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Biomedical subjects

R Spitzer

Publications and source records attributed to R Spitzer.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Pervasive developmental disorders: from DSM-III to DSM-III-R.

The present paper provides a brief history of the development of the DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1987) section on Pervasive Developmental Disorders. It describes the process by which the contents of the text and criteria for Autistic Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified were decided and gives the reasons for the changes from DSM-III (APA, 1980) categories and criteria. The paper concludes with a short discussion of critical diagnostic issues.

Autistic Disorder

Neurotic depressions: a systematic analysis of multiple criteria and meanings.

Neurotic depression, the most commonly used psychiatric diagnosis, has multiple meanings that are often used interchangeably in clinical practice. The authors identify six different meanings of neurotic depression and present data from a study of 90 depressed inpatients to determine how many patients met several different criteria; 16 patients met four sets of criteria. The overlap that exists between the different meanings is higher than chance alone but not sufficiently high to allow complete interchangeability. Until new diagnostic classes are developed, the authors recommend that the term "neurotic depression" no longer be used clinically because of its vagueness.

Adjustment Disorders

Activity of the alternative pathway of complement in the newborn infant.

Levels of C3, properdin, factor B, and C3 to C9 activity were markedly reduced in cord sera taken from 94 normal newborn infants. Nevertheless, cord serum supported complete activation of its own alternative pathway by zymosan or CoF. Lysis of a target cell, however, was defective; nearly 75% of cord sera had reduced rabbit erythrocyte CH50 titers. These were partially increased by the addition of factor B and properdin, and totally restored by adding factor B, properdin, and C3 to C9. Therefore, although the alternative pathway of the neonate is intact, it appears to be limited in its ability to generate an adequate number of stable and active enzymatic sites on a target cell membrane.

Complement Activation

Neonatal renal arterial embolism syndrome.

Attention is called to a poorly recognized syndrome of neonatal renal arterial embolism, presumably from the ductus arteriosum, resulting in malignant hypertension, congestive heart failure, respiratory distress, and increased renin secretion. Radiographic studies revealed a ductus diverticulum and multiple narrowed arteries including the lower pole branches of the right renal artery. Renal scan showed poor imaging of the lower pole of the right kidney. Nephrectomy resulted in a prompt return of the blood pressure into the normal range. Eight cases recorded in the literature resemble the one reported here, and six of the eight had an associated thrombosis of the ductus arteriosum. Our patient appears to be the first case recognized by modern techniques followed by nephrectomy and clinical cure.

Aortography

Water pollution and diseases in fish (an epizootiologic survey).

Three watersheds, varying from highly polluted or moderately polluted to essentially pollution-free, were surveyed to determine the frequency of fish disease. Over a five year period, it was found that a relationship existed between the level of pollution and frequency of disease. The occurrence rates of microbial and oncogenic diseases increased similarly in relation to increases in pollution in the waters. Since the water systems studied provide recreational opportunities for man, it is suggested that catching and subsequent ingesting of diseased fish from these waters present a health hazard.

Animals