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Biomedical subjects

M Fink

Publications and source records attributed to M Fink.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Effects of acute and chronic inhalation of hashish, marijuana, and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on brain electrical activity in man: evidence for tissue tolerance.

An EEG profile for cannabis preparations equated for delta 9-THC activity has been defined in occasional cannabis users in New York and in long-term, high-dose hashish users in Athens. The EEG effects of enhanced alpha activity, decreased beta activity, and decreased mean frequency are dose dependent, both in intensity and in duration. The behavioral measures, particularly self-ratings of euphoria ("high" or "mastura") and heart rate, are also dose dependent and interrelated with the EEG measures. Tolerance to the cerebral, heart rate, and behavioral effects of repeated inhalations of delta 9-THC are demonstrable in chronic users and also in short-term (21-day) experimental administration studies. delta9-THC and cannabis preparations are distinguishable from opiates, hallucinogens, and deliriants by their EEG effects. No differences in incidence of abnormal EEG records were found between long-term heavy hashish users and controls. Taken in conjunction with the neurologic, echo-EEG, and psychopathologic data in these men, we failed to define a syndrome of persistent brain damage as a result of hashish use, although persistent adaptational changes are noted in the development of tissue tolerance.

Adult↗

EEG and task performance after ACTH4-10 in man.

Effects of the heptapeptide ACTH4-10 (Org OI-63) on EEG, some memory tests, and behavior were examined in 12 normal male volunteers under 30 years of age. An intravenous dose of 60 mg was compared to placebo in a Latin square design. EEG was recorded for 2 h after administration of ACTH4-10 or placebo and was quantified by power spectral density analysis. Drug differences were tested by analyses of variance and covariance. No statistical drug effect was seen on the EEG or behavioral measures. Of the psychological tests, only the digit span test showed a decrease in number of errors with ACTH4-10 (p less than or equal to o.05). These results are consistent with previous studies and suggest that an intravenous bolus of ACTH4-10 has a limited effect on the brain function tested.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Chronic hashish use and mental disorder.

The authors compared 47 long-term users of hashish with a control group of 40 subjects matched for age, ethnic origin, education, etc., in order to determine whether they differed significantly on psychiatric, physical health, and demographic variables. There was a significantly higher incidence of personality disorders, unemployment, and prison sentences in the group of chronic users. However, in contrast to the findings of other researchers, the hashish users did not have organic psychoses, nor did they differ from control subjects in neurologic signs or EEG and echo encephalogram patterns.

Adult↗

Concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and tryptophan in the cerebrospinal fluid of depressed patients before and after ECT.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), tryptophan (TRYP), and homovanillic acid (HVA), were determined prior to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and after an average course of 6.7 ECT in six endogenous depressed patients. Depression rating scale (DRS) scores were also obtained by a "blind" research psychiatrist before and after ECT at the time of each lumbar puncture. ECT markedly reduced DRS scores but did not significantly alter CSF levels of 5HIAA, TRYP, or HVA. We found no correlation between ECT-induced DRS score reductions and changes in any of the CSF constituents studied, or between the absolute DRS score and the corresponding CSF concentration of any of the compounds. These data are consistent with those previously reported for ECT and do not suggest that ECT alters cerebral amine metabolism in depressed patients. Neither do they provide any evidence for direct amine mediation of the depression-relieving effects of ECT in man, nor for any relation between severity of depressive illness and CSF concentrations of 5HIAA, TRYP, or HVA.

Adult↗

[Medullary sponge kidney: a short review and a report of two cases (author's transl)].

Radiologically the collecting tubules in the medulla are dilated up to cystic proportions. There may be no clinical symptoms, but frequently the dilated tubules predispose to infection and lithiasis. Such cysts do not interfere with renal function. X-ray diagnosis, frequency, therapy and etiology are discussed. Two further cases of MSK in childhood are described.

Adolescent↗