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Biomedical subjects

T B Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to T B Cooper.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Fluphenazine plasma levels, dosage, efficacy, and side effects.

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to determine whether fluphenazine dose or plasma level predicts clinical improvement or side effects during acute treatment. METHOD: Oral fluphenazine was given in fixed, randomized, double-blind doses (10, 20, or 30 mg/day) for 4 weeks to 72 inpatients with acute schizophrenic exacerbations. Outcome measures included percentage improvement in ratings of positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder), percentage improvement in negative symptoms, and maximum score for extrapyramidal symptoms. Response was defined as an improvement in positive symptoms of 40% or more. RESULTS: The 42 responders had a shorter duration of illness, less chronic course, and lower rate of akathisia. Plasma level and dose did not differentiate responders and nonresponders, but they did predict percentage improvement in positive symptoms within the responder subgroup. Akathisia was more common and extrapyramidal symptoms were more severe at higher plasma levels. CONCLUSIONS: Responders showed the greatest improvement at fluphenazine plasma levels above 1.0 ng/ml and doses above 0.20-0.25 mg/kg per day. Since the literature suggests that optimal plasma levels are similar during acute and maintenance treatment, monitoring of plasma levels may thus be useful. Conditions for applying the "responder-only" analytic strategy in future studies are discussed.

Acute Disease↗

The lithium test dose prediction method in aggressive children.

Cooper and associates (1973) developed a method of ascertaining the lithium dosage required to attain a therapeutic serum level of 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. However, reports about the safety and accuracy of their method in children are limited (Geller & Fetner 1989). This study relates our experience with using this method in children. Subjects were 16 conduct-disordered children (13 males, 3 females), ages 8.97 to 17.14 years (mean, 12.73 +/- 2.12), who were treated with lithium to decrease aggressive behavior. Following a lithium 600-mg loading dose, a 24-hour serum lithium level was drawn from which a "predicted" lithium dosage was established. These dosages ranged from 600 to 1,800 mg/day (mean, 1,312.5 +/- 450) and the corresponding serum lithium levels at steady-state ranged from 0.58 to 1.13 mEq/L (mean, 0.87 +/- 0.15). No severe side effects were encountered. This suggests that the method is safe and useful for predicting lithium dosages in children.

Adolescent↗

CYP1A1 messenger RNA levels in placental tissue as a biomarker of environmental exposure.

The human CYP1A1 gene codes for an inducible enzyme system involved in biotransformation of certain xenobiotics, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; some of the metabolites are carcinogenic and mutagenic. Effects of environmental exposures (smoking, air pollution, and diet) on CYP1A1 gene induction in placental tissue and the modulation of induction by the CYP1A1 MspI RFLP were evaluated in two groups from Poland: 70 mother-child pairs from Krakow, a city with elevated air pollution; and 90 pairs from Limanowa, a less polluted area. Compared to placentas from nonsmoking women, CYP1A1 mRNA levels were significantly increased in placentas from current smokers (P < 0.001). Ex-smokers also had significantly higher placental mRNA levels, including women who quit smoking prior to pregnancy (P < 0.01). A marginal increase in CYP1A1 mRNA with environmental tobacco smoke exposure was evident. Within Krakow, there was an increase in CYP1A1 mRNA with ambient pollution at the place of residence for each woman, which was significant among women who were not employed away from the home (P < 0.05 controlling for smoking status, diet, and use of coal for heating). Significant increases in mRNA were associated with dietary consumption of smoked meat, cheese, and fish (P < 0.01). The CYP1A1 MspI RFLP was not a significant determinant of CYP1A1 mRNA levels after controlling for smoking and other variables. Human placenta provides a readily available and responsive system that can serve as a model for evaluating environmental and genetic determinants of CYP1A1 induction.

Adult↗

Decline of DNA damage and other biomarkers in peripheral blood following smoking cessation.

