踝臂指数及肱-踝脉搏波传导速度对老年冠心病患者冠状动脉病变程度的预测价值

目的 探讨踝臂指数（ABI）及肱-踝脉搏波传导速度（baPWV）对老年冠心病患者冠状动脉病变程度的预测价值。方法 以2012年11月至2015年4月铜陵市人民医院心内科收治的145例老年冠心病患者为研究对象（年龄≥ 65岁）。根据冠状动脉造影结果分为正常组57例、单支病变组38例、双支病变组16例、严重病变组34例（三支病变及左主干病变）。所有患者行ABI、baPWV检测,并收集各组患者年龄、性别、高血压、糖尿病、脑卒中、吸烟、体质指数、肌酐、血尿酸等临床资料。分析ABI、baPWV、Gensini评分与不同病变组之间的关系,评价ABI、baPWV与Gensini评分的相关性。结果 单因素方差分析显示,严重病变组[（1 675.62±328.05） cm/s]、双支病变组[（1 778.00±307.66） cm/s]、单支病变组[（1 753.16±348.52） cm/s]及正常组[（1 683.42±333.72） cm/s]之间,baPWV差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;严重病变组（1.01±0.11）、双支病变组（1.07±0.12）、单支病变组（1.14±0.09）、正常组（1.14±0.09）之间,ABI差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;严重病变组[（67.44±37.6）分]、双支病变组[（39.06±25.83）分]及单支病变组[（18.58±14.96）分]之间,Gensini评分差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。Spearman等级相关分析显示,严重病变组Gensini评分与ABI呈负相关（r=-0.593,P<0.05）,各病变组baPWV与Gensini评分均无相关性（P>0.05）。多元线性回归分析显示,以ABI为因变量,影响因素为Gensini评分;以baPWV为因变量,影响因素为年龄、高血压史、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇。结论 ABI对老年冠心病及病变程度有较好的预测价值,baPWV对老年冠心病及病变程度无预测价值。     

脂联素 白细胞介素-6及高敏C反应蛋白与冠心病的相关性

目的 探讨脂联素、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）及高敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）与冠心病（CHD）的关系及脂联素与CHD不同冠脉病变支数、不同严重程度的关系。方法 选择2016年7月至2017年6月亳州市人民医院收治的经冠状动脉造影（CAG）确诊为CHD患者74例为观察组,同时将观察组患者按冠脉病变支数分为3个亚组：单支病变组29例、双支病变组26例、三支病变组19例;再按CHD严重程度分为低危组32例、中危组24例、高危组18例。同期选择CAG阴性者22例为对照组。检测所有研究对象血清脂联素、IL-6及hs-CRP水平,通过Spearman相关分析法分析脂联素、IL-6及hs-CRP与CHD的关系,同时分析脂联素与CHD不同冠脉血管病变支数及不同严重程度的关系。结果 观察组患者脂联素水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组患者IL-6、hs-CRP水平均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组三支病变组血清脂联素低于双支病变组和单支病变组（P<0.05）。高危组脂联素水平低于中危组和低危组（P<0.05）。Spearman相关分析显示,脂联素与IL-6及hs-CRP与CHD的相关系数r=-0.713、0.637、0.024（P均<0.05）;脂联素与CHD不同冠脉病变支数（三支、双支、单支）相关系数r=-0.451、-0.517,-0.553（P均<0.05）;脂联素与CHD不同严重程度的相关系数r=-0.536、-0.458、-0.603（P均<0.05）。结论 血清脂联素水平与CHD呈负相关,血清IL-6、hs-CRP水平与CHD呈正相关。     

