bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Potential effect of enalapril on clomipramine metabolism
Authors: Toutoungi M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIn two patients treated for hypertension with enalapril for more than 12 months, clomipramine was introduced in small to moderate doses for the treatment of dysthymic disorders. Rapid improvement of depressive symptoms was noted, which was followed by signs of antidepressant overdosage. The blood levels of clomipramine and desmethylchlomipramine were high. After reducing the dose, the symptoms resolved and the blood level of antidepressant returned to the usual therapeutic range. Enalapril would appear to reduce the clearance of clomipramine; the association enalapril + clomipramine does not appear to modify blood pressure.
A case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome with a history of general anesthesia
Authors: Sato T. , Hara T. , Takeichi M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAntidepressant was given to treat a patient with manic‐depressive psychosis, depressed type (ICD‐9). Following the treatment, she manifested the alteration of the consciousness, autonomic dysfunction, extrapyramidal sign, muscular hypertonicity, hyperthermia, and elevated serum CPK levels. This condition was consistent with the neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Then, along with interruption of medication she was treated with supportive measures and improved progressively.In her past history, she underwent general anesthesia for operation of mitral valve replacement and at that time she manifested tachycardia, hyperthermia, elevated CPK levels, etc. In the case of patients who manifest a malignant hyperthermia‐like state or neuroleptic malignant syndrome‐like state, special care is required in selecting anesthetics and psychotropic drugs.
The effects of caffeine and automaticity on a visual information processing task
Authors: Loke Wing Hong 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe present study examined caffeine's effect on mental performance in contrast to a recent study (Loke and Goh, 1992) which examined the effects of caffeine user‐effect on mental performance. Taken together, the studies would provide a detailed understanding of the effects of caffeine and automaticity on the visual search/detection domain of information processing. Analyses of the baseline measures of the visual search/detection task showed significant differences between low and high levels of automaticity and levels of task difficulty. Performance on the low difficulty level was higher than the high difficulty level, and performance on automatic task was higher than on non‐automatic task. Caffeine, however, did not interact with automaticity and task difficulty. Therefore, given that the present study used unpractised (novice) subjects with similar levels of caffeine consumptions and personality characteristics, the visual search/detection domain of information processing is shown to be insensitive to the effects of caffeine. This supports the general view that caffeine does not affect cognition, learning, and memory performance. Also, the non‐significant three‐way interaction of drug, automaticity, and task difficulty would therefore suggest that caffeine does not affect resource capacity. Of note is that knowledge of drug administration assessments (drug guessing) was sensitive to the effects of caffeine in the automatic condition and not in the non‐automatic condition, suggesting that the effects of caffeine are task‐dependent. In contrast, the expected sensitivity of mood assessments to caffeine's effects was not shown. Since caffeine is shown to be a ‘weak’ stimulant, given its commonly known non‐significant effects on mental performance, caffeine‐administered subjects may lack sufficient external cues to allow them to perceive and report correctly that they were given caffeine.
Clinical data and animal studies on adaptive receptor changes occurring in depression and after antidepressive treatment: A hypothesis of antidepressive action
Authors: Płaźnik A. , Kostowski W. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe clinical and animal studies on the effects of antidepressant treatments on receptor‐related changes in the functioning of central neurotransmitter systems, are reviewed. The great variability in individual clinical responses make it impossible to formulate one coherent hypothesis about adaptive receptor changes occurring in human beings. Nevertheless, it is concluded that neuroadaptive responses found in the catecholaminergic systems (dopaminergic and adrenergic alpha‐1 receptors) might be important as the underlying mechanism for therapeutic efficacy in depression of antidepressant drugs (AD) and electroconvulsive shock treatment (ECS). The animal studies conducted in