Serial samples from 40 heavy smokers ( > or = pack/day for > or = 1 year) enrolled in a smoking cessation program were assayed for cotinine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA, 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin (4-ABP-Hb) adducts, and glycophorin A (GPA) mutations. Blood samples were taken while subjects were smoking, and 10 weeks and 8 and 14 months after quitting. Cotinine was used to assess compliance with the cessation protocol. A significant reduction in mean PAH-DNA and 4-ABP-Hb adducts was observed after cessation in all persons who were cotinine-verified quitters ( < or = 25 ng/ml) for > or = 8 months (P < 0.05). Neither the GPA N/phi nor the GPA N/N mutation Vf was significantly reduced after smoking cessation, but results are limited by the small number (n = 18) of heterozygous individuals studied. The substantial reduction (50-75%) in PAH-DNA and 4-ABP-Hb adduct levels after quitting indicates these carcinogen adducts are reflective of smoking. Passive exposure to smoke at home was significantly associated with PAH-DNA adducts in active smokers and in ex-smokers 10 weeks after quitting (P < 0.01). The estimated half-life of the PAH-DNA adducts in leukocytes is 9-13 weeks by inspection of the mean biomarker levels from baseline and 10 weeks sample and 23 (95% confidence interval, 10-36 weeks) using a linear regression model that adjusted for background.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Biomarkers of environmental tobacco smoke in preschool children and their mothers.

BACKGROUND: Adverse health effects attributable to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) include respiratory illness and lung cancer in nonsmokers. There is accumulating evidence that children may be at heightened risk of cancer later in life as a result of exposure to carcinogens during their early development. It is of concern that as many as 9 million American children under the age of 5 years may be exposed to ETS. PURPOSE: Our goal was to assess whether levels of cotinine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-albumin (PAH-albumin) are associated with ETS exposure in children and in women of reproductive age, after accounting for background exposures to PAHs in the diet, workplace, and the home environment. METHODS: The study cohort was composed of 87 Hispanic and African-American mothers and 87 of their preschool children (2-5 years of age). Plasma cotinine was analyzed by gas chromatography; PAH-albumin adducts in peripheral blood were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Exposure data were obtained by interview-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: Both cotinine and PAH-albumin were significantly higher in the children whose mothers smoked than in the children of nonsmoking mothers (P < .001 and P < .05, respectively). Among the children of nonsmoking mothers, cotinine levels were also significantly higher in those who had ETS exposure from others in the household compared with the unexposed children. By regression analysis, after adjustment for ethnicity, there was a significant dose-response relationship between cotinine and the number of cigarettes smoked per day by the mother, both in the children (partial r2 = .23; P = .01) and in the mothers (partial r2 = .22; P = .01). Among the nonsmoking mothers, regression of biomarkers against total passive smoking exposure also showed a significant association with cotinine (r2 = .25; P = .04). PAH-albumin did not show the same dose-related response with the smoking variables. Mothers' cotinine levels were significantly correlated with those of their children (r = .76; P < .001) as were PAH-albumin adducts (r = .27; P = .014). CONCLUSION: ETS exposure of young children via their mothers' smoking is associated with increases not only in the internal dose of ETS (cotinine), which has been previously reported, but also in the biologically effective dose of the carcinogenic (PAH) components of ETS (PAH-albumin adducts). This observation underscores the carcinogenic and public health hazard of ETS. IMPLICATIONS: Given the relatively low level of ETS exposure in this study, these results reinforce the need for effective programs aimed at smoking prevention and cessation among women, particularly women of reproductive age and minorities.

Adult↗

Acute d-amphetamine challenge in schizophrenia: effects on cerebral glucose utilization and clinical symptomatology.

The effects of d-amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg orally) on regional cerebral glucose utilization were measured with positron emission tomography (PET) in 17 schizophrenics (along with a placebo-control group of an additional six schizophrenic patients). The acute d-amphetamine challenge tended to decrease glucose utilization throughout much of the brain, with a regional effect that was statistically significant in the left temporal cortex. There was no apparent relationship between the effects of amphetamine-induced changes in regional cerebral metabolism and psychotic symptom exacerbation. An exploratory analysis suggested that features characteristic of Crow's type II syndrome were significant predictors of cerebral hyporesponsivity to stimulant challenge, however.

Arousal↗

Effects of haloperidol and reduced haloperidol on binding to sigma sites.

