bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rock Music in American Schools: Positions and Practices Since the 1960s
Authors: Hebert David G. , Campbell Patricia Shehan
Published: March 2007

The challenge that rock music has historically faced in achieving widespread acceptance within American music education can be attributed to six common arguments: 1) Rock music is aesthetically inferior; 2) Rock music is damaging to the health of youth; 3) School time cannot be spent on the vernacular; 4) Music teachers are not trained in rock; 5) Rock music encourages rebelliousness and anti-educational behavior; and 6) Rock music curriculum is difficult to acquire. The strengths and weaknesses of each of these six claims is herein analyzed, and the authors’ conclusions discuss the potential benefits of rock music studies.

Popular music as such need not, must not be taught in the public classrooms. This music will carry itself. The music educator's job is to perpetuate Western art music and to open doors to its perception in the minds of the children of the nation (Anderson 1968, p. 87).
Heritage: the Viewpoint of an African Committed to Intercultural Exchanges
Authors: Nyomi Selete
Published: March 2007

Representing an organization in Ghana committed to using music and dance culture to build intercultural bridges, the author ponders the question of whether a larger Ghanian society benefits from the interest by international students in the songs, dances, and drumming processes of a culture or nation. While a foreign community benefits and becomes culturally richer from learning exchanges, the children of countries in which exchanges are conducted may not have the means - “materials”, instruments, teachers - for learning their own traditional heritage. Suggestions are offered by way of providing for local musicians or scholars to document their own musical cultures, or to collaborate with others outside the culture - rather than to continue the taking away by visitors of music as a primary cultural product.
Modeling Music Education: Britain and Kenya
Authors: Floyd Malcolm
Published: March 2007

The problem with models is that they almost always break. At some point, new information or new theoretical perspectives arrive and the model is rejected, or at best put aside and referred to occasionally for its historical interest. This article looks at my perceptions of music education in Britain and Kenya over the past 30 years or so using a range of models, precisely because it is in their “breaking” that one learns what is most significant. I have taught in both countries, at all levels of education, and part of the reason for writing this is to unpick my own agendas. Models drawn from the work of Brocklehurst and Hart in the 1970s and Swanwick and Boyce-Tillman in the 1980s and ‘90s will be reconstructed in the Kenyan situation and allowed to declare their incongruity, incompatibility, irrelevance, complementarity, or transformation. My choice of models may well seem eccentric, but they are the models that have had the most impact upon me. In that way, they make the understanding of my own role clearer, and so the collection of models becomes egocentric. Britain is the starting point, as that was both my starting point and the historical background to formal Kenyan music education.
The Making of Musicians and Musical Audiences in Thailand
Authors: Campbell Patricia Shehan
Published: March 2007

‘If the classical music of Thailand is to be preserved, then the traditional house schools of musical learning should be maintained. The modernized Thai schools can never hope to produce the quality of musicians to match the greatness of those who came before.’ (From an interview with Chalermsak Pikulsri, Khon Kaen, Thailand)
Music as language: An analogy to be pursued with caution
Authors: Koopman Constantijn
Published: March 2007

The Conference themes all suggest that music may be considered as a language. However, I argue that this is a misleading analogy. I shall point out some crucial differences between language and music by examining the concept of meaning. Two types of meaning will be distinguished and explained: extrinsic and intrinsic meaning. Whereas the former kind of meaning is typical of language, the latter kind is characteristic of the arts in general and of music in particular. Conceiving music as a language may easily lead us to concentrate on the extrinsic aspects of music rather than on its intrinsic meaning. The distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic meaning is also relevant to understanding music of other cultures. I argue that properties related to intrinsic meaning can generally be apprehended by outsiders more easily than properties related to extrinsic meaning. Since we cannot initiate children fully into all musical traditions and styles in music education, I recommend that we pay special attention to furthering children's sensitivity to intrinsic aspects of music. Thus we can best assure that they gain a passport to musics of all cultures.
The Social Psychological Significance of Code Switching in Cross-Cultural Communication
Authors: Genesee Fred
Published: March 2007

Four studies were carried out to explore observers' evaluative reactions to bilingual code switching as a function of 4 factors: situational norms, sociocultural status of the language, ingroup favouritism, and interpersonal speech accommodation. English and French subjects gave evaluative reactions to code switching by English- and French-speaking Canadian actors who were depicted interacting in the roles of a salesman and a customer. Four different patterns of code switching, consisting of 3 or 4 speaker turns each, were depicted in each study. Subjects' reactions to the speakers' language choices were elicited after each turn. The major findings to emerge were a) there was a significant shift in the basis of the subjects' evaluations from primarily situational norms to interpersonal accommodation; b) early language choices during the interactions had significant effects on reactions to later language choices; c) the impact of the situational norms was reinforced when they were concordant with the sociocultural status of the actors but mitigated when they were discordant; and d) both English and French Canadian subjects expressed favouritism toward ingroup language choices; but this was especially true among the English subjects. It is concluded that the social psychological significance of code switching is both dynamic and multiply determined; a tentative empirical model integrating the results is outlined.
Conversational Exchange Analysis
Authors: Thomas Andrew P. , Bull Peter , Roger Derek
Published: March 2007

