Neuroendocrine and amine studies in affective illness.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Affective Symptoms↗
Biomedical subjects
R C Casper
Publications and source records attributed to R C Casper.
Abnormal lithium and sodium transport in erythrocytes of a manic patient and some members of his family.
This paper compares the transport of Li(+) and Na(+) in erythrocytes from a patient with mania and from members of his family to that in erythrocytes from normal humans. In normal human erythrocytes, Li(+) is transported by at least three operationally distinct pathways: one inhibited by ouabain (ouabain-sensitive), one by phloretin (phloretin-sensitive), and one not inhibited by either compound (insensitive). Li(+) can be driven up its electrochemical potential gradient by an oppositely directed electrochemical potential gradient for Na(+)-i.e., Li(+)/Na(+) counterflow can occur-through the phloretin-sensitive pathway but not through the other two pathways. Because ouabain-sensitive Li(+) transport is negligible under physiological conditions, Li(+) distribution between erythrocytes and plasma in vivo depends mainly on the balance between Li(+)/Na(+) counterflow and the insensitive pathway(s) of Li(+) transport. The steady-state ratio of Li(+) concentration in the erythrocytes to that in the plasma of the patient was between 2 and 3 times higher than the comparable ratio in normal persons. The phloretin-sensitive Li(+)/Na(+) counterflow system was almost absent in the erythrocytes of the patient. Furthermore, unlike those from normal individuals, the patient's erythrocytes showed no external Li(+)-stimulated, phloretin-sensitive, ouabain-insensitive Na(+) efflux. The magnitudes of the ouabain-sensitive and insensitive pathways for Li(+) transport in the patient's erythrocytes were within normal limits. The decreased Li(+)/Na(+) counterflow in the patient's erythrocytes was probably not due to the presence of an inhibitor in the plasma of the patient but rather to an intrinsic defect in the erythrocytes. Because the father and several siblings of the patient showed a similar abnormality in erythrocyte Li(+)/Na(+) transport, it is probable that this defect is inherited.
Adolescent↗
On the course of anorexia nervosa.
The authors trace three phases in the course of anorexia nervosa and compare its physical and psychological symptoms with those of starvation. Phase I, which may occur months or years before the illness, usually includes precipitating events that result in loss of self-esteem and increased self-consciousness about physical appearance. During phase II patients develop the "anorectic attitude," an unreasonable fear of eating, and show pride in their ability to lose weight. By phase III patients are forced by the severity of starvation symptoms to admit that they are ill. Although many of the physical symptoms of starvation and anorexia nervosa are similar, anorectic patients, in contrast to victims of starvation, show high initiative, the ability to suppress hunger, restless hyperactivity, and body image distortion.
Age Factors↗
Intracellular lithium and clinical response.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Erythrocytes↗
Behavioral changes in a juvenile primate social colony with chronic administration of d-amphetamine.
Three selected members of a stable juvenile primate social colony of six, peer-raised, one-year old Stumptail macaques received 0.5 mq/kg of d-amphetamine sulfate daily for four weeks. Amphetamine significantly reduced play activity to a minimum in the treated monkeys throughout the treatment period. These animals preferred huddling with eyes open, although no sedation was apparent. As the treatment period progressed, stereotyped behavior developed, rising significantly during the final week of treatment. This model may be useful in studying the seemingly "paradoxical" quietening effect of amphetamine in children.
Amphetamine↗
Cortisol measures in primary major depressive disorder with hypersomnia or appetite increase.
Morning plasma cortisol response to the 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test along with cortisol levels in blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine were measured in hospitalized male and female patients with primary major depressive disorder who reported hypersomnia (n = 23), or increase in appetite (n = 22). Comparisons were drawn to cortisol levels in patients with primary major depressive disorder who did not report hypersomnia or appetite increase (n = 23) and to normal controls (n = 23), all age- and sex-matched. Depressives with hypersomnia or increased appetite showed higher than normal 24-h urinary free cortisol concentrations. Depressed patients without hypersomnia or appetite increase had in addition to elevated free urinary cortisol concentrations higher than normal morning plasma cortisol levels before and after dexamethasone administration and a higher incidence of cortisol non-suppression after dexamethasone compared to normal subjects. The findings provide preliminary evidence that HPA activation in depression is diminished in the presence of hypersomnia and/or an increased appetite. Studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may be useful for differentiating subtypes of depression characterized by hypersomnia or enhanced appetite.
Adult↗
Nutrition and its relationship to aging.
The aging process alone has no significant adverse consequences for the caloric intake and the nutritional status of healthy elderly individuals. Epidemiological data suggest that in humans, in contrast to rodents, undernutrition reduces the life span. In the Western World, malnutrition in old age has become uncommon and is, for the most part, the result of physical illness and/or of psychological and socio-economic factors, such as depressive disorders, social isolation, smoking, alcohol abuse, and poverty. Body weight shows a U- or J-shaped relationship to mortality risk with the highest survival rates found at normal to moderate overweight. However, studies that have controlled for disease already present, smoking status, serum cholesterol level, or hypertension, suggest an increased mortality risk for lower and upper extremes of body weight, only. Populations with healthy lifestyles have significantly greater life expectancy that the average normal population. Even in the very old, exercise has been shown to improve muscle strength and function. The studies suggest that nutritional intake and nutritional status in old age is multifactorial and dependent not only on appetite and availability of diverse food, but also on physical activity, body mass, education, and an involved social lifestyle.
Aged↗
Personality features of women with good outcome from restricting anorexia nervosa.
Personality characteristics were assessed in women who had physically and, in the majority, psychologically recovered from restricting anorexia nervosa at an 8- to 10-year follow-up. Personality dimensions were evaluated using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire, the California Personality Inventory, and the Reid-Ware Scale. Women who had recovered from anorexia nervosa rated higher on risk avoidance, displayed greater restraint in emotional expression and initiative, and showed greater conformance to authority than age-matched normal women. On comparison with their sisters, the recovered women reported a greater degree of self- and impulse control and less enterprise and spontaneity; sisters, however, endorsed equally high moral standards. The differences in personality characteristics remained significant after statistically controlling for depressive symptoms and eating behavior. The results suggest that a temperamental disposition toward emotional and behavioral restraint combined with a strong sense for traditional values may be psychological risk factors for the development of the restricting type of anorexia nervosa.
Adolescent↗