The s.c. administration of a single dose of 0.1 mg/kg of reduced haloperidol to guinea pigs produced a marked inhibition of the binding of [3H]dextromethorphan and [3H]3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(n-propyl)piperidine ([3H](+)-3-PPP) to brain. The inhibition was still evident 10 days later, and it was accompanied by residual brain levels of reduced haloperidol, and much lower levels of haloperidol. Scatchard and computer-assisted analysis demonstrated that the inhibition was due to a reduction in the number of binding sites without changes in the affinity. In the rat, haloperidol and reduced haloperidol also produced a rapid inhibition of binding to sigma sites. Interestingly, the brain of the reduced haloperidol-treated rats contained both haloperidol and reduced haloperidol, but the levels of reduced haloperidol in the haloperidol-treated rats were undetectable. However, the inhibition observed was of comparable magnitude, indicating that the haloperidol remaining in the brain is also inhibitory. In vitro experiments showed that the inhibition produced by haloperidol and reduced haloperidol was apparently competitive, but when brain membranes were preincubated with either drug, the inhibition was noncompetitive. By contrast, the inhibition produced by dextromethorphan was always competitive. Moreover, the inhibition produced by haloperidol and reduced haloperidol could not be reversed by washing. This investigation strongly suggests that the inhibition observed after the administration of haloperidol or reduced haloperidol is not a classic agonist-induced receptor down-regulation. The results indicated that the inhibition produced is a complex phenomenon, and suggest the formation of a slowly reversible or irreversible complex with reduced haloperidol or haloperidol.

Animals↗

Abnormal behavioral responses to fenfluramine in patients with affective and personality disorders. Correlation with increased serotonergic responsivity.

Serotonergic responsivity was assessed in 20 psychiatric patients by the prolactin response to a fenfluramine challenge test. During the fenfluramine challenge 6 of 20 patients (30%) spontaneously reported psychopathologic reactions that included: increased anxiety/agitation, psychotic symptoms, illusions, mood elevation, and anergia. The time of peak behavioral symptoms (2.5 +/- 0.8 hrs) corresponded closely to the time of peak increase in prolactin levels (3.0 +/- 1.1 hr). Abnormal behavioral responders had statistically significant greater increases in prolactin 1 to 4 hr after fenfluramine when compared to normal responders. Patients who developed an abnormal psychopathologic response to fenfluramine were characterized by higher levels of anxiety and agitation at the time of admission to the hospital but otherwise were not distinguishable on the basis of severity of other psychiatric symptoms. This study suggests that increased serotonergic transmission may trigger anxiety, psychosis, and mood elevation in specific vulnerable individuals, whereas other patients with similar psychiatric illnesses are not affected.

Adult↗

Persistent psychosis after reduction in pre- and post-synaptic dopaminergic function.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that neuroleptic non-response in the face of "adequate" DA post-synaptic receptor blockade reflects failure of regulatory mechanisms to decrease DA pre-synaptic activity. Eight chronic schizophrenics, meeting rigorous criteria for neuroleptic non-response, were treated for four weeks with alpha-methylparatyrosine as an adjunct to their previously stable neuroleptic dose. Treatment with AMPT produced a prompt decrease in plasma HVA that was, on average, 72% lower at the end of the study. While there was also strong clinical evidence of reduction in central dopaminergic activity (both a significant reduction in dyskinetic movements and increase in extrapyramidal symptoms), there was virtually no change in severity of psychotic symptoms. Thus, in this group of non-responders, psychotic symptoms persisted despite both extensive dopamine post-synaptic receptor blockade and marked reduction of presynaptic activity. These symptoms may not be directly DA dependent.

Adult↗

The effects of fenfluramine on sleep and prolactin in depressed inpatients: a comparison of potential indices of brain serotonergic responsivity.

The effects of fenfluramine, an indirect serotonergic agonist, on electroencephalographic sleep and prolactin secretion were assessed in 12 unmedicated inpatients with a primary diagnosis of major depressive episode. Compared to prefenfluramine profiles, sleep studies performed following fenfluramine administration showed a statistically significant reduction of slow-wave sleep (SWS) (p < 0.001) and a corresponding increase in percentage of stage-2 sleep (p < 0.007). Automated delta wave counts per min decreased significantly during the first nonrapid eye movement (NREM) period (p = 0.04), and automated rapid-eye movement (REM) counts were also decreased in the second REM period (p = 0.02). These effects on sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) did not correlate significantly with another measure of serotonergic responsivity, namely peak prolactin level following fenfluramine, nor with the severity of depression. The reductions in SWS and REM counts are proposed to be the result of time-dependent changes in serotonergic neurotransmission following the administration of fenfluramine. These findings are consistent with earlier work suggesting a role for serotonin in initiation and regulation of SWS and REM sleep.

Adult↗

Plasma homovanillic acid in neuroleptic responsive and nonresponsive schizophrenics.

