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Biomedical subjects

S E Keller

Publications and source records attributed to S E Keller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Immunity, major depression, and panic disorder comorbidity.

Because recent research reports indicated clinical and biological differences in major depression with and without comorbid Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) panic disorder, and as altered immune measures were reported in selected subgroups of depressive patients, we investigated 51 pairs of major depressive episode (MDE) subjects, and gender- and age-matched healthy controls in order to determine if T lymphocytes number and function abnormalities were associated with Panic Disorder comorbidty. We found that those MDE subjects with DSM-III-R panic disorder (PD) had greater numbers of T cells (p less than 0.05) and PHA mitogen (p less than 0.05) responses than depressive patients without PD, as well as increased phytohemagglutinin (PHA) (p less than 0.05) concanavalin A (ConA) (p less than 0.02) mitogen responses compared to their controls. These data suggest that panic disorder comorbidity significantly contributes to the variance of immunologic parameters in major depression and has to be carefully assessed within psychoimmunological studies of psychiatric patients with affective disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Depression in inner city adolescents attending an adolescent medicine clinic.

Interviews of 70 healthy inner city adolescents attending an adolescent medicine clinic, using the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA), revealed that 13% met criteria for current major depressive disorder. Lifetime diagnoses of major depression were found in 30% of the subjects, with many describing recurrent episodes and chronic residual symptoms. Depression in inner city adolescents represents a serious problem that may be best first detected in a medical setting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

HIV-relevant sexual behavior among a healthy inner-city heterosexual adolescent population in an endemic area of HIV.

The AIDS crisis has devastated segments of the population including the gay community and those who use intravenous drugs. HIV has spread to other groups including prostitutes and those with other sexually transmitted diseases. We have been studying adolescents in a major Northeast city where there is a major HIV/AIDS epidemic. Despite high levels of AIDS related knowledge, these adolescents reported high levels of sex risk behaviors. In addition, our data suggests that even moderate alcohol or marijuana use predicts high risk sexual behaviors. These data indicate the urgent need to develop prevention strategies for the spread of HIV among inner-city youth based upon relevant predictors of risk behaviors. The coupling of HIV in inner-city populations with a high frequency of risk behaviors in adolescents demands an immediate public health response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Facial pain, distress, and immune function.

Chronic facial pain syndromes are associated with high levels of distress and depression. Immune system measures were investigated in otherwise healthy patients suffering from chronic temporomandibular pain and dysfunction syndrome (TMPDS) and in matched controls. No mean differences were found between TMPDS patients and the controls on any of the immune measures; however, both ConA and PWM responses in TMPDS patients were decreased in relation to the level of demoralization (P less than 0.05). Cognitive symptoms such as low self-esteem and perceptions of helplessness/hopelessness were implicated in these effects. In addition, among patients pain severity was independently associated with decreased ConA response (P less than 0.05). The data suggest possible correlates of stress-induced changes in the immune system.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Major depressive disorder and immunity. Role of age, sex, severity, and hospitalization.

An association between depression and altered immunity has been suggested but has not been consistently demonstrated. We have studied 91 patients with unipolar major depressive disorder, and no mean differences were found between the patients and concurrently studied matched controls in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, lymphocyte subsets, and natural killer cell activity. There were, however, significant age-related differences between the depressed patients and controls in mitogen responses and in the number of T4 lymphocytes. In contrast to age-related increases in mitogen response and in T4 cells in controls, depressed patients did not show increased lymphocyte responses or numbers of T4 lymphocytes with advancing age. Severity of depression and hospitalization status were also associated with immune system changes. Altered immunity does not appear to be a specific biologic correlate of major depressive disorder but may occur in subgroups of depressed patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

An improvement on the Bollman method of restraining and collecting thoracic duct lymph from the rat.

A method of obtaining rat thoracic duct lymphocytes is described, including a review of the surgical technique, with several modifications, and including an outline of a newly designed rat restrainer that helps to triple thoracic duct output compared to the Bollman restrainer. The new restrainer allows the rat increased mobility but protects the thoracic duct cannula. Unanesthetized 200 g rats yielded 80 ml/day thoracic duct lymph containing 4.2 x 10(4) lymphocytes/ml.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Premature maternal separation and lymphocyte function.

Premature separation of rat pups from their mothers, on postnatal Day 15, produced a decreased response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at 40 days of age. A significant lymphopenia was also found in the early weaned animals at 40 days of age although this was accounted for statistically by their lower body weight. These consequences of early maternal separation may have been mediated through the effects of early separation on nutritional state, hypothalamic function, or maturation of the immune system.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Stress-induced alterations of immunity in hypophysectomized rats.

Stress-induced suppression of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was demonstrated in hypophysectomized rats. Stress effects on the numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets and on splenic natural killer cell activity require the presence of pituitary. A pituitary-dependent restraining influence on stress-induced alteration of immunity is described. These results indicate that stress-induced modulation of immunity is complex and includes a range of enhancing and inhibitory mechanisms.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

Immune system. Relationship to anxiety disorders.

The demonstration that behavioral states and CNS processes are associated with immune function suggests that there may be a relationship between anxiety and the immune system. Stress and immunity have been studied extensively, but there have been relatively few studies of anxiety and immunity. Many of the neurobiologic processes associated with stress and with depression have been observed in anxiety and are known to influence the immune system. A review of the immune response to stress and of immune alterations in depression has been presented in an effort to provide further understanding of the biology of anxiety. It appears that a variety of factors such as age; sex; nature, intensity, and chronicity of a stressful life events; and psychologic response to life stress need to be considered in the investigation of behavior and immunity. The biologic effects of stress on immunity are multifaceted, including complex neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter interactions. Further investigation is required of anxiety and immunity in clearly delineated and diagnosed anxiety states and disorders. Such studies may help to elucidate the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1985

Depression and immunity. Lymphocyte function in ambulatory depressed patients, hospitalized schizophrenic patients, and patients hospitalized for herniorrhaphy.

Mitogen-induced lymphocyte stimulation responses in ambulatory patients with major depressive disorder did not differ from those of matched controls. Lymphocyte responses in hospitalized schizophrenic patients and in patients hospitalized for elective herniorrhaphy similarly did not differ from responses of controls. The number of peripheral-blood T cells was decreased among the ambulatory depressed patients but not in the schizophrenic patients. These findings, together with previously reported decreased lymphocyte function in hospitalized depressed patients, suggest that decreased lymphocyte function is associated specifically with depression and not related to hospital effects or nonspecifically to other psychiatric disorders. The results also suggest that altered immunity in depression may be related to severity of depressive symptoms.

Adult↗