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Biomedical subjects

M Schou

Publications and source records attributed to M Schou.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Opioid receptors in the brain of the rat following chronic treatment with desipramine and electroconvulsive shock.

The effect of chronic administration of electroconvulsive shock and the antidepressant drug desipramine on binding to opioid receptors was studied in the cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia and the hippocampus of the forebrain of the rat. In vitro, desipramine inhibited the binding of enkephalinamide to opioid receptors through a reduction in the number of binding sites, whereas the affinity was unchanged or only slightly decreased. In vivo desipramine, injected daily (10 mg/kg) for three weeks, did not change the number of opioid binding sites in the forebrain of the rat. Chronic electroconvulsive shock, given twice a week for three weeks, had no effect on the number of opioid binding sites in the forebrain of the rat. The data do not support the hypothesis of shared effects of lithium, tricyclic antidepressants and electroconvulsive shock on the opioid peptide-opioid receptor systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Lithium treatment and blood pressure.

The average systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 377 manic-depressive patients were not significantly different before and during lithium treatment. Before the treatment blood pressure was slightly but significantly lower in spring and fall than in winter and summer; during lithium treatment the seasonal variations disappeared.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

New developments in long-term preventive therapy.

Lowering of standard serum lithium levels to 0.5-0.8 mmol/l has led to a marked reduction of side effects. Safety is increased through temporary discontinuation or dosage reduction of lithium in special risk situations. In unipolar but not in bipolar patients maintenance treatment with antidepressants is a valid alternative to lithium, and treatment choice may be determined by individual tolerance. Carbamazepine and valproate are worth trying in bipolar patients not responding to or not tolerating lithium. General principles for long-term preventive therapy are discussed.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1986

Lithium treatment: a refresher course.

Updated guidelines are presented for the safe and effective use of lithium; covering indications, treatment management, duration of prophylactic treatment, side-effects and their prevention, overdosage, interactions, and contraindications. Alternatives to lithium and patient-doctor co-operation are discussed.

Aggression↗
PubMed1986

The renal lithium clearance and its correlations with other biological variables: observations in a large group of physically healthy persons.

The lithium clearance (CLi) is a measure of the delivery of fluid from the proximal tubules to the loop of Henle. We determined the correlations between CLi and a number of variables on 350 occasions in 164 physically healthy persons in lithium treatment for manic-depressive illness. CLi was significantly correlated (p less than 0.001) with sex, age, body surface, urine flow, sodium clearance, potassium clearance, serum lithium concentration, and lithium dosage. Correlations with sex, age and body surface lost statistical significance when the renal variables and the surface were divided by creatinine clearance; these correlations are indirect and caused by common correlations with the filtration rate. The findings show that the fractional delivery of fluid from the proximal tubules is independent of sex, age and body surface. Correlations with urine flow, serum lithium, and lithium dosage could be explained by circumstances connected with the lithium treatment. These variables do not seem to affect CLi. It is concluded that factors which should be taken into account if the assessment of lithium clearance values include the creatinine clearance, the sodium clearance, and the potassium clearance.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Opioid peptides and receptors in relation to affective illness. Effects of desipramine and lithium on opioid receptors in rat brain.

A brief review is given of clinical and experimental evidence supporting the notion that opioid peptides and opioid receptors play a role for the regulation of mood and activity, and that they could be involved in the pathophysiology of affective illness and the action of antimanic and antidepressant treatment modalities. We have carried out in vitro and in vivo studies on the effects of desipramine and lithium on opioid receptors in rat brain. In vitro desipramine inhibited the binding of 3H-enkephalinamide to neuronal membranes (P2-fractions) through mechanisms not yet known. Treatment with desipramine in vivo (10 mg/kg body weight/day) caused a down-regulation of 3H-enkephalinamide binding in the basal ganglia and the hippocampus, while no effects could be observed in the cerebral cortex and the rest of the forebrain. In vitro addition of lithium inhibited enkephalin binding to opioid receptors through a reduction in the number of binding sites, while the affinity remained unchanged or was changed only slightly. Treatment with lithium in vivo for three weeks with lithium doses providing serum lithium concentrations of about 1 mM also caused a down-regulation in the number of opioid binding sites in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, and the basal ganglia, while no changes could be observed in affinity. The studies suggest that desipramine and lithium, both effective in the treatment of manic-depressive illness, may share certain actions on opioid receptors in the brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The effect of age on lithium dosage requirements.

Analysis of more than 350 observations of patients who had been under lithium treatment for 6 months to 4 years showed a significant negative correlation between dosage requirements and age; old patients required less lithium than young patients to maintain a particular serum lithium concentration. The decline in dosage requirement with increasing age could be fully accounted for by the age-dependent fall in the glomerular filtration rate and lithium clearance. There was no age-dependent change in tablet compliance, and the duration of exposure to lithium did not influence the dosage requirement.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Long-lasting neurological sequelae after lithium intoxication.

A combined literature study and correspondence follow-up provided information about the development and further course of long-lasting neurological sequelae after lithium intoxication in 40 patients (28 women and 12 men). The circumstances surrounding the acute intoxications were examined. Possible precipitating circumstances included somatic illness with fever (11 cases), concurrent treatment with low-salt diet and diuretics, major surgery, low food intake, recent start with large lithium doses, acute overdose with suicidal intent, overdose due to pharmacy, laboratory or patient mistakes, and concurrent treatment with large doses of haloperidol in the presence of fever. In five cases no likely precipitant could be found, and in three cases there was no information about the circumstances of the acute intoxication. The neurological sequelae developed following abatement of the acute intoxication and typically showed cerebellar affection with ataxia and scanning speech. Other brain regions could be affected, and peripheral neuropathy occurred. Improvement was in some cases seen during the first 6-12 months, supported psychologically and perhaps also functionally by physiotherapy, speech therapy, and general rehabilitation. The paper ends with a discussion of measures and guidelines to prevent the development of intoxications and permanent neurological sequelae. An Appendix provides warnings and precautions.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Long-term care of the manic-depressive disease picture].

Important aspects of lithium therapy in manic depressive illness are presented. Possible alternative strategies to lithium therapy and potential psychological problems occurring during therapy are being discussed. The problems with dehydration are reviewed extensively - economic factors are mentioned briefly. Finally the basic features of lithium therapy will be presented.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1983

Lithium perspectives.

Progress in lithium treatment and research has been predicated on contributions from scientists of many different kinds. Examples are given of the systematic scientist, the artistic scientist, and the tenacious clinician. Lithium has attracted interest from a wide variety of scientific disciplines, partly because it is a small cation with many biological effects and partly because it counteracts both the manic and the depressive manifestations of manic-depressive illness. The seed John Cade sowed has grown to a large tree.

Australia↗