冠心病患者营养状况与冠状动脉狭窄程度的相关性

目的 探讨冠心病患者营养状况与冠状动脉（简称冠脉）狭窄程度的关系，为冠心病患者营养支持治疗提供依据。方法 选取安徽省中医院心内科2016年10月至2019年10月行冠脉造影检查的300例住院患者的临床资料，依据临床诊断是否为冠心病分为冠心病组180例和非冠心病组120例。再依据冠状动脉狭窄程度分组：冠心病组中，冠脉重度狭窄75例，中度狭窄105例；非冠心病组中，轻度狭窄50例，无狭窄70例。比较两组营养风险发生率；采用趋势性方差分析不同冠脉狭窄程度患者视黄醇结合蛋白（RBP）、同型半胱氨酸（HCY）及前白蛋白（PAB）水平的变化，采用Spearman相关分析两组患者不同冠脉狭窄程度与RBP、HCY、PAB的相关性。结果 冠心病组营养风险发生率（25%）明显高于非冠心病组（10.83%），差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。冠心病组RBP、HCY水平高于非冠心病组，PAB水平低于非冠心病组，差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。趋势性方差分析显示，随着患者冠脉狭窄程度加重，RBP、HCY水平逐渐升高（F=54.678、51.646，P均<0.01），PAB水平逐渐降低（F=64.832，P<0.01）。Spearman相关分析显示，患者RBP、HCY水平与冠脉狭窄程度呈正相关（r=0.316、0.317，P均<0.01），患者PAB水平与冠脉狭窄程度呈负相关（r=-0.383，P<0.01）。结论 冠心病患者营养风险发生率高于非冠心病患者，冠心病患者RBP和HCY水平与冠脉狭窄程度呈正相关，PAB水平与冠脉狭窄程度呈负相关。     

不同年龄冠心病患者甲状腺功能与冠状动脉病变程度的关系

目的 通过分析不同年龄冠心病（CAD）患者的甲状腺功能[三碘甲状腺原氨酸（TT3）、游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）、甲状腺素（TT4）、游离甲状腺素（FT4）、促甲状腺激素（TSH）]与Gensini积分的相关性，探讨甲状腺功能对冠状动脉病变程度的影响。方法 采用回顾队列研究对2016年3月至2017年3月就诊于太和县人民医院确诊为CAD的患者179例进行分析，根据患者年龄分两组（<65岁组和≥65岁组），比较不同年龄组患者TT3、FT3、TT4、FT4、TSH水平的差异；对患者的Gensini积分采用三分位数分为3组（低危组、中危组、高危组），比较不同分组之间的TT3、FT3、TT4、FT4、TSH水平的差异；采用Pearson相关性检验分析甲状腺功能与Gensini积分之间的相关性；对不同年龄组冠脉病变程度影响因素采用有序多分类logistic回归分析。结果 入选患者中有甲状腺功能减退1例（0.559%），亚临床甲状腺功减退12例（6.703%）；不同年龄组之间FT3差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；不同Gensini积分组之间FT3差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；Pearson和logistic回归分析发现，≥65岁患者的TT3与Gensini积分呈负相关（r=-0.225，P<0.05），TT3增高是≥65岁患者冠状动脉病变严重程度的保护因素，而<65岁和≥65岁患者FT3和Gensini积分呈负相关，且FT3增高是冠状动脉病变严重程度的保护因素。<65岁患者的TSH和Gensini积分呈正相关（r=0.439，P<0.05），TSH增高是<65岁患者冠状动脉病变严重程度的危险因素。结论 TT3、FT3、TSH对不同年龄段冠心脏病患者的冠状动脉病变程度影响不同，且是影响冠状动脉病变程度的独立因素。     

