Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Kellner

Publications and source records attributed to R Kellner.

249 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypochondriacal fears and beliefs in agoraphobia.

In order to evaluate hypochondriacal fears and beliefs in agoraphobia, the authors administered the self-rated Illness Attitude Scales to 18 agoraphobic patients. The patients reported hypochondriacal concerns similar to those of patients with hypochondriasis. After agoraphobia had been treated with exposure therapy in ten patients, hypochondriacal concerns did not differ significantly from those of normals. The findings suggest that hypochondriacal concerns are substantial in agoraphobia and that these wane when anxiety decreases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The metabolic neuropeptides of the corpus cardiacum from the potato beetle and the American cockroach are identical.

Two neuropeptides with adipokinetic activity in Locusta migratoria and hypertrehalosaemic activity in Periplaneta americana were purified by high performance liquid chromatography from the corpus cardiacum of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. The sequences of both peptides, designated Led-CC-I and Led-CC-II, were determined by pulsed-liquid phase sequencing employing Edman degradation after deblocking enzymatically the N-terminal pyroglutamate residue. The C-terminal of both peptides were blocked and neither molecule was cleaved by carboxypeptidase. Both peptides were found to be octapeptides; Led-CC-I has the primary structure pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asn-Trp-NH2, and Led-CC-II has the primary sequence pGlu-Leu-Thr-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-Trp-NH2. These structures are identical to the two hypertrehalosaemic hormones from the American cockroach. Preliminary experiments show that the synthetic peptides are apparently involved in the control of amino acid metabolism during flight of the potato beetle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypochondriasis, somatization, and perceived health and utilization of health care services.

The authors determined the different effects of hypochondriasis and somatization on health perceptions, health status, and service utilization in a primary care population. The subjects with hypochondriacal responses (HR) on the Illness Attitudes Scales or high somatic concern (HSC) on the Symptom Questionnaire had a worse perception of health and variably used more health services than the control subjects, even though the HR and HSC subjects had the same level of chronic medical disorders. Regression analyses determined that somatization contributed more to negative health perception and service utilization than did hypochondriasis, although an interaction between the two contributed to the use of psychiatric care. The authors discuss the boundary between hypochondriasis and somatization for its implications for research and clinical practice.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypochondriasis and somatization related to personality and attitudes toward self.

Better definition of the boundary between hypochondriasis and somatization was determined by measuring attitudes to self and personality dimensions associated with these syndromes. In this study, the primary care patients with hypochondriacal responses (HR) on the Illness Attitudes Scales or high somatic concern (HSC) on the Symptom Questionnaire had more negative attitudes to self and more psychological distress than the matched group of primary care control subjects. The HR subjects were different from the non-HR subjects on two of five personality domains on the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO)-Five-Factor Inventory, and the HSC subjects were different from the non-HSC subjects on four of five NEO domains. Analysis of variance demonstrated that somatization explained most of the variance in attitudes, personality, and psychological distress, but hypochondriasis uniquely contributed only to thanatophobia. The authors discuss the boundary between hypochondriasis and somatization and offer a descriptive model of this relationship.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of multiple peptides homologous to cockroach and cricket allatostatins in the stick insect Carausius morosus.

Eighteen peptides were isolated from brain extracts of the stick insect Carausius morosus. The peptides were purified in four steps by high-performance liquid chromatography, monitored by their ability to inhibit juvenile hormone biosynthesis by corpora allata of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus in vitro, and chemically characterised by Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. We obtained complete primary-structure information for nine peptides, four of which belong to the peptide family characterised by a common C-terminal pentapeptide sequence -YXFGLamide. The remaining five belong to the W(2)W(9)amide peptide family, nonapeptides characterised by having the amino acid tryptophan in positions 2 and 9. The amino-acid sequence of two other peptides could not be completely resolved by means of Edman degradation; however, these peptides could be allocated to the -YXFGLamide and the W(2)W(9)amide family, respectively, by comparison of retention times, co-elution and mass spectrometry. Both classes of neuropeptides strongly inhibit juvenile hormone biosynthesis in crickets but show no inhibiting effect on the corpora allata of the stick insect.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma testosterone levels in the rapist.

Plasma testosterone level was measured in 52 rapists and 12 child molesters who had completed the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, the Megargee Overcontrolled Hostility Scale, and the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. The rapists were classified according to the degree of violence during the commission of the rape. The ranges and means of the plasma testosterone level for the rapist and child molester controls were within normal limits. The group of rapists who were judged to be most violent had a significantly higher mean plasma testosterone level than normals, child molesters, and other rapists in this study. Mean Buss-Durkee hostility rating scores for rapists were significantly higher than the mean for normals, but there was no correlation between individual hostility scores and plasma testosterone levels. There was no correlation between age, race, or length of incarceration and plasma testosterone level.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological status of previously infertile couples after a successful pregnancy.

Potential long-term effects of psychological dysfunction associated with infertility were investigated in a descriptive study of 32 previously infertile couples. Comparison was made with the performance of 20 never infertile couples matched for age, number of children, education, and income level, using a standard psychological assessment tool, the Hopkins symptom check list. While infertile, women had slightly elevated mean scores on three subscales: depression, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility. After resolution of infertility, these scores did not improve. In addition, depression scores were elevated among the previously infertile women compared with a matched, never infertile group. Infertile men scored within the normal range for depression and interpersonal sensitivity and had a borderline mean score for hostility, which was markedly reduced after a normal pregnancy.

Depression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postpartum hostility and prolactin.

In a previous study ten women with hyperprolactinemia and amenorrhea had significantly higher Symptom Questionnaire scores for depression, hostility and anxiety than patients with amenorrhea only and a matched nonpatient employees group. The hyperprolactinemic patients and employees were compared with ten women on their seventh day after childbirth who had been matched for sociodemographic variables and had similar prolactin levels. Hostility was significantly higher in postpartum patients than employees and did not differ significantly from that of women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea. Postpartum hyperprolactinemic women did not differ significantly from the employees for anxiety and depression, which was significantly lower than in the amenorrheic patients. In several mammals aggression occurs concurrently with lactation. The studies in humans suggest an association of high prolactin levels with hostility.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypochondriacal beliefs and attitudes in family practice and psychiatric patients.

Beliefs and attitudes which can be responsible for hypochondriacal behavior were explored by administering the Illness Attitude Scales and two distress scales to patients attending a family practice clinic, nonpsychotic psychiatric outpatients and a random group of employees. Family practice patients were more distressed, had more hypochondriacal concerns and had more bodily preoccupations than employees and took more precautions about their health. Psychiatric patients were more distressed and had more fears about illness and death than family practice patients, yet took fewer precautions about their health. The findings appear to have implications for treatment.

Adult↗