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Biomedical subjects

O Benkert

Publications and source records attributed to O Benkert.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Psychoendocrinological and therapeutic effects of TRH in depression.

The antidepressive efficacy of TRH was investigated in 15 endogenous depressive patients in a double-blind cross-over design. The Hamilton depression scale, the AMP (PAS) system, v. Zerssen scale and thermometer scales were used. No therapeutic effect could be demonstrated. The blunted TSH-response to TRH, which has been described by other investigators, was confirmed. There was suggestive evidence of a psychoendocrinological relationship in the sense that the more severe the "somatic depressive" syndrome as calculated from the AMP system, and the more marked the diurnal variation of the endogenous type is, the lower are the basal TSH-values and the smaller the response to TRH. Thus, TRH may become a useful tool to identify subgroups of depressive patient populations.

Adult↗

Stimulation of growth hormone secretion by desimipramin and chlorimipramin in man.

In twelve healthy male subjects 75 mg desimipramin (DMI) administered intramuscularly and 100 mg DMI given orally led to a prompt rise in serum growth hormone (GH) levels. The maximum level of serum GH was observed 60 min after the i.m. and 150 min after the oral administration of DMI. Chlorimipramin (CI) administered in the same manner and in the same dosages resulted in a significant increase in GH in only six out of twelve subjects. The maximum level was observed 60 min after the i.m. and 150 min after the oral administration of DMI. There was no change in the prolactin (PRL) levels after administration of DMI and CI.

Adult↗

Effect of zimelidine (H 102/09) in depressive patients.

Z-1-(4-Bromophenyl)-1-(3-pyridyl)-3-dimethylaminopropene dihydrochloride hydrate (zimelidine; H 102/09), a newly developed bicyclic substance, was tested in a pilot study for its clinical effect in 10 female patients with a depressive syndrome. Zimelidine inhibits the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) reuptake more potently than does chlorimipramine. The action on the norepinephrine reuptake is weaker compared with imipramine, also the cardiotoxic and anticholinergic effects are lower. Zimelidine was administered for 20 days in a daily dose of 150 mg. A significant (p less than 0.05) improvement from the beginning of the treatment to the 15th day was demonstrated in Hamilton rating scale and a self-rating scale (von Zerssen). Nevertheless, the zimelidine treatment had to be discontinued between the 15th and 18th days in 3 patients, because of agitation symptoms. The antidepressant action in some patients justifies the performance of controlled studies.

Adult↗

Effect of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) on pituitary hormones and testosterone in the human.

L-p-Chlorophenylalanine (L-PCPA) was given in a dosage of 1.5 g daily, to 6 healthy male subjects over a period of 12 days. No effect on plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), testosterone and other steroid hormones could be observed. These results are discussed in respect to the sexually stimulating effect of PCPA.

Adult↗

Sexual impotence: studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and the effect of oral thyrotropin-releasing factor.

Thyrotropin-releasing factor was given orally to 12 impotent patients in a dose of 43 mg daily for 4 weeks in a double-blind crossover technique and compared with placebo. TRF showed no beneficial effect over placebo. In these patients, thyroid function and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis were examined by measuring T3, T4, and TSH before and after the TRF test. There were no pathological findings for patients included in this study.

Adult↗

[Comparison of the effects of the anthracene derivative danitracen (WA335-BS) and amitriptyline in depressive patients (author's transl)].

9,10-Dihydro-10-(1-methyl-4-piperidylidene)-9-anthrol (danitracen, WA 335) is a substance with a stronger peripheral and partly central antiserotonin and antihistamine effect than cyproheptadine. In 5 different hospitals, WA 335 (3 X 1 mg/die) was investigated versus amitriptyline (3 X 50 mg/die) in a double-blind study in 116 depressive patients of different nosology. In the end of the investigation period (20 days), under WA 335 treatment 67.7% and under ami-riptyline treatment 66.7% of the patients showed an improvement of 50% = decrease in the Hamilton depression score. However, a decrease of 50% in the selfrating scale (von Zerssen) was only shown by 57% of the patients under WA 335 administration and 51% under amitriptyline administration. There were no significant differences seen as regards course and side effects of the two drugs. Like amitriptyline, WA 335 shows sedative properties at the beginning of therapy.

Adult↗

[The effect of thyrotrophin releasing hormone versus placebo in combination with basic imipramine therapy of depressive patients].

20 female and 10 male patients with a retarded-depressive syndrome received imipramine (3 X 50 mg/day) for 20 days. In a double blind study oral thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) (2 X 40 mg/day) and placebo, respectively, were added for the first 2 weeks. The patients were rated with the Hamiltion-depression scale and a selfrating depression scale. But the statistical evaluation showed no difference between the imipramine/TRH and the imipramine/placebo group.

Adult↗

Sexual impotence: a double-blind study of LHRH nasal spray versus placebo.

A double-blind study comparing application of 1.0 mg LHRH nasal spray per day against a placebo was performed in a group of 20 sexually impotent patients in whom no clinical endocrinological pathology was evident. After a 2-week placebo-spray period, LHRH was given for 4 weeks. A 2-week placebo-spray period followed. A better therapeutic effect was seen in the LHRH as opposed to the placebo group (p = 0.024) 4-6 weeks after cessation of LHRH medication. After 4 weeks of LHRH medication there were no changes in basal LH/FSH levels or in the LH response after administration of 25 mug LHRH. The FSH response was, however, significantly lower.

Administration, Intranasal↗

[The role of clinical psychiatry in the development of new drugs].

A survey is given from a clinically working psychiatrist's point of view on principal aspects of the development of new psychotropic drugs. The comparison with the other medical branches shows, that clinico-pharmacological investigations and clinical trials play an important role in the development of new psychotropic drugs. 1. The importance of clinical screenings for the development of new psychotropic drugs is stated by means of a comparative analysis of the pre-clinical and clinical screening methods. In this connection, the importance of animal experiments, biochemical and pharmaco-psychological findings is reported. 2. The particular difficulties of characterizing the effectiveness of potential psychotropic drugs are explained based on the problems of placebo effects, of the unspecific influence on psychotropic drug effects and by means of the socalled "main and side" effects of these drugs. 3. The principles of psychiatric ratings and of data documentation are explained with the aid of different examples.

Biochemical Phenomena↗