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Biomedical subjects

R Ulrich

Publications and source records attributed to R Ulrich.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Comparison of effects of desipramine and amitriptyline on EEG sleep of depressed patients.

Despite their widespread use, there are few data concerning the effects of tricyclic antidepressants on EEG sleep in depression. The present study documented the effects of desipramine (DMI, n = 17) and amitriptyline (AT, n = 16) upon EEG sleep in hospitalized depressed patients as part of a double-blind protocol involving 28 days of active treatment. Compared to placebo, patients receiving DMI showed somewhat worsened sleep continuity, particularly after 1 week of administration when the dose was 150 mg/day. On the other hand, sleep architecture and REM measures showed a rapid suppression of REM sleep, and then partial tolerance for this effect was observed with continued administration of DMI for 3 weeks. DMI was a more potent suppressor of REM sleep, while AT was more sedative. Based on these differences in effects upon EEG sleep, a discriminant function was derived and resulted in a correct classification of 87.5% of AT cases and 76.5% of DMI cases. These results are discussed in terms of the differences in pharmacological profiles for uptake blockade and anticholinergic potency for these two compounds.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Fluorescence methods for localizing proteinases and proteinase inhibitors in skeletal muscle.

Proteinases and proteinase inhibitors have become suspect in a wide variety of muscle wasting conditions that might be treatable if knowledge of the cellular locale and function of these molecules were known. Fluorescent probes have been useful in the localization of proteinases in muscle samples from human and animal specimens. These include the histochemical localization of proteinases based on the specific fluorescence of hydrolysis product derivatives, but this approach has been limited to the lysosomal proteinases because of the acidic requirements of the trapping reaction of the primary reaction product. Immunohistochemical techniques do not have the same restrictions and a number of lysosomal and nonlysosomal proteinases have been identified in muscle by this means. Unfortunately, they do not yield any information as to the activity of the enzymes. This is an important consideration since the extracellular environment contains a number of proteinase inhibitors, some of which may be internalized by the cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Application of automated REM analysis in depression.

Application of automated rapid-eye-movement (REM) analysis can characterize individual REM periods in depressed patients. Average REM count for the individual REM periods generally demonstrated considerable decreases in the second half of the REM period and differentiated patients who subsequently did not respond well to tricyclic antidepressants. These findings suggest that, even as late as six hours into a night of sleep, significant differences among depressed patients are present, based on treatment responder groups. Furthermore, a reevaluation of the previous emphasis on REM abnormalities in the first hour or two of the night may be indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Response of vitamin B-6 deficiency and the carpal tunnel syndrome to pyridoxine.

The specific activities and percentage deficiencies of the glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase of erythrocytes (EGOT) were determined for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) diagnosed by clinical examination and electrical conduction data; the EGOT data revealed a severe deficiency of vitamin B-6. After double-blind treatment with pyridoxine and placebo, two physicians identified those receiving pyridoxine (clinically improved) and those receiving placebo (did not improve) without error, P less than 0.0078. Correcting a deficiency of the coenzyme at receptors of existing molecules of the apoenzyme appears to take place within days; correction of the deficiency in the number of molecules of the transaminase takes place over 10-12 weeks. The clinical response, appraised by the diminution of the symptoms of CTS, was correlated only with the restored levels of the transaminase which presumably results from a translational long-term increase in the number of molecules of EGOT by a mechanism activated by correcting a deficiency of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Apparent Km values of EGOT were identical for groups of patients with CTS and others without CTS but with identical specific activities, indicating that CTS is a primary deficiency of vitamin B-6 rather than one of a dependency state. Clinical improvement of the syndrome with pyridoxine therapy may frequently obviate hand surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Nortriptyline and EEG sleep in depressed patients.

The effect of nortriptyline was assessed on the EEG sleep of 20 inpatients with major depressive syndrome. While 25 mg of nortriptyline had an immediate effect on REM sleep variables, relatively little influence on sleep continuity measures was noted. Subsequent administration of 75 and 100 mg of nortriptyline produced continued REM sleep suppression over several weeks. In summary, nortriptyline altered EEG sleep in a pattern similar to that of amitriptyline. REM latency and REM sleep time were consistently reduced by drug administration, while REM activity was only transiently altered as with amitriptyline. The comparison with amitriptyline showed, for the most part, similar influences on REM sleep without the sedative effects of amitriptyline.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Sleep and treatment prediction in endogenous depression.