In recognition of the deficiencies of the speech classification systems available for the analysis of informal conversation, the present article is concerned with the development, and subsequent description of a comprehensive speech analysis system. Developed from a review of the literature and the analysis of tape-recordings and transcripts, Conversational Exchange Analysis (CEA) comprises four sets of rules for the division and subsequent classification of speech. Initially segmenting conversational speech into units representing individual ideas, CEA is then used to classify speech along three separate dimensions representing how information is made salient in the conversation (Activity), the sort of information exchanged (Type), and the referent of the utterance (Focus). Measures of inter-observer agreement, using Cohen's (1960) kappa (Activity, kappa = 0.969 (p<0.001); Type, kappa = 0.957 (p<0.001); Subject focus, kappa = 0.994 (p<0.001); Object focus, kappa = 0.981 (p<0.001) ), indicate a high degree of reliability for category assignment.
Communication Difficulties: the Doctor's Perspective
Authors: Pendleton David , Brouwer Henk , Jaspars Jos
Published: March 2007

Two studies are reported. In the first study, 24 general practitioners from the Oxford region of England provided information about 950 of their consultations. The aims of the study were threefold. The first aim was to discover the rate at which general practitioners experience communication difficulties in their consultations. This was an attempt to establish the ecological validity of the investigations. The second aim was to explore the doctors' attributions for their difficulties. The third aim was to identify the consultation variables which best predict the incidence of a communication difficulty.

The second study was a full scale replication of the first study in Holland. In this study data were analysed from 28 doctors about 1120 of their consultations. In each study, approximately one in four of the consultations contained some communication difficulty for the doctors. The doctors attributed the difficulties to factors which were external to themselves. The most powerful predictors of communication difficulties were tension in the doctors and perceived tension in the patients. The theoretical, methodological and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
The Influence of Speech Rate Stereotypes and Rate Similarity or Listeners' Evaluations of Speakers
Authors: Street Richard L. , Brady Robert M. , Putman William B.
Published: March 2007

In this study, the effects of speaker speech rate level, the degree of similarity between listener and speaker rates, and context on listeners' evaluative judgments of speakers were examined. After their own speech rates were assessed, subjects listened to passages of a male speaker, using a fast, moderate or slow speech rate. Also, subjects were told the passages were excerpts from either an informal conversation or an employment interview. After listening to the speech sample, subjects evaluated the speaker on competence and social attractiveness measures. Results indicated that listeners found a speaker with moderate to relative faster rates (actual and perceived) more competent and socially attractive than a speaker with slower rates. Listeners also preferred speakers with rates similar to or marginally faster than their own. The results regarding context were equivocal. Neither main nor interaction effects involving context emerged on either the competence or social attractiveness measures. However, on separate rate acceptability and speech rate perception measures, listeners found slower rates more acceptable and were more aware of the slow and fast rate extremes in the employment interview than in the conversation setting.
The Second Bristol Conference: a Personal Assessment
Authors: Giles Howard
Published: March 2007

This Discussant paper provides a personal and largely favourable assessment of the Second International Conference on Social Psychology and Language held in Bristol, July 1983. It compares, impressionistically, the papers presented in 1983 with those delivered at the First Bristol Conference in 1979 by means of 15 evaluatively-loaded dimensions and appraises the contents of the 10 symposia convened on particular themes according to six of these judgmental criteria. This critique suggests that while few advances have been made on some fronts, significant developments have emerged on important others, particularly with respect to functional and theoretical analyses. The paper concludes optimisti cally and locates much previous research in the social psychology of language in one small portion of a three-dimensional space whilst advocating that research priorities ought now to be directed (albeit in the short-term) towards a contrastive segment of this space.
Through the Eyes of the Probationer
Authors: Davies Martin
Published: March 2007

How do offenders on probation view their probation officers? What do they think of probation supervision? How effective are probation orders? This article presents some interesting opinions from clients themselves.
Style and Regime in Probation Hostels
Authors: Palmer Stuart
Published: March 2007

In this article, which is condensed from a much longer study of pro bation hostels undertaken as a result of a Cropwood Fellowship at the Cambridge Institute of Criminology, the author describes the vital im portance of the style of the warden in shaping the regime of the hostel. He also examines the development of hostel culture and emphasises the importance of deliberate "outside" links.
Scunthorpe Cycling Group
Authors: Bell Douglas
Published: March 2007

Boredom and vandalism amongst young teenage clients in a run-down mining village provided the spark for the author's involvement in outdoor activities with clients. With a life-long interest and participation in outdoor activities and with a leadership experience in the scout association and youth clubs, he started cycling activities in 1967 and it has developed into a useful Intermediate Treatment provision.
The Families of Long-term Prisoners
Authors: Merriman Philippa
Published: March 2007