高血压合并心力衰竭患者血尿酸水平与病情及预后的关系

目的 探讨高血压合并心力衰竭（HF）患者血尿酸（SUA）水平与HF病情及预后的关系。方法 选取2015年1月至2018年1月周口市中心医院诊断为高血压合并HF患者52例为HF组[并按心功能分级分为Ⅱ级组（18例）、Ⅲ级组（21例）、Ⅳ级组（13例）],选取同期年龄、性别相匹配的门诊就诊单纯高血压患者65例和体检中心体检正常者50例分别为单纯高血压组、对照组。比较3组对象入院时SUA水平、左室射血分数（LVEF）,并分析HF组患者SUA、LEVF值与入院时心功能分级的关系;HF组患者出院后随访6个月,记录其终点事件（终点事件发生组）发生情况,比较终点事件发生组和未发生组入院时SUA水平、LVEF差异,非条件logistic回归分析入院时SUA、LVEF与高血压合并HF的患者预后的关系。结果 HF组入院时,SUA高于单纯高血压组、对照组,LVEF低于单纯高血压组、对照组（P<0.05）,单纯高血压组与对照组SUA、LVEF比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;心功能分级Ⅱ级组患者入院时SUA水平低于Ⅲ、Ⅳ级组,LVEF高于Ⅲ、Ⅳ级组（P<0.05）,Ⅲ级组与Ⅳ级组SUA、LVEF比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。Spearman相关分析显示,入院时SUA与LVEF呈负相关关系（r=-0.512,P<0.05）;心功能分级与入院时SUA呈正相关关系（r=0.631,P<0.05）,与入院时LVEF呈负相关关系（r=-0.792,P<0.05）。终点事件发生组入院时SUA高于未发生组,入院时LEVF低于未发生组（P<0.05）;logistic回归分析发现,入院时SUA、LEVF是高血压合并HF患者近期终点事件发生的独立危险因素。结论 高血压合并HF患者入院时SUA水平与心功能分级有关,且SUA水平升高是影响预后的独立危险因素。     

多烯酸乙酯胶丸辅助治疗高脂血症合并冠心病的效果

目的 探讨多烯酸乙酯胶丸辅助治疗高脂血症合并冠心病的效果及作用机制。方法 将2016年1月至2018年1月河南省信阳市中心医院收治的高脂血症合并冠心病患者84例采用随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组，每组42例。对照组接受常规内科治疗，观察组在对照组基础上给予多烯酸乙酯胶丸口服，两组疗程均为3个月。比较两组患者治疗前后血脂水平、氧化应激指标及颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）、Gensini评分差值。结果 观察组治疗前后三酰甘油（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）差值高于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；观察组治疗前后丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）差值高于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；观察组治疗前后Gensini评分、IMT差值高于对照组，差异有统计值（P<0.05）。结论 多烯酸乙酯胶丸辅助治疗高脂血症合并冠心病降脂效果确切，且可减轻动脉粥样硬化病变程度。     

心率变异性时域指标对稳定性心绞痛患者冠状动脉狭窄的影响

目的 检测稳定性心绞痛（SA）患者心率变异性（HRV）时域指标的变化,探讨其与冠状动脉病变程度、部位的关系。方法 选取2012年10月至2014年6月在安徽医科大学附属合肥医院住院并行冠状动脉造影（CAG）检查诊断为SA且为窦性心律、短期内未服用β-受体阻滞剂的患者204例,按临床症状及CAG结果,分为SA组（118例）和对照组（86例）。SA组,按病变的冠状动脉主支支数,分单支病变组（49例）、两支病变组（37例）和三支病变组（32例）;按冠状动脉主支近中段狭窄程度,将面积狭窄>70%的81例患者,分为前降支病变组（22例）、回旋支病变组（36例）和右冠状动脉病变组（23例）;按照冠状动脉狭窄严重程度Gensini评分（GS）,分为GS≤32及GS>32组。SA组与对照组患者的性别、年龄、高血压史、体质指数、吸烟等进行比较,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。采用十二导动态心电图仪（TLC5000）检测窦性心搏NN间期的标准差（SDNN）、连续5 min正常NN间期标准差均值（SDANN）、连续5 min正常N-N间期均值的标准差（SDNNind）、相邻N-N之差>50 ms的个数占总窦性心搏个数的百分比（PNN50）、相邻N-N间期差值的均方根（RMSSD）。结果 与对照组HRV时域指标比较,GS≤32组中SDNN、SDNNind和RMSSD显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;GS>32组的SDNN、SDANN、SDNNind、RMSSD和PNN50显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;与GS≤32组相比,GS>32组SDNN显著降低（P<0.05）。与对照组相比,单支病变组SDNN、双支病变组及三支病变组SDNN、SDNNind显著降低（P<0.05）,与双支病变组比较,三支病变组中SDNN和SDNNind显著降低（P<0.05）。与右冠状动脉病变组比较,前降支病变组及回旋支病变组中SDNN和SDNNind降低,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;与回旋支病变组比较,前降支病变组中SDNN显著降低（P<0.05）。结论 HRV能反映SA患者冠状动脉病变的严重程度,对冠心病患者病情严重程度的预测有一定的临床意义。     

