Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R N Golden

Publications and source records attributed to R N Golden.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Antidepressants reduce whole-body norepinephrine turnover while enhancing 6-hydroxymelatonin output.

The effects of antidepressant treatment on noradrenergic function were studied in 27 patients with a major affective disorder. Twenty-four-hour urinary excretion of 6-hydroxymelatonin and "whole-body norepinephrine (NE) turnover," ie, 24-hour urinary output of NE and its major metabolites 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, vanillylmandelic acid, and normetanephrine, were measured before and after treatment with the tricyclic desipramine hydrochloride, the aminoketone bupropion hydrochloride, the nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor tranylcypromine sulfate, and the specific MAO type A inhibitor clorgiline. 6-Hydroxymelatonin excretion increased following antidepressant treatment, while at the same time whole-body NE turnover was reduced. These findings support the hypothesis that antidepressant therapy increases noradrenergic "efficiency," in that functional output, as measured by 6-hydroxymelatonin, is maintained while total NE production is decreased.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Differential diagnosis of pseudodementia in the elderly.

When depression occurs in the elderly, it may mimic dementia. The identification of depressive pseudodementia is important because this syndrome, unlike true dementia, often responds to antidepressant treatment. In this paper, the authors present strategies for differentiating pseudodementia, dementia, and coexisting depression and dementia. The treatment of depression in the elderly is also discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The effects of dexamethasone on plasma homovanillic acid and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol. Evidence for abnormal corticosteroid-catecholamine interactions in major depression.

We investigated the possible interactions between corticosteroids and catecholamines in depression by studying the effects of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone on plasma levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in a group of depressed patients and normal controls. In comparison with metabolite levels on a control day, normal controls showed a significant dexamethasone-induced increase in the plasma HVA level and a trend toward a decrease in the plasma MHPG level at 4 PM following dexamethasone administration (1 mg orally at 11 PM). Conversely, depressed patients, particularly those with psychotic features, showed a significant dexamethasone-induced increase in the plasma MHPG level and a blunting of the plasma HVA response relative to the normal controls. Dexamethasone-induced increases in the plasma MHPG level were directly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms and with postdexamethasone cortisol levels in the depressed patients. These data suggest abnormal corticosteroid-catecholamine interactions in depression and, specifically, in depressed patients with psychotic features.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Effects of S-adenosyl-methionine on plasma norepinephrine, blood pressure, and heart rate in healthy volunteers.

S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is currently undergoing trials as a possible antidepressant. Because SAMe's mechanism of action is obscure and norepinephrine (NE) is often implicated in affective disorders, we studied the effects of SAMe on this neurotransmitter in volunteers. Plasma NE and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in the supine and standing position were studied before and after acute placebo or a single 400 mg dose of SAMe and following seven daily administrations; concomitant measures were heart rate (HR) and blood pressure. Subjects were unable to distinguish acute drug from placebo, and although chronic SAMe administration was open, they reported no behavioral effects. Standing HR and plasma NE were reduced following chronic SAMe. Qualitatively similar changes are obtained following chronic treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). However, unlike MAOIs, chronic SAMe treatment was not associated with changes in plasma MHPG. Exaggerated standing NE is found in depressed patients; SAMe may reduce this abnormal response, providing a clue for its mechanism of action in depression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Vitamin B12 deficiency and the dexamethasone suppression test.

The authors describe dexamethasone nonsuppression in a depressed patient with a vitamin B12 deficiency. After B12 replacement there was no change in the patient's clinical state. However, the dexamethasone suppression test normalized. Thus, dexamethasone nonsuppression in this patient seemed to be more closely related to vitamin B12 deficiency than to affective state.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1986

Depression in women treated for gynecological cancer: clinical and neuroendocrine assessment.

To determine the prevalence of major depression in cancer patients and assess the usefulness of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test for diagnosing major depression in these patients, the authors studied 83 women hospitalized for gynecological cancer. Nineteen (23%) had major depression according to DSM-III criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the DST were 40% and 88%, respectively. No relationship between DST and TRH test results was found. These findings indicate a high prevalence of depression in cancer patients, but further research on these tests in cancer patients is needed; their routine use with cancer patients is premature at this time.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Neurochemical and neuroendocrine dysregulation in affective disorders.

Depressed patients demonstrate dysregulation in multiple neurochemical and neuroendocrine systems. The observed abnormalities are often subtle, involving "inefficiencies" in stress-responsive systems. Norepinephrine, acetylcholine, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis are among the major biochemical and hormonal sites of dysregulation in depression.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1985

Selective antidepressants and cerebrospinal fluid. Lack of specificity on norepinephrine and serotonin metabolites.

Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of the norepinephrine metabolite, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), the serotonin metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and the dopamine metabolite, homovanillic acid, were measured in depressed patients before and after treatment with three putatively specific antidepressants. The expected specificity of action on these three neurotransmitter metabolites was not observed. Desipramine hydrochloride, a norepinephrine uptake inhibitor, reduced 5-HIAA as well as MHPG concentrations; zimeldine hydrochloride, a serotonin uptake inhibitor, reduced MHPG as well as 5-HIAA concentrations; and clorgyline, a selective monoamine oxidase type A inhibitor, which might be predicted to most affect 5-HIAA, dramatically reduced MHPG, moderately reduced homovanillic acid, and only modestly reduced 5-HIAA concentrations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Psychoses associated with bupropion treatment.

The authors describe the development of acute psychoses in four patients treated with bupropion, a unicyclic aminoketone antidepressant. In two of the cases the psychoses seemed to be affected by dose. The mechanism responsible for the psychotic reactions is unclear, although it may involve perturbation of dopaminergic systems. On the basis of their experience, the authors offer recommendations regarding the clinical use of bupropion.

Acute Disease↗