In 1976 the author made a study of some families of men serving a minimum of ten years in Maine State prison, USA. The sample was not uncharacteristic of long-termers' and lifers' families in Maine and there are reasons for believing that many of the considerations relevant in that study are equally applicable in Great Britain. It is hoped that by pre senting some of the findings of the study, it may be possible to supply practising probation officers with some sort of framemork of guidance within which the few cases of this sort which any one officer may meet can be placed. This article sheds light on a neglected and often baffling area of work for probation officers.
'Hang On'—a new Goal for Probation
Authors: Adair Hugh
Published: March 2007

Our confidence in recommending more probation orders may be developed simply through a commitment to "staying with" clients —"hanging on"—rather than feeling under pressure always to make clear assessment and set long-term goals and tasks.
Young Rastafarians & the Probation Service
Authors: Carrington Bruce , Denney David
Published: March 2007

The article looks at the history and meaning of Rastafarianism, The authors also report the findings of a small study of the views of a group of young Rastafarian probationers and of thirty probation officers, They conclude that social work values and methods require some change if there is to be hope of effective work with Rastas, and that full acceptance of a multi racial Britain is a necessary pre-requisite.
The Role of Computers in Archives
Authors: Cook Michael
Published: March 2007

Reflects on developments in information technology, their present state of application and general significance for the future of archives and records management services. Emphasizes the need for infrastructural standards and reviews efforts to achieve harmonization of training and standardization in relation to the description and exchange of archival data. Considers the likely impact of future technological developments, including the use of optical storage and optical character recognition systems, on archives and records management systems. These developments emphasize the need for professional cooperation and training.
Regional information networks: some lessons from Latin America
Authors: Akhtar Shahid
Published: March 2007

The fourth in a series of articles on the activities of the Information Sciences Division (ISD) of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Examines the role of information networks in transferring, disseminating and sharing information across national boundaries. Presents the theory and practice of information networking based on key lessons learned from ISD experience with the development and management of Latin American information networks over the past two decades. The prime objectives of information networking are the promotion of resource-sharing and cost-effectiveness and the pooling and transfer of experience. This is particularly important for developing countries where information and financial resources are scarce and services scattered. A number of characteristics are suggested that any network should reflect in its legal structure, governance, membership and operations. Information networks continue to evolve in response to ever-changing information processing technologies.
Acquisition of scientific literature in developing countries
Authors: Alkan Nazli , Tunçkanat Hansin
Published: March 2007

The sixth of a series of articles on the acquisition of scientific literature in developing countries. (The first five were published in 1989). Deals mainly with university libraries. Discusses recent changes in the process of scientific and technical information transfer, including the increase in quantity of scientific literature, increasing specialization among scientists, increases in the cost of scientific materials and technological developments. Summarizes the Turkish background and discusses the problems and procedures of collection development in Turkish academic libraries and the need for library cooperation. Emphasizes the need for adequate library budgets to enable libraries to achieve their collection development objectives.
Research in post-Communist Hungary
Authors: Peck Shirley S.
Published: March 2007

Between 1949 and 1989, Hungarian researchers belonged to a Soviet East European information enclave, but were largely excluded from world scholarly communication due to inadequate financial support, insufficient researcher foreign language skills, and political restrictions on information flow. Since Hungary's 1989 departure from the Soviet bloc, changes have occurred. As of 1991, the Hungarian research community is unstable as the government has cut financial support and planned systemic changes. But Hungary is no longer isolated; it is gaining better access to the West and to its Central European neighbours, while losing some access to the former Soviet Union, and linguistic isolation is ebbing.
Evidence that background GABAergic tone and possible ligand release may alter the action of the 'neutral' benzodiazepine-receptor antagonist, Ro 15-1788, in hypothalamic self-stimulation
Authors: Herberg L.J. , Montgomery A.M.J. , Rose I.C.
Published: March 2007

Upward or downward shifts in the level of brain GABAergictransmission have been held to be necessary and sufficient to promote release of endogenous ligands ('endocoids') for the benzodiazepine (BZD) recognition site. To investigate this possibility, variable-interval self-stimulation performance was used to monitor 'intrinsic' benzodiazepine-like and anti- benzodiazepine activity by the 'neutral' benzodiazepine-receptor antagonist, Ro 15-1788 (flumazenil) (10 or 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Rats were pretreated with either a GABA synthesis blocking agent (isoniazid, 130 mg/kg subcutaneously), or with a GABA agonist (progabide, 30 or 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally). The lower dose of Ro 15-1788 (10 mg/kg), without pretreatment, did not affect self-stimulation; higher doses (30 mg/kg) caused a brief (<20 min) depression. Isoniazid (130 mg/kg) depressed self-stimulation, but did not modify the activity of Ro 15-1788. In rats pretreated with progabide (100 mg/kg), low doses of Ro 15- 1788 (10 mg/kg) that were previously without effect now caused a sharp fall in responding. These findings can be interpreted as showing that even low doses of Ro 15-1788 may affect self-stimulation under certain conditions, and that they do so by competing with an endogenous ligand for the benzodiazepine site, released by upward shifts in GABAergic activity. Alternative explanations in terms of altered receptor function seem less feasible. The results imply that the action of the endogenous ligand would not resemble that of a typical benzodiazepine, but that of an inverse agonist (that is, proconflict and proconvulsant); this conclusion agrees with recent biochemical evidence.
The behavioural effects of chronic elevation of rat brain GABA by ethanolamine O-sulphate
Authors: Westerling P. , Lindgren S. , Meyerson B.J.
Published: March 2007

