Third Ventricle Size and Dementia in Schizophrenia

1985 ◽  
Vol 147 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Bankier
Keyword(s):  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Chronic Patients ◽  
Ultrasound Technique ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenics ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Organic Brain ◽  
Ventricle Size ◽  
Late Stages

Using an ultrasound technique, the widths of the third ventricle in a group of normal subjects was compared with groups of chronic schizophrenics and acutely ill schizophrenics. While the chronic patients showed a significantly wider ventricle (p < 0.5) from the other two groups, only 14% of the chronic patients had a third ventricle greater than the accepted normal maximum of 8 mm. Neuropsychological tests confirmed organic brain impairment in both chronic and acutely ill patients but there was no significant difference between chronic patients with large ventricles and those with normal size ventricles. This suggests that third ventricle size is not part of the schizophrenic disease process and is not related to the dementia seen in the late stages of the illness.

Linguistic Performance in Schizophrenia: a Comparison of Acute and Chronic Patients

1990 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Thomas ◽  
Kathleen King ◽  
W. I. Fraser ◽  
R. E. Kendell
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Chronic Patients ◽  
Linguistic Performance ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenics ◽  
Assisted Analysis ◽  
Acute Patients ◽  
Better Than

A computer-assisted analysis of samples of free speech from acute schizophrenics (n = 50), chronic schizophrenics (n = 27) and normal subjects (n = 50) enabled a comparison of the linguistic profiles of the three groups. The chronic group consistently emerged as the most impaired, on measures of complexity, integrity (error) and fluency of speech, with the acute patients performing less well than normal speakers but better than chronic patients. Demographic differences could account for only a small number of the linguistic differences. A comparison of chronic schizophrenics from the community and those from long-stay wards suggested that their poor linguistic performance was in some way related to the illness process and not to institutionalisation. Three possible explanations for these results were considered, particularly the possibility that low complexity of speech, negative symptoms and poor outcome are in some way related.

Paranoid and Withdrawal Symptoms in Schizophrenia: Relationship to Reaction Time

1968 ◽  
Vol 114 (514) ◽  
pp. 1161-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon C. Goldberg ◽  
Nina R. Schooler ◽  
Nils Mattsson
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Chronic Patients ◽  
General Measure ◽  
Performance Deficits ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenics ◽  
Duration Of Illness ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

There is a large body of research that has established change in reaction time as one of the major psychological performance deficits in schizophrenia (Shakow, 1963). In addition to consistent differences between patients and normals, relationships have been reported (Rosenthal, Lawlor, Zahn and Shakow, 1960) between general severity of illness and reaction time within a group of chronic schizophrenics. More recently, Zahn and Rosenthal (1963) have shown that acute schizophrenics also perform deficiently in reaction time; they hold an intermediate position between normal subjects and chronic schizophrenic patients. Shakow (1963) reports that in some of the earlier work with chronic patients “paranoids” tended to show little, if any, reaction time deficit, but that it was the hebephrenic patients who performed poorly. Thus it seems unlikely that reaction time is a general measure of deficit in schizophrenia, since available evidence shows it to be related to chronicity (in terms of duration of illness), general severity of illness, and schizophrenic subtype. The deficit reflected in reaction time has been characterized by Shakow (1963) in terms of associative interference. That is, the schizophrenic is distracted by “irrelevant aspects of the stimulus surroundings—inner and outer—which prevent his focusing on the ‘to-be-responded-to’ stimulus”.

Altered Regulation Of Prostacyclin (PGI2) Activity In Severe Pre-Eclampsia

1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
K K Wu ◽  
Y C Chen ◽  
E R Hall ◽  
M E Rafelson
Keyword(s):  
Survival Time ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Hydrolysis Product ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Bovine Endothelial Cell ◽  
Normal Plasma ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Plasma Factor

To determine whether accelerated degradation of PGI2 plays a role in thrombosis, we investigated the kinetics of plasma PGI2 breakdown in 7 normal subjects and 3 patients with small vessel thrombosis (2 with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and one with idiopathic thrombotic stroke). Plasma PGI2 degradation was evaluated by incubating standard PGI2 with plasma at 37°C and measuring the PGI2 activity remaining at serial time intervals. PGI2 activity was determined by its capacity to inhibit platelet aggregation, and its hydrolysis product, 6-keto-PGF1α , was measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma PGI2 survival time of all 3 patients was significantly shorter (<1 min) than that of normals (101 ± S.D.33 min). As 6-keto-PGF1α content in both groups was similar, the shortening of the survival time was attributed to acceleration of PGI2 hydrolysis. Abnormal degradation of PGI2 was corrected by adding normal plasma in vitro. Moreover, infusion of normal plasma into one of the patients prolonged PGI2 survival time significantly from a baseline of 50 sec to 55 min 3 days following transfusion, and 80 min 7 days later. Correction of the abnormal PGI2 degradation by plasma transfusion was associated with improvement of clinical symptoms and blood counts. The disease process tended to relapse at 3-week intervals and could be controlled by transfusion of 3 units of plasma. As deficiency of stimulating factor for PGI2 production in man contributes to microcirculatory thrombosis, stimulation by patient and normal plasma in bovine endothelial cell culture was investigated. There was no significant difference in PGI2 production between the patient and normals. The findings indicate that rapid plasma PGI2 degradation leading to shortened PGI2 survival plays an important role in the pathogenesis of microcirculatory thrombosis. Correction of the abnormality with plasma suggests the deficiency of a normal plasma factor which protects PGI2 from rapid degradation.

