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Biomedical subjects

N E Alessi

Publications and source records attributed to N E Alessi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Use of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Carroll Self-Rating Scale in adolescents.

The relationship of clinicians' ratings of depression in adolescents to self-rating is important to clinical research. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the Carroll Self-Rating Scale (CSRS) were compared in a study of 81 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. The correlation of CSRS and HRSD total scores in adolescents with melancholic major depression was 0.46, lower than the correlation reported in adults (0.80). Higher correlations were seen in females and in nonmelancholic and nondepressed subgroups. While the comparison of the two rating methods suggests some characteristics of depressed adolescents' presentation of their illness, it does not appear that the self-rating instrument can be used as an alternative to clinicians' ratings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1985

Postnatal development of ACTH and alpha-MSH in the medulla oblongata of rat: alpha-MSH is the predominant peptide.

ACTH and alpha-MSH levels were measured by radioimmunoassays in extracts of the caudal medulla oblongata of developing rats on postnatal (P) days 1-42 at 7 day intervals, and in adult rats. From P1 to adulthood, ACTH increased greater than 11-fold from 7.2 +/- 1.9 fmol to 82.4 +/- 12.6 fmol per medulla section (mean +/- S.E.M.). In comparison, alpha-MSH increased greater than 7-fold from 68.75 +/- 11.0 fmol to 491 +/- 97.8 fmol during this time period. ACTH/microgram of soluble protein decreased during postnatal development from 0.006 +/- 0.01 to 0.005 +/- 0.001 fmol/microgram of protein and alpha-MSH increased from 0.06 +/- 0.01 fmol/microgram of protein to 0.11 +/- 0.009 fmol/microgram of protein between P1 and P7, decreased to 0.015 +/- 0.003 fmol/microgram of protein by P42 and increased to 0.03 +/- 0.006 fmol/protein per unit protein by adulthood. These data indicate a significant shift in the levels of alpha-MSH detected during development with a decrease in the concentration of material occurring from early postnatal development (P1-P7) to adulthood, which does not appear to be solely related to a regional increase in protein. These studies, as well as radioimmunoassays for ACTH and alpha-MSH in combination with sizing chromatography of pooled extracts at P1, P7 and the adult, demonstrated the predominance of alpha-MSH at all ages.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1985

Depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior in adolescents.

Depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior in 64 adolescent psychiatric patients were assessed by a structured interview and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. The medical seriousness of suicidal behavior was associated with conscious intent to die and with the number of previous nonlethal suicide attempts. Suicidal behavior was associated with depressed mood, negative self-evaluation, anhedonia, insomnia, poor concentration, indecisiveness, lack of reactivity of mood, psychomotor disturbance, and alcohol and drug abuse. The results suggest that adolescents can be reliable reporters of their suicide potential and that clinicians need to be sensitive to symptoms of major depressive disorder in assessing potentially suicidal adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The characterization of depressive disorders in serious juvenile offenders.

The authors systematically evaluated a selected population of juvenile offenders for the prevalence of affective disorders. Seventy-one (40 male, 31 female) serious juvenile offenders were interviewed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS). They were then diagnosed using the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) and the DSM-III. The Hamilton Rating Scales (HRS), Carroll Self-Rating Scale (CSRS), and Global Rating Scale for Depression (GRS) were also obtained for each subject. Eleven (15%) subjects were diagnosed as having an active major depressive disorder (MDDa), 6 (8%) subjects were diagnosed as having a major depressive disorder in remission (MDDr), and 9 (13%) as having a minor depressive disorder (mDD). The HRS, CSRS, and GRS differentiated the MDDa from the other three groups including MDDr, mDD and all other psychiatric diagnoses. RDC subtypes of depressive disorders were identified in those juvenile offenders with active major depressive disorders (MDDa) and compared to a population of hospitalized adolescents with major depressive disorders. There were significant differences in the distribution of the subtypes identified. Secondary, agitated and endogenous subtypes occurred significantly more often. The diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic significance of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Symptoms and subtypes of depression among adolescents distinguished by the dexamethasone suppression test: a preliminary report.