This study examined the functional effects of long-term elevated brain GABA concentrations. The increase in GABA was achieved by use of the GABA-aminotransferase (GABA-T) inhibitor, ethanolamine O-sulphate (EOS). Forms of exploratory behaviour pre viously demonstrated to be sensitive to GABAergic receptor stimulation were measured over a 4 week period of EOS treatment. The most pronounced behavioural effect was an increased duration of investigating behaviour following 2-21 days of EOS treatment. This effect was accompanied by an accumulation of GABA in the substantia nigra and the corpus striatum. After 28-30 days of EOS treatment the GABA concentration was still significantly elevated, whereas the investigating behaviour was no longer different from controls.
A comparison of a β2-adrenoceptor antagonist (ICI 118,551), diazepam and placebo in the treatment of acute anxiety
Authors: Cooper S.J. , Gilliland A. , Kelly C. , McGilloway S.
Published: March 2007

The effect of β 2-adrenoceptor antagonism in acute anxiety neurosis was investigated by comparing the effects of ICI 118,551, a specific β2-adrenoceptor antagonist, diazepam and placebo in a double-blind, parallel group study. Sixty-three patients, who fulfilled criteria for Anxiety Disorder (DSM III) and were psychotropic drug- free (apart from six using hypnotics), were entered. Anxiety symptoms were rated using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) and Spielberger State Anxiety Scale. Assessments were made at entry and following a 7-day single-blind placebo treatment phase, at the end of which only 51 wished to continue and had sufficient symptoms (HAS score >16 or reduction <25% on placebo) for entry to the next phase. Following a double- blind, random allocation they then received ICI 118,551 (50 mg), diazepam (2 mg) or placebo thrice daily for 4 weeks. Symptoms were assessed after 2 and 4 weeks in this active treatment phase (i.e. at weeks 3 and 5 of the study). Thirty-five patients completed the study. A statistically significant improvement in HAS score was seen for all patients but there were no significant differences between treatments. Treatments did not differ in their effects on blood pressure or heart rate. β2-Adrenoceptor antagonism does not seem to have important effects on anxiety symptoms in anxiety neurosis.
The effects and after-effects of interferon alpha on human performance, mood and physiological functions
Authors: Smith A.P. , Tyrrell D.A.J. , Coyle K.B. , Higgins P.G.
Published: March 2007

The effects of three doses of interferon alpha (IFNα, 1.5 Mu, 0.5 Mu and 0.1 Mu) on performance, mood and physiological function were examined in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. The subjects given an injection of 1.5 Mu showed symptoms which closely resembled those seen in influenza, although most of the symptoms had gone by the next day. All of the doses of IFN reduced subjective ratings of alertness, but again this effect was only apparent on the day of challenge. Subjects given the 1.5 Mu injection were slower on two of the performance tasks (a simple reaction time task and a pegboard task) both on the day of challenge and the following day. None of the other tasks in the battery was impaired by any of the doses of IFN, either on the day of challenge or the following day. These results suggest that IFNα has selective effects on performance, and it is possible that IFN-induced changes in CNS function provide a mechanism through which viral infections influence behaviour.
Merck, Sharp & Dohme Prize for Young Psychopharmacologists
Authors: Glue Paul
Published: March 2007

Techniques allowing the accurate measurement of saccadic eye movements have been developed over the last 40 years. Originally, such measurements were used to assess or diagnose oculomotor pathology. With the discovery that saccadic eye movements were altered by drugs, especially those active at the GABA/ benzodiazepine receptor complex, these changes have been used as a measure of psychomotor performance. This has now become a major application of these techniques: to investigate pharmacodynamic activity, or to assess side-effects or interactions of drugs. There is now evidence that other receptor systems (e.g. a2-adrenoceptor, histamine, TRH) are also involved in the control of saccades. While it is still unclear whether drug-induced changes in saccadic eye movements are due to effects on pathways generating or controlling saccades or are secondary to changes in arousal, recent studies suggest that saccade and arousal changes may be distinguished under certain conditions. The most recent development in the use of saccadic eye movements has been to examine benzodiazepine receptor sensitivity in anxiety disorders or changes in receptor sensitivity after drug treatment. Drug-induced changes in saccadic eye movements appear to offer a direct, sensitive and minimally invasive means of investigating central receptor function in man.
Studies on the enhancement of 5-hydroxytryptamine-mediated behaviour by chlormethiazole and phenytoin
Authors: Green A.R. , De Souza R.J. , Cross A.J.
Published: March 2007