2型糖尿病患者血尿酸与蛋白尿的关系

目的 探讨2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者血尿酸（SUA）与蛋白尿的关系。方法 选择2016年5月至2017年9月安徽省立医院住院的T2DM患者791例,根据血尿酸（SUA）水平将患者分为正常尿酸（NUA）组656例和高尿酸（HUA）组135例,通过单因素分析比较两组患者尿白蛋白/肌酐（UACR）的差异;通过Pearson相关分析,比较UACR与其他生化指标的相关性,并将有统计学意义的指标纳入logistic回归分析中,了解SUA对蛋白尿发生的相对危险度。结果 ①HUA组患者UACR高于NUA组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;HUA组患者蛋白尿的发生率（54.8%）高于NUA组（38.6%）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;②Pearson相关分析显示,UACR与SUA呈正相关（P<0.05）;Logistic回归分析显示,血尿酸水平每增加1 mg/dL,发生蛋白尿的相对危险度为1.096（P=0.005）。结论 T2DM患者中,血尿酸水平升高可引起UACR升高,是蛋白尿发生的危险因素,在糖尿病的治疗中需监测血尿酸水平。     

脂蛋白相关磷脂酶A2与冠脉斑块严重程度的关系及不同剂量瑞舒伐他汀对其浓度的影响

摘 要 目的：分析脂蛋白相关磷脂酶A2（Lp-PLA2）与冠脉粥样硬化严重程度关系,评估不同剂量瑞舒伐他汀对血浆Lp-PLA2浓度的影响。方法: 152例可疑冠心病患者根据冠脉造影检查结果分为冠心病组（n=117）与对照组（无冠心病,n=35）。采取Gensini积分量表,同时参照冠脉病变支数评估患者冠脉粥样硬化程度,并检测患者血浆Lp PLA2水平,采用多元逻辑回归分析Lp PLA2水平与冠脉斑块严重程度的相关性。将冠心病组患者再随机分为两组,分别给予常规剂量（10 mg·d^-1）与负荷剂量（20 mg·d^-1）瑞舒伐他汀,测定服药后2周、4周、8周及12周血浆Lp PLA2浓度。结果: 对照组血浆Lp PLA水平为（22.22±1.75）μmol·mL^-1,冠心病组为（29.03±3.99）μmol·mL^-1,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;冠心病不同Gensini积分组Lp PLA2水平差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,分值越高,患者Lp PLA2水平越高。多因素回归分析结果显示,冠脉粥样硬化程度与Lp PLA2水平呈明显正相关（OR=1.61,P<0.05）。服药2,4,8,12周后,负荷剂量组Lp-PLA2水平均明显低于常规剂量组（P<0.05）;冠脉狭窄程度评分明显低于常规剂量组（P<0.05）。常规剂量组心血管不良事件发生率（27.12%）明显高于负荷剂量组（6.90%）（P<0.05）;两组药物不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义（11.86%vs18.97%）（P>0.05）。结论:Lp PLA2与冠脉斑块严重程度相关,采取大剂量瑞舒伐他汀方案可降低患者血浆Lp PLA2浓度水平。     

非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与冠心病患者冠状动脉病变Gensini评分的相关性研究

目的 探讨非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平(non-HDL-C)与冠心病(CHD)患者冠状动脉病变Gensini评分的关系及临床意义。方法 对225例疑诊或既往临床诊断CHD患者予以冠状动脉造影(CAG),将造影阴性的39例作为对照组(HC组),造影阳性的186例患者诊断为CHD,结合临床特点分为心绞痛组(AP组)122例和心肌梗死组(AMI组)64例。采用Gensini评分对冠状动脉病变程度评分,测定患者全套血脂水平,探讨non-HDL-C及相关脂质成分与冠状动脉病变程度Gensini评分的相关性;同时对他汀类药物强化降脂达标,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)<1.80 mmol/L的AP组患者进行non-HDL-C与冠状动脉病变程度Gensini评分的亚组分析。结果 AMI组non-HDL-C水平高于AP组及HC组,AP组non-HDL-C水平高于HC组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);CHD患者non-HDL-C水平与Gensini评分呈正相关(r=0.562,P<0.05);LDL-C控制达标的AP组患者,高non-HDL-C组(≥2.60 mmol/L)比低non-HDL-C组(<2.60 mmol/L)Gensini评分明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 non-HDL-C与冠状动脉病变程度密切相关,non-HDL-C在评估LDL-C控制达标患者的冠状动脉病变程度及再发心血管事件风险上有一定价值,可作为LDL-C达标后心血管残余风险新的观察指标。     

