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Biomedical subjects

P Jacobi

Publications and source records attributed to P Jacobi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Effects of synthetic neuropeptides in psycho-organic brain syndrome. Results with ACTH4-10 and ACTH4-9-analog (author's transl)].

The effects of ACTH4-10 (Org O163) and of the ACTH4-9 analog (Org 2766) were tested in 20 male patients suffering from a mild to moderate cerebroorganic impairment. Patients were aged between 51-72 years (mean 60.9). Org 2766 was given in dosages of 0.05 mg, 0.5 mg and 5 mg, Org O163 in a dosage of 30 mg. The investigation was based on a randomized incomplete crossover design. By means of psychological tests the effects of the synthetic neuropeptides on memory, state of well-being, attention, vigilance and psychomotor function were investigated. The statistical analysis of the results did not reveal any effects of both substances on the functions tested. These results are in agreement with those of other studies in man using similar methods and acute administration of ACTH4-10 and/or Org 2766. In such studies only effects of reactive inhibition of attention and motivation could be demonstrated consistently.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Bacterial elimination and therapeutic effectiveness under different schedules of amoxicillin administration.

Bacterial elimination kinetics under different simulated administration schedules of amoxicillin was followed in vitro by using a simple model for simulation of pharmacokinetic parameters. The results were compared to those obtained in lethally infected mice by determining the viable bacterial count in the blood at various times post-infection and under different schedules of amoxicillin administration. A satisfactory correlation could be established between the in vitro and in vivo results. Multiple administration of amoxicillin was found to induce a beta-lactamase in vitro as well as in vivo in the Escherichia coli strain used. No difference was however found between the various administration schedules of amoxicillin in terms of surviving animals. Taking into account the lasting elimination of viable bacteria from the blood, the best treatment of E. coli-infected mice was found to be a twice daily administration of the higher amoxicillin dose.

Amoxicillin↗

The course of brain atrophy in Parkinson's disease.

In 110 parkinsonian patients (53 men, 57 woman) aged 38--81 years, computer-tomographic follow-up investigations were done to assess the development of brain atrophy. The control examinations were done after an average of 28 months. At that time an increase in brain atrophic changes of different localization could be observed in 23% of the patients. In addition, it could be demonstrated that the increase in pathologic CT findings is to be observed especially in patients with higher age, a more marked impairment in psycho-organic capacity, more pronounced handicaps in the fine-motorial performances at the beginning of the study. From the neuroradiological point of view, patients with more marked pathologic CT findings upon the first examination, be these ventricular enlargement and/or cortical atrophy, more often showed a progression of brain atrophy.

Adult↗

Cerebral atrophy and long-term response to levodopa in Parkinson's disease.

In 92 parkinsonian patients (42 men, 50 women) aged from 37-79 years (mean 62.8) the impact of cerebral atrophy as assessed by computed tomography on the course of the clinical symptomatology under levodopa during a period of 1 to 5 years was investigated. It could be shown that patients suffering from medium to severe degrees of atrophy-independent of its special location--have a less favorable response than those with normal CT findings. The data do not allow a definite decision whether cortical artrophy or ventricular enlargement are of major importance. At any rate, the width of the third ventricle seems to have no influence on the course of the clinical symptoms. After 3 years of levodopa treatment a dissociation between cerebral atrophy and therapeutic effectiveness can be observed.

Adult↗

The significance of cerebral atrophy for the symptomatology of Parkinson's disease.

Hitherto published results on the impact of brain atrophy on the neurological and psychopathological sympion of this problem without risk of complications. We investigated 173 parkinsonian patients (89 men, 84 women) aged 37--83 years. Besides CT in all patients a standardized neurological and psychopathological investigation was carried out, including psychological tests, intelligence, personality structure, fine motor performance and visual reaction times. The investigations revealed pronounced correlations between CT-findings and more severe clinical symptomatology and a corresponding impairment in daily activities in the levodopa-treated and particularly in the untreated group, above all when there was a combination of cortical atrophy and ventricular enlargement. The same was true for fine motor performance and simple and complex reaction times. These functions were more impaired in patients with brain atrophy, irrespective of its localisation, whether cortical atrophy or ventricular enlargement. In contrast, no statistically significant relationship between the different parameters of brain atrophy and intelligence could be found. Considering cortical atrophy as a specific sign in Parkinson's disease -- our results are in favour of this assumption -- and ventricular enlargement more related to increasing age, parkinsonism is influenced by extranigral lesions inherent in the disease and dependent on increasing age.