Pre-treatment of rats with chlormethiazole (35 mg/kg) or diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin: 40 mg/kg) markedly enhanced the behavioural syndrome which is induced by injection of tranylcypromine (10 mg/kg) followed by L-tryptophan (50 mg/kg). Phenobarbitone (35 mg/kg) pre-treatment was without effect on the syndrome. This enhancement apparently involved a pre-synaptic mechanism since pre-treatment with chlormethiazole or phenytoin did not result in enhancement of the behavioural syndrome when it was induced by injection of the 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.75 mg/kg). Pre-treatment of rats with chlormethiazole did not alter the rate of 5-HT synthesis as measured by the accumulation of 5-HT following tranylcypromine. The K+-evoked release of endogenous 5-HT from brain slices was unaltered by addition of chlormethiazole (100 μM) to the medium while addition of phenytoin (100 μM) caused a small decrease. Administration of chlormethiazole or phenytoin failed to alter either the 5-HT2 receptor-mediated head twitch behaviour in mice induced by 5-hydroxytryptophan or the hypothermic response induced in mice by injection of 8-OH-DPAT (0.5 mg/kg s.c.). These data extend the original observation of enhancement of the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated behavioural syndrome by phenytoin, using a lower dose of the drug, and show that chlormethiazole has a similar effect, apparently through a pre synaptic mechanism. Some similarities to the effect of administration of Ca2+ antagonists and lithium are noted but no clear mechanism involving changes in ion flux have been identified to explain the mechanisms involved.
5-HT and physical illness
Authors: Healy David
Published: March 2007

The discovery and clinical evolution of 5-HT re-uptake inhibiting drugs are reviewed. From the widespread distribution of 5-HT in bodily systems and the range of effects and side effects reported, it is concluded that these and other drugs active on the 5-HT system are likely to have beneficial effects on a range of other physical conditions coincident and co-morbid with the affective disorders. Clinical vigilance may therefore be repaid with serendipitous discoveries.
Effects of psychotropic drugs on digit substitution: comparison of the computerized symbol-digit substitution and traditional digit-symbol substitution tests
Authors: Mattila M.J. , Aranko K. , Mattila M.E. , Paakkari I.
Published: March 2007

The digit-symbol substitution test (DSST), performed with paper and pencil or computerized, is widely used to reveal decrements in human attention and cognition. We programmed sets of adjustable tasks (digit-symbol, digit-digit, symbol-digit, symbol-symbol) into a microcomputer and compared the symbol-digit substitution (SDST) and the digit copying test (DDCT) with the traditional DSST in two placebo-controlled double-blind studies of psychotropic drugs with pre-trained young healthy subjects. Performances were measured before drug intake and several times after it; matched, different codes were used at consecutive tests. DSST and SDST substitutions remained at the baseline level after placebo, while the simple DDCT performance improved during the placebo session. The prolonged (3 min) test was not exhaustive because interim counts at 90 s predicted the final performance well. In Trial I, 15 mg diazepam orally reduced DSST and SDST functions in a similar way, but it also impaired simple copying in the DDCT, though to a lesser extent. Ebastine, an H1-antihistamine, proved inert alone and failed to increase the effects of diazepam on these variables. In Trial II, 7.5 mg zopiclone, 0.4 mg suriclone and 50 mg chlorpromazine, alone and in combinations, impaired the DSST performance in the manner expected. The drug effects were similar in the SDST, and somewhat less in the DDCT, while the substitution errors were subject related and not altered significantly by any treatment. The simple correlation matrices (Pearson, Spearman), confirmed by analysis of covariance, showed that the results of DSST correlated fairly well with those of SDST after zopiclone, chlorpromazine and their combination, but not after suriclone or its combination with chlorpromazine. The DDCT results correlated with those of the substitution tests when analysing pooled baseline values, but not when analysing the performances after drug intake. Subjective visual analogue variables correlated poorly or not at all with objective performances. Our results suggest that manual dexterity in these computerized tests might contribute significantly to the total impairment of performance in response to different drugs. The DSST and SDST matched each other fairly well in their sensitivity to drug effects, yet this similarity may depend on the drug used.
Lofepramine—a safe anti-depressant in acute hepatic porphyria?
Authors: Dover Simon B. , Graham Ann , Moore Michael R. , McColl Kenneth E. L.
Published: March 2007

The acute porphyrias are a group of neuropsychiatric disorders in which a life-threatening crisis can be precipitated by a variety of drugs, including antidepressants. Because of the need to find an antidepressant that is safe for porphyria patients, we have studied the effects of lofepramine on porphyria in laboratory rats and porphyria patients. The rats did not exhibit a significant rise in hepatic δ-aminolaevulinic acid synthase activity (a marker of drug porphyrinogenicity) when given the drug compared with its solvent alone. Four porphyria patients exhibited no clinical evidence of disease activation after exposure to the drug. The biochemical activity of their disease was assessed by measurement of the 24-h urinary excretion of δ- aminolaevulinic acid and porphobilinogen (haem precursors formed prior to the metabolic block). No patient exhibited a sustained rise compared to pre-treatment levels, or between low dose and high dose lofepramine. We suggest that lofepramine is probably safe in acute porphyria, but should be used with caution.
Effects of benzodiazepine receptor ligands on simultaneous visual discriminations of variable difficulty
Authors: Dudchenko Paul , Gordon Belinda M. , Sarter Martin
Published: March 2007

Benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) ligands have been demonstrated to affect the performance in tasks measuring attentional abilities. In such tasks, subjects typically are required to discriminate visual and/or auditory stimuli. The possibility that the effects of BZR ligands on the performance in tasks measuring attention are primarily due to effects on discriminative processes has not been tested systematically. Rats were trained to discriminate between simultaneously presented pairs of visual stimuli flashing either at 5 Hz versus 4.17, 3.75, 2.5, 1.67 or 1.25 Hz (group 1; FAST), or at 1.25, 1.46, 1.67, 2.5 or 3.33 Hz versus 5 Hz (group 2; SLOW) for 4.8 s (20 trials per discrimination type; sequence of pairs was randomized). In both groups, response accuracy depended significantly on the discriminability of the stimuli, with near perfect accuracy in response to most different pairs of stimuli and near chance-level accuracy in response to least different pairs of stimuli. Administration of the BZR full agonist chlordiazepoxide (1.56, 6.25, 9.38 mg/kg; i.p.) potently increased the number of errors of omission which, following the higher doses, confounded the effects on absolute numbers of correct and incorrect responses. However, the available data do not suggest that the agonist affected the animals' abilities to discriminate between the stimuli. Similarly, administration of the BZR ligands ZK 93 426 and MDL 26,479 (which negatively modulate GABAergic transmission) produced no systematic effects. These data suggest that the effects of BZR ligands on the performance in tasks measuring attentional abilities are not primarily due to effects on the animals' ability to discriminate sensory stimuli.
L-dopa helps positive but not negative features of neuroleptic-insensitive chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Owens D.G.C. , Harrison-Read P.E. , Johnstone Eve C.
Published: March 2007

L-dopa (Sinemet-110 in a final dose equivalent to — 4 g per day) added to maintenance chlorpromazine, produced a small antipsychotic effect in a group of eight severely impaired male chronic schizophrenic in-patients. Negative symptoms were unaffected by L-dopa, although the improvement in psychotic behaviour and positive symptoms was restricted to the four patients with the most severe negative symptoms measured during the control treatment period. These L-dopa responders also tended to improve slightly when the dose of chlorpromazine was halved, an indication of their poor, or even counter-therapeutic response to conventional neuroleptic medication given in relatively high dosage. Signs of increased dopaminergic activity (raised eye blink rate and reduced plasma prolactin) were not observed in subjects showing an antipsychotic response to L-dopa. This raises the possibility that L-dopa may exert an antipsychotic effect in neuroleptic-insensitive subjects by altering noradrenergic activity in the brain.
Assessment of the dependence potential of the potent high-efficacy 5-HT1A agonist S-14506 in rats
Authors: Goudie Andrew J. , Leathley Michael J.
Published: March 2007

This study assessed the dependence potential of S-14506 [ 1- [ 2-(4-fluorobenzoylamino)ethyl]-4-(7-methoxy napthyl) piperazine], a novel, potent 5-HT1A full agonist with anxiolytic and antidepressant actions in animal models. The dependence potential of S-14506 was compared with that of the benzodiazepine (BZ) chlordiazepoxide (CDP). BZ withdrawal caused weight loss, aphagia and hyperthermia after chronic b.i.d. treatment for 21 days. None of these withdrawal effects were seen after similar b.i.d. S-14506 treatment at high doses. However, the acute pharmacological actions of CDP and S-14506 differed on a number of indices. Specifically, CDP increased food intake and body weight, whilst S-14506 decreased these measures, possibly due to the induction of the serotonin syndrome. Of particular interest was the observation that S-14506 induced marked hypothermia, to which complete tolerance developed very rapidly (after only 1 day). The observation of marked, rapid tolerance to S-14506-induced hypothermia, in conjunction with the absence of withdrawal hyperthermia after prolonged chronic treatment at high doses, suggests that tolerance to this effect of S-14506 can be dissociated from dependence. Collectively, the data reported suggest that the full 5-HT1A agonist S-14506 is devoid of dependence potential, other human and animal studies having previously suggested that partial 5-HT1A agonists typically induce no, or minimal, dependence.
Tolerability of combined treatment with lithium and paroxetine: 19 cases treated under open conditions
Authors: Hawley C.J. , Roberts A.G. , Walker M.H.
Published: March 2007

Nineteen patients resistant to paroxetine monotherapy were treated by lithium augmentation for 6 weeks to assess tolerability. Although the addition of lithium increased the number of adverse events, none were serious. The combination of lithium and paroxetine is safe enough to warrant further investigation as a treatment for resistant depression.
Behavioural interaction between the NMDA antagonist MK-801 and the dopaminergic antagonist haloperidol: support for a balance model
Authors: Huiliang Dai  , Carey Robert J.
Published: March 2007

