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Biomedical subjects

Z Rihmer

Publications and source records attributed to Z Rihmer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Dexamethasone suppression test in masked depression.

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST), family history, response to antidepressant medication and short-term course were investigated in 16 female patients with masked depression. Twelve patients showed abnormal DST results, 3 patients had positive family history of affective illness in first-degree relatives, 11 responded well to antidepressant drug treatment and 3 showed definite hypomanic episodes during follow-up. The results suggest that masked depression is a special form of primary (endogenous) depressive illness, and that the DST is a good diagnostic aid not only in the 'classical' but also in masked forms of depressive disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The relationships of neuroendocrine tests in endogenous depression.

Amphetamine induced growth hormone (GH) response (Study 1) and TRH induced TSH response (Study 2) were assessed in patients with endogenous depression (n = 20 and n = 22, respectively), who underwent a dexamethasone suppression test (DST) on the following day. The GH response to the amphetamine was significantly lower in the group of depressed patients than in the healthy controls (n = 13). There was no difference between the DST nonsuppressors (n = 12) and suppressors (n = 8) in the GH peak values. This data strongly suggests that the two tests are independent from each other. There was no significant relationship between the DST and TRH-TSH results. Patients with blunted TSH response to TRH have had significantly higher cerebrospinal fluid 5-HIAA levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Reduced serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in paranoid schizophrenics.

The serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity of 134 carefully selected paranoid schizophrenic patients was compared with that of 118 normal controls. Significantly reduced serum DBH activity found in the schizophrenic group in comparison to the control group could not be brought into relationship with the patients' age, nor with neuroleptic treatment. Manic depressive patients showed values similar to the normal control group. It is discussed that mainly genetically determined low serum DBH activity may be related to the hyperdopaminergic pathomechanism of paranoid schizophrenia.

Aging↗
PubMed1983

Association between high platelet MAO activity and response to MAO inhibitor in depressed bipolars: case reports.

The authors describe two female patients with bipolar I depression who did not respond to tricyclic antidepressants in their previous depressive episodes and were prophylactic lithium nonresponders. Both patients showed a high pretreatment platelet MAO activity and responded well and rapidly to monoamine oxidase inhibition (MAOI) treatment. These findings suggest that although bipolar depressed patients show a low platelet MAO activity, there may be a subgroup with high enzyme activity. These patients revealed a low tendency to respond to tricyclic antidepressants and showed rapid improvement on MAOI therapy.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1983

Reduced platelet MAO activity in healthy male students with blood group O.

The association between the two genetic markers of affective disorders, ABO blood group system and platelet MAO (monoamine oxidase) activity was studied in 70 healthy young males. The platelet MAO activity of subjects with blood type O was significantly lower than that of subjects with blood type A and with blood types A + B AB + B together. This finding could constitute a "bridge" between the two genetic approaches to affective disorders.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1983

Red blood cell/plasma lithium ratio in manic-depressive, schizoaffective, and schizophrenic patients.

The red blood cell/plasma lithium ratio (LR) has been studied in 14 schizophrenic (paranoid type), 22 schizoaffective, and 86 manic-depressive patients. Mean LR proved to be significantly higher in manic-depressive patients (p less than 0.001) as compared to the other two groups which on the other hand did not differ significantly from each other. There was no significant difference in the LR between female and male patients. Analyzing the LR according to family history and subtype of illness (i.e., bipolar I/bipolar II dichotomization) of 86 manic-depressive patients we found that neither sex nor type of illness had consistent influence on LR, but patients with positive family history of affective illness had a significantly higher LR than patients with negative ones (p less than 0.01).

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1982

The red blood cell/plasma lithium ratio: marker of biological heterogeneity within bipolar affective illness?

The red blood cell/plasma concentration ratio (LR) was studied in 45 female patients with bipolar affective illness who responded to prophylactic lithium treatment. Patients were subdivided according to bipolar I vs. bipolar II diagnosis and presence vs. absence of a family history of affective illness. Mean LRs were significantly higher in bipolar II patients and in those with a positive family history of affective illness, but there was no relationship between diagnosis and family history. Results indicate that LR is genetically controlled and may be a biological marker distinguishing bipolar I and bipolar II patients, and also patients with positive or negative family history of affective illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Depression and diabetes mellitus. A study of the relationship between serum cortisol and blood sugar levels in patients with endogenous depression.

The relationship between serum cortisol and fasting blood sugar levels in 39 female patients with endogenous depression was studied. Serum cortisol levels were determined in two post-dexamethasone blood samples during the dexamethasone suppression test. There were no significant differences between the blood sugar levels of suppressors (patients with low serum cortisol level) and non-suppressors (patients with high serum cortisol level). There was no correlation between the serum cortisol levels and blood sugar values in these two groups either. Although numerous reports claim to have found a relationship between endogenous depression and diabetes mellitus, our data do not imply a direct relationship between serum cortisol and blood glucose levels of endogenously depressed patients.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1981

ABO blood groups in manic-depressive patients.

The authors compared the ABO blood type distribution pattern of 246 manic-depressive patients to that of 6000 controls. The blood type distribution of all patients did not differ from that of the controls. After subdivision of the patients into subgroups Bipolar I (n = 151) and Bipolar II (n = 95) significant differences were found for blood types O and A between the 2 subgroups, and between the Bipolar II patients and controls. The distribution of blood groups in Bipolar I subgroup did not differ from that of the controls. After division of the patients into 3 diagnostic subgroups (Bipolar-A, n = 30; Bipolar-B, n = 121; Bipolar-C, n = 95) significant differences were found in the distribution of blood groups O and A among the 3 subgroups, and Bipolar-A and Bipolar-C patients also differed from the controls. The results may provide additional support for the subclassification of bipolar major affective disorders into 3 subgroups.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1980

Season of birth and season of hospital admission in bipolar depressed female patients.

The season of birth and season of hospital admission of 50 bipolar I and 42 bipolar II female patients were analyzed. Significant differences were found in the seasonal distribution of births in the two subgroups. The birth dates of most bipolar I patients showed a tendency to peak during spring and autumn, while bipolar II patients were born mostly in summer and winter. Bipolar I patients were hospitalized for mania mainly in spring and autumn, and for depression mainly in summer and winter. Examination of the seasonal variation of hospital admission for depression also revealed significant difference between bipolar I and bipolar II patients. The results support the validity of the bipolar I-bipolar II distinction and are in agreement with earlier findings.

Bipolar Disorder↗