Adult↗

[The influence of MIF (melanocyte-stimulating hormone-release inhibiting factor) on psychomotor function and mood in parkinsonian patients. Preliminary report (author's transl)].

In 12 parkinsonian patients aged from 40--76 years the L-dopa-potentiating effect of MIF was investigated using a doubleblind crossover design. MIF was given i.v. in a dose of 200 mg. The following psychological tests were carried out 4 times after the injection of MIF at hourly intervals: Purdue pegboard, Minnesota-Rate of manipulation test, 2-key-tapping, simple and complex reaction time and a state of well-being scale. The results revealed a marked effect on finger dexterity, drive and complex reaction time. That means MIF does not only lead to an improvement of psychomotor performance but also of cognitive functions. In contrast thereto the influence on the state of well-being was less impressive.

Adult↗

Relationship between arteriosclerosis and cerebral atrophy in Parkinson's disease.

Computed tomographic examinations of parkinsonian patients revealed a high incidence of cerebral atrophy, in most cases a combination of cortical atrophy and ventricular enlargement. The present study considered the relationship between cerebral atrophy and physical signs indicating or promoting arteriosclerosis such as overweight, electrocardiographic changes, hypertension, calcification of the internal carotid artery and aorta as well as elongation of the aorta. The study is based on 173 treated and untreated parkinsonian patients (89 men, 84 women) aged from 37--84 years (mean 64.6), on whom CT was performed about 5.4 years after the onset of the first symptoms of the illness. The results demonstrate an increase of pathological CT findings as well as of calcification in the carotid siphon with advanced age. No correlation was found between the other items and increasing age. Further analysis of the relationship between cerebral atrophy and signs of arteriosclerosis revealed only a statistically relevant correlation with calcification of the carotid siphon, especially with calcification of the media. Since pathological CT findings and calcification of the internal carotid artery are both related to advanced age, whereas all the other items which may be considered to be indications of arteriosclerosis do not have any clear relationship, it is concluded that the cerebral atrophy in Parkinson's disease is not caused by arteriosclerosis.

Adult↗

[Sleep EEG alterations in patients suffering from circulatory disturbances. Relation to neurological and psychopathological changes (author's transl)].

In 30 conscious patients (24 men, 6 women) aged 30-74 years suffering from ischemic lesions in the cerebral hemispheres, polygraphic night sleep recordings were performed about 45 days after the beginning of the illness. The alterations in sleep were characterized by a delay in the onset of sleep, prolonged waking periods, and a reduction of deep synchronous sleep. Statistical analysis revealed a relationship between prolonged waking time with higher age as well as with high complex reaction time and euphoric state of mind, which can be considered as a sign of psycho-organic impairment. In contrast thereto, the degree of the neurological symptomatology is of less importance for the kind and extent of the sleep disturbances.

Adult↗

[Effects of intravenous administration of memantine in parkinsonian patients (author's transl)].

After a preliminary study in 6 parkinsonian patients concerning the effectiveness and tolerance of 1,3-dimethyl-5-aminoadamantane hydrochloride (memantine) an investigation to assess its short-term effects was performed. In an unselected group of 12 parkinsonian patients 40 mg of memantine diluted in 500 ml of laevulose were applied i.v. within 2 h. The patients were examined under standardized conditions before, immediately after and 2, 4 and 24 h, respectively, using a program of physchological tests. The results give evidence for a favourable influence on rigor and tremor in Parkinson's syndrome as well as on motor drive. In comparative studies memantine showed a better tolerance than adamantylaminosulfate. The short-time effects of the drug could be differentiated from placebo and learning effects.

Adult↗

[Bencyclan (Fludilat) in the treatment of patients with ischaemic cerebral infarction (author's transl)].