One hundred and four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experiments. The first two experiments were to assess the effect of different MK-801 doses (0.1-0.3 mg/kg) and combinations of MK-801/ haloperidol (0.3/0.1-0.5 mg/kg) on locomotor behaviour. The animals from the third experiment were administered either saline, MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg), haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg) or MK-801/haloperidol (0.3/0.5 mg/kg). Locomotor activity measurements showed that the NMDA antagonist MK-801 induced a dose-dependent hyperactivity, while haloperidol, the D-2 dopamine receptor antagonist, induced hypoactivity. Significantly the highest doses of combined MK-801/haloperidol treatment (0.3/0.5 mg/kg) showed behavioural equivalence to the saline animals in both total locomotion, locomotion patterns and within-session habituation. Thus, the behavioural effects of each drug given alone were cancelled when the drugs were given together. This cancellation effect could not be ascribed to direct drug interference effects on dopamine metabolism since the ex vivo biochemical data revealed that the combined MK-801/haloperidol (0.3/0.5 mg/kg) treatment increased dopamine metabolism to the same extent as haloperidol given alone. None of the drug treatments, however, had any effect on brain serotonin metabolism. Serum measurement indicated that dopamine, homovanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-acetic acid, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, norepinephrine and corticosterone were not differentially affected by the drug treatment. Haloperidol-treated animals, however, had higher serum serotonin concentration than saline-treated animals. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that the effect of MK-801 on behaviour is independent of biochemical changes in dopaminergic neuro transmission per se. Rather, the present results support the hypothesis of a glutamatergic-dopaminergic balance which when disturbed leads to behavioural changes along an excitatory-inhibitory behavioural gradient.
Fluparoxan in male erectile disorder: a case report
Authors: Le Bon O. , Lion K. , Verbanck P. , Kornreich C.
Published: March 2007

During a protocol study for the efficacy of fluparoxan (a noradrenergic α2-antagonist) in depression, a positive effect on male erectile impotence has been observed in one case, with no important secondary effects. This result confirms the involvement of α2-antagonists in the handling of male impotence. The action on the erectile disorder appeared slightly before the antidepressive effect (2-3 weeks) and lasted for 6 weeks after the discontinuation of treatment, suggesting that the effects on impotence were not a mere reflection of the antidepressive action.
Behavioural and neuroendocrine responses to D-fenfluramine in rats treated with neurotoxic amphetamines
Authors: Series H.G. , le Masurier M. , Gartside S.E. , Franklin M. , Sharp T.
Published: March 2007

The amphetamine derivatives p-chloroamphetamine ( pCA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy') and D-fenfluramine can, if given repeatedly in high doses to rats, produce a degeneration of serotonergic nerve terminals which we have previously shown to result in a reduction in D-fenfluramine-evoked release of 5-HT in vivo. It is therefore possible that fenfluramine-evoked responses may have value as a probe of 5-HT neurodegeneration in man. The present study examined the effect of pre-treatment with these three agents ( pCA 12 mg/kg×2; MDMA 20 mg/kg×8; D-fenfluramine 12.5 mg/kg×8, 14 days prior to testing) on behavioural (5-HT syndrome) and neuroendocrine [prolactin and adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH)] responses in rats to acute administration of D-fenfluramine and other serotonergic agonists. All three pre-treatments attenuated the D-fenfluramine-evoked behavioural syndrome, but did not affect the prolactin or ACTH responses to acute challenge with D-fenfluramine (apart from a small effect of pre-treatment with pCA on the ACTH response to D-fenfluramine). For comparison, the effect of pCA pre-treatment on the behavioural responses to acute administration of pCA and the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptor agonists 8-hydroxy-2-(di- n- propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), respectively, were also examined. pCA pre-treatment attenuated all components of the behavioural response to pCA but had little or no effect on the behavioural responses to 8-OH-DPAT or DOI, suggesting that there was no alteration in post-synaptic 5-HT1A or 5-HT2 receptor function. While the loss of behavioural effect of D-fenfluramine on rats pre-treated with neurotoxic amphetamines can be understood in terms of the loss of D-fenfluramine's 5-HT-releasing action following 5-HT neurodegeneration, the lack of change in the neuroendocrine responses to D-fenfluramine is not easily explicable in this way. These results emphasise the need for further research into the actions of D-fenfluramine before carrying it forward as a probe of neurodegeneration in man.
α 2-Adrenoreceptor antagonism may contribute to the atypical properties of risperidone: experimental support for the Nutt case
Authors: Herberg L.J. , Montgomery A.M.J. , Grottick A.J.
Published: March 2007

The therapeutic efficacy and reduction in side effects claimed for new antischizophrenic drugs such as clozapine and risperidone have been ascribed to their heightened affinity for serotonin 5-HT2 receptors rather than D-2 receptors. A case for α2-adrenoreceptor antagonism has recently been argued. We have confirmed that at least one atypical property of risperidone (a rapid decrement in its ability to depress self-stimulation) can be partly prevented by an α2-adrenoreceptor agonist (clonidine) but not by a 5-HT 2 receptor agonist (DOI). This result supports the suggested role of α 2-adrenoreceptor antagonism in counteracting extrapyramidal effects during treatment with risperidone.
Alprazolam withdrawal symptoms in agoraphobia with panic disorder: observations from a controlled Anglo-Canadian study
Authors: O'Sullivan Geraldine H. , Swinson Richard , Kuch Klaus , Marks Isaac M. , Basoglu Metin , Noshirvani Homa
Published: March 2007