Affective and Anxiety Disorders and Alcohol and Drug Dependence:

Depression and anxiety frequently coexist in patients with substance use disorders. This clinically-oriented article examiens the relationship between these conditions and emphasizes data showing that substances of abuse can cause signs and symptoms of both depression and anxiety. These substance-related syndromes appear to have a different course and prognosis than uncomplicated, independent anxiety and major depressive disorders, and clinicians should consider the role of alcohol and other drugs in all patients presenting with these complaints. The authors will also outline an approach for diagnosing and managing patients with the combination of a substance use and depressive or anxiety disorder.     

Synthesis and anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of gaultherin and its analogs

The synthesis of gaultherin (1) and its analogs was carried out to provide 11 glycosides under phase-transfer catalytic conditions. The activities of all synthesized compounds were evaluated by nitric oxide production inhibitory assay in vitro. Methyl 2-O-(4-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranosylbenzoate (5f) showed significantly anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects by the evaluation in vivo. Structure–activity relationships within these compounds were discussed.     

Modelling and simulation of variability and uncertainty in toxicokinetics and pharmacokinetics

Two important methodological issues within the framework of the variability and uncertainty analysis of toxicokinetic and pharmacokinetic systems are discussed: (i) modelling and simulation of the existing physiologic variability in a population; and (ii) modelling and simulation of variability and uncertainty when there is insufficient or not well defined (e.g. small sample, semiquantitative, qualitative and vague) information available. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models are especially suited for separating and characterising the physiologic variability from the overall variability and uncertainty in the system. Monte Carlo sampling should draw from multivariate distributions, which reflect all levels of existing dependencies in the intact organism. The population characteristics should be taken into account. A fuzzy simulation approach is proposed to model variability and uncertainty when there is semiquantitative, qualitative and vague information about the model parameters and their statistical distributions cannot be defined reliably.     

成骨细胞的功能与损伤和骨质疏松的防治

骨质疏松是一种全身性骨骼疾病,导致骨折风险增加。成人的骨量通过破骨细胞的骨吸收和成骨细胞的骨形成作用来维持动态平衡,治疗骨质疏松症的理想策略是抑制破骨细胞的骨吸收和/或增强成骨细胞的骨形成功能。目前针对保护成骨细胞及增强其功能的骨质疏松疗法相对较少。因此,本文针对成骨细胞相关功能蛋白、各种细胞损伤机制（内质网应激、氧化应激、机械过载、微小RNA和长链非编码RNA的影响等）及骨质疏松的治疗与预防作一综述,以期为针对增强成骨细胞功能的骨质疏松治疗策略提供新思路。     

Self-stimulation and amphetamine: Tolerance to d and l isomers and cross tolerance to cocaine and methylphenidate

The effects of the d and l isomers of amphetamine on self-stimulation responding were tested following acute and chronic administration. Tolerance and post-drug depression of responding occurred in tests with both isomers, indicating no role for p-hydroxynorephedrine (PHN) which is one of the metabolites of d-amphetamine. In the second experiment, d-amphetamine, methylphenidate and cocaine all produced quantitatively and qualitatively similar effects on self-stimulation responding following acute administration. Following chronic administration of d-amphetamine, animals showed tolerance to all three drugs, indicating cross-tolerance among them. These data are consistent with an hypothesis that tolerance and post-drug depression following chronic amphetamine treatment are the result of decreases in postsynaptic receptor sensitivity, which would lead to a decreased effectiveness of all three drugs, regardless of their pre-synaptic mechanisms.     