In 50 patients suffering from local cerebral circulation disturbances the effects of bencyclan--administered intravenously in a dosis of 500 mg per day--were evaluated under double-blind conditions. At the same time all patients received digitalis and physiotherapy. Besides a detailed recording of the neurological and psychopathological status a number of psychological tests were applied in order to get objective data about psychomotor function, cerebro-organic capacity and mood. The control recordings after a three weeks' treatment demonstrated an improvement of the clinical as well as the psychological parameters in either group. There were no marked, statistically significant differences in the extent of improvement between the bencyclan and the placebo group; that means bencyclan has no effect on the signs of ischaemic cerebrovascular disease, which exceeds the effects of digitalis and physiotherapy.

Adult↗

[The influence of a therapy with vasodilating agents on the sleep EEG of patients with cerebral circulatory disturbances. Results of a double blind study (author's transl)].

In 30 patients (24 men, 6 women) aged from 30-74 years and suffering from ischemic lesions in the cerebral hemispheres all-night EEG recordings before and after a 3 weeks' treatment with vasodilating drugs were carried out. At the same time the development of the clinico-neurological and psychoorganic symptomatology, also using test psychological methods, were studied. The drugs--10 patients received 50 mg raubasin, 6 patients 500 mg bencyclan and the others a salt solution--were administered i.v. Under the treatment no change in the primary sleep EEG findings could be observed, whereas there was an improvement of the clinico-neurological and psychoorganic symptomatology in the drug as well as in the placebo group. The lack of improvement in mood and state of well-being is discussed in its relationship to the sleep behaviour.

Adult↗

[Memory disorders in parkinsonism patients].

The experience of memory and retention weaknesses in Parkinsonian patients led us to question if these are only due to age-specific deteriorations, and if these weaknesses change during the L-Dopa therapy of the underlying disease. For this reason 30 Parkinsonian patients and 30 normal subjects of a matched control group took part in five different tests of retention and memory: digit span (Wechsler), visual retention test (Benton), Wechsler Memory Scale (subtests 4 and 7), delayed recall (Williams). The results (including some further samples of the test literature) gave some evidence of test-material-specific weaknesses in Parkinsonian patients: especially such memory decay as is dependent on the interval of retention. An organic deterioration of the intermediate term memory is suggested. This result could not be fully explained by known psychological or neurological characteristics of the underlying disease.

Age Factors↗

[Neuropsychological investigations on short-time effects of biperiden (Akineton) in Parkinson's Disease (author's transl)].

In 10 parkinsonian patients the short-time effects of biperiden after slow, intravenous application were investigated in comparison with a placebo group. Immediately after infusion the patients, who were examined at fixed intervals using standardized tests of psychomotor function, mood, and affect, showed a marked impairment os psychomotor function and reaction time, which in time did not exceed the placebo effects. Simultaneously there could be demonstrated an increasing affective stimulation with an acceleration of operating time and improvement of mood. These findings demonstrate- analogously to the intravenous application of L-Dopa-a psychotropic effect independent of the eventual antiakinetic properties of biperiden. The frequency of exogenous psychotic reactions in patients with marked psychoorganic alteration restricts the applicability of anticholinergic drugs in the treatment of an akinetic crisis.

Affect↗

[Psychometric effects of perphenacine below the "neuroleptic threshold" (author's transl)].

The extrapyramidal-motorical side effects of neuroleptic drugs are preceded by subtle symptoms, the assessment of which is dependent on the methods used. For the evaluation of several such methods of assessment we compared the results of the handwriting test (Haase, 1969) with EMG-measurements of the silent period and psychometric measurement of aiming-, tapping-, and reaction-time-tests. Twenty normal subjects were tested four times in a double blind study in order to control the short- and long-term effects of a low dosage of perphenacine. Slight but significant drug-dependent changes were found, such as decreases of steadiness and of the speed of arm-hand-movements. From the theoretical point of view these results support a dimensional approach rather than an explanation in terms of a categorial approach as it is suggested by the commonly used notion "neuroleptic threshold".

Adult↗