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Biomedical subjects

M Baron

Publications and source records attributed to M Baron.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Genetic analysis of platelet monoamine oxidase activity in families of schizophrenic patients.

Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) has been implicated in the biology of several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Genetic factors contribute to the variance of MAO activity; however, its mode of inheritance is unknown. To assess the distribution and familial patterns of platelet MAO activity, we studied 73 chronic schizophrenic patients and 219 of their first-degree relatives. The activity distribution was skewed and admixture of two distributions gave a better fit to the data than a single distribution. Single-major-locus hypotheses were tested by pedigree analysis methods for quantitative traits. Using the transmission probability model, the familial transmission of MAO activity was consistent with either recessive or additive inheritance but not with dominant inheritance; the environmental hypothesis was strongly rejected. No effect of genotype on probability of illness was observed suggesting no relationship between the particular major locus tested and schizophrenia. The implications for genetic research in schizophrenia were discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Genetic analysis of plasma amine oxidase activity in schizophrenia.

Plasma amine oxidase (PAO) activity has been implicated in the biology of schizophrenia. PAO activity is, in part, under genetic control, but its mode of inheritance has not been determined. To assess the genetic pattern of PAO activity and its relation to the transmission of schizophrenia, we studied 73 chronic schizophrenic probands and 217 first-degree relatives (siblings and parents). Single-major-locus hypotheses were tested by pedigree analysis methods for quantitative traits. The distribution of PAO activity indicated significant admixture. When the transmission probability model was used, the familial pattern of PAO activity was consistent with mendelian transmission; the environmental hypothesis was rejected. PAO activity was lower in schizophrenic patients than in unaffected relatives, but the mean reduction in enzyme activity was small (10.7%) and the two groups of subjects overlapped greatly in their PAO values. The difference between ill and well relatives was not statistically significant. However, schizophrenia spectrum disorders segregated with low PAO activity in families of low-activity probands, and a greater proportion of ill than well subjects clustered in the low PAO activity mode. The results are interpreted as follows: (1) The transmission of PAO activity may be determined in part by a single major autosomal gene. (2) Low PAO activity does not qualify as a major risk factor in the schizophrenic population at large; however, a relationship may exist between low PAO activity and the transmission of schizophrenia in families of patients with extremely low enzyme activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The genetics of schizophrenia: new perspectives.

Despite the evidence for genetic factors in schizophrenia, the underlying hereditary defect is unknown. The author reviews recent advances in genetic research methodologies and discusses their strengths and limitations. He concludes that in the face of genetic heterogeneity current models of segregation analysis are not likely to unravel the mode of inheritance of schizophrenia. The author underscores the potential contribution of both molecular genetics (as a means to generate DNA markers) and studies with biologic vulnerability traits to identifying and quantitating the genetic component in the transmission of schizophrenia.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1985

A family study of schizophrenic and normal control probands: implications for the spectrum concept of schizophrenia.

Morbidity risks for mental illness were determined in 750 first-degree relatives of chronic schizophrenic and normal control probands. Psychiatric disorders that were more frequent in relatives of schizophrenic probands than in relatives of normal control probands were chronic schizophrenia (5.8% versus 0.6%), schizotypal personality disorder (definite, 14.6% versus 2.1%; probable, 12.1% versus 6.5%), and paranoid personality disorder (7.3% versus 2.3%). The data suggest that schizotypal and paranoid personality disorders are genetically related to schizophrenia. The implications for schizophrenia research are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Modern research criteria and the genetics of schizophrenia.

The authors assessed the relevance of narrowly defined diagnostic criteria to genetic research in schizophrenia in the nuclear families of 84 chronic schizophrenic probands compared with families of 90 normal control probands. The morbidity risk for narrowly defined schizophrenia in first-degree relatives of patients with the narrow diagnosis was significantly higher than the control rate (3.8% versus 0.3%). The rate of chronic schizophrenia in the relatives of all schizophrenic patients was also significantly higher than the control rate (7.1% versus 0.6%), as was the rate of "spectrum" disorders (33.4% versus 11.3%). The data support the case for familial transmission of narrowly defined schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Familial transmission of schizotypal and borderline personality disorders.

The authors determined the risk for psychiatric disorders in the first-degree relatives of 36 probands with schizotypal personality disorder (13 definite, 23 probable), 17 probands with borderline personality disorder (two definite, 15 probable), and 90 normal control probands. The relatives of probands with schizotypal personality disorder without a concurrent diagnosis of borderline personality disorder had a significantly greater risk for schizotypal personality disorder than the relatives of normal control probands, borderline probands, or schizotypal probands with coexisting borderline personality disorder. The relatives of borderline probands had a significantly greater risk for definite and probable borderline personality disorder than the relatives of normal control probands.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Plasma amine oxidase and clinical features of schizophrenia.

Among 76 chronic schizophrenic patients, plasma amine oxidase activity was unrelated to paranoid/nonparanoid subtype, narrow/broad diagnostic criteria, prognosis, or age at onset. These clinical indices do not identify biological subtypes of schizophrenia with deviant plasma amine oxidase activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Polymyositis/dermatomyositis: clinical features and outcome in 22 patients.