our laboratory over the last decade provide evidence for the existence of limbic neurotransmitter modulatory mechanism of action of AD and ECS. It is suggested that at least in the limbic areas (i.e. in the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens, the main structures of the mesolimbic system), AD and ECS produce bidirectional effects. On the one hand they were found to reduce ‘inhibitory’ signals mediated through serotonergic, GABA‐ergic and alpha‐2 adrenergic receptors while on the other hand they enhanced ‘excitatory’ central processes mediated via the dopaminergic and adrenergic alpha‐1 receptors. Confirmation of this hypothesis was obtained from behavioral experiments (locomotor and exploratory activity), consisting of microinjections of selective receptor agonists and antagonists into the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens, following the chronic administration of different AD's and ECS. We propose, therefore, that the mechanism of action of antidepressant therapies should be considered from the anatomical and receptor viewpoint, the crucial element being the ‘tuning’ of the signals within the limbic areas. The consequence of this mechanism is an enhancement of these processes which can be defined as ‘activatory’, in terms of their mood elevating effects. The final effect of antidepressant therapy emerges as a result of transmitter interactions and disinhibitory processes. The ‘limbic modulatory neurotransmitter mechanism’ is thus suggested to be responsible for the effect of antidepressant treatment.
Performance effects of drugs of abuse: A methodological survey
Authors: Foltin Richard W. , Evans Suzette M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis paper provides a methodological survey of research of 1253 experiments on the acute effects of drugs used for non‐medical purposes on human performance. 305 different tasks were tested, but only 118 tasks were used in more than two experiments. While the majority of experiments did have control conditions and measured drug effects at more than one time point after drug administration, they varied widely on other protocol details: (1) subject populations, (2) training on the tasks prior to drug administration, and (3) number of active test doses that were tested. Administration of stimulants either had no effect, or improved performance. In contrast, administration of marijuana, alcohol, or benzodiazepines had no effect, or impaired performance. In order to maximize comparability and utility, future protocols should use control groups, train subjects prior to participation, test more than one drug dose, and test performance before, and several times after, drug administration. A greater range of subject populations should also be studied. Finally, task standardization including type of instructions to subjects, duration of performance testing, feedback to subjects, motivational conditions, and inclusion of a benchmark task should also be used to enhance comparisons across studies.
The effects of brofaromine alone and in conjunction with alcohol on cognitive function, psychomotor performance, mood and sleep in healthy volunteers
Authors: Kerr J. S. , Fairweather D. B. , Hindmarch I. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBrofaromine is a novel antidepressant that functions by the inhibition of the A form of monoamine oxidase (MAO). This inhibition is reversible, making brofaromine both pharmacologically and structurally different from most of the currently available MAO inhibitors. The drug has been shown to be clinically effective and to have significantly fewer problems than other MAO inhibitors in terms of hepatic toxicity and interaction with tyramine and coadministered tricyclic antidepressants. The present experiment was designed to assess the behavioural toxicity of the drug. Seventeen normal volunteers received brofaromine 50 mg or 75 mg, amitriptyline 50 mg or placebo with and without alcohol in a double blind eight‐way crossover study. A psychometric test battery was administered at 3, 6 and 12 h post‐dose. The results show that brofaromine had little or no effect on the measures employed, compared to placebo. The amitriptyline verum (with and without alcohol) however lowered critical flicker fusion threshold compared to placebo at all test points, increased reaction time, increased tracking error, and slowed memory scanning. It is concluded that, in volunteers, acute doses of brofaromine are free from disruptive effects on cognitive function and psychomotor performance, in contrast to both amitriptyline and alcohol which showed debilitating effects on most of the measures employed.
Normal neuropathological findings after neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Authors: Koponen Hannu J. , Lepola Ulla , Leinonen Esa , Paljärvi Leo 
Published: December 2004

AbstractNeuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare, life‐threatening complication of antipsychotic drug treatment. Its pathophysiology is controversial, and the same is true for the findings in post‐mortem studies on central nervous system pathology. In this report we present a patient who died two and a half months after suffering NMS. The findings in a thorough neuropathological examination were normal suggesting that the postulated dopamine receptor blockade in NMS is not associated with a structural central nervous system damage.
Cognitive functions in chronic schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia
Authors: Soni Som. D. , Neill David , Sheffield Brian 
Published: December 2004

AbstractTwo groups of chronic stable schizophrenics matched on several parameters but differing only with respect to presence or absence of tardive dyskinesia (TD) were compared for cognitive function using the Bexley Maudsley Automated Psychological Screen and the Category Sorting Test. The results showed that although all schizophrenics performed poorly on the psychometric tests in this inventory, there was no difference between the two groups for any of the cognitive functions tested. Stepwise multiple regression analysis performed on patients with TD revealed that age and extrapyramidal symptom (EPS) score were the only variables consistently associated with oro‐facial TD where as EPS correlated inversely with TD of limbs and trunk. Our results did not support the hypothesis that tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenic patients is associated with additional or specific cognitive dysfunction.
State‐dependent retrieval and midazolam
Authors: File Sandra E. , Goodall Elizabeth M. , Mabbutt P. S. , Harris A. , Skelly Ann M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis experiment investigated the phenomenon of state‐dependent retrieval with midazolam by comparing performance after midazolam + placebo with that after reversal with the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil, in tests of explicit and semantic memory and judgements of recency. The subjects completed analogue rating scales and psychomotor tests to provide measures of sedation. Midazolam (0.05 mg/kg) impaired recall and recognition of pictures and performance in the digit‐symbol substitution task. There were no significant state‐dependent effects with this dose. Midazolam (0.075 mg/kg) impaired recall and recognition of words and pictures and recognition of coloured slides of complex scenes. There were significant state‐dependent effects on all the recognition tests, i.e. the group tested after reversal with flumazenil (0.5 mg) performed worse than that tested after placebo. Midazolam (0.075 mg/kg) also impaired recency judgements and performance in the number cancellation and digit‐symbol substitution tests, but there were no state‐dependent effects in these tests. To determine whether subjects had insight into their memory impairments, for each task they were asked to rate on an analogue scale whether they thought their memory would be ‘better or worse than usual’. Those tested with midazolam (0.075 mg/kg) showed no insight into their memory impairments and there were negative correlations between actual and estimated performance. However those reversed with flumazenil were aware their memory was worse than usual and had positive correlations between actual and estimated performance, similar to those shown by subjects tested undrugged.
Effects of discontinuation of individual antiepileptic drugs on mood
Authors: Kendrick Anna M. , Duncan John S. , Trimble Michael R. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractForty‐four patients undergoing withdrawal of phenytoin, carbamazepine or sodium valproate and 21 patients on stable medication were assessed using standardised, objective ratings of mood, notably the Mood Adjective Checklist and the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire. The study followed a prospective, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled design. Patients' mood was assessed before and after drug withdrawal with an additional assessment being made four weeks after the completion of withdrawal. The number of seizures, serum anticonvulsant levels and EEGs were assessed at the same time as the mood assessments. In addition, the potential influence of life events on mood was monitored.Anxiety, as measured by the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire, increased on withdrawal of carbamazepine. This change was not related to seizure rate. Withdrawal of phenytoin or sodium valproate did not appear to have an impact on mood. Concomitant changes in serial EEGs are discussed in relation to the changes in mood.
A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study of the effects of eptastigmine on scopolamine‐induced cognitive deficits in healthy male subjects
Authors: Lines C. R. , Ambrose J. H. , Heald A. , Traub M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study examined the effects of two single doses of eptastigmine, a novel cholinesterase inhibitor, on scopolamine‐induced cognitive deficits in 24 healthy male volunteers. Each subject received the following treatment sequences, separated by at least 1 week, in a randomly assigned order:

0h
2h

PlaXcebo (p.o.) Placebo
(i.m.)

Placebo (p.o.)
Scopolamine (0.4 mg i.m.)

Eptastigmine (20 mg p.o.)
Scopolamine (0.4 mg i.m.)

Eptastigmine (32 mg p.o.)
Scopolamine (0.4 mg i.m.)

A battery of computerized cognitive tests, lasting approximately 1 h, were administered 30 min after the i.m. scopolamine/placebo injection. Subjective visual analogue scale ratings were undertaken immediately prior to the first treatment (eptastigmine/placebo) and on completion of the cognitive test battery. In addition, blood samples were taken immediately following the subjective ratings, and at 2 h (prior to the scopolamine/placebo injection), to determine peripheral acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity.Scopolamine‐induced deficits were found on a number of the cognitive tests and subjective ratings. Neither dose of eptastigmine significantly reversed or diminished these impairments. The two doses of eptastigmine produced the anticipated mean levels of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase inhibition (20 mg = 23 per cent; 32 mg = 37 per cent).
Pilot study of flesinoxan, a 5‐HT1A agonist, in major depression: Effects on sleep REM latency and body temperature
Authors: Ansseau Marc , Pitchot William , Moreno Antonio Gonzalez , Wauthy Jacques , Papart Patrick 
Published: December 2004