Auditory Selective Attention in Cerebral-Palsied Individuals

1985 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Ann Laraway
Keyword(s):  
Selective Attention ◽  
White Noise ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Auditory Selective Attention ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Significant Difference

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the auditory selective attention abilities of normal and cerebral-palsied individuals. Twenty-three cerebral-palsied and 23 normal subjects between the ages of 5 and 21 were asked to repeat a series of 30 items consisting of from 2 to 4 digits in the presence of intermittent white noise. Results of the study indicate that cerebral-palsied individuals perform significantly poorer than normal individuals when the stimulus is accompanied by noise. Noise was not a significant factor in the performance of the normal subjects regardless of age.

A Specific Immunologic Assay for Functional Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 in Plasma – Standardized Measurements of the Inhibitor and Related Parameters in Patients with Venous Thromboembolic Disease

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (05) ◽  
pp. 486-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malou Philips ◽  
Anne-Grethe Juul ◽  
Johan Selmer ◽  
Bent Lind ◽  
Sixtus Thorsen
Keyword(s):  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Activator Inhibitor ◽  
Pai 1

SummaryA new assay for functional plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in plasma was developed. The assay is based on the quantitative conversion of PAI-1 to urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA)-PAI-l complex the concentration of which is then determined by an ELISA employing monoclonal anti-PAI-1 as catching antibody and monoclonal anti-u-PA as detecting antibody. The assay exhibits high sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision. The level of functional PAI-1, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity and t-PA-PAI-1 complex was measured in normal subjects and in patients with venous thromboembolism in a silent phase. Blood collection procedures and calibration of the respective assays were rigorously standardized. It was found that the patients had a decreased fibrinolytic capacity. This could be ascribed to high plasma levels of PAI-1. The release of t-PA during venous occlusion of an arm for 10 min expressed as the increase in t-PA + t-PA-PAI-1 complex exhibited great variation and no significant difference could be demonstrated between the patients with a thrombotic tendency and the normal subjects.

Comparative Plasma Heparin Levels after Subcutaneous Sodium and Calcium Heparin

1978 ◽  
Vol 40 (02) ◽  
pp. 397-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Low ◽  
J C Biggs
Keyword(s):  
Peak Plasma ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Factor Xa ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Sodium Salts ◽  
Sodium Heparin ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Heparin Plasma ◽  
Calcium Heparin ◽  
Plasma Heparin

SummaryComparative plasma heparin levels were measured in normal subjects injected subcutaneously with 5,000 units of the sodium and calcium salts of heparin. Plasma heparin levels were measured up to 7 hr post-injection by an anti-factor Xa assay (Denson and Bonnar 1973). Preliminary studies indicated that heparin levels were reproducible in subjects who received two injections of the same heparin. Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) and the time at which peak concentration was reached (Tmax) varied greatly from subject to subject. In one group of subjects (15) two commonly used heparins, a sodium heparin (Evans) and a calcium heparin (Choay) were compared. Peak heparin concentrations were not significantly different. However the Tmax for the sodium heparin (1.5 hr) was significantly earlier than the Tmax for the calcium heparin (3 hr) and this was not due to a difference in the volume of the two heparin injections. No significant difference could be detected in the plasma clearance rate and the molecular weight distribution of the two heparins.In two other groups of subjects, sodium and calcium preparations from two manufacturers were compared. In general, the sodium salts gave rise to significantly higher plasma concentrations, which could be interpreted as a greater bioavailability of sodium salts. These results indicate that the salt of the heparin can influence the plasma concentration achieved after subcutaneous injection.

A COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS FOR MEASUREMENT OF ALDOSTERONE SECRETION RATE IN MAN

1966 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Lund-Johansen ◽  
T. Thorsen ◽  
K. F. Støa
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Excretion ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Secretion Rate ◽  
Aldosterone Secretion ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Derivative Method ◽  
The Mean

ABSTRACT A comparison has been made between (A), a relatively simple method for the measurement of aldosterone secretion rate, based on paper chromatography and direct densitometry of the aldosterone spot and (B) a more elaborate isotope derivative method. The mean secretion rate in 9 normal subjects was 112 ± 26 μg per 24 hours (method A) and 135 ± 35 μg per 24 hours (method B). The »secretion rate« in one adrenalectomized subject after the intravenous injection of 250 μg of aldosterone was 230 μg per 24 hours (method A) and 294 μg per 24 hours (method B). There was no significant difference in the mean values, and correlation between the two methods was good (r = 0.80). It is concluded that the densitometric method is suitable for clinical purposes as well as research, being more rapid and less expensive than the isotope derivative method. Method A also measures the urinary excretion of the aldosterone 3-oxo-conjugate, which is of interest in many pathological conditions. The densitometric method is obviously the less sensitive and a prerequisite for its use is an aldosterone secretion of 20—30 μg per 24 hours. Lower values are, however, rare in adults.

IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIVITY OF INSULIN IN HUMAN SERUM

1966 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Deckert ◽  
Kai R. Jorgensen
Keyword(s):  
Normal Subjects ◽  
The Other ◽  
Human Pancreas ◽  
Porcine Pancreas ◽  
Crystalline Insulin ◽  
Endogenous Insulin ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Human Sera ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
The One

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a difference could be demonstrated between crystalline insulin extracted from normal human pancreas, and crystalline insulin extracted from bovine and porcine pancreas. Using Hales & Randle's (1963) immunoassay no immunological differences could be demonstrated between human and pig insulin. On the other hand, a significant difference was found, between pig and ox insulin. An attempt was also made to determine whether an immunological difference could be demonstrated between crystalline pig insulin and crystalline human insulin from non diabetic subjects on the one hand and endogenous, circulating insulin from normal subjects, obese subjects and diabetic subjects on the other. No such difference was found. From these experiments it is concluded that endogenous insulin in normal, obese and diabetic human sera is immunologically identical with human, crystalline insulin from non diabetic subjects and crystalline pig insulin.

scholarly journals AB0655 RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ACTIVITY BEFORE AND AFTER COVID-19 LOCKDOWN PERIOD

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1360.1-1360
Author(s):  
M. Jordhani ◽  
D. Ruci ◽  
F. Skana ◽  
E. Memlika
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
World Population ◽  
Chronic Patients ◽  
Das 28 ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After

Background:The COVID-19 global pandemic has had a great impact on world population due to morbidity, mortality and restriction measures in order to stop the progression of COVID-19.Patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletic diseases, and especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, being one of the vulnerable classes of chronic patients, were recommended to follow the government’s rules1.Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate DAS-28-ESR in patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after lockdown period.Methods:This is a multi-center observational study including 85 patients which were evaluated before and after lockdown for their disease activity score according to DAS-28-ESR score. They had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis more than 5 years ago. A thorough physical examination was performed before and after the lockdown period. It included examination of tender and swollen joints and patient’s global health. They were completed with all required laboratory data, including erythrosedimentation rate. For a more accurate calculation, DAS-28-ESR was used in an electronic version. Patients with other inflammatory or infective diseases were excluded from the study. All data were statistically evaluated using statistical tests such as t-student test.Results:The first group (the one before lockdown) had an average DAS-28-ESR of 4.7 while after the lockdown period, the average DAS-28-ESR was 5.16.After statistically evaluating all data, it was found that there exists a significant difference between DAS-28-ESR score before and after COVID-19 lockdown (p=0.0011).Conclusion:Our study showed that lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic, has aggravated disease activity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This may be consequence of various causes such as physical inactivity and difficulty to follow-up or to take the medication properly.References:[1]Landewé RB, Machado PM, Kroon F, et al, EULAR provisional recommendations for the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in the context of SARS-CoV-2, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2020;79:851-858.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Abdominal Bloating

1993 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 475-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Yung Song ◽  
Harold Merskey ◽  
Stephen Sullivan ◽  
Sam Noh
Keyword(s):  
Crohn’S Disease ◽  
Crohn's Disease ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Childhood Experience ◽  
Personality Variables ◽  
Abdominal Bloating ◽  
Significant Difference

Eighteen patients with a syndrome of abdominal bloating and discomfort were examined to explore the relationship between their symptoms and their emotional problems. They were compared with 33 patients with Crohn's disease and 38 normal, healthy volunteers. Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, patients with bloating were found to resemble patients with Crohn's disease. Both groups showed increased anxiety and depression. After controlling for age, sex, education, occupation, personality variables and childhood experience, there was a trend towards more anxiety in the bloating group compared with normal subjects and a significant difference for depression. These characteristics appear to be related to the effects of the illness or to selection, but not to personality or childhood experience. Although psychiatric problems are common among patients with abdominal bloating and pain who stay in touch with a clinic, they are not the primary cause of the disorder.

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