs were significantly more common among all patients (67%) in the study than among controls (11%), and the prevalence of abnormality increased with increasing impairment. Many demented patients with equivocal impairment (42%), and most with mild-to-moderate impairment (65%) had abnormal EEGs. An abnormal EEG was not indicative of dementia even when clear cognitive impairment was present, since patients with depression frequently also had abnormal EEG results. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the EEG is a moderately sensitive but non-specific indicator of brain dysfunction in the elderly. The significance of abnormalities among patients with equivocal impairment should be more fully assessed by longitudinal follow-up to determine if greater cognitive impairment develops.

Aged↗

Epitopes and idiotypes in experimental autoimmune uveitis: a review.

Retinal S-antigen (SAg) and interphotoreceptor retinol-binding protein (IRBP) induced experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and experimental autoimmune pinealitis (EAP) are good models for studying the mechanisms involved in autoimmune diseases. Many immunogenetically active epitopes have been identified in these proteins but immunodominance of one or more epitopes in vivo, has not yet been established. In this paper we present and discuss some experiments that led to the discovery of a dominant "tolerogenic" epitope in SAg. We also demonstrate the presence of cross reactive epitopes in the two potent retinal antigens, SAg and IRBP and finally introduce early data on a unique anti S2.4.c5 idiotypic (Id) monoclonal antibody (MAb) which appears to be a site non associated antibody that binds not only to s2.4.c5 but also to SAg.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Induction of experimental autoimmune uveitis by the retinal photoreceptor cell protein, phosducin.

Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and experimental autoimmune pinealitis (EAP) are CD4+ T cell mediated inflammatory diseases of the retina and uveal tract of the eye and the pineal gland respectively. They can be induced in experimental animals by immunization with several well characterized retinal autoantigens. We induced a mild to moderate EAU and EAP in Lewis rats by immunization with phosducin, a 33K retinal phosphoprotein which is involved in the phototransduction of vision. In contrast to the severe EAU induced by other retinal antigens like S-antigen (SAg) or interstitial retinoid binding protein (IRBP), the clinical disease was late in onset, low grade in severity and predominantly affected the posterior segment of the eye. Our study demonstrates that another photoreceptor cell protein, phosducin, is capable of eliciting EAU and EAP.

Animals↗

Psychiatric disability in female carriers of the fragile X chromosome.

Fragile X syndrome, an X-linked genetic condition, is an important genetic cause of mental retardation in males. In addition to mental retardation, hemizygous males with fragile X syndrome appear to have a greater likelihood of displaying behaviors classified under the diagnostic category of pervasive developmental disorder than would be expected on the basis of mental retardation alone. Although the majority of female heterozygotes with the fragile X genetic defect are of normal intelligence, our clinical work with this population and a recent case report have suggested that females with fragile X syndrome have an increased rate of schizophrenia spectrum and affective disorders. In this study, the relationship of the fragile X genetic defect to psychopathology in female heterozygotes is investigated by psychiatric evaluation of 35 obligate female carriers of the fragile X chromosome and a comparison group of 24 fragile X-negative controls. Female fragile X carriers were found to have a greater frequency of psychopathology associated with schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses, particularly schizotypal features. A weaker association between the fragile X genetic defect and chronic affective disorders was detected. The specificity of the neuropsychiatric phenotype occurring in particular genetic conditions such as the fragile X syndrome adds a potentially valuable tool to the study of psychopathology in the general population.

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive↗

Implicit learning: robustness in the face of psychiatric disorders.

The performance of a group of psychiatric inpatients on two different cognitive tasks was compared with that of a control group of college undergraduates. The task in the first experiment was implicit learning of a complex, synthetic grammar; the task in the second experiment was explicit learning of relatively simple letter-to-number matching rules. In the first experiment, differences between the normals and the psychiatrically impaired were found on the preliminary memorization task but not on the implicit grammar learning task; in the second experiment, differences were observed on all phases of the experiment, with the inpatients performing no better than chance. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that, under appropriate conditions, individuals suffering from serious disorders may show no deficits when working with complex and abstract stimulus domains while showing serious performance problems when working with relatively simple, concrete stimuli. The key factor is that the former were presented as tasks that tap nonreflective, implicit processes, whereas the latter were put forward as ones that recruit conscious, explicit processes.

Adult↗