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Biomedical subjects

M Fava

Publications and source records attributed to M Fava.

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

The quantitative determination of neomycin sulphate by a diffusion technique on agar plates by the method of the European Pharmacopoeia, 2nd edition--evaluation of precision and reproducibility of the method.

The medium recommended by the European Pharmacopoeia (EP), 2nd edition, for the microbiological determination of neomycin by the agar diffusion method was tested and compared with the medium recommended by the EP, 1st edition. The tests were carried out in different laboratories. The medium recommended by the EP, 2nd edition, gave greater precision and reproducibility than the previous medium. The possibility of using a reference standard of almost pure neomycin B for both the determination of framycetin and neomycin was evaluated. The results demonstrated that the medium recommended by the EP, 2nd edition, gave better precision and reproducibility. Difficulty in achieving valid assays was practically the same with both media.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1985

Inspiratory muscle function in patients with severe kyphoscoliosis.

In 9 patients with severe kyphoscoliosis we studied inspiratory muscle function by measuring transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) and its components: gastric (Pga) and esophageal (Pes) pressures during quiet breathing. Maximal Pdi and maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (Pimax) were also measured. The results showed that Pimax and Pdimax were significantly lower in patients than in normal subjects. During quiet breathing, all patients had positive swings in Pga, indicating an active contraction of the diaphragm, but Pes was significantly more negative, suggesting the recruitment of intercostal and accessory inspiratory muscles. We did not find significant correlations between Pimax, Pdimax, delta Pga/delta Pes, FVC, PaO2, or PaCO2 and the degree of spinal deformity. The FVC tended to correlate with Pimax (r = 0.63) and with Pdimax (r = 0.53). The Pdi correlated with PaO2 (r = 0.66) and with PaCO2 (r = -0.76; p less than 0.05). A significant correlation was also observed between Pimax and PaO2 (r = 0.785; p less than 0.05) and between Pimax and PaCO2 (r = -0.86; p less than 0.01). We conclude that impairment of inspiratory muscle function is related to the development of ventilatory failure in kyphoscoliosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Prolactin, amitriptyline, and recovery from depression.

Spontaneous prolactin patterns were determined at 15-min intervals over 5 h in 13 patients, who were suffering from melancholia, during illness and after treatment with amitriptyline. Plasma prolactin levels were significantly greater at most sampling points after patients had recovered than during their illnesses. One patient, who did not recover, showed the opposite trend.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Prolactin, aggression and hostility: a discussion of recent studies.

Several studies are summarized in which the relationship of high prolactin levels and self-rated anger-hostility was examined. The Symptom Questionnaire, a state measure which contains an anger-hostility scale, was included in all studies. Women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea were found to have higher hostility scores than amenorrheic women with normal prolactin levels. In another study, hyperprolactinemic women were found to have higher hostility scores than female family practice patients, random employees and there was a nonsignificant trend for higher hostility scores than in female nonpsychotic psychiatric outpatients. In both studies, depression and anxiety were also significantly higher. When bromocriptine, a prolactin lowering drug, was administered to hyperprolactinemic women in a double blind crossover study, there was a significant and progressive decrease of hostility, depression and anxiety while on bromocriptine, parallel with the decrease in prolactin and no change on placebo. Post-partum women who had high prolactin levels were significantly more hostile than a control group of employees and as hostile as hyperprolactinemic women. Hyperprolactinemic males were no more hostile than controls. The relationship of prolactin to post-partum aggression in mammals is briefly reviewed. The findings are inconclusive; in the three species studied, postpartum aggression is perhaps enhanced, but does not depend on high prolactin levels. There are no studies on the relationship of prolactin levels and violence in women. Hostility associated with high prolactin levels in postpartum women is perhaps a phylogenetic remnant which may have had the evolutionary advantage of protecting the young.

Aggression↗
PubMed1983

Psychosomatic aspects of hyperprolactinemia.

A review of some recent studies on the psychosomatic aspects of hyperprolactinemia is presented. Women seem to be more prone to suffer from the behavioral effects of prolactin than males. Women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea rated themselves significantly more hostile, more depressed and more anxious than women with amenorrhea only and other control groups. Hyperprolactinemic males did not rate themselves more hostile and depressed than matched controls. Psychological distress and hostility appear to remit upon treatment with bromocriptine. Postpartum patients matched for prolactin levels with hyperprolactinemic women showed significantly less depression and anxiety but about the same levels of hostility. Hostility, depression and loss of libido may coexist in the same hyperprolactinemic patient but they may be also present independently.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1983

Italian validation of the Symptom Rating Test (SRT) and Symptom Questionnaire (SQ).

Two self-rating scales of psychological distress, the Symptom Rating Test (SRT) and the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ), have been validated in translations in Italy. They were administered in several studies to psychiatric patients (neurotics and depressives), matched controls, and patients suffering from various organic illnesses (dermatologic disorders, hypertension, secondary amenorrhea and patients undergoing amniocentesis). The SRT and the SQ sensitively discriminated between psychiatric patients and normals, between different levels of psychological distress in several of the somatic illnesses, and detected significant changes in the psychological status of patients participating in medical procedures such as amniocentesis. The scales were found to be useful in research in psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. The findings suggest that the Italian translations are valid and sensitive scales of distress and can apparently be used as effectively in research as the original. They are likely to be of value in cross-cultural research in Canada. Both scales may be helpful in the psychological assessment of Italian immigrants in North America and Australia, especially in those whose English is poor.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Depression and hostility in hyperprolactinemia.

1. Patients with hyperprolactinemia offer a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of prolactin on psychological states. Women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea rated themselves significantly more hostile, more depressed and more anxious than women with amenorrhea only and normal women. 2. The hyperprolactinemic patients were compared with a group of post-partum (7th day) women, matched for sociodemographic variables and prolactin levels. The post-partum women showed significantly less depression and anxiety than those with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea but about the same levels of hostility. 3. Hyperprolactinemic males did not rate themselves more hostile and depressed than matched controls.

Amenorrhea↗
PubMed1982

Psychological correlates of hyperprolactinemia in males.

In a previous study with hyperprolactinemic female patients, self-rated hostility, depression and anxiety were significantly higher than in other female patients. The study was repeated in hyperprolactinemic males, using the same psychological assessments. Hyperprolactinemic males were significantly more anxious but did not differ significantly in hostility and depression from other male patients. The findings support the view that the psychological effects of high serum prolactin levels depend in part on interactions with gonadal hormones.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1981

Depression hostility and anxiety in hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea.

In order to evaluate the relationship of psychological distress to hyperprolactinemia, 20 patients with secondary amenorrhea were evaluated by a semi-structured research interview and administered the Kellner Symptom Questionnaire. Group A (10 patients with amenorrhea and hyperprolactinemia) reported significantly more symptoms of depression, hostility and anxiety than group B (10 patients with amenorrhea and normal basal levels of plasma prolactin). Both groups were significantly more anxious, depressed and reported more somatic symptoms than a normal control group (n = 10). 6 of the 10 patients in group A reported decrease in libido, while this was found only in 1 of the 10 patients of group B. The findings suggest that the syndrome of depression, hostility and anxiety in a woman complaining of amenorrhea, especially if associated with decreased libido and galactorrhea, can be a manifestation of hyperprolactinemia.

Adolescent↗