Changes in plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) were investigated in neuroleptic responsive and nonresponsive schizophrenics in order to delineate parameters of dopamine regulation, which may underlie differences in neuroleptic responsivity. Nineteen schizophrenics were treated with haloperidol for 6 weeks. HVA was sampled at baseline, 24 hr after initial neuroleptic dose, and after 6 weeks of treatment. Subjects were pretreated with debrisoquin in order to reduce the peripheral production of HVA. The responders had an initial rise in HVA at 24 hr after first neuroleptic dose, followed by a decline back to baseline over the 6 weeks of treatment. The nonresponders' HVA failed to rise at 24 hr after first neuroleptic dose. At 6 weeks of treatment their HVA had fallen to significantly below baseline. Thus, a rise in HVA 24 hr after the first dose of neuroleptic predicted treatment response; a fall in HVA at 6 weeks to below pretreatment values was associated with neuroleptic nonresponse.

Adult↗

Timing of neuroendocrine responses and effect of m-CPP and fenfluramine plasma levels in OCD.

The present study assesses the timing of and relationship between neuroendocrine response and metabolite blood levels following the partial serotonin (5-HT) agonist m-CPP and the 5-HT releaser/reuptake blocker fenfluramine. Cortisol levels peaked significantly earlier than did prolactin, m-CPP, fenfluramine, or norfenfluramine blood levels by time-to-peak analysis. This earlier cortisol response to both 5-HT agents raises the possibility that peripheral mechanisms may play a role in cortisol release. Since peak m-CPP level correlated even more closely to peak prolactin rise than did peak fenfluramine, this suggests that prolactin response to oral m-CPP challenge is useful in assessing 5-HT function.

Adult↗

Placental transfer of (3H)-GM1 and its distribution to maternal and fetal tissues of the rat.

The demonstration that ganglioside GM1 pretreatment reduced the ethanol induced neurobehavioral effects in adult pups exposed to ethanol in utero, prompted study to examine whether GM1 crosses the placenta and penetrates fetal tissues. The present results indicate that 3H-galactose labeled GM1 not only passes the placenta but also served as a substrate for the synthesis of polysialogangliosides, and remained in various tissues up to 48 h after maternal (3H)-GM1 administration.

Animals↗

Smoking cessation, clonidine, and vulnerability to nicotine among dependent smokers.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the efficacy of clonidine in smoking cessation and the influence of gender, history of major depression, and measures of nicotine dependence. METHODS: The study was designed as a 10-week double-blind randomized comparison stratified for gender and major depression. Three hundred subjects who smoked cigarettes heavily were enrolled in the study. Abstinence from smoking was evaluated by self-report and verified by serum cotinine levels. RESULTS: Gender, major depression recurrent type, and measures of nicotine addiction were risk factors for treatment failure. There was no clonidine effect in men, but there was a modest effect in women (odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 4.10) that was most pronounced (odds ratio, 8.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.67 to 43.62) among women with the highest risks. CONCLUSION: Measures of addiction and major depression predict treatment failure. Together they are stronger predictors of outcome than drug. Clonidine is a limited aid in cessation, and drug effects come primarily from women at high risk for treatment failure. An increased risk for psychiatric complications after smoking cessation was apparent among smokers with histories of major depression, particularly bipolar disease.

Adolescent↗

Post-dexamethasone cortisol levels and computerized tomographic findings in manic patients.

The relations of post-dexamethasone cortisol levels to computerized tomography (CT) scan findings of lateral and third ventricle size and cortical sulcal prominence rated separately for frontal and parieto-occipital distributions were examined in 15 manic patients. Failure to suppress endogenous cortisol after a dexamethasone challenge was associated with larger third ventricles, but not to any of the other CT scan measures.

Adult↗

Human brain fluoxetine concentrations.

Data on 22 subjects treated with fluoxetine suggest that magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of fluorine-19 can measure brain concentrations of fluoxetine/norfluoxetine in vivo. Fluoxetine accumulates in the human brain relative to plasma, with brain concentrations of fluoxetine/norfluoxetine ranging up to 10.7 micrograms/ml. Brain concentrations may reach a plateau between 6 and 8 months of treatment. The apparent concentration in brain relative to plasma is 20:1, roughly parallel to brain antidepressant concentration ratios in animal studies.

Adolescent↗