Twenty-two adult patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) have been seen at the Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital since 1970. DM accounted for 50% of the patients. Malignancy was found within 3 years of presentation in 32% and was present in 46% of patients over age 50. Forty-six percent of patients with DM versus 18% of those with PM had a malignancy. Seven patients died. Fourteen patients were seen at a mean followup of 5.6 years. By life-table analysis, 42% of patients terminated corticosteroids within 3 years from diagnosis. The mean dose of prednisone in 8 patients being treated at followup was 11.7 mg daily. Functional disability, however, was common at followup. Thirty-six percent had substantial disability related to the disease or its treatment.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1985

[Use of a Tenckhoff catheter implanted in the superior vena cava in hemodialysis].

For some patients in hemodialysis, repeated failure of conventional access routes requires consideration of unusual forms of access. For others, peritonitis or other problems may temporarily restrict the use of peritoneal route. We report our experience with Tenckhoff peritoneal dialysis catheter implanted into the superior vena cava through a venotomy in the right external jugular vein. The catheter was used for hemodialysis in five patients and we had no serious problems. Recirculation rate and removal rates of BUN and creatinine showed a satisfactory dialysis efficiency. While we do not recommend the procedure for routine permanent access, we believe that this technique provides a significant new choice in patients in whom conventional access methods have failed.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Accuracy of chest computerized tomography in detecting malignant hilar and mediastinal involvement by squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

The accuracy of chest computerized tomography (CT) in detecting malignant hilar and mediastinal involvement by squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is examined. The preoperative chest CT scans of 74 patients with pathologically proven squamous cell lung carcinoma were prospectively and retrospectively reviewed. Criteria for the diagnosis of malignant hilar involvement were nonvascular mass enlarging the hilum; local alteration of hilar contour; adenopathy greater than 1 cm; thickened posterior wall of the bronchus intermedius and distal upper lobe bronchi; and bronchial displacement, compression, and obstruction. Criteria for the diagnosis of malignant mediastinal involvement were confluence of tumor with the mediastinum, altered contour of the azygoesophageal recess, thickened posterior wall of the proximal main stem bronchi, and mediastinal adenopathy greater than 1 cm. Calcified hilar and mediastinal nodes were considered benign. Our results, corrected for reader error, were 92% sensitive, 92% specific, and 96% accurate in the hilum and 95% sensitive, 77% specific, and 82% accurate in the mediastinum. These data support a significant role for chest CT in the preoperative staging of non small cell lung carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1984

Enzyme activity in Tourette's syndrome.

Activity levels of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO), plasma amine oxidase (PAO), erythrocyte catechol-o-methyltransferase, and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase were measured in 24 drug-free patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and in 24 normal control subjects matched for age and sex. Only MAO and PAO activity levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Activity of the four enzymes was uncorrelated with age, sex, age of onset of illness, severity of illness, family history of tics and Ts, and ethnic-religious background. The hypothesis that probands with heavily loaded pedigrees or with Ashkenazi ethnic-religious background would be more biochemically deviant was not supported.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Platelet monoamine oxidase and clinical phenomenology of schizophrenia.

Platelet monoamine oxidase activity (MAO) was determined in 39 unmedicated chronic schizophrenic patients and 88 normal control subjects. Platelet MAO activity did not distinguish paranoid from nonparanoid patients or patients who met Taylor and Abrams criteria for narrowly defined schizophrenia from other schizophrenics. Enzyme activity was not related to either prognostic scores or age at onset of illness. MAO activity was decreased in patients compared to controls, and was lower in males than in females. Our findings indicate that clinical phenomenology, as defined in the present study, is of limited use in identifying biological subtypes of schizophrenia with deviant platelet MAO activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

High affinity 3H-imipramine binding in human platelets: age and sex effects.

Age and sex effects on 3H-imipramine platelet binding sites were determined in 58 normal subjects (27 males, 31 females). The correlation of age with either the maximal imipramine binding (Bmax) or the dissociation constant (Kd) was statistically nonsignificant in both males and females. Males did not differ from females in Bmax and Kd values. The implications for psychiatric research were discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Stressful life events and schizophrenia. Relation to illness onset and family history.

The occurrence of stressful life events in relation to illness onset and family history of schizophrenia was assessed in 52 chronic schizophrenic patients. Severe or extreme premorbid stress was present in 15.4% of the patients. 'Low stress' patients were indistinguishable from 'high stress' patients with respect to the familial rate of schizophrenia and other 'spectrum' disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Erythrocyte catechol O-methyltransferase activity in schizophrenia: analysis of family data.

The authors determined the erythrocyte catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity of 38 chronic schizophrenic patients, 69 of their first-degree relatives, and 39 normal controls. COMT activity did not distinguish patients from controls. Within families, COMT activity was not associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The data suggest that COMT activity is not an indicator of vulnerability to schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