The study examines the effect of discontinuing alprazolam in panic disorder+agoraphobia patients. Fifty-seven alprazolam and 50 placebo agoraphobia+panic disorder patients, who had participated in an 8 week double- blind controlled study of alprazolam at average doses of 5 mg daily, were withdrawn gradually from their medication over the subsequent 8 weeks. The effects of discontinuation of medication on anxiety, panic, depression, phobia and withdrawal symptoms were examined during the taper phase and over the following 6 months. Alprazolam patients deteriorated on anxiety, panics, Hamilton depression and phobia. There was no difference between the two drug groups on rebound. Serious withdrawal symptoms did not arise, but weight loss, sweating and muscle twitching were more common in alprazolam patients. The deterioration in alprazolam patients persisted up to 6 months post-taper. A high dose of alprazolam at week 8 was the best predictor of subsequent deterioration. Discontinuation of alprazolam leads to recurrence of the original disorder in some patients. Rebound and severe withdrawal reactions were not found during gradual taper of alprazolam, but minor withdrawal symptoms did arise. The study shows the importance of using gradual taper to minimize withdrawal effects.
Successful treatment of urinary incontinence with clozapine in a schizophrenic patient
Authors: Mathew V. Mathew , Dursun Serdar M. , Reveley Michael A.
Published: March 2007

There is evidence that urinary incontinence (UI) can develop without any organic aetiology as a direct side effect of typical antipsychotic medication. Clozapine was administered to a chronic schizophrenic patient with UI who was refractory to typical antipsychotic medication. After various laboratory and functional tests, UI was demonstrated to be unrelated to any organic aetiology. UI was monitored throughout the study as frequency (wetting the bed) per day and night. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was also rated. Clozapine (dose-dependently) reduced both the BPRS score and frequency of UI, which were refractory to trifluoperazine and sulpiride. This is the first report of a dramatic resolution of UI in a schizophrenic patient after clozapine treatment. It is suggested that preference should be given to clozapine in such cases, since various other antipsychotic medications were ineffective and in some cases worsened the existing UI.
The NMDA antagonist dizocilpine (M K801) attenuates tolerance to nicotine in rats
Authors: Shoaib Mohammed , Stolerman Ian P.
Published: March 2007

The N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist dizocilpine (MK801) has been shown to attenuate neuroadaptations of the locomotor activity responses seen after chronic nicotine administration in rats. The aim of the present study was primarily to examine the effects of dizocilpine on tolerance to the aversive stimulus effect of nicotine, as measured in a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) paradigm. A second aim was to determine whether the previously reported effect of dizocilpine on tolerance to the locomotor depressant effect of nicotine could be confirmed. CTA was assessed from changes in the consumption of saccharin and salt solutions and locomotor activity was measured during 30 min sessions in photocell cages. In control rats, the administration of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg s.c.) produced strong CTA and a biphasic effect on locomotor activity (depression followed by facilitation). Daily treatment for 7 days with nicotine (0.4 mg/kg s.c.) produced tolerance to the CTA and motor effects. This tolerance was not detectable in rats that had received dizocilpine (0.3 mg/kg s.c.) 30 min before each daily injection of nicotine during the period of chronic treatment. The chronic administration of dizocilpine alone did not prevent locomotor effects and CTA when nicotine was administered subsequently. These results suggest that the NMDA receptor may be involved in adaptation to both unconditioned and conditioned behavioural responses to nicotine.
A multicentre, double-blind, amitriptyline-controlled study of mirtazapine in patients with major depression
Authors: Mullin John , Lodge Adrian , Bennie Ernest , McCreadie Robin , Bhatt Ganga Singh , Fenton George
Published: March 2007

Background: the efficacy and tolerability of the new antidepressant mirtazapine were evaluated in a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, amitriptyline-controlled, 5 week clinical study. Method: 156 patients with a DSM-III diagnosis of major depressive episode and 21-item Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression (HPRSD) score ≥ 18, were randomized to treatment with either mirtazapine 20-60 mg/day or amitriptyline 75-225 mg/day. Results: mirtazapine and amitriptyline were equally effective in reducing depressive symptoms, as assessed by the 17-item HPRSD and MADRS scales. Mirtazapine was better tolerated than amitriptyline, with fewer drop-outs due to adverse events and lower incidences of adverse events both at the beginning and at the end of the trial. Conclusion: this study shows that mirtazapine is as effective as amitriptyline in treating major depression, while at the same time better tolerated.
Safety and tolerability of combined treatment with moclobemide and SSRIs: a preliminary study of 19 patients
Authors: Hawley C.J. , Ratnam S. , Pattinson H.A. , Quick S.J. , Echlin D.
Published: March 2007

Nineteen major depressed patients, resistant to previous pharmacotherapies, were treated by the addition of moclobemide (up to 600 mg/day) to paroxetine or fluoxetine (20 mg/day) for 6 weeks in an open study to assess the adverse events and tolerability. There were 77 emergent events, insomnia, headache, nausea and dizziness being the most common. Many events were rated as severe. The high rate of adverse events suggests that there may be clinically significant interactions between moclobemide and SSRIs. However, the uncontrolled data on effectiveness is encouraging and the combination deserves further attention as a strategy for treating intractable major depression.