AbstractFlesinoxan is a highly potent and selective 5‐HT1A full agonist, active in several models of depression. In this pilot open study, flesinoxan (4 mg/d) was administered orally for 4 weeks in 16 major depressive, mostly treatment‐resistant inpatients exhibiting a score of at least 19 on the Hamilton depression sale. Weekly ratings included Hamilton depression scale, Montgomery and Asberg depression scale (MADRS), and Clinical Global Impressions (CGI). Results showed considerable improvement in depressive symptomatology with mean MADRS scores (SD) dropping from 35.7 (10–40) to 13.0 (11.9) and CGI‐illness severity from 5.69 (1.14) to 2.73 (1.62) after 4 weeks of treatment. Moreover, 13 patients were classified as much or very much improved on the CGI‐global improvement. The tolerance of flesinoxan was excellent, with only four patients exhibiting side‐effects. In contrast to acute studies with 5HT1A agonists, flesinoxan induced no significant decrease in daily oral temperature over the 4‐week period. In eight melancholic patients, the mean REM latency (SD) of respectively 35.6 (15.9) and 40.2 (17.9) min during two baseline nights significantly increased to 51.9 (20.9) min during a double‐blind challenge night with flesinoxan 1 mg as compared to 42.0 (16.1) min with placebo, and to respectively 55.6 (29.9) and 55.6 (30.2) min during the last two treatment nights. All these findings encourage further developments of flesinoxan as a promising antidepressant.
Antidepressant therapy with moclobemide in primary care practice
Authors: Angst J. , Gachoud J.‐P. , Gasser U. E. , Köhler M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA Swiss, open, multicentre clinical study was conducted in collaboration with 176 general practitioners and internists to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of moclobemide, an antidepressant belonging to a class of novel reversible MAO‐A inhibitors called RIMAs. Six hundred and fifty‐four outpatients satisfying the DSM‐III criteria of major depression were recruited and treated for at least four weeks. Efficacy was assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) self‐rating scale. Subjects were grouped according to depression subtype, history, age and seveerity of depression and were evaluated individually.The global efficacy was assessed by the HDRS and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). The HDRS‐score was reduced significantly after four weeks of treatment (p < 0.001). Moclobemide was effective in depression associated with anxiety or psychomotor retardation, in neurotic and agitated depression, in recurrent and chronic depression as well as initial depressive episodes, and in both young and old patients. According to the patients' self‐ratings (HAD), moclobemide provided rapid relief of depressive and anxiety symptoms. The drug was well tolerated, as evidenced by the low incidence of side‐effects.
Effects of smoking on cognitive performance and psychophysiological parameters as a function of smoking state
Authors: Hasenfratz M. , Bättig K. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractTwenty female regular smokers were tested in four sessions while performing a 20‐min rapid information processing task (RIP) twice. According to a 2 × 2 crossover design they were required to abstain from smoking or not on the mornings before the session and allowed to smoke between the two RIP trials. Pre‐session abstinence, as compared with non‐abstinence, showed the expected withdrawal symptoms in terms of decreased cognitive performance, electrocortical and cardiovascular arousal, increased pre‐session anxiety, craving to smoke and ratings of cigarette strength, nausca and dizziness after smoking a cigarette during the session. Smoking during the session, as compared with non‐smoking, on the other hand, showed some beneficial effects in terms of increased cognitive performance electrocortical and cardiovascular arousal. Whereas these effects were antagonistic for most of the assessed parameters, there were also some significant interactions. The increases in processing rate, heart rate and stroke volume and the decreases in finger pulse amplitude, left‐ventricular ejection time and state anxiety due to smoking were greater after preceding abstinence than non‐abstinence. This reflects the great impact of the acute tolerance to nicotine. Finally, no positive effects of smoking on the RIP‐task‐induced physiological stress reactions were found, suggesting that smoking as a coping aid is of only restricted value.
Benzodiazepine associated reversal of the effects of experimental sleep fragmentation
Authors: Roehrs Timothy , Merlotti Lori , Rosenthal Leon , Roth Thomas 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThirty‐six healthy young men and women (age 21–35) received 0.00, 0.25, or 0.50 mg triazolam (n = 12 per group) while undergoing experimental sleep fragmentation in which sleep was disrupted by presenting tones to produce brief EEG arousals (without shortening sleep time). The following day subjects' daytime function was assessed using the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and a divided attention performance task. The fragmentation of sleep produced significant disruption of nocturnal sleep and it reduced daytime alertness. Both active drug doses, relative to placebo, reversed the experimentally produced sleep disturbance and they restored daytime alertness.
Paralytic ileus as a prodromal symptom of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Authors: Tanaka Osamu , Otani Koichi , Kondo Tsuyoshi , Kaneko Sunao , Fukushima Yutaka 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA schizophrenic patient receiving neuroleptic treatment developed paralytic ileus followed by the neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). The patient had previously experienced two NMS episodes, one of which was also accompanied by paralytic ileus. It is suggested that paralytic ileus can occur as a prodromal symptom of NMS. Therefore, if this symptom is observed in patients receiving neuroleptic treament, especially those with a past history of NMS, careful attention should be paid to the possible development of NMS.
Severity of depression and benzodiazepine comedication in relationship to efficacy of antidepressants in acute trials. A meta‐analysis of moclobemide trials
Authors: Angst Jules 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe severity of depression at baseline, measured by the 17‐item Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM‐D), was analysed as a predictor of the response to treatment, with response being defined as a 50 per cent improvement on the HAM‐D or a good/very good outcome on the clinical global assessment over four weeks treatment. There is a good correlation between the two outcome measures (r = 0.67), but the question of the optimal outcome measure in very mild depression remains unsolved.The meta‐analysis was based on 2684 patients from a data pool of double‐blind trials carried out with moclobemide compared to placebo and/or standard antidepressants. The placebo response rate was high (40 per cent) in very mild depression (HAM‐D < 16) and low (12 per cent) in moderate and severe depression. The reverse was true for moclobemide and imipramine. They showed a relatively lower response rate in cases of very mild depression but an equally good response in mild, moderate and severe depression.Co‐medication with benzodiazepines increases the response to placebo treatment and decreases the power of a comparative trial considerably. Benzodiazepines were more frequently given to patients who had been pretreated with an antidepressant before entering an experimental trial.When analysing the outcome of antidepressant drug trials, it is recommended that investigators take into account pretreatment, co‐medication and baseline severity.