Twenty-three adolescents hospitalized on an inpatient psychiatric unit underwent a dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder by interviewers blind to the DST results. These patients were divided into four categories according to whether they had major depressive disorders, endogenous ( MDDe ) or nonendogenous (MDD), and whether they were nonsuppressors (+) or suppressors (-) in response to the DST, i.e., MDDe (+), MDDe (-), MDD (+), or MDD (-). Psychomotor features significantly differentiated the MDDe group from the MDD group. Among symptoms this further differentiated the MDDe (+) from the MDD (-) group. The primary subtype of depression occurred significantly more frequently among the MDDe group than the MDD group. The primary subtype also occurred more frequently among the MDDe (+) group than the MDD (-) group, whereas the MDD (-) group had a greater frequency of secondary depression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Suicidal behavior among serious juvenile offenders.

Seventy-one incarcerated juvenile offenders were diagnosed according to DSM-III and assessed for suicidal behavior. Subjects diagnosed as having major affective disorders or borderline personality disorders showed the highest degree of suicidal tendency and had made the most serious attempts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Postnatal ontogeny of acetylated and non-acetylated B-endorphin in rat pituitary.

Extracts of the anterior lobe and intermediate lobe of postnatal (P) (Day P1, P7, P14, P21, P28, P35, P42) and adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were analyzed by both a Beta-endorphin (B-END) radioimmunoassay and a radioimmunoassay for N-acetyl-B-END. In the anterior lobe, on P1, less than 2% of the adult level of B-END was present. By P42 this level had increased to 21% of adult levels. In the intermediate lobe, on P1, the B-END levels were less than 0.1% of the adult level, and by P42 this level approached approximately 45% of the adult levels. N-acetylated B-END was identified in both anterior lobe and intermediate lobe from P1 through adulthood. In the anterior lobe at P1, N-acetyl-B-END immunoreactivity contributes approximately 25% of the total B-END immunoreactivity. This level drops to less than 10% by P21, and to adult-like levels by P42 (less than 5%). On the other hand, in the intermediate lobe, the N-acetyl-B-END levels start at 70% of the total B-END immunoreactivity at P1 and by P14 reaches adult-like proportions of 90% or more of the total B-END immunoreactive material.

Aging↗
PubMed1983

Ontogeny of opioid and related peptides in the rat cns and pituitary: an immunocytochemical study.

The development of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) derived peptides was compared to that of leucine-enkephalin ([Leu]ENK) and dynorphin A (DYN-A) immunoreactivity (i.r.) in the rat CNS and pituitary gland. POMC i.r. appeared first in hypothalamic neurons on embryonic day E12, in pituitary anterior lobe (AL) cells on E15, in pituitary intermediate lobe (IL) cells on E16, and in perikarya of the nucleus tractus solitarius on E17. In the fetal stages (E19-22), all POMC systems appeared adult-like; however, peak i.r. occurred between postnatal days P21-28. The development of alpha-MSH (a-MSH) i.r. was dissimilar to that of other POMC peptides including beta-endorphin (B-End). In contrast, both [Leu]ENK and DYN-A i.r. appeared in later embryonic stages (E16-17), and their maturation lagged behind that of POMC peptides. Peak i.r. for these latter peptides also occurred between P21-28.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of adolescents with major depression: implications of the DST and the melancholic clinical subtype.

Of 38 adolescents hospitalized with major depression, 47% of those receiving psychosocial treatment alone responded. Of the non-responders then treated with combined tricyclic antidepressants and psychosocial treatment, 92% responded. The melancholic subtype and dexamethasone suppression test non-suppression were associated with failure to respond to psychosocial treatment alone. Implications for controlled studies are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MSG effects on beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH in the hypothalamus and caudal medulla.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) was given to neonatal male rats to determine its effects on neurons containing beta-endorphin (beta-END) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) within the basal hypothalamus (arcuate nucleus) and caudal medulla [nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS)] and on the levels of beta-END and alpha-MSH within these areas. Immunocytochemical studies demonstrated a reduction in the number of cells within the medial hypothalamic area (arcuate nucleus) among MSG-treated animals versus saline controls. MSG did not reduce the number of cell bodies within the caudal medulla (NTS). MSG significantly reduced beta-END and alpha-MSH immunoreactive levels in the basal hypothalamus as determined by radioimmunoassay. Whereas a significant reduction in the level of beta-END occurred in the ventral caudal medulla (VCM), none occurred in the dorsal caudal medulla (DCM). In contrast, levels of alpha-MSH increased significantly in the DCM among animals receiving MSG compared to control animals. This study documents the contribution of beta-endorphin containing neurons of the basal hypothalamus to areas of the caudal medulla. The effect of MSG on beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH neurons in these areas and their differential effects on levels in the caudal medulla areas raises questions about the sites of origin of these peptides.

Animals↗