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T J Crow

Publications and source records attributed to T J Crow.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

G proteins (Gi, Go) in the medial temporal lobe in schizophrenia: preliminary report of a neurochemical correlate of structural change.

We have measured the amount of Gi (the inhibitory G-protein) or Go (a similar G-protein of unknown function) in 5 areas of the medial temporal lobe of control and schizophrenic brains utilizing pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation. The material used has previously been shown to have asymmetrical structural abnormalities of the ventricular system. The amount of Gi or Go was reduced on the left side in the hippocampus, amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus, the difference reaching significance in the hippocampus. This data is the first report of a neurochemical correlate of the structural change in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. Decreased Gi or Go in hippocampus may relate to other reported neurochemical deficits or other transmembrane signalling abnormalities. Further investigations of these indices of secondary messenger function in relation to structural changes are indicated.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1991

Insertions in the prion protein gene in atypical dementias.

A number of mutations have been demonstrated in the open reading frame (ORF) of the prion protein (PrP) gene in patients with familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome. On the basis of detecting an insertion in the ORF of the PrP gene in a patient originally suspected to be suffering from familial Alzheimer-type dementia, we screened 101 individuals with atypical dementias for the known PrP gene mutations. Insertions were found in five individuals, whereas none of the other reported mutations in the PrP gene was detected in the present study. One of the five insertions was larger than that described previously, suggesting that the individuals with these mutations are unlikely to be all lineally related and that insertions in the PrP gene may not be uncommon in prion diseases.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1991

No genetic linkage detected for schizophrenia to Xq27-q28.

The hypothesis that at least a subgroup of familial cases of schizophrenia could be due to a genetic defect on the X chromosome is supported by the observation of an excess of X-chromosome aneuploidies (XXX and XXY) among populations of patients with psychosis. The distal long arm, Xq27-q28, is a candidate region where linkage has been claimed to manic-depressive disorder and a fragile site has been associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The present study excluded linkage to a large part of this region using four polymorphic probes and multipoint lod-score analysis in 10 families with multiple members with schizophrenia.

Chromosome Banding↗
PubMed1991

Presymptomatic detection or exclusion of prion protein gene defects in families with inherited prion diseases.

The identification of defects in the prion protein (PrP) gene in families with inherited Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or Gerstmann-Straussler syndrome allows presymptomatic diagnosis or exclusion of these disorders in subjects at risk. After counseling, PrP gene analysis was performed in three such individuals: two from families with a 144-bp insert and one with a point mutation at codon 102 in the PrP gene. The presence of a PrP gene defect was confirmed in one and excluded in two. Despite the potential problems of using PrP gene analysis in genetic prediction - specifically, uncertainty about penetrance and, generally, problems of presymptomatic testing in any inherited late-onset neurodegenerative disorder - we conclude that it has a role to play in improved genetic counseling for families with inherited prion diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A "mock up" of schizophrenia: temporal lobe epilepsy and schizophrenia-like psychosis.

Schizophrenia-like psychoses occur more frequently than expected in patients with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. We have analyzed pathological and clinical data from a series (n = 249) of temporal lobectomies to determine the factors that may relate to the development of schizophrenia-like psychosis. Schizophrenia-like psychoses did not occur at random; they were significantly associated with lesions that (1) originated in the fetus or perinatally, (2) affected neurons in the medial temporal lobe, and (3) gave an early age of first fit. Gangliogliomas--developmental lesions of the medial temporal lobe containing aberrant neurons--were disproportionately (p less than 0.001) associated with risk of psychosis. Schizophrenia-like psychoses arising preoperatively occurred more often (p = 0.1) with left-sided lesions. Asymmetry of lesion was not present in cases with postoperative psychoses. These findings are of interest in relation to recent studies suggesting that the structural abnormalities found in the brains of schizophrenics arise during fetal brain development.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Prion dementia without characteristic pathology.

Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome (GSS) was diagnosed in a family with presenile dementia by prion protein gene analysis. Extensive histological examination of the brain of an affected individual from this family showed no characteristic features of GSS or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Thus "spongiform encephalopathy" (GSS or CJD) cannot always be excluded on neuropathological grounds in an individual dying of a dementing condition, and the true prevalence of these diseases is likely to be underestimated. Screening by prion protein gene analysis will help to determine the full clinical and neuropathological phenotype in familial cases. This observation may be relevant to the assessment of possible transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to man.

Alleles↗
PubMed1990

Urinary chromatographic profiles in schizophrenia.

In a series of articles, Trygstad et al. (1980) suggested that specific patterns of peptide excretion and increased levels of peptide material are found by chromatographic analysis of the urine of patients with a variety of psychiatric illness including schizophrenia. As these results have not been independently replicated in another laboratory, we conducted an investigation of urine samples from 5 DSM-III classified schizophrenic patients and 4 normal subjects using the techniques described by the Norwegian group, and with a series of modifications. The chromatographic profiles obtained differ widely from those reported by Trygstad et al. No significant differences were detected between patients with schizophrenia and controls. The methods used by Trygstad et al. are complex and we have defined several parts of the methods which are subject to variability. Our findings lend no support to the view that patients with psychiatric illness can be readily distinguished from normal subjects by the amount or profile of peptide excretion in urine.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

G-proteins (Gi, Go) in the basal ganglia of control and schizophrenic brain.

We detected the existence of Gi (the inhibitory G-protein) or Go (a similar G-protein of unknown function) in the striatum of control and schizophrenic brains utilizing pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation. The level of Gi/Go was significantly decreased by 42% in the putamen of the left hemisphere in schizophrenics; caudate head and globus pallidus levels were unchanged. Decreased Gi or Go may underlie enhanced dopamine function in the schizophrenic brain.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Combination tricyclic antidepressant and lithium maintenance medication in unipolar and bipolar depressed patients.

In a small study of up to 3 years' duration comparison of the value of amitriptyline alone versus amitriptyline + lithium in unipolar cases (27 patients) and of that of lithium alone versus amitriptyline + lithium in bipolar cases (13 patients) showed no advantage for the combination treatments in terms of efficacy in reducing depressive relapses. There was no effect of treatment, developing depression or developing hypothyroidism upon the psychological tests which were conducted during this prolonged study. Observer and self ratings detected an increase in depression before relapse was clearly present, but of the various psychological assessments conducted only arousal showed changes in association with developing and definite relapse. The prescription of lithium but not amitriptyline + lithium or amitriptyline alone was associated with significant increases in blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Reduction in temporal lobe size in siblings with schizophrenia: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

Twenty-eight individuals with familial schizophrenia, from 16 unrelated families (12 sibling pairs and 4 individuals whose siblings refused scanning), and 21 normal control subjects were examined by cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Measurements of the cerebrum, temporal lobes, and cerebral lateral ventricles were obtained using consecutive coronal sections containing these structures. Temporal lobe volume was significantly decreased by approximately 10% in these early onset schizophrenic siblings compared with normal controls. These findings add to recent post-mortem and neuroradiological evidence for morphological alteration in the temporal lobes in schizophrenia.

Adult↗