益生菌与肿瘤防治

益生菌广泛存在于自然界中,通过维持宿主体内菌群平衡、影响肠屏障功能和调节免疫应答等作用,提高宿主健康水平,被公认为"肠道健康卫士".一些益生菌可以增强机体的免疫功能,抑制致癌物质,影响肿瘤细胞的基因表达,对肿瘤具有拮抗作用.大量研究表明,益生菌在未来的肿瘤防治中有很好的应用和发展前景.     

Acamprosate and naltrexone treatment effects on ethanol and sucrose seeking and intake in ethanol-dependent and nondependent rats

Rationale  Two pharmacotherapies are approved for treating alcohol craving (acamprosate and naltrexone), but both have shown mixed findings in animals and humans. Objectives  The present experiments utilized a “reinforcer blocking” approach (i.e., rats were able to consume ethanol during treatment) to better understand the efficacy of these treatments for ethanol seeking and drinking using ethanol-dependent and nondependent rats. Materials and methods  In “nondependent” experiments, drugs (acamprosate 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg; naltrexone 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg) were administered over 3-week periods prior to operant sessions with a low response requirement to gain access to reinforcers for 20 min. For “dependent” experiments, rats were made dependent in vapor/inhalation chambers. Results  Acamprosate and naltrexone had similar effects on intake in nondependent and dependent rats; neither drug was selective for ethanol over sucrose drinking. In nondependent animals, naltrexone was more efficacious at more doses than acamprosate, and acamprosate’s effects were limited to a dose that also had adverse effects on body weight. Both pharmacotherapies showed more selectivity when examining reinforcer seeking. In nondependent rats, acamprosate and naltrexone had response-attenuating effects in ethanol, but not sucrose, groups. In dependent animals, acamprosate had selective effects limited to a decrease in sucrose seeking. Naltrexone, however, selectively decreased ethanol-seeking in nondependent rats. Conclusions  The naltrexone-induced decreases in seeking suggested a change in incentive motivation which was selective for ethanol in nondependent rats. The “nondependent” paradigm may model early stages of “problem drinking” in humans, and the findings suggest that naltrexone could be a good intervention for this level of alcohol abuse and relapse prevention.     

Antiinfective and encrustation-inhibiting materials--myth and facts

Catheters, urethral and ureteral stents and other urological implants are frequently affected by encrustration and infection due to their permanent contact with urine. Indwelling urinary catheters provide a haven for microorganisms and thus require extensive monitoring. Several surface modification techniques have been proposed to improve the performance of devices including the immobilization of biomolecules, the incorporation of hydrophilic grafts to reduce protein adsorption, the creation of hydrophobic surfaces, the creation of microdomains to regulate cellular and protein adhesion, new polymers and antimicrobial coatings. Physico-chemical explanation to elucidate the mechanism of such encrustation or infection inhibiting materials is still not available. Our series of experiments showed a marked decrease of silver-activity in biological fluids which corresponds with the controversial clinical results obtained with silver coated urinary catheters. Rifampicin/minocycline coated catheters had very low activity against Gram-negative rods, enterococci and Candida spp., the main causing organisms of urinary catheter infection. Surface engineered materials and antimicrobial drug delivery systems will be the next generation of sophisticated urinary catheters and stents, if both efficacy as well as efficiency has been proved clinically.     

Alprazolam and lorazepam single and multiple-dose effects on psychomotor skills and sleep

Summary The effects of alprazolam 0.5 mg and lorazepam 2 mg on cognitive and psychomotor skills were assessed in twelve normal volunteer subjects in a randomised, double-blind, crossover design. Single and multiple dose effects were monitored using a battery of tests comprising critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT), choice reaction time (CRT), simulated car tracking, and subjective ratings of perceived sedation (LARS) and of sleep behaviour (LSEQ). Compared with placebo baseline scores, treatment with lorazepam 2 mg (both single and multiple doses) resulted in a widespread impairment of CRT, tracking accuracy, and CFFT. Single doses of alprazolam 0.5 mg reduced CFFT with respect to the placebo baseline. Single and multiple dose treatment with both drugs resulted in subjective reports of sedation, a reduction of sleep onset latency, and improved sleep quality. Only lorazepam 2 mg significantly disrupted the integrity of behaviour on waking from sleep. These results suggest important pharmacodynamic differences between the two drugs in the doses used.