The prediction of clinical response in depression has been based primarily on clinical symptoms and history. Recently, psychobiologic measures have been used to increase the accuracy of clinical prediction. In 34 drug-free patients with primary endogenous depression treated with amitriptyline, the application of EEG-monitored sleep criteria alone was more significant than clinical status alone in the prediction of clinical response. Prolonged REM latency and reduced difficulty in sleep onset following the administration of amitriptyline were the main sleep variables contributing to this prediction equation. These data suggest a strong relationship between clinical outcome and psychobiologic profile in patients with endogenous depression after a "pharmacologic probe" with a tricyclic antidepressant.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Therapy with vitamin B6 with and without surgery for treatment of patients having the idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.

Blood samples from four patients at the time of surgery to relieve the compression of the carpal tunnel syndrome, which was diagnosed by clinical and electromyographic evaluation, were differentially assayed to determine the specific activities and the % deficiencies of the erythrocyte glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (EGOT). The data from these assays revealed that these four patients had a severe deficiency of vitamin B6. These data, in conjunction with previous biochemical and clinical results over five years, underscore the desirability, and even necessity, of testing by the EGOT analysis for the presence of a severe deficiency of vitamin B6 in all such patients before surgery. Treatment with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) for a minimum period of 12 weeks, depending upon the duration and severity of the symptoms, has been effective without exception. Surgery may relieve compression, but does not correct a deficiency of vitamin B6. Surgery in addition to therapy with vitamin B6 should be reserved for those patients who have had the deficiency for so many years that much tissue damage is irreversible by pyridoxine, and additional relief from pain can be achieved through the surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Fluphenazine and social therapy in the aftercare of schizophrenic patients. Relapse analyses of a two-year controlled study of fluphenazine decanoate and fluphenazine hydrochloride.

The ability of long-acting fluphenazine decanoate and oral fluphenazine hydrochloride to forestall relapse among newly discharge schizophrenic patients is examined in the context of high and low degrees of social therapy (ST). A total of 105 patients were randomly assigned to the various treatments and maintained under controlled conditions for two years or until relapse. Relapse rates for all treatments remained traditionally high. Relpase rates for long-acting fluphenazine decanoate and oral fluphenazine hydrochloride are nearly identical in the first year, indicating that drug noncompliance does not adequately explain early schizophrenic relapse. However, patients who received long-acting fluphenazine decanoate and ST have a reduced risk of relapse over time. Relapsers who received long-acting fluphenazine decanoate appeared more affectively disturbed than other relapsers, yet both groups were diagnostically and symptomatically equivalent prior to treatment. Personal discomfort and intrafamilial stress are important predictors.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1978

Effect of neonatal corticoid treatment on tryptophan and serotonin metabolism.

Glucocorticoid administration to newborn rats leads to the premature induction of hepatic tryptophan oxygenase. This is accompanied by a retardation of the developmental increase in brain serotinin both in regions of serotoninergic cell bodies and in terminal projection areas. The magnitude of the fall in serotonin is relatively small. This appears due, at early ages to the concomitant induction of brain tryptophan hydroxylase and at late periods to retarded development of the blood brain barrier against tryptophan.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[Very low temperature (quick freezing) and pseudo-stabilization of the chemical composition of food of plant origin].

The consequences of freezing at -18, -30 degrees C are presented: slowing down or acceleration of enzymatic or non enzymatic reactions, concentration effect, consequences of the death of cells, (time--temperature relation). The most characteristic examples of nutritive value adulterations are presented: ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids, other vitamins, derivatives of the insaturated fatty acids oxidation, changes in proteins. Other damages more related to sensorial quality are summarized: "chlorophyll, phenolic substances, aroma, pectins. These chemical changes occurring at low temperatures are generally less important than the losses in nutritional value of frozen plant products related to the necessary treatments preceding or following cold storage. Particularly, the losses during blanching and thawing (drip) are discussed. Finally, quick freezing as it is used now industrially does not exactly stabilize the nutritive quality of plant products but protects this quality satisfactorily. Progress is however possible, concerning the cold treatments (storage temperature lowering) and especially the losses before and after freezing and storage (blanching, transport, distribution, thawing).

Drug Stability↗
PubMed1977

Karl Wittmaack: his life, temporal bone collection, and publications. On the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Karl Wittmaack (1876-1972) was professor for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology at the universities of Jena (1908-1925) and Hamburg (1926-1946). He contributed a lot of pioneer work to experimental pathology of the ear. He left a unique collection of serial sections of temporal bones from animals (55,000 slides) and man (102, 000 slides). This paper gives some data on Wittmaack's life, his temporal bone collection and the unpublished list of his publications.

Animals↗